bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sandra Day O’Connor: «The Majesty of the Law (Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice)»(Recensión)
Authors: Fernández Segado Francisco
Published: April 2020

Recensión sobre la obra: DAY O'CONNOR, Sandra: The Majesty of the Law (Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice). edited by Craig Joyce, New York, Random House Trade Paperback Edition, 2004, 330 pp.
Esther González Hernández: «Los controles estatales sobre las comunidades autónomas. Precedentes y regulación constitucional actual» (Recensión)
Authors: Núñez Martínez María Acracia
Published: April 2020

Recensión de la obra: GONZÁLEZ HERNÁNDEZ, Esther: Los controles estatales sobre las comunidades autónomas. Precedentes y regulación constitucional actual. Ed. Académica Española. Saarbrücken (Alemania). 2015, 184 págs.
E. Arnaldo Alcubilla, M. Delgado-Iribarren García-Campero y A.J. Sánchez Navarro: «Iniciativa legislativa popular» (Recensión)
Authors: García Fernández Lidia
Published: April 2020

Recensión sobre la obra: ARNALDO ALCUBILLA, E., DELGADO-IRIBARREN GARCÍA CAMPERO, M., SÁNCHEZ NAVARRO. Ángel J.: Iniciativa legislativa popular. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Madrid, 2013, 414 páginas.
Salvador Iglesias Machado y Raquel Marañón Gómez: «Manual de derecho parlamentario autonómico» (Recensión)
Authors: Sarmiento Méndez Xosé Antón , Fernández de Simón Bermejo Encarnación
Published: April 2020

Recensión sobre la obra: IGLESIAS MACHADO, Salvador y MARAÑÓN GÓMEZ, Raquel: Manual de Derecho parlamentario autonómico. Editorial Dykinson, Madrid, 2016, 389 págs.
ANALISIS KESULITAN SISWA DALAM MENYELESAIKAN SOAL CERITA OPERASI HITUNG PADA BILANGAN PECAHAN CAMPURAN
Authors: Zalima Errina Ida , Njanji Ferdianus Panggar , Lasmiatik Lasmiatik , Agustina Leni , Dela Maria
Published: April 2020

This study describe the analysis of the difficulty of students in completing problem arithmetic operations on mixed numbers class VI MI Darussalam Malang. This type of research is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The subjects of this study are students of class VI MI Darussalam Malang with high, medium, and low grades. The results showed that: (1) students in the high and medium grades did not have difficulty in changing mixed fractions to ordinary fractions, however students in the low grade category have difficulty in converting mixed fractions to ordinary fractions; (2) students in the high grade category have no difficulty equating the denominator, however students in the medium and low grade categories have difficulty in equating the denominator of fractions; (3) students with all three categories of high, medium, and low grades have difficulty in calculating fraction operations with three mixed numbers; and (4) students in the high, medium, and low grade categories have difficulty completing the mixed fraction counting operation.
Effect of P depletion on the functional pools of diatom carbohydrates, and their utilization by bacterial communities
Authors: Labry C , Delmas D , Moriceau B , Gallinari M , Quere J , Youenou A
Published: April 2020

Phosphorus (P) limitation of phytoplankton growth is known to affect the accumulation and release of carbohydrates (CHO) by micro-algae. However, relatively little is known about the fate of algal exudates, notably their bacterial degradation. The CHO chemical characterization is also not exhaustive, especially in ‘functional’ pools relevant for phytoplankton physiology (particulate reserve [R] or structural [S] CHO) and for bacterial degradation (dissolved mono- [MDCHO] and polysaccharides [P-DCHO]). In this study, we investigated how P depletion and repletion affect the CHO composition in diatomThalassiosira weissflogiicultures, and the shortterm response of free and diatom-attached bacteria in terms of abundance and potential βglucosidase activity (βGlc). The bacterial inoculum was composed of the bacterial consortiums of diatom precultures and a natural bacterial community from the Bay of Brest. P depletion favored CHO accumulation in diatom cells, mainly as R i.e. soluble CHO accumulated in cytoplasm, but also as S, polysaccharides linked to the cell wall. The R:S ratio was high in the present diatom cultures. The high M-DCHO observed in P-deplete cultures (twice that of P-replete cultures) when P-DCHO remained quite similar is explained both by active polysaccharide hydrolysis (very high potential βGlc of attached bacteria) and reduced uptake of M-DCHO by Pdepleted bacteria. P depletion of heterotrophic bacteria favors labile CHO accumulation, which may affect particle potential aggregation. However, the remarkably constant M-DCHO concentration over time for both conditions suggests tight coupling between phytoplankton accumulation, release, polymer hydrolysis and monomer uptake by bacteria.
Courtyard Housing for Health and Happiness
Authors: Zhang Donia
Published: April 2020

This presentation highlights my research findings on courtyard housing renewal and redevelopment projects in China, and cooperative housing and cohousing in North America (Canada, in particular). It links architecture with social sciences and humanities, and connects housing with health and happiness. This study takes a holistic view of health as the state of being well in body or mind, which describes a person’s mental or physical condition. The research also complies with the World Health Organization’s 1946 definition that Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The research took a mixed method of onsite and online surveys and interviews. The findings reveal, among other things that, the courtyard is an essential element in promoting social health and happiness whose design must follow an optimum proportion of building height to distance under each climate.
Representation of Traffic Congestion Data for Urban Road Traffic Networks Based on Pooling Operations
Authors: Zhang Sen , Li Shaobo , Li Xiang , Yao Yong
Published: April 2020

In order to improve the efficiency of transportation networks, it is critical to forecast traffic congestion. Large-scale traffic congestion data have become available and accessible, yet they need to be properly represented in order to avoid overfitting, reduce the requirements of computational resources, and be utilized effectively by various methodologies and models. Inspired by pooling operations in deep learning, we propose a representation framework for traffic congestion data in urban road traffic networks. This framework consists of grid-based partition of urban road traffic networks and a pooling operation to reduce multiple values into an aggregated one. We also propose using a pooling operation to calculate the maximum value in each grid (MAV). Raw snapshots of traffic congestion maps are transformed and represented as a series of matrices which are used as inputs to a spatiotemporal congestion prediction network (STCN) to evaluate the effectiveness of representation when predicting traffic congestion. STCN combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory neural network (LSTMs) for their spatiotemporal capability. CNNs can extract spatial features and dependencies of traffic congestion between roads, and LSTMs can learn their temporal evolution patterns and correlations. An empirical experiment on an urban road traffic network shows that when incorporated into our proposed representation framework, MAV outperforms other pooling operations in the effectiveness of the representation of traffic congestion data for traffic congestion prediction, and that the framework is cost-efficient in terms of computational resources.
Food Quality, Sensory Attributes and Nutraceutical Value of Fresh “Osteen” Mango Fruit Grown under Mediterranean Subtropical Climate Compared to Imported Fruit
Authors: Liguori Giorgia , Gentile Carla , Sortino Giuseppe , Inglese Paolo , Farina Vittorio
Published: April 2020

Mango is a fruit with a very short shelf-life due to its rapid ripeness after harvest; it is high in B vitamins, contains some amounts of magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium and it is rich in soluble and insoluble fibers. In order to reach the European markets at proper marketable maturity, fruit from tropical countries are harvested at early maturity stage. Although this harvesting practice improves mango postharvest life, fruit reach the market with very low quality, especially in terms of taste. The present study was conducted to evaluate food quality, sensory attributes and nutraceutical value of “Osteen” fresh Mediterranean Italian mango fruit, and imported ones coming from tropical countries. Mango fruit imported from abroad were collected from 5 large-scale organized markets; fresh Italian mango fruit were harvested from a commercial orchard, at green- and mature-ripe stage. Imported and fresh Italian mango fruit were analyzed in terms of firmness, total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, flesh disorders, nutraceutical value, and sensory attributes. Mediterranean Italian mango fruit showed the best quality performances in terms of nutraceutical value and quality attributes. Sensorial analysis confirmed this behavior, these quality attributes, were perceived by the trained panel, that preferred fresh Mediterranean mango fruit.
Nitrogen Starvation and Nitrate or Ammonium Availability Differently Affect Phenolic Composition in Green and Purple Basil
Authors: Prinsi Bhakti , Negrini Noemi , Morgutti Silvia , Espen Luca
Published: April 2020

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) comprises green and purple cultivars, worldwide cultivated and appreciated for high contents of rosmarinic acid and anthocyanins, respectively. Although nitrogen (N) fertilization is needed for high yields, in basil it could have detrimental effects on the accumulation of phenolic compounds. In this study, plants of the cultivars ‘Italiano Classico’ (green) and ‘Red Rubin’ (purple) were grown in hydroponics and subjected to different nutritional treatments, consisting in N starvation, and nitrate (NO3−) or ammonium (NH4+) nutrition. Plant growth and nutritional status, estimated by the contents of NO3−, NH4+, and amino acids in roots and leaves, were evaluated and put in relation with quality traits of basil leaves, such as chlorophyll content, antioxidant capacity, total phenols, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and the concentrations of individual (poly)phenolic acids and flavonoids. This study reveals that N starvation, as well as the availability of the two inorganic N forms, differently affect the phenolic composition in the two cultivars. Compared to plants grown in NO3− availability, in NH4+ availability, green basil showed a higher content of (poly)phenolic acids, while in purple basil, an increase in the contents of anthocyanins was detected. Overall, the study suggests that the management of NH4+ supply could contribute to enhance crop quality in hydroponics, and provides new knowledge about the relationship between N nutrition and phenolic metabolism in basil.
The Antioxidant Profile Evaluation of Some Tomato Landraces with Soil Salinity Tolerance Correlated with High Nutraceuticaland Functional Value
Authors: Sumalan Renata M. , Ciulca Sorin I. , Poiana Mariana A. , Moigradean Diana , Radulov Isidora , Negrea Monica , Crisan Manuela E. , Copolovici Lucian , Sumalan Radu L.
Published: April 2020

Romania has a wide variety of local landraces and heirloom genotypes. Our study aims to assess the performance of twenty halotolerant tomato landraces, collected from areas with medium and high levels of soil salinity, in terms ofthe accumulation of antioxidant compounds in fruits and to cluster them according to their nutraceutical components. The tomatoes used in the study were harvested once they had attained full ripeness and then analyzed for lycopene (Lyc), ascorbic acid content (AsA), total phenolic content (TPC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The results revealed major differences between genotypes in terms of nutraceutical values. According to principal component analysis, the tomato landraces were grouped into five clusters, characterized by different proportions of compounds with antioxidant activity. The high/moderate nutritional values of Lyc, TAC, TPC, and AsA were obtained from varieties taken from local lands with high soil salinity, over 6.5 dS m−1. These findings support the idea that metabolites and secondary antioxidants are involved in the process of stress adaptation, thereby increasing salinity tolerance in tomatoes. Our results show that there are tomato landraces with a tolerance of adaptation to conditions of high soil salinity and provide information on their ability to synthesize molecules with antioxidant functions that protect plants against oxidative damage.
Experimental Evidence Reveals Both Cross-Infection and Cross-Contamination Risk of Embryo Storage in Liquid Nitrogen Biobanks
Authors: Marin Clara , Garcia-Dominguez Ximo , Montoro-Dasi Laura , Lorenzo-Rebenaque Laura , Vicente José S. , Marco-Jimenez Francisco
Published: April 2020

In recent decades, gamete and embryo cryopreservation have become routine procedures in livestock and human assisted reproduction. However, the safe storage of germplasm and the prevention of disease transmission continue to be potential hazards of disease transmission through embryo transfer. This study aimed to demonstrate the potential risk of cross-infection of embryos from contaminated liquid nitrogen, and cross-contamination of sterile liquid nitrogen from infected embryos in naked and closed devices. Additionally, we examined the effects of antibiotic-free media on culture development of infected embryos. The study was a laboratory-based analysis using rabbit as a model. Two experiments were performed to evaluate both cross-infection (liquid nitrogen to embryos) and cross-contamination (embryos to liquid nitrogen) of artificially inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Rapid cooling through vitrification was conducted on rabbit embryos, stored for a year, thawed, and cultured. In vivo produced late morulae–early blastocyst stages (72 h) embryos were used (n = 480). Embryos were cultured for 1 h in solutions with and without pathogens. Then, the embryos were vitrified and stored in naked and closed devices for one year in two liquid nitrogen biobanks (one pathogen-free and the other artificially contaminated). Embryos were warmed and cultured for a further 48 h, assessing the development and the presence of microorganism (chromogenic media, scanning electron microscopy). Embryos stored in naked devices in artificially contaminated liquid nitrogen became infected (12.5%), while none of the embryos stored in closed devices were infected. Meanwhile, storage of artificially infected embryos incurred liquid nitrogen biobank contamination (100%). Observations by scanning electron microscopy revealed that all the microorganisms were caught in the surface of embryos after the vitrification-thawed procedure. Nevertheless, embryos cultured in antibiotics and antimycotic medium developed to the hatched blastocyst stage, while artificially infected embryos cultured in antibiotic-free medium failed to develop. In conclusion, our findings support that both cross-contamination and cross-infection during embryo storage in liquid nitrogen biobanks are plausible. So, to ensure biosafety for the cryogenic storage, closed systems that avoid direct contact with liquid nitrogen must be used. Moreover, it seems essential to provide best practice guidelines for the cryogenic preservation and storage of gametes and embryos, to define appropriate quality and risk management procedures.
Differential Somatic Cell Count as a Marker for Changes of Milk Composition in Cows with Very Low Somatic Cell Count
Authors: Zecconi Alfonso , Dell’Orco Francesca , Vairani Diego , Rizzi Nicoletta , Cipolla Micaela , Zanini Lucio
Published: April 2020

The recent availability of a high-throughput milk analyzer performing a partial differential somatic cell count (DSCC) opened new opportunities in investigations on bovine udder health. This analyzer has a potential limitation on the accuracy of measurements when the somatic cell count (SCC) is below 50,000 cells/mL, values characterizing a good proportion of lactating cows in many herds. We obtained data for cows below this threshold, assessed the repeatability of these measurements and investigated the relationship between DSCC and udder health, milk composition and yield. Overall, 3022 cow milk test records performed on a Fossomatic™ 7/DC (Foss A/S, Hillerød, Denmark) were considered; 901 of them had an SCC ≤ 50,000 cells/mL. These latter samples were analyzed by qPCR to identify the presence of bacteria. Overall, 20.75% of the samples (187) were positive. However, the health status did not have any significant association with DSCC. The analysis of the association of DSCC on milk fat, protein and casein showed a significant decrease in their proportions as the DSCC increased, whereas it was not observed for milk yield and lactose. Therefore, DSCC in very low SCC cows may be suggested as a marker to identify early changes in milk composition.
Influence of Imperfect Position of a Striker and Input Bar on Wave Propagation in a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) Setup with a Pulse-Shape Technique
Authors: Panowicz Robert , Konarzewski Marcin
Published: April 2020

The effect of using a pulse shaper technique, such as rounding a striker or applying a pulse shaper on the signals recorded with the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique, when the striker and the input bar are in an imperfect position, was investigated. Two of the most common cases have been analyzed: an offset of the symmetry axes of the striker and the input bar; and an inclination angle between the striker and the input bar. LS-Dyna software was used to examine this problem numerically. The inclination angle imperfection has a significant impact on signal disturbances, whereas the use of a rounded striker significantly affects the limitation of the vibration flexural modes. In all considered cases, a slight imperfection causes a reduction in the high-frequency Pochhammer–Chree oscillations.
Microscope 3D Point Spread Function Evaluation Method on a Confirmed Object Plane Perpendicular to the Optical Axis
Authors: Mao Shuai , Wang Zhenzhou , Pan Jinfeng
Published: April 2020

A point spread function evaluation method for a microscope on the object plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis is proposed. The measurement of the incident beam direction from the dual position-sensitive-detector (PSD)-based units, the determination of the object plane perpendicularity and the paraxial region, and evaluation methods for the point spread function (PSF) are presented and integrated into the proposed method. The experimental verification demonstrates that the proposed method can achieve a 3D PSF on the perpendicular object plane, as well as magnification, paraxial region evaluation, and confirmation for any microscopic system.
Many-Objective Optimization Design of a Public Building for Energy, Daylighting and Cost Performance Improvement
Authors: Sun Cheng , Liu Qianqian , Han Yunsong
Published: April 2020

The energy performance of buildings especially public buildings needs to be optimized together with environmental, social and cost performance, which can be achieved by the multiobjective optimization method. The traditional building performance simulation (BPS) based multiobjective optimization is time-consuming and inefficient. Practical projects of complex public building design usually involve many-objective optimization problems in which more than three objectives are considered. Using BPS based multiobjective optimization is not sufficient to solve this kind of design problem. This paper aims to propose an artificial neural network (ANN) based many-objective optimization design method, an architect-friendly integrated workflow has been implemented. The proposed method has been applied on a public library building in Changchun city of China to optimize its Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) and Building Envelope Cost (BEC). The optimization process has obtained 176 non-dominated solutions. By adopting the selected relative optimal solutions, 1.6×105–2.1×105 kWh energy can be saved per year; sDA value and UDI value can be increased by 8.1%–11.0% and 4.3%–4.7% respectively; BEC can be reduced by ¥1.2×105–2.1×105 ($1.7×104–3.0×104). The optimization time has been greatly shortened in this method and the whole process is highly efficient without manual data conversion between different platforms.
Big Data Analytics for Search Engine Optimization
Authors: Drivas Ioannis C. , Sakas Damianos P. , Giannakopoulos Georgios A. , Kyriaki-Manessi Daphne
Published: April 2020

In the Big Data era, search engine optimization deals with the encapsulation of datasets that are related to website performance in terms of architecture, content curation, and user behavior, with the purpose to convert them into actionable insights and improve visibility and findability on the Web. In this respect, big data analytics expands the opportunities for developing new methodological frameworks that are composed of valid, reliable, and consistent analytics that are practically useful to develop well-informed strategies for organic traffic optimization. In this paper, a novel methodology is implemented in order to increase organic search engine visits based on the impact of multiple SEO factors. In order to achieve this purpose, the authors examined 171 cultural heritage websites and their retrieved data analytics about their performance and user experience inside them. Massive amounts of Web-based collections are included and presented by cultural heritage organizations through their websites. Subsequently, users interact with these collections, producing behavioral analytics in a variety of different data types that come from multiple devices, with high velocity, in large volumes. Nevertheless, prior research efforts indicate that these massive cultural collections are difficult to browse while expressing low visibility and findability in the semantic Web era. Against this backdrop, this paper proposes the computational development of a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that utilizes the generated big cultural data analytics and improves the visibility of cultural heritage websites. One step further, the statistical results of the study are integrated into a predictive model that is composed of two stages. First, a fuzzy cognitive mapping process is generated as an aggregated macro-level descriptive model. Secondly, a micro-level data-driven agent-based model follows up. The purpose of the model is to predict the most effective combinations of factors that achieve enhanced visibility and organic traffic on cultural heritage organizations’ websites. To this end, the study contributes to the knowledge expansion of researchers and practitioners in the big cultural analytics sector with the purpose to implement potential strategies for greater visibility and findability of cultural collections on the Web.
Combining Virtual Screening Protocol and In Vitro Evaluation towards the Discovery of BACE1 Inhibitors
Authors: Coimbra Judite R. M. , Baptista Salete J. , Dinis Teresa C. P. , Silva Maria M. C. , Moreira Paula I. , Santos Armanda E. , Salvador Jorge A. R.
Published: April 2020

The treatment options for a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently limited. The cerebral accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a critical molecular event in the pathogenesis of AD. When the amyloidogenic β-secretase (BACE1) is inhibited, the production of Aβ peptide is reduced. Henceforth, the main goal of this study is the discovery of new small bioactive molecules that potentially reach the brain and inhibit BACE1. The work was conducted by a customized molecular modelling protocol, including pharmacophore-based and molecular docking-based virtual screening (VS). Structure-based (SB) and ligand-based (LB) pharmacophore models were designed to accurately screen several drug-like compound databases. The retrieved hits were subjected to molecular docking and in silico filtered to predict their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Additionally, 34 high-scoring compounds structurally distinct from known BACE1 inhibitors were selected for in vitro screening assay, which resulted in 13 novel hit-compounds for this relevant therapeutic target. This study disclosed new BACE1 inhibitors, proving the utility of combining computational and in vitro approaches for effectively predicting anti-BACE1 agents in the early drug discovery process.
Bacopa monnieri and Their Bioactive Compounds Inferred Multi-Target Treatment Strategy for Neurological Diseases: A Cheminformatics and System Pharmacology Approach
Authors: Jeyasri Rajendran , Muthuramalingam Pandiyan , Suba Vellaichami , Ramesh Manikandan , Chen Jen-Tsung
Published: April 2020

Neurological diseases (NDs), especially Alzheimer’s and Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), can severely cause biochemical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord and other nerves of human beings. Their ever-increasing prevalence has led to a demand for new drug development. Indian traditional and Ayurvedic medicine used to combat the complex diseases from a holistic and integrative point of view has shown efficiency and effectiveness in the treatment of NDs. Bacopa monnieri is a potent Indian medicinal herb used for multiple ailments, but is significantly known as a nootropic or brain tonic and memory enhancer. This annual herb has various active compounds and acts as an alternative and complementary medicine in various countries. However, system-level insights of the molecular mechanism of a multiscale treatment strategy for NDs is still a bottleneck. Considering its prominence, we used cheminformatics and system pharmacological approaches, with the aim to unravel the various molecular mechanisms represented by Bacopa-derived compounds in identifying the active human targets when treating NDs. First, using cheminformatics analysis combined with the drug target mining process, 52 active compounds and their corresponding 780 direct receptors were retrieved and computationally validated. Based on the molecular properties, bioactive scores and comparative analysis with commercially available drugs, novel and active compounds such as asiatic acid (ASTA) and loliolide (LLD) to treat the Alzheimer’s and SCA were identified. According to the interactions among the active compounds, the targets and diseases were further analyzed to decipher the deeper pharmacological actions of the drug. NDs consist of complex regulatory modules that are integrated to dissect the therapeutic effects of compounds derived from Bacopa in various pathological features and their encoding biological processes. All these revealed that Bacopa compounds have several curative activities in regulating the various biological processes of NDs and also pave the way for the treatment of various diseases in modern medicine.
Efficient Construction of Atomic-Resolution Models of Non-Sulfated Chondroitin Glycosaminoglycan Using Molecular Dynamics Data
Authors: Whitmore Elizabeth K. , Vesenka Gabriel , Sihler Hanna , Guvench Olgun
Published: April 2020

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear, structurally diverse, conformationally complex carbohydrate polymers that may contain up to 200 monosaccharides. These characteristics present a challenge for studying GAG conformational thermodynamics at atomic resolution using existing experimental methods. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can overcome this challenge but are only feasible for short GAG polymers. To address this problem, we developed an algorithm that applies all conformational parameters contributing to GAG backbone flexibility (i.e., bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles) from unbiased all-atom explicit-solvent MD simulations of short GAG polymers to rapidly construct models of GAGs of arbitrary length. The algorithm was used to generate non-sulfated chondroitin 10- and 20-mer ensembles which were compared to MD-generated ensembles for internal validation. End-to-end distance distributions in constructed and MD-generated ensembles have minimal differences, suggesting that our algorithm produces conformational ensembles that mimic the backbone flexibility seen in simulation. Non-sulfated chondroitin 100- and 200-mer ensembles were constructed within a day, demonstrating the efficiency of the algorithm and reduction in time and computational cost compared to simulation.
Actinoporins: From the Structure and Function to the Generation of Biotechnological and Therapeutic Tools
Authors: Ramírez-Carreto Santos , Miranda-Zaragoza Beatriz , Rodríguez-Almazán Claudia
Published: April 2020

Actinoporins (APs) are a family of pore-forming toxins (PFTs) from sea anemones. These biomolecules exhibit the ability to exist as soluble monomers within an aqueous medium or as constitutively open oligomers in biological membranes. Through their conformational plasticity, actinoporins are considered good candidate molecules to be included for the rational design of molecular tools, such as immunotoxins directed against tumor cells and stochastic biosensors based on nanopores to analyze unique DNA or protein molecules. Additionally, the ability of these proteins to bind to sphingomyelin (SM) facilitates their use for the design of molecular probes to identify SM in the cells. The immunomodulatory activity of actinoporins in liposomal formulations for vaccine development has also been evaluated. In this review, we describe the potential of actinoporins for use in the development of molecular tools that could be used for possible medical and biotechnological applications.
Electrochemical Sensing of Serotonin by a Modified MnO2-Graphene Electrode
Authors: Nehru Lavanya , Chinnathambi Sekar , Fazio Enza , Neri Fortunato , Leonardi Salvatore Gianluca , Bonavita Anna , Neri Giovanni
Published: April 2020

The development of MnO2-graphene (MnO2-GR) composite by microwave irradiation method and its application as an electrode material for the selective determination of serotonin (SE), popularly known as “happy chemical”, is reported. Anchoring MnO2 nanoparticles on graphene, yielded MnO2-GR composite with a large surface area, improved electron transport, high conductivity and numerous channels for rapid diffusion of electrolyte ions. The composite was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for assessing the actual composition, structure and morphology. The MnO2-GR composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited an excellent electrochemical activity towards the detection of SE in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at physiological pH of 7.0. Under optimum conditions, the modified electrode could be applied to the quantification of serotonin by square wave voltammetry over a wide linear range of 0.1 to 800 µM with the lowest detection limit of 10 nM (S/N = 3). The newly fabricated sensor also exhibited attractive features such as good anti-interference ability, high reproducibility and long-term stability.
The Role of Family Relationships in Eating Disorders in Adolescents: A Narrative Review
Authors: Erriu Michela , Cimino Silvia , Cerniglia Luca
Published: April 2020

Background: Adolescents’ eating disorders have been explored through various conceptual and empirical models. Only recently, scientific literature in this area has more specifically investigated the role of relationships, with particular attention to family functioning. Objective: This paper reviews family relationships aspects of eating disorders in adolescence. Methods: A narrative literature review of relational issues in adolescents’ eating disorders was performed. Results: Empirical evidence of family relationships in adolescents’ eating disorders confirms the relevance of relational aspects in the development and maintenance of the pathology. In particular, the contribution of the relational-systemic approach is wide, suggesting the need to refer to the family context for a better understanding of adolescents’ sufferance. Additionally, the empirical contributions from the conceptual model of Developmental Psychopathology, highlighting the importance of risk and protection factors in family relationships, provides knowledge about the phenomenon of adolescents’ eating disorders in terms of complexity. Conclusions: An integrated relational model aimed to explore adolescents’ eating disorders is worthy of investigation to accomplish specific program of intervention.
Flexural Performance of Prefabricated Ultra-High-Strength Textile Reinforced Concrete (UHSTRC): An Experimental and Analytical Investigation
Authors: Chandrathilaka Egodawaththa Ralalage Kanishka , Baduge Shanaka Kristombu , Mendis Priyan , Thilakarathna Petikirige Sadeep Madhushan
Published: April 2020

Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) is a prefabricated novel lightweight high-performance composite material that can be used as a load-bearing or non-load-bearing component of prefabricated buildings. Making TRC with Ultra-High-Strength Concrete (UHSC) (≥100 MPa) can be considered as a potential improvement method to further enhance its properties. This paper investigated the performance of Ultra-High-Strength Textile Reinforced Concrete (UHSTRC) under flexural loading. A detailed experimental program was conducted to investigate the behavior of UHSC on TRC. In the experimental program, a sudden drop in load was observed when the first crack appeared in the UHSTRC. A detailed analytical program was developed to describe and understand such behavior of UHSTRC found in experiments. The analytical program was found to be in good agreement with the experimental results and it was used to carry out an extensive parametric study covering the effects of the number of textile layers, textile material, textile mesh density, and UHSTRC thickness on the performance of UHSTRC. Using a high number of textile layers in thin UHSTRC was found to be more effective than using high-thickness UHSTRC. The high modulus textile layers effectively increase the performance of UHSTRC.
Testing Joints between Walls Made of AAC Masonry Units
Authors: Jasiński Radosław , Galman Iwona
Published: April 2020

Joints between walls are very important for structural analysis of each masonry building at the global and local level. This issue has often been neglected in the case of traditional joints and relatively squat walls. At present, the issue of wall joints is becoming particularly important due to the continuous drive for simplifying structures, introducing new technologies and materials. Eurocode 6 and other standards (American, Canadian, Chinese, and Japanese) recommend inspecting joints between walls, but no detailed procedures have been specified. This paper presents our own tests on joints between walls made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry units. Tests included reference models composed of two wall panels joined perpendicularly with a standard masonry bond (six models), with classic steel and modified connectors (twelve models). The shape and size of test models and the structure of a test stand were determined on the basis of the analysis of the current knowledge, pilot studies and numerical FEM (Finite Element Method) - based analyses. The analyses referred to the morphology and failure mechanism of models. Load-displacement relationships for different types of joints were compared and obtained results were related to results for reference models. The mechanisms of cracking and failure was found to vary, and clear differences in the behaviour and load capacity of each type of joint were observed. The individual working phases of joints were determined and defined, and an empirical approach was proposed for the determination of forces and displacement of wall joints.
Progress towards Patient-Specific, Spatially-Continuous Radiobiological Dose Prescription and Planning in Prostate Cancer IMRT: An Overview
Authors: Her Emily Jungmin , Haworth Annette , Rowshanfarzad Pejman , Ebert Martin A.
Published: April 2020

Advances in imaging have enabled the identification of prostate cancer foci with an initial application to focal dose escalation, with subvolumes created with image intensity thresholds. Through quantitative imaging techniques, correlations between image parameters and tumour characteristics have been identified. Mathematical functions are typically used to relate image parameters to prescription dose to improve the clinical relevance of the resulting dose distribution. However, these relationships have remained speculative or invalidated. In contrast, the use of radiobiological models during treatment planning optimisation, termed biological optimisation, has the advantage of directly considering the biological effect of the resulting dose distribution. This has led to an increased interest in the accurate derivation of radiobiological parameters from quantitative imaging to inform the models. This article reviews the progress in treatment planning using image-informed tumour biology, from focal dose escalation to the current trend of individualised biological treatment planning using image-derived radiobiological parameters, with the focus on prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Utilizing Genome-Wide mRNA Profiling to Identify the Cytotoxic Chemotherapeutic Mechanism of Triazoloacridone C-1305 as Direct Microtubule Stabilization
Authors: Króliczewski Jarosław , Bartoszewska Sylwia , Dudkowska Magdalena , Janiszewska Dorota , Biernatowska Agnieszka , Crossman David K. , Krzymiński Karol , Wysocka Małgorzata , Romanowska Anna , Baginski Maciej , Markuszewski Michal , Ochocka Renata J. , Collawn James F. , Sikorski Aleksander F. , Sikora Ewa , Bartoszewski Rafal
Published: April 2020

Rational drug design and in vitro pharmacology profiling constitute the gold standard in drug development pipelines. Problems arise, however, because this process is often difficult due to limited information regarding the complete identification of a molecule’s biological activities. The increasing affordability of genome-wide next-generation technologies now provides an excellent opportunity to understand a compound’s diverse effects on gene regulation. Here, we used an unbiased approach in lung and colon cancer cell lines to identify the early transcriptomic signatures of C-1305 cytotoxicity that highlight the novel pathways responsible for its biological activity. Our results demonstrate that C-1305 promotes direct microtubule stabilization as a part of its mechanism of action that leads to apoptosis. Furthermore, we show that C-1305 promotes G2 cell cycle arrest by modulating gene expression. The results indicate that C-1305 is the first microtubule stabilizing agent that also is a topoisomerase II inhibitor. This study provides a novel approach and methodology for delineating the antitumor mechanisms of other putative anticancer drug candidates.
[18F]FET-βAG-TOCA: The Design, Evaluation and Clinical Translation of a Fluorinated Octreotide
Authors: Allott Louis , Dubash Suraiya , Aboagye Eric O.
Published: April 2020

The success of Lutathera™ ([177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE) in the NETTER-1 clinical trial as a peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for somatostatin receptor expressing (SSTR) neuroendocrine tumours (NET) is likely to increase the demand for patient stratification by positron emission tomography (PET). The current gold standard of gallium-68 radiolabelled somatostatin analogues (e.g., [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE) works effectively, but access is constrained by the limited availability and scalability of gallium-68 radiopharmaceutical production. The aim of this review is three-fold: firstly, we discuss the peptide library design, biological evaluation and clinical translation of [18F]fluoroethyltriazole-βAG-TOCA ([18F]FET-βAG-TOCA), our fluorine-18 radiolabelled octreotide; secondly, to exemplify the potential of the 2-[18F]fluoroethylazide prosthetic group and copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) chemistry in accessing good manufacturing practice (GMP) compatible radiopharmaceuticals; thirdly, we aim to illustrate a framework for the translation of similarly radiolabelled peptides, in which in vivo pharmacokinetics drives candidate selection, supported by robust radiochemistry methodology and a route to GMP production. It is hoped that this review will continue to inspire the development and translation of fluorine-18 radiolabelled peptides into clinical studies for the benefit of patients.
Synthesis Chemistry and Properties of Ni Catalysts Fabricated on SiC@Al2O3 Core-Shell Microstructure for Methane Steam Reforming
Authors: Lee Hyunju , Lee Doohwan
Published: April 2020

Heat and mass transport properties of heterogeneous catalysts have significant effects on their overall performance in many industrial chemical reaction processes. In this work, a new catalyst micro-architecture consisting of a highly thermally conductive SiC core with a high-surface-area metal-oxide shell is prepared through a charge-interaction-induced heterogeneous hydrothermal construction of SiC@NiAl-LDH core-shell microstructures. Calcination and reduction of the SiC@NiAl-LDH core-shell results in the formation of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on SiC@Al2O3, referred to as Ni/SiC@Al2O3 core-shell catalyst. The Ni/SiC@Al2O3 exhibit petal-like shell morphology consisting of a number of Al2O3 platelets with their planes oriented perpendicular to the surface, which is beneficial for improved mass transfer. For an extended period of methane-stream-reforming reaction, the Ni/SiC@Al2O3 core-shell structure remained stable without any significant degradation at the core/shell interface. However, the catalyst suffered from coking and sintering likely associated with the relatively large Ni particle sizes and the low Al2O3 content. The synthesis procedure and chemistry for construction of supported Ni catalyst on the core-shell microstructure of the highly thermal conductive SiC core, and the morphology-controlled metal-oxide shell, could provide new opportunities for various catalytic reaction processes that require high heat flux and enhanced mass transport.
SIV Infection and the HIV Proteins Tat and Nef Induce Senescence in Adipose Tissue and Human Adipose Stem Cells, Resulting in Adipocyte Dysfunction
Authors: Gorwood Jennifer , Ejlalmanesh Tina , Bourgeois Christine , Mantecon Matthieu , Rose Cindy , Atlan Michael , Desjardins Delphine , Le Grand Roger , Fève Bruno , Lambotte Olivier , Capeau Jacqueline , Béréziat Véronique , Lagathu Claire
Published: April 2020

Background: Aging is characterized by adipose tissue senescence, inflammation, and fibrosis, with trunk fat accumulation. Aging HIV-infected patients have a higher risk of trunk fat accumulation than uninfected individuals—suggesting that viral infection has a role in adipose tissue aging. We previously demonstrated that HIV/SIV infection and the Tat and Nef viral proteins were responsible for adipose tissue fibrosis and impaired adipogenesis. We hypothesized that SIV/HIV infection and viral proteins could induce adipose tissue senescence and thus lead to adipocyte dysfunctions. Methods: Features of tissue senescence were evaluated in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues of SIV-infected macaques and in human adipose stem cells (ASCs) exposed to Tat or Nef for up to 30 days. Results: p16 expression and p53 activation were higher in adipose tissue of SIV-infected macaques than in control macaques, indicating adipose tissue senescence. Tat and Nef induced higher senescence in ASCs, characterized by higher levels of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, p16 expression, and p53 activation vs. control cells. Treatment with Tat and Nef also induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Prevention of oxidative stress (using N-acetyl-cysteine) reduced senescence in ASCs. Adipocytes having differentiated from Nef-treated ASCs displayed alterations in adipogenesis with lower levels of triglyceride accumulation and adipocyte marker expression and secretion, and insulin resistance. Conclusion: HIV/SIV promotes adipose tissue senescence, which in turn may alter adipocyte function and contribute to insulin resistance.
The JNK Signaling Pathway in Inflammatory Skin Disorders and Cancer
Authors: Hammouda Manel , Ford Amy , Liu Yuan , Zhang Jennifer
Published: April 2020

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), with its members JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3, is a subfamily of (MAPK) mitogen-activated protein kinases. JNK signaling regulates a wide range of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, and inflammation. Dysregulation of JNK pathway is associated with a wide range of immune disorders and cancer. Our objective is to provide a review of JNK proteins and their upstream regulators and downstream effector molecules in common skin disorders, including psoriasis, dermal fibrosis, scleroderma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.
Quantifying the Role of Stochasticity in the Development of Autoimmune Disease
Authors: Nicholson Lindsay B. , Blyuss Konstantin B. , Fatehi Farzad
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we propose and analyse a mathematical model for the onset and development of autoimmune disease, with particular attention to stochastic effects in the dynamics. Stability analysis yields parameter regions associated with normal cell homeostasis, or sustained periodic oscillations. Variance of these oscillations and the effects of stochastic amplification are also explored. Theoretical results are complemented by experiments, in which experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) was induced in B10.RIII and C57BL/6 mice. For both cases, we discuss peculiarities of disease development, the levels of variation in T cell populations in a population of genetically identical organisms, as well as a comparison with model outputs.
New Insights from IGF-IR Stimulating Activity Analyses: Pathological Considerations
Authors: Janssen Joseph A.M.J.L.
Published: April 2020

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) play a crucial factor in the growth, differentiation and survival of cells in health and disease. IGF-I and IGF-II primarily activate the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), which is present on the cell surface. Activation of the IGF-IR stimulates multiple pathways which finally results in multiple biological effects in a variety of tissues and cells. In addition, activation of the IGF-IR has been found to be essential for the growth of cancers. The conventional view in the past was that the IGF-IR was exclusively a tyrosine kinase receptor and that phosphorylation of tyrosine residues, after binding of IGF-I to the IGF-IR, started a cascade of post-receptor events. Recent research has shown that this view was too simplistic. It has been found that the IGF-IR also has kinase-independent functions and may even emit signals in the unoccupied state through some yet-to-be-defined non-canonical pathways. The IGF-IR may further form hybrids with the insulin receptors but also with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) outside the insulin-IGF system. In addition, the IGF-IR has extensive cross-talk with many other receptor tyrosine kinases and their downstream effectors. Moreover, there is now emerging evidence that the IGF-IR utilizes parts of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways: the IGF-IR can be considered as a functional RTK/GPCR hybrid, which integrates the kinase signaling with some IGF-IR mediated canonical GPCR characteristics. Like the classical GPCRs the IGF-IR can also show homologous and heterologous desensitization. Recently, it has been found that after activation by a ligand, the IGF-IR may be translocated into the nucleus and function as a transcriptional cofactor. Thus, in recent years, it has become clear that the IGF-IR signaling pathways are much more complex than first thought. Therefore a big challenge for the (near) future will be how all the new knowledge about IGF-IR signaling can be translated into the clinical practice and improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases.