bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Occupational Injury and Subsequent Employment Termination among Newly Hired Manufacturing Workers
Authors: Huizinga Nathan C. , Davis Jonathan A. , Gerr Fred , Fethke Nathan B.
Published: February 2019

Few longitudinal studies have examined occupational injury as a predictor of employment termination, particularly during the earliest stages of employment when the risk of occupational injury may be greatest. Human resources (HR) records were used to establish a cohort of 3752 hourly employees newly hired by a large manufacturing facility from 2 January 2012, through 25 November 2016. The HR records were linked with records of employee visits to an on-site occupational health center (OHC) for reasons consistent with occupational injury. Cox regression methods were then used to estimate the risk of employment termination following a first-time visit to the OHC, with time to termination as the dependent variable. Analyses were restricted to the time period ending 60 calendar days from the date of hire. Of the 3752 employees, 1172 (31.2%) terminated employment prior to 60 days from date of hire. Of these, 345 terminated voluntarily and 793 were terminated involuntarily. The risk of termination for any reason was greater among those who visited the OHC during the first 60 days of employment than among those who did not visit the OHC during the first 60 days of employment (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.58, 95% CI = 2.12–3.15). The magnitude of effect was similar regardless of the nature of the injury or the body area affected, and the risk of involuntary termination was generally greater than the risk of voluntary termination. The results support activities to manage workplace safety and health hazards in an effort to reduce employee turnover rates.
Asegúrate: An Intervention Program against Cyberbullying Based on Teachers’ Commitment and on Design of Its Instructional Materials
Authors: Del Rey Rosario , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario , Casas José Antonio
Published: February 2019

This article presents the impact on cyberbullying of the Asegúrate program. This educational program is based on the theory of normative social behavior, self-regulation skills, and the beliefs held by adolescents and consists in a whole package of strategies and resources to help teachers to include in the ordinary curricula. The evaluation of Asegúrate was carried out with a sample of 4779 students (48.9% girls) in 5th and 6th grade in primary education and compulsory secondary education (M = 12.76; SD = 1.67) through a quasi-experimental methodology, with two measures over time. The instrument used was the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. The results show that the involvement in cyberbullying as cyber-victim, cyber-aggressor, and cyber-bully-victim increase without intervention, whereas it diminishes when intervention is carried out by the teachers who have received specific training and have used the didactic Asegúrate package. Additionally, the impact of the intervention on the different types of behaviors was analyzed, and the results show that Asegúrate is more effective with some forms than with others. Consequently, the Asegúrate program is effective for decreasing the prevalence of cyberbullying, but some modifications need to be made to impact on all the different forms it can take.
Effect of Generational Status on Child Well-Being: Mediating Effects of Social Support and Residential Instability
Authors: Chan Ko Ling , Lo Ruby
Published: February 2019

Children in migrant families often encounter difficulties that have great impacts on their health. However, there is a lack of research to examine generational status and child health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared the HRQoL of children, aged 3 to 19 years, born in Hong Kong to mainland parents with second- and third-or-higher-generation children; and explores the mediating effects of residential instability and of social support on the association between generational status and HRQoL. A sample comprised 4807 reports on children (mean age = 7.47 years) in Hong Kong was analyzed. Significantly lower HRQoL related to physical functioning was observed among children in migrant families. Association between generational status and child HRQoL was mediated by commute time between home and school, frequency of moving home, and social support. Findings lend utility to addressing similar issues amongst other developmental immigrant populations.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mortality: Contributions and Variations by Rurality in the United States, 2012–2015
Authors: Hall Jeffrey E. , Moonesinghe Ramal , Bouye Karen , Penman-Aguilar Ana
Published: February 2019

The value of disaggregating non-metropolitan and metropolitan area deaths in illustrating place-based health effects is evident. However, how place interacts with characteristics such as race/ethnicity has been less firmly established. This study compared socioeconomic characteristics and age-adjusted mortality rates by race/ethnicity in six rurality designations and assessed the contributions of mortality rate disparities between non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) in each designation to national disparities. Compared to NHWs, age-adjusted mortality rates for: (1) NHBs were higher for all causes (combined), heart disease, malignant neoplasms, and cerebrovascular disease; (2) American Indian and Alaska Natives were significantly higher for all causes in rural areas; (3) Asian Pacific islanders and Hispanics were either lower or not significantly different in all areas for all causes combined and all leading causes of death examined. The largest contribution to the U.S. disparity in mortality rates between NHBs and NHWs originated from large central metropolitan areas. Place-based variations in mortality rates and disparities may reflect resource, and access inequities that are often greater and have greater health consequences for some racial/ethnic populations than others. Tailored, systems level actions may help eliminate mortality disparities existing at intersections between race/ethnicity and place.
Characteristics and Trends of Pneumoconiosis in the Jiangsu Province, China, 2006–2017
Authors: Han Lei , Yao Wenxi , Bian Zilong , Zhao Yuan , Zhang Hengdong , Ding Bangmei , Shen Han , Li Ping , Zhu Baoli , Ni Chunhui
Published: February 2019

This study aims to describe the characteristics and trends of pneumoconiosis in the Jiangsu Province, China, and provide information for the occupational diseases control. We collected and analyzed the data of pneumoconiosis cases reported annually from 2006 to 2017. The information of the cases mainly includes case distributions, clinical types and stages, enterprise types and scales, as well as diagnosis age and exposure duration. A total of 9243 pneumoconiosis cases were reported between 2006 and 2017, among which silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis accounted for the vast majority (87.5%). The incidence of pneumoconiosis was relatively higher in Wuxi, Yancheng, Suzhou and Xuzhou, compared to the other district. Most pneumoconiosis cases occurred in the state-owned (58.4%) and collective enterprises (23.8%). Most cases worked in industries related to geology and coal production. The median exposure duration and diagnosis age of the total pneumoconiosis cases was 13.2 and 61.0 years, respectively. Therefore, more measurements are needed to control pneumoconiosis in the Jiangsu Province.
Psycho-Physiological Effects of a Peony-Viewing Program on Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals at Different Phenological Stages
Authors: Zhao Ren-Lin , Zhang Gang , Wang Xi , Zhang Bo-Tong , Guo Li-Na , Niu Li-Xin , Zhang Yan-Long
Published: February 2019

To address the question of whether the behavior of humans to view different phenological peony flowers has various effects on their physical and mental parameters, we investigated psycho-physiological responses of 74 participants (61.3 ± 10.78 years old) to environments of pre- and post-viewing tree peonies at four stages, including the exhibition leaf stage (ELS), initial bloom stage (IBS), full bloom stage (FBS), and terminal bloom stage (TBS). Physiological factors were examined using systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), fingertip pulse (FP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and psychological evaluation, which was carried out using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results indicated that the SBP, DBP, HR, and FP levels of participants were significantly reduced after viewing tree peonies, whereas no remarkable alterations in SpO2 were found. The POMS scores of anger–hostility (A–H), fatigue–inertia (F–I), tension–anxiety (T–A), confusion–bewilderment (C–B), and depression–dejection (D–D) were significantly lower, but of vigor–activity (V–A) was higher post-viewing than pre-viewing. Furthermore, participants exhibited markedly decreased anxiety levels according to the STAI. Notably, the changes in measurement indices were more pronounced at the FBS. Our studies demonstrated that a short peony-viewing program, especially at the FBS with completely opened and large tree peony flowers, would be a promising therapeutic method for improving physiological functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.
Sources and Characteristics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Total Suspended Particles in Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia
Authors: Byambaa Batdelger , Yang Lu , Matsuki Atsushi , Nagato Edward G. , Gankhuyag Khongor , Chuluunpurev Byambatseren , Banzragch Lkhagvajargal , Chonokhuu Sonomdagva , Tang Ning , Hayakawa Kazuichi
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify pollution sources by characterizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from total suspended particles in Ulaanbaatar City. Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in total suspended particle samples collected from different sites, such as the urban center, industrial district and ger (Mongolian traditional house) areas, and residential areas both in heating (January, March), and non-heating (September) periods in 2017. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration ranged between 131 and 773 ng·m−3 in winter, 22.2 and 530.6 ng·m−3 in spring, and between 1.4 and 54.6 ng·m−3 in autumn. Concentrations of specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene were higher in the ger area in winter and spring seasons, and the pyrene concentration was dominant in late summer in the residential area. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in the ger area were particularly higher than the other sites, especially in winter. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ratios indicated that vehicle emissions were likely the main source at the city center in the winter time. Mixed contributions from biomass, coal, and petroleum combustion were responsible for the particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution at other sampling sites during the whole observation period. The lifetime inhalation cancer risk values in the ger area due to winter pollution were estimated to be 1.2 × 10−5 and 2.1 × 10−5 for child and adult exposures, respectively, which significantly exceed Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
Control of Contaminant Transport Caused by Open-Air Heavy Metal Slag in Zhehai, Southwest China
Authors: Zhao Jiang , Chen Zhihua , Wang Tao , Xiang Caijuan , Luo Mingming , Yuan Hongxin
Published: February 2019

Slag heaps are formed by mining waste materials, and the improper treatment of leachate from such heaps can threaten nearby aquifers. The Zhehai slag heap in Yunnan Province, China, contains 2.7 million tons of zinc and cadmium slag, and is considered a heavy metal source threatening the local groundwater safety, however, the severity of contamination remains unknown. In this study, numerical modeling was used to predict the groundwater flow and contaminant transport in this area based on field data. The results show that the atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge at the top of the heap is 81.8 m3/d, accounting for 93.76% of total infiltration. The south and east sides of the area are the main outflow channels for contaminants, accounting for 93.25% of the total discharge around the heap. To reduce aquifer contamination, an in situ system involving a “controlling the source, ‘breaking’ the path, and intercepting the flow” (CSBPIF) strategy is established. The results indicate that the system performs well because it not only decreases the flow velocity but also reduces the concentrations of contaminants adsorbed by clay media. Moreover, the equivalent bottom liner thicknesses of the clay layers were calculated to improve the applicability of the CSBPIF system. Compared with ex situ disposal, this scheme provides an economic and effective solution and can be used to prevent and control groundwater pollution in China.
Quality Management Systems in the Ambulant Sector: An Analytical Comparison of Different Quality Management Systems
Authors: Gumpert Marcus , Reese Jens-Peter
Published: February 2019

Background: Since 1 January 2004, all physicians, psychotherapists, and medical care centers that are under contract to statutory healthcare in Germany are obliged, according to § 135a Section 2 of the Fifth Social Security Statute Book, to introduce an intra-institutional quality management system. Methods: A total of 24 medical practices were chosen through random sampling. In total, there were 12 family physicians and specialist practices each and eight practices each per quality management system. The analysis was carried out with the help of three specially developed questionnaires (physician, employee, and patient). A total of 26 quality categories with different questions were available in the three survey groups (physicians, employees, and patients). The Kruskal–Wallis test checked the extent to which the different scores between the quality management systems were significant and effective for specialists or family physicians. Results: ”Quality and Development in Practices (QEP)” had the highest average score. Due to a specific family practitioner specialism, “Quality management in Saxony medical practices (QisA)” followed with good average scores. The individual quality categories in the quality management systems, such as the “range of services” or “allocation of appointments”, received the highest average scores among the specialists. In contrast, categories such as “telephone enquiries” and “external cooperation and communication” received the highest average scores among the family physicians. Conclusion: Differences in the evaluation of quality management systems and medical groups (specialists/family physicians) were found in the study. The reasons for these differences could be found in the quality categories.
Harvested Wood Products as a Carbon Sink in China, 1900–2016
Authors: Zhang Luyang , Sun Yankun , Song Tianyuan , Xu Jiaqi
Published: February 2019

The use of harvested wood products (HWPs) influences the carbon flux. China is both the major producer and trader of HWP, so estimating the carbon stock change of China’s HWP is important to help curb climate change. Accurate reporting and accounting of carbon flows in the HWP pool is needed to meet greenhouse gas monitoring and climate change mitigation objectives under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. This study applied production approach (PA) to estimate the carbon stock change of China’s HWP from 1900 to 2016. During the estimating period, the carbon stock of HWP in use and deposed at solid waste disposal sites (SWDS) were 649.2 Teragrams Carbon (TgC) (346.8 TgC in wood-based panels, 216.7 TgC in sawnwood and 85.7 TgC in paper & paperboard) and 72.6 TgC, respectively. The carbon amount of annual domestic harvest HWP varied between 87.6 and 118.7 TgC. However, the imported carbon inflow increased significantly after the 1990s and reached 47.6 TgC in 2016, accounting for 46% of the domestic harvest of that year. China has great mitigation potential from HWP and use of this resource should be considered in future strategies to address climate change.
Erratum: Kim, Y., et al. Comparison of Polar Active Watch and Waist- and Wrist-Worn ActiGraph Accelerometers for Measuring Children’s Physical Activity Levels during Unstructured Afterschool Programs. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 2268
Authors: Kim Youngdeok , Lochbaum Marc
Published: February 2019

Due to an error during production, the Chandler’s cut-points at the 30-sec epoch length [...]
Mindfulness and Athlete Burnout: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Chunxiao , Zhu Yuxin , Zhang Mengge , Gustafsson Henrik , Chen Tao
Published: February 2019

Objective: This review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize studies reporting the relationship between mindfulness and athlete burnout and the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on athlete burnout. Methods: Studies were identified through searching six electronic databases using combinations of three groups of keywords and manual search. Two independent reviewers screened the searched studies, extracted data of the included studies, and assessed the study quality. The extracted data were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: Ten studies consisting of two controlled trials, six surveys, and two interview studies met the inclusion criteria. The two controlled trials had weak methodological quality, and the remaining studies were of moderate to high research quality. Results of controlled trials and interview research generally showed that MBIs had positive effects in burnout prevention. Meta-analytic results indicated a negative association between mindfulness and burnout. Conclusions: There is some evidence showing that mindfulness was negatively associated with athlete burnout. However, given the small number of interventions and qualitative studies, there is limited evidence on whether MBIs are useful in preventing athlete burnout. More studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
The Impact of Upstream Sub-Basins’ Water Use on Middle Stream and Downstream Sub-Basins’ Water Security at Country-Basin Unit Spatial Scale and Monthly Temporal Resolution
Authors: Degefu Dagmawi Mulugeta , Liao Zaiyi , He Weijun , Yuan Liang , An Min , Zhang Zhaofang , Xia Wu
Published: February 2019

Water, in most of the transboundary river basins, is a bone of contention among their riparian states. Taking this into account, this article assessed the monthly impact of upstream water withdrawal on the water security of middle stream and downstream sub-basins at a country-basin mesh spatial resolution. Roughly 2.18 billion people in 442 sub-basin areas experience water stress intensification by less than 1% throughout the year. In addition, 2.12 billion people in 336 sub-basin areas experience water stress level change, from no water stress to one of the water stress categories, for at least one month as the result of upstream withdrawal. Even though there is a clear upstream impact in many of the basins, water disputes with severe social, economic, political, and environmental consequences are nonexistent. This might be an indication that grave water disputes are the result of complex socio-economic and political interactions, not merely because of water deficits due to upstream water withdrawal. Therefore, understanding this relationship is crucial in identifying inflection points for water conflicts within transboundary river basins.
The Shock Effect of Inorganic Suspended Solids in Surface Runoff on Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance
Authors: He Li , Tan Tao , Gao Zhixi , Fan Leilei
Published: February 2019

Previous studies on the water quality of surface runoff often focused on the chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, phosphorus, and total suspended solid (TSS), but little is known in terms of the inorganic suspended solids (ISS). This research investigated the effects of ISS carried by surface runoff on the treatment efficiency of the pretreatment facilities and the ratio of mixed liquor volatile suspended solid to mixed liquor suspended solid (MLVSS/MLSS) of the activated sludge in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) process in Chongqing city, China. The results showed that the surface runoff had a long-lasting impact on the grit removal capacity of the grit chamber, affecting the normal operation after the rainfall. In contrast, the primary sedimentation tank showed strong impact resistance with higher removal rates of COD, TSS, and ISS. Nonetheless, the primary settling tank aggravates the removal of organic carbon in sewage during rainfall, having a negative impact on subsequent biological treatment. The ISS in the surface runoff could increase the sludge concentration and decrease the MLVSS/MLSS ratio. After repeated surface runoff impact, the MLVSS/MLSS ratio in the activated sludge would drop below even 0.3, interrupting the normal operation of WWTP.
Exploring Group Movement Pattern through Cellular Data: A Case Study of Tourists in Hainan
Authors: Zhu Xinning , Sun Tianyue , Yuan Hao , Hu Zheng , Miao Jiansong
Published: February 2019

Identifying group movement patterns of crowds and understanding group behaviors are valuable for urban planners, especially when the groups are special such as tourist groups. In this paper, we present a framework to discover tourist groups and investigate the tourist behaviors using mobile phone call detail records (CDRs). Unlike GPS data, CDRs are relatively poor in spatial resolution with low sampling rates, which makes it a big challenge to identify group members from thousands of tourists. Moreover, since touristic trips are not on a regular basis, no historical data of the specific group can be used to reduce the uncertainty of trajectories. To address such challenges, we propose a method called group movement pattern mining based on similarity (GMPMS) to discover tourist groups. To avoid large amounts of trajectory similarity measurements, snapshots of the trajectories are firstly generated to extract candidate groups containing co-occurring tourists. Then, considering that different groups may follow the same itineraries, additional traveling behavioral features are defined to identify the group members. Finally, with Hainan province as an example, we provide a number of interesting insights of travel behaviors of group tours as well as individual tours, which will be helpful for tourism planning and management.
The Possible Role of Complete Loss of Myostatin in Limiting Excessive Proliferation of Muscle Cells (C2C12) via Activation of MicroRNAs
Authors: Huang Peixuan , Pang Daxin , Wang Kankan , Xu Aishi , Yao Chaogang , Li Mengjing , You Wenni , Wang Qiushuang , Yu Hao
Published: February 2019

Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth and differentiation. However, the mechanism by which complete MSTN deletion limits excessive proliferation of muscle cells remains unclear. In this study, we knocked out MSTN in mouse myoblast lines using a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) system and sequenced the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes. The results show that complete loss of MSTN upregulates seven miRNAs targeting an interaction network composed of 28 downregulated genes, including TGFB1, FOS and RB1. These genes are closely associated with tumorigenesis and cell proliferation. Our study suggests that complete loss of MSTN may limit excessive cell proliferation via activation of miRNAs. These data will contribute to the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).
Mechanisms Underlying Metabolic Syndrome-Related Sarcopenia and Possible Therapeutic Measures
Authors: Rubio-Ruiz María Esther , Guarner-Lans Verónica , Pérez-Torres Israel , Soto María Elena
Published: February 2019

Although there are several reviews that report the interrelationship between sarcopenia and obesity and insulin resistance, the relation between sarcopenia and the other signs that compose the metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been extensively revised. Here, we review the mechanisms underlying MetS-related sarcopenia and discuss the possible therapeutic measures proposed. A vicious cycle between the loss of muscle and the accumulation of intramuscular fat might be associated with MetS via a complex interplay of factors including nutritional intake, physical activity, body fat, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, hormonal changes, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The enormous differences in lipid storage capacities between the two genders and elevated amounts of endogenous fat having lipotoxic effects that lead to the loss of muscle mass are discussed. The important repercussions of MetS-related sarcopenia on other illnesses that lead to increased disability, morbidity, and mortality are also addressed. Additional research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of MetS-related sarcopenia and its consequences. Although there is currently no consensus on the treatment, lifestyle changes including diet and power exercise seem to be the best options.
Combining TIR and FRET in Molecular Test Systems
Authors: Schneckenburger Herbert , Weber Petra , Wagner Michael , Enderle Sandra , Kalthof Bernd , Schneider Linn , Herzog Claudia , Weghuber Julian , Lanzerstorfer Peter
Published: February 2019

Pharmaceutical agents or drugs often have a pronounced impact on protein-protein interactions in cells, and in particular, cell membranes. Changes of molecular conformations as well as of intermolecular interactions may affect dipole-dipole interaction between chromophoric groups, which can be proven by measuring the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). If these chromophores are located within or in close proximity to the plasma membrane, they are excited preferentially by an evanescent electromagnetic wave upon total internal reflection (TIR) of an incident laser beam. For the TIR-FRET screening of larger cell collectives, we performed three separate steps: (1) setting up of a membrane associated test system for probing the interaction between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2; (2) use of the Epac-SH188 sensor for quantitative evaluation under the microscope; and (3) application of a TIR fluorescence reader to probe the interaction of GFP with Nile Red. In the first two steps, we measured FRET from cyan (CFP) to yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) by spectral analysis and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) upon illumination of whole cells (epi-illumination) as well as selective illumination of their plasma membranes by TIR. In particular, TIR excitation permitted FRET measurements with high sensitivity and low background. The Epac sensor showed a more rapid response to pharmaceutical agents, e.g., Forskolin or the A2B adenosine receptor agonist NECA, in close proximity to the plasma membrane compared to the cytosol. Finally, FRET from a membrane associated GFP to Nile Red was used to test a multi-well TIR fluorescence reader with simultaneous detection of a larger number of samples.
Interleukin-18 in Health and Disease
Authors: Yasuda Koubun , Nakanishi Kenji , Tsutsui Hiroko
Published: February 2019

Interleukin (IL)-18 was originally discovered as a factor that enhanced IFN-γ production from anti-CD3-stimulated Th1 cells, especially in the presence of IL-12. Upon stimulation with Ag plus IL-12, naïve T cells develop into IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) expressing Th1 cells, which increase IFN-γ production in response to IL-18 stimulation. Therefore, IL-12 is a commitment factor that induces the development of Th1 cells. In contrast, IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that facilitates type 1 responses. However, IL-18 without IL-12 but with IL-2, stimulates NK cells, CD4+ NKT cells, and established Th1 cells, to produce IL-3, IL-9, and IL-13. Furthermore, together with IL-3, IL-18 stimulates mast cells and basophils to produce IL-4, IL-13, and chemical mediators such as histamine. Therefore, IL-18 is a cytokine that stimulates various cell types and has pleiotropic functions. IL-18 is a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines. IL-18 demonstrates a unique function by binding to a specific receptor expressed on various types of cells. In this review article, we will focus on the unique features of IL-18 in health and disease in experimental animals and humans.
Degradation of Mitochondria and Oxidative Stress as the Main Mechanism of Toxicity of Pristine Graphene on U87 Glioblastoma Cells and Tumors and HS-5 Cells
Authors: Jaworski Sławomir , Strojny Barbara , Sawosz Ewa , Wierzbicki Mateusz , Grodzik Marta , Kutwin Marta , Daniluk Karolina , Chwalibog André
Published: February 2019

Due to the development of nanotechnologies, graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have attracted immense scientific interest owing to their extraordinary properties. Graphene can be used in many fields, including biomedicine. To date, little is known about the impact graphene may have on human health in the case of intentional exposure. The present study was carried out on U87 glioma cells and non-cancer HS-5 cell lines as in vitro model and U87 tumors cultured on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane as in vivo model, on which the effects of pristine graphene platelets (GPs) were evaluated. The investigation consisted of structural analysis of GPs using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transmission infrared measurements, zeta potential measurements, evaluation of cell morphology, assessment of cell viability, investigation of reactive oxygen species production, and investigation of mitochondrial membrane potential. The toxicity of U87 glioma tumors was evaluated by calculating the weight and volume of tumors and performing analyses of the ultrastructure, histology, and protein expression. The in vitro results indicate that GPs have dose-dependent cytotoxicity via ROS overproduction and depletion of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The mass and volume of tumors were reduced in vivo after injection of GPs. Additionally, the level of apoptotic and necrotic markers increased in GPs-treated tumors.
Loliolide Presents Antiapoptosis and Antiscratching Effects in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Park Sang Hee , Kim Dong Sam , Kim Sunggyu , Lorz Laura Rojas , Choi Eunju , Lim Hye Yeon , Hossain Mohammad Amjad , Jang SeokGu , Choi Young Im , Park Kyung Ja , Yoon Keejung , Kim Jong-Hoon , Cho Jae Youl
Published: February 2019

Loliolide is a monoterpenoid hydroxylactone present in freshwater algae that has anti-inflammatory and antiaging activity; however, its effects on ultraviolet-damaged skin have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the antiapoptosis and wound-healing effects of loliolide using HaCaT cells (a human keratinocyte cell line). Loliolide inhibited the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by ultraviolet radiation as well as wrinkle formation-related matrix metalloproteinase genes and increased the expression of the damage repair-related gene SIRT1. The apoptosis signaling pathway was confirmed by Western blot analysis, which showed that loliolide was able to reduce the expression of caspases 3, 8, and 9, which are related to ROS-induced apoptosis. In addition, Western blotting, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR analyses showed that loliolide enhanced the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway (PI3K, AKT) and migration factors, such as K6, K16, and K17; keratinocyte growth factor; and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-17, and IL-22 expressed during the cellular scratching process, suggesting a putative wound-healing ability. Because of the antiapoptosis and antiscratching effects on skin of both loliolide and loliolide-rich Prasiola japonica ethanol extract, we consider the former to be an important compound used in the cosmeceutical industry.
Treatment of Focal Cartilage Defects in Minipigs with Zonal Chondrocyte/Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell Constructs
Authors: Bothe Friederike , Deubel Anne-Kathrin , Hesse Eliane , Lotz Benedict , Groll Jürgen , Werner Carsten , Richter Wiltrud , Hagmann Sebastien
Published: February 2019

Despite advances in cartilage repair strategies, treatment of focal chondral lesions remains an important challenge to prevent osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage is organized into several layers and lack of zonal organization of current grafts is held responsible for insufficient biomechanical and biochemical quality of repair-tissue. The aim was to develop a zonal approach for cartilage regeneration to determine whether the outcome can be improved compared to a non-zonal strategy. Hydrogel-filled polycaprolactone (PCL)-constructs with a chondrocyte-seeded upper-layer deemed to induce hyaline cartilage and a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-containing bottom-layer deemed to induce calcified cartilage were compared to chondrocyte-based non-zonal grafts in a minipig model. Grafts showed comparable hardness at implantation and did not cause visible signs of inflammation. After 6 months, X-ray microtomography (µCT)-analysis revealed significant bone-loss in both treatment groups compared to empty controls. PCL-enforcement and some hydrogel-remnants were retained in all defects, but most implants were pressed into the subchondral bone. Despite important heterogeneities, both treatments reached a significantly lower modified O’Driscoll-score compared to empty controls. Thus, PCL may have induced bone-erosion during joint loading and misplacement of grafts in vivo precluding adequate permanent orientation of zones compared to surrounding native cartilage.
Postnatal Expression Profile of microRNAs Associated with Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases in Children at the Age of 3 to 11 Years in Relation to Previous Occurrence of Pregnancy-Related Complications
Authors: Hromadnikova Ilona , Kotlabova Katerina , Dvorakova Lenka , Krofta Ladislav , Sirc Jan
Published: February 2019

Children descending from pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction (FGR) have a lifelong cardiovascular risk. The aim of the study was to verify if pregnancy complications induce postnatal alterations in gene expression of microRNAs associated with cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases. Twenty-nine microRNAs were assessed in peripheral blood, compared between groups, and analyzed in relation to both aspects, the current presence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular complications and the previous occurrence of pregnancy complications with regard to the clinical signs, dates of delivery, and Doppler ultrasound examination. The expression profile of miR-21-5p differed between controls and children with a history of uncomplicated pregnancies with abnormal clinical findings. Abnormal expression profile of multiple microRNAs was found in children affected with GH (miR-1-3p, miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-26a-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR-125b-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-195-5p, and miR-342-3p), PE (miR-1-3p, miR-20a-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-342-3p), and FGR (miR-17-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-133a-3p). The index of pulsatility in the ductus venosus showed a strong positive correlation with miR-210-3p gene expression in children exposed to PE and/or FGR. Any of changes in epigenome (up-regulation of miR-1-3p and miR-133a-3p) that were induced by pregnancy complications are long-acting and may predispose children affected with GH, PE, or FGR to later development of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases. Novel epigenetic changes (aberrant expression profile of microRNAs) appeared in a proportion of children that were exposed to GH, PE, or FGR. Screening of particular microRNAs may stratify a highly risky group of children that might benefit from implementation of early primary prevention strategies.
Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Tocotrienols in Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements
Authors: Aggarwal Vaishali , Kashyap Dharambir , Sak Katrin , Tuli Hardeep Singh , Jain Aklank , Chaudhary Ashun , Garg Vivek Kumar , Sethi Gautam , Yerer Mukerrem Betul
Published: February 2019

Tocotrienols, found in several natural sources such as rice bran, annatto seeds, and palm oil have been reported to exert various beneficial health promoting properties especially against chronic diseases, including cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world not only because of continual aging and growth in global population, but also due to the adaptation of Western lifestyle behaviours, including intake of high fat diets and low physical activity. Tocotrienols can suppress the growth of different malignancies, including those of breast, lung, ovary, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma, and pancreas. These findings, together with the reported safety profile of tocotrienols in healthy human volunteers, encourage further studies on the potential application of these compounds in cancer prevention and treatment. In the current article, detailed information about the potential molecular mechanisms of actions of tocotrienols in different cancer models has been presented and the possible effects of these vitamin E analogues on various important cancer hallmarks, i.e., cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation have been briefly analyzed.
GeneLab Database Analyses Suggest Long-Term Impact of Space Radiation on the Cardiovascular System by the Activation of FYN Through Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Beheshti Afshin , McDonald J. Tyson , Miller Jack , Grabham Peter , Costes Sylvain V.
Published: February 2019

Space radiation has recently been considered a risk factor for astronauts’ cardiac health. As an example, for the case of how to query and identify datasets within NASA’s GeneLab database and demonstrate the database utility, we used an unbiased systems biology method for identifying key genes/drivers for the contribution of space radiation on the cardiovascular system. This knowledge can contribute to designing appropriate experiments targeting these specific pathways. Microarray data from cardiomyocytes of male C57BL/6 mice followed-up for 28 days after exposure to 900 mGy of 1 GeV proton or 150 mGy of 1 GeV/n 56Fe were compared to human endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured for 7 days on the International Space Station (ISS). We observed common molecular pathways between simulated space radiation and HUVECs flown on the ISS. The analysis suggests FYN is the central driver/hub for the cardiovascular response to space radiation: the known oxidative stress induced immediately following radiation would only be transient and would upregulate FYN, which in turn would reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, protecting the cardiovascular system. The transcriptomic signature of exposure to protons was also much closer to the spaceflight signature than 56Fe’s signature. To our knowledge, this is the first time GeneLab datasets were utilized to provide potential biological indications that the majority of ions on the ISS are protons, clearly illustrating the power of omics analysis. More generally, this work also demonstrates how to combine animal radiation studies done on the ground and spaceflight studies to evaluate human risk in space.
Multi-Spectroscopic Characterization of Human Serum Albumin Binding with Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride: Insights from Biophysical and In Silico Approaches
Authors: Baig Mohammad Hassan , Rahman Safikur , Rabbani Gulam , Imran Mohd , Ahmad Khurshid , Choi Inho
Published: February 2019

Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (CBH) is a well-known muscle relaxant that is widely used to relieve muscle spasms and other pain associated with acute musculoskeletal conditions. In this study, we elucidated the binding characteristics of this muscle relaxant to human serum albumin (HSA). From a pharmaceutical and biochemical viewpoint, insight into the structure, functions, dynamics, and features of HSA-CBH complex holds great importance. The binding of CBH with this major circulatory transport protein was studied using a combination of biophysical approaches such as UV-VIS absorption, fluorescence quenching, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Various in silico techniques, molecular docking and molecular dynamics, were also used to gain deeper insight into the binding. A reduction in the fluorescence intensities of HSA-CBH complex with a constant increase in temperature, revealed the static mode of protein fluorescence quenching upon CBH addition, which confirmed the formation of the HSA-CBH ground state complex. The alteration in the UV-VIS and far-UV CD spectrum indicated changes in both secondary and tertiary structures of HSA upon binding of CBH, further proving CBH binding to HSA. The analysis of thermodynamic parameters ∆H° and ∆S° showed that binding of CBH to HSA was dominated by intermolecular hydrophobic forces. The results of the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies also confirmed the stability of the complex and supported the experimental results.
PixelBNN: Augmenting the PixelCNN with Batch Normalization and the Presentation of a Fast Architecture for Retinal Vessel Segmentation
Authors: Leopold Henry A. , Orchard Jeff , Zelek John S. , Lakshminarayanan Vasudevan
Published: February 2019

Analysis of retinal fundus images is essential for eye-care physicians in the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients. Accurate fundus and/or retinal vessel maps give rise to longitudinal studies able to utilize multimedia image registration and disease/condition status measurements, as well as applications in surgery preparation and biometrics. The segmentation of retinal morphology has numerous applications in assessing ophthalmologic and cardiovascular disease pathologies. Computer-aided segmentation of the vasculature has proven to be a challenge, mainly due to inconsistencies such as noise and variations in hue and brightness that can greatly reduce the quality of fundus images. The goal of this work is to collate different key performance indicators (KPIs) and state-of-the-art methods applied to this task, frame computational efficiency–performance trade-offs under varying degrees of information loss using common datasets, and introduce PixelBNN, a highly efficient deep method for automating the segmentation of fundus morphologies. The model was trained, tested and cross tested on the DRIVE, STARE and CHASE_DB1 retinal vessel segmentation datasets. Performance was evaluated using G-mean, Mathews Correlation Coefficient and F1-score, with the main success measure being computation speed. The network was 8.5× faster than the current state-of-the-art at test time and performed comparatively well, considering a 5× to 19× reduction in information from resizing images during preprocessing.
Synthesis of Monolithic Potassium Geopolymer Ceramics Assisted by Molten Salt
Authors: Ai Tao , Hong Feng-hua , Kang Yi-na , Zhang Hao-ran , Yan Xin
Published: February 2019

Potassium geopolymer (KGP) ceramics are synthesized by the molten salt method. Metakaolin changes to a potassium geopolymer through a reaction with potassium silicate at 80 °C/24 h. Potassium geopolymer, with a silicon to aluminum (Si/Al) molar ratio of 2, turns into a leucite ceramic in molten potassium salt (KCl) at 900 °C/6 h. X-Ray Diffraction analysis of the KGP treated by molten KCl salt shows the amorphous phase change to leucite crystal phase. A scanning electron microscope image of sintered KGP proves that the grain size of the leucite crystal decreases with soaking time. Compared with solid state sintering, liquid molten salt sintering KGP can be more easily formed into dense ceramics at lower temperatures.
Investigation of Three-Dimensional Structure and Pigment Surrounding Environment of a TiO2 Containing Waterborne Paint
Authors: Yang Fei , Chen Bo , Hashimoto Teruo , Zhang Yongming , Thompson George , Robinson Ian
Published: February 2019

Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) has been used to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a cured waterborne paint containing TiO2 pigment particles, and the surrounding environment of the TiO2 pigment particles in the cured paint film was also discussed. The 3D spatial distribution of the particles in the paint film and their degree of dispersion were clearly revealed. More than 55% of the measured TiO2 particles have volumes between 1.0 × 106 nm3 and 1.0 × 107 nm3. From the obtained 3D images, we proposed that there are three different types of voids in the measured cured waterborne paint film: voids that exist in the cured paint themselves, voids produced by particle shedding, and voids produced by quasi-liquid phase evaporation during measurement. Among these, the latter two types of voids are artefacts caused during SBFSEM measurement which provide evidence to support that the pigment particles in the cured paint/coating films are surrounding by quasi-liquid environment rather than dry solid environment. The error caused by particle shedding to the statistical calculation of the TiO2 particles was corrected in our analysis. The resulting 3D structure of the paint, especially the different voids are important for further systematic research, and are critical for understanding the real environment of the pigment particles in the cured paint films.
Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Functionalization for Biomedical Applications in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Ansari Shoeb Anwar Mohammed Khawja , Ficiarà Eleonora , Ruffinatti Federico Alessandro , Stura Ilaria , Argenziano Monica , Abollino Ornella , Cavalli Roberta , Guiot Caterina , D’Agata Federico
Published: February 2019

Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) are of great interest in biomedicine, due to their wide range of applications. During recent years, one of the most challenging goals is the development of new strategies to finely tune the unique properties of MNPs, in order to improve their effectiveness in the biomedical field. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the methods of synthesis and functionalization of MNPs focusing on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs). Firstly, synthesis strategies for fabricating IONPs of different composition, sizes, shapes, and structures are outlined. We describe the close link between physicochemical properties and magnetic characterization, essential to developing innovative and powerful magnetic-driven nanocarriers. In conclusion, we provide a complete background of IONPs functionalization, safety, and applications for the treatment of Central Nervous System disorders.
Custom Design of Packaging through Advanced Technologies: A Case Study Applied to Apples
Authors: Rodríguez-Parada Lucía , Mayuet Pedro F. , Gámez Antonio J.
Published: February 2019

In the context of food packaging design, customization enhances the value of a product by meeting consumer needs. Personalization is also linked to adaptation, so the properties of the packaging can be improved from several points of view: functional, aesthetic, economic and ecological. Currently, functional and formal properties of packaging are not investigated in depth. However, the study of both properties is the basis for creating a new concept of personalized and sustainable product. In accordance with this approach, a conceptual design procedure of packaging with personalized and adapted geometries based on the digitization of fresh food is proposed in this work. This study is based on the application of advanced technologies for the design and development of food packaging, apples in this work, in order to improve the quality of the packaging. The results obtained show that it is possible to use advanced technologies in the early stages of product design in order to obtain competitive products adapted to new emerging needs.