bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Acquisition of Biology and Physics University Students—the Role of Prior Knowledge
Authors: Binder Torsten , Schmiemann Philipp , Theyssen Heike
Published: November 2019

This study investigates the knowledge acquisition of biology and physics freshmen students with special regard to differences between high school (HS) high performing and low performing students. Our study is based on a prior knowledge model, which describes explicit knowledge as a composite of four knowledge types: knowledge of facts, knowledge of meaning, integration of knowledge, and application of knowledge. As a first outcome-oriented approach, we operationalize knowledge acquisition via the changes in these knowledge types between the beginning and the end of the first year. To investigate the knowledge acquisition, a test set was constructed that covers these knowledge types. It was administered to 162 biology and 101 physics students at university. We used an Item Response Theory approach to scale the data. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the acquisition of the knowledge types. We separated HS low, medium, and high achievers by high school grade point average (HS GPA). The knowledge acquisition of the HS low achievers did not differ from other groups. However, the HS low achievers did not only start with less prior knowledge but also were not able to reach the prior knowledge of the HS high achievers within the first year. Our findings concerning knowledge acquisition may be used to support and improve students’ knowledge acquisition in a targeted way by focusing on selected knowledge types.
Teacher Recruitment: Factors That Predict High School Students’ Willingness to Become Teachers
Authors: Christensen Steven S. , Davies Randall S. , Harris Scott P. , Hanks Joseph , Bowles Bryan
Published: November 2019

This study examines factors that influence high school students’ willingness to consider teaching as a career. Using predictive modeling, we identified five factors that are highly predictive of a students’ willingness to consider teaching and their belief that teaching is their best career option. Results indicated that high school students were more likely to consider teaching when they had confidence in their ability to be good teachers, when family members and others encouraged them to become teachers, and when they felt their community supported teachers. Most of those who considered teaching thought of themselves as average students. Less impactful factors included gender and pay. Additionally, this study found students less likely to consider work conditions for teachers when making career choices.
Effects of Back-Gate Bias on Subthreshold Swing of Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor
Authors: Lee Jaehong , Kim Garam , Kim Sangwan
Published: November 2019

In this study, the effects of back-gate bias on the subthreshold swing (S) of a tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) were discussed. The electrostatic characteristics of the back-gated TFET were obtained using technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation and were explained using the concepts of turn-on and inversion voltages. As a result, S decreased, when the back-gate voltage increased; this behavior is attributed to the resultant increase in inversion voltage. In addition, it was found that the on–off current ratio of the TFET increased with a decrease in S due to the back-gate voltage.
Sub-Transmission Network Expansion Planning Considering Regional Energy Systems: A Bi-Level Approach
Authors: Navidi Mohammad , Moghaddas Tafreshi Seyed Masoud , Anvari-Moghaddam Amjad
Published: November 2019

In order to facilitate the transformation of the existing generation and transmission networks’ structure into a scalable and competitive grid structure, this paper introduced regional energy systems (RGESs) that have the role of aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) and flexible loads. The economic justification for the expansion of sub-transmission networks in the presence of regional energy systems was also investigated. To achieve this goal, multi-criteria optimization solutions were employed to find techno-economic solutions. While solving the proposed multi-criteria optimization problem, a Pareto front was determined to show the tradeoff between the criteria examined. In addition, fuzzy satisfying and the max-min method were used for finding equilibrium point. In order to demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed model, a realistic sub-transmission system in Guilan Province, Iran, was used as a test system and the results were compared to those from a traditional sub-transmission expansion planning model.
Optimized Design of Wind Turbine Blade Receptors Based on Electrostatic Field Theory
Authors: Li Pengfei , Lv Dongbo , Li Chengwei , Yue Xianjie , Cao Hongliang
Published: November 2019

Lightning protection for blades is one of the most important factors for the safe operation of wind turbines. In view of the differences in the designs of blade receptors, a full-scale blade receptor model was constructed on the basis of the scaling experiment of the wind turbine and electrostatic field theory. By combining the electromagnetic finite element analysis with leader discharge theory, this study analyzed and discussed the influence of the protruding height of receptors and the design of receptor types on the lightning receiving effect of the blade, and the optimum design scheme of blade receptors was proposed. According to the results of this study, the field intensity distribution on the surface of the receptor was a high-boundary and low-middle structure. The receptor easily produced an upward connection leader as the lighting junction. The electric field intensity around the receptor was substantially distorted after 4 mm protrusion, which was approximately twice the electric field intensity of a flat right-angle receptor. The convex chamfer had multiple centralized lightning stroke points compared with the convex right-angle design, thereby exhibiting better solidification and reliability at the lightning stroke area, which are conducive to protecting the blade from lightning damage. The electric field intensity of the convex fillet was similar to the chamfer, but the radius of the electric field intensity of the convex fillet was small, and the attenuation of the electric field intensity with the radius was evident. This study provides a reference for further optimization design of blade receptors.
Low Divergence Among Natural Populations of Cornus kousa subsp. chinensis Revealed by ISSR Markers
Authors: Yuan Jia-Qiu , Fang Qin , Liu Guo-Hua , Fu Xiang-Xiang
Published: November 2019

Research Highlights: Taking Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa subsp. chinensis) as an example, the genetic characteristics of natural populations collected from main a distribution area were evaluated using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to reveal the genetic basis for further selection and breeding. Background and Objectives: Chinese dogwood is a small understory tree that is widely distributed in China. Chinese dogwood has attracted interest for its potential horticultural and ornamental values, and its natural resource potential urgently needs to be estimated. Materials and Methods: In this study, the genetic diversity of 12 natural populations collected from six provinces containing 223 individuals was evaluated based on ISSR markers. Results: Relatively high levels of genetic diversity were found at both the population and individual levels. The Shannon’s diversity index (I) among individuals (0.504) was higher than that among populations (0.338). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that genetic variation mainly existed within populations (61.55%) rather than among populations (38.45%). According to the STRUCTURE analysis, 12 populations were assigned to two groups, i.e., the northern and southern ecological regions, which are separated by the Yangtze River. A Mantel test analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance. Conclusions: Considering the breeding system of dogwoods, we speculated that the genetic characteristics of the natural populations of this species would be affected by the dispersal mode of its pollens and seeds; additionally, genetic drift could play an important role in its genetic differentiation. In conclusion, in situ conservation is recommended for Chinese dogwood based on our results.
Functional Diversity of the Soil Culturable Microbial Community in Eucalyptus Plantations of Different Ages in Guangxi, South China
Authors: Lan Xiu , Du Hu , Peng Wanxia , Liu Yongxian , Fang Zhilian , Song Tongqing
Published: November 2019

We selected five different ages of eucalyptus plantation sites to understand the culturable microbial functional diversity and the ecological functions of the soil from the eucalyptus plantations in Guangxi. We investigated the carbon source metabolic activity and diversity features of surface soil microbes using the Biolog EcoPlate method (Biolog Inc., Hayward, CA, USA), along with the microbial functional diversity and physicochemical properties of the soil. The results suggest that the carbon source utilization capacity of the soil microbes at various forest ages manifested as 3-year-old > 5-year-old > 2-year-old > 1-year-old > 8-year-old. The abundance, Shannon–Weiner, Pielou, Simpson, and McIntosh diversity indices of the soil microbes initially increased and then decreased with further increase in forest age, with the highest levels in 3- and 5-year-old forests. As per the heatmap analysis, the 3-year-old forest could metabolize the most carbon source species, while the 1- and 8-year-old forests could metabolize the least. Carbohydrates were the most frequently metabolized carbon source. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows that PC1 and PC2 extracted from the 31 factors have 52.42% and 13.39% of the variable variance, respectively. Carbohydrates contributed most to PCA, followed by amino acids and carboxylic acids, and phenolic acids and amines, the least. Canonical correspondence analysis shows that total carbon, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, total nitrogen, total potassium, and pH negatively correlate with soil microbial functional diversity, whereas total and available phosphorus positively correlate with it. To sum up, the soil microbial community structure of eucalyptus plantations at various ages reflects the soil environmental conditions and nutrient availability, which is of great significance in the efficient management and high-quality operation of their plantations in Guangxi.
Feasibility of Using Seaweed (Gracilaria coronopifolia) Synbiotic as a Bioactive Material for Intestinal Health
Authors: Li Po-Hsien , Lu Wen-Chien , Chan Yung-Jia , Zhao Yu-Ping , Nie Xiao-Bao , Jiang Chang-Xing , Ji Yu-Xiang
Published: November 2019

The market contains only limited health care products that combine prebiotics and probiotics. In this study, we developed a seaweed-based Gracilaria coronopifolia synbiotic and verified the efficacy by small intestinal cells (Caco-2). We also developed a functional material that promotes intestinal health and prevents intestinal inflammation. G. coronopifolia was used as a red seaweed prebiotic, and Bifidobacterium bifidums, B. longum subsp. infantis, B. longum subsp. longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were mixed for the seaweed’s synbiotics. G. coronopifolia synbiotics were nontoxic to Caco-2 cells, and the survival rate was 101% to 117% for a multiplicative effect on cell survival. After cells were induced by H2O2, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased to 151.5%, but after G. coronopifolia synbiotic treatment, decreased to a range between 101.8% and 109.6%. After cells were induced by tumor necrosis factor α, the ROS levels increased to 124.5%, but decreased to 57.7% with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. G. coronopifolia synbiotics could effectively inhibit the production of ROS intestinal cells under oxidative stress (induced by H2O2 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)), which can reduce the damage of cells under oxidative stress. Functioning of intestinal cells could be improved by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factor substances (interleukin 8) with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. Also, gastrointestinal diseases may be retarded by a synbiotic developed from G. coronopifolia to promote intestinal health and prevent intestinal inflammation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Rare Diseases: Is the Future Brighter?
Authors: Brasil Sandra , Pascoal Carlota , Francisco Rita , dos Reis Ferreira Vanessa , A. Videira Paula , Valadão Gonçalo
Published: November 2019

The amount of data collected and managed in (bio)medicine is ever-increasing. Thus, there is a need to rapidly and efficiently collect, analyze, and characterize all this information. Artificial intelligence (AI), with an emphasis on deep learning, holds great promise in this area and is already being successfully applied to basic research, diagnosis, drug discovery, and clinical trials. Rare diseases (RDs), which are severely underrepresented in basic and clinical research, can particularly benefit from AI technologies. Of the more than 7000 RDs described worldwide, only 5% have a treatment. The ability of AI technologies to integrate and analyze data from different sources (e.g., multi-omics, patient registries, and so on) can be used to overcome RDs’ challenges (e.g., low diagnostic rates, reduced number of patients, geographical dispersion, and so on). Ultimately, RDs’ AI-mediated knowledge could significantly boost therapy development. Presently, there are AI approaches being used in RDs and this review aims to collect and summarize these advances. A section dedicated to congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), a particular group of orphan RDs that can serve as a potential study model for other common diseases and RDs, has also been included.
Identification of the Genes Involved in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Accumulation in Taxus chinensis
Authors: Zhang Lisha , Sun Xiaomei , Wilson Iain W. , Shao Fenjuan , Qiu Deyou
Published: November 2019

Taxus chinensis is a precious woody species with significant economic value. Anthocyanin as flavonoid derivatives plays a crucial role in plant biology and human health. However, the genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis have not been identified in T. chinensis. In this study, twenty-five genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified, including chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, anthocyanidin synthase, flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase, flavonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, anthocyanidin reductase, and leucoanthocyanidin reductase. The conserved domains and phylogenetic relationships of these genes were characterized. The expression levels of these genes in different tissues and different ages of xylem were investigated. Additionally, the anthocyanin accumulation in xylem of different ages of T. chinensis was measured. The results showed the anthocyanin accumulation was correlated with the expression levels of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, anthocyanidin synthase, flavonoid 3’-hydroxylase, and flavonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase. Our results provide a basis for studying the regulation of the biosynthetic pathway for anthocyanins and wood color formation in T. chinensis.
Dynamic Analysis of the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urbanization and Water Resource Security and Its Obstacle Factor
Authors: Zhang Kaize , Shen Juqin , He Ran , Fan Bihang , Han Han
Published: November 2019

Water resource security is an important condition for socio-economic development. Recently, the process of urbanization brings increasing pressures on water resources. Thus, a good understanding of harmonious development of urbanization and water resource security (WRS) systems is necessary. This paper examined the coordination state between urbanization and WRS and its obstacle factors in Beijing city, utilizing the improved coupling coordination degree (ICCD) model, obstacle degree model, and indicator data from 2008 to 2017. Results indicated that: (1) The coupling coordination degree between WRS and urbanization displayed an overall upward tendency during the 2008–2017 period; the coupling coordination state has changed from an imbalanced state into a good coordination state, experiencing from a high-speed development stage (2008–2010), through a steady growth stage (2010–2014), towards a low-speed growth (2014–2017). (2) In urbanization system, both the social and spatial urbanizations have the greatest obstruction to the development of urbanization-WRS system. The subsystems of pressure and state are the domain obstacle subsystems in WRS system. These results can provide important support for urban planning and water resource protection in the future, and hold great significance for urban sustainable development.
The SED-GIH: A Single-Item Question for Assessment of Stationary Behavior—A Study of Concurrent and Convergent Validity
Authors: Kallings Lena V. , Olsson Sven J. G. , Ekblom Örjan , Ekblom-Bak Elin , Börjesson Mats
Published: November 2019

The unfavorable health consequences of prolonged time spent sedentary (stationary) make accurate assessment in the general population important. However, for many existing questionnaires, validity for identifying stationary time has not been shown or has shown low validity. This study aimed to assess the concurrent and convergent validity of the GIH stationary single-item question (SED-GIH). Data were obtained in 2013 and 2014 from two Swedish cohorts. A total of 711 men and women provided valid accelerometer data (Actigraph GT3X+) and were included for concurrent validity analyses. A total of 560 individuals answered three additional commonly used sedentary questions, and were included for convergent validity analysis. The SED-GIH displayed a significant correlation with total stationary time (rs = 0.48) and time in prolonged stationary time (rs = 0.44). The ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.72 for identifying individuals with stationary time over 600 min/day. The SED-GIH correlated significantly with other previously used questions (r = 0.72–0.89). The SED-GIH single-item question showed a relatively high agreement with device-assessed stationary behavior and was able to identify individuals with high levels of stationary time. Thus, the SED-GIH may be used to assess total and prolonged stationary time. This has important implications, as simple assessment tools of this behavior are needed in public health practice and research.
Determination of Lead Elemental Concentration and Isotopic Ratios in Coal Ash and Coal Fly Ash Reference Materials Using Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Li Chaofeng , Wu Huiqian , Wang Xuance , Chu Zhuyin , Li Youlian , Guo Jinghui
Published: November 2019

The rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants around the world has produced a huge volume of toxic elements associated with combustion residues such as coal fly ash (CFA) and coal ash (CA), which pose great threats to the global environment. It is therefore crucial for environmental science to monitor the migration and emission pathway of toxic elements such as CFA and CA. Lead isotopes have proved to be powerful tracers capable of dealing with this issue. Unfortunately, up to now, few high precision lead isotope data of CFA and CA certified reference materials (CRMs) determined by using the double spike technique have been reported. Hence, to facilitate the application of lead isotopes in environmental science, it is indispensable and urgent to determine a suite of high precision Pb isotope ratios and Pb elemental contents for CFA and CA CRMs. Here, we measured lead isotope ratios from four CFA and CA CRMs using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) combined with the 204Pb–207Pb double spike method. Lead isotope ratios values of CRMs (GBW11124, GBW08401, GBW11125d, and JCFA-1) covered wide variation ranges from 17.993 to 19.228 for 206Pb/204Pb, from 15.513 to 15.675 for 207Pb/204Pb, and from 38.184 to 39.067 for 208Pb/204Pb. Lead isotope ratios of these CRMs, except for GBW11124, show good external reproducibility (2 RSD, n = 8), which is better than 0.05% for 206Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb, 0.07% for 208Pb/204Pb, 0.04% for 206Pb/207Pb, and 0.05% for 208Pb/206Pb. The Pb concentrations of these CRMs were determined using 207Pb single spike method. The reproducibility (1 RSD, n = 4) of Pb elemental content was <0.60%. This indicates the distribution of Pb elements in these CRMs is homogeneous. With the exception of GBW11124, the suite of CRMs can be used for determining CFA and CA matrix composition for quality control of Pb isotope analyses.
Spatial Heterogeneity of Government Regulation, Spatial Distance and Enterprise Carbon Information Disclosure: An Analysis Based on the Heavy Pollution Industry in China
Authors: Liu Quanqi , Li Li
Published: November 2019

Under the background of the construction of ecological civilization in China, since China has a vast amount of territory and large distances between cities, the intensity of environmental supervision in different regions may affect the enthusiasm of enterprises to disclose carbon information. Based on the listed companies of the Chinese heavy pollution industry from 2009 to 2014, using the content analysis method, the paper researches the influence of the spatial heterogeneity regarding government regulation and spatial distance on enterprise carbon information disclosure and puts forward some suggestions. The empirical results show that carbon information disclosure is significantly positively related with the spatial heterogeneity of government regulation. The spatial heterogeneity of government regulation is significantly positively associated to non-financial carbon information disclosure. The relationship between government supervision and financial carbon information disclosure is not significant. Spatial distance and carbon information disclosure are significantly positively related. There is also a significant positive correlation between spatial distance and financial carbon information disclosure. Further study finds that in public enterprises, the spatial heterogeneity of government regulation will promote carbon information disclosure, and the influence of spatial heterogeneity of government regulation on non-financial and financial carbon information disclosure both are significantly positively related. In non-public enterprises, spatial distance and carbon information disclosure are significantly positively related, and spatial distance and non-financial carbon information disclosure are significantly positively related as well.
Association between Work-Related Stress and QT Prolongation in Male Workers
Authors: Lecca Luigi Isaia , Portoghese Igor , Mucci Nicola , Galletta Maura , Meloni Federico , Pilia Ilaria , Marcias Gabriele , Fabbri Daniele , Fostinelli Jacopo , Lucchini Roberto G. , Cocco Pierluigi , Campagna Marcello
Published: November 2019

Background: Work-related stress is a potential cardiovascular risk factor, but the underlying mechanism is not fully explained. The autonomic nervous system control of cardiac function might play a specific role; therefore, monitoring the QT interval in the electrocardiogram can highlight an autonomic imbalance induced by occupational stressors. The aim of our study was to explore the QT interval parameters as early indicators of imbalance of the autonomic cardiac function in relation to work-related stress. Methods: During 2015–2016 annual workplace health surveillance, we measured work-related stress in 484 workers of a logistic support company using the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) tool. We assessed the frequency-corrected QT (QTc) interval and the QT index (QTi) on the electrocardiogram of each participant, and collected demographic and clinical data. We compared the QTc values by the four Karasek’s categories (active/passive jobs, low/high strain job), and by job support (present/lacking), and conducted multivariate analysis to adjust for possible confounders. Results: The results of the multivariate regression analysis showed that QTc was prolonged among workers operating at a specific site where stress level was found to be elevated. Regular physical activity showed a beneficial effect against QTc prolongation. We did not observe an effect on QTc length by the cross-combined Karasek’s categories of job control, job demand, and job support. Conclusions: Our study suggests subclinical effects of conditions associated with work-related stress on the autonomic regulation of cardiac function. Further research is warranted to elucidate the combined effect of work organization and lifestyle factors on autonomic cardiac function.
The Role of Geoprocessing in Mapping Crime Using Hot Streets
Authors: Tom-Jack Quincy T. , Bernstein Jennifer M. , Loyola Laura C.
Published: November 2019

Law enforcement agencies (LEA) have long attempted to determine crime patterns, determinants of crime, and ways to improve security. For several years, LEAs have utilized geographic information systems (GISs) to better understand the spatial nature of crimes and possible spatiotemporal patterns. While previous analyses have yielded spatial clusters of high crime areas (i.e., hot spots), these analyses have lacked specificity at the street level. This research builds on the concept of a hot spot area and creates linear statistically significant spatial crime clusters at the street level, namely hot streets. The identification of hot streets has the potential to assist LEAs in reducing crime through increased patrolling and refocusing efforts at the street level. This study created a GIS-based geoprocessing model to analyze different crime types at varying temporal scales and in different cities (Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas), classifying streets based on four crime cluster confidence levels. The research found that the geoprocessing model successfully streamlined the creation of crime hot streets in the two study areas, led to the development of multi-scale hot street maps, and can be used and edited by anyone who wants to perform linear cluster analysis in other topics.
Analysis of Spatial Wharf Pattern of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China
Authors: Zhang Penglin , Li Hongli , Wang Junqiang , Hong Jiewen
Published: November 2019

Wharves, which play a vital role in ensuring and promoting social progress and national economic development, are important in water transportation. At present, studies on related fields mainly focus on ports. A robust research system has been formed through the continuous development of port geography from the perspective of space. However, the number of relevant studies on wharves is limited. This study explores the spatial distribution characteristics of wharves in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration by using spatial analysis methods, such as nearest neighbor index, multi-distance spatial clustering, kernel density estimation, and standard deviation ellipse. Moreover, it evaluates the allocation level of wharves from different scales by constructing an index system based on the location data of 1264 wharves in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration. Results show that the spatial pattern of wharves exhibits evident aggregation and regional differences. The spatial distribution of wharves is characterized by a “band” structure, which is densely distributed along the Yangtze River and the eastern coast. The allocation level of wharves presents evident agglomeration at different scales. The relationship between the spatial wharf pattern and the economy shows that high gross domestic product and total imports and exports correspond to a considerable number of wharves.
Growth and Metabolic Response of Chinese Perch to Different Dietary Protein-to-Energy Ratios in Artificial Diets
Authors: Alam Muhammad Shoaib , Liang Xu-Fang , Liu Liwei , He Shan , Kuang Yulan , Hoseinifar Seyed Hossein , Dawar Farman Ullah
Published: November 2019

The effect of dietary nutrients on novel farm species has always garnered wide research and economic interest. Chinese perch, an economically important carnivorous fish, accepts an artificial diet after taming, so it is essential to evaluate and optimize the nutritional and metabolic demands of this species. However, little is known about the effect of an artificial diet on the growth and metabolism of Chinese perch. Therefore, the present study evaluated the growth and metabolic responses of Chinese perch to experimental diets with different dietary protein/energy (P/E) ratios. Five isoenergetic diets (18 kJ/g) with graded levels of P/E ratios of 30.58, 33.22, 35.90, 38.6, and 41.35 mg/kJ (named A, B, C, D, and E) were formulated. A total of 225 Chinese perch (64.89 ± 0.28 g) were divided into five groups (triplicate tanks for each group), distributed into 15 (350 L) fiberglass tanks, and fed twice a day at 4% of fish wet body weight with the respective P/E ratio diets for 10 weeks. Compared with the other groups, Chinese perch in Group C showed significantly improved growth performance, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), viscerosomatic index (VSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), intraperitoneal fat (IPF), feed utilization, feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein retention efficiency (PRE), energy retention efficiency (ERE), and feed efficiency (FE) as well as whole-body, muscle, and liver composition. Chinese perch in Group A, on the other hand, had the lowest growth performance, feed utilization, and body composition compared with the other groups. The activities of nitrogen metabolism-related enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and adenosine 5′-monophosphate deaminase (AMPD)) as well as the mRNA expression of the GDH and AMPD genes were significantly lower than those in the other groups. Similarly, the expression of NPY and AgRp were significantly higher in Group C compared with the other groups. However, the gene expression of CART and POMC was not affected by the dietary P/E ratios. In Group A, the expression of mTOR, S6K, and 4EBP1 was significantly lower and that of AMPK, LKB1, and eEF2 was significantly higher when compared with the other groups. Biochemical analysis of blood showed that ALT, AST, total protein (TP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose (GLU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and triglyceride (TG) levels were also affected by the dietary P/E ratio. From our results, we concluded that Chinese perch growth performance and nutrient metabolism were significantly affected by the P/E ratio of the artificial diet. Second-order polynomial regression analysis revealed that Chinese perch growth performance was optimal at a P/E ratio of 37.98 in the artificial diet.
Genetic and Functional Diversity of Nitrilases in Agaricomycotina
Authors: Rucká Lenka , Chmátal Martin , Kulik Natalia , Petrásková Lucie , Pelantová Helena , Novotný Petr , Příhodová Romana , Pátek Miroslav , Martínková Ludmila
Published: November 2019

Nitrilases participate in the nitrile metabolism in microbes and plants. They are widely used to produce carboxylic acids from nitriles. Nitrilases were described in bacteria, Ascomycota and plants. However, they remain unexplored in Basidiomycota. Yet more than 200 putative nitrilases are found in this division via GenBank. The majority of them occur in the subdivision Agaricomycotina. In this work, we analyzed their sequences and classified them into phylogenetic clades. Members of clade 1 (61 proteins) and 2 (25 proteins) are similar to plant nitrilases and nitrilases from Ascomycota, respectively, with sequence identities of around 50%. The searches also identified five putative cyanide hydratases (CynHs). Representatives of clade 1 and 2 (NitTv1 from Trametes versicolor and NitAg from Armillaria gallica, respectively) and a putative CynH (NitSh from Stereum hirsutum) were overproduced in Escherichia coli. The substrates of NitTv1 were fumaronitrile, 3-phenylpropionitrile, β-cyano-l-alanine and 4-cyanopyridine, and those of NitSh were hydrogen cyanide (HCN), 2-cyanopyridine, fumaronitrile and benzonitrile. NitAg only exhibited activities for HCN and fumaronitrile. The substrate specificities of these nitrilases were largely in accordance with substrate docking in their homology models. The phylogenetic distribution of each type of nitrilase was determined for the first time.
The Interplay between Ca2+ Signaling Pathways and Neurodegeneration
Authors: Ureshino Rodrigo Portes , Erustes Adolfo Garcia , Bassani Taysa Bervian , Wachilewski Patrícia , Guarache Gabriel Cicolin , Nascimento Ana Carolina , Costa Angelica Jardim , Smaili Soraya Soubhi , da Silva Pereira Gustavo José
Published: November 2019

Calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis is essential for cell maintenance since this ion participates in many physiological processes. For example, the spatial and temporal organization of Ca2+ signaling in the central nervous system is fundamental for neurotransmission, where local changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration are needed to transmit information from neuron to neuron, between neurons and glia, and even regulating local blood flow according to the required activity. However, under pathological conditions, Ca2+ homeostasis is altered, with increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations leading to the activation of proteases, lipases, and nucleases. This review aimed to highlight the role of Ca2+ signaling in neurodegenerative disease-related apoptosis, where the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis depends on coordinated interactions between the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and lysosomes, as well as specific transport mechanisms. In neurodegenerative diseases, alterations-increased oxidative stress, energy metabolism alterations, and protein aggregation have been identified. The aggregation of α-synuclein, β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), and huntingtin all adversely affect Ca2+ homeostasis. Due to the mounting evidence for the relevance of Ca2+ signaling in neuroprotection, we would focus on the expression and function of Ca2+ signaling-related proteins, in terms of the effects on autophagy regulation and the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
The Capacity of Private Information Retrieval from Decentralized Uncoded Caching Databases
Authors: Wei Yi-Peng , Arasli Batuhan , Banawan Karim , Ulukus Sennur
Published: November 2019

We consider the private information retrieval (PIR) problem from decentralized uncoded caching databases. There are two phases in our problem setting, a caching phase, and a retrieval phase. In the caching phase, a data center containing all the K files, where each file is of size L bits, and several databases with storage size constraint μ K L bits exist in the system. Each database independently chooses μ K L bits out of the total K L bits from the data center to cache through the same probability distribution in a decentralized manner. In the retrieval phase, a user (retriever) accesses N databases in addition to the data center, and wishes to retrieve a desired file privately. We characterize the optimal normalized download cost to be D * = ∑ n = 1 N + 1 N n − 1 μ n − 1 ( 1 − μ ) N + 1 − n 1 + 1 n + ⋯ + 1 n K − 1. We show that uniform and random caching scheme which is originally proposed for decentralized coded caching by Maddah-Ali and Niesen, along with Sun and Jafar retrieval scheme which is originally proposed for PIR from replicated databases surprisingly results in the lowest normalized download cost. This is the decentralized counterpart of the recent result of Attia, Kumar, and Tandon for the centralized case. The converse proof contains several ingredients such as interference lower bound, induction lemma, replacing queries and answering string random variables with the content of distributed databases, the nature of decentralized uncoded caching databases, and bit marginalization of joint caching distributions.
Text and Data Quality Mining in CRIS
Authors: Azeroual Otmane
Published: November 2019

To provide scientific institutions with comprehensive and well-maintained documentation of their research information in a current research information system (CRIS), they have the best prerequisites for the implementation of text and data mining (TDM) methods. Using TDM helps to better identify and eliminate errors, improve the process, develop the business, and make informed decisions. In addition, TDM increases understanding of the data and its context. This not only improves the quality of the data itself, but also the institution’s handling of the data and consequently the analyses. This present paper deploys TDM in CRIS to analyze, quantify, and correct the unstructured data and its quality issues. Bad data leads to increased costs or wrong decisions. Ensuring high data quality is an essential requirement when creating a CRIS project. User acceptance in a CRIS depends, among other things, on data quality. Not only is the objective data quality the decisive criterion, but also the subjective quality that the individual user assigns to the data.
Simultaneous Monitoring of Mutation and Chimerism Using Next-Generation Sequencing in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Lee Jong-Mi , Kim Yoo-Jin , Park Sung-Soo , Han Eunhee , Kim Myungshin , Kim Yonggoo
Published: November 2019

Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) provides important information during treatment of hematologic malignancies. Chimerism analysis also provides key information after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have enabled identification of various mutations and quantification of mutant allele burden. In this study, we developed a new analytic algorithm to monitor chimerism applicable to NGS multi-gene panel in use to identify mutations of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We enrolled patients who were diagnosed with MDS and received allo-HSCT and their corresponding donors. Monitoring MRD by NGS assay was performed using 53 DNA samples by calculating mutant allele burden after treatment. For monitoring chimerism by NGS, we selected 121 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) after careful stepwise evaluation and calculated average donor allele burden. Data obtained from NGS were compared with bone marrow findings, chromosome analysis and short tandem repeat (STR)-based chimerism. SNP-based NGS chimerism analysis was accurate and even superior to conventional STR method by overcoming the various technical limitations of STR. In addition, simultaneous monitoring of mutation and chimerism using NGS could implement comprehensive pre- and post-HSCT monitoring of various clinical conditions such as complete donor chimerism, persistent mixed chimerism, early relapse, and even donor cell-derived diseases.
Candida auris: A Review of Recommendations for Detection and Control in Healthcare Settings
Authors: Caceres Diego H. , Forsberg Kaitlin , Welsh Rory M. , Sexton David Joseph , Lockhart Shawn R. , Jackson Brendan R. , Chiller Tom
Published: November 2019

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Since first reported in 2009, C. auris has caused healthcare outbreaks around the world, often involving high mortality. Identification of C. auris has been a major challenge as many common conventional laboratory methods cannot accurately detect it. Early detection and implementation of infection control practices can prevent its spread. The aim of this review is to describe recommendations for the detection and control of C. auris in healthcare settings.
‘Endlessly Valuable’ Discursive Work—Intimate Partner Femicide, an English Case Study
Authors: Howe Adrian
Published: November 2019

Against the trend of roll-backs of pro-feminist initiatives by right-wing governments, feminist-led reforms to the law of murder deserve accolades as hard-fought feminist victories. For three decades, feminist analysts have critiqued the operation of provocation defences in intimate partner femicide cases. Their work has been rewarded with the implementation of reforms in several anglophone jurisdictions that have abolished or curtailed that defence. This article focuses on the revolutionary impact of the reform implemented in England and Wales. It argues for the continuing purchase for feminist legal scholars of a methodology championed by Carol Smart in her seminal 1989 text, Feminism and the Power of Law. She counselled feminist law scholars to read law as a site for contesting law’s truth about gendered relationships. This methodology has not only been critical in exposing the misogyny and injustice embedded in traditional provocation by infidelity defences; it also enables researchers to chart shifts in law’s discursive constitution of truth in the post-reform era.
Marine Bacteria from Rocas Atoll as a Rich Source of Pharmacologically Active Compounds
Authors: Velasco-Alzate Karen Y. , Bauermeister Anelize , Tangerina Marcelo M. P. , Lotufo Tito M. C. , Ferreira Marcelo J. P. , Jimenez Paula C. , Padilla Gabriel , Lopes Norberto P. , Costa-Lotufo Letícia V.
Published: November 2019

Rocas Atoll is a unique environment in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, hosting a large number of endemic species, however, studies on the chemical diversity emerging from this biota are rather scarce. Therefore, the present work aims to assess the metabolomic diversity and pharmacological potential of the microbiota from Rocas Atoll. A total of 76 bacteria were isolated and cultured in liquid culture media to obtain crude extracts. About one third (34%) of these extracts were recognized as cytotoxic against human colon adenocarcinoma HCT-116 cell line. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses revealed that the bacteria producing cytotoxic extracts were mainly from the Actinobacteria phylum, including Streptomyces, Salinispora, Nocardiopsis, and Brevibacterium genera, and in a smaller proportion from Firmicutes phylum (Bacillus). The search in the spectral library in GNPS (Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking) unveiled a high chemodiversity being produced by these bacteria, including rifamycins, antimycins, desferrioxamines, ferrioxamines, surfactins, surugamides, staurosporines, and saliniketals, along with several unidentified compounds. Using an original approach, molecular networking successfully highlighted groups of compounds responsible for the cytotoxicity of crude extracts. Application of DEREPLICATOR+ (GNPS) allowed the annotation of macrolide novonestimycin derivatives as the cytotoxic compounds existing in the extracts produced by Streptomyces BRB-298 and BRB-302. Overall, these results highlighted the pharmacological potential of bacteria from this singular atoll.
Ischemic Muscle Necrosis of Lower Extremities in Peripheral Arterial Disease: The Impact of 99mTc-MDP Scintigraphy on Patient Management
Authors: Jocius Donatas , Vajauskas Donatas , Skrebunas Arminas , Gutauskas Marijus , Tamosiunas Algirdas Edvardas
Published: November 2019

Background and objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the value of a whole-body bone scintigraphy using 99m technetium labelled-methyl diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) for the diagnosis and the assessment of grades of muscle damage after prolonged acute or chronic obstruction of the main arteries in lower extremities. Material and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients were selected for the study. The patients’ condition had not improved after primary peripheral arterial reconstruction operation or limb amputation and after conservative treatment. The clinical suspicion was of arterial obstruction and muscle necrosis. All the patients underwent whole-body scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP. Muscle necrosis was identified as an increased soft tissue uptake of 99mTc-MDP. Results: Forty-five patients had gross muscle necrosis detected on whole-body scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP and were histologically confirmed after repeated surgery (necrectomy or amputation) or by muscle biopsy, if only fasciotomy was performed. The location and extent of muscle injury were assessed preoperatively and the findings were confirmed in all 45 patients. Twelve patients with clinically suspected minor muscle damage, which was confirmed as relatively minor muscle necrosis on 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, were treated conservatively. The clinical outcome of all 50 patients was favorable. The 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, in detection of muscular necrosis, demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 97.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85.4 to 99.3%), 30.77% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.09 to 61.43%), and 80% (95% confidence interval (CI) 66.28 to 89.97%), respectively. Conclusion: The 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy is a valuable tool in the detection of muscular necrosis. It is able to define location, extent, and grade of involvement. Therefore, it has a clinical impact in patient management, allowing clinicians to select adequate treatment policy and specify the scope of necrectomy.
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processing of an Optical Sinusoidal Grid
Authors: Li Duo , Li Na , Su Xing , Ji Peng , Wang Bo
Published: November 2019

Sinusoidal grid with nanometric precision is adopted as a surface encoder to measure multiple degree-of-freedom motions. This paper proposes the atmospheric pressure plasma processing (APPP) technique to fabricate an optical sinusoidal grid surface. The characteristics of removal function and surface generation mechanism are firstly presented. Both simulation and experiment validate the effectiveness of APPP to fabricate a sinusoidal grid surface with nanometric precision. Post mechanical polishing experiments show that APPP features can be well maintained while the surface roughness is greatly reduced to meet the optical requirement.
Geochemical Analysis for Determining Total Organic Carbon Content Based on ∆LogR Technique in the South Pars Field
Authors: Rahmani Omeid , Khoshnoodkia Mehdi , Kadkhodaie Ali , Beiranvand Pour Amin , Tsegab Haylay
Published: November 2019

There is a recognized need for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) as an essential factor in the evaluation of source rocks. In this study, the ∆LogR technique was coupled with logging curves of sonic, resistivity, spectral gamma-ray (SGR), and computed gamma-ray (CGR) to determine an accurate content of TOC in the Gadvan Formation. Multiple linear regression analysis was also applied to the ∆LogR technique. To this aim, 14 samples of the Gadvan Formation were taken from Wells B and C in the South Pars field and analyzed using Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Results from the ∆LogR technique and multiple linear regression analysis, well logs, and Rock-Eval were compared to calculate the accurate content of TOC in the Gadvan Formation. Geochemical data confirmed that the Gadvan Formation was a relatively poor source rock in the South Pars field, as average TOC and Tmax values of the samples were 0.79 and less than 430 °C, respectively. Also, the content of potassium (K < 0.1%) confirmed the origin of the source rock as a pure carbonate, whereas the low content of thorium (Th < 5 ppm) was indicative of the percentage of clays. There was a moderate content of uranium (U < 10 ppm), suggesting that the Gadvan Formation was not deposited in an excellent reducing environment to conserve the organic matter. Moreover, the results from the integration of the multiple linear regression model with SGR and CGR showed that the value of R2 was higher than the results obtained without SGR and CGR. Findings from this study could help the exploration and production team to determine the accurate content of TOC using the ∆LogR technique in association with logging curves.