bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fosfomycin, Applying Known Methods and Remedies to A New Era
Authors: M. Viviana Albán , Mariño-Brito Estefanía , Villavicencio Fernando , Satán Carolina , Villacís José E. , Gestal Mónica C.
Published: August 2020

The exponential increase in the numbers of isolates of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) creates the need for using novel therapeutic approaches to save the lives of patients. Fosfomycin has long been considered a rational option for the treatment of CRE to be used as part of a combined therapy scheme. However, the assessment of fosfomycin susceptibility in the laboratory presents a great challenge due to the discrepancies found between different methodologies. Thus, our goal was to evaluate fosfomycin susceptibility in a group of 150 Enterobacteriaceae bacterial isolates using agar dilution as the gold standard technique to compare the results with those obtained by disk diffusion. We found a fosfomycin susceptibility of 79.3% in general terms. By comparing both methodologies, we reported a categorical agreement of 96% without Very Major Errors (VMEs) or Major Errors (MEs) and 4% of minor Errors (mEs). Our results suggest that fosfomycin could provide a rational alternative treatment for those patients that are infected by a Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) microorganism that is currently untreatable and that the disk diffusion and classical agar dilution techniques are adequate to assess the resistance profile of CRE to fosfomycin.
Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis of Urban Rail Transit
Authors: Taboada Guillermo L. , Han Liangxiu
Published: August 2020

This paper deals with the efficiency and sustainability of urban rail transit (URT) using exploratory data analytics (EDA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). The first stage of the proposed methodology is EDA with already available indicators (e.g., the number of stations and passengers), and suggested indicators (e.g., weekly frequencies, link occupancy rates, and CO2 footprint per journey) to directly characterize the efficiency and sustainability of this transport mode. The second stage is to assess the efficiency of URT with two original models, based on a thorough selection of input and output variables, which is one of the key contributions of EDA to this methodology. The first model compares URT against other urban transport modes, applicable to route personalization, and the second scores the efficiency of URT lines. The main outcome of this paper is the proposed methodology, which has been experimentally validated using open data from the Transport for London (TfL) URT network and additional sources.
Effective Data Selection and Management Method Based on Dynamic Regulation in Opportunistic Social Networks
Authors: Wu Jia , Yin Sheng , Xiao Yutong , Yu Genghua
Published: August 2020

5G has brought a huge increase in data, and the number of nodes and types of messages are becoming more and more complex. The Internet of things has become a large and complex network. More and more devices can be used as nodes in opportunistic social networks. The attitude of nodes to messages is different and changeable. However, in the previous opportunistic network algorithm and mass data transmission environment, due to the lack of effective information selection and management means, it was easy to lead to transmission delay and high consumption. Therefore, we propose Effective Data Selection and Management (EDSM). EDSM uses the current state of the node as the basis for forwarding messages. When the cache space is insufficient, EDSM will perform cache replacement based on the message cache value and delete the information with the lowest cache value. Simulation results show that the algorithm has good performance in terms of delivery rate and latency.
High-Performance Long Range-Based Medium Access Control Layer Protocol
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Lei , Liang Jiacheng , Chai Jin , Lei Xuemei , Zhang Hui
Published: August 2020

Long Range (LoRa) has become one of the most promising physical layer technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Although it manifests low-power consumption and long-distance communication, LoRa encounters a large number of collisions in the IoT environment, which severely affects the system’s throughput and delay performance. In this paper, a code division carrier sense multiple access (CD/CSMA) protocol that resolves the traditional channel collision problem and implements multi-channel transmission is proposed for the LoRa medium access control (MAC) layer. To reduce data transmission delay and maximize the throughput of the system, the adaptive p-persistent CSMA protocol divides the channel load into four states and dynamically adjusts the data transmission probability. Then, to reduce channel collisions significantly, the code division multiple access (CDMA) protocol is performed on different channel states. Moreover, the combination of the proposed adaptive p-persistent CSMA protocol and the CDMA successfully reduces the number of data retransmissions and makes LoRa more stable. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive p-persistent CD/CSMA protocol can achieve near-optimal and occasionally even better performance than some conventional MAC protocols, especially in a heavy load channel.
Conversion of Biogas to Renewable Energy by Microwave Reforming
Authors: Kim Ha Jin , Chun Young Nam
Published: August 2020

Biogas consists of methane and carbon dioxide, the main components, which are major greenhouse gases that affect global warming. As such, in order to convert greenhouse gas into renewable energy, which is a high-quality fuel, the biogas microwave reforming characteristics were studied and the results are as follows: In the main components of biogas, methane and carbon dioxide, the conversion efficiency of both methane and carbon dioxide increased as the amount of CO2 relatively increased. This is because the problem of active pore failure due to gasification of the attached carbon generated during methane reforming was overcome. When nitrogen, a biogas-containing component, was added, the activity of catalytic activity pores was enhanced by promoting the production of microplasma, resulting in increased conversion efficiency. When the concentration of oxygen, which is a biogas-containing component, increased, the conversion efficiency increased, but when the concentration is more than 10%, the fuel value of the product gas decreased due to the complete oxidation reaction.
A Review of Battery Technology in CubeSats and Small Satellite Solutions
Authors: Knap Vaclav , Vestergaard Lars Kjeldgaard , Stroe Daniel-Ioan
Published: August 2020

CubeSats and small satellite solutions are increasing in popularity as they enable a fast, cheap, and agile way for satellite applications. An essential component of nearly every satellite is the energy storage device, which is practically equal to a battery. Consequently, an overview of past, present, and future battery technologies for CubeSats is presented. CubeSats use typically commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) batteries. They are not primarily dedicated to space, so their suitability to the space environment needs to be evaluated. Batteries are also considered as potentially dangerous goods. Thus, there are guidelines and standards that specify safety criteria and tests for the batteries in order to be allowed for transportation and launch. Furthermore, the character of satellites’ missions determines their demand on batteries in terms of current rates, depth-of-discharge, and lifetime. Thus, these expectations are discussed. A market survey was also carried out to identify currently available commercial battery solutions and their parameters. This work summarizes the status, requirements, and the market situation of batteries for CubeSats.
Valorization of Value-Added Resources from the Anaerobic Digestion of Swine-Raising Manure for Circular Economy in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Yu-Ru , Tsai Wen-Tien
Published: August 2020

Due to the benefits of mitigating greenhouse gas emission and upgrading farmland fertilization, the valorization of liquor and biogas digestate from the anaerobic digestion of swine manure has attracted much attention in recent years. This article is based on the updated data/information from the official websites for summarizing the status of the swine-raising industry and innovative manure management, relevant sustainable development indicators, and inter-ministry promotion regulations in Taiwan. The survey findings revealed that the carbon dioxide emission reduction in 2019 was equivalent to about 36,000 metric tons based on a total of 2.35 million metric tons liquor and biogas digestate applied and 2 million swine heads for the biogas-to-power. Obviously, the regulatory measures by the Council of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Administration, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have provided economic and financial supports towards the reduction of 67.39 × 103 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. Using the principles of biorefinery and zero-waste, the integration of anaerobic digestion, by-products (liquor and digestate), and biogas-to-power for treating swine manure is a win-win-win option for environmental, energy, and economic benefits.
Late Miocene-Early Pliocene Out-of-Sequence Thrusting in the Southern Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Vitale Stefano , Prinzi Ernesto Paolo , Tramparulo Francesco D’Assisi , De Paola Claudio , Di Maio Rosa , Piegari Ester , Sabbatino Monia , Natale Jacopo , Notaro Pasqualino , Ciarcia Sabatino
Published: August 2020

We present a structural study on late Miocene-early Pliocene out-of-sequence thrusts affecting the southern Apennine orogenic belt. The analyzed structures are exposed in the Campania region (southern Italy). Here, thrusts bound the N-NE side of the carbonate ridges that form the regional mountain backbone. In several outcrops, the Mesozoic carbonates are superposed onto the unconformable wedge-top basin deposits of the upper Miocene Castelvetere Group, providing constraints to the age of the activity of this thrusting event. Moreover, a 4-km-long N-S oriented electrical resistivity tomography profile, carried out along the Caserta mountains, sheds light on the structure of this thrust system in an area where it is not exposed. Further information was carried out from a tunnel excavation that allowed us to study some secondary fault splays. The kinematic analysis of out-of-sequence major and minor structures hosted both in the hanging wall (Apennine Platform carbonates) and footwall (Castelvetere Group deposits and Lagonegro-Molise Basin units) indicates the occurrence of two superposed shortening directions, about E-W and N-S, respectively. We associated these compressive structures to an out-of-sequence thrusting event defined by frontal thrusts verging to the east and lateral ramp thrusts verging to the north and south. We related the out-of-sequence thrusting episode to the positive inversion of inherited normal faults located in the Paleozoic basement. These envelopments thrust upward to crosscut the allochthonous wedge, including, in the western zone of the chain, the upper Miocene wedge-top basin deposits.
Reappraisal of the 1863 Huércal-Overa Earthquake (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain) by the Analysis of ESI-07 Environmental Effects and Building Oriented Damage
Authors: Silva Pablo G. , Elez Javier , Giner-Robles Jorge L. , Pérez-López Raúl , Roquero Elvira , Rodríguez-Pascua Miguel Ángel
Published: August 2020

This work reviews the 1863 Huércal-Overa earthquake (VI-VII EMS) based on the environmental seismic intensity scale (ESI-07) and oriented archaeoseismological building damage. The performed analysis identifies 23 environmental effects (EEEs) and 11 archaeoseismological effects (EAEs), completing a total of 34 intensity data-points within the intensity zone ≥ VI EMS. The new ESI intensity data quintuplicate the previous intensity data-points ≥ VI EMS (five localities) for this event. Sixteen of the identified EEEs indicate the occurrence of intensity VII-VIII within the Almanzora valley, south of Huércal-Overa, over an area of ca. 12–15 km2. Anomalies in water bodies, slope movements, hydrogeological anomalies, ground cracking, and other effects (gas emissions, tree shaking) are the more diagnostic EEEs—with one of them indicating a local maximum intensity of VIII-IX ESI-07 (Alboraija lake). Environmental earthquake damage of intensity ≥ VI covers an area of c. 100 km2, compatible with a VIII ESI intensity event. The spatial distribution of EEEs and EAEs indicates that the zone of Almanzora River Gorge, which was depopulated during the earthquake epoch, was the epicentral area, and compatible with seismotectonic data from active shallow blind thrusting beneath the Almagro Range. The use of ESI data in nearly unpopulated areas help to fill gaps between damaged localities (EMS data) multiplying intensity data-points, providing a better definition of the intensity zones and offering a geological basis to look for suspect seismic sources.
The Perioperative Surgical Home in Pediatrics: Improve Patient Outcomes, Decrease Cancellations, Improve HealthCare Spending and Allocation of Resources during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hasan Aysha , Zimmerman Remy , Gillock Kelly , Parrish Richard H
Published: August 2020

Cancellations or delays in surgical care for pediatric patients that present to the operating room create a great obstacle for both the physician and the patient. Perioperative outpatient management begins prior to the patient entering the hospital for the day of surgery, and many organizations practice using the perioperative surgical home (PSH), incorporating enhanced recovery concepts. This paper describes changes in standard operating procedures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and proposes the expansion of PSH, as a means of improving perioperative quality of care in pediatric populations.
Physical Activity Behaviors of Children Who Register for the Universal, State-Wide Active Kids Voucher: Who Did the Voucher Program Reach?
Authors: Foley Bridget C. , Owen Katherine B. , Bellew William , Wolfenden Luke , Reilly Kathryn , Bauman Adrian E. , Reece Lindsey J.
Published: August 2020

Active Kids is a government-led, universal voucher program that aims to reduce the cost of participation in structured physical activity for all school-enrolled children in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. As part of the Active Kids program evaluation, this cross-sectional study examined the Active Kids’ program’s reach to children in NSW and their physical activity behaviors, before voucher use. Demographic registration data from all children (4.5–18 years old) who registered for an Active Kids voucher in 2018 (n = 671,375) were compared with Census data. Binary and multinomial regression models assessed which correlates were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines and participation in the sessions of structured physical activity. The Active Kids program attracted more than half (53%) of all eligible children in NSW. Children who spoke a primary language other than English at home, were aged 15–18 years old, lived in the most disadvantaged areas, and girls, were less likely to register. Of the registered children, 70% had attended structured physical activity sessions at least once a week during the previous 12 months, whilst 19% achieved physical activity guidelines. Active Kids achieved substantial population reach and has the potential to improve children’s physical activity behaviors.
Association between Sleep Timing and Weight Status among 14- to 19-Year-Old Adolescents in Wuhan, China
Authors: Zhang Xinge , Chen Yanan , Zhang Rui , Moore Justin B. , Ruan Haotian , Fu Jialin , Qin Guiyu , Yu Xinru , Hou Zeyu , Cheng Qin , Hu Xiaoyu , Zhang Siqi , Li Rui
Published: August 2020

This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of sleep timing with weight status in 14- to 19-year-old adolescents in Wuhan, China. A prospective school-based study was conducted in Wuhan, China between 28 May and 29 September 2019. Data on sociodemographic information, academic performance, diet, mental health status, physical activity, sleep characteristics, body weight, and height were collected. A linear regression model and binary logistic regression model were performed. A total of 1194 adolescents were included in the analysis. Adolescents who woke up before 05:45 had higher body mass index (BMI) Z-score (odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28 (1.05, 1.57), p = 0.02) and higher odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.74 (1.10, 2.76), p = 0.02) at baseline after fully adjustment for covariates, compared with those who woke up after 05:45. Longitudinal data showed a nonsignificant association between waking up time and change in BMI Z-score (p = 0.18). No association of bedtime with weight status was observed in this sample after full adjustment (p > 0.1). Earlier waking up time might contribute to overweight and obesity in adolescents; however, more data are needed to test and elucidate this relationship.
A Pilot Study to Assess Inhalation Exposures among Sugarcane Workers in Guatemala: Implications for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin
Authors: Schaeffer Joshua W. , Adgate John L. , Reynolds Stephen J. , Butler-Dawson Jaime , Krisher Lyndsay , Dally Miranda , Johnson Richard J. , James Katherine A. , Jaramillo Diana , Newman Lee S.
Published: August 2020

Background: Sugarcane workers in Central America experience a heavy burden of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. We conducted a pilot study among worker proxies in Guatemala to characterize exposures to particulate matter, silica, heavy metals, and glyphosate, as well as to examine potential nephrotoxic exposures. Methods: Air, soil, and ash samples were collected and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The average mass concentration for particulate matter (PM)2.5 and PM100 exposures were 360 µg/m3 (range: 32 to 1500 µg/m3) and 555 µg/m3 (range: 229 to 1170 µg/m3), respectively. The elemental composition of particles was largely silicon. The amount of crystalline silica was below 5 μg, yet the percentage of total silica was ~17% by weight. Putatively, the silica was in the amorphous form. Concentrations of aluminum and calcium ranged from 2–7 μg/m3. Glyphosate was not detectable in analyzed air samples but was detectable at concentrations ranging from 81–165 ppb in soil samples. Conclusion: Sugarcane workers are exposed to high concentrations of particulate matter. Future studies should investigate the potential role of silica, heavy metals, and agrochemicals in the etiology of chronic kidney disease in this population.
The Prevention of Bio-Organic Fertilizer Fermented from Cow Manure Compost by Bacillus sp. XG-1 on Watermelon Continuous Cropping Barrier
Authors: Zhang Hao , Hua Zi-Wei , Liang Wen-Zhi , Niu Qiu-Hong , Wang Xiang
Published: August 2020

The continuous cropping barrier is an important factor leading to the decline of watermelon quality and yield. In this study, we focused on a bio-organic fertilizer prepared with one bacterial strain, Bacillus sp. XG-1, to prevent the occurrence of the continuous cropping barrier. The strain XG-1 was isolated from watermelon rhizosphere soil, and promoted the growth of watermelon by producing phytase (0.19 U/mL), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 7.31 mg/L), and gibberellins (GA3, 2.47 mg/L). In addition, the strain also possessed a strong antagonistic effect against the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) by inhibiting conidia germination with an inhibition ratio of 85.3% and mycelium growth. The bio-organic fertilizer fermented by XG-1, based on cow manure compost and rapeseed meal (85:15, w/w) under optimal conditions, was mixed in soil (watermelon had been planted for two consecutive years). After the cultivation of watermelon for 50 d, a higher density of XG-1 (9.79 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/g) and one order of magnitude lower of Fon (1.29 × 103 copies/g) were detected in the rhizosphere soil compared with soils without bio-organic fertilizer (7.59 × 104 copies/g for Fon), leading to an 86.4% control efficiency of watermelon caused by Fusarium wilt. The application of bio-organic fertilizer enriched soil nutrients, including the organic matter (13.2%), total nitrogen (13.9%), total phosphorus (20.5%), and total potassium (3.77%), adjusted the soil pH from 6.69 to 7.01, and significantly improved the watermelon growth in terms of the seedling height, root length, fresh weight of seedling and root with increase of 78.8%, 72.2%, 84.6%, and 96.4%, respectively. This study regarded the watermelon continuous cropping soil as the research point, and focused on inhibiting Fon, regulating soil properties and enhancing watermelon growth to eliminate the continuous cropping barrier through a combination of compost and functional strains, demonstrating the potential application value in watermelon production.
Sociotropy, Autonomy and Emotional Symptoms in Patients with Major Depression or Generalized Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Rumination and Immature Defenses
Authors: Martínez Ruth , Senra Carmen , Fernández-Rey José , Merino Hipólito
Published: August 2020

The relationships between dimensions of personality (sociotropy and autonomy), coping strategies (rumination: brooding and reflection subtypes, and immature defenses) and symptoms of depression and anxiety were explored in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). A total of 279 patients completed questionnaires including measures of personality dimensions, rumination, immature defenses, depression and anxiety. Our findings suggested that sociotropy and autonomy may be associated with both depressive and anxious symptoms in patients with MDD and with GAD. Multiple mediation analyses indicated that brooding always acted as a mediating link between personality vulnerabilities (sociotropy and autonomy) and depressive and anxiety symptoms, independently of the patient group. In addition, in patients with MDD and those with GAD, brooding and immature defenses functioned together by linking sociotropy and autonomy, respectively, with depressive symptoms. Our results also showed that, in patients with GAD, both types of rumination explained the relationship between sociotropy and autonomy and anxiety symptoms. Overall, our findings provided evidence of the transdiagnostic role of the brooding, linking the vulnerability of personality dimensions and emotional symptoms. They also indicated that reflection and immature defenses can operate in conjunction with brooding, depending on the type of vulnerability and emotional context.
A Systematic Review of the Economic Burden of Type 2 Diabetes in Malaysia
Authors: Ganasegeran Kurubaran , Hor Chee Peng , Jamil Mohd Fadzly Amar , Loh Hong Chuan , Noor Juliana Mohd , Hamid Norshahida Abdul , Suppiah Purnima Devi , Abdul Manaf Mohd Rizal , Ch’ng Alan Swee Hock , Looi Irene
Published: August 2020

Diabetes causes significant disabilities, reduced quality of life and mortality that imposes huge economic burden on societies and governments worldwide. Malaysia suffers a high diabetes burden in Asia, but the magnitude of healthcare expenditures documented to aid national health policy decision-making is limited. This systematic review aimed to document the economic burden of diabetes in Malaysia, and identify the factors associated with cost burden and the methods used to evaluate costs. Studies conducted between 2000 and 2019 were retrieved using three international databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE) and one local database (MyCite), as well as manual searches. Peer reviewed research articles in English and Malay on economic evaluations of adult type 2 diabetes conducted in Malaysia were included. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020151857), reported according to PRISMA and used a quality checklist adapted for cost of illness studies. Data were extracted using a data extraction sheet that included study characteristics, total costs, different costing methods and a scoring system to assess the quality of studies reviewed. The review identified twelve eligible studies that conducted cost evaluations of type 2 diabetes in Malaysia. Variation exists in the costs and methods used in these studies. For direct costs, four studies evaluated costs related to complications and drugs, and two studies were related to outpatient and inpatient costs each. Indirect and intangible costs were estimated in one study. Four studies estimated capital and recurrent costs. The estimated total annual cost of diabetes in Malaysia was approximately USD 600 million. Age, type of hospitals or health provider, length of inpatient stay and frequency of outpatient visits were significantly associated with costs. The most frequent epidemiological approach employed was prevalence-based (n = 10), while cost analysis was the most common costing approach used. The current review offers the first documented evidence on cost estimates of diabetes in Malaysia.
The Unified Efficiency Evaluation of China’s Industrial Waste Gas Considering Pollution Prevention and End-Of-Pipe Treatment
Authors: Tang Yanhong , Chen Yingwen , Yang Rui , Miao Xin
Published: August 2020

With the deepening of industrialization and urbanization in China, air pollution has become the most serious environmental issue due to huge energy consumption, which threatens the health of residents and the sustainable development of the country. Increasing attention has been paid to the efficiency evaluation of industrial system due to its fast development and severe air pollution emissions, but the efficiency evaluation on China’s industrial waste gas still has scope for improvement. This paper proposes a global non-radial Network Data Envelopment Analysis (NDEA) model from the perspective of pollution prevention (PP) and end-of-pipe treatment (ET), to explore the potential reduction of generation and emission of air pollutants in China’s industrial system. Given the differences of different air pollution treatment capacities, the ET stage is further subdivided into three parallel sub-stages, corresponding to SO2, NOX, and soot and dust (SD), respectively. Then, grey relation analysis (GRA) is adopted to figure out the key factor affecting the unified efficiency. The main findings are summarized as follows: firstly, the unified efficiency of China’s industrial waste gas underperformed nationwide, and most provinces had the potential to reduce the generation and emission of industrial waste gas. Secondly, the PP efficiency outperformed the ET efficiency in many provinces and the efficiency gap between two stages increasingly narrowed except in 2014. Thirdly, the unified efficiency in the eastern area performed well, while the area disparities increased significantly after 2012. Fourthly, significant differences were found in three ET efficiencies and the ET efficiency of NOX was higher than that of SO2 and SD in the sample period. Finally, the results of GRA indicated that different air pollutants had distinct influence on the improvement of the unified efficiency in three areas. To promote the unified efficiency of industrial waste gas, some pertinent policy suggestions are put forward from the perspectives of sub-stages, air pollutants and areas.
MicroRNAs and Uveal Melanoma: Understanding the Diverse Role of These Small Molecular Regulators
Authors: Aughton Karen , Kalirai Helen , Coupland Sarah E.
Published: August 2020

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare tumour of the eye, characterised by a high propensity to metastasise in half of all patients, most frequently to the liver. Although there are effective treatment options for the primary tumour, once metastasis has occurred prognosis is poor, with overall survival limited to months. Currently, there are no effective treatments for metastatic UM, despite the tumour having a well-defined signalling pathway to which many therapies have been directed. In an effort to develop novel treatment approaches, understanding the role of other signalling molecules, such as microRNAs, is fundamental. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules involved in posttranscriptional gene regulation, resulting in reduced target gene expression and subsequent protein translation. In UM, several dysregulated miRNAs have been proposed to play a functional role in disease progression, whereas others have been put forward as clinical biomarkers of high-risk disease following isolation from blood, plasma and exosomes. Most recently, analyses of large datasets have identified promising prognostic miRNA signatures and panels. This review navigates the plethora of aberrant miRNAs disclosed so far in UM, and maps these to signalling pathways, which could be targeted in future therapies for the disseminated disease.
Upregulation of the MYB2 Transcription Factor is Associated with Increased Accumulation of Anthocyanin in the Leaves of Dendrobium bigibbum
Authors: Lim Gah-Hyun , Kim Se Won , Ryu Jaihyunk , Kang Si-Yong , Kim Jin-Baek , Kim Sang Hoon
Published: August 2020

Orchids with colorful leaves and flowers have significant ornamental value. Here, we used γ-irradiation-based mutagenesis to produce a Dendrobium bigibbum mutant that developed purple instead of the normal green leaves. RNA sequencing of the mutant plant identified 2513 differentially expressed genes, including 1870 up- and 706 downregulated genes. The purple leaf color of mutant leaves was associated with increased expression of genes that encoded key biosynthetic enzymes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. In addition, the mutant leaves also showed increased expression of several families of transcription factors including the MYB2 gene. Transient overexpression of D. biggibumMYB2 in Nicotiana benthamiana was associated with increased expression of endogenous anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. Interestingly, transient overexpression of orthologous MYB2 genes from other orchids did not upregulate expression of endogenous anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. Together, these results suggest that the purple coloration of D. biggibum leaves is at least associated with increased expression of the MYB2 gene, and the MYB2 orthologs from orchids likely function differently, regardless of their high level of similarity.
SUMOylation-Mediated Response to Mitochondrial Stress
Authors: He Jianli , Cheng Jinke , Wang Tianshi
Published: August 2020

Mitochondrial stress is considered as a factor that reprograms the mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism. As known, SUMOylation occurs through a series of stress-induced biochemical reactions. During the process of SUMOylation, the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) and its specific proteases (SENPs) are key signal molecules. Furthermore, they are considered as novel mitochondrial stress sensors that respond to the signals produced by various stresses. The responses are critical for mitochondrial homeostasis. The scope of this review is to provide an overview of the function of SUMOylation in the mitochondrial stress response, to delineate a SUMOylation-involved signal network diagram, and to highlight a number of key questions that remain answered.
A Revolution toward Gene-Editing Technology and Its Application to Crop Improvement
Authors: Ahmar Sunny , Saeed Sumbul , Khan Muhammad Hafeez Ullah , Ullah Khan Shahid , Mora-Poblete Freddy , Kamran Muhammad , Faheem Aroosha , Maqsood Ambreen , Rauf Muhammad , Saleem Saba , Hong Woo-Jong , Jung Ki-Hong
Published: August 2020

Genome editing is a relevant, versatile, and preferred tool for crop improvement, as well as for functional genomics. In this review, we summarize the advances in gene-editing techniques, such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like (TAL) effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated with the Cas9 and Cpf1 proteins. These tools support great opportunities for the future development of plant science and rapid remodeling of crops. Furthermore, we discuss the brief history of each tool and provide their comparison and different applications. Among the various genome-editing tools, CRISPR has become the most popular; hence, it is discussed in the greatest detail. CRISPR has helped clarify the genomic structure and its role in plants: For example, the transcriptional control of Cas9 and Cpf1, genetic locus monitoring, the mechanism and control of promoter activity, and the alteration and detection of epigenetic behavior between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) investigated based on genetic traits and related genome-wide studies. The present review describes how CRISPR/Cas9 systems can play a valuable role in the characterization of the genomic rearrangement and plant gene functions, as well as the improvement of the important traits of field crops with the greatest precision. In addition, the speed editing strategy of gene-family members was introduced to accelerate the applications of gene-editing systems to crop improvement. For this, the CRISPR technology has a valuable advantage that particularly holds the scientist’s mind, as it allows genome editing in multiple biological systems.
Antitumor Efficacy of the Herbal Recipe Benja Amarit against Highly Invasive Cholangiocarcinoma by Inducing Apoptosis both In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Yapasert Rittibet , Lertprasertsuk Nirush , Subhawa Subhawat , Poofery Juthathip , Sripanidkulchai Bungorn , Banjerdpongchai Ratana
Published: August 2020

Thailand is the country with highest incidence and prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in the world. Due to the frequently late diagnosis that is associated with this disease, most CCA patients are prescribed chemotherapy as a form of treatment. However, CCA is able to resist the presently available chemotherapy, so to the prognosis of this disease is still very poor. In this study, we investigated the anticancer potential of a Thai herbal recipe, Benja Amarit (BJA) against CCA and the relevant mechanisms of action that are involved. We found that BJA inhibited CCA cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, especially in highly invasive KKU-213 cells. The extract induced mitochondrial- and caspase-dependent apoptosis in CCA cells by regulating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. BJA also triggered autophagy in CCA cells. Nonetheless, the inhibition of autophagy enhanced BJA-induced CCA cell death via apoptosis. An in vivo xenograft model revealed the growth-inhibiting and death-inducing effects of BJA against CCA by targeting apoptosis. However, general toxicity to blood cells, kidneys and the liver, as well as changes in body weight, did not appear. Our findings suggest that the herbal recipe BJA might be used as a potentially new and effective treatment for cholangiocarcinoma patients.
Inhibition of Rab27a and Rab27b Has Opposite Effects on the Regulation of Hair Cycle and Hair Growth
Authors: Ku Kyung-Eun , Choi Nahyun , Sung Jong-Hyuk
Published: August 2020

Rab27a/b are known to play an important role in the transport of melanosomes, with their knockout causing silvery gray hair. However, the relationship between Rab27a/b and hair growth is not well known. To evaluate the role of Rab27a/b in hair cycle, we investigated the expression of Rab27a/b during hair cycling and human outer root sheath (hORS) cells. The expression of Rab27a in ORS cells was mainly detected at the anagen, whereas expression of Rab27b in ORS, and epidermal cells was strongly expressed at the telogen. Additionally, Rab27a/b were expressed in the Golgi of hORS cells. To evaluate the role of Rab27a/b in hair growth, telogen-to-anagen transition animal and vibrissae hair follicles (HFs) organ culture models were assayed using Rab27a/b siRNAs. The knockdown of Rab27a or Rab27b suppressed or promoted hair growth, respectively. These results were also confirmed in human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and hORS cells, showing the opposite mitogenic effects. Moreover, Rab27b knockdown increased the expression levels of various growth factors in the hDPCs and hORS cells. Overall, the opposite temporal expression patterns during hair cycling and roles for hair growth of Rab27a/b suggested that Rab27a/b might regulate the hair cycle. Therefore, our study may provide a novel solution for the development of hair loss treatment by regulating Rab27a/b levels.
Target-Site Mutations and Glutathione S-Transferases Are Associated with Acequinocyl and Pyridaben Resistance in the Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Choi Jihye , Koo Hyun-Na , Kim Sung Il , Park Bueyong , Kim Hyunkyung , Kim Gil-Hah
Published: August 2020

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae is a difficult-to-control pest due to its short life cycle and rapid resistance development. In this study, we characterized field strains collected in 2001 and 2003 that were selected for acequinocyl resistance (AR) and pyridaben resistance (PR), respectively. These strains displayed resistance ratios of 1798.6 (susceptible vs. AR) and 5555.6 (susceptible vs. PR), respectively, and were screened for cross-resistance against several currently used acaricides. The AR strain exhibited pyridaben cross-resistance, but the PR strain showed no cross-resistance. The AR strain exhibited point mutations in cytb (I256V, N321S) and PSST (H92R). In contrast, the PR strain exhibited the H92R but not the I256V and N321S point mutations. In some cases increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity has previously been linked to enhanced detoxification. The AR strain exhibited approximately 2.3-, 1.8-, and 2.2-fold increased GST activity against 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB), and 4-nitrobenzyl chloride (NBC), respectively. Among the five GST subclass genes (delta, omega, mu, zeta, and kappa), the relative expression of delta class GSTs in the AR strain were significantly higher than the PR and susceptible strain. These results suggest that the I256V and N321S mutations and the increased GST metabolism and GST delta overexpression might be related to acequinocyl resistance in T. urticae.
Rearing and Maintenance of Galleria mellonella and Its Application to Study Fungal Virulence
Authors: Firacative Carolina , Khan Aziza , Duan Shuyao , Ferreira-Paim Kennio , Leemon Diana , Meyer Wieland
Published: August 2020

Galleria mellonella larvae have been widely used as alternative non-mammalian models for the study of fungal virulence and pathogenesis. The larvae can be acquired in small volumes from worm farms, pet stores, or other independent suppliers commonly found in the United States and parts of Europe. However, in countries with no or limited commercial availability, the process of shipping these larvae can cause them stress, resulting in decreased or altered immunity. Furthermore, the conditions used to rear these larvae including diet, humidity, temperature, and maintenance procedures vary among the suppliers. Variation in these factors can affect the response of G. mellonella larvae to infection, thereby decreasing the reproducibility of fungal virulence experiments. There is a critical need for standardized procedures and incubation conditions for rearing G. mellonella to produce quality, unstressed larvae with the least genetic variability. In order to standardize these procedures, cost-effective protocols for the propagation and maintenance of G. mellonella larvae using an artificial diet, which has been successfully used in our own laboratory, requiring minimal equipment and expertise, are herein described. Examples for the application of this model in fungal pathogenicity and gene knockout studies as feasible alternatives for traditionally used animal models are also provided.
What Drives the Declining Wealth Effect of Subsequent Share Repurchase Announcements?
Authors: Ding David K. , Koerniadi Hardjo , Krishnamurti Chandrasekhar
Published: August 2020

Recent academic studies document that open market share repurchase announcements in the United States generate significantly lower returns than those reported in earlier studies. We find that the lower announcement return is associated with an increasing number of subsequent announcements in the more recent periods. Although the announcement period return from the initial announcement is positive, subsequent announcement returns are significantly decreasing. Further, we find that the decreasing returns of subsequent announcements are attributed to firms with negative past repurchase announcement returns. Our multivariate regression test results are consistent with the notion that the decreasing subsequent repurchase announcement returns are driven by hubris-endowed managers.
Rehabilitation Machine for Bariatric Individuals
Authors: Botta Andrea , Cavallone Paride , Carbonari Luca , Visconte Carmen , Quaglia Giuseppe
Published: August 2020

Obesity is known to be growing worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that obesity has tripled since 1975. In 2016, 39% of adults over 18 years old were overweight, and 13% were obese. Obesity is mostly preventable by adopting lifestyle improvements, enhancing diet quality, and doing physical exercise. The workload of the physical exercises should be proportionate to the patient’s capabilities. However, it must be considered that obese people are not used to training; they may not endure physical exertion and, even more critically, they could have some psychological impediments to the workouts. Physical exercises and equipment must, therefore, guarantee comfort and prevent situations in which the bariatric individual may feel inadequate. For these reasons, this study aims to design an innovative system to approach simple physical activities, like leg and arm exercises, to bariatric users to enable them to recover mobility and muscle tone gradually. The leading feature of this architecture is the design of hidden exercise mechanisms to overcome the psychological barriers of the users toward these kinds of machines. This paper proposes the initial design of the main sub-systems composing the rehabilitation machine, namely the leg curl and leg extension mechanism and its control architecture, the upper body exercises system, and a series of regulation mechanisms required to accommodate a wide range of users. The proposed functional design will then lead to the development of a prototype to validate the machine.
Machine Learning-Based Detection for Cyber Security Attacks on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: He Qiyi , Meng Xiaolin , Qu Rong , Xi Ruijie
Published: August 2020

Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)-related initiatives have become some of the fastest expanding in recent years, and have started to affect the daily lives of people. More and more companies and research organizations have announced their initiatives, and some have started CAV road trials. Governments around the world have also introduced policies to support and accelerate the deployments of CAVs. Along these, issues such as CAV cyber security have become predominant, forming an essential part of the complications of CAV deployment. There is, however, no universally agreed upon or recognized framework for CAV cyber security. In this paper, following the UK CAV cyber security principles, we propose a UML (Unified Modeling Language)-based CAV cyber security framework, and based on which we classify the potential vulnerabilities of CAV systems. With this framework, a new CAV communication cyber-attack data set (named CAV-KDD) is generated based on the widely tested benchmark data set KDD99. This data set focuses on the communication-based CAV cyber-attacks. Two classification models are developed, using two machine learning algorithms, namely Decision Tree and Naive Bayes, based on the CAV-KDD training data set. The accuracy, precision and runtime of these two models when identifying each type of communication-based attacks are compared and analysed. It is found that the Decision Tree model requires a shorter runtime, and is more appropriate for CAV communication attack detection.
Entrainment of Weakly Coupled Canonical Oscillators with Applications in Gradient Frequency Neural Networks Using Approximating Analytical Methods
Authors: Farokhniaee AmirAli , Almonte Felix V. , Yelin Susanne , Large Edward W.
Published: August 2020

Solving phase equations for systems with high degrees of nonlinearities is cumbersome. However, in the case of two coupled canonical oscillators, that is, a reduced model of translated Wilson–Cowan neuronal dynamics, under slowly varying amplitude and rotating wave approximations, we suggested a convenient way to find their average relative phase evolution. This approach enabled us to find an explicit solution for the average relative phase of the two coupled canonical oscillators based on the original neuronal model parameters, and importantly, to find their phase-locking constraint. This methodology is straightforward to implement in any Wilson–Cowan-type coupled oscillators with applications in gradient frequency neural networks (GFNNs).
Estimation of Non-Linear Parameters with Data Collected Using Respondent-Driven Sampling
Authors: Sánchez-Borrego Ismael , Rueda María del Mar , Mullo Héctor
Published: August 2020

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a snowball-type sampling method used to survey hidden populations, that is, those that lack a sampling frame. In this work, we consider the problem of regression modeling and association for continuous RDS data. We propose a new sample weight method for estimating non-linear parameters such as the covariance and the correlation coefficient. We also estimate the variances of the proposed estimators. As an illustration, we performed a simulation study and an application to an ethnic example. The proposed estimators are consistent and asymptotically unbiased. We discuss the applicability of the method as well as future research.
A Combined Pyro- and Hydrometallurgical Approach to Recycle Pyrolyzed Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Part 1: Production of Lithium Concentrates in an Electric Arc Furnace
Authors: Sommerfeld Marcus , Vonderstein Claudia , Dertmann Christian , Klimko Jakub , Oráč Dušan , Miškufová Andrea , Havlík Tomáš , Friedrich Bernd
Published: August 2020

Due to the increasing demand for battery raw materials such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium, the extraction of these metals not only from primary, but also from secondary sources like spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is becoming increasingly important. One possible approach for an optimized recovery of valuable metals from spent LIBs is a combined pyro- and hydrometallurgical process. According to the pyrometallurgical process route, in this paper, a suitable slag design for the generation of slag enriched by lithium and mixed cobalt, nickel, and copper alloy as intermediate products in a laboratory electric arc furnace was investigated. Smelting experiments were carried out using pyrolyzed pelletized black mass, copper(II) oxide, and different quartz additions as a flux to investigate the influence on lithium-slagging. With the proposed smelting operation, lithium could be enriched with a maximum yield of 82.4% in the slag, whereas the yield for cobalt, nickel, and copper in the metal alloy was 81.6%, 93.3%, and 90.7% respectively. The slag obtained from the melting process is investigated by chemical and mineralogical characterization techniques. Hydrometallurgical treatment to recover lithium is carried out with the slag and presented in part 2.