bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristic and Enlightenment on Universities Collaborative Innovation Mode of Japan Shikoku Area
Authors: Wang Guohao , Yu Liying
Published: October 2019

Collaborative innovation, with universities as the main body, is an important foundation for deepening the cooperation between industry, universities, and research institutes. Taking the collaborative innovation of five universities in Japan Shikoku area as an example, this paper summarizes the content of collaborative innovation in colleges and universities. The Shikoku SICO, which is established by government, is set to integrate the resource of university, enterprises, industry, and government, expand and broaden the knowledge chain, and promote knowledge flow and value realization through knowledge gathering and diffusion, knowledge dissemination and sharing, and knowledge transfer and application. Based on SICO’s collaborative innovation mode of the Japan Shikoku area, five universities have established a virtuous circle of knowledge, capital, and talents, forming a collaborative innovation ecosystem characterized by symbiosis. From an ecology perspective, this paper establishes a regional collaborative innovation symbiotic system, which is characterized by knowledge, with the components of producer, consumer, decomposer, and catalyzer. Finally, from the perspective of constructing symbiosis system, this paper puts forward the experience of colleges and universities in Japan in terms of knowledge dissemination, knowledge transfer, and knowledge gathering.
An Ultra-Wideband Sensing Board for Radio Frequency Front-End in IoT Transmitters
Authors: Petrocchi Alessandra , Raffo Antonio , Bosi Gianni , Avolio Gustavo , Resca Davide , Vannini Giorgio , Schreurs Dominique
Published: October 2019

The upcoming technologies related to Internet of Things will be characterized by challenging requirements oriented toward the most efficient exploitation of the energy in electronic systems. The use of wireless communications in these devices makes this aspect particularly important, since the performance of radio transceivers is strongly dependent on the environmental conditions affecting the antenna electrical characteristics. The use of circuits capable of adapting themselves to the actual state of the environment can be a valuable solution, provided that the implemented sensing features have negligible impact on the overall performance and cost of the system. In this work, we present the design and verification of an innovative ultra-wideband sensing board to detect real-time variations of the antenna impedance in transmitters oriented to Internet of Things applications. The proposed sensing board was widely validated by means of small- and large-signal measurements carried out at microwave frequencies.
Liquid Storage Characteristics of Nanoporous Particles in Shale: Rigorous Proof
Authors: Cui Jiangfeng , Cheng Long
Published: October 2019

Different from conventional reservoirs, a significant proportion of oil is in an adsorbed or even immobile state in shale and tight rocks. There are established comprehensive mathematical models quantifying the adsorbed, immobile, and free oil contents in shale rocks. However, the conclusions of the monotonicity of the complicated models from sensitivity analysis might not be universal, and rigorous mathematical derivation is needed to demonstrate their rationale. In this paper, the models for oil/water storage in the nanoporous grains in shale, i.e., kerogen and clay, are achieved based on the aforementioned storage models. Rigorous analytical derivations are employed to strictly prove the monotonicity of the immobile and adsorbed models, which is the main purpose of this work. This work expands the applicability of the storage models, is fundamental and important for mobility analysis in shale reservoirs, and can shed light on its efficient exploration and development.
Numerical Study of Nacelle Wind Speed Characteristics of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine under Time-Varying Flow
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Liu Yunong , Wang Luyao , Ding Lin , Hu Hui
Published: October 2019

Nacelle wind speed transfer function (NTF) is usually used for power prediction and operational control of a horizontal axis wind turbine. Nacelle wind speed exhibits high instability as it is influenced by both incoming flow and near wake of a wind turbine rotor. Enhanced understanding of the nacelle wind speed characteristics is critical for improving the accuracy of NTF. This paper presents Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation results obtained for a multi-megawatt wind turbine under both stable and dynamic incoming flows. The dynamic inlet wind speed varies in the form of simplified sinusoidal and superposed sinusoidal functions. The simulation results are analyzed in time and frequency domains. For a stable inlet flow, the variation of nacelle wind speed is mainly influenced by the blade rotation. The influence of wake flow shows high frequency characteristics. The results with stable inlet flow show that the reduction of the nacelle wind speed with respect to the inlet wind speed is overestimated for low wind speed condition, and underestimated for high wind speed condition. Under time-varing inflow conditions, for the time scale and fluctuation amplitude subject to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard, the nacelle wind speed is mainly influenced by the dynamic inflow. The variation of inflow can be recovered by choosing a suitable low pass filter. The work in this paper demonstrates the potential for building accurate NTF based on Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations and signal analysis.
Harvesting Scenedesmus obliquus via Flocculation of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract from Urban Wastewater: Proposal for the Integrated Use of Oil and Flocculant
Authors: Ruiz-Marin Alejandro , Canedo-Lopez Yunuen , Narvaez-Garcia Asteria , Zavala-Loría José del Carmen , Dzul-López Luis Alonso , Sámano-Celorio María Luisa , Crespo-Álvarez Jorge , García-Villena Eduardo , Agudo-Toyos Pablo
Published: October 2019

The objectives this study were to examine the integrated use of oil–coagulant for the direct extraction of coagulant from Moringa oleifera (MO) with 5% and 10% (NH4)2SO4 extractor solution to harvest Scenedesmus obliquus cultivated in urban wastewater and to analyze the oil extracted from MO and S. obliquus. An average content of 0.47 g of coagulant and 0.5 g of oil per gram of MO was obtained. Highly efficient algal harvest, 80.33% and 72.13%, was achieved at a dose of 0.38 g L−1 and pH 8–9 for 5% and 10% extractor solutions, respectively. For values above pH 9, the harvest efficiency decreases, producing a whitish water with 10% (NH4)2SO4 solution. The oil profile (MO and S. obliquus) showed contents of SFA of 36.24–36.54%, monounsaturated fatty acids of 32.78–36.13%, and polyunsaturated fatty acids of 27.63–30.67%. The biodiesel obtained by S. obliquus and MO has poor cold flow properties, indicating possible applications limited to warm climates. For both biodiesels, good fuel ignition was observed according to the high cetane number and positive correlation with SFA and negative correlation with the degree of saturation. This supports the use of MO as a potentially harmless bioflocculant for microalgal harvest in wastewater, contributing to its treatment, and a possible source of low-cost biodiesel.
Resistance of Injection Molded Wood-Polypropylene Composites against Basidiomycetes According to EN 15534-1: New Insights on the Test Procedure, Structural Alterations, and Impact of Wood Source
Authors: Krause Kim Christian , Brischke Christian , Koddenberg Tim , Buschalsky Andreas , Militz Holger , Krause Andreas
Published: October 2019

In this study, we investigated injection molded wood-polypropylene composites based on various wood sources and their decay resistance against white rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown rot (Coniophora puteana) in a laboratory test according to EN 15534-1:2014. The manufactured composites consisted of poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), and a commercial wood source (Arbocel® C100), respectively. All formulations were compounded on a co-rotating twin screw extruder and subsequently injection molded to wood–PP specimens with a wood content of 60% or 70% by weight. It was found that the test procedure had a significant effect on the mechanical properties. Loss in mechanical properties was primarily caused by moisture and less by fungal decay. Moisture caused a loss in the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of 34 to 45% and 29 to 73%, respectively. Mean mass and wood mass losses were up to a maximum of 3.7% and 5.3%, respectively. The high resistance against fungal decay was generally attributed to the encapsulation of wood by the polymer matrix caused by sample preparation, and enhanced by reduced moisture uptake during the preconditioning procedure. Notable differences with respect to the wood particle source and decay fungi were also observed. Structural characterization confirmed the decay pattern of the fungi such as void cavities close the surface and the deposition of calcium oxalates.
Effects of Reinforcing Fiber Strength on Mechanical Properties of High-Strength Concrete
Authors: Yun Hyun-Do , Lim Seong-Hoon , Choi Won-Chang
Published: October 2019

This paper investigates the effects of the tensile strength of steel fiber on the mechanical properties of steel fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete. Two levels of steel fiber tensile strength (1100 MPa and 1600 MPa) and two steel fiber contents (0.38% and 0.75%) were used to test the compression, flexure, and direct shear performance of steel fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete specimens. The aspect ratio for the steel fiber was fixed at 80 and the design compressive strength of neat concrete was set at 70 MPa to match that of high-strength concrete. The performance of the steel fiber-reinforced concrete that contained high-strength steel fiber was superior to that which contained normal-strength steel fiber. In terms of flexural performance in particular, the tensile strength of steel fiber can better indicate performance than the steel fiber mixing ratio. In addition, a compression prediction model is proposed to evaluate compression toughness, and the model results are compared. The predictive model can anticipate the behavior after the maximum load.
The Effect of High Pressure Processing on Polyphenol Oxidase Activity, Phytochemicals and Proximate Composition of Irish Potato Cultivars
Authors: Tsikrika Konstantina , O’Brien Nora , Rai Dilip K.
Published: October 2019

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, proximate composition, and phytochemicals were determined in four common Irish potato cultivars following a high pressure processing (HPP) at 600 MPa for 3 min. PPO activity was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in all HPP treated samples, while the overall proximate composition was not affected. The total phenolic content was significantly higher in the HPP treated samples. Chlorogenic acid levels significantly decreased with simultaneous increase of caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid levels upon HPP treatment. No significant changes were observed in rutin and ferulic acid levels, although their levels varied, depending on the potato cultivars, while the levels of cytotoxic glycoalkaloids (α-solanine and α-chaconine) remained unaltered.
Microstructural, Textural, Sensory Properties and Quality of Wheat–Yam Composite Flour Noodles
Authors: Sun Kai-Nong , Liao Ai-Mei , Zhang Fan , Thakur Kiran , Zhang Jian-Guo , Huang Ji-Hong , Wei Zhao-Jun
Published: October 2019

Herein, feasibility of supplementing wheat flour with Chinese yam powder (CYP) for noodle preparation was assessed. After supplementation with CYP, the alterations in chemical, texture, cooking, rheological, and microstructure attributes of noodles were observed. Due to higher protein and lower gluten, 20% of CYP promoted the stable network of gluten and starch particles. However, the excessive addition reduced the flexibility and the chewiness. The adverse changes were observed at 40% substitution level in texture profile analysis (TPA) and rheological parameters due to disrupted gluten–protein network which accelerated the exposure of starch particles. The CYP incorporation up to 20% showed better mouthfeel but further addition lowered the total sensory scores. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the modifications in noodles microstructure as CYP addition affected starch granule structure. In general, 30% substitution significantly improved the textural and rheological properties of noodles, indicating the potential of Chinese yam powder for industrial application.
The Optimization of Plasma-Activated Water Treatments to Inactivate Salmonella Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) on Shell Eggs
Authors: Lin Chia-Min , Chu Yu-Chi , Hsiao Chun-Ping , Wu Jong-Shinn , Hsieh Chang-Wei , Hou Chih-Yao
Published: October 2019

Egg is a regularly consumed food item. Currently, chlorinated water washing is the most common practice used to disinfect eggs, but this process has a negative environmental impact. A new physical technique, plasma-activated water (PAW), has been demonstrated to possess effective antibacterial activities without long-term chemical residue. In this study, air PAW was used to inactivate Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis on shell eggs. Different combinations of activation parameters, including water sources (reverse osmotic (RO) water, tap water), power (40 W, 50 W, 60 W) and activation time (10 min, 20 min, 30 min), were evaluated. The oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and pH values of each combination were measured, and their antibacterial activity was tested in a bacterial suspension. Higher antibacterial activities, higher ORP values, and lower pH values were obtained with higher power, longer activation time, and lower water hardness. The antibacterial activities of PAW decreased rapidly by increasing the storage time both at room and refrigeration temperatures. Afterwards, RO water was pre-activated for 20 min at 60 W, and then the eggs inoculated with S. enteritidis were placed into PAW for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, or 120 s with a plasma on-site treatment in the water. More than a 4 log reduction was obtained with 60-s and 120-s treatments. The results showed that the freshness indexes of the eggs treated with PAW were similar to those of the untreated controls and better than those of the eggs treated with commercial processes. In addition, observation under a scanning electron microscope also showed less surface damage of the cuticle on the PAW-treated eggs than on the commercially treated eggs. The results of this study indicate that PAW could be an effective antibacterial agent with less damage to the freshness of shell eggs than commercial methods.
Tempered Fractional Equations for Quantum Transport in Mesoscopic One-Dimensional Systems with Fractal Disorder
Authors: Sibatov Renat T. , Sun HongGuang
Published: October 2019

New aspects of electron transport in quantum wires with Lévy-type disorder are described. We study the weak scattering and the incoherent sequential tunneling in one-dimensional quantum systems characterized by a tempered Lévy stable distribution of spacing between scatterers or tunneling barriers. The generalized Dorokhov–Mello–Pereyra–Kumar equation contains the tempered fractional derivative on wire length. The solution describes the evolution from the anomalous conductance distribution to the Dorokhov function for a long wire. For sequential tunneling, average values and relative fluctuations of conductance and resistance are calculated for different parameters of spatial distributions. A tempered Lévy stable distribution of spacing between barriers leads to a transition in conductance scaling.
Geriatric Resource Teams: Equipping Primary Care Practices to Meet the Complex Care Needs of Older Adults
Authors: Buhr Gwendolen , Dixon Carrissa , Dillard Jan , Nickolopoulos Elissa , Bowlby Lynn , Canupp Holly , Matters Loretta , Konrad Thomas , Previll Laura , Heflin Mitchell , McConnell Eleanor
Published: October 2019

Primary care practices lack the time, expertise, and resources to perform traditional comprehensive geriatric assessment. In particular, they need methods to improve their capacity to identify and care for older adults with complex care needs, such as cognitive impairment. As the US population ages, discovering strategies to address these complex care needs within primary care are urgently needed. This article describes the development of an innovative, team-based model to improve the diagnosis and care of older adults with cognitive impairment in primary care practices. This model was developed through a mentoring process from a team with expertise in geriatrics and quality improvement. Refinement of the existing assessment process performed during routine care allowed patients with cognitive impairment to be identified. The practice team then used a collaborative workflow to connect patients with appropriate community resources. Utilization of these processes led to reduced referrals to the geriatrics specialty clinic, fewer patients presenting in a crisis to the social worker, and greater collaboration and self-efficacy for care of those with cognitive impairment within the practice. Although the model was initially developed to address cognitive impairment, the impact has been applied more broadly to improve the care of older adults with multimorbidity.
Cyclodextrin-Elicited Bryophyllum Suspension Cultured Cells: Enhancement of the Production of Bioactive Compounds
Authors: García-Pérez Pascual , Losada-Barreiro Sonia , Gallego Pedro P. , Bravo-Díaz Carlos
Published: October 2019

The rates of production of secondary metabolites obtained by employing conventional plant breeding may be low for practical purposes. Thus, innovative approaches for increasing their rates of production are being developed. Here, we propose the use of elicited plant suspension cultured cells (PSCC) with cyclodextrins (CDs) as an alternative method for the production of bioactive compounds from Bryophyllum species. For this purpose, we analyzed the effects of methyl–β–cyclodextrin and 2–hydroxypropyl–β–cyclodextrin on cell culture growth and on the intra- and extracellular production of phenols and flavonoids. Results clearly show that CDs enhance the biosynthesis of polyphenols by PSCC favoring their accumulation outside the cells. CDs shift the homeostatic equilibrium by complexing extracellular phenolics, causing stress in cells that respond by increasing the production of intracellular phenolics. We also analyzed the radical scavenging activity of the culture medium extracts against 2,2–diphenyl–1–pycrilhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, which increased with respect to the control samples (no added CDs). Our results suggest that both the increase in the production of polyphenols and their radical scavenging activity are a consequence of their inclusion in the CD cavities. Overall, based on our findings, CDs can be employed as hosts for increasing the production of polyphenols from Bryophyllum species.
Complementary Immunometabolic Effects of Exercise and PPARβ/δ Agonist in the Context of Diet-Induced Weight Loss in Obese Female Mice
Authors: Le Garf Sébastien , Murdaca Joseph , Mothe-Satney Isabelle , Sibille Brigitte , Le Menn Gwenaëlle , Chinetti Giulia , Neels Jaap G. , Rousseau Anne-Sophie
Published: October 2019

Regular aerobic exercise, independently of weight loss, improves metabolic and anti-inflammatory states, and can be regarded as beneficial in counteracting obesity-induced low-grade inflammation. However, it is still unknown how exercise alters immunometabolism in a context of dietary changes. Agonists of the Peroxisome Proliferator Activated-Receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ) have been studied this last decade as “exercise-mimetics”, which are potential therapies for metabolic diseases. In this study, we address the question of whether PPARβ/δ agonist treatment would improve the immunometabolic changes induced by exercise in diet-induced obese female mice, having switched from a high fat diet to a normal diet. 24 mice were assigned to groups according to an 8-week exercise training program and/or an 8-week treatment with 3 mg/kg/day of GW0742, a PPARβ/δ agonist. Our results show metabolic changes of peripheral lymphoid tissues with PPARβ/δ agonist (increase in fatty acid oxidation gene expression) or exercise (increase in AMPK activity) and a potentiating effect of the combination of both on the percentage of anti-inflammatory Foxp3+ T cells. Those effects are associated with a decreased visceral adipose tissue mass and skeletal muscle inflammation (TNF-α, Il-6, Il-1β mRNA level), an increase in skeletal muscle oxidative capacities (citrate synthase activity, endurance capacity), and insulin sensitivity. We conclude that a therapeutic approach targeting the PPARβ/δ pathway would improve obesity treatment.
Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3) on Liver, Lung and Brain Proteomes following Sub-Acute Intranasal Exposure: A New Toxicological Assessment in Rat Model Using iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics
Authors: Askri Dalel , Cunin Valérie , Ouni Souhir , Béal David , Rachidi Walid , Sakly Mohsen , Amara Salem , Lehmann Sylvia G. , Sève Michel
Published: October 2019

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) present unique properties making them one of the most used NPs in the biomedical field. Nevertheless, for many years, growing production and use of IONPs are associated with risks that can affect human and the environment. Thus, it is essential to study the effects of these nanoparticles to better understand their mechanism of action and the molecular perturbations induced in the organism. In the present study, we investigated the toxicological effects of IONPs (γ-Fe2O3) on liver, lung and brain proteomes in Wistar rats. Exposed rats received IONP solution during 7 consecutive days by intranasal instillation at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. An iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics was used to study proteomic variations at the level of the three organs. Using this proteomic approach, we identified 1565; 1135 and 1161 proteins respectively in the brain, liver and lung. Amon them, we quantified 1541; 1125 and 1128 proteins respectively in the brain, liver and lung. Several proteins were dysregulated comparing treated samples to controls, particularly, proteins involved in cytoskeleton remodeling, cellular metabolism, immune system stimulation, inflammation process, response to oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and neurodegenerative diseases.
A Genome-Centric Approach Reveals a Novel Glycosyltransferase from the GA A07 Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis Responsible for Catalyzing 15-O-Glycosylation of Ganoderic Acid A
Authors: Chang Te-Sheng , Wang Tzi-Yuan , Hsueh Tzu-Yu , Lee Yu-Wen , Chuang Hsin-Mei , Cai Wen-Xuan , Wu Jiumn-Yih , Chiang Chien-Min , Wu Yu-Wei
Published: October 2019

Strain GA A07 was identified as an intestinal Bacillus bacterium of zebrafish, which has high efficiency to biotransform the triterpenoid, ganoderic acid A (GAA), into GAA-15-O-β-glucoside. To date, only two known enzymes (BsUGT398 and BsUGT489) of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 strain can biotransform GAA. It is thus worthwhile to identify the responsible genes of strain GA A07 by whole genome sequencing. A complete genome of strain GA A07 was successfully assembled. A phylogenomic analysis revealed the species of the GA A07 strain to be Bacillus thuringiensis. Forty glycosyltransferase (GT) family genes were identified from the complete genome, among which three genes (FQZ25_16345, FQZ25_19840, and FQZ25_19010) were closely related to BsUGT398 and BsUGT489. Two of the three candidate genes, FQZ25_16345 and FQZ25_19010, were successfully cloned and expressed in a soluble form in Escherichia coli, and the corresponding proteins, BtGT_16345 and BtGT_19010, were purified for a biotransformation activity assay. An ultra-performance liquid chromatographic analysis further confirmed that only the purified BtGT_16345 had the key biotransformation activity of catalyzing GAA into GAA-15-O-β-glucoside. The suitable conditions for this enzyme activity were pH 7.5, 10 mM of magnesium ions, and 30 °C. In addition, BtGT_16345 showed glycosylation activity toward seven flavonoids (apigenein, quercetein, naringenein, resveratrol, genistein, daidzein, and 8-hydroxydaidzein) and two triterpenoids (GAA and antcin K). A kinetic study showed that the catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) of BtGT_16345 was not significantly different compared with either BsUGT398 or BsUGT489. In short, this study identified BtGT_16345 from B. thuringiensis GA A07 is the catalytic enzyme responsible for the 15-O-glycosylation of GAA and it was also regioselective toward triterpenoid substrates.
Enterovirus-Associated Hand-Foot and Mouth Disease and Neurological Complications in Japan and the Rest of the World
Authors: Gonzalez Gabriel , Carr Michael J. , Kobayashi Masaaki , Hanaoka Nozomu , Fujimoto Tsuguto
Published: October 2019

Enteroviruses (EVs) are responsible for extremely large-scale, periodic epidemics in pediatric cohorts, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. Clinical presentation includes a diverse disease spectrum, including hand-foot and mouth disease (HFMD), aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and acute flaccid myelitis. HFMD is predominantly attributable to EV-A types, including the major pathogen EV-A71, and coxsackieviruses, particularly CV-A6, CV-A16, and CV-A10. There have been multiple EV-A71 outbreaks associated with a profound burden of neurological disease and fatal outcomes in Asia since the early 1980s. Efficacious vaccines against EV-A71 have been developed in China but widespread pediatric vaccination programs have not been introduced in other countries. Encephalitis, as a consequence of complications arising from HFMD infection, leads to damage to the thalamus and medulla oblongata. Studies in Vietnam suggest that myoclonus is a significant indicator of central nervous system (CNS) complications in EV-A71-associated HFMD cases. Rapid response in HFMD cases in children is imperative to prevent the progression to a CNS infection; however, prophylactic and therapeutic agents have not been well established internationally, therefore surveillance and functional studies including development of antivirals and multivalent vaccines is critically important to reduce disease burden in pediatric populations.
Age- and BMI-Associated Expression of Angiogenic Factors in White Adipose Tissue of Children
Authors: Gaebler Niklas , Haggenmüller Benedikt , Kapapa Melanie , Serra Alexandre , Tews Daniel , Funcke Jan-Bernd , Brandt Stephanie , Ioannidis Valentin , Schön Michael , Möller Peter , Debatin Klaus-Michael , Wabitsch Martin , Fischer-Posovszky Pamela
Published: October 2019

The growth of adipose tissue and its vasculature are tightly associated. Angiogenic factors have been linked to obesity, yet little is known about their expression during early childhood. To identify associations of angiogenic factors with characteristics on individual and tissue level, subcutaneous white adipose tissue samples were taken from 45 children aged 0–9 years undergoing elective surgery. We measured the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEFGA), fibroblast growth factor 1 and 2 (FGF1, FGF2), angiopoietin 1 and 2 (ANGPT1, ANGPT2), TEK receptor tyrosine kinase (TEK), and von Willebrand factor (VWF). In addition, we determined the mean adipocyte size in histologic tissue sections. We found positive correlations of age with FGF1 and FGF2 and a negative correlation with ANGPT2, with pronounced differences in the first two years of life. FGF1, FGF2, and ANGPT1 correlated positively with adipocyte size. Furthermore, we identified a correlation of ANGPT1 and TEK with body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), a measure to define childhood obesity. Except for ANGPT2, all angiogenic factors correlated positively with the endothelial marker VWF. In sum, our findings suggest that differences related to BMI-SDS begin early in childhood, and the analyzed angiogenic factors possess distinct roles in adipose tissue biology.
Glycosylation of Zika Virus is Important in Host–Virus Interaction and Pathogenic Potential
Authors: Routhu Nanda Kishore , Lehoux Sylvain D. , Rouse Emily A. , Bidokhti Mehdi R. M. , Giron Leila B. , Anzurez Alitzel , Reid St Patrick , Abdel-Mohsen Mohamed , Cummings Richard D. , Byrareddy Siddappa N.
Published: October 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global public health issue due to its association with severe developmental disorders in infants and neurological disorders in adults. ZIKV uses glycosylation of its envelope (E) protein to interact with host cell receptors to facilitate entry; these interactions could also be important for designing therapeutics and vaccines. Due to a lack of proper information about Asn-linked (N-glycans) on ZIKV E, we analyzed ZIKV E of various strains derived from different cells. We found ZIKV E proteins being extensively modified with oligomannose, hybrid and complex N-glycans of a highly heterogeneous nature. Host cell surface glycans correlated strongly with the glycomic features of ZIKV E. Mechanistically, we observed that ZIKV N-glycans might play a role in viral pathogenesis, as mannose-specific C-type lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN mediate host cell entry of ZIKV. Our findings represent the first detailed mapping of N-glycans on ZIKV E of various strains and their functional significance.
Endothelial Dysfunction in Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Chen Zheng-Wei , Tsai Cheng-Hsuan , Pan Chien-Ting , Chou Chia-Hung , Liao Che-Wei , Hung Chi-Sheng , Wu Vin-Cent , Lin Yen-Hung ,   TAIPAI Study Group
Published: October 2019

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by excess production of aldosterone from the adrenal glands and is the most common and treatable cause of secondary hypertension. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone that participates in the regulation of electrolyte balance, blood pressure, and tissue remodeling. The excess of aldosterone caused by PA results in an increase in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and even arrhythmia and heart failure. Endothelial dysfunction is a well-established fundamental cause of cardiovascular diseases and also a predictor of worse clinical outcomes. Accumulating evidence indicates that aldosterone plays an important role in the initiation and progression of endothelial dysfunction. Several mechanisms have been shown to contribute to aldosterone-induced endothelial dysfunction, including aldosterone-mediated vascular tone dysfunction, aldosterone- and endothelium-mediated vascular inflammation, aldosterone-related atherosclerosis, and vascular remodeling. These mechanisms are activated by aldosterone through genomic and nongenomic pathways in mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent and independent manners. In addition, other cells have also been shown to participate in these mechanisms. The complex interactions among endothelium, inflammatory cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts are crucial for aldosterone-mediated endothelial dysregulation. In this review, we discuss the association between aldosterone and endothelial function and the complex mechanisms from a molecular aspect. Furthermore, we also review current clinical research of endothelial dysfunction in patients with PA.
Disinfection and Sterilization Using Plasma Technology: Fundamentals and Future Perspectives for Biological Applications
Authors: Sakudo Akikazu , Yagyu Yoshihito , Onodera Takashi
Published: October 2019

Recent studies have shown that plasma can efficiently inactivate microbial pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses in addition to degrading toxins. Moreover, this technology is effective at inactivating pathogens on the surface of medical and dental devices, as well as agricultural products. The current practical applications of plasma technology range from sterilizing therapeutic medical devices to improving crop yields, as well as the area of food preservation. This review introduces recent advances and future perspectives in plasma technology, especially in applications related to disinfection and sterilization. We also introduce the latest studies, mainly focusing on the potential applications of plasma technology for the inactivation of microorganisms and the degradation of toxins.
Personas Design for Conversational Systems in Education
Authors: Ali Amer Jid Almahri Fatima , Bell David , Arzoky Mahir
Published: October 2019

This research aims to explore how to enhance student engagement in higher education institutions (HEIs) while using a novel conversational system (chatbots). The principal research methodology for this study is design science research (DSR), which is executed in three iterations: personas elicitation, a survey and development of student engagement factor models (SEFMs), and chatbot interaction analysis. This paper focuses on the first iteration, personas elicitation, which proposes a data-driven persona development method (DDPDM) that utilises machine learning, specifically the K-means clustering technique. Data analysis is conducted using two datasets. Three methods are used to find the K-values: the elbow, gap statistic, and silhouette methods. Subsequently, the silhouette coefficient is used to find the optimal value of K. Eight personas are produced from the two data analyses. The pragmatic findings from this study make two contributions to the current literature. Firstly, the proposed DDPDM uses machine learning, specifically K-means clustering, to build data-driven personas. Secondly, the persona template is designed for university students, which supports the construction of data-driven personas. Future work will cover the second and third iterations. It will cover building SEFMs, building tailored interaction models for these personas and then evaluating them using chatbot technology.
Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Moths Decide to Migrate when Suffering Nutrient Shortage on the First Day after Emergence
Authors: Guo Jia-Wen , Li Ping , Zhang Jie , Liu Xiang-Dong , Zhai Bao-Ping , Hu Gao
Published: October 2019

Migration is a costly strategy in terms of reproduction output. Competition for limited internal resources leads to physiological management of migration-reproduction trade-offs in energy allocation. Migratory insects must choose to determine to allocate energy into reproduction or migration when confronted insufficient energy supply. Although nutrient shortage is known to stimulate insect migration to escape deteriorating habitat, little is known about when and how migratory insects make decisions when confronted by a nutritional shortage. Here Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a migratory rice pest in eastern Asia, was used to study the effects of starvation on reproductive traits, behavioral traits and energy allocation. The result showed that one or two days’ starvation before preoviposition did not significantly reduce the fertility (total egg per female laid) and flight capability (flight duration and distance) of both sexes C. medinalis. The preoviposition period was extended significantly only if moths were starved starting on the first day after emergence. Also, take-off percentage of moths starved since their first day increased significantly, and continued to increase even if supplemental nutrients were supplied as honey solution in later days. Moths starved on the first day appeared to allocate or transfer triglycerides into the thorax to maintain the migration process: the quantity of thoracic triglycerides did not differ with age, but abdominal triglycerides decreased with age if starvation continued. These results indicate that the first day post-emergence is a critical period for C. medinalis to decide to migrate or not in response to lack of food. This furthers our understanding of the population dynamics of migratory insects under natural conditions.
Pre-, Intra-, and Post-Operative Evaluation of Extraocular Muscle Insertions Using Optical Coherence Tomography: A Comparison of Four Devices
Authors: Pihlblad Matthew S. , Troia Andrew , Tibrewal Sapna , Shah Parth R.
Published: October 2019

OCT (optical coherence tomography) is widely used in ophthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology, but limited research has been done on the use of OCT in strabismus. This study investigates the use of different OCT machines to image rectus muscle insertions pre-, intra-, and post-operatively in pediatric strabismus patients. The OCT machines used in the study were a Bioptigen (Leica Microsystems Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL, USA), Spectralis HRA+OCT with Anterior Segment Module (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), Visante (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany), and Zeiss Rescan 700 (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Measurements from the machines were compared with the caliper distance measured during the strabismus surgery before disinsertion or after reattachment. The OCT machines had moderate (Bioptigen: 0.62) to good intraclass correlation coefficients (Rescan: 0.83, Spectralis: 0.85, Visante: 0.88) with intra-operative measurements. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use an operating microscope with integrated intra-operative OCT to image rectus muscle insertions. OCT is a useful tool in strabismus surgical patients in the pre-, intra-, and post-operative settings, particularly in patients who have had previous surgery, when the muscle insertion is unknown. The ability to accurately image rectus muscle insertions has significant implications for the management of strabismus patients.
Effects of Osteopathic Visceral Treatment in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Eguaras Nuria , Rodríguez-López Elena Sonsoles , Lopez-Dicastillo Olga , Franco-Sierra M. Ángeles , Ricard François , Oliva-Pascual-Vaca Ángel
Published: October 2019

Osteopathic manual treatment has been recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). However, to date, no study has supported the effectiveness of this intervention with respect to the symptoms of the disease. Our goal was to assess the effect of an osteopathic manual technique for the lower esophageal sphincter on GERD symptoms, cervical mobility and on the C4 spinous process pressure pain threshold (PPTs). Methods: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed. Sixty subjects suffering from GERD participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG) (n = 29), who received the osteopathic technique for the lower esophageal sphincter, or to a control group (CG) (n = 31), who received a manual contact, which mimicked the osteopathic technique without exerting any therapeutic force. Randomization was computer-generated, with allocation concealed by sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. The GerdQ questionnaire was used to assess symptom changes the week after intervention. Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) and algometer were used to evaluate cervical mobility and PPTs before and after both treatments. Before–after between groups comparison (t-test) was used for statistical analysis of the outcome, with two measurement points (GerdQ), while repeated-measures ANOVA was used for those outcomes with four measurement points (CROM and PPT). Results: The application of the osteopathic manual treatment in subjects with GERD produced a significant improvement in symptoms one week after the intervention (p = 0.005) with a between-groups difference of 1.49 points in GerdQ score (95% CI: 0.47–2.49). PPT C4 improved in the EG after the treatment (p = 0.034; η2 = 0.048) (between-groups difference 8.78 Newton/cm2; 95% CI: 0.48–17.09). CROM also increased in the EG compared to the CG (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.108) (between-groups difference 33.89 degrees; 95% CI: 15.17–52.61). Conclusions: The manual osteopathic technique produces an improvement in GERD symptoms one week after treatment, cervical mobility, and PPTs. This may mean that osteopathic treatment is useful for improving symptoms of GERD.
Transient Laterality of Cerebral Oxygenation Changes in Response to Head-of-Bed Manipulation in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Katayama Naoki , Odagiri Keiichi , Hakamata Akio , Inui Naoki , Yamauchi Katsuya , Watanabe Hiroshi
Published: October 2019

Background: Cerebral oxygenation monitoring provides important information for optimizing individualized management in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Although changes in cerebral oxygenation are known to occur in response to head-of-bed (HOB) elevation within 72 h after onset, changes in cerebral oxygenation during stroke recovery are unclear. We compared changes in total- (tHb), oxygenated- (HbO2), and deoxygenated-hemoglobin (deoxyHb) concentrations in response to HOB manipulation between the timeframes within 72 h and 7–10 days after AIS onset. Methods: We measured forehead ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, and ΔdeoxyHb in response to HOB elevation (30°) within 72 h (first measurement) and 7–10 days (second measurement) after AIS onset using time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. Results: We enrolled 30 participants (mean age 72.8 ± 11.3 years; 13 women) with a first AIS. There were no significant differences in ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, or ΔdeoxyHb measurements on the infarct or contra-infarct side. At the first measurement, ΔtHb, ΔHbO2, and ΔdeoxyHb measured on the contra-infarct side did not correlate with those measured on the infarct side: ΔtHb (r = 0.114, p = 0.539); ΔHbO2 (r = 0.143, p = 0.440); ΔdeoxyHb (r = 0.227, p = 0.221). Notably, at the second measurement, correlation coefficients of ΔtHb and ΔHbO2 between the contra-infarct and infarct sides were statistically significant: ΔtHb (r = 0.491, p = 0.008); ΔHbO2 (r = 0.479, p = 0.010); ΔdeoxyHb (r = 0.358, p = 0.054). Conclusion: Although changes in cerebral oxygenation in response to HOB elevation had a laterality difference between hemispheres within 72 h of AIS onset, the difference had decreased, at least partially, 7–10 days after AIS onset.
Probiotics in Adolescent Prediabetes: A Pilot RCT on Glycemic Control and Intestinal Bacteriome
Authors: Stefanaki Charikleia , Michos Athanasios , Mastorakos George , Mantzou Aimilia , Landis Georgios , Zosi Paraskevi , Bacopoulou Flora
Published: October 2019

Dysbiosis of intestinal ecology could be implicated in prediabetes. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to collect preliminary data on the effects of probiotic supplementation (Vivomixx©) on markers of glucose metabolism, intestinal microbiome composition, and intestinal health indices, of prediabetic adolescents. The intervention group was administered probiotic sachets twice daily for 4 months, while both intervention and control groups received weekly consultation sessions for a healthier lifestyle. Thirty-two participants were recruited (1.3 participants per month) and were randomized (16 in control and 16 in intervention group). Fifteen of them signed the inform consent and never entered the study (6 in control and 9 in intervention group). Thus, seventeen participants completed the study (10 in control and 7 in intervention group), with no serious adverse events. After the 4-month intervention, no difference was observed in the markers of glycemic control between the two groups, although a minor effect was observed for fasting glucose at 1-month, probably due to the initial higher adherence to the probiotic supplements. Modifications of the protocol procedures are warranted because of the high attrition rates and suboptimal compliance that were noted. Future studies and further RCTs with larger samples need to be conducted to fully elucidate the potential effects of probiotics in the glycemic control of prediabetic adolescents.
Automatic Inspection of Aeronautical Mechanical Assemblies by Matching the 3D CAD Model and Real 2D Images
Authors: Ben Abdallah Hamdi , Jovančević Igor , Orteu Jean-José , Brèthes Ludovic
Published: October 2019

In the aviation industry, automated inspection is essential for ensuring quality of production. It allows acceleration of procedures for quality control of parts or mechanical assemblies. As a result, the demand of intelligent visual inspection systems aimed at ensuring high quality in production lines is increasing. In this work, we address a very common problem in quality control. The problem is verification of presence of the correct part and verification of its position. We address the problem in two parts: first, automatic selection of informative viewpoints before the inspection process is started (offline preparation of the inspection) and, second, automatic treatment of the acquired images from said viewpoints by matching them with information in 3D CAD models is launched. We apply this inspection system for detecting defects on aeronautical mechanical assemblies with the aim of checking whether all the subparts are present and correctly mounted. The system can be used during manufacturing or maintenance operations. The accuracy of the system is evaluated on two kinds of platform. One is an autonomous navigation robot, and the other one is a handheld tablet. The experimental results show that our proposed approach is accurate and promising for industrial applications with possibility for real-time inspection.
Deep Learning of Fuzzy Weighted Multi-Resolution Depth Motion Maps with Spatial Feature Fusion for Action Recognition
Authors: Al-Faris Mahmoud , Chiverton John , Yang Yanyan , Ndzi David
Published: October 2019

Human action recognition (HAR) is an important yet challenging task. This paper presents a novel method. First, fuzzy weight functions are used in computations of depth motion maps (DMMs). Multiple length motion information is also used. These features are referred to as fuzzy weighted multi-resolution DMMs (FWMDMMs). This formulation allows for various aspects of individual actions to be emphasized. It also helps to characterise the importance of the temporal dimension. This is important to help overcome, e.g., variations in time over which a single type of action might be performed. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) motion model is created and trained to extract discriminative and compact features. Transfer learning is also used to extract spatial information from RGB and depth data using the AlexNet network. Different late fusion techniques are then investigated to fuse the deep motion model with the spatial network. The result is a spatial temporal HAR model. The developed approach is capable of recognising both human action and human–object interaction. Three public domain datasets are used to evaluate the proposed solution. The experimental results demonstrate the robustness of this approach compared with state-of-the art algorithms.