bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Heat Shock Factor Pathways by γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Associated with Thermotolerance of Creeping Bentgrass
Authors: Liu Ting , Liu Zhaoqiao , Li Zhou , Peng Yan , Zhang Xinquan , Ma Xiao , Huang Linkai , Liu Wei , Nie Gang , He Liwen
Published: September 2019

Activation and enhancement of heat shock factor (HSF) pathways are important adaptive responses to heat stress in plants. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays an important role in regulating heat tolerance, but it is unclear whether GABA-induced thermotolerance is associated with activation of HSF pathways in plants. In this study, the changes of endogenous GABA level affecting physiological responses and genes involved in HSF pathways were investigated in creeping bentgrass during heat stress. The increase in endogenous GABA content induced by exogenous application of GABA effectively alleviated heat damage, as reflected by higher leaf relative water content, cell membrane stability, photosynthesis, and lower oxidative damage. Contrarily, the inhibition of GABA accumulation by the application of GABA biosynthesis inhibitor further aggravated heat damage. Transcriptional analyses showed that exogenous GABA could significantly upregulate transcript levels of genes encoding heat shock factor HSFs (HSFA-6a, HSFA-2c, and HSFB-2b), heat shock proteins (HSP17.8, HSP26.7, HSP70, and HSP90.1-b1), and ascorbate peroxidase 3 (APX3), whereas the inhibition of GABA biosynthesis depressed these genes expression under heat stress. Our results indicate GABA regulates thermotolerance associated with activation and enhancement of HSF pathways in creeping bentgrass.
Overexpression of BpCUC2 Influences Leaf Shape and Internode Development in Betula pendula
Authors: Liu Chaoyi , Xu Huanwen , Han Rui , Wang Shuo , Liu Guifeng , Chen Su , Chen Jiying , Bian Xiuyan , Jiang Jing
Published: September 2019

The CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON 2 (CUC2) gene, which is negatively regulated by microRNA164 (miR164), has been specifically linked to the regulation of leaf margin serration and the maintenance of phyllotaxy in model plants. However, few studies have investigated these effects in woody plants. In this study, we integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and physiology approaches to explore the function of BpCUC2 gene in Betula pendula growth and development. Our results showed that Betula pendula plants overexpressing BpCUC2, which is targeted by BpmiR164, exhibit shortened internodes and abnormal leaf shapes. Subsequent analysis indicated that the short internodes of BpCUC2 overexpressed transgenic lines and were due to decreased epidermal cell size. Moreover, transcriptome analysis, yeast one-hybrid assays, and ChIP-PCR suggested that BpCUC2 directly binds to the LTRECOREATCOR15 (CCGAC), CAREOSREP1 (CAACTC), and BIHD1OS (TGTCA) motifs of a series of IAA-related and cyclin-related genes to regulate expression. These results may be useful to our understanding of the functional role and genetic regulation of BpCUC2.
A Feature Selection and Classification Method for Activity Recognition Based on an Inertial Sensing Unit
Authors: Fan Shurui , Jia Yating , Jia Congyue
Published: September 2019

The purpose of activity recognition is to identify activities through a series of observations of the experimenter’s behavior and the environmental conditions. In this study, through feature selection algorithms, we researched the effects of a large number of features on human activity recognition (HAR) assisted by an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and applied them to smartphones of the future. In the research process, we considered 585 features (calculated from tri-axial accelerometer and tri-axial gyroscope data). We comprehensively analyzed the features of signals and classification methods. Three feature selection algorithms were considered, and the combination effect between the features was used to select a feature set with a significant effect on the classification of the activity, which reduced the complexity of the classifier and improved the classification accuracy. We used five classification methods (support vector machine [SVM], decision tree, linear regression, Gaussian process, and threshold selection) to verify the classification accuracy. The activity recognition method we proposed could recognize six basic activities (BAs) (standing, going upstairs, going downstairs, walking, lying, and sitting) and postural transitions (PTs) (stand-to-sit, sit-to-stand, stand-to-lie, lie-to-stand, sit-to-lie, and lie-to-sit), with an average accuracy of 96.4%.
A Novel Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model: Interval Rough SAW Method for Sustainable Supplier Selection
Authors: Stević Željko , Durmić Elmina , Gajić Mladen , Pamučar Dragan , Puška Adis
Published: September 2019

Sustainability in a supply chain is a demand on the one hand and a challenge on the other. It is necessary to balance between these dimensions in order to fulfill the purpose of the supply chain. Therefore, in the first phase—i.e., in procurement—it is necessary to take into account its sustainability. In this paper, a sustainable supplier was selected respecting all three aspects of sustainability. The evaluation was carried out on the basis of a total of 21 criteria arranged into two levels and three groups. A new Interval Rough SAW (simple additive weighting) method, which represents a contribution to the treatment of problems belonging to the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), was developed. The integration of interval rough numbers with the SAW method was completed. In addition, the full consistency method (FUCOM) was applied to determine the weights of the criteria. The integrated FUCOM-Interval Rough SAW model enables treatment of multi-criteria problems while reducing subjectivity to the lowest possible level and eliminating uncertainties and ambiguities. The results obtained were determined throughout a sensitivity analysis consisting of a change in the weight of the criteria and the influence of dynamic matrices on the change in ranks. In addition, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (SCC) was calculated to confirm the stability of the previously obtained results.
GOBP1 Plays a Key Role in Sex Pheromones and Plant Volatiles Recognition in Yellow Peach Moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Jing Dapeng , Zhang Tiantao , Bai Shuxiong , Prabu Sivaprasath , He Kanglai , Dewer Youssef , Wang Zhenying
Published: September 2019

Insects recognize odorous compounds using sensory neurons organized in olfactory sensilla. The process odor detection in insects requires an ensemble of proteins, including odorant binding proteins, olfactory receptors, and odor degrading enzymes; each of them are encoded by multigene families. Most functional proteins seem to be broadly tuned, responding to multiple chemical compounds with different, but mostly quite similar structures. Based on the hypothesis that insects recognize host volatiles by means of general odorant binding proteins (GOBPs), the current study aimed to characterize GOBPs of the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée). In oviposition preference tests, it was found that the yellow peach moth preferred volatiles from Prunus persica (peach) in finding their host plant. Exposure of the moth to volatiles from peaches affected the expression level of GOBP genes. Binding affinity of GOBPs from yellow peach moth was assessed for 16 host plant volatiles and 2 sex pheromones. The fluorescence ligand-binding assays revealed highest affinities for hexadecanal, farnesol, and limonene with KD values of 0.55 ± 0.08, 0.35 ± 0.04, and 1.54 ± 0.39, respectively. The binding sites of GOBPs from yellow peach moth were predicted using homology modeling and characterized using molecular docking approaches. The results indicated the best binding affinity of both GOBP1 and GOBP2 for farnesol, with scores of −7.4 and −8.5 kcal/mol. Thus, GOBPs may play an important role in the process of finding host plants.
Ca2+ Signaling in Cardiac Fibroblasts and Fibrosis-Associated Heart Diseases
Authors: Feng Jianlin , Armillei Maria K. , Yu Albert S. , Liang Bruce T. , Runnels Loren W. , Yue Lixia
Published: September 2019

Cardiac fibrosis is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins by cardiac fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and is a hallmark feature of most heart diseases, including arrhythmia, hypertrophy, and heart failure. This maladaptive process occurs in response to a variety of stimuli, including myocardial injury, inflammation, and mechanical overload. There are multiple signaling pathways and various cell types that influence the fibrogenesis cascade. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are central effectors. Although it is clear that Ca2+ signaling plays a vital role in this pathological process, what contributes to Ca2+ signaling in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts is still not wholly understood, chiefly because of the large and diverse number of receptors, transporters, and ion channels that influence intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Intracellular Ca2+ signals are generated by Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores and by Ca2+ entry through a multitude of Ca2+-permeable ion channels in the plasma membrane. Over the past decade, the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as one of the most important families of ion channels mediating Ca2+ signaling in cardiac fibroblasts. TRP channels are a superfamily of non-voltage-gated, Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channels. Their ability to respond to various stimulating cues makes TRP channels effective sensors of the many different pathophysiological events that stimulate cardiac fibrogenesis. This review focuses on the mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling in fibroblast differentiation and fibrosis-associated heart diseases and will highlight recent advances in the understanding of the roles that TRP and other Ca2+-permeable channels play in cardiac fibrosis.
The Non-Fibrillar Side of Fibrosis: Contribution of the Basement Membrane, Proteoglycans, and Glycoproteins to Myocardial Fibrosis
Authors: Chute Michael , Aujla Preetinder , Jana Sayantan , Kassiri Zamaneh
Published: September 2019

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structural support and a microenvironmentfor soluble extracellular molecules. ECM is comprised of numerous proteins which can be broadly classified as fibrillar (collagen types I and III) and non-fibrillar (basement membrane, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins). The basement membrane provides an interface between the cardiomyocytes and the fibrillar ECM, while proteoglycans sequester soluble growth factors and cytokines. Myocardial fibrosis was originally only linked to accumulation of fibrillar collagens, but is now recognized as the expansion of the ECM including the non-fibrillar ECM proteins. Myocardial fibrosis can be reparative to replace the lost myocardium (e.g., ischemic injury or myocardial infarction), or can be reactive resulting from pathological activity of fibroblasts (e.g., dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Contribution of fibrillar collagens to fibrosis is well studied, but the role of the non-fibrillar ECM proteins has remained less explored. In this article, we provide an overview of the contribution of the non-fibrillar components of the extracellular space of the heart to highlight the potential significance of these molecules in fibrosis, with direct evidence for some, although not all of these molecules in their direct contribution to fibrosis.
BK Polyomavirus Virus Glomerular Tropism: Implications for Virus Reactivation from Latency and Amplification during Immunosuppression
Authors: Alcendor Donald J.
Published: September 2019

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), or BKV infection, is ubiquitous and usually non-pathogenic, with subclinical infections in 80–90% of adults worldwide. BKV infection is often associated with pathology in immunocompromised individuals. BKV infection often is associated with renal impairment, including ureteral stenosis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and nephropathy. BKV infection is less commonly associated with pneumonitis, retinitis, liver disease, and meningoencephalitis. BKV is known to replicate, establish latency, undergo reactivation, and induce clinical pathology in renal tubular epithelial cells. However, recent in vitro studies support the notion that BKV has expanded tropism-targeting glomerular parenchymal cells of the human kidney, which could impact glomerular function, enhance inflammation, and serve as viral reservoirs for reactivation from latency during immunosuppression. The implications of BKV expanded tropism in the glomerulus, and how specific host and viral factors that would contribute to glomerular inflammation, cytolysis, and renal fibrosis are related to BKV associated nephropathy (BKVAN), have not been explored. The pathogenesis of BKV in human glomerular parenchymal cells is poorly understood. In this review, I examine target cell populations for BKV infectivity in the human glomerulus. Specifically, I explore the implications of BKV expanded tropism in the glomerulus with regard viral entry, replication, and dissemination via cell types exposed to BKV trafficking in glomerulus. I also describe cellular targets shown to be permissive in vitro and in vivo for BKV infection and lytic replication, the potential role that glomerular parenchymal cells play in BKV latency and/or reactivation after immunosuppression, and the rare occurrence of BKV pathology in glomerular parenchymal cells in patients with BKVAN.
Blood-Based Treatments for Severe Dry Eye Disease: The Need of a Consensus
Authors: Bernabei Federico , Roda Matilde , Buzzi Marina , Pellegrini Marco , Giannaccare Giuseppe , Versura Piera
Published: September 2019

The use of blood-based eye drops as therapy for various diseases of the ocular surface has become increasingly popular in ophthalmic practice during recent years. The rationale for their use is based on the promotion of cellular proliferation and migration thanks to the supply of metabolically active substances, in particular growth factors. Blood-derived eye drops have been used for the treatment of several ocular surface disorders, such as dry eye disease, corneal ulcer, persistent epithelial defect, neurotrophic keratitis, ocular surface burn, recurrent corneal erosion, and limbal stem-cell deficiency. Both autologous (from patients themselves) and heterologous (from adult donors or from cord blood sampled at birth)-derived products exist, and each source has specific pros and cons. Despite an extensive literature, several issues are still under debate and the aim of this manuscript is to review the indications, preparation methods and storage, characterization of content, rationale for clinical outcomes, patient stratification, length of treatment, and rationale for repeated treatments at disease relapse. A rationale based on a “5 Ws and 2 Hs” protocol is proposed as a way of thinking, with the attempt to clarify Who, Why, When, Where, What, and How to use these treatment options.
Disseminated Well-Differentiated Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Tumors Are Associated with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Santos Ana P. , Castro Clara , Antunes Luís , Henrique Rui , Cardoso M. Helena , Monteiro Mariana P.
Published: September 2019

The association of well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (WD GEP-NETs) with metabolic syndrome (MetS), abdominal obesity, and fasting glucose abnormalities was recently described. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of MetS or any MetS individual component was also influenced by GEP-NET characteristics at diagnosis. A cohort of patients with WD GEP-NETs (n = 134), classified according to primary tumor location (gastrointestinal or pancreatic), pathological grading (G1 (Ki67 ≤ 2%) and G2 (>3 ≤ 20%) (WHO 2010), disease extension (localized, loco-regional, and metastatic), and presence of hormonal secretion syndrome (functioning/non-functioning), was evaluated for the presence of MetS criteria. After adjustment for age and gender, the odds of having MetS was significantly higher for patients with WD GEP-NET grade G1 (OR 4.35 95%CI 1.30–14.53) and disseminated disease (OR 4.52 95%CI 1.44–14.15). GEP-NET primary tumor location or secretory syndrome did not influence the risk for MetS. None of the tumor characteristics evaluated were associated with body mass index, fasting plasma glucose category, or any of the individual MetS components. Patients with GEP-NET and MetS depicted a higher risk of presenting a lower tumor grade and disseminated disease. The positive association between MetS and GEP-NET characteristics further highlights the potential link between the two conditions.
Autophagy and Inflammasome Activation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Caragnano Angela , Aleksova Aneta , Bulfoni Michela , Cervellin Celeste , Rolle Irene Giulia , Veneziano Claudia , Barchiesi Arianna , Mimmi Maria Chiara , Vascotto Carlo , Finato Nicoletta , Sponga Sandro , Livi Ugolino , Isola Miriam , Di Loreto Carla , Bussani Rossana , Sinagra Gianfranco , Cesselli Daniela , Beltrami Antonio Paolo
Published: September 2019

Background: The clinical outcome of patients affected by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is heterogeneous, since its pathophysiology is only partially understood. Interleukin 1β levels could predict the mortality and necessity of cardiac transplantation of DCM patients. Objective: To investigate mechanisms triggering sterile inflammation in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: Hearts explanted from 62 DCM patients were compared with 30 controls, employing immunohistochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, as well as metabolomics studies. Results: Although misfolded protein accumulation and aggresome formation characterize DCM hearts, aggresomes failed to trigger the autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP), with consequent accumulation of both p62SQSTM1 and dysfunctional mitochondria. In line, DCM hearts are characterized by accumulation of lipoperoxidation products and activation of both redox responsive pathways and inflammasome. Consistently with the fact that mTOR signaling may impair ALP, we observed, an increase in DCM activation, together with a reduction in the nuclear localization of Transcription Factor EB -TFEB- (a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis). These alterations were coupled with metabolomic alterations, including accumulation of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), known mTOR activators. Consistently, reduced levels of PP2Cm, a phosphatase that regulates the key catabolic step of BCAAs, coupled with increased levels of miR-22, a regulator of PP2Cm levels that triggers senescence, characterize DCM hearts. The same molecular defects were present in clinically relevant cells isolated from DCM hearts, but they could be reverted by downregulating miR-22. Conclusion: We identified, in human DCM, a complex series of events whose key players are miR-22, PP2Cm, BCAA, mTOR, and ALP, linking loss of proteostasis with inflammasome activation. These potential therapeutic targets deserve to be further investigated.
Motor Capacities in Boys with High Functioning Autism: Which Evaluations to Choose?
Authors: BRICOUT Véronique-Aurélie , PACE Marion , DUMORTIER Léa , MIGANEH Sahal , MAHISTRE Yohan , GUINOT Michel
Published: September 2019

The difficulties with motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has become a major focus of interest. Our objectives were to provide an overall profile of motor capacities in children with ASD compared to neurotypically developed children through specific tests, and to identify which motor tests best discriminate children with or without ASD. Twenty-two male children with ASD (ASD—10.7 ± 1.3 years) and twenty controls (CONT—10.0 ± 1.6 years) completed an evaluation with 42 motor tests from European Physical Fitness Test Battery (EUROFIT), the Physical and Neurological Exam for Subtle Signs (PANESS) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children ( M-ABC). However, it was challenging to design a single global classifier to integrate all these features for effective classification due to the issue of small sample size. To this end, we proposed a hierarchical ensemble classification method to combine multilevel classifiers by gradually integrating a large number of features from different motor assessments. In the ASD group, flexibility, explosive power and strength scores (p < 0.01) were significantly lower compared to the control group. Our results also showed significant difficulties in children with ASD for dexterity and ball skills (p < 0.001). The principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis allowed for the classification of children based on motor tests, correctly distinguishing clusters between children with and without motor impairments.
Advances in Precision Health and Emerging Diagnostics for Women
Authors: Fitzpatrick Megan B. , Thakor Avnesh S.
Published: September 2019

During the Dutch winter famine of 1944–1945, an interesting observation was made about the offspring born during this time—They had an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases. Subsequent research has confirmed this finding as well as noting that health outcomes for many diseases are different, and often worse, for women. These findings, combined with the lack of enrollment of women in clinical trials and/or analysis of sex-specific differences are important factors which need to be addressed. In fact, Women’s health research and sex differences have historically been overlooked or lumped together and assumed equivalent to those of men. Hence, a focus on women’s health and disease prevention is critical to improve the lives of women in the 21st Century. In this review, we point out the critical differences biologically and socially that present both challenges and opportunities for development of novel platforms for precision health. The technologic and scientific advances specific to women’s precision health have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing for all females across the world.
NT5E/CD73 as Correlative Factor of Patient Survival and Natural Killer Cell Infiltration in Glioblastoma
Authors: Wang Jiao , Matosevic Sandro
Published: September 2019

CD73, a cell-surface protein encoded by the gene NT5E, is overexpressed in glioblastoma (GBM), where it contributes to the tumor’s pathophysiology via the generation of immunosuppressive adenosine. Adenosinergic signaling, in turn, drives immunosuppression of natural killer (NK) cells through metabolic and functional reprogramming. The correlation of CD73 with patient survival in relation to GBM pathology and the intratumoral infiltration of NK cells has not been comprehensively studied before. Here, we present an analysis of the prognostic relevance of CD73 in GBM based on transcriptional gene expression from patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Utilizing bioinformatics data mining tools, we explore the relationship between GBM prognosis, NT5E expression, and intratumoral presence of NK cells. Our analysis demonstrates that CD73 is a negative prognostic factor for GBM and that presence of NK cells may associate with improved prognosis. Moreover, the interplay between expression of NT5E and specific NK genes hints to potential functional effects of CD73 on NK cell activation.
Adenoidal Disease and Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children—Is There a Link?
Authors: Bulfamante Antonio Mario , Saibene Alberto Maria , Felisati Giovanni , Rosso Cecilia , Pipolo Carlotta
Published: September 2019

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is an extremely common condition in the pediatric and adolescent populations that can lead to various medical conditions, including acute rhinosusitis, with a percentage of these progressing to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The relationship between AH and pediatric CRS has been extensively studied over the past few years and clinical consensus on the treatment has now been reached, allowing this treatment to become the preferred clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to review existing literature and data on the relationship between AH and CRS and the options for treatment. A systematic literature review was performed using a search line for “(Adenoiditis or Adenoid Hypertrophy) and Sinusitis and (Pediatric or Children)”. At the end of the evaluation, 36 complete texts were analyzed, 17 of which were considered eligible for the final study, dating from 1997 to 2018. The total population of children assessed in the various studies was of 2371. The studies were categorized as surgical-observational, microbiological, genetic-immunological, and radiological. The analysis of the studies confirms the relationship between AH and CRS and supports the existing consensus on medical and surgical therapy. Furthermore, these studies underline the necessity to adapt medical and surgical treatment considering age, comorbidities including asthma and, if present, the Computed Tomography (CT) score.
Life Cycle Assessment of Ocean Energy Technologies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Paredes María , Padilla-Rivera Alejandro , Güereca Leonor
Published: September 2019

The increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) generated by the burning of fossil fuels has been recognized as one of the main causes of climate change (CC). Different countries of the world have developed new policies on national energy security directed to the use of renewable energies mainly, ocean energy being one of them. The implementation of ocean energy is increasing worldwide. However, the use of these technologies is not exempt from the generation of potential environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. In this context, life cycle assessment (LCA) is a holistic approach used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or system throughout its entire life cycle. LCA studies need to be conducted to foster the development of ocean energy technologies (OET) in sustainable management. In this paper, a systematic review was conducted and 18 LCA studies of OET were analyzed. Most of the LCA studies are focused on wave and tidal energy. CC is the most relevant impact category evaluated, which is generated mostly by raw material extraction, manufacturing stage and shipping operations. Finally, the critical stages of the systems evaluated were identified, together with, the opportunity areas to promote an environmental management for ocean energy developers.
The Flow Noise Calculation for an Axisymmetric Body in a Complex Underwater Environment
Authors: Huang Chunlong , Yang Kunde , Li Hui , Zhang Yukun
Published: September 2019

The flow noise of a sonar platform is one of the main background interferences for sonar applications. This paper focuses on the flow noise of an axisymmetric body in a complex oceanic environment. Under the condition of a constant stream velocity which comes from the axial direction, an analytical method for computing the flow noise power spectrum in the transition region of the axisymmetric body is given in detail. The flow noise power spectrum computed by the analytical method is in agreement with the numerical simulation result. Then the flow noise physical features of the axisymmetric body in different incoming stream directions and velocity states caused by the complex oceanic environment are computed and analyzed by the numerical method. The results show that as the incoming stream direction changes, the transition region will migrate and the flow noise radiation direction of the axisymmetric body will also rotate at an angle which equals the stream direction variation. The flow noise energy generated by other directional incoming streams is slightly larger than that generated by the stream coming from an axial direction. When the incoming stream velocity is time-varying, the vorticity change on the axisymmetric body surface is obviously stronger than that under a constant stream, and the generated flow noise energy is also significantly larger. In addition, it indicates that there is a significant correlation between the intensity of flow noise energy and the magnitude of flow velocity.
Frequency Domain Response of Jacket Platforms under Random Wave Loads
Authors: Han Xiaoshuang , Qiao Weiliang , Zhou Bo
Published: September 2019

This article presents a procedure that simplifies an offshore jacket platform as a non-uniform cantilever beam subjected to an axial force. A Ritz method combined with a pseudo-excitation method is then used to analyze the responses of the jacket platform under random wave loads with the associated power spectral densities, variances and higher spectral moments. The theoretical basis and pertinent governing equations are derived. The proposed procedure not only eases the process of determining the pseudo wave loads, but also requires only the rudimentary structural details that are typically available at the preliminary design stage. Additionally, the merit of the proposed procedure is that the process does not require one to compute the normal modes, which saves time and is particularly convenient for the dynamic-response analysis of a complex structure (such as an offshore platform). An illustrative example based on a three-deck jacket platform is presented to demonstrate the procedure used to obtain the power spectral densities, variances and second spectral moments of jacket-top displacement and the bending moment of the jacket at the mud line. The results obtained are compared with those obtained using a Finite Element Mothed (FEM) model. Based on the findings of the study and good agreement shown in the comparison of results, it is concluded that the proposed method is effective, simple and convenient, and can be a useful tool for the preliminary design analysis of offshore platforms.
The DeepWater Horizon Oil Slick: Simulations of River Front Effects and Oil Droplet Size Distribution
Authors: Hole Lars Robert , Dagestad Knut-Frode , Röhrs Johannes , Wettre Cecilie , Kourafalou Vassiliki H. , Androulidakis Yannis , Kang Heesook , Le Hénaff Matthieu , Garcia-Pineda Oscar
Published: September 2019

The effect of river fronts on oil slick transport has been shown using high resolution forcing models and a fully fledged oil drift model, OpenOil. The model was used to simulate two periods of the 2010 DeepWater Horizon oil spill. Metocean forcing data were taken from the data-assimilative GoM-HYCOM 1/50° ocean model with realistic daily river input and global forecast products of wind and wave parameters from ECMWF. The simulations were initialized from satellite observations of the surface oil patch. The effect of using a newly developed parameterization for oil droplet size distribution was studied and compared to a traditional algorithm. Although the algorithms provide different distributions for a single wave breaking event, it was found that the net difference after long simulations is negligible, indicating that the outcome is robust regarding the choice of parameterization. The effect of removing the river outflow was investigated to showcase effects of river induced fronts on oil spreading. A consistent effect on the amount and location of stranded oil and a considerable impact on the location of the surface oil patch were found. During a period with large river outflow (20–27 May 2010), the total amount of stranded oil is reduced by about 50% in the simulation with no river input. The results compare well with satellite observations of the surface oil patch after simulating the surface oil patch drift for 7–8 days.
Diagnostic Performance of a Novel Multiplex PCR Assay for Candidemia among ICU Patients
Authors: Fuchs Stefan , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Posch Wilfried
Published: September 2019

Candidemia poses a major threat to ICU patients and is routinely diagnosed by blood culture, which is known for its low sensitivity and long turnaround times. We compared the performance of a novel, Candida-specific multiplex real-time PCR assay (Fungiplex® Candida IVD Real-Time PCR Kit) with blood culture and another established diagnostic real-time PCR assay (LightCycler SeptiFast Test) with respect to Candida detection from whole blood samples. Clinical samples from 58 patients were analyzed by standard blood culture (BC) and simultaneously tested with the Fungiplex Candida PCR (FP) and the SeptiFast test (SF) for molecular detection of Candida spp. Compared to BC, the FP test showed high diagnostic power, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.1%. Overall diagnostic accuracy reached 94.6%. Using SF, we found a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 96.1%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.9%. The Fungiplex Candida PCR has shown good sensitivity and specificity on clinical samples of high-risk patients for direct detection of Candida species in whole blood samples. Together with conventional diagnostics (BC and antigen testing), this new multiplex PCR assay may contribute to a rapid and accurate diagnosis of candidiasis.
Theoretical Analysis of Interference Cancellation System Utilizing an Orthogonal Matched Filter and Adaptive Array Antenna for MANET
Authors: Harada Shuhei , Takabayashi Kento , Kobayashi Takumi , Sakakibara Katsumi , Kohno Ryuji
Published: September 2019

This study provides a mathematical model and theoretical analysis of an interference cancellation system combining an orthogonal matched filter (OMF) and adaptive array antenna that is called the extended OMF (EOMF). In recent years, an increase in the number of applications of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) is expected. To realize a highly reliable MANET, it is essential to introduce a method for cancelling the interference from other nodes. This research focuses on a scheme based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) that enables simultaneous multiple access and low latency communication. However, there are problems with deteriorating performance due to the near–far problem and the increase in the amount of interference as the number of users increases. Additionally, another problem is that the spreading sequence of each user is unknown in a MANET. The OMF is expected to be a solution to these problems. The OMF performs interference cancellation by generating and subtracting a replica of the interference signal that is contained in the received signal. However, the OMF may generate an incorrect replica in the near–far problem. The EOMF compensates for the OMF’s weakness by combining the OMF with an adaptive array antenna. In this research, optimal parameters are derived from mathematical modelling and theoretical analysis of the EOMF. Specifically, the optimal weight vector and the minimum mean squared error that allow the adaptive algorithm to converge are derived and obtained from the numerical results.
Erratum: From Hispanisms to Anglicisms: Examining the Perception and Treatment of Native Linguistic Features Associated with Interference in Translator Training. Languages 4 (2019): 42
Authors:   Languages Editorial Office
Published: September 2019

The Editorial Office of Languages wants to make the following corrections to the paper (Echeverría and González-Fernández 2019)[...]
Properties Comparison of Ti-Al-Si Alloys Produced by Various Metallurgy Methods
Authors: Knaislová Anna , Novák Pavel , Kopeček Jaromír , Průša Filip
Published: September 2019

Melting metallurgy is still the most frequently used and simplest method for the processing of metallic materials. Some of the materials (especially intermetallics) are very difficult to prepare by this method due to the high melting points, poor fluidity, or formation of cracks and pores after casting. This article describes the processing of Ti-Al-Si alloys by arc melting, and shows the microstructure, phase composition, hardness, fracture toughness, and compression tests of these alloys. These results are compared with the same alloys prepared by powder metallurgy by the means of a combination of mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. Ti-Al-Si alloys processed by melting metallurgy are characterized by a very coarse structure with central porosity. The phase composition is formed by titanium aluminides and titanium silicides, which are full of cracks. Ti-Al-Si alloys processed by the powder metallurgy route have a relatively homogeneous fine-grained structure with higher hardness. However, these alloys are very brittle. On the other hand, the fracture toughness of arc-melted samples is immeasurable using Palmqvist’s method because the crack is stopped by a large area of titanium aluminide matrix.
Bending Load-Carrying Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Beams Subjected to Premature Failure
Authors: Foraboschi Paolo
Published: September 2019

This paper investigates the ultimate flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams when affected by premature failure due to a rotational capacity of the first plastic hinge being consumed before the last plastic hinges reach their maximum possible moment. The paper provides a simple formula for predicting the ultimate load of a hyperstatically supported beam, taking into account the available ductility. The proposed formula is the result of calibration against the ultimate loads from a non-linear analysis on a variety of beams, with a wide spectrum of configurations and with concrete grades from 10.0 to 60.0 N/mm2. The formula in based on the plastic hinge model, making it easy to apply, and the ultimate bending moments allow for the actual rotational capacity, making predictions accurate.
Time-Consistent Investment-Reinsurance Strategies for the Insurer and the Reinsurer under the Generalized Mean-Variance Criteria
Authors: Xiao Helu , Ren Tiantian , Bai Yanfei , Zhou Zhongbao
Published: September 2019

Most of the existing literature on optimal investment-reinsurance only studies from the perspective of insurers and also treats the investment-reinsurance decision as a continuous process. However, in practice, the benefits of reinsurers cannot be ignored, nor can decision-makers engage in continuous trading. Under the discrete-time framework, we first propose a multi-period investment-reinsurance optimization problem considering the joint interests of the insurer and the reinsurer, among which their performance is measured by two generalized mean-variance criteria. We derive the time-consistent investment-reinsurance strategies for the proposed model by maximizing the weighted sum of the insurer’s and the reinsurer’s mean-variance objectives. We discuss the time-consistent investment-reinsurance strategies under two special premium principles. Finally, we provide some numerical simulations to show the impact of the intertemporal restrictions on the time-consistent investment-reinsurance strategies. These results indicate that the intertemporal restrictions will urge the insurer and the reinsurer to shrink the position invested in the risky asset; however, for the time-consistent reinsurance strategy, the impact of the intertemporal restrictions depends on who is the leader in the proposed model.
Inertial-Like Subgradient Extragradient Methods for Variational Inequalities and Fixed Points of Asymptotically Nonexpansive and Strictly Pseudocontractive Mappings
Authors: Ceng Lu-Chuan , Petruşel Adrian , Wen Ching-Feng , Yao Jen-Chih
Published: September 2019

Let VIP indicate the variational inequality problem with Lipschitzian and pseudomonotone operator and let CFPP denote the common fixed-point problem of an asymptotically nonexpansive mapping and a strictly pseudocontractive mapping in a real Hilbert space. Our object in this article is to establish strong convergence results for solving the VIP and CFPP by utilizing an inertial-like gradient-like extragradient method with line-search process. Via suitable assumptions, it is shown that the sequences generated by such a method converge strongly to a common solution of the VIP and CFPP, which also solves a hierarchical variational inequality (HVI).
Introduction to Dependence Relations and Their Links to Algebraic Hyperstructures
Authors: Cristea Irina , Kocijan Juš , Novák Michal
Published: September 2019

The aim of this paper is to study, from an algebraic point of view, the properties of interdependencies between sets of elements (i.e., pieces of secrets, atmospheric variables, etc.) that appear in various natural models, by using the algebraic hyperstructure theory. Starting from specific examples, we first define the relation of dependence and study its properties, and then, we construct various hyperoperations based on this relation. We prove that two of the associated hypergroupoids are H v -groups, while the other two are, in some particular cases, only partial hypergroupoids. Besides, the extensivity and idempotence property are studied and related to the cyclicity. The second goal of our paper is to provide a new interpretation of the dependence relation by using elements of the theory of algebraic hyperstructures.
Geometric Modeling and 3D Printing Using Recursively Generated Point Cloud
Authors: Tashi  , Ullah AMM Sharif , Kubo Akihiko
Published: September 2019

Previous studies have reported that a recursive process called the point cloud creation algorithm (PCA) that generates a point cloud is useful for reverse engineering a planner shape. This study elucidates the characteristics of the parameters used in the recursive process as well as its ability in geometric modeling and 3D printing of 3D shapes. In the recursive process, three constants (center point, initial distance, and initial angle) and two variables (instantaneous distance and instantaneous rotational angle) are employed. The shape-modeling characteristics of the constants and variables are elucidated using some commonly used shapes (straight-line, circle, ellipses, spiral, astroid, S-shape, and leaf-shape). In addition, the shape-modeling capability of the recursive process as a whole is quantified using two parameters called the radius of curvature and aesthetic value. Moreover, an illustrative example that shows the efficacy of the recursive process in virtual and physical prototyping of a relatively complex 3D object is presented. The results show that reverse engineering performed by the recursive-process-created point cloud is free from computational complexity compared to reverse engineering performed by the 3D-scanner-created point cloud. As such, the outcomes of this study enrich the field of reverse engineering.
Magnificamide, a β-Defensin-Like Peptide from the Mucus of the Sea Anemone Heteractis magnifica, Is a Strong Inhibitor of Mammalian α-Amylases
Authors: Sintsova Oksana , Gladkikh Irina , Kalinovskii Aleksandr , Zelepuga Elena , Monastyrnaya Margarita , Kim Natalia , Shevchenko Lyudmila , Peigneur Steve , Tytgat Jan , Kozlovskaya Emma , Leychenko Elena
Published: September 2019

Sea anemones’ venom is rich in peptides acting on different biological targets, mainly on cytoplasmic membranes and ion channels. These animals are also a source of pancreatic α-amylase inhibitors, which have the ability to control the glucose level in the blood and can be used for the treatment of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently we have isolated and characterized magnificamide (44 aa, 4770 Da), the major α-amylase inhibitor of the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica mucus, which shares 84% sequence identity with helianthamide from Stichodactyla helianthus. Herein, we report some features in the action of a recombinant analog of magnificamide. The recombinant peptide inhibits porcine pancreatic and human saliva α-amylases with Ki’s equal to 0.17 ± 0.06 nM and 7.7 ± 1.5 nM, respectively, and does not show antimicrobial or channel modulating activities. We have concluded that the main function of magnificamide is the inhibition of α-amylases; therefore, its functionally active recombinant analog is a promising agent for further studies as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of the type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The Characterization and Modification of a Novel Bifunctional and Robust Alginate Lyase Derived from Marinimicrobium sp. H1
Authors: Yan Junjun , Chen Peng , Zeng Yan , Men Yan , Mu Shicheng , Zhu Yueming , Chen Yefu , Sun Yuanxia
Published: September 2019

Alginase lyase is an important enzyme for the preparation of alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), that possess special biological activities and is widely used in various fields, such as medicine, food, and chemical industry. In this study, a novel bifunctional alginate lyase (AlgH) belonging to the PL7 family was screened and characterized. The AlgH exhibited the highest activity at 45 °C and pH 10.0, and was an alkaline enzyme that was stable at pH 6.0–10.0. The enzyme showed no significant dependence on metal ions, and exhibited unchanged activity at high concentration of NaCl. To determine the function of non-catalytic domains in the multi-domain enzyme, the recombinant AlgH-I containing only the catalysis domain and AlgH-II containing the catalysis domain and the carbohydrate binding module (CBM) domain were constructed and characterized. The results showed that the activity and thermostability of the reconstructed enzymes were significantly improved by deletion of the F5/8 type C domain. On the other hand, the substrate specificity and the mode of action of the reconstructed enzymes showed no change. Alginate could be completely degraded by the full-length and modified enzymes, and the main end-products were alginate disaccharide, trisaccharide, and tetrasaccharide. Due to the thermo and pH-stability, salt-tolerance, and bifunctionality, the modified alginate lyase was a robust enzyme which could be applied in industrial production of AOS.
Astaxanthin Modulation of Signaling Pathways That Regulate Autophagy
Authors: Kim Suhn Hyung , Kim Hyeyoung
Published: September 2019

Autophagy is a lysosomal pathway that degrades and recycles unused or dysfunctional cell components as well as toxic cytosolic materials. Basal autophagy favors cell survival. However, the aberrant regulation of autophagy can promote pathological conditions. The autophagy pathway is regulated by several cell-stress and cell-survival signaling pathways that can be targeted for the purpose of disease control. In experimental models of disease, the carotenoid astaxanthin has been shown to modulate autophagy by regulating signaling pathways, including the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), cellular homolog of murine thymoma virus akt8 oncogene (Akt), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. Astaxanthin is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases by regulating autophagy.