bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Absolute Contents of Compounds Affecting the Taste and Nutritional Properties of the Flesh of Three Plum Species Throughout Development
Authors: Moscatello Stefano , Frioni Tommaso , Blasi Francesca , Proietti Simona , Pollini Luna , Verducci Giuseppa , Rosati Adolfo , Walker Robert P. , Battistelli Alberto , Cossignani Lina , Famiani Franco
Published: October 2019

The characteristics of plum fruits of three different species were investigated throughout their development (including over-ripening). The content of primary and secondary metabolites was expressed as amount per gram DW (dry weight) and per fruit in order to obtain information about the balance between their synthesis and dissimilation at different stages of fruit development. In all the plums, during the first stages of development, glucose was the most abundant sugar, whereas sucrose increased during ripening. There was no decrease in malate content per fruit before the commercial harvesting time of any of the plums, whereas a decrease was observed during over-ripening. In general, both the total phenol content and the contents of individual phenols in the flesh expressed on gram DW decreased throughout development, whereas their content per fruit increased, indicating that these decreases were due to a dilution effect arising from the expansion of the flesh. During the development of the flesh, the increase in the contents of the investigated metabolites per fruit shows that there was no net dissimilation of malate up to commercial harvest and of phenols throughout fruit development. Good correlations between the content of phenols to antioxidant activity were found. Shiro flesh, during the last part of fruit development, had lower total carbohydrate and polyphenol contents, lower antioxidant activities, and a higher malate content than the flesh of the other two genotypes.
Effect of Product Involvement on Panels’ Vocabulary Generation, Attribute Identification, and Sample Configurations in Beer
Authors: Elgaard Line , Mielby Line A. , Heymann Hildegarde , Byrne Derek V.
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of two semi-trained panels with different degrees of self-reported beer involvement in terms of beer consumption pattern. The two panels were beer non-drinkers (indicating willingness to taste beer) and craft-style beer drinkers. Eleven modified beer samples were evaluated during three separate tasks by both panels. The tasks were (1) a vocabulary generation on a sample level, (2) an attribute identification task with a list of attributes to choose from, and (3) a descriptive analysis. The performance of the two panels was evaluated and compared using three parameters, as follows: Descriptive similarity, attribute knowledge similarity, and perceptual similarity. The results showed that the craft-style beer drinkers generated the most precise vocabulary and correctly identified more attributes, compared to the beer non-drinkers. Furthermore, the sample sensory spaces generated by the two panels were different before the training period, but were perceptually similar post training. To conclude, the beer consumption pattern influenced all aspects of panel performance before training, with the craft-style panel performing better than the non-drinkers panel. However, the panels’ performance became more similar after a short period of training sessions.
Bioactive Candy: Effects of Licorice on the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Deutch Mikkel R. , Grimm Daniela , Wehland Markus , Infanger Manfred , Krüger Marcus
Published: October 2019

Licorice, today chiefly utilized as a flavoring additive in tea, tobacco and candy, is one of the oldest used herbs for medicinal purposes and consists of up to 300 active compounds. The main active constituent of licorice is the prodrug glycyrrhizin, which is successively converted to 3β-monoglucuronyl-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) in the intestines. Despite many reported health benefits, 3MGA and GA inhibit the 11-β-hydrogenase type II enzyme (11β-HSD2) oxidizing cortisol to cortisone. Through activation of mineralocorticoid receptors, high cortisol levels induce a mild form of apparent mineralocorticoid excess in the kidney and increase systemic vascular resistance. Continuous inhibition of 11β-HSD2 related to excess licorice consumption will create a state of hypernatremia, hypokalemia and increased fluid volume, which can cause serious life-threatening complications especially in patients already suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Two recent meta-analyses of 18 and 26 studies investigating the correlation between licorice intake and blood pressure revealed statistically significant increases both in systolic (5.45 mmHg) and in diastolic blood pressure (3.19/1.74 mmHg). This review summarizes and evaluates current literature about the acute and chronic effects of licorice ingestion on the cardiovascular system with special focus on blood pressure. Starting from the molecular actions of licorice (metabolites) inside the cells, it describes how licorice intake is affecting the human body and shows the boundaries between the health benefits of licorice and possible harmful effects.
Overexpression of OsPT8 Increases Auxin Content and Enhances Tolerance to High-Temperature Stress in Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Song Zhaopeng , Fan Ningbo , Jiao Guizhen , Liu Minghong , Wang Xiaoyan , Jia Hongfang
Published: October 2019

Temperature is a primary factor affecting the rate of plant development; as the climate warms, extreme temperature events are likely to increasingly affect agriculture. Understanding how to improve crop tolerance to heat stress is a key concern. Wild plants have evolved numerous strategies to tolerate environmental conditions, notably the regulation of root architecture by phytohormones, but the molecular mechanisms of stress resistance are unclear. In this study, we showed that high temperatures could significantly reduce tobacco biomass and change its root architecture, probably through changes in auxin content and distribution. Overexpression of the OsPT8 phosphate transporter enhanced tobacco tolerance to high-temperature stress by changing the root architecture and increased the antioxidant ability. Molecular assays suggested that overexpression of OsPT8 in tobacco significantly increased the expression of auxin synthesis genes NtYUCCA 6, 8 and auxin efflux carriers genes NtPIN 1,2 under high-temperature stress. We also found that the expression levels of auxin response factors NtARF1 and NtARF2 were increased in OsPT8 transgenic tobacco under high-temperature stress, suggesting that OsPT8 regulates auxin signaling in response to high-temperature conditions. Our findings provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant stress signaling and showed that OsPT8 plays a key role in regulating plant tolerance to stress conditions.
A Two-Way Avenue of Knowledge: An Editorial for the Special Issue “Geoscience of the Built Environment 2019 Edition”
Authors: Alves Carlos
Published: October 2019

This editorial presents the papers published in the 2019 edition of this series of special issues in the context of the contribution of geological studies to the development of knowledge on the built environment (namely materials) and in the opposite sense, that is the potential contribution of studies of the Built Environment to geoscientific knowledge. This is discussed considering the major framework of the Anthropocene.
Diet and Food Allergy as Risk Factors for Asthma in the Arabian Gulf Region: Current Evidence and Future Research Needs
Authors: Alsharairi Naser A.
Published: October 2019

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease which is associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation. The causes of asthma remain poorly understood. Unhealthy diet and food allergy are potential risk factors for developing asthma. The prevalence of asthma in the Arabian Gulf region (AGR), and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular, is higher than in other Eastern Mediterranean countries. In the AGR, diets tend to be of low nutritional value due to high levels of total energy, cholesterol, sodium, added sugars and saturated fat, and low levels of fiber, fruit and vegetables. A few studies that include children and adults in the AGR have suggested a potential link between unhealthy diets/specific food allergens and increased risk of asthma, however, the association of food allergy with asthma is still a controversial issue. The aim of this commentary is to consider the evidence from the AGR regarding the effects of diet/food allergy on asthma risk that may be used to make recommendations for future research.
How Do the Multi-Temporal Centroid Trajectories of Urban Heat Island Correspond to Impervious Surface Changes: A Case Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhan Qingming , Gao Sihang , Liu Huimin
Published: October 2019

Conspicuous expansion and intensification of impervious surfaces accompanied by rapid urbanization are widely recognized to have exerted evident impacts on the urban thermal environment. Investigating the spatially and temporally varying relationships between Land Surface Temperature (LST) and impervious surfaces (IS) at multiple scales is of great significance for steering IS expansion and intensification. This study proposes an analytical framework to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of LST and its responses to IS in Wuhan, China at both city scale and sub-region scale. The summer LST patterns in 2002–2017 are extracted by Multi-Task Gaussian Process (MTGP) model from raw 8-day synthesized MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST data. At the city scale, the weighted center of LST (LSTWC) and impervious surface fraction (ISFWC), multi-temporal trajectories and coupling indicators are utilized to comprehensively examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of LST and IS within Wuhan. At the sub-region scale, urban heat island ratio index (URI), impervious surfaces contribution index (ISCI) and sprawl rate are introduced for further quantifying the relationships of LST and IS. The results reveal that IS and hot thermal landscapes expanded by 407.43 km2 and 255.82 km2 in Wuhan in 2002–2017 at city scale. The trajectories of LSTWCs and ISFWCs are visually coherent and both heading to southeast direction in general. At the sub-region scale, the specific cardinal directions with the highest ISCI variations are examined to be the exact directions of ISFWC trajectories in 2002–2017. The results reveal that the spatiotemporal variations of LST and IS are highly correlated at both city and sub-region scales within Wuhan, thus testifying the significance of steering IS expansion and renewal for controlling urban thermal environment deterioration.
Hope in Hospitalized Patients with Terminal Cancer
Authors: Baczewska Bożena , Block Bogusław , Kropornicka Beata , Niedzielski Antoni , Malm Maria , Zwolak Agnieszka , Makara-Studzińska Marta
Published: October 2019

Hope is of great importance for patients diagnosed with cancer, especially those that are terminally ill. The diagnosis often puts an end to the realization of personal, social, and professional goals. The aim of this study was to characterize the hope of hospitalized patients diagnosed with cancer in the terminal phase of the disease. The research tool used in the study was Block’s hope test (NCN-36; NCN- Nadzieja Chorych Nowotworowych—Hope of Cancer Patients), designed for patients with life-threatening diseases. The results showed that the patients were characterized by a moderate level of global hope. The highest levels of hope were noted in the spiritual-religious area and the lowest levels of hope concerned curing the disease. Patients exhibited varied levels of hope and varied internal structures of hope. They presented four different types of hope: optimistic, moderate, religious, and weak. Optimistic hope was found most frequently in patients diagnosed with a terminal phase of cancer, while weak hope was represented by the smallest group of these patients.
Gaze Behavior in Basketball Free Throws Developed in Constant and Variable Practice
Authors: Czyż Stanisław H. , Zvonař Martin , Borysiuk Zbigniew , Nykodým Jiří , Oleśniewicz Piotr
Published: October 2019

There are a limited number of studies focusing on the mechanisms explaining why variable practice gives an advantage in a novel situation and constant practice in performance in trained conditions. We hypothesized that this may be due to the different gaze behavior that is developed under different conditions. Twenty participants, randomly assigned to two different groups, practiced basketball free throws for three consecutive days, performing 100 throws per day. The constant group (n = 10) practiced at a free throw distance (4.57 m) only. The variable practice group (n = 10) randomly performed 20 shots per five throw distances (3.35, 3.96, 4.57, 5.18, and 5.79 m) on each day, also accumulating 100 shots per day. We analyzed the total gaze fixation duration, a number of fixations, and the average fixation duration on a basketball rim in a pretest and posttest at the 4.57 m distance. We computed a linear mixed model with test (pretest–posttest), group (constant–variable), and test × group interaction in order to analyze the total fixation duration and number of fixations. The average fixation duration was analyzed with a repeated measure two-way ANOVA, with practice conditions as a between-participants factor and test type as a within-participants factor. We found that the total fixation duration increased significantly in the posttest, regardless of the practice conditions (p < 0.001, effect size = 0.504). The number of fixations also increased significantly in the posttest (p = 0.037, effect size = 0.246). The average fixation duration increased in both groups; however, insignificantly. We also did not find any significant differences between groups. Our results suggest that variable and constant practice conditions may lead to the development of similar gaze behavior.
Safety Evaluation of Individual Pillboxes to Control Cross-Contamination in the Drug Circuit in Hospitals
Authors: Dussart Claude , Boulliat Caroline , Camal Isabelle , Bourgeois Denis , Carrouel Florence
Published: October 2019

This study aims to evaluate the potential role of pillboxes used for the preparation and delivery of individual daily medical treatments in the drug circuit of the Military Instruction Hospital (France) as reservoirs of bacterial contaminants. Samples were obtained from 32 pillboxes after decontamination (T1), after preparation in the pharmacy (T2), after use in two different medical units (T3), and again after usual mechanical washing (T4). Qualitative (identification and antibiotic susceptibility) and quantitative (contamination rate and number of colony forming units—CFUs) bacteriological tests were performed. Susceptible and resistant strains of environmental saprophytes were identified. The pillbox contamination rate was relatively low at T1 (13%). It was significantly increased at T2 (63%, p = 0.001 vs. T1), again at T3 (88%, p < 0.05 vs. T2, p < 0.001 vs. T1), and finally decreased dramatically at T4 (31%, p < 0.001 vs. T3, p > 0.05 vs. T1). The number of CFUs was significantly increased at T2 compared with that of T1 (36.7 ± 13.4 and 5.36 ± 3.64, respectively, p < 0.001) and again at T3 (84.4 ± 19.4, p < 0.001 vs. T1 and T2) and was significantly reduced at T4 (7.0 ± 2.0 vs. T3, p < 0.001) to a level that was not significantly different from that at T1. So, the use of pillboxes to deliver individual medications to patients in the hospital is a potential risk factor for bacterial cross-contamination.
The Effect of Virtual Reality Games on the Gross Motor Skills of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Ren Zhanbing , Wu Jinlong
Published: October 2019

This review aimed to systematically evaluate the rehabilitatitive effect of Virtual Reality Games (VRGs) for gross motor skills of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and to give scientific grounds for the formulation of rehabilitation therapy for these children. To this end, the literature in Chinese databases (CNKI and Wanfang Data) as well as the databases of other countries (Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, Informit, Scopus, Science Direct and ProQuest) from the establishment dates of these databases to June 3rd 2019 was retrieved in order to collect randomized controlled trials with regard to the intervention effect of VRGs and traditional therapy on gross motor skills of children with CP, and the literature was screened as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. The PEDro scale was then used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included literature, and the software Review Manager 5.3 was employed to analyze the combined effect size. As a result, 7 randomized controlled trials and 234 children with CP were included. Meta-analysis showed that VRGs could improve gross motor skills of children with CP. Combined effect size of gross motor skills SMD = 0.37 [95% CI = (0.06, 0.68), p = 0.02)]. In conclusion, the VRG intervention program can enhance gross motor skills of children with CP to some extent. In view of the limitations regarding methodologies and the quality and quantity of the literature in this research, more quality randomized controlled trials are needed so as to draw convincing conclusions of effect of VRG intervention on gross motor skill development of children with CP in future studies.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Normative Values in Latin-American Adolescents: Role of Fatness Parameters
Authors: Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , García-Hermoso Antonio , Alonso-Martínez Alicia María , Agostinis-Sobrinho César , Correa-Bautista Jorge Enrique , Triana-Reina Héctor Reynaldo , Izquierdo Mikel
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to provide percentile values for a cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) field test for Latin-American adolescents (34,461 girls and 38,044 boys) aged 13 to 15 years. The role of fatness parameters on the CRF level across age groups was also examined, with a focus on non-obese (healthy) and obese groups. CRF was assessed using the 20-meter shuttle run test protocol. Anthropometric parameters were measured using body mass index z-score (body mass index (BMI) z-score), BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Participants were categorized according to the BMI z-score, WC, and WHtR international cut-off points as healthy and obese. Age- and sex-specific reference tables for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th centile scores were calculated using Cole’s lambda, mu, and sigma method. The prevalence of obesity according to the BMI z-score, WC, and WHtR was 9.6%, 11.2%, and 15.0%, respectively. Across all age and sex groups, a negative association was found between relative peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O2peak) and BMI, WC, and WHtR. In boys and girls there were higher levels of performance across all age groups, with most apparent gains between the ages of 13 and 14 years old. Overall, participants categorized in the healthy group had shown to have significantly higher V ˙ O2peak than their obese counterparts (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d > 1.0). In conclusion, our study provides age- and sex-specific reference values for CRF ( V ˙ O2peak, mL·kg−1·min−1). The anthropometric parameters were inversely associated with CRF in all ages in both sexes. The obese group had worse CRF than their healthy counterparts independent of anthropometric parameters used to determine obesity.
Inequalities in Caries Experience Among Mongolian Children
Authors: Chinzorig Tselmuun , Aida Jun , Cooray Upul , Nyamdorj Tsengelsaikhan , Mashbaljir Soyolmaa , Osaka Ken , Garidkhuu Ariuntuul
Published: October 2019

Although inequalities in dental caries have been well-reported, there is only one Mongolian study on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and caries experience, which was published ten years ago. This study aimed to determine the dental health status of Mongolian children living in urban and suburban areas of Ulaanbaatar city and examine its association with income and parental educational attainment. An oral examination was conducted by dentists and caries were measured as deft/DMFT indices. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status was completed by their parents or caregiver. Parental educational attainment and household income were used as the measures of SES. The relative index of inequality (RII) and slope index of inequality (SII) were employed to examine the association between SES on deft and DMFT after adjusting for covariates. Dental caries prevalence (those with deft/DMFT > 0) was 89.3% among the total number of participants. The mean deft/DMFT values for age groups 1–6, 7–12, and 13–18 were 5.83 (SD = 4.37, deft), 5.77 (SD = 3.31, deft/DMFT), and 3.59 (SD = 2.69, DMFT), respectively. Rather than residence area and parental educational attainment, significant caries experience inequality was observed in relation to income (RII 0.65 95%, CI 0.52 to 0.82, SII −2.30, 95% CI −4.16 to −0.45). A prevention strategy for lower socioeconomic groups and building integrated oral health surveillance to monitor epidemiological trends for further evaluation of its progress is necessary.
Synthesizing Data to Explore the Dynamic Spatial Patterns of Hotel Development
Authors: Yin Li , Wu Liang , Cole Sam , Wu Laiyun
Published: October 2019

The spatio-temporal relationship between tourism product similarity and spatial proximity has not been adequately studied empirically because of data and methodological limitations. New forms of data available at high temporal frequencies and low levels of spatial aggregation, together with large commercial data and expanding computational ability allow a variety of theories, old and new to be explored and evaluated more meticulously and systemically than has been possible hitherto. This study uses spatial visualization and data harvesting to synthesize a variety of data for exploring the evolution of hotel clusters and co-location synergies in US cities. The findings question the reliability of the current data to be used for identifying and analyzing the formation of tourist destination clusters and their dynamics. We conclude that synthesizing social media and large commercial data can generate a more robust database for research on tourism development and planning and improving opportunities for the examining spatial patterns of tourism activities. We also devise a protocol to combine ‘social media’ sources with big commercial sources for tourism development and planning, and eventually other sectors.
BiGeo: A Foundational PaaS Framework for Efficient Storage, Visualization, Management, Analysis, Service, and Migration of Geospatial Big Data—A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Liu Xi , Hao Lina , Yang Wunian
Published: October 2019

With the rapid development of big data, numerous industries have turned their focus from information research and construction to big data technologies. Earth science and geographic information systems industries are highly information-intensive, and thus there is an urgent need to study and integrate big data technologies to improve their level of information. However, there is a large gap between existing big data and traditional geographic information technologies. Owing to certain characteristics, it is difficult to quickly and easily apply big data to geographic information technologies. Through the research, development, and application practices achieved in recent years, we have gradually developed a common geospatial big data solution. Based on the formation of a set of geospatial big data frameworks, a complete geospatial big data platform system called BiGeo was developed. Through the management and analysis of massive amounts of spatial data from Sichuan Province, China, the basic framework of this platform can be better utilized to meet our needs. This paper summarizes the design, implementation, and experimental experience of BiGeo, which provides a new type of solution to the research and construction of geospatial big data.
The Efficacy Analysis of Determining the Wooded and Shrubbed Area Based on Archival Aerial Imagery Using Texture Analysis
Authors: Kupidura Przemysław , Osińska-Skotak Katarzyna , Lesisz Katarzyna , Podkowa Anna
Published: October 2019

Open areas, along with their non-forest vegetation, are often threatened by secondary succession, which causes deterioration of biodiversity and the habitat’s conservation status. The knowledge about characteristics and dynamics of the secondary succession process is very important in the context of management and proper planning of active protection of the Natura 2000 habitats. This paper presents research on the evaluation of the possibility of using selected methods of textural analysis to determine the spatial extent of trees and shrubs based on archival aerial photographs, and consequently on the investigation of the secondary succession process. The research was carried out on imagery from six different dates, from 1971 to 2015. The images differed from each other in spectral resolution (panchromatic, in natural colors, color infrared), in original spatial resolution, as well as in radiometric quality. Two methods of textural analysis were chosen for the analysis: Gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and granulometric analysis, in a number of variants, depending on the selected parameters of these transformations. The choice of methods has been challenged by their reliability and ease of implementation in practice. The accuracy assessment was carried out using the results of visual photo interpretation of orthophotomaps from particular years as reference data. As a result of the conducted analyses, significant efficacy of the analyzed methods has been proved, with granulometric analysis as the method of generally better suitability and greater stability. The obtained results show the impact of individual image features on the classification efficiency. They also show greater stability and reliability of texture analysis based on granulometric/morphological operations.
Mapping Impact of Tidal Flooding on Solar Salt Farming in Northern Java using a Hydrodynamic Model
Authors: Nirwansyah Anang Widhi , Braun Boris
Published: October 2019

The number of tidal flood events has been increasing in Indonesia in the last decade, especially along the north coast of Java. Hydrodynamic models in combination with Geographic Information System applications are used to assess the impact of high tide events upon the salt production in Cirebon, West Java. Two major flood events in June 2016 and May 2018 were selected for the simulation within inputs of tidal height records, national seamless digital elevation dataset of Indonesia (DEMNAS), Indonesian gridded national bathymetry (BATNAS), and wind data from OGIMET. We used a finite method on MIKE 21 to determine peak water levels, and validation for the velocity component using TPXO9 and Tidal Model Driver (TMD). The benchmark of the inundation is taken from the maximum water level of the simulation. This study utilized ArcGIS for the spatial analysis of tidal flood distribution upon solar salt production area, particularly where the tides are dominated by local factors. The results indicated that during the peak events in June 2016 and May 2018, about 83% to 84% of salt ponds were being inundated, respectively. The accurate identification of flooded areas also provided valuable information for tidal flood assessment of marginal agriculture in data-scarce region.
Parallel Cellular Automata Markov Model for Land Use Change Prediction over MapReduce Framework
Authors: Kang Junfeng , Fang Lei , Li Shuang , Wang Xiangrong
Published: October 2019

The Cellular Automata Markov model combines the cellular automata (CA) model’s ability to simulate the spatial variation of complex systems and the long-term prediction of the Markov model. In this research, we designed a parallel CA-Markov model based on the MapReduce framework. The model was divided into two main parts: A parallel Markov model based on MapReduce (Cloud-Markov), and comprehensive evaluation method of land-use changes based on cellular automata and MapReduce (Cloud-CELUC). Choosing Hangzhou as the study area and using Landsat remote-sensing images from 2006 and 2013 as the experiment data, we conducted three experiments to evaluate the parallel CA-Markov model on the Hadoop environment. Efficiency evaluations were conducted to compare Cloud-Markov and Cloud-CELUC with different numbers of data. The results showed that the accelerated ratios of Cloud-Markov and Cloud-CELUC were 3.43 and 1.86, respectively, compared with their serial algorithms. The validity test of the prediction algorithm was performed using the parallel CA-Markov model to simulate land-use changes in Hangzhou in 2013 and to analyze the relationship between the simulation results and the interpretation results of the remote-sensing images. The Kappa coefficients of construction land, natural-reserve land, and agricultural land were 0.86, 0.68, and 0.66, respectively, which demonstrates the validity of the parallel model. Hangzhou land-use changes in 2020 were predicted and analyzed. The results show that the central area of construction land is rapidly increasing due to a developed transportation system and is mainly transferred from agricultural land.
New Tools for the Classification and Filtering of Historical Maps
Authors: Gobbi Stefano , Ciolli Marco , La Porta Nicola , Rocchini Duccio , Tattoni Clara , Zatelli Paolo
Published: October 2019

Historical maps constitute an essential information for investigating the ecological and landscape features of a region over time. The integration of heritage maps in GIS models requires their digitalization and classification. This paper presents a semi-automatic procedure for the digitalization of heritage maps and the successive filtering of undesirable features such as text, symbols and boundary lines. The digitalization step is carried out using Object-based Image Analysis (OBIA) in GRASS GIS and R, combining image segmentation and machine-learning classification. The filtering step is performed by two GRASS GIS modules developed during this study and made available as GRASS GIS add-ons. The first module evaluates the size of the filter window needed for the removal of text, symbols and lines; the second module replaces the values of pixels of the category to be removed with values of the surrounding pixels. The procedure has been tested on three maps with different characteristics, the “Historical Cadaster Map for the Province of Trento” (1859), the “Italian Kingdom Forest Map” (1926) and the “Map of the potential limit of the forest in Trentino” (1992), with an average classification accuracy of 97%. These results improve the performance of classification of heritage maps compared to more classical methods, making the proposed procedure that can be applied to heterogeneous sets of maps, a viable approach.
LADM-Based Model for Natural Resource Administration in China
Authors: Xu Zhongguo , Zhuo Yuefei , Liao Rong , Wu Cifang , Wu Yuzhe , Li Guan
Published: October 2019

China’s rapid urbanization and industrialization have continually placed massive pressure on the country’s natural resources. The fragmented departmental administration of natural resources also intensifies the problem of sustainable use. Accordingly, China’s central government has launched natural resource administration reform from decentralization to unification. This study systematically analyzes the reform requirements from legal, organizational, and technical aspects. The right structure of China’s natural resource assets for fulfilling such requirements is examined in this work through a review of relevant legal text, and such a right structure is converted into a draft national technical standard of China’s natural resource administration on the basis of the land administration domain model (LADM). Results show that China’s natural resource administration covers lands, buildings, structures, forests, grasslands, waters, beaches, sea areas, minerals, and other fields. The types of private rights over natural resources include ownerships, land-contracted management rights (cultivated land, forest land, grassland, and water area), rights to use construction land (state-owned and collective-owned), rights to use agricultural land, rights to use homestead land, breeding rights on water areas and beaches, rights to use sea areas, rights to use uninhabited islands, and mining rights. The types of public rights over natural resources include comprehensive land use, urban and rural, sea use, and territory space planning. Furthermore, various types of these property rights can be converted into corresponding classes in LADM on the basis of the analysis of the property subject, object, and rights.
Identification of miRNAs Involved in Bacillus velezensis FZB42-Activated Induced Systemic Resistance in Maize
Authors: Xie Shanshan , Yu Hengguo , Li Enze , Wang Yu , Liu Juan , Jiang Haiyang
Published: October 2019

Bacillus velezensis FZB42 is able to activate induced systemic resistance (ISR) to enhance plant defense response against pathogen infections. Though the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in Bacillus-triggered ISR have been reported in Arabidopsis, the maize miRNAs responsible for the Bacillus-activated ISR process have not been discovered. To explore the maize miRNAs involved in ISR, maize miRNAs in response to FZB42 (ISR activating), FZB42△sfp△alss (deficient in triggering ISR), and a control for 12 h were sequenced. A total of 146 known miRNAs belonging to 30 miRNA families and 217 novel miRNAs were identified. Four miRNAs specifically repressed in FZB42-treatment were selected as candidate ISR-associated miRNAs. All of them contained at least one defense response-related cis-element, suggesting their potential roles in activating the ISR process. Interestingly, three of the four candidate ISR-associated miRNAs belong to the conserved miR169 family, which has previously been confirmed to play roles in abiotic stress response. Moreover, 52 mRNAs were predicted as potential targets of these candidate ISR-associated miRNAs through TargetFinder software and degradome sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) and network analyses of target genes showed that these differentially expressed miRNA might participate in the ISR process by regulating nuclear factor Y transcription factor. This study is helpful in better understanding the regulatory roles of maize miRNAs in the Bacillus-activated ISR process.
Sp1 is Involved in Vertebrate LC-PUFA Biosynthesis by Upregulating the Expression of Liver Desaturase and Elongase Genes
Authors: Li Yuanyou , Zhao Jianhong , Dong Yewei , Yin Ziyan , Li Yang , Liu Yang , You Cuihong , Monroig Óscar , Tocher Douglas R. , Wang Shuqi
Published: October 2019

The rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus was the first marine teleost demonstrated to have the ability for the biosynthesis of long-chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) from C18 PUFA precursors, and all the catalytic enzymes including two fatty acyl desaturase 2 (Δ4 Fads2 and Δ6/Δ5 Fads2) and two elongases (Elovl4 and Elovl5) have been identified, providing a good model for studying the regulatory mechanisms of LC-PUFA biosynthesis in fish. Stimulatory protein 1 (Sp1) has been speculated to be a vital transcription factor in determining the promoter activity of Fads-like genes in fish, however its regulatory effects on gene expression and LC-PUFA biosynthesis have not been demonstrated. Bioinformatic analysis predicted potential Sp1 binding sites in the promoters of the rabbitfish Δ6/Δ5 fads2 and elovl5, but not in Δ4 fads2 promoter. Here we cloned full-length cDNA of the rabbitfish sp1 gene, which encoded a putative protein of 701 amino acids, and was expressed in all tissues studied with highest levels in gill and eyes. The dual luciferase reporter assay in HepG2 line cells demonstrated the importance of the Sp1 binding site for the promoter activities of both Δ6/Δ5 fads2 and elovl5. Moreover, the electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed the direct interaction of Sp1 with the two promoters. Insertion of the Sp1 binding site of Δ6/Δ5 fads2 promoter into the corresponding region of the Δ4 fads2 promoter significantly increased activity of the latter. In the Siganus canaliculatus hepatocyte line (SCHL) cells, mRNA levels of Δ6/Δ5 fads2 and elovl5 were positively correlated with the expression of sp1 when sp1 was overexpressed or knocked-down by RNAi or antagonist (mithramycin) treatment. Moreover, overexpression of sp1 also led to a higher conversion of 18:2n−6 to 18:3n−6, 18:2n−6 to 20:2n−6, and 18:3n−3 to 20:3n−3, which related to the functions of Δ6/Δ5 Fads2 and Elovl5, respectively. These results indicated that Sp1 is involved in the transcriptional regulation of LC-PUFA biosynthesis by directly targeting Δ6/Δ5 fads2 and elovl5 in rabbitfish, which is the first report of Sp1 involvement in the regulation of LC-PUFA biosynthesis in vertebrates.
Gene Expression Profiling of the Extracellular Matrix Signature in Macrophages of Different Activation Status: Relevance for Skin Wound Healing
Authors: Etich Julia , Koch Manuel , Wagener Raimund , Zaucke Frank , Fabri Mario , Brachvogel Bent
Published: October 2019

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structural support for tissue architecture and is a major effector of cell behavior during skin repair and inflammation. Macrophages are involved in all stages of skin repair but only limited knowledge exists about macrophage-specific expression and regulation of ECM components. In this study, we used transcriptome profiling and bioinformatic analysis to define the unique expression of ECM-associated genes in cultured macrophages. Characterization of the matrisome revealed that most genes were constitutively expressed and that several genes were uniquely regulated upon interferon gamma (IFNγ) and dexamethasone stimulation. Among those core matrisome and matrisome-associated components transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-induced, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), elastin microfibril interfacer (EMILIN)-1, netrin-1 and gliomedin were also present within the wound bed at time points that are characterized by profound macrophage infiltration. Hence, macrophages are a source of ECM components in vitro as well as during skin wound healing, and identification of these matrisome components is a first step to understand the role and therapeutic value of ECM components in macrophages and during wound healing.
Natural Polysaccharide Nanomaterials: An Overview of Their Immunological Properties
Authors: Torres Fernando G. , Troncoso Omar P. , Pisani Anissa , Gatto Francesca , Bardi Giuseppe
Published: October 2019

Natural occurring polymers, or biopolymers, represent a huge part of our planet biomass. They are formed by long chains of monomers of the same type or a combination of different ones. Polysaccharides are biopolymers characterized by complex secondary structures performing several roles in plants, animals, and microorganisms. Because of their versatility and biodegradability, some of them are extensively used for packaging, food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries as sustainable and renewable materials. In the recent years, their manipulation at the nanometric scale enormously increased the range of potential applications, boosting an interdisciplinary research attempt to exploit all the potential advantages of nanostructured polysaccharides. Biomedical investigation mainly focused on nano-objects aimed at drug delivery, tissue repair, and vaccine adjuvants. The achievement of all these applications requires the deep knowledge of polysaccharide nanomaterials’ interactions with the immune system, which orchestrates the biological response to any foreign substance entering the body. In the present manuscript we focused on natural polysaccharides of high commercial importance, namely, starch, cellulose, chitin, and its deacetylated form chitosan, as well as the seaweed-derived carrageenan and alginate. We reviewed the available information on their biocompatibility, highlighting the importance of their physicochemical feature at the nanoscale for the modulation of the immune system.
Chronic Stress, Inflammation, and Colon Cancer: A CRH System-Driven Molecular Crosstalk
Authors: Baritaki Stavroula , de Bree Eelco , Chatzaki Ekaterini , Pothoulakis Charalabos
Published: October 2019

Chronic stress is thought to be involved in the occurrence and progression of multiple diseases, via mechanisms that still remain largely unknown. Interestingly, key regulators of the stress response, such as members of the corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH) family of neuropeptides and receptors, are now known to be implicated in the regulation of chronic inflammation, one of the predisposing factors for oncogenesis and disease progression. However, an interrelationship between stress, inflammation, and malignancy, at least at the molecular level, still remains unclear. Here, we attempt to summarize the current knowledge that supports the inseparable link between chronic stress, inflammation, and colorectal cancer (CRC), by modulation of a cascade of molecular signaling pathways, which are under the regulation of CRH-family members expressed in the brain and periphery. The understanding of the molecular basis of the link among these processes may provide a step forward towards personalized medicine in terms of CRC diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic targeting.
Predictive Effects of Inflammatory Scores in Patients with BCLC 0-A Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Hepatectomy
Authors: Huang Pao-Yuan , Wang Chih-Chi , Lin Chih-Che , Lu Sheng-Nan , Wang Jing-Houng , Hung Chao-Hung , Kee Kwong-Ming , Chen Chien-Hung , Chen Kuang-Den , Hu Tsung-Hui , Tsai Ming-Chao
Published: October 2019

Background: Inflammatory markers are regarded as prognostic factors of the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Examples include the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR); the albumin and lymphocyte counts used in the prognostic nutritional index (PNI); and the neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts used in the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). This study evaluates the effects of PNI, NLR, PLR, and SII to predict recurrence and survival in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0-A of HCC after hepatectomy. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Kaohsiung Chung-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. The study enrolled 891 patients (77.9% males; mean age 58.53 ± 11.60 years) with BCLC stage 0/A HCC undergoing hepatectomy between 2001 and 2016. PNI, NLR, PLR and SII were measured before hepatectomy. Results: High NLR (>1.8) was adversely associated with overall survival (p = 0.032). Low PNI (≤45) was adversely associated with overall survival and disease-free survival (p < 0.001). Low SII (≤45) also had an adverse association with overall survival (p = 0.008) and disease-free survival (p < 0.001). Diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, microvascular invasion, low PNI (≤45), and low SII (≤160) were independently associated with poor overall survival in a multivariate analysis. HCV infection, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, microvascular invasion, low PNI, and low SII were independent prognostic factors of recurrent HCC. The combined use of PNI and SII provided improved prognostic information. Conclusions: Low PNI and low SII are significantly poor prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence in patients with BCLC 0-A hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.
Body Composition Changes Following a Concurrent Exercise Intervention in Perimenopausal Women: The FLAMENCO Project Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Coll-Risco Irene , Acosta-Manzano Pedro , Borges-Cosic Milkana , Camiletti-Moiron Daniel , Aranda Pilar , Soriano-Maldonado Alberto , Aparicio Virginia A.
Published: October 2019

We assessed the effects of a 16-week primary-care-based exercise program on body composition in perimenopausal women. The women (n = 150) were randomized into control (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. Exercise was provided in a 16-week (60 min/session, 3 days/week) concurrent program. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. These are secondary analyses of the FLAMENCO Project (Clinical Trials Reference NCT02358109). In the intention-to-treat analyses, the control group showed no changes in body mass index (BMI) between post- and pre-test, whereas the exercise group showed a 0.75 kg/m2 decrease in BMI (95% CI: −1.29 to −0.22; p = 0.006). Gynoid and android fat mass in control group decreased by 98.3 g and 46.1 g after the 16 weeks, whereas they decreased by 213 g and 139 g in the exercise group, respectively (95% CI: −209 to −3.86; p = 0.042 and 95% CI: −164 to −26.9; p = 0.007, respectively). The control group decreased their pelvis bone mineral content by 2.85 g in the post-test compared with the pre-test, whereas the exercise group increased it by 1.13 g (95% CI: 0.93 to 7.81; p = 0.013). Per-protocol analyses showed similar results. These analyses suggest that the exercise intervention decreased fat depositions and BMI. Exercise might improve bone mineral content in specific areas such as the pelvis.
Associations of Calcium from Food Sources versus Phosphate Binders with Serum Calcium and FGF23 in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Mahdavi Sara , Bellasi Antonio , Nagra Karan , Johnston Luke , Tam Paul , Di Iorio Biagio , Sikaneta Tabo
Published: October 2019

Background: Dysregulated serum calcium and FGF23 are associated with increased mortality and morbidity rates in patients receiving hemodialysis. Preliminary data suggest serum calcium regulates FGF23 secretion independently of serum phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and 25-OH vitamin D. It is unclear to what extent dietary and prescription sources of calcium influence calcium and FGF23 levels, and whether they confound this relationship. In this cross-sectional analysis of a multi-ethnic cohort of prevalent hemodialysis patients, association of dietary calcium and prescribed calcium were examined against serum calcium and FGF23. Bi- and multivariable linear regression was used for all analyses. Results: 81 patients (mean age 58 years, dialysis vintage 2 years, 51 men) participated. Dietary calcium was inversely associated with FGF23 (p = 0.04) however association of FGF23 with prescribed calcium did not reach statistical significance (0.08). In multivariable models, dietary calcium and prescribed calcium were associated in opposing directions with serum calcium (prescribed calcium; ß-coefficient = −0.35, p = 0.005 versus dietary calcium; ß-coefficient = 0.35, p = 0.03). FGF23 was independently associated with serum calcium (p = 0.007). Conclusions: We found differing, sometimes opposing, associations between serum calcium and FGF23 levels when considering prescribed versus dietary sources of calcium. Serum calcium and FGF23 were strongly correlated regardless of possible confounders examined in this hemodialysis cohort. Dietary calcium was associated with higher serum calcium and lower FGF23 concentrations, while prescribed calcium was only inversely associated with serum calcium. Further studies are required to confirm these associations and determine causality.