bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AXL Controls Directed Migration of Mesenchymal Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Zajac Olivier , Leclere Renaud , Nicolas André , Meseure Didier , Marchiò Caterina , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Roman-Roman Sergio , Schoumacher Marie , Dubois Thierry
Published: January 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with high risk of relapse and metastasis. TNBC is a heterogeneous disease comprising different molecular subtypes including those with mesenchymal features. The tyrosine kinase AXL is expressed in mesenchymal cells and plays a role in drug resistance, migration and metastasis. We confirm that AXL is more expressed in mesenchymal TNBC cells compared to luminal breast cancer cells, and that its invalidation impairs cell migration while having no or little effect on cell viability. Here, we found that AXL controls directed migration. We observed that AXL displays a polarized localization at the Golgi apparatus and the leading edge of migratory mesenchymal TNBC cells. AXL co-localizes with F-actin at the front of the cells. In migratory polarized cells, the specific AXL inhibitor R428 displaces AXL and F-actin from the leading edge to a lateral area localized between the front and the rear of the cells where both are enriched in protrusions. In addition, R428 treatment disrupts the polarized localization of the Golgi apparatus towards the leading edge in migratory cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of aggressive chemo-resistant TNBC samples obtained before treatment reveals inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of the percentage of AXL expressing tumor cells, and a preference of these cells to be in contact with the stroma. Taken together, our study demonstrates that AXL controls directed cell migration most likely by regulating cell polarity.
Four-And-A-Half LIM-Domain Protein 2 (FHL2) Deficiency Aggravates Cholestatic Liver Injury
Authors: Sommer Judith , Dorn Christoph , Gäbele Erwin , Bataille Frauke , Freese Kim , Seitz Tatjana , Thasler Wolfgang E. , Büttner Reinhard , Weiskirchen Ralf , Bosserhoff Anja , Hellerbrand Claus
Published: January 2020

Cholestasis occurs in different clinical circumstances and leads to severe hepatic disorders. The four-and-a-half LIM-domain protein 2 (FHL2) is a scaffolding protein that modulates multiple signal transduction pathways in a tissue- and cell context-specific manner. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the function of FHL2 in cholestatic liver injury. FHL2 expression was significantly increased in the bile duct ligation (BDL) model in mice. In Fhl2-deficient (Fhl2-ko) mice, BDL caused a more severe portal and parenchymal inflammation, extended portal fibrosis, higher serum transaminase levels, and higher pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic gene expression compared to wild type (wt) mice. FHL2 depletion in HepG2 cells with siRNA resulted in a higher expression of the bile acid transporter Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) gene. Furthermore, FHL2-depleted HepG2 cells showed higher expression of markers for oxidative stress, lower B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) expression, and higher Bcl2-associated X protein (BAX) expression after stimulation with deoxycholic acid (DCA). In hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), FHL2 depletion caused an increased expression of TGF-β and several pro-fibrogenic matrix metalloproteinases. In summary, our study shows that deficiency in FHL2 aggravates cholestatic liver injury and suggests FHL2-mediated effects on bile acid metabolisms and HSCs as potential mechanisms for pronounced hepatocellular injury and fibrosis.
Electrochromic Properties of Li- Doped NiO Films Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Chang Jui-Yang , Chen Ying-Chung , Wang Chih-Ming , Chen You-Wei
Published: January 2020

In this study: various amounts of Li2CO3 powders were mixed into NiO powders to fabricate the Li- added NiO (NiO:Li) targets. The electrochromic films of LiNiO were deposited on ITO glasses at room temperature (R.T.) by RF magnetron sputtering. The thicknesses of electrochromic LiNiO films were kept about 200 nm. The ECD device was constructed with structure of Glass/ITO/ LiNiO /Gel-electrolyte/ITO/Glass. The results indicated that the optimal electrochromic characteristics of Li0.16Ni0.58O thin films could be obtained by 10 wt% Li2CO3 added NiO target. The optimized characteristics of ECDs could be achieved with the intercalation charge (Q) of 11.93 mC/cm2, the optical density (ΔOD) of 0.38, the transmittance change (ΔT) of 44.1%, and the coloring efficiency (η) of 31.8 cm2/C at the wavelength of 550 nm by setting voltage of 3.2V. The results demonstrate that the doping of Li+ ions into NiO films can effectively enhance the characteristics of ECD devices. The reason may due to the increased amount of charge stored in the electrochromic devices (ECDs).
Effect of Nanostructured Chitosan/Propolis Coatings on the Quality and Antioxidant Capacity of Strawberries During Storage
Authors: Martínez-González Miriam del Carmen , Bautista-Baños Silvia , Correa-Pacheco Zormy Nacary , Corona-Rangel María Luisa , Ventura-Aguilar Rosa I. , Del Río-García Juan Carlos , Ramos-García Margarita de Lorena
Published: January 2020

Strawberries have a thin epidermis and a high respiration rate. The use of edible coatings containing chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and propolis (P) has been effective in preserving the shelf life and antioxidant capacity of various fruit and vegetable products. The present research evaluated the effect of coatings with CSNPs and P on the quality, antioxidant compounds, and antioxidant capacity of strawberries. The specific coatings that were evaluated were chitosan (CS), CS+CSNPs33%, CS + CSNPs + P10%, CS + CSNPs + P20%, CS + CSNPs + P30%, and a control with no coating. The variables were weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), color, phenols, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and sensory characteristics. An ANOVA and a Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) were used to analyze the data. Strawberries covered with CS + CSNPs + P10% showed the lowest weight loss (9.77%), while those covered with CS + CSNPs + P20% had the greatest firmness (4.96 N). CS + CSNPs + P coatings at 10%, 20%, and 30% concentrations maintained the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant capacity in the evaluated fruit (28.49 mg GAE g−1, 554.61 μg quercetin g−1, and 92.48% DPPH, respectively). The application of nanostructured coatings did not modify the sensory characteristics of the fruit. Coatings with CSNPs and/or P could therefore be a viable alternative for preserving the quality and antioxidant capacity of strawberries.
Powder Properties and Processing Conditions Affecting Cold Spray Deposition
Authors: Silvello Alessio , Cavaliere Pasquale Daniele , Albaladejo Vicente , Martos Ana , Dosta Sergi , Cano Irene G.
Published: January 2020

The cold spray coating properties and performances are largely affected by feedstock characteristics and the employed processing parameters. Starting from experimental results obtained from the bibliographic data, the relationships between starting particles, processing conditions, and coating properties obtained by cold gas spray were analyzed. The relationships among these properties and particle velocity were described for various material systems. The effect on particle flattening, hardness, and porosity were largely described. Finally, the influence of the different parameters on the process output and on the coating properties was analytically defined through the employment of the multi-objective simulation tool modeFRONTIER. The analysis of data from the bibliography is a new trend that can also be applied to cold spray in order to analyze the effect of powder properties and spraying parameters on the cold spray (CS) process.
Comparison of Catalytic Activity of ZIF-8 and Zr/ZIF-8 for Greener Synthesis of Chloromethyl Ethylene Carbonate by CO2 Utilization
Authors: Olaniyan Bisi , Saha Basudeb
Published: January 2020

The catalytic activity of both ZIF-8 and Zr/ZIF-8 has been investigated for the synthesis of chloromethyl ethylene carbonate (CMEC) using carbon dioxide (CO2) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) under solvent-free conditions. Published results from literature have highlighted the weak thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of ZIF-8 catalyst, which has limited its large-scale industrial applications. The synthesis of novel Zr/ZIF-8 catalyst for cycloaddition reaction of ECH and CO2 to produce CMEC has provided a remarkable reinforcement to this weak functionality, which is a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of green and sustainable engineering. The enhancement in the catalytic activity of Zr in Zr/ZIF-8 can be attributed to the acidity/basicity characteristics of the catalyst. The comparison of the catalytic performance of the two catalysts has been drawn based on the effect of different reaction conditions such as temperature, CO2 pressure, catalyst loading, reaction time, stirring speed, and catalyst reusability studies. Zr/ZIF-8 has been assessed as a suitable heterogeneous catalyst outperforming the catalytic activities of ZIF-8 catalyst with respect to conversion of ECH, selectivity and yield of CMEC. At optimum conditions, the experimental results for direct synthesis of CMEC agree well with similar literature on Zr/MOF catalytic performance, where the conversion of ECH, selectivity and the yield of CMEC are 93%, 86%, and 76%, respectively.
Evaluation of Experimental Setup and Procedure for Rapid Preparation of Natural Gas Hydrate
Authors: Li Haitao , Wei Na , Jiang Lin , Zhao Jinzhou , Cui Zhenjun , Sun Wantong , Zhang Liehui , Zhou Shouwei , Xu Hanming , Zhang Xuchao , Zhang Chao , Wang Xiaoran
Published: January 2020

The natural gas hydrate (NGH) reservoir in China is mainly distributed in the continental shelf with water depths ranging from 600–1500 m, about 90% of which is stored in the shallow area of the deep sea, with weak cementation and non-diagenetic characteristics. In order to test and study this type of NGH, samples must be prepared in situ, in large quantities, and at fast speed. At present, there are problems with the common stirring, spraying, and bubbling preparation techniques available, such as slow generation rate, low gas storage density, and lack of rapid preparation. Therefore, the rapid preparation of large samples of non-diagenetic natural gas hydrate has received extensive attention at home and abroad. In view of this technical bottleneck, Southwest Petroleum University innovatively established a rapid preparation kettle of 1062 L. In this paper, the preparation experiment of natural gas hydrate in the South China Sea (the pressure of the preparation kettle was reduced from 7 MPa to 3.3 MPa) was carried out in the preparation method of the ‘three-in-one’ (stirring method, spraying method, bubbling method) and experimental test method. In the process of preparation of non-diagenetic gas hydrate, the data of dynamic image, temperature, pressure, electrical resistivity, and reaction time are tested. During the preparation of natural gas hydrate, temperature, pressure, and electrical resistivity curves in four preparation methods were made, respectively. Through the experimental data analysis of different preparation methods of natural gas hydrate, it has been found that the preparation time of natural gas hydrate using the stirring method, the spraying method, and the bubbling method alone require a longer preparation time. However, when the three-in-one method is used to prepare natural gas hydrate, the preparation cycle of natural gas hydrate is obviously shortened. The preparation time of the single method of stirring method, spraying method, and bubbling method is respectively about 5.13, 3.59, and 3.37 times as long as that of three-in-one method. The three-in-one method for preparing natural gas hydrate greatly improves the preparation efficiency, which has a great significance to the scientific and technological progress of experimental research and evaluation methods of natural gas hydrate.
Numerical Investigation of the Strengthening Method by Circumferential Prestressing to Improve the Fatigue Life of Embedded-Ring Concrete Foundation for Onshore Wind Turbine Tower
Authors: Chen Junling , Xu Yiqing , Li Jinwei
Published: January 2020

An embedded-ring foundation connected to the steel tower above it by inserting the steel ring into the concrete foundation is a traditional and widely used form for wind turbine towers. An insufficiently embedded depth of the steel ring leads to stress concentration on the corner of the concrete above the windward-side T-shaped plate. A damage zone of concrete develops, leading to gaps between the steel ring and the foundation concrete and a decline in the restrain stiffness of the foundation pier, which induces a larger horizontal displacement of the steel tower and a decrease in the natural frequency for the wind turbine system. To improve the fatigue life of the concrete around the steel ring under the precondition of not destroying the original foundation, a strengthening method using a circumferential prestressing technique is proposed in this paper. A series of numerical analyses were carried out to analyze the stress state change in the foundation concrete before and after strengthening. The fatigue life of the concrete above the T-shaped plate was evaluated according to CEB-FIP model code (fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010). The results show that the strengthening method can effectively decrease the fatigue stress amplitude and improve the fatigue life of the concrete above the T-shaped plate.
Patterns of Carbon Sequestration in a Young Forest Ecosystem after Clear-Cutting
Authors: Rebane Sille , Jõgiste Kalev , Kiviste Andres , Stanturf John A. , Metslaid Marek
Published: January 2020

A large area of Estonian hemiboreal forest is recovering from clear-cut harvesting and changing carbon (C) balance of the stands. However, there is a lack of information about C- source/sink relationships during recovery of such stands. The eddy covariance technique was used to estimate C-status through net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 in two stands of different development stages located in southeast Estonia in 2014. Measured summertime (June–September) mean CO2 concentration was 337.75 ppm with mean NEE −1.72 µmol m−2 s−1. June NEE was −4.60 µmol m−2 s−1; July, August, and September NEE was −1.17, −0.77, and −0.25 µmol m−2 s−1, respectively. The two stands had similar patterns of CO2 exchange; measurement period temperature drove NEE. Our results show that after clear-cutting a 6-year-old forest ecosystem was a light C-sink and 8-year-old young stand demonstrated a stronger C-sink status during the measurement period.
Contrasting Root System Structure and Belowground Interactions between Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P) and Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) in Boreal Mixedwoods of Eastern Canada
Authors: Ghotsa Mekontchou Claudele , Houle Daniel , Bergeron Yves , Drobyshev Igor
Published: January 2020

This study explored the underground interactions between black spruce and trembling aspen in pure and mixed stands to understand how their soil resource use help these species coexist in the boreal mixedwoods of Western Quebec. We analyzed species-specific fine root foraging strategies (root biomass and root tissue density) along three soil layers (organic, top 0–15 cm, and bottom 15–30 cm mineral soil), using 180 soil cores. We collected cores in three sites, each containing three 20 × 50 m2 plots of pure spruce, pure aspen, and mixed spruce and aspen stands. Spruce had a shallow rooting, whereas aspen had a deep rooting in both types of stands. Compared to pure spruce stands, spruce had a lower fine root biomass (FRB) and a higher root tissue density (RTD) in the organic layer of mixed stands. Both patterns were indicative of spruce’s more intensive resource use strategy and competitive advantage over aspen in that layer. Aspen FRB in the organic soil did not differ significantly between pure and mixed stands, but increased in the mineral soil of mixed stands. Since we did not observe a significant difference in the nutrient content of the mineral soil layer between pure aspen and mixed stands, we concluded that aspen may experience competitive exclusion in the organic layer by spruce. Aspen exhibited an extensive nutrient uptake strategy in the organic layer of mixed stands: higher FRB and lower RTD than spruce. In mixed stands, the differences in aspen rooting patterns between the organic and mineral layers suggested the use of contrasting nutrient uptake strategies along the soil profile. We speculate that the stronger spatial separation of the roots of spruce and aspen in mixed stands likely contribute to a higher partitioning of their nutrient uptake along the soil profile. These results indicate the competitive exclusion of aspen by spruce in boreal mixedwoods, which likely occurs in the soil organic layer.
Modifications of Phenolic Compounds, Biogenic Amines, and Volatile Compounds in Cabernet Gernishct Wine through Malolactic Fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and Oenococcus oeni
Authors: Wang Shao-Yang , Zhu Hai-Zhen , Lan Yi-Bin , Liu Ruo-Jin , Liu Ya-Ran , Zhang Bo-Lin , Zhu Bao-Qing
Published: January 2020

Malolactic fermentation is a vital red wine-making process to enhance the sensory quality. The objective of this study is to elucidate the starter cultures’ role in modifying phenolic compounds, biogenic amines, and volatile compounds after red wine malolactic fermentation. We initiated the malolactic fermentation in Cabernet Gernishct wine by using two Oenococcus oeni and two Lactobacillus plantarum strains. Results showed that after malolactic fermentation, wines experienced a content decrease of total flavanols and total flavonols, accompanied by the accumulation of phenolic acids. The Lactobacillus plantarum strains, compared to Oenococcus oeni, exhibited a prevention against the accumulation of biogenic amines. The malolactic fermentation increased the total esters and modified the aromatic features compared to the unfermented wine. The Lactobacillus plantarum strains retained more aromas than the Oenococcus oeni strains did. Principal component analysis revealed that different strains could distinctly alter the wine characteristics being investigated in this study. These indicated that Lactobacillus plantarum could serve as a better alternative starter for conducting red wine malolactic fermentation.
Off-Flavours and Unpleasantness Are Cues for the Recognition and Valorization of Organic Wines by Experienced Tasters
Authors: Romano Mylena , Chandra Mahesh , Harutunyan Mkrtich , Savian Taciana , Villegas Cristian , Minim Valéria , Malfeito-Ferreira Manuel
Published: January 2020

The drivers of consumer acceptance concerning organic wines are not well understood. In particular, among wine professionals, there are anecdotal evidences claiming that consumers accept off-flavours that would not be tolerated if the wines were conventionally produced. Therefore, the aim of this study was to shed further light on this issue by tasting blind wines of both types of production using a tasting panel comprised by experienced individuals of several nationalities. The tasted wines were both conventional and organic and were with and without off-flavours. The same wines were evaluated in three tasting sessions where the given information was: (1) all wines were conventional, (2) all wines were organic, and (3) tasters were asked to guess the mode of production. A group of untrained tasters also rated the same organic wines in an informed session. The results showed that wines were significantly better scored and were given a higher willingness to pay value in the “organic” session. In addition, the experienced tasting panel produced a list of the most frequent sensory descriptors. When tasters were asked to guess the mode of production, wines that were supposed to be organic received a higher citation of off-flavours, such as “oxidized”, “reductive”, and “animal/undergrowth”. Moreover, an overall emotional response of unpleasantness was associated with the recognition of organic wines in the “guess” session. Untrained tasters rated the same organic wines with lower liking scores and were willing to pay less. In conclusion, off-flavours and their unpleasantness worked as a cue to identify wines supposed to be organic by experienced tasters. Their corresponding higher valorization could be explained by the psychological halo effect induced by the organic label. Contrarily, consumers did not show this halo effect, depreciating wines with unpleasant flavours irrespective of their mode of production.
The Power of Personality in the Operation of the New Poor Law
Authors: Rothery Karen
Published: January 2020

For many years, historians focused on the institutional aspects of the poor laws and the power vested in the central authorities; more recently, the experience of the poor themselves has been at the heart of academic study. This article looks at a third group: those who exercised power and influence in delivering poor law policy at a local level and specifically how certain individuals with strong personalities administered or disrupted what was heralded as a uniform and centrally controlled system. Based on an in-depth local history study on the development of the poor law unions in the county of Hertfordshire, England, this paper will look in detail at the contribution made by specific individuals during the early years of the new poor law and consider how they influenced poor law policy and practice. It will argue that personal contributions made a difference to the operation of the poor laws and that the personality of certain poor law officials had the potential to influence the central authorities, which has not been fully recognised. This research supports the argument that the new poor law was regionally diverse and provides new evidence to suggest that the power of local personnel to influence poor law policy contributed to that diversity and should not be overlooked.
SNP Diversity in CD14 Gene Promoter Suggests Adaptation Footprints in Trypanosome Tolerant N’Dama (Bos taurus) but not in Susceptible White Fulani (Bos indicus) Cattle
Authors: Morenikeji Olanrewaju B. , Capria Anna L. , Ojurongbe Olusola , Thomas Bolaji N.
Published: January 2020

Immune response to infections has been shown to be mediated by genetic diversity in pattern recognition receptors, leading to disease tolerance or susceptibility. We elucidated naturally occurring variations within the bovine CD14 gene promoter in trypanosome-tolerant (N’Dama) and susceptible (White Fulani) cattle, with genomic and computational approaches. Blood samples were collected from White Fulani and N’Dama cattle, genomic DNA extracted and the entire promoter region of the CD14 gene amplified by PCR. We sequenced this region and performed in silico computation to identify SNP variants, transcription factor binding sites, as well as micro RNAs in the region. CD14 promoter sequences were compared with the reference bovine genome from the Ensembl database to identify various SNPs. Furthermore, we validated three selected N’Dama specific SNPs using custom Taqman SNP genotyping assay for genetic diversity. In all, we identified a total of 54 and 41 SNPs at the CD14 promoter for N’Dama and White Fulani respectively, including 13 unique SNPs present in N’Dama only. The significantly higher SNP density at the CD14 gene promoter region in N’Dama may be responsible for disease tolerance, possibly an evolutionary adaptation. Our genotype analysis of the three loci selected for validation show that mutant alleles (A/A, C/C, and A/A) were adaptation profiles within disease tolerant N’Dama. A similar observation was made for our haplotype analysis revealing that haplotypes H1 (ACA) and H2 (ACG) were significant combinations within the population. The SNP effect prediction revealed 101 and 89 new transcription factor binding sites in N’Dama and White Fulani, respectively. We conclude that disease tolerant N’Dama possessing higher SNP density at the CD14 gene promoter and the preponderance of mutant alleles potentially confirms the significance of this promoter in immune response, which is lacking in susceptible White Fulani. We, therefore, recommend further in vitro and in vivo study of this observation in infected animals, as the next step for understanding genetic diversity relating to varying disease phenotypes in both breeds.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Substitution Rate Estimation of Colonial Volvocine Algae Based on Mitochondrial Genomes
Authors: Hu Yuxin , Xing Weiyue , Hu Zhengyu , Liu Guoxiang
Published: January 2020

We sequenced the mitochondrial genome of six colonial volvocine algae, namely: Pandorina morum, Pandorina colemaniae, Volvulina compacta, Colemanosphaera angeleri, Colemanosphaera charkowiensi, and Yamagishiella unicocca. Previous studies have typically reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship between colonial volvocine algae based on chloroplast or nuclear genes. Here, we explore the validity of phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial protein-coding genes. We found phylogenetic incongruence of the genera Yamagishiella and Colemanosphaera. In Yamagishiella, the stochastic error and linkage group formed by the mitochondrial protein-coding genes prevent phylogenetic analyses from reflecting the true relationship. In Colemanosphaera, a different reconstruction approach revealed a different phylogenetic relationship. This incongruence may be because of the influence of biological factors, such as incomplete lineage sorting or horizontal gene transfer. We also analyzed the substitution rates in the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes between colonial volvocine algae. Our results showed that all volvocine species showed significantly higher substitution rates for the mitochondrial genome compared with the chloroplast genome. The nonsynonymous substitution (dN)/synonymous substitution (dS) ratio is similar in the genomes of both organelles in most volvocine species, suggesting that the two counterparts are under a similar selection pressure. We also identified a few chloroplast protein-coding genes that showed high dN/dS ratios in some species, resulting in a significant dN/dS ratio difference between the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Geriatrics in 2019
Authors: Geriatrics 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 [...]
Assessment and Management of Dysphagia in Acute Stroke: An Initial Service Review of International Practice
Authors: Fairfield Carol A. , G. Smithard David
Published: January 2020

The international approach to the assessment and management of dysphagia in the acute phase post stroke is little studied. A questionnaire was sent to clinicians in stroke services that explored the current practice in dysphagia screening, assessment, and management within the acute phase post stroke. The findings from four (the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia) of the 22 countries returning data are analysed. Consistent approaches to dysphagia screening and the modification of food and liquid were identified across all four countries. The timing of videofluoroscopy (VFS) assessment was significantly different, with the US utilising this assessment earlier post stroke. Compensatory and Postural techniques were employed significantly more by Canada and the US than the UK and Australia. Only food and fluid modification, tongue exercises, effortful swallow and chin down/tuck were employed by more than fifty percent of all respondents. The techniques used for assessment and management tended to be similar within, but not between, countries. Relationships were found between the use of instrumental assessment and the compensatory management techniques that were employed. The variation in practice that was found, may reflect the lack of an available robust evidence base to develop care pathways and identify the best practice. Further investigation and identification of the impact on dysphagia outcome is needed.
Information Technology and Medical Technology Personnel´s Perception Regarding Segmentation of Medical Devices: A Focus Group Study
Authors: Johansson David , Jönsson Patrik , Ivarsson Bodil , Christiansson Maria
Published: January 2020

Objective: Segmentation is one way of improving data protection. The aim of this study was to investigate Information Technology (IT) and Medical Technology (MT) personnel’s perception in relation to ongoing segmentation of medical devices and IT infrastructure in the healthcare sector. Methods: Focus group interviews with 9 IT and 9 MT personnel in a county council in southern Sweden were conducted. The interviews focused on two areas: Positive expectations and misgivings. Digital recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Responses related to 2 main areas: Information security and implementation of segmentation. Informants stated that network segmentation would increase the overall level of cybersecurity for medical devices, addressing both insider and outsider threats. However, it would also increase the need for administration and the need for knowledge of the communication patterns of medical devices from the manufacturer’s perspective. Conclusion: IT and MT personnel in a county council in southern Sweden believed that segmentation would increase cybersecurity but also increase administration and resource needs, which are important opinions to take into consideration. The present study can be used as a model for others to increase awareness of opinions of healthcare organizations.
The Role of Annual Flowering Plant Strips on a Melon Crop in Central Spain. Influence on Pollinators and Crop
Authors: Azpiazu Celeste , Medina Pilar , Adán Ángeles , Sánchez-Ramos Ismael , del Estal Pedro , Fereres Alberto , Viñuela Elisa
Published: January 2020

Planting flower strips adjacent to crops is among the habitat-management practices employed to offer alternative floral resources to pollinators. However, more information is needed to understand their potential spill-over of pollinators on nearby insect-pollinated crops. Over the course of two consecutive years, the suitability of a flower mixture of 10 herbaceous plants for pollinators was evaluated on a weekly basis, in a randomized block design of two melon plots (10 × 10 m2) with or without 1 m-wide flower strips. Floral coverage and pollinator visits to the plant species, as well as pollinator visits and the yield and quality of the crop, were assessed. Additionally, the selected mixture was tested for 1 year in a commercial field in order to ascertain how far the flower strip could influence visitors in the crop. The most suitable species for a flower strip in central Spain based on their attractiveness, floral coverage and staggered blossom were Coriandrum sativum L., Diplotaxis virgata L., Borago officinalis L. and Calendula officinalis L. The flower strip can act as either pollinator competitor or facilitator to the crop, depending on their floral coverage and/or the predominant species during the crop bloom period. The concurrence of blooming of the rewarding plant C. officinalis with the melon crop should be avoided in our area. In the commercial field, the bee visitation rate in the melon flowers decreased with the distance to the flower strip. No influence of the specific flower strip evaluated on crop productivity or quality was found.
On Degenerate Truncated Special Polynomials
Authors: Duran Ugur , Acikgoz Mehmet
Published: January 2020

The main aim of this paper is to introduce the degenerate truncated forms of multifarious special polynomials and numbers and is to investigate their various properties and relationships by using the series manipulation method and diverse special proof techniques. The degenerate truncated exponential polynomials are first considered and their several properties are given. Then the degenerate truncated Stirling polynomials of the second kind are defined and their elementary properties and relations are proved. Also, the degenerate truncated forms of the bivariate Fubini and Bell polynomials and numbers are introduced and various relations and formulas for these polynomials and numbers, which cover several summation formulas, addition identities, recurrence relationships, derivative property and correlations with the degenerate truncated Stirling polynomials of the second kind, are acquired. Thereafter, the truncated degenerate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials are considered and multifarious correlations and formulas including summation formulas, derivation rules and correlations with the degenerate truncated Stirling numbers of the second are derived. In addition, regarding applications, by introducing the degenerate truncated forms of the classical Bernstein polynomials, we obtain diverse correlations and formulas. Some interesting surface plots of these polynomials in the special cases are provided.
Ultimate Time Survival Probability in Three-Risk Discrete Time Risk Model
Authors: Grigutis Andrius , Šiaulys Jonas
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we prove recursive formulas for ultimate time survival probability when three random claims X , Y , Z in the discrete time risk model occur in a special way. Namely, we suppose that claim X occurs at each moment of time t ∈ { 1 , 2 , … } , claim Y additionally occurs at even moments of time t ∈ { 2 , 4 , … } and claim Z additionally occurs at every moment of time, which is a multiple of three t ∈ { 3 , 6 , … } . Under such assumptions, the model that is obtained is called the three-risk discrete time model. Such a model is a particular case of a nonhomogeneous risk renewal model. The sequence of claims has the form { X , X + Y , X + Z , X + Y , X , X + Y + Z , … } . Using the recursive formulas, algorithms were developed to calculate the exact values of survival probabilities for the three-risk discrete time model. The running of algorithms is illustrated via numerical examples.
Energy Efficiency and Fuel Economy of a Fuel Cell/Renewable Energy Sources Hybrid Power System with the Load-Following Control of the Fueling Regulators
Authors: Bizon Nicu , Thounthong Phatiphat
Published: January 2020

Two Hybrid Power System (HPS) topologies are proposed in this paper based on the Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and a Fuel Cell (FC) system-based backup energy source. Photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines are modeled as RESs power flow. Hydrogen and air needed for FC stack to generate the power requested by the load are achieved through the Load-Following control loop. This control loop will regulate the fueling flow rate to load level. A real-time optimization strategy for RES/FC HPS based on Extremum Seeking Control will find the Maximum Efficiency Point or best fuel economy point by control of the boost converter. Therefore, two HPS configurations and associated strategies based on Load-Following and optimization loops of the fueling regulators were studied here and compared using the following performance indicators: the FC net power generated on the DC bus, the FC energy efficiency, the fuel consumption efficiency, and the total fuel consumption. An increase in the FC system’s electrical efficiency and fuel economy of up to 2% and 12% respectively has been obtained using the proposed optimization strategies compared with a baseline strategy.
The Use of Medicinal Plants in Maceió, Northeastern Brazil: An Ethnobotanical Survey
Authors: Cerqueira Thycia Maria Gama , de Carvalho Correia Ana Carolina , dos Santos Rafael Vital , Lemos Rosângela P. Lyra , da Silva Sâmia Andrícia Souza , Barreto Emiliano
Published: January 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to record and analyze the knowledge of medicinal plant use in the community in urban areas of Maceió city, Brazil. Methods: A total of 113 patients from the basic healthcare unit were assessed. Results: Approximately 95% of the interviewed stated that the plants were used for medicinal purposes. The majority of respondents were women (94.7%) who were between 51-60 years of age. Forty-eight plant species belonging to 28 families were cited as useful for medicinal purposes. The main families encountered were Lamiaceae (16.6%), Asteraceae (8.3%), Myrtaceae (6.2%), Fabaceae (6.2%), Annonaceae (4.1%), Laureaceae (4.1%), Rutaceae (4.1%), and Zingiberaceae (4.1%). These plants were used to treat a wide range of disturbances, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases. The majority of the respondents used decoctions of leaves that were cultivated in house (58.4%) to make their herbal preparations. The respondents revealed that medicinal plant preparations were safe and unaware of that are risks associated with their use. Conclusions: Medicinal plants still play an important role in the medical practices of the urban population from Maceió, Brazil. Our results highlight the importance of these plants for local people and indicate the need for further scientific investigations to validate their use as a complementary therapy for disease control.
Tunable-Focus Liquid Lens through Charge Injection
Authors: Qian Shizhi , Shi Wenxiang , Zheng Huai , Liu Zhaohui
Published: January 2020

Liquid lenses are the simplest and cheapest optical lenses, and various studies have been conducted to develop tunable-focus liquid lenses. In this study, a simple and easily implemented method for achieving tunable-focus liquid lenses was proposed and experimentally validated. In this method, charges induced by a corona discharge in the air were injected into dielectric liquid, resulting in “electropressure” at the interface between the air and the liquid. Through a 3D-printed U-tube structure, a tunable-focus liquid lens was fabricated and tested. Depending on the voltage, the focus of the liquid lens can be adjusted in large ranges (−∞ to −9 mm and 13.11 mm to ∞). The results will inspire various new liquid-lens applications.
Porcine Colostrum Protects the IPEC-J2 Cells and Piglet Colon Epithelium against Clostridioides (syn. Clostridium) difficile Toxin-Induced Effects
Authors: Grześkowiak Łukasz , Pieper Robert , Kröger Susan , Martínez-Vallespín Beatriz , Hauser Anja E. , Niesner Raluca , Vahjen Wilfried , Zentek Jürgen
Published: January 2020

Clostridioides difficile toxins are one of the main causative agents for the clinical symptoms observed during C. difficile infection in piglets. Porcine milk has been shown to strengthen the epithelial barrier function in the piglet’s intestine and may have the potential to neutralise clostridial toxins. We hypothesised that porcine colostrum exerts protective effects against those toxins in the IPEC-J2 cells and in the colon epithelium of healthy piglets. The IPEC-J2 cells were treated with either the toxins or porcine colostrum or their combination. Analyses included measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), cell viability using propidium iodide by flow cytometry, gene expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and immune markers, immunofluorescence (IF) histology of the cytoskeleton and a TJ protein assessment. Colon tissue explants from one- and two-week-old suckling piglets and from five-week-old weaned piglets were treated with C. difficile toxins in Ussing chamber assays to assess the permeability to macromolecules (FITC-dextran, HRP), followed by analysis of gene expression of TJ proteins and immune markers. Toxins decreased viability and integrity of IPEC-J2 cells in a time-dependent manner. Porcine colostrum exerted a protective effect against toxins as indicated by TEER and IF in IPEC-J2 cells. Toxins tended to increase paracellular permeability to macromolecules in colon tissues of two-week-old piglets and downregulated gene expression of occludin in colon tissues of five-week-old piglets (p = 0.05). Porcine milk including colostrum, besides other maternal factors, may be one of the important determinants of early immune programming towards protection from C. difficile infections in the offspring.
Absence of Viable Toxoplasma gondii in Artisanal Raw-Milk Ewe Cheese Derived from Naturally Infected Animals
Authors: Ranucci David , Battisti Elena , Veronesi Fabrizia , Diaferia Manuela , Morganti Giulia , Branciari Raffaella , Ferroglio Ezio , Valiani Andrea , Chiesa Francesco
Published: January 2020

The presence of viable Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in artisanal cheeses made from milk of naturally infected ewes. Ewe milk was analyzed beforehand for the presence and vitality of T. gondii by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Cheeses were prepared from raw milk following a traditional cheesemaking process. The cheese obtained from T. gondii-positive milk was analyzed by LAMP to detect Toxoplasma DNA-positive samples. RT-PCR was then carried out to assess the viability of the parasites in T. gondii-positive milk samples and fresh cheese, after 5 and 15 days of ripening. Physical-chemical parameters of cheeses were also investigated. All cheese samples derived from T. gondii-positive milk were positive according to LAMP, at both 5 and 15 days of ripening, while none of the samples were positive according to RT-PCR. Thus, while the presence of the parasite was demonstrated by the detection of specific DNA, the absence of detectable T. gondii RNA supports the hypothesis that changes in the chemical and physical characteristics occurring during the cheesemaking process and ripening period, could be sufficient to inactivate viable T. gondii in milk, minimizing the risk of human infection through consumption of raw sheep milk cheese.
ZnO Modulates Swine Gut Microbiota and Improves Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs When Combined with Peptide Cocktail
Authors: Wei Xiaoyuan , Tsai Tsungcheng , Knapp Joshua , Bottoms Kristopher , Deng Feilong , Story Robert , Maxwell Charles , Zhao Jiangchao
Published: January 2020

Zinc has been very efficacious in reducing post-weaning diarrhea, whereas animal-derived peptides are suggested to improve the growth performance of weaned piglets. However, the combined effect of zinc and peptides on swine production and swine gut microbiota is still largely unknown. In this study, we followed 288 nursery pigs from the age of d30 to d60 to evaluate the growth performance and gut microbiota of weanling pigs subjected to different levels of a fish-porcine-microbial peptide cocktail (0.05%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) with or without the pharmaceutical level of zinc oxide (ZnO) (2500 ppm) supplementation in a nutrient-deficient diet. Rectal swab samples were collected from pigs with body weight (BW) approach average at each pen on d30, d42, and d60 to determine gut microbiota. Average daily gain (ADG) and BW in piglets fed high zinc (HZ) increased with increasing levels of peptide. The microbiota of the HZ group also diverged from those of the standard zinc (SZ) group from d30 to d60. Adding peptide did not alter community structure regardless of zinc supplementation. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the pharmaceutical level of zinc as ZnO conditioned the gut community to the point where peptide could effectively restore growth performance in nursery pigs fed nutrient-deficient diets.
Characterization of the Heavy Mineral Suite in a Holocene Beach Placer, Barrytown, New Zealand
Authors: Wells Hannah C. , Haverkamp Richard G.
Published: January 2020

The placer deposit at Barrytown, New Zealand, has been worked for gold and is known for high levels of ilmenite that has not been exploited. Other heavy minerals are present but have not been well characterized, which is the purpose of this research. Sand grains were separated into the density fractions and the heavier fractions analyzed by laser ablation ICP-MS for elemental composition and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) EDS in whole grains and polished sections. Grain size distributions were determined from SEM images of polished grain mounts. Elemental associations have been identified with different minerals. A wide range of ore minerals, or potential useful industrial minerals, have been shown to be present largely as individual sand grains. These include gold, ilmenite, garnet, zircon, monazite, allanite, uraninite, thorite, cassiterite, wolframite, scheelite, and columbite. The ilmenite contains many inclusions, consisting of silicates and phosphates and 100–400 ppm Nb. Scandium is found to be present in zircon at 100–600 ppm along with 3000 ppm Y. Monazite is depleted in Eu relative to chondrite and contains Ga and Ge at 1000–3000 ppm. Because the sand grains are mostly individual minerals, it is suggested that separation may be possible using a combination of density, electrostatic and magnetic methods to obtain almost pure mineral fractions. This knowledge should inform decisions on potential exploitation of the resource.
Antioxidant and Compositional HPLC Analysis of Three Common Bamboo Leaves
Authors: Ma Ning-Hui , Guo Jing , Xu Chen Si-Han , Yuan Xiu-Rong , Zhang Tong , Ding Yue
Published: January 2020

Bamboo leaves of Phyllostachys nigra (PN), Lophatherum gracile (LG), and Pleioblastus amarus (PA) are three common herbs in China. In this work, a new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of seven compounds in bamboo leaves has been developed; and PN, LG, and PA leaves were analyzed. PN showed four times as much chlorogenic acid (CA) than the other two, and contained the most isoorientin (iso-ORI) and isovitexin (iso-VIT) as well. The PA presented the most orientin (ORI) and LG covered a majority of cynaroside (CYN). We measured the antioxidant activity by scavenging the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-pyridinohydrazinyl (DPPH) free radicals, and found that Luteolin (inhibitory concentration (IC)50 = 0.42 µM, LUT) and CYN (IC50 = 0.43 µM) showed 2–3 times higher antioxidant activity than iso-ORI (IC50 = 0.81 µM), ORI (IC50 = 0.84 µM), and other related antioxidant standards such as trolox (IC50 = 0.97 µM) and ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0.93 µM, VC). Among extracts, PN and PA showed considerable antioxidant activity, which was related well with the contents of CA, iso-ORI, and iso-VIT (p < 0.05). This study firstly provides evidence for functional antioxidant compounds of bamboo leaves based on statistical analysis of the HPLC analysis and DPPH assay, and it lays a foundation for its further development or utilization.
Multifunctional Hydroxyapatite Coated with Arthemisia absinthium Composites
Authors: Raita Mariana Stefania , Iconaru Simona Liliana , Groza Andreea , Cimpeanu Carmen , Predoi Gabriel , Ghegoiu Liliana , Badea Monica Luminita , Chifiriuc Mariana Carmen , Marutescu Luminita , Trusca Roxana , Furnaris Ciprian Florin , Turculet Claudiu Stefan , Enache Dorin Valter , Predoi Daniela
Published: January 2020

There is significant research showing that essential oils extracted from the plants have antibacterial effects. The purpose of this study was to develop a biocomposite based on hydroxyapatite coated with Artemisia absinthium essential oil and to highlight its antibacterial activity. Therefore, present studies are aimed at developing new materials combining hydroxyapatite with Artemisia absinthium essential oil, in order to avoid postoperative infections. The purpose of this work is to highlight the antimicrobial properties of the Artemisia absinthium essential oil-hydroxyapatite composites obtained by a simple method and at low costs. The structural properties and antimicrobial efficiency of the Artemisia absinthium essential oil-hydroxyapatite composite have been studied. The samples based on Artemisia absinthium essential oil analyzed in this study showed that wormwood essential oil presented the highest efficacy against the fungal strain of C. parapsilosis. It has been shown that wormwood essential oil has a strong antimicrobial effect against the microbial strains tested in this study. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of the biocomposites based on hydroxyapatite and essential oil are due to the presence of the essential oil in the samples.