bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
D-Cell Hypothesis (Trace Amine Hypothesis) of Schizophrenia, and importance of Trace Amine-Associated Receptor, Type 1 (TAAR1)
Authors: Ikemoto Keiko
Published: April 2019

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) hyperactivity is a well-known pathophysiological hypothesis
of schizophrenia. The author shows a hypothesis to clarify the molecular basis of
mesolimbic DA hyperactivity of schizophrenia. An immunohistochemical method was
used to show D-neuron (trace amine (TA) neuron) decrease in the nucleus accumbens
(Acc) of postmortem brains with schizophrenia. The striatal D-neuron decrease in
schizophrenia and consequent (TAAR1) stimulation decrease onto terminals of midbrain
ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons induces mesolimbic DA hyperactivity of
schizophrenia. Dysfunction of subventricular neural stem cells (NSC), located partially
overlapping Acc is the cause of D-neuron decrease in Acc. DA hyperactivity, which
inhibits NSC proliferation, causes disease progression of schizophrenia. The highlight
is the rational that the “D-cell hypothesis (TA hypothesis) of schizophrenia” is a pivotal
theory to link NSC dysfunction hypothesis to DA hypothesis. From a therapeutic
direction, (1) TAAR1 agonists, (2) DA D2 antagonists, and (3) neurotrophic substances
have potential to normalize mesolimbic DA hyperactivity. To develop novel therapeutic
strategies, metabolisms of TAAR1 ligands, and NSC- and D-neuron-pathophysiology of
neuropsychiatric illnesses should further be explored.
Can Hairy Vetch Cover Crop Affects Arsenic Accumulation in Vegetable Crops?
Authors: Mancinelli Roberto , Radicetti Emanuele , Muleo Rosario , Marinari Sara , Bravo Ilenia , Papetti Patrizia
Published: April 2019

Agricultural practices greatly influence the bioavailability of heavy metals. Arsenic (As) is a heavy metal identified as a concern due to its potential impact on human health. Two-year field experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of cropping system on As accumulation in tomato, sweet pepper and zucchini. The treatments were: (i) conventional system based on common practices of the area; and (ii) alternative systems based on cultivation of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) in no-tillage before vegetable crops. Randomized block design with three replications was adopted. Soil and plant samples (fruits, leaves, stems and roots) were collected at crop harvesting. Plant samples were weighed and analyzed to evaluate As content. Soil chemical analyses were performed to evaluate the total organic carbon and nitrogen content. The As accumulation observed in plant samples of tomato, sweet pepper and zucchini resulted always low in the alternative system, except in fruits where As accumulation was similar between the systems. The increase of soil organic matter observed in alternative system probably caused a reduction of As accumulation into crop tissues. Therefore, hairy vetch cultivation in no-tillage could be a suitable strategy to reduce the As uptake of vegetable crops in geogenic contaminated soils.
Effect of Aviation Spray Adjuvants on Defoliant Droplet Deposition and Cotton Defoliation Efficacy Sprayed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Xiao Qinggang , Xin Fang , Lou Zhaoxia , Zhou Tingting , Wang Guobin , Han Xiaoqiang , Lan Yubin , Fu Wei
Published: April 2019

Defoliant spraying is an important aspect of mechanized cotton harvesting. Fully and uniformly spraying defoliant could improve the quality of defoliation and reduce the impurity content in cotton. Improving the coverage of defoliant droplets in the middle and lower layers of cotton and ensuring the full and even dispersion of droplets in the cotton canopy are essentially in increasing the defoliation effect. In this study, we assessed the effect of aviation spray adjuvants on droplet deposition, defoliation, boll opening and defoliant retention in cotton leaves sprayed by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The results showed that adding aviation spray adjuvants could significantly improve the defoliant droplet deposition. Fifteen days after spraying, the defoliation rate was 80.31% and the boll opening was 90.61%. The defoliation rate increased by 3.12–34.62% and the boll opening rate increased by 6.67–29.56% after the addition of aviation spray adjuvants. Using a vegetable oil adjuvant could significantly increase the droplet coverage rate and the retention of defoliants in cotton leaves.
Medical and Dietary Uses of N-Acetylcysteine
Authors: Šalamon Špela , Kramar Barbara , Marolt Tinkara Pirc , Poljšak Borut , Milisav Irina
Published: April 2019

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a plant antioxidant naturally found in onion, is a precursor to glutathione. It has been used as a drug since the 1960s and is listed on the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines as an antidote in poisonings. There are numerous other uses or proposed uses in medicine that are still in preclinical and clinical investigations. NAC is also used in food supplements and cosmetics. Despite its abundant use, there are projections that the NAC global market will grow in the next five years; therefore, the purpose of this work is to provide a balanced view of further uses of NAC as a dietary supplement. Although NAC is considered a safe substance, the results among clinical trials are sometimes controversial or incomplete, like for many other antioxidants. More clinical trials are underway that will improve our understanding of NAC applicability.
The Flavonoid Quercetin Induces AP-1 Activation in FRTL-5 Thyroid Cells
Authors: Giuliani Cesidio
Published: April 2019

Previous studies have shown that quercetin inhibits thyroid function both in vitro and in vivo. An attempt to evaluate the effect of quercetin at the promoter level of the thyroid-specific genes led to the observation that this compound induces the basal activity of the reporter vector. Therefore, the action of quercetin has been evaluated on the basal activity of several reporter vectors: The PGL3 basic, promoter and control vectors from Promega, and a pSV-based chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter vector. In the Fisher Rat Thyroid cell Line FRTL-5 thyroid cells transiently transfected, quercetin 10 μM increased the basal activity of all the reporter vectors evaluated, although the degree of the effect was significantly different among them. The analysis of the difference among the regulatory regions of these vectors identified the activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding site as one of the potential sites involved in the quercetin effect. Electromobility shift assay experiments showed that the treatment with quercetin induced the binding of a protein complex to an oligonucleotide containing the AP-1 consensus binding site. This is the first study showing an effect of quercetin on AP-1 activity in thyroid cells. Further studies are in progress to understand the role of AP-1 activation in the effects of quercetin on thyroid function.
Preprocessing for Lessening the Influence of Eye Artifacts in EEG Analysis
Authors: Villena Alejandro , Tardón Lorenzo J. , Barbancho Isabel , Barbancho Ana M. , Brattico Elvira , Haumann Niels T.
Published: April 2019

We dealt with the problem of artifacts in EEG signals in relation to the usage of lengthy trials. Specifically, we considered eye artifacts found in EEG signals, their influence in the analysis of the data and alternatives to diminish their impact on later studies of brain activity on lengthy tasks. We proposed a scheme of partial rejection of independent signal components, provided a method to extract EEG signal components with diminished influence of eye artifacts, and assess the importance of using artifact free signal excerpts to extract signal components in order to analyze brain activity in a musical context.
Combination of Robust Algorithm and Head-Tracking for a Feedforward Active Headrest
Authors: Han Rong , Wu Ming , Gong Chen , Jia Shangshuai , Han Tieli , Sun Hongling , Yang Jun
Published: April 2019

Active headrest can reduce the low-frequency noise around ears based on the principle of active noise control. This paper presents a combination of robust algorithm and head-tracking for a feedforward active headrest to reduce the broadband noise for a sleeper on a high-speed train. A robust algorithm based on the feedforward active noise control is proposed to improve the noise control performance during head rotations. The head-tracking system with infrared rangefinders tracks the head position based on the Kalman filter to further improve system performance with head movements. Experiments were conducted on a model of a sleeper on a high-speed train. The experimental results show that the proposed active headrest system effectively controls broadband noise with head movements and rotations.
Methane Detection Based on Improved Chicken Algorithm Optimization Support Vector Machine
Authors: Wang Zhifang , Wang Shutao , Kong Deming , Liu Shiyu
Published: April 2019

Methane, known as a flammable and explosion hazard gas, is the main component of marsh gas, firedamp, and rock gas. Therefore, it is important to be able to detect methane concentration safely and effectively. At present, many models have been proposed to enhance the performance of methane predictions. However, the traditional models displayed inevitable shortcomings in parameter optimization in our experiment, which resulted in their having poor prediction performance. Accordingly, the improved chicken swarm algorithm optimized support vector machine (ICSO-SVM) was proposed to predict the concentration of methane precisely. The traditional chicken swarm optimization algorithm (CSO) easily falls into a local optimum due to its characteristics, so the ICSO algorithm was developed. The formula for position updating of the chicks of the ICSO is not only about the rooster of the same subgroup, but also about the roosters of other subgroups. Therefore, the ICSO algorithm more easily avoids falling into the local extremum. In this paper, the following work has been done. The sample data were obtained by using the methane detection system designed by us; In order to verify the validity of the ICSO algorithm, the ICSO, CSO, genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) algorithms were tested, and the four models were applied for methane concentration prediction. The results showed that he ICSO algorithm had the best convergence effect, relative error percentage, and average mean squared error, when the four models were applied to predict methane concentration. The results showed that the average mean squared error values of ICSO-SVM model were smaller than other three models, and that the ICSO-SVM model has better stability, and the average recovery rate of the ICSO-SVM is much closer to 100%. Therefore, the ICSO-SVM model can efficiently predict methane concentration.
Special Issue on “Recent Advances in Novel Materials for Future Spintronics”
Authors: Wang Xiaotian , Khenata Rabah , Chen Hong
Published: April 2019

A total of 23 manuscripts were received for our Special Issue (SI), of which 7 manuscripts were directly rejected without peer review [...]
Modeling and Analysis on Energy Consumption of Hydraulic Quadruped Robot for Optimal Trot Motion Control
Authors: Yang Kun , Rong Xuewen , Zhou Lelai , Li Yibin
Published: April 2019

Energy consumption is an important performance index of quadruped robots. In this paper, the energy consumptions of the quadruped robot SCalf with a trot gait under different gait parameters are analyzed. Firstly, the kinematics and dynamics models of the robot are established. Then, an energy model including the mechanical power and heat rate is proposed. To obtain the energy consumption, a cubic spline interpolation foot trajectory is used, and the feet forces are calculated by using the minimization of norm of the foot force method. Moreover, an energetic criterion measuring the energy cost is defined to evaluate the motion. Finally, the gait parameters such as step height, step length, standing height, gait cycle, and duty cycle that influence the energy consumption are studied, which could provide a theoretical basis for parameter optimization and motion control of quadruped robots.
A Bilateral Tradeoff Decision Model for Wind Power Utilization with Extensive Load Scheduling
Authors: Xu Qingshan , Lv Yajuan , Wang Dong , Du Pengwei
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we present the extensive load scheduling problem with intermittent and uncertain wind power availability. A chance-constrained bilateral tradeoff decision model is established to solve the problem. Our model aims at maximizing the wind power utilization and minimizing the system operation cost simultaneously by means of responsive loads, which are precisely divided into shiftable loads and high-energy loads. The chance constraint is applied to restrict the system imbalance with a small probability. Then, a revised sample average approximation (SAA) algorithm is developed to transform the chance constraint into sample average reformulations. Furthermore, the multi-objective differential evolution (MODE) method combined with SAA is proposed to solve the problem. Experiments enabling an effectiveness analysis of the two kinds of responsive loads are performed on the power system in Yancheng. The research of parameters of MODE, the sensitivity of different risk levels and the influence of iteration numbers are discussed. Finally, computational results prove that the combination of shiftable loads and high-energy loads have a better effect than adopting shiftable loads and high-energy loads separately, and the proposed method is convergent and valid in solving the problem.
Effects of Vehicular Speed on the Assessment of Pavement Road Roughness
Authors: Loprencipe Giuseppe , Zoccali Pablo , Cantisani Giuseppe
Published: April 2019

Good ride quality is a fundamental requirement for all road networks in modern countries. For this purpose, it is essential to monitor and evaluate the effect of irregularities on road pavement surfaces. In the last few decades, many roughness indices have been proposed, with the aim to represent shortly the pavement surface characteristics and the relative performances, using a single number and a correspondent scale of values. In this work, a comparison between three different evaluation methods (International Roughness Index, ISO 8608 road profile classification and frequency-weighted vertical acceleration awz according to ISO 2631) was carried out, applying these methods to some real road profiles. The similarities and differences between the obtained results are described, evaluating the effect of the road characteristic speed on the roughness thresholds. In fact, the specific aim of the analyses is to underline the need to use different thresholds depending on the speed at which the vehicular traffic can travel on the road sections. In this way, it will be possible to identify appropriate thresholds for the various types of roads, having for each of them a specific range of design or operating speed.
Development of a Hybrid Electric Motorcycle that Accords Energy Efficiency and Controllability via an Inverse Differential Gear and Power Mode Switching Control
Authors: Chen Po-Tuan , Shen Da-Jyun , Yang Cheng-Jung , Huang K. David
Published: April 2019

In this study, inverse differential gear and power mode switching control were used to develop a hybrid electric motorcycle (HEM). An inverse differential gear power splitter was installed to integrate or distribute the power of an internal combustion engine (ICE), thus achieving single/dual power output. In addition, the transmission system was configured with continuously variable transmission to adjust the transmission speed reduction ratio and stabilize the power output. As a result, three power modes (i.e., the motor drive mode, ICE drive/generator mode, and dual power drive mode) could be switched between each other smoothly. Finally, our HEM was tested by a chassis power gauge. The test results showed that the HEM consumed 41.1% less fuel and produced 58.6% less exhaust emissions compared with conventional ICE motorcycles. In terms of controllability, the acceleration time for 0–100 m was 2.4 s less than the Taiwan E-scooter Standard (TES). The fastest highest vehicle speed was 2.1 times greater than the test of the TES.
Low Temperature Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes over a Magnetic Pd Catalyst
Authors: Liu Anqiu , Wang Xiaochen , Gao Daming , Wang Le , Cheng Junjie , Wang An , Zhang Zehui
Published: April 2019

Chemoselective hydrogenation of aldehydes with heterogeneous catalysts under mild conditions is of great importance but remains a major challenge. Herein, an efficient strategy was developed for low temperature chemoselective hydrogenation of aldehydes with broad substrate scope over a magnetic material supported palladium catalyst (γ-Fe2O3@HAP-Pd). Aldehydes bearing various reducible functional groups readily underwent hydrogenation to give the corresponding primary alcohols with moderate to excellent yield at room temperature in aqueous solutions. The Hammett equation revealed that the hydrogenation of aromatic aldehydes proceeded via an anionic intermediate. Additionally, when the temperature increased to 70 °C, toluene was obtained by the deoxygenation of benzaldehyde in excellent yield. Furthermore, the γ-Fe2O3@HAP-Pd could be recycled up to six times without loss of activity and metal leaching.
Analysis of Information Security News Content and Abnormal Returns of Enterprises
Authors: Hung Chia-Ching
Published: April 2019

As information technologies and the Internet have rapidly evolved, businesses have begun to use them to improve communication efficiency within and outside the organization. However, applications of information technologies are accompanied by information delivery, personal data protection, and information security problems. There are potential risks inherent in any application of information technologies. Moreover, with the improvement of networking and computing capabilities, the impact of attacks from hackers and malicious software has also increased. A breach or leakage of important corporate data may not only damage the firm’s image but also sabotage the firm’s operation, resulting in financial losses. In this study, the content of information security news reports was analyzed in an attempt to clarify the association between information security news and corporate stock prices. Methods including decision trees, support vector machines (SVMs), and random forests were used to explore the associations of news related variables with abnormal returns. Results indicate that the news source and the presence of negative words in the news have an impact on abnormal returns.
Alcohol Modulates the Biogenesis and Composition of Microglia-Derived Exosomes
Authors: Crenshaw Brennetta J. , Kumar Sanjay , Bell Courtnee’ R. , Jones Leandra B. , Williams Sparkle D. , Saldanha Sabita N. , Joshi Sameer , Sahu Rajnish , Sims Brian , Matthews Qiana L.
Published: April 2019

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that have emerged as an important tool for intercellular communication. In the central nervous system, exosomes can mediate glia and neuronal communication. Once released from the donor cell, exosomes can act as discrete vesicles and travel to distant and proximal recipient cells to alter cellular function. Microglia cells secrete exosomes due to stress stimuli of alcohol abuse. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol exposure on the biogenesis and composition of exosomes derived from microglia cell line BV-2. The BV-2 cells were cultured in exosome-free media and were either mock treated (control) or treated with 50 mM or 100 mM of alcohol for 48 and 72 h. Our results demonstrated that alcohol significantly impacted BV-2 cell morphology, viability, and protein content. Most importantly, our studies revealed that exosome biogenesis and composition was affected by alcohol treatment.
Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health Supplement
Authors: Sharma Rohit , Martins Natália , Kuca Kamil , Chaudhary Ashun , Kabra Atul , Rao Meda M. , Prajapati Pradeep Kumar
Published: April 2019

Chyawanprash (CP) is an Ayurvedic health supplement which is made up of a super-concentrated blend of nutrient-rich herbs and minerals. It is meant to restore drained reserves of life force (ojas) and to preserve strength, stamina, and vitality, while stalling the course of aging. Chyawanprash is formulated by processing around 50 medicinal herbs and their extracts, including the prime ingredient, Amla (Indian gooseberry), which is the world’s richest source of vitamin C. Chyawanprash preparation involves preparing a decoction of herbs, followed by dried extract preparation, subsequent mixture with honey, and addition of aromatic herb powders (namely clove, cardamom, and cinnamon) as standard. The finished product has a fruit jam-like consistency, and a sweet, sour, and spicy flavor. Scientific exploration of CP is warranted to understand its therapeutic efficacy. Scattered information exploring the therapeutic potential of CP is available, and there is a need to assemble it. Thus, an effort was made to compile the scattered information from ancient Ayurvedic texts and treatises, along with ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and scientifically validated literature, that highlight the role of CP in therapeutics. Citations relevant to the topic were screened.
Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Vertex Enhances Leg Motor Cortex Excitability Bilaterally
Authors: Ghosh Soumya , Hathorn David , Eisenhauer Jennifer , Dixon Jesse , Cooper Ian D.
Published: April 2019

In many studies, anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is applied near the vertex to simultaneously facilitate leg motor cortex (M1) of both hemispheres and enhance recovery of gait and balance in neurological disorders. However, its effect on the excitability of leg M1 in either hemisphere is not well known. In this double-blind sham-controlled study, corticospinal excitability changes induced in leg M1 of both hemispheres by anodal (2 mA for 20 minutes) or sham tDCS (for 20 min) over the vertex were evaluated. Peak amplitudes of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured over the contralateral Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscle before and up to 40 min after tDCS in 11 normal participants. Analysis of data from all participants found significant overall increase in the excitability of leg M1 after tDCS. However, in individual subjects there was variability in observed effects. In 4 participants, 20 min of tDCS increased mean MEPs of TAs on both sides; in 4 participants there was increased mean MEP only on one side and in 3 subjects there was no change. It’s not known if the benefits of tDCS in improving gait and balance are dependent on excitability changes induced in one or both leg M1; such information may be useful to predict treatment outcomes.
Clinical Trials Targeting the Stroma in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: van Mackelenbergh Madelaine G. , Stroes Charlotte I. , Spijker René , van Eijck Casper H.J. , Wilmink Johanna W. , Bijlsma Maarten F. , van Laarhoven Hanneke W.M.
Published: April 2019

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the initiation and progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this systematic review, we provide an overview of clinical trials with stroma-targeting agents. We systematically searched MEDLINE/PubMed and the EMBASE database, using the PRISMA guidelines, for eligible clinical trials. In total, 2330 records were screened, from which we have included 106 articles. A meta-analysis could be performed on 51 articles which describe the targeting of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and three articles which describe the targeting of hyaluronic acid. Anti-VEGF therapies did not show an increase in median overall survival (OS) with combined hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90–1.13). Treatment with hyaluronidase PEGPH20 showed promising results, but, thus far, only in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in selected patients with hyaluronic acid (HA)high tumors: An increase in median progression free survival (PFS) of 2.9 months, as well as a HR of 0.51 (95% CI 0.26–1.00). In conclusion, we found that anti-angiogenic therapies did not show an increased benefit in median OS or PFS in contrast to promising results with anti-hyaluronic acid treatment in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. The PEGPH20 clinical trials used patient selection to determine eligibility based on tumor biology, which underlines the importance to personalize treatment for pancreatic cancer patients.
Osteopontin, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Anti-Interleukin-8 Autoantibodies Complement CA125 for Detection of Early Stage Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Guo Jing , Yang Wei-Lei , Pak Daewoo , Celestino Joseph , Lu Karen H. , Ning Jing , Lokshin Anna E. , Cheng Zhongping , Lu Zhen , Bast Robert C.
Published: April 2019

Early detection of ovarian cancer promises to reduce mortality. While serum CA125 can detect more than 60% of patients with early stage (I–II) disease, greater sensitivity might be observed with a panel of biomarkers. Ten protein antigens and 12 autoantibody biomarkers were measured in sera from 76 patients with early stage (I–II), 44 patients with late stage (III–IV) ovarian cancer and 200 healthy participants in the normal risk ovarian cancer screening study. A four-biomarker panel (CA125, osteopontin (OPN), macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF), and anti-IL-8 autoantibodies) detected 82% of early stage cancers compared to 65% with CA125 alone. In early stage subjects the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the panel (0.985) was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than the AUC for CA125 alone (0.885). Assaying an independent validation set of sera from 71 early stage ovarian cancer patients, 45 late stage patients and 131 healthy women, AUC in early stage disease was improved from 0.947 with CA125 alone to 0.974 with the four-biomarker panel (p = 0.015). Consequently, OPN, MIF and IL-8 autoantibodies can be used in combination with CA125 to distinguish ovarian cancer patients from healthy controls with high sensitivity. Osteopontin appears to be a robust biomarker that deserves further evaluation in combination with CA125.
Recent Progress in the Theranostics Application of Nanomedicine in Lung Cancer
Authors: Mukherjee Anubhab , Paul Manash , Mukherjee Sudip
Published: April 2019

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes around 80% to 90% of deaths. The lack of an early diagnosis and inefficiency in conventional therapies causes poor prognosis and overall survival of lung cancer patients. Recent progress in nanomedicine has encouraged the development of an alternative theranostics strategy using nanotechnology. The interesting physico-chemical properties in the nanoscale have generated immense advantages for nanoparticulate systems for the early detection and active delivery of drugs for a better theranostics strategy for lung cancer. This present review provides a detailed overview of the recent progress in the theranostics application of nanoparticles including liposomes, polymeric, metal and bio-nanoparticles. Further, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each approach considering the improvement for the lung cancer theranostics.
Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Novel Thermostable and Alkaline-stable Esterase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OUC_Est10 Catalytically Active in Organic Solvents
Authors: Gao Xinwei , Mao Xiangzhao , Lu Ping , Secundo Francesco , Xue Changhu , Sun Jianan
Published: April 2019

A thermostable and alkaline-stable novel esterase (Est7) was identified through the whole genome sequencing of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OUC_Est10. The open reading frame of this gene encoded 617 amino acid residues. After heterologous expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), the purified Est7 was separated as a single protein and presented a molecular mass of 70.6 kDa. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that Est7 had a typical catalytic triad (Ser-Asp-His) and the conserved sequence (GDSL) typical of the family II lipid hydrolase proteins. Est7 showed good stability in alkaline buffers, especially in Tris-HCl buffer at pH 9.0 (residual activity 93.8% after 96 h at 4 °C) and in the medium temperature conditions (residual activity 70.2% after 96 h at 45 °C and pH 8.0). The enzyme also retained higher stability toward several hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic solvents (e.g., after incubation in 100% acetonitrile or in n-hexane the enzyme retained about 97% and 84% of the activity in the absence of organic solvent, respectively). Furthermore, Est7 could catalyze the transesterification reaction of vinylacetate with 2-phenylethanol and cis-3-hexen-1-ol to their corresponding acetate esters in petroleum ether or tert-butyl methyl ether. These results indicate Est7 as a promising biocatalyst for applications of Est7 in non-aqueous media.
Telomere Function and the G-Quadruplex Formation are Regulated by hnRNP U
Authors: Izumi Hiroto , Funa Keiko
Published: April 2019

We examine the role of the heterogenous ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U) as a G-quadruplex binding protein in human cell lines. Hypothesizing that hnRNP U is associated with telomeres, we investigate what other telomere-related functions it may have. Telomeric G-quadruplexes have been fully characterized in vitro, but until now no clear evidence of their function or in vivo interactions with proteins has been revealed in mammalian cells. Techniques used were immunoprecipitation, DNA pull-down, binding assay, and Western blots. We identified hnRNP U as a G-quadruplex binding protein. Immunoprecipitations disclosed that endogenous hnRNP U associates with telomeres, and DNA pull-downs showed that the hnRNP U C-terminus specifically binds telomeric G-quadruplexes. We have compared the effect of telomere repeat containing RNA (TERRA) on binding between hnRNP U and telomeric (Tel) or single- stranded Tel (ssTel) oligonucleotides and found that ssTel binds stronger to TERRA than to Tel. We also show that hnRNP U prevents replication protein A (RPA) accumulation at telomeres, and the recognition of telomeric ends by hnRNP suggests that a G-quadruplex promoting protein regulates its accessibility. Thus, hnRNP U-mediated formation has important functions for telomere biology.
Recent Advances in the Clinical Targeting of Hedgehog/GLI Signaling in Cancer
Authors: Xie Hao , Paradise Brooke D. , Ma Wen Wee , Fernandez-Zapico Martin E.
Published: April 2019

The Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway plays an important role in normal embryonic tissue development and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various human cancers. In this review article, we summarize pre-clinical evidence supporting the suitability of targeting this signaling pathway in cancers. We review agents blocking both the ligand-dependent and ligand-independent cascades, and discuss the clinical evidence, which has led to the FDA approval of Hedgehog receptor Smoothened inhibitors, vismodegib, and sonidegib, in different malignancies. Finally, we provide an overview of published and ongoing clinical trial data on single agent or combination therapeutic strategies, targeting Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway, in both advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Synthesis, Molecular and Supramolecular Structures of New Cd(II) Pincer-Type Complexes with s-Triazine Core Ligand
Authors: Soliman Saied M. , Almarhoon Zainab , El-Faham Ayman
Published: April 2019

The manuscript described the synthesis and characterization of the new [Cd(BDMPT)2](ClO4)2; 1 and [Cd2(MBPT)2(H2O)2Cl](ClO4)3.4H2O; 2 s-triazine pincer-type complexes, where BDMPT and MBPT are 2,4-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine and 2-methoxy-4,6-bis(2-(pyridin-2-ylmsethylene)hydrazinyl)-1,3,5-triazine respectively. The synthesized complexes were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The homoleptic mononuclear complex (1) contains a hexa-coordinated Cd(II) center with two tridentate N-pincer ligand (BDMPT) with a highly distorted octahedral coordination environment located as an intermediate case between the octahedron and trigonal prism. The heteroleptic dinuclear complex (2) contains two hepta-coordinated Cd(II) coordination spheres where each Cd(II) is coordinated with one pentadentate pincer N-chelate (MBPT), one water, and one bridged chloride ligand connecting the two metal ions. The different intermolecular interactions in the studied complexes were quantified using Hirshfeld analysis. Their thermal stabilities and FTIR spectra were compared with the corresponding free ligands. The strength and nature of Cd–N, Cd–O, and Cd–Cl coordination interactions were discussed in light of atoms in molecules calculations (AIM). The M(II)–BDMPT and M(II)–MBPT interaction energies revealed that such sterically hindered ligands have higher affinity toward large-size metal ions (M = Cd) compared to smaller ones (M = Ni or Mn).
In-Situ Synchrotron Profile Analysis after High-Pressure Torsion Deformation
Authors: Kerber Michael , Spieckermann Florian , Schuster Roman , Joni Bertalan , Schell Norbert , Schafler Erhard
Published: April 2019

The presence of hydrostatic pressure is a general crucial characteristic of severe plastic deformation methods for reaching high strains and for introducing large quantities of lattice defects, which are necessary to establish new grain boundaries. Insights into the processes occurring during deformation and the influence of hydrostatic pressure are necessary to help better understand the SPD methods. A special experimental procedure was designed to simulate the hydrostatic pressure release: High pressure torsion (HPT)-deformed microstructure changes related to the release of hydrostatic pressure after the HPT deformation of copper and nickel were studied by freezing the sample before releasing the pressure. High-resolution in-situ X-ray diffraction of the heating process was performed using synchrotron radiation in order to apply X-ray line profile analysis to analyze the pressure release. The results on copper and nickel generally indicated the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the mobility and interaction of deformation-induced defects as well as the resulting microstructure.
Utility of Condition Indices as Predictors of Lipid Content in Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus)
Authors: Hards Adrian R. , Gray Michelle A. , Noël Sophia C. , Cunjak Rick A.
Published: April 2019

Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) are increasingly being used as indicator species. This has primarily entailed measuring their condition, the assumption being that condition can be used as a surrogate for lipid content. While there is evidence to suggest this assumption is applicable to some fish, it has yet to be validated for C. cognatus. Further, there are several means by which one may calculate condition, the most commonly employed of which are indirect measurements of lipid content (namely, Fulton’s K, somatic K (Ks), and Le Cren’s relative condition factor (Kn)). We compared the ability of each of these morphometric indices to predict whole-body lipid content in C. cognatus. There was a moderate degree of evidence that Fulton’s K, Ks, and Kn are reliable predictors (Ks and Kn in particular). Of the latter we recommend Kn be used because, unlike Ks, it does not require that fish be killed. And while Fulton’s K did not perform quite as well, we consider it a sufficient substitute if the data necessary to calculate Kn are unavailable.
Health Care, Medical Insurance, and Economic Destitution: A Dataset of 1042 Stories
Authors: Ho Manh-Toan , La Viet-Phuong , Nguyen Minh-Hoang , Vuong Thu-Trang , Nghiem Kien-Cuong P. , Tran Trung , Nguyen Hong-Kong T. , Vuong Quan-Hoang
Published: April 2019

The dataset contains 1042 records obtained from inpatients at hospitals in the northern region of Vietnam. The survey process lasted 20 months from August 2014 to March 2016, and yielded a comprehensive set of records of inpatients’ financial situations, healthcare, and health insurance information, as well as their perspectives on treatment service in the hospitals. Five articles were published based on the smaller subsets. This data article introduces the full dataset for the first time and suggests a new Bayesian statistics approach for data analysis. The full dataset is expected to contribute new data for health economic researchers and new grounded scientific results for policymakers.
Evaluation of Users’ Knowledge and Concerns of Biometric Passport Systems
Authors: Habibu Taban , Luhanga Edith Talina , Sam Anael Elikana
Published: April 2019

The increase in terrorism and identity fraud has forced governments worldwide to make a combined effort to enhance the security of national borders. Biometric passports are the emergent identity travel document deployed in guaranteeing the safekeeping of the entry point of the border and limiting the usage of counterfeit documents. This study analyzes users’ concerns and threats to the biometric passport delivery system in Uganda, where the first biometric passports are planned for rollout in 2019. We used a mixed approach to compute and articulate the results. Factors impacting fear of technology like disclosure of personal data, improper data transmission, and data abuse were determined. Relevance knowledge of preferred technology such as the personal experience of the technology, data privacy awareness and perceived usefulness was confirmed. Threats and attacks on the technology such as counterfeit and brute-force were identified. It is important for policymakers and security expertise to understand that biometric technologies evoke fears of privacy and public liberties infringements. Therefore, end user’s acceptance of biometric passports will be dependent on the degree of trust in the technology itself and in those operating the applications.
Provision of School Data and Research Based Teacher Professional Development: Does It Work? Data- and Research-Informed Development of Schools in the Danish “Program for Learning Leadership”
Authors: Qvortrup Lars
Published: April 2019

In the beginning of 2015, a consortium consisting of 13 Danish municipalities with 240 schools, almost 80,000 students and 10,000 professionals together with a university based research institution and a competence development center launched the school development project “Program for Learning Leadership.” The project provides data for teachers and school leaders in order to support pedagogical practices and school leadership. It also provides research based competence development packages with professional teams organized in professional learning communities as the central target group for receiving research results and transforming these results into professional practice. Based on a quantitative survey performed in 2015 and repeated in 2017, the project shows that school data and competence development can support positive school changes and improve teachers’ professional self-evaluation, and that competence development should focus on professional teams (professional learning communities) rather than on individual teachers. However, it is still too early to identify the effects for students’ learning and development achievements.
Using Deep Principal Components Analysis-Based Neural Networks for Fabric Pilling Classification
Authors: Yang Chin-Shan , Lin Cheng-Jian , Chen Wen-Jong
Published: April 2019

A manufacturer’s fabric first undergoes an abrasion test and manual visual inspection to grade the fabric prior to shipment to ensure that there are no defects present. Manual visual classification consumes a considerable amount of human resources. Furthermore, extended use of the eyes during visual inspection often causes occupational injuries, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of the entire operation. In order to overcome and avoid such situations, this study proposed the use of deep principal components analysis-based neural networks (DPCANNs) for fabric pilling identification. In the proposed DPCANN, the characteristics of the hairball were automatically captured using deep principal components analysis (DPCA), and the hairball class was identified using the neural network and the support vector machine (SVM). The experimental results showed that the proposed DPCANN has an average accuracy of 99.7% at the hairball level, which is in line with the needs of the industry. The results also confirmed that the proposed hairball classification method is superior to other methods.
Impact of Large-Scale Afforestation on Surface Temperature: A Case Study in the Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia Based on the WRF Model
Authors: Wang Liming , Lee Xuhui , Feng Duole , Fu Congsheng , Wei Zhongwang , Yang Yanzheng , Yin Yizhou , Luo Yong , Lin Guanghui
Published: April 2019

Afforestation activities in the Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia, China, have substantially increased tree and shrub coverage in this region. In this study, the response of the surface temperature to afforestation is simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. The surface temperature changes are decomposed into contributions from the intrinsic surface biophysical effect and atmospheric feedback, using the theory of intrinsic biophysical mechanism. The effect of afforestation on the surface temperature is 1.34 K, −0.48 K, 2.09 K and 0.22 K for the summer daytime, the summer nighttime, the winter daytime and the winter nighttime, respectively, for the grid cells that have experienced conversion from bare soil to shrub. The corresponding domain mean values are 0.15 K, −0.2 K, 0.67 K, and 0.06 K. The seasonal variation of surface temperature change is mainly caused by changes in roughness and Bowen ratio. In the daytime, the surface temperature changes are dominated by the biophysical effect, with albedo change being the main biophysical factor. In the nighttime, the biophysical effect (mainly associated with roughness change) and the atmospheric feedback (mainly associated with change in the background air temperature) contribute similar amounts to the surface temperature changes. We conclude that the atmospheric feedback can amplify the influence of the surface biophysical effect, especially in the nighttime.
Unbiased Long-Term Monitoring at TeV Energies
Authors: González María , Dorner Daniela , Bretz Thomas , García-González José ,   on behalf of the FACT, HAWC and M@TE Collaborations
Published: April 2019

For the understanding of the variable, transient and non-thermal universe, unbiased long-term monitoring is crucial. To constrain the emission mechanisms at the highest energies, it is important to characterize the very high energy emission and its correlation with observations at other wavelengths. At very high energies, only a limited number of instruments is available. This article reviews the current status of monitoring of the extra-galactic sky at TeV energies.
Functional Research on Three Presumed Asparagine Synthetase Family Members in Poplar
Authors: Qu Chunpu , Hao Bingqing , Xu Xiuyue , Wang Yuchen , Yang Chengjun , Xu Zhiru , Liu Guanjun
Published: April 2019

Asparagine synthetase (AS), a key enzyme in plant nitrogen metabolism, plays an important role in plant nitrogen assimilation and distribution. Asparagine (Asn), the product of asparagine synthetase, is one of the main compounds responsible for organic nitrogen transport and storage in plants. In this study, we performed complementation experiments using an Asn-deficient Escherichia coli strain to demonstrate that three putative asparagine synthetase family members in poplar (Populus simonii × P. nigra) function in Asn synthesis. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the three members had high expression levels in different tissues of poplar and were regulated by exogenous nitrogen. PnAS1 and PnAS2 were also affected by diurnal rhythm. Long-term dark treatment resulted in a significant increase in PnAS1 and PnAS3 expression levels. Under long-term light conditions, however, PnAS2 expression decreased significantly in the intermediate region of leaves. Exogenous application of ammonium nitrogen, glutamine, and a glutamine synthetase inhibitor revealed that PnAS3 was more sensitive to exogenous glutamine, while PnAS1 and PnAS2 were more susceptible to exogenous ammonium nitrogen. Our results suggest that the various members of the PnAS gene family have distinct roles in different tissues and are regulated in different ways.
‘Mobile Phones and the Internet, Mate’: (Social) Media, Art, and Revolution in Omar Robert Hamilton’s The City Always Wins
Authors: Chambers Claire
Published: April 2019

In his novel about the Egyptian Revolution, The City Always Wins (2017), Omar Robert Hamilton shows that the alternative media possess mass engagement and global reach, while threatening power. However, over the course of his novel Hamilton traces the crushing of the ‘Twitter revolution’ and the rise of a disillusionment and despair among the revolutionaries. This downward trajectory is typified both in the appellative journey from Hamilton’s non-profit media collective Mosireen—‘those who insist’—to the novel’s similar group, portentously named Chaos; and in the text’s reverse-chronological structure of ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Today’, and ‘Yesterday’. The author uses Twitter as an archive of an alternative, resistant history of revolutionary struggle; he embeds Tweets in the fabric of this experimental novel; and social media posts interrupt and punctuate the narrative as in the real life of his millennial characters. In this article I explore the novel’s representations of (social) media and the impact these have both on everyday lives and modes of protest. Despite promising beginnings, the internet ultimately turns ‘toxic’ and is depicted as a Pandora’s box of dis- and misinformation, conspiracy theories, fake news, and the manipulations of state media lackeys. A more lasting alternative to media may be ‘creative insurgency’. As such, I conclude this article by discussing what art can achieve that (citizen) journalism cannot, and how this applies to the novel’s portrayals of art, particularly music.
Distribution of Elements along the Rachis of Cycas micronesica Leaves: A Cautionary Note for Sampling Design
Authors: Marler Thomas E. , Krishnapillai Murukesan V.
Published: April 2019

Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill trees on the island of Yap were used to determine the influence of position along the leaf rachis on macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations and how leaf age affected the results. The outcomes revealed improvements to sampling protocols for future cycad leaf research. The concentration of every element except carbon and copper was influenced by leaflet position along the rachis. Most elements exhibited similar patterns for the oldest and youngest leaves on a tree, but the influence of position along the rachis for nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and boron was highly contrasting for old versus young leaves. The elements with the greatest variability along the rachis were potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and zinc, with the difference in basal and terminal leaflets as great as four-fold. Sampling leaflets at one position on a cycad leaf may generate inaccurate elemental concentration results for most essential nutrients other than carbon and copper. We have added position of sampled leaflets within leaves as a mandatory component of what is recorded and reported for future cycad leaf tissue analyses. Leaflets that span the full length of the rachis should be included in cycad leaf samples that are collected for tissue analysis.