bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stormwater Quality Benefits of Permeable Pavement Systems with Deep Aggregate Layers
Authors: Abdollahian Sam , Kazemi Hamidreza , Rockaway Thomas , Gullapalli Venkata
Published: June 2018

Green infrastructure (GI) stormwater control measures (SCMs), such as permeable pavement systems, are common practices used for controlling stormwater runoff. In this paper, two permeable pavement strips were studied to quantify their water quality performance. The quality monitoring was coupled with comprehensive rainfall analysis to investigate the effects of common rainfall characteristics on the quality performance of the systems. The pavements utilized deep aggregate layers to promote higher infiltration, and were installed in parking lanes of an urban neighborhood. Water quality samples were collected from upgradient stormwater runoff and from stormwater captured by the permeable pavements. In addition to total suspended solids (TSS), nutrients, and dissolved metals, this research also investigated bacterial contamination (Escherichia coli, E. coli). The results indicated that the two permeable pavement systems significantly reduced concentrations of TSS, E. coli, total phosphorus, and ammonia. The average reductions of TSS and E. coli between the two systems were 47% and 69%, respectively. It was also observed that pollutant loadings in the stormwater runoff, as well as pollutant reductions, were affected by the intensity of sampled rainfall events. Thus, it is suggested to consider the effects of rainfall characteristics when reporting the water quality benefits of stormwater GIs.
PA6 Nanofibre Production: A Comparison between Rotary Jet Spinning and Electrospinning
Authors: Rogalski James J. , Bastiaansen Cees W.M. , Peijs Ton
Published: June 2018

Polymer nanofibres are created from many different techniques, with varying rates of production. Rotary jet spinning is a relatively new technique for making nanofibres from both polymer solutions and melt. With electrospinning being by far the most widespread processing method for polymer nanofibres, we performed a direct comparison of polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibre production between these two methods. It was found that electrospinning produced slightly smaller-diameter fibres, which scaled with a decrease in solution viscosity. In comparison, rotary jet spun fibres could be produced from a reduced range of polymer concentrations and exhibited therefore slightly larger diameters with greater variation. Crystallinity of the fibres was also compared between the two techniques and the bulk polymer, which showed a decrease in crystallinity compared to bulk PA6.
Switching on the Big Burn of 2017
Authors: Balch Jennifer K. , Schoennagel Tania , Williams A. Park , Abatzoglou John T. , Cattau Megan E. , Mietkiewicz Nathan P. , St. Denis Lise A.
Published: June 2018

Fuel, aridity, and ignition switches were all on in 2017, making it one of the largest and costliest wildfire years in the United States (U.S.) since national reporting began. Anthropogenic climate change helped flip on some of these switches rapidly in 2017, and kept them on for longer than usual. Anthropogenic changes to the fire environment will increase the likelihood of such record wildfire years in the coming decades. The 2017 wildfires in the U.S. constitute part of a shifting baseline in risks and costs; meanwhile, effective policies have lagged behind, leaving communities highly vulnerable. Policy efforts to build better and burn better, in the U.S. as well as in other nations with flammable ecosystems, will promote adaptation to increasing wildfire in a warming world.
Current Knowledge on Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms in Food-Related Environments: Incidence, Resistance to Biocides, Ecology and Biocontrol
Authors: Rodríguez-López Pedro , Rodríguez-Herrera Juan José , Vázquez-Sánchez Daniel , López Cabo Marta
Published: June 2018

Although many efforts have been made to control Listeria monocytogenes in the food industry, growing pervasiveness amongst the population over the last decades has made this bacterium considered to be one of the most hazardous foodborne pathogens. Its outstanding biocide tolerance capacity and ability to promiscuously associate with other bacterial species forming multispecies communities have permitted this microorganism to survive and persist within the industrial environment. This review is designed to give the reader an overall picture of the current state-of-the-art in L. monocytogenes sessile communities in terms of food safety and legislation, ecological aspects and biocontrol strategies.
Land Use Change Assessment and Water Quality of Ephemeral Ponds for Irrigation in the North West Province, South Africa
Authors: Asare Frederick , Palamuleni Lobina G. , Ruhiiga Tabukeli
Published: June 2018

In the semi-arid environments of the North West province of South Africa the amount, timing, and distribution of rainfall is irregular, while water accessibility is a key factor in production. In line with this, a study was conducted to assess the impact of land use change on water quality and water depth within the sub-catchment areas of ephemeral ponds. To determine land use dynamics, 2004 and 2013 Landsat images were classified using maximum likelihood algorithm. Pond water quality was analysed for physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters using standard the American Public Health Association (APHA) methods. Multiple linear regression models were computed to determine relationships between land use changes and water quality parameters. Results revealed a reduction in grass cover, whereas built-up areas increased at the expense of bare land. All the values for the physical characteristics were higher than the recommended Department of Water Affairs (DWAF) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) limits, but chemical parameters, except cadmium, were within limits. Regression showed that bare areas have a positive effect on Escherichia coli (E. coli) in ephemeral pond water. The study highlights the suitability of pond water for irrigation to increase crop production and the effects of land use changes on ecosystems as critical for proper catchment planning, water resource management, and food security.
Connexins and Pannexins in Vascular Function and Disease
Authors: Molica Filippo , Figueroa Xavier F. , Kwak Brenda R. , Isakson Brant E. , Gibbins Jonathan M.
Published: June 2018

Connexins (Cxs) and pannexins (Panxs) are ubiquitous membrane channel forming proteins that are critically involved in many aspects of vascular physiology and pathology. The permeation of ions and small metabolites through Panx channels, Cx hemichannels and gap junction channels confers a crucial role to these proteins in intercellular communication and in maintaining tissue homeostasis. This review provides an overview of current knowledge with respect to the pathophysiological role of these channels in large arteries, the microcirculation, veins, the lymphatic system and platelet function. The essential nature of these membrane proteins in vascular homeostasis is further emphasized by the pathologies that are linked to mutations and polymorphisms in Cx and Panx genes.
Luteoloside Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis Involving MAPK and mTOR Signaling Pathways in Human Cervical Cancer Cells
Authors: Shao Junli , Wang Chaoxi , Li Linqiu , Liang Hairong , Dai Juanxiu , Ling Xiaoxuan , Tang Huanwen
Published: June 2018

Cervical cancer is a common gynecological malignancy with high incidence and mortality. Drugs commonly used in chemotherapy are often accompanied by strong side-effects. To find an anti-cervical cancer drug with high effects and low toxicity, luteoloside was used to treat the cervical cancer cell line Hela to investigate its effects on cell morphology, proliferation, apoptosis, and related proteins. The study demonstrated that luteoloside could inhibit proliferation remarkably; promote apoptosis and cytochrome C release; decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species level; upregulate the expression of Fas, Bax, p53, phospho-p38, phospho-JNK, and cleaved PARP; downregulate the expression of Bcl-2 and phospho-mTOR; activate caspase-3 and caspase-8; change the nuclear morphology, and fragmentate DNA in Hela cells. These results strongly suggest that luteoloside can significantly inhibit the proliferation and trigger apoptosis in Hela cells. In contrast, luteoloside had less proliferation inhibiting effects on the normal cell lines HUVEC12 and LO2, and minor apoptosis promoting effects on HUVEC12 cells. Furthermore, the luteoloside-induced apoptosis in Hela cells is mediated by both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and the effects of luteoloside may be regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinases and mTOR signaling pathways via p53.
Interleukin-34 Regulates Th1 and Th17 Cytokine Production by Activating Multiple Signaling Pathways through CSF-1R in Chicken Cell Lines
Authors: Truong Anh Duc , Hong Yeojin , Lee Janggeun , Lee Kyungbaek , Kil Dong Yong , Lillehoj Hyun S. , Hong Yeong Ho
Published: June 2018

Interleukin-34 (IL-34) is a newly recognized cytokine with functions similar to macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1. It is expressed in macrophages and fibroblasts, where it induces cytokine production; however, the mechanism of chicken IL-34 (chIL-34) signaling has not been identified to date. The aim of this study was to analyze the signal transduction pathways and specific biological functions associated with chIL-34 in chicken macrophage (HD11) and fibroblast (OU2) cell lines. We found that IL-34 is a functional ligand for the colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF-1R) in chicken cell lines. Treatment with chIL-34 increased the expression of Th1 and Th17 cytokines through phosphorylation of tyrosine and serine residues in Janus kinase (JAK) 2, tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1, STAT3, and Src homology 2-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2), which also led to phosphorylation of NF-κB1, p-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7 (TAK1), MyD88, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Taken together, these results suggest that chIL-34 functions by binding to CSF-1R and activating the JAK/STAT, nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways; these signaling events regulate cytokine expression and suggest roles for chIL-34 in innate and adaptive immunity.
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Food Safety
Authors: Moreira Rute , Pereira David M. , Valentão Patrícia , Andrade Paula B.
Published: June 2018

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are widely distributed in plants throughout the world, frequently in species relevant for human consumption. Apart from the toxicity that these molecules can cause in humans and livestock, PA are also known for their wide range of pharmacological properties, which can be exploited in drug discovery programs. In this work we review the current body of knowledge regarding the chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology and food safety of PA.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Chronic Venous Disease and Implications for Venoactive Drug Therapy
Authors: Mansilha Armando , Sousa Joel
Published: June 2018

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common pathology, with significant physical and psychological impacts for patients and high economic costs for national healthcare systems. Throughout the last decades, several risk factors for this condition have been identified, but only recently, have the roles of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction been properly assessed. Although still incompletely understood, current knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CVD reveals several potential targets and strategies for therapeutic intervention, some of which are addressable by currently available venoactive drugs. The roles of these drugs in the clinical improvement of venous tone and contractility, reduction of edema and inflammation, as well as in improved microcirculation and venous ulcer healing have been studied extensively, with favorable results reported in the literature. Here, we aim to review these pathophysiological mechanisms and their implications regarding currently available venoactive drug therapies.
DNA Nanotechnology for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Chen Tianshu , Ren Lingjie , Liu Xiaohao , Zhou Mengru , Li Lingling , Xu Jingjing , Zhu Xiaoli
Published: June 2018

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, because of the lack of accurate diagnostic tools for the early stages of cancer. Thus, early diagnosis, which provides important information for a timely therapy of cancer, is of great significance for controlling the development of the disease and the proliferation of cancer cells and for improving the survival rates of patients. To achieve the goals of early diagnosis and timely therapy of cancer, DNA nanotechnology may be effective, since it has emerged as a valid technique for the fabrication of various nanoscale structures and devices. The resultant DNA-based nanoscale structures and devices show extraordinary performance in cancer diagnosis, owing to their predictable secondary structures, small sizes, and high biocompatibility and programmability. In particular, the rapid development of DNA nanotechnologies, such as molecular assembly technologies, endows DNA-based nanomaterials with more functionalization and intellectualization. Here, we summarize recent progress made in the development of DNA nanotechnology for the fabrication of functional and intelligent nanomaterials and highlight the prospects of this technology in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Validation of LDLr Activity as a Tool to Improve Genetic Diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Retrospective on Functional Characterization of LDLr Variants
Authors: Benito-Vicente Asier , Uribe Kepa , Jebari Shifa , Galicia-Garcia Unai , Ostolaza Helena , Martin Cesar
Published: June 2018

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by high blood-cholesterol levels mostly caused by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr). With a prevalence as high as 1/200 in some populations, genetic screening for pathogenic LDLr mutations is a cost-effective approach in families classified as ‘definite’ or ‘probable’ FH and can help to early diagnosis. However, with over 2000 LDLr variants identified, distinguishing pathogenic mutations from benign mutations is a long-standing challenge in the field. In 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the importance of improving the diagnosis and prognosis of FH patients thus, identifying LDLr pathogenic variants is a longstanding challenge to provide an accurate genetic diagnosis and personalized treatments. In recent years, accessible methodologies have been developed to assess LDLr activity in vitro, providing experimental reproducibility between laboratories all over the world that ensures rigorous analysis of all functional studies. In this review we present a broad spectrum of functionally characterized missense LDLr variants identified in patients with FH, which is mandatory for a definite diagnosis of FH.
The Neuromuscular Junction and Wide Heterogeneity of Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes
Authors: Rodríguez Cruz Pedro M. , Palace Jacqueline , Beeson David
Published: June 2018

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are genetic disorders characterised by impaired neuromuscular transmission. This review provides an overview on CMS and highlights recent advances in the field, including novel CMS causative genes and improved therapeutic strategies. CMS due to mutations in SLC5A7 and SLC18A3, impairing the synthesis and recycling of acetylcholine, have recently been described. In addition, a novel group of CMS due to mutations in SNAP25B, SYT2, VAMP1, and UNC13A1 encoding molecules implicated in synaptic vesicles exocytosis has been characterised. The increasing number of presynaptic CMS exhibiting CNS manifestations along with neuromuscular weakness demonstrate that the myasthenia can be only a small part of a much more extensive disease phenotype. Moreover, the spectrum of glycosylation abnormalities has been increased with the report that GMPPB mutations can cause CMS, thus bridging myasthenic disorders with dystroglycanopathies. Finally, the discovery of COL13A1 mutations and laminin α5 deficiency has helped to draw attention to the role of extracellular matrix proteins for the formation and maintenance of muscle endplates. The benefit of β2-adrenergic agonists alone or combined with pyridostigmine or 3,4-Dyaminopiridine is increasingly being reported for different subtypes of CMS including AChR-deficiency and glycosylation abnormalities, thus expanding the therapeutic repertoire available.
Polysialic Acid in Human Plasma Can Compensate the Cytotoxicity of Histones
Authors: Zlatina Kristina , Saftenberger Max , Kühnle Andrea , Galuska Christina E. , Gärtner Ulrich , Rebl Alexander , Oster Michael , Vernunft Andreas , Galuska Sebastian P.
Published: June 2018

The innate immune system has numerous mechanisms to fight against pathogens, including the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). By spreading out chromatin, antimicrobial peptides and enzymes, neutrophils efficiently trap pathogens like bacteria and facilitate their elimination. During this process, high concentrations of extracellular histones can be reached. Several researchers have demonstrated that the cytotoxic characteristics of these histones can trigger diseases like sepsis. Interestingly, the carbohydrate polysialic acid (polySia) can bind histones and reduce histone-mediated cytotoxicity in a chain length-dependent manner. In the present study, we examined the chain length of polySia in plasma and tested its ability to decrease the cytotoxic characteristics of extracellular histones. Remarkably, we detected polySia not only in the soluble fraction of plasma, but also on enriched extracellular vesicles (EVs). Chain length analysis revealed that polySia chains originating from human plasma can consists of more than 40 sialic acid residues and show a cytoprotective effect against extracellular histones. Intriguingly, polySia is not only present in human plasma but also in fish and other branches of vertebrates. Thus, polySia is a physiological element in plasma and may represent a natural buffer for extracellular histones.
Alternative Practitioners Amuse the Patient, While Medics Cure the Disease
Authors: Ernst Edzard
Published: June 2018

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Porosity, Surface Quality, Microhardness and Microstructure of Selective Laser Melted 316L Stainless Steel Resulting from Finish Machining
Authors: Kaynak Yusuf , Kitay Ozhan
Published: June 2018

Among additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is widely used to fabricate metal components, including biocompatible bone implants made of 316L stainless steel. However, an issue with the components manufactured using this technique is the surface quality, which is generally beyond the acceptable range. Thus, hybrid manufacturing, including AM and finish machining processes, are being developed and implemented in the industry. Machining processes, particularly finish machining, are needed to improve surface quality of additively manufactured components and performance. This study focuses on the finish machining process of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel parts. Finish machining tests were carried out under dry conditions for various cutting speeds and feed rates. The experimental study reveals that finish machining resulted in up to 88% lower surface roughness of SLMed 316L stainless steel; it also had a substantial effect on microstructure and microhardness of the additively manufactured components by creating smaller grains and strain-hardened layer on the surface and subsurface of the SLMed part. The finish machining process also significantly decreased the density of porosity on the surface and subsurface, compared to an as-built sample. The created strain harden layer with less porosity is expected to increases wear and fatigue resistance of these parts.
Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology
Authors: Kumbier Kristian , Carvalho Rafael C. , Woodroffe Colin D.
Published: June 2018

Sea-level rise (SLR) will affect the hydrodynamics and flooding characteristics of estuaries which are a function of the geomorphology of particular estuarine systems. This study presents a numerical modelling of coastal flooding due to drivers such as spring-tides, storm surges and river inflows and examines how these will change under sea-level increases of 0.4 m and 0.9 m for two estuaries that are at different geomorphological evolutionary stages of infill. Our results demonstrate that estuarine response to SLR varies between different types of estuaries, and detailed modelling is necessary to understand the nature and extent of inundation in response to SLR. Comparison of modelling results indicates that floodplain elevation is fundamental in order to identify the most vulnerable systems and estimate how inundation extents and depths may change in the future. Floodplains in mature estuarine systems may drown and experience a considerable increase in inundation depths once a certain threshold in elevation has been exceeded. By contrast, immature estuarine systems may be subject to increases in relative inundation extent and substantial changes in hydrodynamics such as tidal range and current velocity. The unique nature of estuaries does not allow for generalisations; however, classifications of estuarine geomorphology could indicate how certain types of estuary may respond to SLR.
Boundary Element Modelling Aspects for the Hydro-Elastic Analysis of Flexible Marine Propellers
Authors: Maljaars Pieter , Kaminski Mirek , Den Besten Henk
Published: June 2018

Boundary element methods (BEM) have been used for propeller hydrodynamic calculations since the 1990s. More recently, these methods are being used in combination with finite element methods (FEM) in order to calculate flexible propeller fluid–structure interaction (FSI) response. The main advantage of using BEM for flexible propeller FSI calculations is the relatively low computational demand in comparison with higher fidelity methods. However, the BEM modelling of flexible propellers is not straightforward and requires several important modelling decisions. The consequences of such modelling choices depend significantly on propeller structural behaviour and flow condition. The two dimensionless quantities that characterise structural behaviour and flow condition are the structural frequency ratio (the ratio between the lowest excitation frequency and the fundamental wet blade natural frequency) and the reduced frequency. For both, general expressions have been derived for (flexible) marine propellers. This work shows that these expressions can be effectively used to estimate the dry and wet fundamental blade frequencies and the structural frequency ratio. This last parameter and the reduced frequency of vibrating blade flows is independent of the geometrical blade scale as shown in this work. Regarding the BEM-FEM coupled analyses, it is shown that a quasi-static FEM modelling does not suffice, particularly due to the fluid-added mass and hydrodynamic damping contributions that are not negligible. It is demonstrated that approximating the hydro-elastic blade response by using closed form expressions for the fluid added mass and hydrodynamic damping terms provides reasonable results, since the structural response of flexible propellers is stiffness dominated, meaning that the importance of modelling errors in fluid added mass and hydrodynamic damping is small. Finally, it is shown that the significance of recalculating the hydrodynamic influence coefficients is relatively small. This fact might be utilized, possibly in combination with the use of the closed form expressions for fluid added mass and hydrodynamic damping contributions, to significantly reduce the computation time of flexible propeller FSI calculations.
Candida glabrata’s Genome Plasticity Confers a Unique Pattern of Expressed Cell Wall Proteins
Authors: López-Fuentes Eunice , Gutiérrez-Escobedo Guadalupe , Timmermans Bea , Van Dijck Patrick , De Las Peñas Alejandro , Castaño Irene
Published: June 2018

Candida glabrata is the second most common cause of candidemia, and its ability to adhere to different host cell types, to microorganisms, and to medical devices are important virulence factors. Here, we consider three characteristics that confer extraordinary advantages to C. glabrata within the host. (1) C. glabrata has a large number of genes encoding for adhesins most of which are localized at subtelomeric regions. The number and sequence of these genes varies substantially depending on the strain, indicating that C. glabrata can tolerate high genomic plasticity; (2) The largest family of CWPs (cell wall proteins) is the EPA (epithelial adhesin) family of adhesins. Epa1 is the major adhesin and mediates adherence to epithelial, endothelial and immune cells. Several layers of regulation like subtelomeric silencing, cis-acting regulatory regions, activators, nutritional signaling, and stress conditions tightly regulate the expression of many adhesin-encoding genes in C. glabrata, while many others are not expressed. Importantly, there is a connection between acquired resistance to xenobiotics and increased adherence; (3) Other subfamilies of adhesins mediate adherence to Candida albicans, allowing C. glabrata to efficiently invade the oral epithelium and form robust biofilms. It is noteworthy that every C. glabrata strain analyzed presents a unique pattern of CWPs at the cell surface.
Approximating Forest Resource Dynamics in Peninsular Malaysia Using Parametric and Nonparametric Models, and Its Implications for Establishing Forest Reference (Emission) Levels under REDD+
Authors: Michinaka Tetsuya
Published: June 2018

Forest reference (emission) levels (FREL/FRLs) are baselines for REDD+, and 34 countries have submitted their FREL/FRLs to UNFCCC by January 2018. Most of them used simple historical average without considering the stages of forest transition. This research suggested that the period of calculating FREL/FRLs of simple historical average should be properly chosen if these countries are occupying multiple stages or sub-stages of forest transition. Moreover, as a case study, this research applied both parametric and nonparametric models to approximate forest area dynamics with regard to per capita GDP in Peninsular Malaysia from 1971 to 2016. This research found that, in the case of Peninsular Malaysia, among the parametric models, the biexponential model outperformed the other growth models, while two of the nonparametric models i.e. Friedman local averaging and Nadaraya–Watson kernel smoothing models are the best among all the models on the basis of their RSS, RMSE, and MAE indices. Based on the results of our leave-last-five-out CV, however, the research found that the biexponential and Nadaraya–Watson kernel smoothing models performed best, although the performance of the other two nonparametric models remains unknown. Nonparametric model results indicated that Peninsular Malaysia experienced four sub-stages since 1971 and each sub-stage had different linear trends, yet it still did not reach the turning point of forest transition. This research also found that a linear projection using historical deforestation data when the per capita GDP level reached US$8000 was appropriate for setting FREL/FRLs.
Formation of Cl-Doped ZnO Thin Films by a Cathodic Electrodeposition for Use as a Window Layer in CIGS Solar Cells
Authors: Ao Jianping , Fu Rui , Jeng Ming-Jer , Bi Jinlian , Yao Liyong , Gao Shoushuai , Sun Guozhong , He Qing , Zhou Zhiqiang , Sun Yun , Chang Liann-Be
Published: June 2018

Zinc oxide films that are prepared by radio frequency (RF) sputtering are widely used as window layers in copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells. To reduce their production cost, the electrodeposition method for preparing Cl-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Cl), rather than sputtering, was studied. The electrodeposition parameters of injected current density and the pH of the electrolyte solution were studied. A moderate current density was used to yield high quality zinc oxides. The pH of the electrolyte greatly affected the formation of ZnO films. The pH value of the electrolyte that ensured that zinc oxides of high quality are obtained was close to seven. Electrodeposited ZnO:Cl films had higher transmittance than ZnO:Al films in the near-infrared region and so they can be used to improve the performance of solar cells. Our experiments revealed that the CIGS solar cells with electrodeposited ZnO:Cl films as a window layer were slightly more efficient than those with sputtered ZnO:Al films.
Effect of Tetrodotoxin Pellets in a Rat Model of Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Hong Bihong , Sun Jipeng , Zheng Hongzhi , Le Qingqing , Wang Changsen , Bai Kaikai , He Jianlin , He Huanghuang , Dong Yanming
Published: June 2018

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is nerve pain caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. Medications are used to reduce PHN but their use is limited by serious side effects. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a latent neurotoxin that can block neuropathic pain, but its therapeutic index is only 3–5 times with intravenous or intramuscular injection. Therefore, we prepared oral TTX pellets and examined their effect in a rat model of PHN induced by resiniferatoxin (RTX). Oral TTX pellets were significantly effective at preventing RTX-induced mechanical and thermal allodynia, and similar to pregabalin. Moreover, oral administration of TTX pellets dose-dependently inhibited RTX-induced PHN compared with intramuscular administration of TTX injection. We also studied the pharmacokinetic profile of TTX pellets. Our results showed that the blood concentration of TTX reached a maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) at around 2 h, with an elimination half-life time (t1/2) of 3.23 ± 1.74 h after intragastric administration. The median lethal dose (LD50) of TTX pellets was 517.43 μg/kg via oral administration to rats, while the median effective dose (ED50) was approximately 5.85 μg/kg, and the therapeutic index was 88.45. Altogether, this has indicated that oral TTX pellets greatly enhance safety when compared with TTX injection.
Daily Intake of Protein from Cod Residual Material Lowers Serum Concentrations of Nonesterified Fatty Acids in Overweight Healthy Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Pilot Study
Authors: Vildmyren Iselin , Cao Huy John Vu , Haug Lina Bowitz , Valand Ida Ulrikke , Eng Øyvin , Oterhals Åge , Austgulen Maren Hoff , Halstensen Alfred , Mellgren Gunnar , Gudbrandsen Oddrun A.
Published: June 2018

Improved process technologies have allowed fishing vessels to utilize residuals from cod fillet production (head, backbone, skin, cuttings, and entrails) and convert this to high-quality protein powders for human consumption. In this double-blind pilot study, 42 healthy overweight or obese adults were randomized to three experimental groups consuming tablets corresponding to 6 g/day of proteins from cod residuals as presscake meal (Cod-PC), presscake and stickwater meal (Cod-PCW), or placebo tablets (control) for eight weeks. The primary outcome of this study was changes in metabolites related to glucose regulation in overweight or obese healthy adults after intake of proteins from cod residuals. Cod-PC supplementation decreased postprandial serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration and increased gene expressions of diglyceride acyltransferase 1 and 2 in subcutaneous adipose tissue compared with controls. Fasting insulin increased while fasting NEFA and 120-min postprandial glucose decreased within the Cod-PC group, but these changes did not differ from the other groups. In conclusion, supplementation with Cod-PC beneficially affected postprandial serum NEFA concentration compared with the other groups in overweight or obese adults. Supplementation with Cod-PCW, which contains a higher fraction of water-soluble protein compared to Cod-PC, did not affect serum markers of glucose regulation.
Anti-Obesity Effect of Chitosan Oligosaccharide Capsules (COSCs) in Obese Rats by Ameliorating Leptin Resistance and Adipogenesis
Authors: Pan Haitao , Fu Chuhan , Huang Lanlan , Jiang Yao , Deng Xiaoyi , Guo Jiao , Su Zhengquan
Published: June 2018

Obesity is a global disease that causes many metabolic disorders. However, effective agents for the prevention or treatment of obesity remain limited. This study investigated the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of chitosan oligosaccharide capsules (COSCs) on rats suffering from obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). After the eight-week administration of COSCs on obese rats, the body weight gain, fat/body ratio, and related biochemical indices were measured. The hepatic expressions of the leptin signal pathway (JAK2-STAT3) and gene expressions of adipogenesis-related targets were also determined. Our data showed that COSCs can regulate body weight gain, lipids, serum alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as upregulate the hepatic leptin receptor-b (LepRb) and the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3. Meanwhile, marked increased expressions of liver sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, adiponectin, adipose peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α, adipose differentiation-related protein, and SREBP-1c were observed. The results suggested that COSCs activate the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway to alleviate leptin resistance and suppress adipogenesis to reduce lipid accumulation. Thus, they can potentially be used for obesity treatment.
The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Roychowdhury Sanjoy , Selvakumar Praveen Conjeevaram , Cresci Gail A.M.
Published: June 2018

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, with prevalence increasing in parallel with the rising incidence in obesity. Believed to be a “multiple-hit” disease, several factors contribute to NAFLD initiation and progression. Of these, the gut microbiome is gaining interest as a significant factor in NAFLD prevalence. In this paper, we provide an in-depth review of the progression of NAFLD, discussing the mechanistic modes of hepatocyte injury and the potential role for manipulation of the gut microbiome as a therapeutic strategy in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
Chemotypes and Biomarkers of Seven Species of New Caledonian Liverworts from the Bazzanioideae Subfamily
Authors: Métoyer Benjamin , Lebouvier Nicolas , Hnawia Edouard , Herbette Gaëtan , Thouvenot Louis , Asakawa Yoshinori , Nour Mohammed , Raharivelomanana Phila
Published: June 2018

Volatile components of seven species of the Bazzanioideae sub-family (Lepidoziaceae) native to New Caledonia, including three endemic species (Bazzania marginata, Acromastigum caledonicum and A. tenax), were analyzed by GC-FID-MS in order to index these plants to known or new chemotypes. Detected volatile constituents in studied species were constituted mainly by sesquiterpene, as well as diterpene compounds. All so-established compositions cannot successfully index some of them to known chemotypes but afforded the discovery of new chemotypes such as cuparane/fusicoccane. The major component of B. francana was isolated and characterized as a new zierane-type sesquiterpene called ziera-12(13),10(14)-dien-5-ol (23). In addition, qualitative intraspecies variations of chemical composition were very important particularly for B. francana which possessed three clearly defined different compositions. We report here also the first phytochemical investigation of Acromastigum species. Moreover, crude diethyl ether extract of B. vitatta afforded a new bis(bibenzyl) called vittatin (51), for which a putative biosynthesis was suggested.
Sequencing and Analysis of Chrysanthemum carinatum Schousb and Kalimeris indica. The Complete Chloroplast Genomes Reveal Two Inversions and rbcL as Barcoding of the Vegetable
Authors: Liu Xia , Zhou Boyang , Yang Hongyuan , Li Yuan , Yang Qian , Lu Yuzhuo , Gao Yu
Published: June 2018

Chrysanthemum carinatum Schousb and Kalimeris indica are widely distributed edible vegetables and the sources of the Chinese medicine Asteraceae. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Asteraceae usually occurs in the inversions of two regions. Hence, the cp genome sequences and structures of Asteraceae species are crucial for the cp genome genetic diversity and evolutionary studies. Hence, in this paper, we have sequenced and analyzed for the first time the cp genome size of C. carinatum Schousb and K. indica, which are 149,752 bp and 152,885 bp, with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (24,523 bp and 25,003) separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (82,290 bp and 84,610) and a small single copy (SSC) region (18,416 bp and 18,269), respectively. In total, 79 protein-coding genes, 30 distinct transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, four distinct rRNA genes and two pseudogenes were found not only in C. carinatum Schousb but also in the K. indica cp genome. Fifty-two (52) and fifty-nine (59) repeats, and seventy (70) and ninety (90) simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found in the C. carinatum Schousb and K. indica cp genomes, respectively. Codon usage analysis showed that leucine, isoleucine, and serine are the most frequent amino acids and that the UAA stop codon was the significantly favorite stop codon in both cp genomes. The two inversions, the LSC region ranging from trnC-GCA to trnG-UCC and the whole SSC region were found in both of them. The complete cp genome comparison with other Asteraceae species showed that the coding area is more conservative than the non-coding area. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the rbcL gene is a good barcoding marker for identifying different vegetables. These results give an insight into the identification, the barcoding, and the understanding of the evolutionary model of the Asteraceae cp genome.
Aspirin Derivative 5-(Bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)amino)-2-hydroxybenzoic Acid Improves Thermotolerance via Stress Response Proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Huang Xiao-Bing , Wu Gui-Sheng , Ke Lei-Yu , Zhou Xiao-Gang , Wang Yue-Hu , Luo Huai-Rong
Published: June 2018

Aging is a major risk factor for many prevalent diseases. Pharmacological intervention to improve the health span and extend the lifespan could be a preventive elixir for aging and age-related diseases. The non-steroid anti-inflammation medicine aspirin was reported to delay aging in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and mice. We are wondering if the analogues of aspirin could also present antiaging activity. Here, we synthesized several aspirin derivatives and investigated their thermotolerance and antiaging effect in C. elegans. One of the compounds, 5-(bis(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)amino)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid, moderately increased the survival of C. elegans under heat stress, but could not extend the lifespan under optimum conditions. This compound could increase the mRNA level of stress response gene gst-4, and the mRNA and protein expression level of heat shock protein hsp-16.2 under heat stress. The failure of activating the transcription factor DAF-16 might explain why this compound could not act as aspirin to extend the lifespan of C. elegans. Our results would help further the investigation of the pharmacological activity of aspirin analogues and the relationship between structures and activity.
Adiposity and Serum Selenium in U.S. Adults
Authors: Zhong Qiuan , Lin Ruoxi , Nong Qingjiao
Published: June 2018

Requirements for selenium and other antioxidant nutrients are increased in pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory conditions such as excess adiposity. Data concerning the association of excess general and central adiposity with circulating selenium concentrations, however, are limited. We examined the cross-sectional associations of body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), and waist circumference (WC) with serum selenium concentrations in 6440 men and 6849 women aged ≥20 years who participated in the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In multivariable analyses, the average difference (95% confidence interval (CI)) in serum selenium comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of BMI was −4.0 (−5.5, −1.6) ng/mL in both men and women. These inverse associations were evident after further adjustment for WC. For %BF, the average differences (95% CI) in serum selenium between the highest and the lowest quartiles of %BF were −1.7 (−4.2, 0.7) ng/mL in men and −4.5 (−7.0, −1.9) ng/mL in women. The inverse association in women persisted after adjusting for WC. For WC, the average differences (95% CI) in serum selenium between the highest and the lowest quartiles were −1.9 (−3.8, −0.1) ng/mL in men and −3.9 (−5.8, −2.0) ng/mL in women. After further adjustment for BMI, the inverse association became positive in men and null in women. Our findings suggest that general and central adiposity have different associations with serum selenium levels and that these associations may depend on gender.
Quantitative Scanning Laue Diffraction Microscopy: Application to the Study of 3D Printed Nickel-Based Superalloys
Authors: Zhou Guangni , Kou Jiawei , Li Yao , Zhu Wenxin , Chen Kai , Tamura Nobumichi
Published: June 2018

Progress in computing speed and algorithm efficiency together with advances in area detector and X-ray optics technologies have transformed the technique of synchrotron radiation-based scanning Laue X-ray microdiffraction. It has now evolved into a near real-time quantitative imaging tool for material structure and deformation at the micrometer and nanometer scales. We will review the achievements of this technique at the Advanced Light Source (Berkeley, CA, USA), and demonstrate its application in the thorough microstructural investigations of laser-assisted 3D printed nickel-based superalloys.
The Generalized Gamma-DBN for High-Resolution SAR Image Classification
Authors: Zhao Zhiqiang , Guo Lei , Jia Meng , Wang Lei
Published: June 2018

With the increase of resolution, effective characterization of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image becomes one of the most critical problems in many earth observation applications. Inspired by deep learning and probability mixture models, a generalized Gamma deep belief network (g Γ-DBN) is proposed for SAR image statistical modeling and land-cover classification in this work. Specifically, a generalized Gamma-Bernoulli restricted Boltzmann machine (gΓB-RBM) is proposed to capture high-order statistical characterizes from SAR images after introducing the generalized Gamma distribution. After stacking the g Γ B-RBM and several standard binary RBMs in a hierarchical manner, a gΓ-DBN is constructed to learn high-level representation of different SAR land-covers. Finally, a discriminative neural network is constructed by adding an additional predict layer for different land-covers over the constructed deep structure. Performance of the proposed approach is evaluated via several experiments on some high-resolution SAR image patch sets and two large-scale scenes which are captured by ALOS PALSAR-2 and COSMO-SkyMed satellites respectively.
Distributed Systematic Network Coding for Reliable Content Uploading in Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks
Authors: Chau Phuc , Shin Jitae , Jeong Jaehoon (Paul)
Published: June 2018

Recently, the wireless sensor network paradigm is shifting toward research aimed at enabling the robust delivery of multimedia content. A challenge is to deliver multimedia content with predefined levels of Quality of Service (QoS) under resource constraints such as bandwidth, energy, and delay. In this paper, we propose a distributed systematic network coding (DSNC) scheme for reliable multimedia content uploading over wireless multimedia sensor networks, in which a large number of multimedia sensor nodes upload their own content to a sink through a cluster head node. The design objective is to increase the reliability and bandwidth-efficient utilization in uploading with low decoding complexity. The proposed scheme consists of two phases: in the first phase, each sensor node distributedly encodes the content into systematic network coding packets and transmits them to the cluster head; then in the second phase, the cluster head encodes all successfully decoded incoming packets from multiple sensor nodes into innovative systematic network coding packets and transmits them to the sink. A bandwidth-efficient and channel-aware error control algorithm is proposed to enhance the bandwidth-efficient utilization by dynamically determining the optimal number of innovative coded packets. For performance analysis and evaluation, we firstly derive the closed-form equations of decoding probability to validate the effectiveness of the proposed uploading scheme. Furthermore, we perform various simulations along with a discussion in terms of three performance metrics: decoding probability, redundancy, and image quality measurement. The analytical and experimental results demonstrate that the performance of our proposed DSNC outperforms the existing uploading schemes.
Optical Fiber-Tip Sensors Based on In-Situ µ-Printed Polymer Suspended-Microbeams
Authors: Yao Mian , Ouyang Xia , Wu Jushuai , Zhang A. Ping , Tam Hwa-Yaw , Wai P. K. A.
Published: June 2018

Miniature optical fiber-tip sensors based on directly µ-printed polymer suspended-microbeams are presented. With an in-house optical 3D μ-printing technology, SU-8 suspended-microbeams are fabricated in situ to form Fabry–Pérot (FP) micro-interferometers on the end face of standard single-mode optical fiber. Optical reflection spectra of the fabricated FP micro-interferometers are measured and fast Fourier transform is applied to analyze the cavity of micro-interferometers. The applications of the optical fiber-tip sensors for refractive index (RI) sensing and pressure sensing, which showed 917.3 nm/RIU to RI change and 4.29 nm/MPa to pressure change, respectively, are demonstrated in the experiments. The sensors and their optical µ-printing method unveil a new strategy to integrate complicated microcomponents on optical fibers toward ‘lab-on-fiber’ devices and applications.