bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multigene Panel Testing Increases the Number of Loci Associated with Gastric Cancer Predisposition
Authors: Tedaldi Gianluca , Pirini Francesca , Tebaldi Michela , Zampiga Valentina , Cangini Ilaria , Danesi Rita , Arcangeli Valentina , Ravegnani Mila , Abou Khouzam Raefa , Molinari Chiara , Oliveira Carla , Morgagni Paolo , Saragoni Luca , Bencivenga Maria , Ulivi Paola , Amadori Dino , Martinelli Giovanni , Falcini Fabio , Ranzani Guglielmina Nadia , Calistri Daniele
Published: September 2019

The main gene involved in gastric cancer (GC) predisposition is CDH1, the pathogenic variants of which are associated with diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) and lobular breast cancer (LBC). CDH1 only explains a fraction (10–50%) of patients suspected of DGC/LBC genetic predisposition. To identify novel susceptibility genes, thus improving the management of families at risk, we performed a multigene panel testing on selected patients. We searched for germline pathogenic variants in 94 cancer-related genes in 96 GC or LBC Italian patients with early-onset and/or family history of GC. We found CDH1 pathogenic variants in 10.4% of patients. In 11.5% of cases, we identified loss-of-function variants in BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and ATM breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility genes, as well as in MSH2, PMS2, BMPR1A, PRF1, and BLM genes. In 78.1% of patients, we did not find any variants with clear-cut clinical significance; however, 37.3% of these cases harbored rare missense variants predicted to be damaging by bioinformatics tools. Multigene panel testing decreased the number of patients that would have otherwise remained genetically unexplained. Besides CDH1, our results demonstrated that GC pathogenic variants are distributed across a number of susceptibility genes and reinforced the emerging link between gastric and breast cancer predisposition.
Anti-Tumor Potential of IMP Dehydrogenase Inhibitors: A Century-Long Story
Authors: Naffouje Rand , Grover Punita , Yu Hongyang , Sendilnathan Arun , Wolfe Kara , Majd Nazanin , Smith Eric P. , Takeuchi Koh , Senda Toshiya , Kofuji Satoshi , Sasaki Atsuo T.
Published: September 2019

The purine nucleotides ATP and GTP are essential precursors to DNA and RNA synthesis and fundamental for energy metabolism. Although de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis is increased in highly proliferating cells, such as malignant tumors, it is not clear if this is merely a secondary manifestation of increased cell proliferation. Suggestive of a direct causative effect includes evidence that, in some cancer types, the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo GTP biosynthesis, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), is upregulated and that the IMPDH inhibitor, mycophenolic acid (MPA), possesses anti-tumor activity. However, historically, enthusiasm for employing IMPDH inhibitors in cancer treatment has been mitigated by their adverse effects at high treatment doses and variable response. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanistic role of IMPDH in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, as well as the development of IMPDH inhibitors with selective actions on GTP synthesis, have prompted a reappraisal of targeting this enzyme for anti-cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the history of IMPDH inhibitors, the development of new inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs, and future directions and strategies to overcome existing challenges.
New Evidence of the Enhanced Elimination of a Persistent Drug Used as a Lipid Absorption Inhibitor by Advanced Oxidation with UV-A and Nanosized Catalysts
Authors: Vrinceanu Narcisa , Hlihor Raluca Maria , Simion Andrei Ionut , Rusu Lacramioara , Fekete-Kertész Ildikó , Barka Noureddine , Favier Lidia
Published: September 2019

This work demonstrates new evidence of the efficient destruction and mineralization of an emergent organic pollutant using UV-A and titanium nanosized catalysts. The target compound considered in this work is the primary metabolite of a lipid regulator drug, clofibrate, identified in many studies as refractory during conventional wastewater treatment. The photocatalytic performance study was carried out in batch mode at laboratory scale, in aqueous suspension. Kinetic data showed that titanium dioxide P25 Aeroxide® exhibits the highest photocatalytic efficiency compared to the other investigated catalysts. Pollutant degradation and mineralization efficiencies strongly increased when decreasing the initial substrate concentration. Target molecules oxidized faster when the catalyst load increased, and the mineralization was enhanced under acidic conditions: 92% of mineralization was achieved at pH 4 after 190 min of reaction. Radical quenching assays confirmed that HO• and (

h

vb

+

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were the reactive oxygen species involved in the photocatalytic oxidation of the considered pollutant. In addition, further results revealed that the removal efficiency decreased in real water matrices. Finally, data collected through a series of phytotoxicity tests demonstrated that the photocatalytic process considerably reduces the toxicity of the treated solutions, confirming the process’s effectiveness in the removal of persistent and biorefractory emergent organic water pollutants.
Bimetallic Iron–Cobalt Catalysts and Their Applications in Energy-Related Electrochemical Reactions
Authors: Li Kai , Li Yang , Peng Wenchao , Zhang Guoliang , Zhang Fengbao , Fan Xiaobin
Published: September 2019

Since the persistently increasing trend of energy consumption, technologies for renewable energy production and conversion have drawn great attention worldwide. The performance and the cost of electrocatalysts play two crucial roles in the globalization of advanced energy conversion devices. Among the developed technics involving metal catalysts, transition-metal catalysts (TMC) are recognized as the most promising materials due to the excellent properties and stability. Particularly, the iron–cobalt bimetal catalysts exhibit exciting electrochemical properties because of the interior cooperative effects. Herein, we summarize recent advances in iron–cobalt bimetal catalysts for electrochemical applications, especially hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Moreover, the components and synergetic effects of the composites and catalytic mechanism during reaction processes are highlighted. On the basis of extant catalysts and mechanism, the current issues and prospective outlook of the field are also discussed.
Enzyme-Mediated Stereoselective Synthesis
Authors: Serra Stefano
Published: September 2019

All of us know very well the importance of the catalysis in organic synthesis [...]
Novel Composite Electrode of the Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets with Gold Nanoparticles Modified by Glucose Oxidase for Electrochemical Reactions
Authors: Dong Li , Yu Wenjuan , Liu Minmin , Liu Yang , Shao Qinsi , Li Aijun , Yan Wei , Zhang Jiujun
Published: September 2019

Graphene-based composites have been widely explored for electrode and electrocatalyst materials for electrochemical energy systems. In this paper, a novel composite material of the reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGON) with gold nanoparticles (NPs) (rGON-AuNP) is synthesized, and its morphology, structure, and composition are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR), Raman, and UV-Vis techniques. To confirm this material’s electrochemical activity, a glucose oxidase (GOD) is chosen as the target reagent to modify the rGON-AuNP layer to form GOD/rGON-AuNP/glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Two pairs of distinguishable redox peaks, corresponding to the redox processes of two different conformational GOD on AuNP, are observed on the cyclic voltammograms of GOD/rGON-AuNP/GC electrode. Both cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to study the mechanism of direct electron transfer from GOD to GC electrode on the rGON-AuNP layer. In addition, this GOD/rGON-AuNP/GC electrode shows catalytic activity toward glucose oxidation reaction.
The Rac3 GTPase in Neuronal Development, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Cancer
Authors: de Curtis Ivan
Published: September 2019

Rho family small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) are important regulators of the cytoskeleton, and are critical in many aspects of cellular and developmental biology, as well as in pathological processes such as intellectual disability and cancer. Of the three members of the family, Rac3 has a more restricted expression in normal tissues compared to the ubiquitous member of the family, Rac1. The Rac3 polypeptide is highly similar to Rac1, and orthologues of the gene for Rac3 have been found only in vertebrates, indicating the late appearance of this gene during evolution. Increasing evidence over the past few years indicates that Rac3 plays an important role in neuronal development and in tumor progression, with specificities that distinguish the functions of Rac3 from the established functions of Rac1 in these processes. Here, results highlighting the importance of Rac3 in distinct aspects of neuronal development and tumor cell biology are presented, in support of the non-redundant role of different members of the two Rac GTPases in physiological and pathological processes.
Total DNA Methylation Changes Reflect Random Oxidative DNA Damage in Gliomas
Authors: Barciszewska Anna-Maria , Giel-Pietraszuk Małgorzata , Perrigue Patrick M. , Naskręt-Barciszewska Mirosława
Published: September 2019

DNA modifications can be used to monitor pathological processes. We have previously shown that estimating the amount of the main DNA epigenetic mark, 5-methylcytosine (m5C), is an efficient and reliable way to diagnose brain tumors, hypertension, and other diseases. Abnormal increases of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a driving factor for mutations that lead to changes in m5C levels and cancer evolution. 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is a specific marker of ROS-driven DNA-damage, and its accumulation makes m5C a hotspot for mutations. It is unknown how m5C and 8-oxo-dG correlate with the malignancy of gliomas. We analyzed the total contents of m5C and 8-oxo-dG in DNA from tumor tissue and peripheral blood samples from brain glioma patients. We found an opposite relationship in the amounts of m5C and 8-oxo-dG, which correlated with glioma grade in the way that low level of m5C and high level of 8-oxo-dG indicated increased glioma malignancy grade. Our results could be directly applied to patient monitoring and treatment protocols for gliomas, as well as bolster previous findings, suggesting that spontaneously generated ROS react with m5C. Because of the similar mechanisms of m5C and guanosine oxidation, we concluded that 8-oxo-dG could also predict glioma malignancy grade and global DNA demethylation in cancer cells.
Potential Therapies Using Myogenic Stem Cells Combined with Bio-Engineering Approaches for Treatment of Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Motohashi Norio , Shimizu-Motohashi Yuko , Roberts Thomas C. , Aoki Yoshitsugu
Published: September 2019

Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a group of heterogeneous genetic disorders caused by mutations in the genes encoding the structural components of myofibres. The current state-of-the-art treatment is oligonucleotide-based gene therapy that restores disease-related protein. However, this therapeutic approach has limited efficacy and is unlikely to be curative. While the number of studies focused on cell transplantation therapy has increased in the recent years, this approach remains challenging due to multiple issues related to the efficacy of engrafted cells, source of myogenic cells, and systemic injections. Technical innovation has contributed to overcoming cell source challenges, and in recent studies, a combination of muscle resident stem cells and gene editing has shown promise as a novel approach. Furthermore, improvement of the muscular environment both in cultured donor cells and in recipient MD muscles may potentially facilitate cell engraftment. Artificial skeletal muscle generated by myogenic cells and muscle resident cells is an alternate approach that may enable the replacement of damaged tissues. Here, we review the current status of myogenic stem cell transplantation therapy, describe recent advances, and discuss the remaining obstacles that exist in the search for a cure for MD patients.
Spatial Process of Surface Urban Heat Island in Rapidly Growing Seoul Metropolitan Area for Sustainable Urban Planning Using Landsat Data (1996–2017)
Authors: Priyankara Prabath , Ranagalage Manjula , Dissanayake DMSLB , Morimoto Takehiro , Murayama Yuji
Published: September 2019

The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is an important research topic in the scholarly community. There are only few research studies related to the UHI in the Seoul metropolitan area (SMA). Therefore, this study examined the impact of urbanization on the formation of UHI in the SMA as a geospatial study by using Landsat data from 1996, 2006, and 2017. For this purpose, we analyzed the relative variation of land surface temperature (LST) with changes of land use/land cover (LULC) rather than absolute values of LST using gradient, intensity, and directional analyses. It was observed that the impervious surface (IS) has expanded, and the UHI effect was more penetrating in the study area, with considerable loss of other LULC including green surfaces along with the rapid urbanization of the study area. In this study, we divided the IS into persistent IS (PIS) and newly added IS (NAIS). The spatial distribution of the IS, forest surface (FS), PIS, and NAIS was observed based on gradient zones (GZs). The results show that GZ1 recorded a difference of 6.0 °C when compared with the GZ109 in 2017. The results also show that the city center was warmer than the surrounding areas during the period of study. Results reveal that the mean LST has a strong significant positive relationship with a fraction of IS and PIS in 2006 and 2017. On other hand, the mean LST has a strong negative relationship with a fraction of FS and NAIS in the same time points. Relatively low temperatures were recorded in FS and NAIS in both time points. Further, it was proved that the local climate of the SMA and its surroundings had been affected by the UHI effect. Therefore, urban planners of the SMA should seriously consider the issue and plan to mitigate the effect by improving the green surfaces of the city. More greening-oriented concepts are recommended in both horizontal and vertical directions of the SMA, that can be used to control the negative impact associated with UHI. The overall outputs of the study could be used as a proxy indicator for the sustainability of the SMA and its surroundings.
Process-Aware Enactment of Clinical Guidelines through Multimodal Interfaces
Authors: Catarci Tiziana , Leotta Francesco , Marrella Andrea , Mecella Massimo , Sharf Mahmoud
Published: September 2019

Healthcare is one of the largest business segments in the world and is a critical area for future growth. In order to ensure efficient access to medical and patient-related information, hospitals have invested heavily in improving clinical mobile technologies and spreading their use among doctors towards a more efficient and personalized delivery of care procedures. However, there are also indications that their use may have a negative impact on patient-centeredness and often places many cognitive and physical demands on doctors, making them prone to make medical errors. To tackle this issue, in this paper, we present the main outcomes of the project TESTMED, which aimed at realizing a clinical system that provides operational support to doctors using mobile technologies for delivering care to patients, in a bid to minimize medical errors. The system exploits concepts from Business Process Management (BPM) on how to manage a specific class of care procedures, called clinical guidelines, and how to support their execution and mobile orchestration among doctors. To allow a non-invasive interaction of doctors with the system, we leverage the use of touch and vocal user interfaces. A robust user evaluation performed in a real clinical case study shows the usability and effectiveness of the system.
Impact of Dispersion of Nanoscale Particles on the Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Singh Shri
Published: September 2019

This work reviews the recent progress made in last decade in understanding the role of dispersion of nanoparticles and quantum dots into host nematic liquid crystals. There are two important ingredients of this work: Even a minute concentration of these non-mesogenic materials in host matrix can have reflective impact on the dielectric, electro-optical, and spectroscopic properties of host nematics and the nematic-nanoparticles composite systems become suitable for the use in nematic based display and other devices.
Nanodefects in YAG:Ce-Based Phosphor Microcrystals
Authors: Lisitsyn Victor , Lisitsyna Ludmila , Tulegenova Aida , Ju Yangyang , Polisadova Elena , Lipatov Evgeniy , Vaganov Vitaliy
Published: September 2019

The present paper focused on the study of spectral–kinetic characteristics of luminescence in two batches of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG):Ce-based phosphors synthesized in different years by two manufacturers: NPO “Platan” in Russia and “GrandLux” in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Upon studying the structural characteristics of the phosphors—elemental composition, morphology, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns—it was concluded that both types of YAG:Ce phosphors are highly imperfect. The presence of heterogeneities of different nature was accompanied by the introduction—to compensate for charges and elastic stresses—of intrinsic lattice defects during synthesis. There is a high probability of creating complex defects during phosphor synthesis. Luminescence properties (full width at half maximum (FWHM), spectral position of the emission peaks, excitation spectra of emission, emission decay time) are affected by the nearest environment of the luminescence center; whereas the degree of correlation of defects (distance between the components of the donor–acceptor pair) does not depend on the concentration of impurities, intrinsic defects, and their ratio. The results do not fit into the framework of existing ideas regarding the processes in phosphors as systems with widely distributed luminescence centers. The patterns obtained in the paper are discussed based on a hypothesis according to which a nanodefect phosphorus crystal phase is formed during the synthesis.
An Introduction to the Non-Equilibrium Steady States of Maximum Entropy Spike Trains
Authors: Cofré Rodrigo , Videla Leonardo , Rosas Fernando
Published: September 2019

Although most biological processes are characterized by a strong temporal asymmetry, several popular mathematical models neglect this issue. Maximum entropy methods provide a principled way of addressing time irreversibility, which leverages powerful results and ideas from the literature of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of these issues, with a focus in the case of spike train statistics. We provide a detailed account of the mathematical foundations and work out examples to illustrate the key concepts and results from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.
Exploring the Relationship between Law Students’ Prior Performance and Academic Achievement at University
Authors: Kleemola Katri , Hyytinen Heidi
Published: September 2019

As Finnish university admissions are reformed, more information is needed on the relationship between performance in prior education and later academic achievement. Transition to university is a critical period, and low performance in prior education is associated with challenges in later study. In the present study, law students’ (n = 426) performance in the National Matriculation Examination was investigated in relation to later academic achievement at university. Quantitative methods were used. Findings showed that prior performance was not only associated with study success but also with study progress. The results also showed that law students who had grades in the advanced mathematics course were faster and more successful at university. This work contributes to the existing knowledge of university admissions ahead of the Finnish reform by providing new insights into prior performance and how it is related to academic achievement at university.
Design of a SIW Variable Phase Shifter for Beam Steering Antenna Systems
Authors: Salem Hesari Sara , Bornemann Jens
Published: September 2019

This paper proposes a new beam steering antenna system consisting of two variable reflection-type phase shifters, a 3 dB coupler, and a 90° phase transition. The entire structure is designed and fabricated on a single layer of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW), which makes it a low loss and low-profile antenna system. Surface mount tuning varactor diodes are chosen as electrical phase control elements. By changing the biasing voltage of the varactor diodes in the phase shifter circuits, the far-field radiation pattern of the antenna steers from −25° to 25°. The system has a reflection coefficient better than −10 dB for a 2 GHz bandwidth centered at 17 GHz, a directive radiation pattern with a maximum of 10.7 dB gain at the mid-band frequency, and cross polarization better than 20 dB. A prototype is fabricated and measured for design verification. The measured far-field radiation patterns, co and cross polarization, and the reflection coefficient of the antenna system agree with simulated results.
Energy Optimization for Software-Defined Data Center Networks Based on Flow Allocation Strategies
Authors: Lu Zebin , Lei Junru , He Yihao , Li Zhengfa , Deng Shuhua , Gao Xieping
Published: September 2019

Nowadays, energy consumption has become an important issue in data center networks. The most promising energy-saving schemes are those that shut down unnecessary network devices and links while meeting the demand of traffic loads. Existing research mainly focuses on the strategies of energy savings in software-defined data center networks (SD-DCN). Few studies have considered both energy savings and the quality of service (QoS) of the traffic load. In this paper, we investigate the energy savings guaranteed by traffic load satisfaction ratio. To ensure the minimum-power consumption in data centers, we formulate the SD-DCN energy consumption optimization problem as an Integer Linear Programming model. To achieve a high success rate for traffic transmission, we propose three flow scheduling strategies. On this foundation, we propose a strategy-based Minimum Energy Consumption (MEC) heuristic algorithm to ensure the QoS satisfaction ratio in the process of energy optimization. The results show that our algorithm can save energy efficiently under the conditions of low traffic load and medium traffic load. Under high traffic load, our algorithm can achieve better network performance than existing solutions in terms of quality of service satisfaction ratio of flow allocation.
Analytical Solution of Fractional-Order Hyperbolic Telegraph Equation, Using Natural Transform Decomposition Method
Authors: Khan Hassan , Shah Rasool , Baleanu Dumitru , Kumam Poom , Arif Muhammad
Published: September 2019

In the current paper, fractional-order hyperbolic telegraph equations are considered for analytical solutions, using the decomposition method based on natural transformation. The fractional derivative is defined by the Caputo operator. The present technique is implemented for both fractional- and integer-order equations, showing that the current technique is an accurate analytical instrument for the solution of partial differential equations of fractional-order arising in all branches of applied sciences. For this purpose, several examples related to hyperbolic telegraph models are presented to explain the procedure of the suggested method. It is noted that the procedure of the present technique is simple, straightforward, accurate, and found to be a better mathematical technique to solve non-linear fractional partial differential equations.
Wideband Noise Interference Suppression for Sparsity-Based SAR Imaging Based on Dechirping and Double Subspace Extraction
Authors: Li Guojing , Lu Qinglin , Lao Guochao , Ye Wei
Published: September 2019

Sparsity-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging has attracted much attention since it has potential advantages in improving the image quality and reducing the sampling rate. However, it is vulnerable to deliberate blanket disturbance, especially wideband noise interference (WBNI), which severely damages the imaging quality. This paper mainly focuses on WBNI suppression for SAR imaging from a new perspective—sparse recovery. We first analyze the impact of WBNI on signal reconstruction by deducing the interference energy projected on the real support set of the signal under different observation parameters. Based on the derived results, we propose a novel WBNI suppression algorithm based on dechirping and double subspace extraction (DDSE), where the signal of interest (SOI) is reconstructed by exploiting the known geometric prior and waveform prior, respectively. The experimental results illustrate that the DDSE-based WBNI suppression algorithm for sparsity-based SAR imaging is effective and outperforms the other algorithms.
Thermal Effects of Ground Faults on MV Joints and Cables
Authors: Bragatto Tommaso , Cerretti Alberto , D’Orazio Luigi , Gatta Fabio Massimo , Geri Alberto , Maccioni Marco
Published: September 2019

In recent years, an anomalous increase of faults in underground medium voltage (MV) cable lines has been recorded in Italy, especially during summer; the largest number of faults affected cable joints. The assessment of joint thermal stress, both in normal operation and during faults, is paramount. The study presented in this paper focuses on cable heating effects due to short circuit currents flowing through cable screens during ground faults (e.g., in case of cross country faults, CCFs, whose current values are comparable to line-to-line short circuit), considering the contact resistance (CR) between cable screens and copper stocking due to inaccurate joint manufacturing. A thermal model, already developed and discussed by the authors in previous papers, has been extended and applied in this study in order to assess the CR effects in cable and joint heating during failures. Parametric studies have been carried out on a typical cable-joint system, varying fault current and CR values, as well as considering protection schemes normally adopted by distribution system operators (DSOs) in Italian MV distribution grids. Results show that for CR values larger than few milliohms, fault currents due to CCFs are able to overheat the joint well beyond the maximum tolerable temperature of insulation, thus leading to cable failures when the shortest fault clearing times (i.e., 120 ms) are considered.
Power Distribution Strategy of Microgrid Hybrid Energy Storage System Based on Improved Hierarchical Control
Authors: Wu Tiezhou , Yu Wenshan , Wang Lujun , Guo Linxin , Tang Zhiquan
Published: September 2019

Traditional hierarchical control of the microgrid does not consider the energy storage status of a distributed hybrid energy storage system. This leads to the inconsistency of the remaining capacity of the energy storage system in the process of system operation, which is not conducive to the safe and stable operation of the system. In this paper, an improved hierarchical control strategy is proposed: the first allocation layer completes the allocation between the distribution energy storage systems considering the state of hybrid energy storage systems, and the second allocation layer realizes the allocation within the hybrid energy storage systems based on variable time constant low-pass filtering. Considering the extreme conditions of energy storage systems, the transfer current is introduced in the second allocation process. The SOC (stage of charge) of the supercapacitor is between 40% and 60%, which ensures that the supercapacitor has enough margin to respond to the power demand. An example of a 300 MW photovoltaic microgrid system in a certain area is analyzed. Compared with the traditional hierarchical control, the proposed control strategy can reduce the SOC change of a hybrid energy storage system by 9% under the same conditions, and make the supercapacitor active after power stabilization, which is helpful to the stable operation of the microgrid.
Investigation of Hydraulic Fracturing Behavior in Heterogeneous Laminated Rock Using a Micromechanics-Based Numerical Approach
Authors: Zhao Haijun , Tannant Dwayne D. , Ma Fengshan , Guo Jie , Feng Xuelei
Published: September 2019

Understanding hydraulic fracturing mechanisms in heterogeneous laminated rocks is important for designing and optimizing well production, as well as for predicting shale gas production. In this study, a micromechanics-based numerical approach was used to understand the physical processes and underlying mechanisms of fracking for different strata orientations, in-situ stresses, rock strengths, and injection parameters. The numerical experiments revealed a very strong influence of the pre-existing weakness planes on fracking. Geological models for rock without weakness planes and laminated rock behave very differently. Most simulated fractures in the rock without weakness planes were caused by tensile failure of the rock matrix. In an intact rock model, although a radial damage zone was generated around the injection hole, most of the small cracks were isolated, resulting in poor connectivity of the fracture network. For rock models with pre-existing weakness planes, tension and shear failure of these structural planes formed an oval-shaped network. The network was symmetrically developed around the injection well because the strength of the pre-existing weakness planes is generally lower than the rock matrix. The research shows that the angular relations between the orientation of the structural planes and the maximum horizontal stress, as well as the in-situ stress ratios, have significant effects on the morphology and extent of the networks. The strength of the pre-existing weakness planes, their spacing, and the injection rate can dramatically influence the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing treatments.
Does Deforestation Trigger Severe Flood Damage at Hoeryeong City in North Korea?
Authors: Lim Joongbin , Kim Kyoung-Min , Lee Kyoo-Seock
Published: September 2019

North Korea has suffered flood damage every year since 1995. It is assumed that this damage is linked to deforestation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of deforestation on the occurrence of floods in North Korea using spatial statistical techniques. The research was conducted at Hoeryeong City, which experienced disastrous flooding in 2016. A land-use change map was produced using two Landsat data sets from 1977 and 2016. The flood-damaged areas map, landform map, and the distance from the nearest stream map were also used in the spatial statistical analysis. In the deforestation zone, area of soil loss over 200 tons/yr increased by 14 km2 (16.6%), while that under 50 tons/yr decreased by 25 km2 (29.3%). In addition, the land-use change, runoff coefficient, and peak time runoff increased from 0.31 to 0.46, 56.3 mm/hr to 60.8 mm/hr, and 128.2 m3/sec to 206.6 m3/sec, respectively. Also, spatial statistical analysis results showed that land-use change was concluded to strongly affect the occurrence of floods. In conclusion, deforestation at Hoeryeong City contributed to severe flooding due to changes in land-use policy. The results of this study will help decision makers to establish the North Korean forest restoration policy and countermeasures against flood damage.
Effects of Landscape Fragmentation on Genetic Diversity of Male-Biased Dioecious Plant Pistacia chinensis Bunge Populations
Authors: Lu Jun-Ting , Qiu Ya-Hui , Lu Jian-Bo
Published: September 2019

Pistacia chinensis Bunge (Anacardiaceae) is a dioecious woody plant of significant economic values that is used in traditional Chinese Medicine as well as for wood production. More importantly, it is one of the ideal tree species for bio-diesel production because of the high oil content in its seeds. In this study, we aim to reveal the effects of landscape fragmentation on the genetic diversity (GD) of the dioecious plant Pistacia chinensis populations. A total of nine microsatellites were used to genotype 180 P. chinensis individuals from six populations to estimate the differences in GD between different populations. The study revealed that genetic diversity of the P. chinensis population as a whole is relatively high in the Thousand-Island Lake (TIL) region, but its fragmented landscape still led to the loss of rare alleles, especially in a fragmented small population, a post-fragmented population, and a male population. The partitioning of a large continuous population into small isolated remnant patches led to the direct loss of genetic diversity and, subsequently, because of the mediated gene flow of seeds and pollen, genetic drift, and the spatial distribution of existing plants, the GD gradually decreased. The restricted gene flow and the increase in self-pollination and inbreeding impaired the population’s long-term development. Therefore, the wild P. chinensis populations in the TIL region needs effective protective measures, including foreign artificial pollination and seedling transplantations.
Simple and Efficient Green Extraction of Steviol Glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana Leaves
Authors: López-Carbón Verónica , Sayago Ana , González-Domínguez Raúl , Fernández-Recamales Ángeles
Published: September 2019

The food industry has currently shown great interest in alternative sweeteners to sugars with the aim of producing healthier products. In light of this, steviol glycosides are natural low-caloric sweeteners present in Stevia rebaudiana, which have additionally been described as bioactive components with potential therapeutic properties. In this work, a green method for the extraction of steviol glycosides from stevia leaves was optimized by applying a factorial screening design of five variables (time, temperature, agitation, grinding, and sample–solvent ratio) and the subsequent response surface design of Box-Behnken. The optimized extraction method allows for the recovery of stevia sweeteners in a simple and efficient manner by using tap water as the extractant, without the application of an auxiliary energy source to reduce costs, thus representing an interesting strategy for their industrial-scale production.
The Efficiency of Deoxynivalenol Degradation by Essential Oils under In Vitro Conditions
Authors: Perczak Adam , Juś Krzysztof , Gwiazdowska Daniela , Marchwińska Katarzyna , Waśkiewicz Agnieszka
Published: September 2019

Essential oils (EOs) are complex natural products of plant origin and exhibit different desirable, e.g., antimicrobial properties. Their growth inhibition effect on the pathogenic fungi of the genus, Fusarium, which forms deoxynivalenol (DON), has been documented. DON is the most common contaminant of grains and their products, causing strong emetic effects after their consumption. The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of selected EOs to degrade DON under in vitro conditions, using various incubation terms. The impact of a different temperature, pH, incubation time, mycotoxin, and essential oil concentration was tested. The results indicate that the kind of EO influences the effectiveness of mycotoxin level reduction, and the most effective EOs were palmarosa and lemon oils. A higher reduction of DON content by EOs was achieved after 24 h of the experiment (up to 72%), at a pH range between 3 and 6 and a temperature of 20 °C. Moreover, the effect of various doses of white and pink grapefruit and palmarosa EOs (100 and 200 μL/mL) on toxin level reduction was observed. The experiment confirmed that the selected EOs may be effective in DON reduction, as previously documented in experiments with zearalenone.
Overcoming Fish Defences: The Virulence Factors of Yersinia ruckeri
Authors: Wrobel Agnieszka , Leo Jack C. , Linke Dirk
Published: September 2019

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease, a bacterial infection of marine and freshwater fish. The disease mainly affects salmonids, and outbreaks have significant economic impact on fish farms all over the world. Vaccination routines are in place against the major serotypes of Y. ruckeri but are not effective in all cases. Despite the economic importance of enteric redmouth disease, a detailed molecular understanding of the disease is lacking. A considerable number of mostly omics-based studies have been performed in recent years to identify genes related to Y. ruckeri virulence. This review summarizes the knowledge on Y. ruckeri virulence factors. Understanding the molecular pathogenicity of Y. ruckeri will aid in developing more efficient vaccines and antimicrobial compounds directed against enteric redmouth disease.
The Soybean Laccase Gene Family: Evolution and Possible Roles in Plant Defense and Stem Strength Selection
Authors: Wang Quan , Li Guang , Zheng Kaijie , Zhu Xiaobin , Ma Jingjing , Wang Dongmei , Tang Kuanqiang , Feng Xingxing , Leng Jiantian , Yu Hui , Yang Suxin , Feng Xianzhong
Published: September 2019

Laccase is a widely used industrial oxidase for food processing, dye synthesis, paper making, and pollution remediation. At present, laccases used by industries come mainly from fungi. Plants contain numerous genes encoding laccase enzymes that show properties which are distinct from that of the fungal laccases. These plant-specific laccases may have better potential for industrial purposes. The aim of this work was to conduct a genome-wide search for the soybean laccase genes and analyze their characteristics and specific functions. A total of 93 putative laccase genes (GmLac) were identified from the soybean genome. All 93 GmLac enzymes contain three typical Cu-oxidase domains, and they were classified into five groups based on phylogenetic analysis. Although adjacent members on the tree showed highly similar exon/intron organization and motif composition, there were differences among the members within a class for both conserved and differentiated functions. Based on the expression patterns, some members of laccase were expressed in specific tissues/organs, while some exhibited a constitutive expression pattern. Analysis of the transcriptome revealed that some laccase genes might be involved in providing resistance to oomycetes. Analysis of the selective pressures acting on the laccase gene family in the process of soybean domestication revealed that 10 genes could have been under artificial selection during the domestication process. Four of these genes may have contributed to the transition of the soft and thin stem of wild soybean species into strong, thick, and erect stems of the cultivated soybean species. Our study provides a foundation for future functional studies of the soybean laccase gene family.
A Comparison of WorldView-2 and Landsat 8 Images for the Classification of Forests Affected by Bark Beetle Outbreaks Using a Support Vector Machine and a Neural Network: A Case Study in the Sumava Mountains
Authors: Stych Premysl , Jerabkova Barbora , Lastovicka Josef , Riedl Martin , Paluba Daniel
Published: September 2019

The objective of this paper is to assess WorldView-2 (WV2) and Landsat OLI (L8) images in the detection of bark beetle outbreaks in the Sumava National Park. WV2 and L8 images were used for the classification of forests infected by bark beetle outbreaks using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) and a Neural Network (NN). After evaluating all the available results, the SVM can be considered the best method used in this study. This classifier achieved the highest overall accuracy and Kappa index for both classified images. In the cases of WV2 and L8, total overall accuracies of 86% and 71% and Kappa indices of 0.84 and 0.66 were achieved with SVM, respectively. The NN algorithm using WV2 also produced very promising results, with over 80% overall accuracy and a Kappa index of 0.79. The methods used in this study may be inspirational for testing other types of satellite data (e.g., Sentinel-2) or other classification algorithms such as the Random Forest Classifier.
Nonlinear and Spatial Effects of Tourism on Carbon Emissions in China: A Spatial Econometric Approach
Authors: Bi Chao , Zeng Jingjing
Published: September 2019

Reducing carbon emissions is crucial to the sustainable development of tourism. However, there are no consistent conclusions about the nexus between tourism and carbon emissions. Considering the possible nonlinear and spatial effects of tourism on carbon emissions, this paper employed spatial econometric models combined with quadratic terms of explanatory variables to explore the nexus between them using Chinese provincial panel data from 2003 to 2016. The main results are as follows: (1) There is a significant inverse U-shaped relationship between tourism development and carbon emissions. In the provinces whose tourism receipts are relatively low, the effects of tourism on carbon emissions are positive but decrease gradually as the tourism receipts increase and then shifts to negative and continues decreasing gradually when the tourism receipts beyond the critical value. (2) For the geographical proximity and industrial relevance, one province’s tourism development not only affects its carbon emissions but also affects its neighbors’ carbon emissions through spatial lag effect (indirect effect) which is also inverse U-shaped. (3) Carbon reduction policies, sustainable education, and transportation infrastructure all have significant moderating effects on the relationship between tourism and carbon emissions, but the moderating effect of the management efficiency of tourism is not statistically significant. Furthermore, improvements to the sustainable education and transportation infrastructure not only strengthen the direct negative effect of tourism on carbon emissions but also strengthen the indirect negative effect of tourism on carbon emissions. This study not only advances the existing literature but is also of considerable interest to policymakers.
Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection, Serovar Distribution and Co-Infections with Seven High-Risk HPV Types among Italian Women with a Recent History of Abnormal Cervical Cytology
Authors: Martinelli Marianna , Musumeci Rosario , Rizzo Alberto , Muresu Narcisa , Piana Andrea , Sotgiu Giovanni , Landoni Fabio , Cocuzza Clementina
Published: September 2019

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections throughout the world. Despite the serious complications associated with chronic Ct infections in sexually active women, a screening program is not yet available in Italy. Moreover, HPV/Ct co-infections are also known to occur frequently, increasing the risk of HPV-induced carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Ct infections, the distribution of Ct serovars, and the incidences of Ct/HPV co-infections among women with a recent history of abnormal cervical cytology. Cervical samples were collected from 199 women referred for a gynecological visit following an abnormal Pap test results. All samples were tested for the presence of Ct and HPV DNA using real-time PCR assays; Ct typing of positive samples was performed by PCR–RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) targeting the ompA gene. A high percentage of these women (12.8% and 21.7% with or without abnormal cytology on “retesting”, respectively) were found to be Ct positive. Serovar F was the most prevalent type in Ct positive women, followed by E and K. Ct/HPV co-infections were detected in 7% (14/199) of enrolled women, with HPV-16, HPV-51, and HPV-52 being most frequently identified in co-infections. This study provides new epidemiological data on the prevalence of Ct and associated HPV infection in women with a recent history of abnormal cervical cytology in Italy, where notification of cases is not mandatory.
Turbulent Aggregation and Deposition Mechanism of Respirable Dust Pollutants under Wet Dedusting using a Two-Fluid Model with the Population Balance Method
Authors: Wang Pei , Shen Shuai , Zhou Ling , Liu Deyou
Published: September 2019

In this paper, a mathematical model based on the two-fluid (Euler–Euler) frame model for wet dedusting process is proposed. The model considers in detail the aggregation of particles and droplets caused by turbulence and Brownian diffusion as well as the gravitational deposition process. The population balance model (PBM) is used to describe the spatiotemporal evolution of particle size distribution (PSD) for the dust particle and the water droplet. The wet dedusting process under different conditions is simulated and compared with the detailed experimental data. The results show that the experimental data and simulation results are within the allowable range of error (about 32.3–61.2% in dedusting efficiency for respirable dust by experimental data and about 47.3–57.9% in it by simulation results). This model can be used to predict the effect of PSD of the dust particle, spray flow, and ventilation rate on dedusting efficiency of wet dedusting. The parameter analysis shows that dedusting efficiency decreases as particle size decreases. In order to ensure high capture efficiency of respirable dust, the diameter of droplets should be controlled to between 15 μm and 70 μm. The ratio of droplet volume flow to dust volume flow increases from 2.0 to 12.0, while dedusting efficiency only increases from 39.2% to 54.7%, so it is clear that for spray quantity to dedusting efficiency, larger is not necessarily better. Besides this, the speeds of both spray droplets and ventilation also have great influence on dedusting efficiency, and the related formulas are given.
Political Connections and Stock Price Crash Risk: Empirical Evidence from the Fall of Suharto
Authors: Harymawan Iman , Lam Brian , Nasih Mohammad , Rumayya Rumayya
Published: September 2019

This study examines the relationship between firm-level political connections and stock price crash risk in Indonesia. It employs the difference-in-difference design to deal with the self-selection bias issue regarding the choice of the firms to become a politically connected firm. We use the sudden resignation of the former President of Indonesia, Suharto, to show that politically connected firms are associated with lower stock price crash risk and that the risk for these politically connected firms increased after Suharto resigned. Furthermore, we found evidence that these negative associations are more pronounced in firms with more complex firm structures.
Transformations of Landscape Topography of the Bełchatów Coal Mine (Central Poland) and the Surrounding Area Based on DEM Analysis
Authors: Jaskulski Marcin , Nowak Tomasz
Published: September 2019

The authors analyze topography changes related to the construction and operation of the Bełchatów Brown Coal Open Mine and Power Plant, one of Europe’s larger open-pit mines, situated in central Poland. In order to achieve this, a DEM (Digital Elevation Model) is prepared, based on archival materials from the pre-investment period. Source materials include German topographical maps, issued in 1944 by the Supreme High Command of the German Army (Oberkommando des Heeres/Generalstab). The second model of the same area is prepared based on DEM data included in the Topographical Database available by CODGiK (Main Centre of Geodetic and Cartographic Documentation). The preparation of two terrain models from different periods make it possible to evaluate the changes in the morphometry. Both models are compared using ArcGIS (ESRI) tools. The comparative analysis of the models allows for observing topography changes resulting from anthropogenic transformations related to the construction of the Brown Coal Open Mine Bełchatów and Power Plant complex.