bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Intra-Cluster Scheduling Scheme for Real-Time Flows in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ali Gohar , Moreira Fernando , Alfandi Omar , Shah Babar , Ilyas Mohammed
Published: April 2020

Real-time flows using time division multiple access (TDMA) scheduling in cluster-based wireless sensor networks try to schedule more flows per time frame to minimize the schedule length to meet the deadline. The problem with the previously used cluster-based scheduling algorithm is that intra-cluster scheduling does not consider that the clusters may have internal or outgoing flows. Thus, intra-cluster scheduling algorithms do not utilize their empty time-slots and thus increase schedule length. In this paper, we propose a new intra-cluster scheduling algorithm by considering that clusters may have having internal or outgoing flows. Thus, intra-cluster scheduling algorithms do not differentiate the intra-cluster time slots and utilize their empty time slots. The objective is to schedule more flows per time frame, to reduce schedule length and improve the acceptance rate of flows. Simulation results show that the acceptance rate of the proposed scheme has a higher performance than the previous scheme.
Ethanol Production from High Solid Loading of Rice Straw by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation in a Non-Conventional Reactor
Authors: Roberto Inês C. , Castro Rafael C. A. , Silva João Paulo A. , Mussatto Solange I.
Published: April 2020

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at high solid loading is a potential approach to improve the economic feasibility of cellulosic ethanol. In this study, SSF using high loading of rice straw was assessed using a vertical ball mill reactor. First, the conditions of temperature and number of glass spheres were optimized at 8% (w/v) initial solids (41.5 °C, 18 spheres). Then, assays were carried out at higher solid loadings (16% and 24% w/v). At 8% or 16% solids, the fermentation efficiency was similar (ηF~75%), but the ethanol volumetric productivity (QP) reduced from 1.50 to 1.14 g/L.h. By increasing the solids to 24%, the process was strongly affected (ηF = 40% and QP = 0.7 g/L.h). To overcome this drawback, three different feeding profiles of 24% pre-treated rice straw were investigated. Gradual feeding of the substrate (initial load of 16% with additions of 4% at 10 and 24 h) and an inoculum level of 3 g/L resulted in a high ethanol titer (52.3 g/L) with QP of 1.1 g/L.h and ηF of 67%. These findings demonstrated that using a suitable fed-batch feeding strategy helps to overcome the limitations of SSF in batch mode caused by the use of high solid content.
Implementation of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Algorithm for Tuning of Power System Stabilizers in Multimachine Electric Power Systems
Authors: Verdejo Humberto , Pino Victor , Kliemann Wolfgang , Becker Cristhian , Delpiano José
Published: April 2020

The application of artificial intelligence-based techniques has covered a wide range of applications related to electric power systems (EPS). Particularly, a metaheuristic technique known as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has been chosen for the tuning of parameters for Power System Stabilizers (PSS) with success for relatively small systems. This article proposes a tuning methodology for PSSs based on the use of PSO that works for systems with ten or even more machines. Our new methodology was implemented using the source language of the commercial simulation software DigSilent PowerFactory. Therefore, it can be translated into current practice directly. Our methodology was applied to different test systems showing the effectiveness and potential of the proposed technique.
An Online Grey-Box Model Based on Unscented Kalman Filter to Predict Temperature Profiles in Smart Buildings
Authors: Massano Marco , Patti Edoardo , Macii Enrico , Acquaviva Andrea , Bottaccioli Lorenzo
Published: April 2020

Nearly 40% of primary energy consumption is related to the usage of energy in Buildings. Energy-related data such as indoor air temperature and power consumption of heating/cooling systems can be now collected due to the widespread diffusion of Internet-of-Things devices. Such energy data can be used (i) to train data-driven models than learn the thermal properties of buildings and (ii) to predict indoor temperature evolution. In this paper, we present a Grey-box model to estimate thermal dynamics in buildings based on Unscented Kalman Filter and thermal network representation. The proposed methodology has been applied in two different buildings with two different thermal network discretizations to test its accuracy in indoor air temperature prediction. Due to a lack of a real-world data sampled by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, a realistic data-set has been generated using the software Energy+, by referring to real industrial building models. Results on synthetic and realistic data show the accuracy of the proposed methodology in predicting indoor temperature trends up to the next 24 h with a maximum error lower than 2 °C, considering one year of data with different weather conditions.
AdViSED: Advanced Video SmokE Detection for Real-Time Measurements in Antifire Indoor and Outdoor Systems
Authors: Gagliardi Alessio , Saponara Sergio
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a video-based smoke detection technique for early warning in antifire surveillance systems. The algorithm is developed to detect the smoke behavior in a restricted video surveillance environment, both indoor (e.g., railway carriage, bus wagon, industrial plant, or home/office) or outdoor (e.g., storage area or parking area). The proposed technique exploits a Kalman estimator, color analysis, image segmentation, blob labeling, geometrical features analysis, and M of N decisor, in order to extract an alarm signal within a strict real-time deadline. This new technique requires just a few seconds to detect fire smoke, and it is 15 times faster compared to the requirements of fire-alarm standards for industrial or transport systems, e.g., the EN50155 standard for onboard train fire-alarm systems. Indeed, the EN50155 considers a response time of at least 60 s for onboard systems. The proposed technique has been tested and compared with state-of-art systems using the open access Firesense dataset developed as an output of a European FP7 project, including several fire/smoke indoor and outdoor scenes. There is an improvement of all the detection metrics (recall, accuracy, F1 score, precision, etc.) when comparing Advanced Video SmokE Detection (AdViSED) with other video-based antifire works recently proposed in literature. The proposed technique is flexible in terms of input camera type and frame size and rate and has been implemented on a low-cost embedded platform to develop a distributed antifire system accessible via web browser.
Self-Attention Network for Partial-Discharge Diagnosis in Gas-Insulated Switchgear
Authors: Tuyet-Doan Vo-Nguyen , Nguyen Tien-Tung , Nguyen Minh-Tuan , Lee Jong-Ho , Kim Yong-Hwa
Published: April 2020

Detecting, measuring, and classifying partial discharges (PDs) are important tasks for assessing the condition of insulation systems used in different electrical equipment. Owing to the implementation of the phase-resolved PD (PRPD) as a sequence input, an existing method that processes sequential data, e.g., the recurrent neural network, using a long short-term memory (LSTM) has been applied for fault classification. However, the model performance is not further improved because of the lack of supporting parallel computation and the inability to recognize the relevance of all inputs. To overcome these two drawbacks, we propose a novel deep-learning model in this study based on a self-attention mechanism to classify the PD patterns in a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The proposed model uses a self-attention block that offers the advantages of simultaneous computation and selective focusing on parts of the PRPD signals and a classification block to finally classify faults in the GIS. Moreover, the combination of LSTM and self-attention is considered for comparison purposes. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves performance superiority compared with the previous neural networks, whereas the model complexity is significantly reduced.
Fatigue Reliability Analysis of Wind Turbine Drivetrain Considering Strength Degradation and Load Sharing Using Survival Signature and FTA
Authors: Li Yao , Zhu Caichao , Chen Xu , Tan Jianjun
Published: April 2020

The wind turbine drivetrain suffers significant impact loads that severely affect the reliability and safety of wind turbines. Bearings and gears within the drivetrain are critical components with high repair costs and lengthy downtime. To realistically assess the system reliability, we propose to establish an electromechanical coupling dynamic model of the wind turbine considering the control strategy and environmental parameters and evaluate the system’s reliability of wind turbine drivetrain based on loads of gears and bearings. This paper focuses on the dynamic reliability analysis of the wind turbine under the control strategy and environmental conditions. SIMPACK (v9.7, Dassault Systèmes, Gilching, Germany) is used to develop the aero-hydro-servo-elastic coupling dynamic model with the full drivetrain that considers the flexibility of the tower and blade, the stochastic loads of wind and waves, gear meshing features, as well as the control strategy. The system reliability level of wind turbine drivetrain at different wind conditions is assessed using survival signature and fault tree analysis (FTA), and the influences of strength degradation of the transmission components on the system reliability are explored. Following this, the bending fatigue reliability and contact fatigue reliability concerning different wind conditions are compared in this paper. A case study is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed methodology.
Soil Erosion Reduction by Grain for Green Project in Desertification Areas of Northern China
Authors: Wei Wenjun , Wang Bing , Niu Xiang
Published: April 2020

The Grain for Green Project (GGP) encompasses most desertification areas in northern China where fragile soils are susceptible to erosion given the arid and semi-arid climate, low vegetation cover, and strong winds. We collected relevant data through ecological surveys and literature review to quantify total sand fixation and dust retention in 2015 based on different restoration methods, forest types, ecological function zones, and key desertification areas. Our results showed that cropland and wasteland afforestation increased sand fixation and dust retention, whereas facilitate afforestation was less effective in doing so. Further, sand fixation and dust retention values were higher in ecological and shrub forests compared with economic forests, as well as in wind erosion zones compared with wind-water erosion and water erosion zones. Moreover, 43.28% and 44.75% of total sand fixation and dust retention, respectively, were concentrated in important windbreak and sand fixation areas. Similarly, 60% and 30% of total sand fixation and dust retention, respectively, occurred in sandstorm paths and sources. Lastly, policy factors primarily influenced the spatial distribution patterns of both sand fixation and dust retention. Based on these results, enhancement of GGP efficacy into the future will rely on increased restoration efforts specifically aimed at planting more drought-resistant shrubs and native vegetation as doing so will enhance sand fixation, dust retention, and thus, the ecological integrity of these valuable and fragile desert ecosystems in northern China.
Self-Ruled and Self-Consecrated Ecclesiastic Schism as a Nation-Building Instrument in the Orthodox Countries of South Eastern Europe
Authors: Šljivić Dragan , Živković Nenad
Published: April 2020

The Orthodox concept of autocephaly, a formerly organizational and administrative measure, has been a powerful nation-building tool since the 19th century. While autocephaly could be granted—from the perspective of the Orthodox canon law—in an orderly fashion, it was often the case that a unilateral, non-canonical way towards autocephaly was sought. This usually took place when the state actors, often non-Orthodox, intervened during the nation-building process. We investigated the effects of unilateral declarations of autocephaly (through a schism) by comparing Bulgarian, Northern Macedonian, and Montenegrin examples. We contend that the best success chances are to be expected by the ecclesiastic body that is less willing to make major transgressions of the canon law, than to radicalize the situation after the initial move. This is mostly because autocephaly’s recognition requires a global acceptance within the circle of the already autocephalous churches. We also suggest that the strong political backing of the autocephaly movement can paradoxically have a negative impact on its ultimate success, as it can prolong the initial separation phase of the schism and prevent or postpone the healing phase, and with it, the fully fledged autocephaly.
The Response of the Soil Microbiota to Long-Term Mineral and Organic Nitrogen Fertilization is Stronger in the Bulk Soil than in the Rhizosphere
Authors: Cardinale Massimiliano , Ratering Stefan , Sadeghi Aitak , Pokhrel Sushil , Honermeier Bernd , Schnell Sylvia
Published: April 2020

The effects of different agronomic practices, such as fertilization regimes, can be experimentally tested in long-term experiments (LTE). Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen fertilizations on the bacterial microbiota in both rhizosphere and bulk soil of sugar beet, in the Giessen-LTE (Germany). Fertilization treatments included mineral-N, manure, mineral-N + manure and no N-amendment. Metabarcoding and co-occurrence analysis of 16S rRNA genes, qPCR of amoA, nirK, nirS, nosZ-I and nosZ-II genes and soil physico-chemical analyses were performed. The effect of the fertilization treatments was more evident in the bulk soil, involving 33.1% of the microbiota. Co-occurrence analysis showed a rhizosphere cluster, dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia (hub taxa: Betaproteobacteriales), and a bulk soil cluster, dominated by Acidobacteria, Gemmatominadetes and “Latescibacteria” (hub taxa: Acidobacteria). In the bulk soil, mineral N-fertilization reduced nirK, amoA, nosZ-I and nosZ-II genes. Thirteen Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed 23 negative correlations with gene relative abundances. These OTUs likely represent opportunistic species that profited from the amended mineral-N and outgrew the species carrying N-cycle genes. Our results indicate trajectories for future research on soil microbiome in LTE and add new experimental evidence that will be helpful for sustainable management of nitrogen fertilizations on arable soils.
Identification of Genetic Locus Underlying Easy Dehulling in Rice-Tartary for Easy Postharvest Processing of Tartary Buckwheat
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Ma Mingchuan , Liu Longlong
Published: April 2020

As a highly nutritious crop, Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tartaricum) strongly adapts and grows in adverse environments and is widely grown in Asia. However, its flour contains a large proportion of the hull that adheres to the testa layer of the groats and is difficult to be removed in industrial processing. Fortunately, rice-Tartary, with the loose and non-adhering hull, provides potentiality of improving Tartary buckwheat that can dehull easily. Here, we performed high-throughput sequencing for two parents (Tartary buckwheat and rice-Tartary) and two pools (samples from the F2 population) and obtained 101 Gb raw sequencing data for further analysis. Sequencing reads were mapped to the reference genome of Tartary buckwheat, and a total of 633,256 unique SNPs and 270,181 unique indels were found in these four samples. Then, based on the Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA), we identified a candidate genetic region, containing 45 impact SNPs/indels and 36 genes, that might underly non-adhering hull of rice-Tartary and should have value for breeding easy dehulling Tartary buckwheat.
An Improved Phenotype-Driven Tool for Rare Mendelian Variant Prioritization: Benchmarking Exomiser on Real Patient Whole-Exome Data
Authors: Cipriani Valentina , Pontikos Nikolas , Arno Gavin , Sergouniotis Panagiotis I. , Lenassi Eva , Thawong Penpitcha , Danis Daniel , Michaelides Michel , Webster Andrew R. , Moore Anthony T. , Robinson Peter N. , Jacobsen Julius O.B. , Smedley Damian
Published: April 2020

Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized rare disease diagnostics, but many patients remain without a molecular diagnosis, particularly because many candidate variants usually survive despite strict filtering. Exomiser was launched in 2014 as a Java tool that performs an integrative analysis of patients’ sequencing data and their phenotypes encoded with Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. It prioritizes variants by leveraging information on variant frequency, predicted pathogenicity, and gene-phenotype associations derived from human diseases, model organisms, and protein–protein interactions. Early published releases of Exomiser were able to prioritize disease-causative variants as top candidates in up to 97% of simulated whole-exomes. The size of the tested real patient datasets published so far are very limited. Here, we present the latest Exomiser version 12.0.1 with many new features. We assessed the performance using a set of 134 whole-exomes from patients with a range of rare retinal diseases and known molecular diagnosis. Using default settings, Exomiser ranked the correct diagnosed variants as the top candidate in 74% of the dataset and top 5 in 94%; not using the patients’ HPO profiles (i.e., variant-only analysis) decreased the performance to 3% and 27%, respectively. In conclusion, Exomiser is an effective support tool for rare Mendelian phenotype-driven variant prioritization.
Genotyping by RAD Sequencing Analysis Assessed the Genetic Distinctiveness of Experimental Lines and Narrowed down the Genomic Region Responsible for Leaf Shape in Endive (Cichorium endivia L.)
Authors: Patella Alice , Palumbo Fabio , Ravi Samathmika , Stevanato Piergiorgio , Barcaccia Gianni
Published: April 2020

The characterization of genetic diversity in elite breeding stocks is crucial for the registration and protection of new varieties. Moreover, experimental population structure analysis and information about the genetic distinctiveness of commercial materials are essential for crop breeding programs. The purpose of our research was to assess the genetic relationships of 32 endive (Cichorium endivia L.) breeding lines, 18 from var. latifolium (escarole) and 14 from var. crispum (curly), using heterologous Cichorium intybus-derived simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. We found that 14 out of 29 SSR markers were successfully amplified, but only 8 of them were related to polymorphic loci. To overcome the limitation of the low number of informative SSR marker loci, an alternative SNP-based approach was employed. The 4621 SNPs produced by a restriction site-associated DNA marker sequencing approach were able to fully discriminate the 32 endive accessions; most importantly, as many as 50 marker loci were found to distinguish the curly group from the escarole group. Interestingly, 24 of the marker loci mapped within a peripheral segment of chromosome 8 of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), spanning a chromosomal region of 49.6 Mb. Following Sanger sequencing-based validation, three genes were determined to carry nonsynonymous SNPs, and one of them matched a putative ortholog of AtELP1, subunit 1 of the Elongator complex. Considering that several previously characterized Elongator complex subunit mutants exhibited elongated and/or curly leaf phenotypes, this gene should be taken into consideration for a better understanding of the underlying mechanism controlling leaf shape in endive.
Displacements of Object Founded on Expansive Soils—A Case Study of Light Construction
Authors: Gorączko Aleksandra , Sztubecki Jacek , Bujarkiewicz Adam , Topoliński Szymon
Published: April 2020

The paper presents results of observations of a light structure damaged by irregular vertical and horizontal deformations on Neogene expansive clays, typical for area in Central Poland. The sensitivity to environmental changes of humidity in such subsoils can activate volume changes, which causes the destruction of many objects susceptible to deformation. Detailed geotechnical investigations, including seasonal fluctuations of natural moisture content, were carried out for over a year, describing the dynamism of conditions of clays in the foundation zone. Parallel geodetic measurements of vertical and horizontal displacements were carried out, using classical precision leveling and the coordinate method of the Leica TDRA 6000 laser station. The network of measurement points has been specially designed and implemented to follow the spatial displacements of the structure. The network points were placed at the bottom of pillars and on the flooring of the structure located in the upper part. In the paper, the results of the vertical and horizontal periodical measurement of displacements of an investigated construction over the year were discussed to identify the main factors influencing the mechanism of damage of the observed structure.
A Classic Maya Mystery of a Medicinal Plant and Maya Hieroglyphs
Authors: Ferrier Jonathan , Pesek Todd , Zinck Nicholas , Curtis Sharon , Wanyerka Phillip , Cal Victor , Balick Michael , Arnason John Thor
Published: April 2020

The Maya employed the k’an |K’AN| glyph in Late Classic (~750 CE) hieroglyphs on murals and polychrome pottery as an adjective meaning precious, yellow. On cacao drinking vessels, the k’an glyph was suggested as a descriptor for a flavoring ingredient, allspice, Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (Myrtaceae). However, our previous consensus ethnobotanical fieldwork with Q’eqchi’ Maya healers of Belize revealed another candidate among antidiabetic plants, Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn. Sm. (Bignoniaceae), which was the healers’ top selection for treatment of diabetes and an exceptionally active extract in an antidiabetic assay for inhibition of protein glycation. Traits of T. guatemalensis observed after cross sectioning the liana were: (1) a cross-shaped xylem organization similar to the k’an glyph; (2) an allspice-like aroma; and (3) yellow color. Based on taxonomy and ethnobotany, confirmation of the allspice-like aromatic compound eugenol, and antidiabetic activity, we determined the plant described by the k’an glyph to be T. guatemalensis (chib’ayal in Q’eqchi’), not P. dioica (allspice). In contemporary Q’eqchi’ tradition, the section of the chib’ayal vine with its cross is associated with the eighth day of their Tzolk’in calendar, which is called the “nawal” (energy) of “q’anil” (ripe, full yellow). This day is represented with a different glyph from the k’an glyph, but notably has a cross representing the four cardinal points. The identification of a potent medicinal plant used in the late classic as well as contemporary times may suggest the long-term preservation of traditional medicinal knowledge in Maya culture for pharmacologically significant plants.
Hand Hygiene, Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Its Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-Sectional Study among Primary School Students in Wuhan, China
Authors: Chen Xuyu , Ran Li , Liu Qing , Hu Qikai , Du Xueying , Tan Xiaodong
Published: April 2020

Although the emphasis on behaviors of hand-washing and mask-wearing was repeated during the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), not everyone paid enough attention to this. A descriptive statistic was used to make sense of the status of hand hygiene and mask-wearing among primary school students in Wuhan, China. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors affecting the behaviors of hand-washing and mask-wearing. p < 0.05 (two-sides) was considered as significant at statistics. 42.05% of the primary school students showed a good behavior of hand-washing, while 51.60% had a good behavior of mask-wearing. Gender, grade, out-going history, father’s occupation, mother’s educational background, and the time filling out the survey were significantly associated with hand hygiene, whereas grade, mother’s educational background, and residence were associated with mask-wearing. The behaviors of hand-washing and mask-wearing among primary school students were influenced by gender, grade, and other factors, therefore, parents should make efforts of behavior guidance whereas governments should enlarge medium publicity.
COVID-19 Factors and Psychological Factors Associated with Elevated Psychological Distress among Dentists and Dental Hygienists in Israel
Authors: Shacham Maayan , Hamama-Raz Yaira , Kolerman Roni , Mijiritsky Ori , Ben-Ezra Menachem , Mijiritsky Eitan
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of COVID-19 factors and psychological factors with psychological distress among dental staff during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 338 Israeli dentists and dental hygienists, who provided their demographic data; answered questions about COVID-19-related factors; and were assessed by subjective overload, self-efficacy, and psychological distress scales. Data were analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression. Results revealed that elevated psychological distress was found among those who have background illness, fear of contracting COVID-19 from patient, and a higher subjective overload. Lower psychological distress was associated with being in a committed relationship and having higher scores for self-efficacy. Given these results, gathered during times of an infectious disease outbreak, exploring psychological distress among dental staff is warranted as the effects may be long-term.
A Visual Scan Analysis Protocol for Postural Assessment at School in Young Students
Authors: Alves Maria E. , Marinho Daniel A. , Carneiro Duarte N. , Alves Jorge , Forte Pedro , Nevill Alan M. , Morais Jorge E.
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the X-ray diagnosis with a non-invasive method for spine alignment assessment adopting a visual scan analysis with a plumb line and simetograph in middle-school students. The sample of this study was composed of 31 males and 50 females with an average age of 14.23 (± 3.11) years. The visual scan analysis was assessed at a school; whereas, the X-ray was performed in a hospital. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess the differences between methods and scoliosis classifications (non-accentuated <10º and scoliosis >10º), and the Kappa was used to assess the agreement between methods. The comparisons between the methods revealed non-significant differences (z = −0.577; p = 0.564), with almost perfect agreement between tests (K = 0.821; p < 0.001). Moreover, no statistical significance was observed between methods by the scoliosis classification (z = −1.000; p = 0.317), with almost perfect agreement between tests (K = 0.888; p < 0.001). This research supports the conclusion that there are no significant differences between the two methods. Therefore, it should be highlighted that this field test should be used by physical education teachers in their classes, or in a school context, in order to determine misalignments or scoliosis prevalence among middle-school students.
Association between Passive Smoking from the Mother and Pediatric Crohn’s Disease: A Japanese Multicenter Study
Authors: Uchiyama Koji , Haruyama Yasuo , Shiraishi Hiromi , Katahira Kiyohiko , Abukawa Daiki , Ishige Takashi , Tajiri Hitoshi , Uchida Keiichi , Uchiyama Kan , Washio Masakazu , Kobashi Erika , Maekawa Atsuko , Okamoto Kazushi , Sairenchi Toshimi , Imamura Yuka , Ohhira Shuji , Hata Akira , Kobashi Gen
Published: April 2020

Smoking is a risk factor for adult-onset Crohn’s disease (CD). Although passive smoking from family members is a major concern, especially in pediatric CD, the number of existing epidemiological studies is limited. This multicenter case–control study aimed to assess the effects of familial smoking on pediatric CD. We examined 22 pediatric CD cases and 135 controls. The subjects’ mothers were given a self-administered questionnaire about family smoking before disease onset in the CD group or the corresponding period in the control group. Univariable logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), whereas dose–response relationship analyses were performed for more in-depth evaluations. Univariable analyses indicated that passive smoking from the mother (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 0.61–7.10) was not a significant, but a candidate risk factor for developing pediatric CD. In contrast, the dose–response relationship analyses revealed that passive smoking from the mother (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.31) was significantly associated with pediatric CD. Therefore, passive smoking from the mother may be predominantly associated with the development of pediatric CD. Further follow-up studies comprising environmental measurements of passive smoking exposure doses and genetic factors interaction analysis are necessary.
Discrimination and Social Exclusion in the Outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: He Jun , He Leshui , Zhou Wen , Nie Xuanhua , He Ming
Published: April 2020

This paper is aimed to document the observed social exclusion and discrimination in the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world and inside of China. Discrimination and social exclusion has occurred in various forms, while 25.11% of respondents overseas experienced discrimination in the breakout of COVID-19, and 90% of respondents inside of China exhibited discriminatory attitudes. The discrimination and social exclusion also lead to a range of damaging social outcomes. Thus, this is an urgent call for the inclusiveness in policy and media in the face of this public health emergency.
Praeruptorin B Mitigates the Metastatic Ability of Human Renal Carcinoma Cells through Targeting CTSC and CTSV Expression
Authors: Lin Chia-Liang , Hung Tung-Wei , Ying Tsung-Ho , Lin Chi-Jui , Hsieh Yi-Hsien , Chen Chien-Min
Published: April 2020

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common adult kidney cancer, and accounts for 85% of all cases of kidney cancers worldwide. Praeruptorin B (Pra-B) is a bioactive constituent of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and exhibits several pharmacological activities, including potent antitumor effects. However, the anti-RCC effects of Pra-B and their underlying mechanisms are unclear; therefore, we explored the effects of Pra-B on RCC cells in this study. We found that Pra-B nonsignificantly influenced the cell viability of human RCC cell lines 786-O and ACHN at a dose of less than 30 μM for 24 h treatment. Further study revealed that Pra-B potently inhibited the migration and invasion of 786-O and ACHN cells, as well as downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of cathepsin C (CTSC) and cathepsin V (CTSV) of 786-O and ACHN cells. Mechanistically, Pra-B also reduced the protein levels of phospho (p)-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in RCC cells. In addition, Pra-B treatment inhibited the effect of EGF on the upregulation of EGFR–MEK–ERK, CTSC and CTSV expression, cellular migration, and invasion of 786-O cells. Our findings are the first to demonstrate that Pra-B can reduce the migration and invasion ability of human RCC cells through suppressing the EGFR-MEK-ERK signaling pathway and subsequently downregulating CTSC and CTSV. This evidence suggests that Pra-B can be developed as an effective antimetastatic agent for the treatment of RCC.
DFT Study of Molecular and Electronic Structure of Ca(II) and Zn(II) Complexes with Porphyrazine and tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazole)porphyrazine
Authors: Otlyotov Arseniy A. , Ryzhov Igor V. , Kuzmin Ilya A. , Zhabanov Yuriy A. , Mikhailov Maxim S. , Stuzhin Pavel A.
Published: April 2020

Electronic and geometric structures of Ca(II) and Zn(II) complexes with porphyrazine (Pz) and tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazole)porphyrazine (TTDPz) were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared. The perimeter of the coordination cavity was found to be practically independent on the nature of a metal and a ligand. According to the results of the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations, Ca–N bonds possess larger ionic contributions as compared to Zn–N. The model electronic absorption spectra obtained with the use of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations indicate a strong bathochromic shift (~70 nm) of the Q-band with a change of Pz ligand by TTDPz for both Ca and Zn complexes. Additionally, CaTTDPz was synthesized and its electronic absorption spectrum was recorded in pyridine and acetone.
Immunoproteasome Genes Are Modulated in CD34+ JAK2V617F Mutated Cells from Primary Myelofibrosis Patients
Authors: Di Rosa Michelino , Giallongo Cesarina , Romano Alessandra , Tibullo Daniele , Li Volti Giovanni , Musumeci Giuseppe , Barbagallo Ignazio , Imbesi Rosa , Castrogiovanni Paola , Palumbo Giuseppe A.
Published: April 2020

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by stem-cell-derived clonal over-proliferation of mature myeloid lineages, bone marrow fibrosis, osteosclerosis, defective erythropoiesis, and pro-inflammatory cytokine over-expression. The aim of the present study was to highlight possible differences in the transcriptome among CD34+ cells from peripheral blood (PB) of PMF patients. Therefore, we merged two microarray datasets of healthy control subjects and PMF (34 JAK2V617F MUTATED and 28 JAK2 wild-type). The GO analysis of upregulated genes revealed enrichment for JAK2/STAT1 pathway gene set in PB CD34+ cells of PMF patients with and without the JAK2V617F mutation comparing to the healthy control subjects, and in particular a significant upregulation of immunoproteasome (IP)-belonging genes as PSMB8, PSMB9, and PSMB10. A more detailed investigation of the IFN-gamma (IFNG) pathway also revealed that IFNG, IRF1, and IFNGR2 were significantly upregulated in PB CD34+ cells of PMF patients carrying the mutation for JAK2V617F compared to JAK2 wild-type PMF patients. Finally, we showed an upregulation of HLA-class I genes in PB CD34+ cells from PMF JAK2V617F mutated patients compared to JAK2 wild-type and healthy controls. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that IPs and IFNG pathways could be involved in PMF disease and in particular in patients carrying the JAK2V617F mutation.
Preparing for the KIL: Receptor Analysis of Pseudomonas syringae pv. porri Phages and Their Impact on Bacterial Virulence
Authors: Holtappels Dominique , Kerremans Alison , Busschots Yoni , Van Vaerenbergh Johan , Maes Martine , Lavigne Rob , Wagemans Jeroen
Published: April 2020

The prevalence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. porri (Pspo) in Belgium continues to increase and sustainable treatments for this pathogen remain unavailable. A potentially attractive biocontrol strategy would be the application of bacteriophages. The ideal application strategy of phages in an agricultural setting remains unclear, especially in a field-based production such as for leek plants in Flanders. Therefore, more insight in bacteria–phage interaction is required, along with the evaluation of different application strategies. In this study, we further characterized the infection strategy of two Pspo phages, KIL3b and KIL5. We found that both phages recognize lipopolysaccharide (LPS) moieties on the surface of the bacterium. LPS is an important pathogenicity factor of Pspo. Our data also suggest that KIL5 requires an additional protein in the bacterial cytoplasmatic membrane to efficiently infect its host. Virulence tests showed that this protein also contributes to Pspo virulence. Furthermore, a cocktail of both phages was applied in a seed bioassay. A combination of KIL3b and KIL5 reduced the bacterial concentration 100-fold. However, in vitro Pspo resistance against phage infection developed quite rapidly. However, the impact of this phage resistance might be mitigated as is suggested by the fact that those resistance mutations preferably occur in genes involved in LPS metabolism, and that the virulence of those mutants is possibly reduced. Our data suggest that the phage cocktail has promising potential to lower the prevalence of Pspo and to be integrated in a pest management strategy. Targeted research is needed to further explore the applicability of the phages in combination with other disease control strategies.
Long Tandem Arrays of Cassandra Retroelements and Their Role in Genome Dynamics in Plants
Authors: Kalendar Ruslan , Raskina Olga , Belyayev Alexander , Schulman Alan H.
Published: April 2020

Retrotransposable elements are widely distributed and diverse in eukaryotes. Their copy number increases through reverse-transcription-mediated propagation, while they can be lost through recombinational processes, generating genomic rearrangements. We previously identified extensive structurally uniform retrotransposon groups in which no member contains the gag, pol, or env internal domains. Because of the lack of protein-coding capacity, these groups are non-autonomous in replication, even if transcriptionally active. The Cassandra element belongs to the non-autonomous group called terminal-repeat retrotransposons in miniature (TRIM). It carries 5S RNA sequences with conserved RNA polymerase (pol) III promoters and terminators in its long terminal repeats (LTRs). Here, we identified multiple extended tandem arrays of Cassandra retrotransposons within different plant species, including ferns. At least 12 copies of repeated LTRs (as the tandem unit) and internal domain (as a spacer), giving a pattern that resembles the cellular 5S rRNA genes, were identified. A cytogenetic analysis revealed the specific chromosomal pattern of the Cassandra retrotransposon with prominent clustering at and around 5S rDNA loci. The secondary structure of the Cassandra retroelement RNA is predicted to form super-loops, in which the two LTRs are complementary to each other and can initiate local recombination, leading to the tandem arrays of Cassandra elements. The array structures are conserved for Cassandra retroelements of different species. We speculate that recombination events similar to those of 5S rRNA genes may explain the wide variation in Cassandra copy number. Likewise, the organization of 5S rRNA gene sequences is very variable in flowering plants; part of what is taken for 5S gene copy variation may be variation in Cassandra number. The role of the Cassandra 5S sequences remains to be established.
Japan’s Practical Guidelines for Zinc Deficiency with a Particular Focus on Taste Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Kodama Hiroko , Tanaka Makoto , Naito Yuji , Katayama Kazuhiro , Moriyama Mitsuhiko
Published: April 2020

Zinc deficiency is common in Japan, yet awareness on this disorder is lacking. The Japanese Society of Clinical Nutrition recently issued the Japan’s Practical Guideline for Zinc Deficiency 2018 setting forth criteria for diagnosing zinc deficiency, i.e., (a) one or more symptoms of zinc deficiency or low serum alkaline phosphatase, (b) ruling out other diseases, (c) low serum zinc, and (d) alleviation of symptoms upon zinc administration. Serum zinc <60 μg/dL and 60–80 μg/dL indicate zinc deficiency and marginal deficiency, respectively. Zinc deficiency symptoms vary and include dermatitis and taste disorders among others. Zinc administration improves taste in 50–82% of patients suffering from taste disorders (a common symptom of zinc deficiency). Effects of zinc administration do not appear immediately, and therapy should be continued for at least three months. Zinc deficiency often accompanies various diseases and conditions. Here, we focus on inflammatory bowel diseases and liver cirrhosis. As zinc deficiency enhances intestinal inflammation via macrophage activation, we discuss the pathological mechanism for inflammation and zinc deficiency in the context of IBD. Zinc deficiency can also lead to a nitrogen metabolic disorder in patients with liver cirrhosis. Zinc supplementation can improve not only the ammonia metabolism, but also the protein metabolism. We also discuss directions for future studies of zinc deficiency.
Aedes albopictus Autophagy-Related Gene 8 (AaAtg8) Is Required to Confer Anti-Bacterial Gut Immunity
Authors: Kim Chang Eun , Park Ki Beom , Ko Hye Jin , Keshavarz Maryam , Bae Young Min , Kim BoBae , Patnaik Bharat Bhusan , Jang Ho Am , Lee Yong Seok , Han Yeon Soo , Jo Yong Hun
Published: April 2020

Autophagy is an important process by which pathogens and damaged or unused organelles are eliminated. The role of autophagy in development and the immune response to pathogens is well established. Autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8) is involved in the formation of the autophagosome and, with the help of the serine protease Atg4, mediates the delivery of both vesicles and the autophagosome to the vacuole. Here, we cloned the Aedes albopictus autophagy-related protein 8 (AaAtg8) gene and characterized its role in the innate immunity of the mosquito against microbial infections. AaAtg8 is comprised of an open reading frame (ORF) region of 357 bp encoding a polypeptide of 118 amino acid residues. A domain analysis of AaAtg8 revealed an Atg8 ubiquitin-like domain, Atg7/Atg4 interaction sites, and peptide binding sites. The AaAtg8 mRNA expression was high in the Malpighian tubules and heads of both sugar-fed and blood-fed adult female mosquitoes. The expression level of AaAtg8 mRNA increased in the midgut and abdominal carcass following being challenged with Listeria monocytogenes. To investigate the role of AaAtg8 in the innate immune responses of Ae. albopictus, AaAtg8 gene-silenced adult mosquitoes were challenged by injection or by being fed microorganisms in blood. High mortality rates were observed in mosquitoes in which AaAtg8 was silenced after challenges of microorganisms to the host by blood feeding. This suggests that Atg8-autophagy plays a critical role in the gut immunity in Ae. albopictus.
Hydroxyapatite Formation Coexists with Amyloid-like Self-Assembly of Human Amelogenin
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Jian , Ma Chengwei , Lu Junxia
Published: April 2020

Tooth enamel is formed in an extracellular environment. Amelogenin, the major component in the protein matrix of tooth enamel during the developing stage, could assemble into high molecular weight structures, regulating enamel formation. However, the molecular structure of amelogenin protein assembly at the functional state is still elusive. In this work, we found that amelogenin is able to induce calcium phosphate minerals into hydroxyapatite (HAP) structure in vitro at pH 6.0. Assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 31P solid-state NMR (SSNMR) evidence, the formed HAP mimics natural enamel closely. The structure of amelogenin protein assembly coexisting with the HAP was also studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD, indicating the β-amyloid structure of the protein. SSNMR was proven to be an important tool in detecting both the rigid and dynamic components of the protein assembly in the sample, and the core sequence 18EVLTPLKWYQSI29 was identified as the major segment contributing to the β-sheet secondary structure. Our research suggests an amyloid structure may be an important factor in controlling HAP formation at the right pH conditions with the help of other structural components in the protein assembly.
Crosstalk of lncRNA and Cellular Metabolism and Their Regulatory Mechanism in Cancer
Authors: Lin Yang-Hsiang
Published: April 2020

The imbalanced regulation of metabolic homeostasis and energy production is highly associated with inflammation, tumor growth, metastasis and cancer progression. Both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation maintain metabolic homeostasis and energy production in cells. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-protein-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. Furthermore, lncRNAs can function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes in cancer. Dysregulated lncRNAs reportedly regulate cancer hallmarks such as tumor growth, metabolism and metastasis. Accordingly, uncovering the interaction between lncRNAs and cellular metabolism has become a necessity when attempting to identify effective therapeutic and preventive strategies in cancer progression. This review summarizes important knowledge of the actions of known lncRNAs-mediated cancer metabolism.
Crocetin Prevents RPE Cells from Oxidative Stress through Protection of Cellular Metabolic Function and Activation of ERK1/2
Authors: Karimi Padideh , Gheisari Ali , Gasparini Sylvia J , Baharvand Hossein , Shekari Faezeh , Satarian Leila , Ader Marius
Published: April 2020

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause for visual impairment in aging populations with limited established therapeutic interventions available. Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of AMD, damaging the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which is essential for the function and maintenance of the light-sensing photoreceptors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crocetin, one of the main components of Saffron, on an in vitro RPE model of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) induced oxidative stress using ARPE19 cells. The effects of crocetin were assessed using lactate de-hydrogenase (LDH) and ATP assays, as well as immunocytochemistry for cell morphology, junctional integrity, and nuclear morphology. The mechanism of crocetin action was determined via assessment of energy production pathways, including mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in real-time as well as investigation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation and distribution. Our results show that crocetin pre-treatment protects ARPE19 cells from TBHP-induced LDH release, intracellular ATP depletion, nuclear condensation, and disturbance of junctional integrity and cytoskeleton. The protective effect of crocetin is mediated via the preservation of energy production pathways and activation of ERK1/2 in the first minutes of TBHP exposure to potentiate survival pathways. The combined data suggest that a natural antioxidant, such as crocetin, represents a promising candidate to prevent oxidative stress in RPE cells and might halt or delay disease progression in AMD.