bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trichoderma parareesei Favors the Tolerance of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) to Salinity and Drought Due to a Chorismate Mutase
Authors: Poveda Jorge
Published: January 2020

Both drought and salinity represent the greatest plant abiotic stresses in crops. Increasing plant tolerance against these environmental conditions must be a key strategy in the development of future agriculture. The genus of Trichoderma filament fungi includes several species widely used as biocontrol agents for plant diseases but also some with the ability to increase plant tolerance against abiotic stresses. In this sense, using the species T. parareesei and T. harzianum, we have verified the differences between the two after their application in rapeseed (Brassica napus) root inoculation, with T. parareesei being a more efficient alternative to increase rapeseed productivity under drought or salinity conditions. In addition, we have determined the role that T. parareesei chorismate mutase plays in its ability to promote tolerance to salinity and drought in plants by increasing the expression of genes related to the hormonal pathways of abscisic acid (ABA) under drought stress, and ethylene (ET) under salt stress.
Effects of Exogenous Application of Osmotic Adjustment Substances on Growth, Pigment Concentration, and Physiological Parameters of Dracaena sanderiana Sander under Different Levels of Salinity
Authors: García-Caparrós Pedro , Llanderal Alfonso , Hegarat Elodie , Jiménez-Lao María , Lao María Teresa
Published: January 2020

We evaluated two osmotic adjustment substances (glycine betaine (GB) and glycine (G) and a combination of both glycine + glycine betaine (G + GB) using two modes of application; irrigation and foliar sprays with Dracaena sanderiana plants. The plants were grown in containers and subjected to two levels of NaCl concentrations (2.0 and 7.5 dS m−1) over 8 weeks. Growth, pigment concentrations, and physiological parameters were assessed at the end of the trial. The foliar application of GB resulted in most optimal plant growth and biomass production in the presence of NaCl. The chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations showed different trends depending on the osmotic adjustment substance applied and the mode of application. Stomatal density and dimensions varied considerably with respect to the osmotic adjustment substance supplied. The concentration of soluble sugars in leaves did not show a clear trend under the different treatments assessed. The exogenous application of G resulted in the highest concentration of free proline and proteins in leaves. The antioxidant capacity in leaves increased with both osmotic adjustment substances, and both means of application, under low and high saline conditions. We concluded that the foliar application of GB can be recommended in order to achieve cost-effective growth of D. sanderiana under saline conditions.
Potentials and Challenges of Former Food Products (Food Leftover) as Alternative Feed Ingredients
Authors: Luciano Alice , Tretola Marco , Ottoboni Matteo , Baldi Antonella , Cattaneo Donata , Pinotti Luciano
Published: January 2020

Former food products (FFPs) are foodstuffs that, even though they are nutritious and safe, have lost their value on the human consumption market for different reasons, such as production errors leading to broken or intermediate foodstuffs, surpluses caused by logistical challenges of daily delivery, or any other reason. The nutritional features of FFPs include carbohydrates, free sugars, and possibly also fats. FFPs tend to have been processed through various technological and heat treatments that impact the nutrients and the kinetics of digestion, as well as animal response and, particularly, gastro-intestinal health. This review integrates some of the most recently published works about the chemical composition, nutritional value, digestibility and glycaemic index of ex-foods. In addition, a view on the relationship between the use of FFPs and safety issues and their effects on pigs’ intestinal microbiota are also given.
Can Agro-Industrial By-Products Rich in Polyphenols be Advantageously Used in the Feeding and Nutrition of Dairy Small Ruminants?
Authors: Correddu Fabio , Lunesu Mondina Francesca , Buffa Giovanna , Atzori Alberto Stanislao , Nudda Anna , Battacone Gianni , Pulina Giuseppe
Published: January 2020

Recently, the interest in industrial by-products produced at the local level in Mediterranean areas, resulting from fruit and vegetable processes, has increased because of their considerable amounts of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols. In this review, we analyze the most recent scientific results concerning the use of agro-industrial by-products, naturally rich in polyphenols (BPRP), in the diets of small dairy ruminants. Effects on milk production, milk and rumen liquor fatty acid profile, metabolic parameters, and methane production are reviewed. The feed intake and digestibility coefficients were generally depressed by BPRP, even though they were not always reflected in the milk yield. The main observed positive effects of BPRP were on quality of the milk’s FA profile, antioxidant activity in milk and blood, a reduction of rumen ammonia, and, consequently, a reduction of milk and blood urea. The expected beneficial effects of dietary polyphenols in small ruminants were not always observed because of their complex and variable matrices. However, owing to the large quantities of these products available at low prices, the use of BPRB in small ruminant nutrition offers a convenient solution to the valorization of residues arising from agricultural activities, reducing feed costs for farmers and conferring added value to dairy products at the local level, in a sustainable way.
Patent Data Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Using Bayesian Interval Estimation
Authors: Uhm Daiho , Ryu Jea-Bok , Jun Sunghae
Published: January 2020

Technology analysis is one of the important tasks in technology and industrial management. Much information about technology is contained in the patent documents. So, patent data analysis is required for technology analysis. The existing patent analyses relied on the quantitative analysis of the collected patent documents. However, in the technology analysis, expert prior knowledge should also be considered. In this paper, we study the patent analysis method using Bayesian inference which considers prior experience of experts and likelihood function of patent data at the same time. For keyword data analysis, we use Bayesian predictive interval estimation with count data distributions such as Poisson. Using the proposed models, we forecast the future trends of technological keywords of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to know the future technology of AI. We perform a case study to provide how the proposed method can be applied to real areas. In this paper, we retrieve the patent documents related to AI technology, and analyze them to find the technological trend of AI. From the results of AI technology case study, we can find which technological keywords are more important or critical in the entire structure of AI industry. The existing methods for patent keyword analysis were depended on the collected patent documents at present. But, in technology analysis, the prior knowledge by domain experts is as important as the collected patent documents. So, we propose a method based on Bayesian inference for technology analysis using the patent documents. Our method considers the patent data analysis with the prior knowledge from domain experts.
Review and Development Trend of Digital Hydraulic Technology
Authors: Zhang Qiwei , Kong Xiangdong , Yu Bin , Ba Kaixian , Jin Zhengguo , Kang Yan
Published: January 2020

Since the emergence of digital hydraulic technology, it has achieved good results in intelligence, integration, energy saving, etc. After decades of development, and it has also attracted wide attention in the industry. However, for many years, the definition of digital hydraulic technology has differed between researchers, and there is no uniform definition. Such a situation affects the development of it to a certain extent. Therefore, this paper gives the exact definition of digital hydraulic technology based on a large number of researches on it. At the same time, the paper analyzes the research status and developmental process of the such a technology, and we forecast the development trend of it.
Geopolymer-Bonded Laminated Veneer Lumber as Environmentally Friendly and Formaldehyde-Free Product: Effect of Various Additives on Geopolymer Binder Features
Authors: Shalbafan Ali , Thoemen Heiko
Published: January 2020

Environmentally friendly and formaldehyde-free laminated veneer lumber (LVL) was manufactured using geopolymer constituents as binder. The main aim of the study was to improve the bonding quality between the geopolymer binder and the wood constituents. To this end, the effect of various additives (phenol flakes, conventional silica fume, and grafted silica fume with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)) in the geopolymer binder features were explored via gel time and viscosity measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transom infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties (shear, bending, and compression) of LVL panels were also determined. Results showed that adding both types of silica fume had a positive impact on the geopolymer binder features. The formation of an alkaline aluminosilicate network was proven by observing the characteristics peaks of geopolymer binder at about 683 and 970 cm−1. A peak temperature of about 98 °C was determined for the geopolymer binder curing via DSC analysis. The mechanical properties were the highest for LVL panels made of geopolymer binder with grafted silica fume. It is feasible that the APTES used as grafting agent created a better bonding mechanism with superficial wood cells. In summary, the produced LVL panel showed good properties, but it still needs to be further improved to reach the required levels for use in interior and humid application.
Maximizing Demand Response Aggregator Compensation through Optimal RES Utilization: Aggregation in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Essiet Ima O. , Sun Yanxia
Published: January 2020

This paper examines the role of demand response aggregators in minimizing the cost of electricity generation by distribution utilities in a day-ahead electricity market. In this paper, 2500 standard South African homes are considered as end users. Five clusters (and aggregators) are considered with 500 homes in each cluster. Two cases are analysed: (1) Utilization of renewable energy sources (RES) is implemented by the distribution supply operator (DSO), where it meets excess demand for end users during peak hours by purchasing electricity from the renewable sources of the energy market, and (2) Utilization of RES is implemented by end users alone, and it is assumed that every household has one plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). The aggregators then compete with each other for the most cost-effective energy usage profile; the aggregator with the least energy demand wins the bid. In both cases, energy pricing is estimated according to the day-ahead energy market. A typical day during winter in Johannesburg is considered for the simulation using a genetic algorithm (GA). Results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of demand response aggregators in maximizing the benefits on both sides of the electricity supply chain.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Wound Healing Activity of Mussel Myticin C
Authors: Rey-Campos Magalí , Moreira Rebeca , Romero Alejandro , Medina-Gali Regla M. , Novoa Beatriz , Gasset María , Figueras Antonio
Published: January 2020

Myticin C is the most studied antimicrobial peptide in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Although it is constitutively expressed in mussel hemocytes and displays antibacterial, antiviral, and chemotactic functions, recent work has suggested that this molecule is mainly activated after tissue injury. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to characterize the hemocytes’ transcriptomic response after a myticin C treatment, in order to understand the molecular changes induced by this cytokine-like molecule. The transcriptome analysis revealed the modulation of genes related to cellular movement, such as myosin, transgelin, and calponin-like proteins, in agreement with results of functional assays, where an implication of myticin C in the in vitro activation of hemocytes and migration was evidenced. This was also observed in vivo after a tissue injury, when hemocytes, with high concentrations of myticin C, migrated to the damaged area to heal the wound. All these properties allowed us to think about the biotechnological application of these molecules as wound healers. Human keratinocytes and larvae zebrafish models were used to confirm this hypothesis. Accelerated regeneration after a wound or tail fin amputation was observed after treatment with the myticin C peptide, supporting the chemotactic and healing activity of myticin C.
Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Partial Utilization of Waste Foundry Sand
Authors: Smarzewski Piotr
Published: January 2020

Waste foundry sand (WFS) is a ferrous and non-ferrous foundry industry by-product, produced in the amount of approximately 700 thousand tons annually in Poland and it is estimated that only a small percentage of this waste is recycled. The study used WFS to produce ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) as a partial substitute for quartz sand. It was replaced with WFS levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of quartz sand content. The UHPC mixtures were produced and tested to determine the compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength as well as the modulus of elasticity at 28, 56, and 112 days. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was done to identify the presence of various compounds and micro-cracks in UHPC with WFS. The results revealed an increase as well as an insignificant decrease in the mechanical properties up to 5% and 10% WFS replacement, respectively. These studies also prove improvement in the microstructure of UHPC up to a 5% WFS level. In all the tested properties in this work, 5% WFS was found to be an apt substitute for quartz sand.
Effect of Reduction of Pt–Sn/α-Al2O3 on Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Mixed-Paraffin Feed
Authors: Avithi Kanniappan Suresh , Ragula Udaya Bhaskar Reddy
Published: January 2020

The effect of the Pt–Sn/α-Al2O3 catalyst reduction method on dehydrogenation of mixed-light paraffins to olefins has been studied in this work. Pt–Sn/α-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by two different methods: (a) liquid phase reduction with NaBH4 and (b) gas phase reduction with hydrogen. The catalytic performance of these two catalysts for dehydrogenation of paraffins was compared. Also, the synergy between the catalyst reduction method and mixed-paraffin feed (against individual paraffin feed) was studied. The catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The individual and mixed-paraffin feed dehydrogenation experiments were carried out in a packed bed reactor fabricated from Inconel 600, operating at 600 °C and 10 psi pressure. The dehydrogenation products were analyzed using an online gas chromatograph (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID). The total paraffin conversion and olefin selectivity for individual paraffin feed (propane only and butane only) and mixed-paraffin feed were compared. The conversion of propane only feed was found to be 10.7% and 9.9%, with olefin selectivity of 499% and 490% for NaBH4 and hydrogen reduced catalysts, respectively. The conversion of butane only feed was found to be 24.4% and 23.3%, with olefin selectivity of 405% and 418% for NaBH4 and hydrogen reduced catalysts, respectively. The conversion of propane and butane during mixed-feed dehydrogenation was measured to be 21.4% and 30.6% for the NaBH4 reduced catalyst, and 17.2%, 22.4% for the hydrogen reduced catalyst, respectively. The olefin selectivity was 422% and 415% for NaBH4 and hydrogen reduced catalysts, respectively. The conversions of propane and butane for mixed-paraffin feed were found to be higher when compared with individual paraffin dehydrogenation. The thermogravimetric studies of used catalysts under oxygen atmosphere showed that the amount of coke deposited during mixed-paraffin feed is less compared with individual paraffin feed for both catalysts. The study showed NaBH4 as a simple and promising alternative reduction method for the synthesis of Pt–Sn/Al2O3 catalyst for paraffin dehydrogenation. Further, the studies revealed that mixed-paraffin feed dehydrogenation gave higher conversions without significantly affecting olefin selectivity.
The Composition and Structure of Ultra-Dispersed Mixed Oxide (II, III) Particles and Their Influence on In-Situ Conversion of Heavy Oil
Authors: Mukhamatdinov Irek I. , Khaidarova Aliya R. , Zaripova Rumia D. , Mukhamatdinova Rezeda E. , Sitnov Sergey A. , Vakhin Alexey V.
Published: January 2020

This paper discusses the role of magnetite in the conversion of heavy oil from the Ashal’cha reservoir. The effect of catalysts on the in-situ upgrading of heavy oil is directed on the reduction of high-molecular components of oil such as resins and asphaltenes and their molecular masses. Moreover, it is directed on the significant increase in saturates and aromatic fractions. Measuring the temperature-dependent viscosity characteristics revealed the tremendous viscosity decrease of the obtained catalytic aquathermolysis products. X-ray analysis exposed the composition of the initial catalyst that consisted of mixed iron oxides (II, III), as well as catalysts that were extracted from the treated crude oil. The particle size of the catalysts was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. According to the SEM data, aggregates of 200 nm were formed that were in the range of ultra-dispersed particles (200 to 500 nm).
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α: The Master Regulator of Endothelial Cell Senescence in Vascular Aging
Authors: Alique Matilde , Sánchez-López Elsa , Bodega Guillermo , Giannarelli Chiara , Carracedo Julia , Ramírez Rafael
Published: January 2020

Aging is one of the hottest topics in biomedical research. Advances in research and medicine have helped to preserve human health, leading to an extension of life expectancy. However, the extension of life is an irreversible process that is accompanied by the development of aging-related conditions such as weakness, slower metabolism, and stiffness of vessels. It also debated that aging can be considered an actual disease with aging-derived comorbidities, including cancer or cardiovascular disease. Currently, cardiovascular disorders, including atherosclerosis, are considered as premature aging and represent the first causes of death in developed countries, accounting for 31% of annual deaths globally. Emerging evidence has identified hypoxia-inducible factor-1α as a critical transcription factor with an essential role in aging-related pathology, in particular, regulating cellular senescence associated with cardiovascular aging. In this review, we will focus on the regulation of senescence mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in age-related pathologies, with particular emphasis on the crosstalk between endothelial and vascular cells in age-associated atherosclerotic lesions. More specifically, we will focus on the characteristics and mechanisms by which cells within the vascular wall, including endothelial and vascular cells, achieve a senescent phenotype.
Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Neuromuscular Junction Degeneration with Aging
Authors: Anagnostou Maria-Eleni , Hepple Russell T.
Published: January 2020

Skeletal muscle deteriorates with aging, contributing to physical frailty, poor health outcomes, and increased risk of mortality. Denervation is a major driver of changes in aging muscle. This occurs through transient denervation-reinnervation events throughout the aging process that remodel the spatial domain of motor units and alter fiber type. In advanced age, reinnervation wanes, leading to persistent denervation that accelerates muscle atrophy and impaired muscle contractility. Alterations in the muscle fibers and motoneurons are both likely involved in driving denervation through destabilization of the neuromuscular junction. In this respect, mitochondria are implicated in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, and are also likely key to aging muscle changes through their direct effects in muscle fibers and through secondary effects mediated by mitochondrial impairments in motoneurons. Indeed, the large abundance of mitochondria in muscle fibers and motoneurons, that are further concentrated on both sides of the neuromuscular junction, likely renders the neuromuscular junction especially vulnerable to age-related mitochondrial dysfunction. Manifestations of mitochondrial dysfunction with aging include impaired respiratory function, elevated reactive oxygen species production, and increased susceptibility to permeability transition, contributing to reduced ATP generating capacity, oxidative damage, and apoptotic signaling, respectively. Using this framework, in this review we summarize our current knowledge, and relevant gaps, concerning the potential impact of mitochondrial impairment on the aging neuromuscular junction, and the mechanisms involved.
The Role of Ca2+ Signaling in Aging and Neurodegeneration: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans Models
Authors: Alvarez Javier , Alvarez-Illera Pilar , García-Casas Paloma , Fonteriz Rosalba I. , Montero Mayte
Published: January 2020

Ca2+ is a ubiquitous second messenger that plays an essential role in physiological processes such as muscle contraction, neuronal secretion, and cell proliferation or differentiation. There is ample evidence that the dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling is one of the key events in the development of neurodegenerative processes, an idea called the “calcium hypothesis” of neurodegeneration. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a very good model for the study of aging and neurodegeneration. In fact, many of the signaling pathways involved in longevity were first discovered in this nematode, and many models of neurodegenerative diseases have also been developed therein, either through mutations in the worm genome or by expressing human proteins involved in neurodegeneration (β-amyloid, α-synuclein, polyglutamine, or others) in defined worm tissues. The worm is completely transparent throughout its whole life, which makes it possible to carry out Ca2+ dynamics studies in vivo at any time, by expressing Ca2+ fluorescent probes in defined worm tissues, and even in specific organelles such as mitochondria. This review will summarize the evidence obtained using this model organism to understand the role of Ca2+ signaling in aging and neurodegeneration.
The Drosophila Citrate Lyase Is Required for Cell Division during Spermatogenesis
Authors: Di Giorgio Maria Laura , Morciano Patrizia , Bucciarelli Elisabetta , Porrazzo Antonella , Cipressa Francesca , Saraniero Sara , Manzi Diana , Rong Yikang S. , Cenci Giovanni
Published: January 2020

The Drosophila melanogaster DmATPCL gene encodes for the human ATP Citrate Lyase (ACL) ortholog, a metabolic enzyme that from citrate generates glucose-derived Acetyl-CoA, which fuels central biochemical reactions such as the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and acetylcholine, and the acetylation of proteins and histones. We had previously reported that, although loss of Drosophila ATPCL reduced levels of Acetyl-CoA, unlike its human counterpart, it does not affect global histone acetylation and gene expression, suggesting that its role in histone acetylation is either partially redundant in Drosophila or compensated by alternative pathways. Here, we describe that depletion of DmATPCL affects spindle organization, cytokinesis, and fusome assembly during male meiosis, revealing an unanticipated role for DmATPCL during spermatogenesis. We also show that DmATPCL mutant meiotic phenotype is in part caused by a reduction of fatty acids, but not of triglycerides or cholesterol, indicating that DmATPCL-derived Acetyl-CoA is predominantly devoted to the biosynthesis of fatty acids during spermatogenesis. Collectively, our results unveil for the first time an involvement for DmATPCL in the regulation of meiotic cell division, which is likely conserved in human cells.
Design and Measurement of a 0.67 THz Biased Sub-Harmonic Mixer
Authors: Ji Guangyu , Zhang Dehai , Meng Jin , Liu Siyu , Yao Changfei
Published: January 2020

To effectively reduce the requirement of Local Oscillator (LO) power, this paper presents the design and measurement of a biased sub-harmonic mixer working at the center frequency of 0.67 THz in hybrid integration. Two discrete Schottky diodes were placed across the LO waveguide in anti-series configuration on a 50 μm thick quartz-glass substrate, and chip capacitors were not required. At the driven of 3 mW@335 GHz and 0.35 V, the mixer had a minimum measured Signal Side-Band (SSB) conversion loss of 15.3 dB at the frequency of 667 GHz. The typical conversion loss is 18.2 dB in the band of 650 GHz to 690 GHz.
Are Arid Regions Always that Appropriate for Waste Disposal? Examples of Complexity from Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Authors: Tyler Scott W.
Published: January 2020

The study of the hydrology of arid regions greatly expanded at the end of the 20th century as humans sought to reduce groundwater pollution from landfills, waste dumps and other forms of land disposal. Historically viewed as wastelands where little or no water percolated to the underlying water table, the discovery of large-scale contamination beneath arid disposal sites such as the Hanford nuclear complex in eastern Washington jumpstarted an industry in studying the hydrology of arid vadose zones and their transport behavior. These studies showed that, in spite of hyper aridity in many areas, precipitation often did infiltrate to deep water. The efforts at Yucca Mountain, Nevada to design a high-level nuclear repository stand out as one of the largest of such studies, and one that fundamentally changed our understanding of not only water flow in fractured rocks, but also of the range of our uncertainty of hydrologic processes in arid regions. In this review and commentary, we present some of the initial concepts of flow at Yucca Mountain, and the evolution in research to quantify the concepts. In light of continued stockpiling of high-level waste, and the renewed interest in opening Yucca Mountain for high-level waste, we then focus on the significant surprises and unanswered questions that remained after the end of the characterization and licensing period; questions that continue to demonstrate the challenges of a geologic repository and our uncertainty about critical processes for long-term, safe storage or disposal of some of our most toxic waste products.
Where Urban Youth Work and Live: A Data-Driven Approach to Identify Urban Functional Areas at a Fine Scale
Authors: Yan Yiming , Wang Yuanyuan , Du Zhenhong , Zhang Feng , Liu Renyi , Ye Xinyue
Published: January 2020

As a major labor force of cities, young people provide a huge driving force for urban innovation and development, and contribute to urban industrial upgrading and restructuring. In addition, with the acceleration of urbanization in China, the young floating population has increased rapidly, causing over-urbanization and creating certain social problems. It is important to analyze the demand of urban youth and promote their social integration. With the development of the mobile Internet and the improvement of the city express system, ordering food delivery has become a popular and convenient way to dine, especially in China. Food delivery data have a significant user attribute where the ages of most delivery customers are under 35 years old. In this paper, we introduce food delivery data as a new data source in urban functional zone detection and propose a time-series-based clustering approach to discover the urban hotspot areas of young people. The work and living areas were effectively identified according to the human behavioral characteristics of ordering food delivery. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between young people and the industry structure of Hangzhou and discovered that the geographical distribution of the identified work areas was similar to that of the Internet and e-commerce companies. The characteristics of the identified living areas were also analyzed in combination with the distribution of subway lines and residential communities, and it was found that the living areas were mainly distributed along subway lines and that urban villages appeared in the living hotspot regions, indicating that transportation and living cost were two important factors in the choice of residential location for young people. The findings of this paper can help urban industrial and residential planning and young population management.
Spatio-Temporal Prediction of the Epidemic Spread of Dangerous Pathogens Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Hamer Wolfgang B. , Birr Tim , Verreet Joseph-Alexander , Duttmann Rainer , Klink Holger
Published: January 2020

Real-time identification of the occurrence of dangerous pathogens is of crucial importance for the rapid execution of countermeasures. For this purpose, spatial and temporal predictions of the spread of such pathogens are indispensable. The R package papros developed by the authors offers an environment in which both spatial and temporal predictions can be made, based on local data using various deterministic, geostatistical regionalisation, and machine learning methods. The approach is presented using the example of a crops infection by fungal pathogens, which can substantially reduce the yield if not treated in good time. The situation is made more difficult by the fact that it is particularly difficult to predict the behaviour of wind-dispersed pathogens, such as powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici). To forecast pathogen development and spatial dispersal, a modelling process scheme was developed using the aforementioned R package, which combines regionalisation and machine learning techniques. It enables the prediction of the probability of yield- relevant infestation events for an entire federal state in northern Germany at a daily time scale. To run the models, weather and climate information are required, as is knowledge of the pathogen biology. Once fitted to the pathogen, only weather and climate information are necessary to predict such events, with an overall accuracy of 68% in the case of powdery mildew at a regional scale. Thereby, 91% of the observed powdery mildew events are predicted.
Pexophagy: A Model for Selective Autophagy
Authors: Germain Kyla , Kim Peter K.
Published: January 2020

The removal of damaged or superfluous organelles from the cytosol by selective autophagy is required to maintain organelle function, quality control and overall cellular homeostasis. Precisely how substrate selectivity is achieved, and how individual substrates are degraded during selective autophagy in response to both extracellular and intracellular cues is not well understood. The aim of this review is to highlight pexophagy, the autophagic degradation of peroxisomes, as a model for selective autophagy. Peroxisomes are dynamic organelles whose abundance is rapidly modulated in response to metabolic demands. Peroxisomes are routinely turned over by pexophagy for organelle quality control yet can also be degraded by pexophagy in response to external stimuli such as amino acid starvation or hypoxia. This review discusses the molecular machinery and regulatory mechanisms governing substrate selectivity during both quality-control pexophagy and pexophagy in response to external stimuli, in yeast and mammalian systems. We draw lessons from pexophagy to infer how the cell may coordinate the degradation of individual substrates by selective autophagy across different cellular cues.
Dramatically Reducing Search for High Utility Sequential Patterns by Maintaining Candidate Lists
Authors: Buffett Scott
Published: January 2020

A ubiquitous challenge throughout all areas of data mining, particularly in the mining of frequent patterns in large databases, is centered on the necessity to reduce the time and space required to perform the search. The extent of this reduction proportionally facilitates the ability to identify patterns of interest. High utility sequential pattern mining (HUSPM) seeks to identify frequent patterns that are (1) sequential in nature and (2) hold a significant magnitude of utility in a sequence database, by considering the aspect of item value or importance. While traditional sequential pattern mining relies on the downward closure property to significantly reduce the required search space, with HUSPM, this property does not hold. To address this drawback, an approach is proposed that establishes a tight upper bound on the utility of future candidate sequential patterns by maintaining a list of items that are deemed potential candidates for concatenation. Such candidates are provably the only items that are ever needed for any extension of a given sequential pattern or its descendants in the search tree. This list is then exploited to significantly further tighten the upper bound on the utilities of descendent patterns. An extension of this work is then proposed that significantly reduces the computational cost of updating database utilities each time a candidate item is removed from the list, resulting in a massive reduction in the number of candidate sequential patterns that need to be generated in the search. Sequential pattern mining methods implementing these new techniques for bound reduction and further candidate list reduction are demonstrated via the introduction of the CRUSP and CRUSPPivot algorithms, respectively. Validation of the techniques was conducted on six public datasets. Tests show that use of the CRUSP algorithm results in a significant reduction in the overall number of candidate sequential patterns that need to be considered, and subsequently a significant reduction in run time, when compared to the current state of the art in bounding techniques. When employing the CRUSPPivot algorithm, the further reduction in the size of the search space was found to be dramatic, with the reduction in run time found to be dramatic to moderate, depending on the dataset. Demonstrating the practical significance of the work, experiments showed that time required for one particularly complex dataset was reduced from many hours to less than one minute.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Induces a Distinct Signature of Circulating Metabolites
Authors: Rafikov Ruslan , Coletta Dawn K , Mandarino Lawrence J. , Rafikova Olga
Published: January 2020

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable, progressive disorder, and the early diagnosis and treatment of PAH are associated with increased survival [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of MCA in 2019
Authors: MCA Editorial Office
Published: January 2020

The editorial team greatly appreciates the reviewers who have dedicated their considerable time and expertise to the journal’s rigorous editorial process over the past 12 months, regardless of whether the papers are finally published or not[...]
Magnetic Properties in Finemet-Type Soft Magnetic Toroidal Cores Annealed under Radial Stresses
Authors: Xue Zhiyong , Li Xuesong , Sohrabi Sajad , Ren Yu , Wang Weihua
Published: January 2020

Applying tensile stresses on straight soft magnetic ribbons before core fabrication is a routine method of inducing magnetic anisotropy, while methods of stress annealing of ribbons after core winding are seldom explored. In this study, we utilize a novel approach to induce magnetic anisotropy by applying radial stresses on tape-wound cores of Fe73.5Si13.5B9Cu3Nb1 (at. %) ribbon during crystallization heat treatment. The results show that while stress annealing does not change the structural characteristics of annealed samples, the magnetic anisotropies induced can increase to values ~3–5 times larger than the sample annealed in the absence of external stress. This increase in magnetic anisotropy energy is associated with ~25–50% decrease of magnetic inductance in the treated cores. These results suggest that the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys can be effectively tuned by applying radial stresses.
Reducing-Effect of Chloride for the Dissolution of Black Copper
Authors: Torres David , Pérez Kevin , Trigueros Emilio , I. Jeldres Ricardo , Salinas-Rodríguez Eleazar , Robles Pedro , Toro Norman
Published: January 2020

Oxidized black copper ores are known for their difficulty in dissolving their components of interest through conventional methods. This is due to its non-crystalline and amorphous structure. Among these minerals, copper pitch and copper wad are of great interest because of their considerable concentrations of copper and manganese. Currently, these minerals are not incorporated into the extraction circuits or left untreated, whether in stock, leach pads, or waste. For the recovery of its main elements of interest (Cu and Mn), it is necessary to use reducing agents that dissolve the present MnO2, while allowing the recovery of Cu. In this research, the results for the dissolution of Mn and Cu from a black copper mineral are exposed, evaluating the reducing effect of NaCl for MnO2 through pre-treatment of agglomerate and curing, and subsequently leaching in standard condition with the use of a reducing agent (Fe2+). High concentrations of chloride in the agglomerate process and prolonged curing times would favor the reduction of MnO2, increasing the dissolution of Mn, while the addition of NaCl did not benefit Cu extractions. Under standard conditions, low Mn extractions were obtained, while in an acid-reducing medium, a significant dissolution of MnO2 was achieved, which supports the removal of Cu.
Comprehensive Circulatory Metabolomics in ME/CFS Reveals Disrupted Metabolism of Acyl Lipids and Steroids
Authors: Germain Arnaud , Barupal Dinesh K. , Levine Susan M. , Hanson Maureen R.
Published: January 2020

The latest worldwide prevalence rate projects that over 65 million patients suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), an illness with known effects on the functioning of the immune and nervous systems. We performed an extensive metabolomics analysis on the plasma of 52 female subjects, equally sampled between controls and ME/CFS patients, which delivered data for about 1750 blood compounds spanning 20 super-pathways, subdivided into 113 sub-pathways. Statistical analysis combined with pathway enrichment analysis points to a few disrupted metabolic pathways containing many unexplored compounds. The most intriguing finding concerns acyl cholines, belonging to the fatty acid metabolism sub-pathway of lipids, for which all compounds are consistently reduced in two distinct ME/CFS patient cohorts. We compiled the extremely limited knowledge about these compounds and regard them as promising in the quest to explain many of the ME/CFS symptoms. Another class of lipids with far-reaching activity on virtually all organ systems are steroids; androgenic, progestin, and corticosteroids are broadly reduced in our patient cohort. We also report on lower dipeptides and elevated sphingolipids abundance in patients compared to controls. Disturbances in the metabolism of many of these molecules can be linked to the profound organ system symptoms endured by ME/CFS patients.
Metabolomic Profiling of Fungal Pathogens Responsible for Root Rot in American Ginseng
Authors: DesRochers Natasha , Walsh Jacob P. , Renaud Justin B. , Seifert Keith A. , Yeung Ken K.-C. , Sumarah Mark W.
Published: January 2020

Ginseng root is an economically valuable crop in Canada at high risk of yield loss caused by the pathogenic fungus Ilyonectria mors-panacis, formerly known as Cylindrocarpon destructans. While this pathogen has been well-characterized from morphological and genetic perspectives, little is known about the secondary metabolites it produces and their role in pathogenicity. We used an untargeted tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based approach paired with global natural products social molecular networking (GNPS) to compare the metabolite profiles of virulent and avirulent Ilyonectria strains. The ethyl acetate extracts of 22 I. mors-panacis strains and closely related species were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Principal component analysis of LC-MS features resulted in two distinct groups, which corresponded to virulent and avirulent Ilyonectria strains. Virulent strains produced more types of compounds than the avirulent strains. The previously reported I. mors-panacis antifungal compound radicicol was present. Additionally, a number of related resorcyclic acid lactones (RALs) were putatively identified, namely pochonins and several additional derivatives of radicicol. Pochonins have not been previously reported in Ilyonectria spp. and have documented antimicrobial activity. This research contributes to our understanding of I. mors-panacis natural products and its pathogenic relationship with ginseng.
d-Mannose Treatment neither Affects Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Properties nor Induces Stable FimH Modifications
Authors: Scribano Daniela , Sarshar Meysam , Prezioso Carla , Lucarelli Marco , Angeloni Antonio , Zagaglia Carlo , Palamara Anna Teresa , Ambrosi Cecilia
Published: January 2020

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are mainly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Acute and recurrent UTIs are commonly treated with antibiotics, the efficacy of which is limited by the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains. The natural sugar d-mannose is considered as an alternative to antibiotics due to its ability to mask the bacterial adhesin FimH, thereby preventing its binding to urothelial cells. Despite its extensive use, the possibility that d-mannose exerts “antibiotic-like” activity by altering bacterial growth and metabolism or selecting FimH variants has not been investigated yet. To this aim, main bacterial features of the prototype UPEC strain CFT073 treated with d-mannose were analyzed by standard microbiological methods. FimH functionality was analyzed by yeast agglutination and human bladder cell adhesion assays. Our results indicate that high d-mannose concentrations have no effect on bacterial growth and do not interfere with the activity of different antibiotics. d-mannose ranked as the least preferred carbon source to support bacterial metabolism and growth, in comparison with d-glucose, d-fructose, and l-arabinose. Since small glucose amounts are physiologically detectable in urine, we can conclude that the presence of d-mannose is irrelevant for bacterial metabolism. Moreover, d-mannose removal after long-term exposure did not alter FimH’s capacity to bind to mannosylated proteins. Overall, our data indicate that d-mannose is a good alternative in the prevention and treatment of UPEC-related UTIs.
Donor-Acceptor Substituted Benzo-, Naphtho- and Phenanthro-Fused Norbornadienes
Authors: Mansø Mads , Fernandez Lorette , Wang Zhihang , Moth-Poulsen Kasper , Nielsen Mogens Brøndsted
Published: January 2020

The photochromic norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) couple has found interest as a molecular solar thermal energy (MOST) system for storage of solar energy. To increase the energy difference between the two isomers, we present here the synthesis of a selection of benzo-fused NBD derivatives that contain an aromatic unit, benzene, naphthalene or phenanthrene, fused to one of the NBD double bonds, while the carbon atoms of the other double bond are functionalized with donor and acceptor groups. The synthesis protocols involve functionalization of benzo-fused NBDs with bromo/chloro substituents followed by a subjection of these intermediates to a cyanation reaction (introducing a cyano acceptor group) followed by a Sonogashira coupling (introducing an arylethynyl donor group, -C≡CC6H4NMe2 or -C≡CC6H4OMe). While the derivatives have good absorption properties in the visible region (redshifted relative to parent system) in the context of MOST applications, they lack the ability to undergo NBD-to-QC photoisomerization, even in the presence of a photosensitizer. It seems that loss of aromaticity of the fused aromatics is too significant to allow photoisomerization to occur. The concept of destroying aromaticity of a neighboring moiety as a way to enhance the energy density of the NBD/QC couple thus needs further structural modifications, in the quest for optimum MOST systems.
Top-Down Polyelectrolytes for Membrane-Based Post-Combustion CO2 Capture
Authors: Nikolaeva Daria , Luis Patricia
Published: January 2020

Polymer-based CO2 selective membranes offer an energy efficient method to separate CO2 from flue gas. ‘Top-down’ polyelectrolytes represent a particularly interesting class of polymer materials based on their vast synthetic flexibility, tuneable interaction with gas molecules, ease of processability into thin films, and commercial availability of precursors. Recent developments in their synthesis and processing are reviewed herein. The four main groups of post-synthetically modified polyelectrolytes discern ionised neutral polymers, cation and anion functionalised polymers, and methacrylate-derived polyelectrolytes. These polyelectrolytes differentiate according to the origin and chemical structure of the precursor polymer. Polyelectrolytes are mostly processed into thin-film composite (TFC) membranes using physical and chemical layer deposition techniques such as solvent-casting, Langmuir-Blodgett, Layer-by-Layer, and chemical grafting. While solvent-casting allows manufacturing commercially competitive TFC membranes, other methods should still mature to become cost-efficient for large-scale application. Many post-synthetically modified polyelectrolytes exhibit outstanding selectivity for CO2 and some overcome the Robeson plot for CO2/N2 separation. However, their CO2 permeance remain low with only grafted and solvent-casted films being able to approach the industrially relevant performance parameters. The development of polyelectrolyte-based membranes for CO2 separation should direct further efforts at promoting the CO2 transport rates while maintaining high selectivities with additional emphasis on environmentally sourced precursor polymers.
3-(6-Phenylimidazo [2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-Indole Derivatives as New Anticancer Agents in the Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cascioferro Stella , Li Petri Giovanna , Parrino Barbara , El Hassouni Btissame , Carbone Daniela , Arizza Vincenzo , Perricone Ugo , Padova Alessandro , Funel Niccola , Peters Godefridus J. , Cirrincione Girolamo , Giovannetti Elisa , Diana Patrizia
Published: January 2020

A new series of imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives was efficiently synthesized and screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activity on a panel of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, including SUIT-2, Capan-1 and Panc-1. Compounds 9c and 9l, showed relevant in vitro antiproliferative activity on all three pre-clinical models with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 5.11 to 10.8 µM, while the compounds 9e and 9n were active in at least one cell line. In addition, compound 9c significantly inhibited the migration rate of SUIT-2 and Capan-1 cells in the scratch wound-healing assay. In conclusion, our results will support further studies to increase the library of imidazo [2,1-b][1,3,4] thiadiazole derivatives for deeper understanding of the relationship between biological activity of the compounds and their structures in the development of new antitumor compounds against pancreatic diseases.