bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial Lipid Homeostasis at the Crossroads of Liver and Heart Diseases
Authors: Dabravolski Siarhei A. , Bezsonov Evgeny E. , Baig Mirza S. , Popkova Tatyana V. , Orekhov Alexander N.
Published: June 2021

The prevalence of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is a rapidly increasing problem, affecting a huge population around the globe. However, CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) are the most common cause of mortality in NAFLD patients. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by plasma hypertriglyceridemia, increased small dense LDL (low-density lipoprotein) particles, and decreased HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels, is often observed in NAFLD patients. In this review, we summarize recent genetic evidence, proving the diverse nature of metabolic pathways involved in NAFLD pathogenesis. Analysis of available genetic data suggests that the altered operation of fatty-acid β-oxidation in liver mitochondria is the key process, connecting NAFLD-mediated dyslipidemia and elevated CVD risk. In addition, we discuss several NAFLD-associated genes with documented anti-atherosclerotic or cardioprotective effects, and current pharmaceutical strategies focused on both NAFLD treatment and reduction of CVD risk.
NAC Transcription Factor PwNAC11 Activates ERD1 by Interaction with ABF3 and DREB2A to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis
Authors: Yu Mingxin , Liu Junling , Du Bingshuai , Zhang Mengjuan , Wang Aibin , Zhang Lingyun
Published: June 2021

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors are ubiquitously distributed in eukaryotes and play significant roles in stress response. However, the functional verifications of NACs in Picea (P.) wilsonii remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we identified the NAC transcription factor PwNAC11 as a mediator of drought stress, which was significantly upregulated in P. wilsonii under drought and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that both the full length and C-terminal of PwNAC11 had transcriptional activation activity and PwNAC11 protein cannot form a homodimer by itself. Subcellular observation demonstrated that PwNAC11 protein was located in nucleus. The overexpression of PwNAC11 in Arabidopsis obviously improved the tolerance to drought stress but delayed flowering time under nonstress conditions. The steady-state level of antioxidant enzymes’ activities and light energy conversion efficiency were significantly increased in PwNAC11 transgenic lines under dehydration compared to wild plants. PwNAC11 transgenic lines showed hypersensitivity to ABA and PwNAC11 activated the expression of the downstream gene ERD1 by binding to ABA-responsive elements (ABREs) instead of drought-responsive elements (DREs). Genetic evidence demonstrated that PwNAC11 physically interacted with an ABA-induced protein—ABRE Binding Factor3 (ABF3)—and promoted the activation of ERD1 promoter, which implied an ABA-dependent signaling cascade controlled by PwNAC11. In addition, qRT-PCR and yeast assays showed that an ABA-independent gene—DREB2A—was also probably involved in PwNAC11-mediated drought stress response. Taken together, our results provide the evidence that PwNAC11 plays a dominant role in plants positively responding to early drought stress and ABF3 and DREB2A synergistically regulate the expression of ERD1.
Effects of Trichoderma harzianum on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Fruit Quality of Tomato Plants
Authors: Vukelić Igor D. , Prokić Ljiljana T. , Racić Gordana M. , Pešić Mirjana B. , Bojović Mirjana M. , Sierka Edyta M. , Kalaji Hazem M. , Panković Dejana M.
Published: June 2021

The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.
Aberrant Alternative Splicing in U2af1/Tet2 Double Mutant Mice Contributes to Major Hematological Phenotypes
Authors: Martínez-Valiente Cristina , Garcia-Ruiz Cristian , Rosón Beatriz , Liquori Alessandro , González-Romero Elisa , Fernández-González Raúl , Gómez-Redondo Isabel , Cervera José , Gutiérrez-Adán Alfonso , Sanjuan-Pla Alejandra
Published: June 2021

Mutations in splicing factors are recurrent somatic alterations identified in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and they frequently coincide with mutations in epigenetic factors. About 25% of patients present concurrent mutations in such pathways, suggesting a cooperative role in the pathogenesis of MDS. We focused on the splicing factor U2AF1 involved in the recognition of the 3′ splice site during pre-mRNA splicing. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 system, we created heterozygous mice with a carboxy-terminal truncated U2af1 allele (U2af1mut/+), studied the U2af1mut/+ hematopoietic system, and did not observe any gross differences in both young (12–13 weeks) and old (23 months) U2af1mut/+ mice, except for a reduction in size of approximately 20%. However, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells lacked reconstitution capacity in transplantation assays and displayed an aberrant RNA splicing by RNA sequencing. We also evaluated U2af1mut/+ in conjunction with Tet2-deficiency. Novel double mutant U2af1mut/+Tet2−/− mice showed increased monogranulocytic precursors. Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were also enhanced and presented functional and transcriptomic alterations. Nonetheless, U2af1mut/+Tet2−/− mice did not succumb to MDS disease over a 6-month observation period. Collectively, our data suggest that cooperation between mutant U2af1 and Tet2 loss is not sufficient for MDS initiation in mice.
MMPs and TIMPs Expression Levels in the Periodontal Ligament during Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A Systematic Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Behm Christian , Nemec Michael , Weissinger Fabian , Rausch Marco Aoqi , Andrukhov Oleh , Jonke Erwin
Published: June 2021

Background: During orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), applied orthodontic forces cause an extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the periodontal ligament (PDL). This is mainly orchestrated by different types of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which are both secreted by periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies already investigated the influence of applied orthodontic forces on the expression of MMPs and TIMPs. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the expression levels of MMPs and TIMPs during OTM and the influence of specific orthodontic force-related parameters. Methods: Electronic article search was performed on PubMed and Web of Science until 31 January 2021. Screenings of titles, abstracts and full texts were performed according to PRISMA, whereas eligibility criteria were defined for in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively, according to the PICO schema. Risk of bias assessment for in vitro studies was verified by specific methodological and reporting criteria. For in vivo studies, risk of bias assessment was adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional study. Results: Electronic article search identified 3266 records, from which 28 in vitro and 12 in vivo studies were included. The studies showed that orthodontic forces mainly caused increased MMPs and TIMPs expression levels, whereas the exact effect may depend on various intervention and sample parameters and subject characteristics. Conclusion: This systematic review revealed that orthodontic forces induce a significant effect on MMPs and TIMPs in the PDL. This connection may contribute to the controlled depletion and formation of the PDLs’ ECM at the compression and tension site, respectively, and finally to the highly regulated OTM.
Fragrance in Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. Despite the Presence of a Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2
Authors: Bhatt Vacha , Barvkar Vitthal T. , Furtado Agnelo , Henry Robert J. , Nadaf Altafhusain
Published: June 2021

Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. accumulates the highest concentration of the major basmati aroma volatile 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) in the plant kingdom. The expression of 2AP is correlated with the presence of a nonfunctional betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(BADH2) in aromatic rice and other plant species. In the present study, a full-length BADH2 sequence was reconstructed from the transcriptome data of leaf tissue from P. amaryllifolius seedlings. Based on this sequence, a 1509 bp coding sequence was defined that encoded a 54 kD PaBADH2 protein. This revealed the presence of a full-length BADH2 protein in P. amaryllifolius. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR analysis, combined with BADH2 enzyme activity, confirmed the expression and functionality of the PaBADH2 protein. To understand the apparent structural variation, docking analysis was carried out in which protein showed a good affinity with both betaine aldehyde (BAD) and γ-aminobutyraldehyde (GAB-ald) as substrates. Overall, the analysis showed the presence of a functional BADH2, along with substantial 2AP synthesis (4.38 ppm). Therefore, we conclude that unlike all other plants studied to date, 2AP biosynthesis in P. amaryllifolius is not due to the inactivation of BADH2.
Fructose and the Liver
Authors: Muriel Pablo , López-Sánchez Pedro , Ramos-Tovar Erika
Published: June 2021

Chronic diseases represent a major challenge in world health. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of disturbances affecting several organs, and it has been proposed to be a liver-centered condition. Fructose overconsumption may result in insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, elevated uric acid levels, increased blood pressure, and increased triglyceride concentrations in both the blood and liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a term widely used to describe excessive fatty infiltration in the liver in the absence of alcohol, autoimmune disorders, or viral hepatitis; it is attributed to obesity, high sugar and fat consumption, and sedentarism. If untreated, NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by inflammation and mild fibrosis in addition to fat infiltration and, eventually, advanced scar tissue deposition, cirrhosis, and finally liver cancer, which constitutes the culmination of the disease. Notably, fructose is recognized as a major mediator of NAFLD, as a significant correlation between fructose intake and the degree of inflammation and fibrosis has been found in preclinical and clinical studies. Moreover, fructose is a risk factor for liver cancer development. Interestingly, fructose induces a number of proinflammatory, fibrogenic, and oncogenic signaling pathways that explain its deleterious effects in the body, especially in the liver.
Effects of the Ratio of Porosity to Volumetric Cement Content on the Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cement Bound Fine Grained Soils
Authors: Santana Teresa , Gonçalves João , Pinho Fernando , Micaelo Rui
Published: June 2021

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the effects of porosity, dry density and cement content on the unconfined compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of cement-bound soil mixtures. A clayey sand was used with two different proportions of type IV Portland cement, 10% and 14% of the dry mass of the soil. Specimens were moulded with the same water content but using four different compaction efforts, corresponding to four different dry densities. Unconfined compression testing was conducted at seven days of curing time on unsoaked samples. The results showed that the compressive strength increased with the increase in cement content and with the decrease in porosity. From the experimental data, a unique relationship was found between the unconfined compressive strength and the ratio of porosity to volumetric cement content for all the mixtures and compaction efforts tested. The equation developed demonstrates that it is possible to estimate the amount of cement and the dry density to achieve a certain level of unconfined compressive strength. A normalized general equation was also found to fit other authors’ results for similar soils mixed with cement. From this, a cement-bound soil model was proposed for the development of a mixing design procedure for different soils.
Advanced Neuroimaging Preceding Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Is Safe and Effective
Authors: Psychogios Klearchos , Safouris Apostolos , Kargiotis Odysseas , Magoufis Georgios , Andrikopoulou Athina , Papageorgiou Ermioni , Chondrogianni Maria , Papadimitropoulos Georgios , Polyzogopoulou Eftihia , Spiliopoulos Stavros , Brountzos Elias , Stamboulis Elefterios , Giannopoulos Sotirios , Tsivgoulis Georgios
Published: June 2021

Advanced neuroimaging is one of the most important means that we have in the attempt to overcome time constraints and expand the use of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We assessed whether, and how, the prior use of advanced neuroimaging (AN), and more specifically CT/MR perfusion post-processed with RAPID software, regardless of time from symptoms onset, affected the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who received IVT. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated consecutive AIS patients who received intravenous thrombolysis monotherapy (without endovascular reperfusion) during a six-year period. The study population was divided into two groups according to the neuroimaging protocol used prior to IVT administration in AIS patients (AN+ vs. AN−). Safety outcomes included any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and 3-month mortality. Effectiveness outcomes included door-to-needle time, neurological status (NIHSS-score) on discharge, and functional status at three months assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results. The rate of IVT monotherapy increased from ten patients per year (n = 29) in the AN− to fifteen patients per year (n = 47) in the AN+ group. Although the onset-to-treatment time was longer in the AN+ cohort, the two groups did not differ in door-to-needle time, discharge NIHSS-score, symptomatic ICH, any ICH, 3-month favorable functional outcome (mRS-scores of 0–1), 3-month functional independence (mRS-scores of 0–2), distribution of 3-month mRS-scores, or 3-month mortality. Conclusion. Our pilot observational study showed that the incorporation of advanced neuroimaging in the acute stroke chain pathway in AIS patients increases the yield of IVT administration without affecting the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.
Cangrelor Use in Routine Practice: A Two-Center Experience
Authors: van der Sangen Niels M. R. , Cheung Ho Yee , Verouden Niels J. W. , Appelman Yolande , Beijk Marcel A. M. , Claessen Bimmer E. P. M. , Delewi Ronak , Knaapen Paul , Lemkes Jorrit S. , Nap Alexander , Vis M. Marije , Kikkert Wouter J. , Henriques José P. S.
Published: June 2021

Cangrelor is the first and only intravenous P2Y12-inhibitor and is indicated when (timely) administration of an oral P2Y12 inhibitor is not feasible in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our study evaluated the first years of cangrelor use in two Dutch tertiary care centers. Cangrelor-treated patients were identified using a data-mining algorithm. The cumulative incidences of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis and major bleeding at 48 h and 30 days were assessed using Kaplan–Meier estimates. Predictors of 30-day mortality were identified using uni- and multivariable Cox regression models. Between March 2015 and April 2021, 146 patients (median age 63.7 years, 75.3% men) were treated with cangrelor. Cangrelor was primarily used in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients (84.2%). Approximately half required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (54.8%) or mechanical ventilation (48.6%). The cumulative incidence of all-cause death was 11.0% and 25.3% at 48 h and 30 days, respectively. Two cases (1.7%) of definite stent thrombosis, both resulting in myocardial infarction, occurred within 30 days, but after 48 h. No other cases of recurrent myocardial infarction transpired within 30 days. Major bleeding occurred in 5.6% and 12.5% of patients within 48 h and 30 days, respectively. Cardiac arrest at presentation was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 5.20, 95%-CI: 2.10–12.9, p < 0.01). Conclusively, cangrelor was used almost exclusively in STEMI patients undergoing PCI. Even though cangrelor was used in high-risk patients, its use was associated with a low rate of stent thrombosis.
Relationship between the Severity of Inflammatory Changes in Chronic Sinusitis and the Level of Vitamin D before and after the FESS Procedure
Authors: Kalińczak-Górna Paulina , Radajewski Kamil , Burduk Paweł
Published: June 2021

There have been a few reports confirming that vitamin D (VD3) deficiency increases inflammation in the paranasal sinuses. The work brings new information that, despite the presence of inflammation before surgery, patients with higher vitamin D levels had less inflammation, and this has been proven on three levels. We show that vitamin D levels clearly correlate with the severity of the disease in chronic sinusitis. These results have been confirmed in imaging studies (Lund MacKay scale), endoscopy (Lund-Kennedy scale) and in the SNOT 20 questionnaire. 40 patients suffering from chronic sinusitis were divided into two equal groups: group 1: with less severe radiological changes (10 or less points on the Lund-Mackay scale), group 2: with a more advanced form (>10 points). The relationship between VD3 and the severity of the disease (clinical and nasal endoscopy) was assessed. The mean VD3 level in patients in group 2 before surgery was lower (23.01 ng/mL) than in group 1 (28.02 ng/mL) (p < 0.05). They presented a higher degree of advanced changes in all the above scales, i.e., before the SNOT 20 procedure, the mean was: group 1: 30.33, group 2: 31.80 (p < NS); Lund-Kennedy: group 1: 3.21, group 2: 6.30 (p < 0.05). After surgery an increase in VD3 levels was observed in both study groups: in group 1 to the value of 37.98 ng/mL (p < 0.002) and in group 2 to 27.67 ng/mL (p < 0.004). Lower VD3 levels were found in patients with a higher stage of the disease. Reduction of inflammation increases the level of VD3 and reduces subjective and objective symptoms of chronic inflammation.
National Survey Highlights the Urgent Need for Standardisation of Embryo Transfer Techniques in the UK
Authors: Nancarrow Lewis , Tempest Nicola , Drakeley Andrew J. , Homburg Roy , Russell Richard , Hapangama Dharani K.
Published: June 2021

Embryo transfer (ET) is one of the vital steps in the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) process, yet there is wide variation in ET technique throughout the UK, without a nationally approved standardised approach. The aim of this study was to gain contemporaneous information regarding the current clinical ET practice in the UK. Method: A 38-question electronic survey was distributed to the 79 UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) registered clinics performing ETs. Results: In total, 59% (47/79) of units responded, 83% (39/47) performing ultrasound-guided transfers, with 42% (20/47) of units using a tenaculum; 22% (10/45) would proceed with transfer regardless of fluid in the endometrial cavity. In 91% (43/47) of units, embryos were deposited in the upper/middle portion of the uterine cavity, but interpretation of this area ranged from 0.5 to >2 cm from the fundus, with 68% (32/47) allowing patients to mobilise immediately after transfer. In 60% (27/45) of clinics, success rates were based on clinical pregnancy rates (CPR). Conclusion: Within the UK there is a wide range of variability in ET techniques, with >70% of discordance in survey-responses between clinics. Whilst there are areas of good practice, some disadvantageous techniques continue to persist. This survey emphasises the importance of developing a standardised, evidence-based approach to improve ET success rates.
Clinical Outcomes of Conversion Surgery after FOLFIRINOX in Patients with Unresectable Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Single Center
Authors: Mita Naoki , Iwashita Takuji , Ichikawa Hironao , Iwasa Yuhei , Uemura Shinya , Murase Katsutoshi , Shimizu Masahito
Published: June 2021

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers. To improve its prognosis, conversion surgery for initially unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer (UAPC) after chemotherapy has been reported in recent years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients with initially UAPC underwent conversion surgery after the first-line modified FOLFIRINOX (mFX) was conducted at a single tertiary care center between January 2014 and March 2020. Results: Among 79 patients with UAPC who had mFX, 8 patients with a median age of 63 years, including 5 males (3 with locally advanced and 5 metastatic lesions), underwent conversion surgery after a median of 20 cycles of mFX. Conversion surgery was performed in 10.1% of patients (8/79) and surgical resection was successful in all with R0 resection. Postoperative major adverse events were seen in 2 patients, but no perioperative deaths were recognized. Recurrence was confirmed in 3 patients, and these 3 patients died due to cancer recurrence in 17.7, 30.6 and 57.8 months after mFX initiation. 5 patients were still alive without recurrence. The median OS in the patients who underwent conversion surgery was estimated as 65.9 months and was significantly longer than that of the patients without conversion surgery or that in the patients who had a partial response for mFX but did not have conversion surgery. The median follow-up period for the patients who had conversion surgery was 35.2 months. Conclusion: Conversion surgery achieved long-term survival in patients with UAPC who were treated with the first-line mFX, although controversy still remained.
Association between Odontogenic and Maxillary Sinus Conditions: A Retrospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Study
Authors: Kuligowski Piotr , Jaroń Aleksandra , Preuss Olga , Gabrysz-Trybek Ewa , Bladowska Joanna , Trybek Grzegorz
Published: June 2021

Odontogenic infections can directly trigger maxillary sinusitis. CBCT is an excellent choice for precise examination of maxillary sinuses and hard tissues within the oral cavity. The objective of this retrospective and the cross-sectional study was to analyze the influence of odontogenic conditions on the presence and intensity of maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening using CBCT imaging. Moreover, periodontal bone loss and anatomic relationship between adjacent teeth and maxillary sinuses were assessed to evaluate its possible impact on creating maxillary thickening. The study sample consisted of 200 maxillary sinuses of 100 patients visible on CBCT examination with a field of view of 13 × 15 cm. The presented study revealed a significant influence of periapical lesions, inappropriate endodontic treatment, severe caries, and extracted teeth on the presence of increased thickening of maxillary sinus mucous membrane. In addition, an increase in the distance between root apices and maxillary sinus floor triggered a significant reduction of maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening. The presence of periodontal bone loss significantly increases maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening.
Potential Therapeutic Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients
Authors: Choi Jae Hyuk , Lee Eunkyu , Hong Sang Duk , Chung Seung Kyu , Jung Yong Gi , Kim Hyo Yeol
Published: June 2021

To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on laryngopharyngeal reflux in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, we performed a retrospective analysis of data prospectively collected from patients who underwent CPAP therapy after being diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA between January 2019 and May 2020. Subjects were asked to complete the reflux symptom index (RSI) questionnaire before and after CPAP. Additionally, a laryngoscopic examination was performed to evaluate objective endoscopic findings and determine reflux finding score (RFS). A total of 46 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, significant decreases in mean RSI score (10.85 ± 6.40 vs. 8.80 ± 7.99, p < 0.001) and RFS (7.41 ± 3.32 vs. 4.65 ± 2.12, p < 0.001) were observed after CPAP treatment. Within subdomains of the RSI, throat clearing, postnasal drip, breathing difficulty, troublesome cough, and foreign body sensation were significantly improved by CPAP treatment. All subdomains of RFS, with the exception of posterior commissure hypertrophy and granuloma, showed significant differences after CPAP treatment. There were no differences between subgroups according to body mass index or severity of OSA. CPAP treatment in OSA potentially reduces laryngeal reflux symptoms and improves laryngeal examination findings.
Study on Indium (III) Oxide/Aluminum Thermite Energetic Composites
Authors: Gibot Pierre , Puel Estelle
Published: June 2021

Thermites or composite energetic materials are mixtures made of fuel and oxidizer particles at micron-scale. Thermite reactions are characterized by high adiabatic flame temperatures (>1000 °C) and high heats of reaction (>kJ/cm3), sometimes combined with gas generation. These properties strongly depend on the chemical nature of the couple of components implemented. The present work focuses on the use of indium (III) oxide nanoparticles as oxidizer in the elaboration of nanothermites. Mixed with an aluminum nanopowder, heat of reaction of the resulting Al/In2O3 energetic nanocomposite was calculated and its reactive performance (sensitivity thresholds regarding different stimuli (impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge) and combustion velocity examined. The Al/In2O3 nanothermite, whose heat of reaction was determined of about 11.75 kJ/cm3, was defined as insensitive and moderately sensitive to impact and friction stimuli and extreme sensitive to spark with values >100 N, 324 N, and 0.31 mJ, respectively. The spark sensitivity was decreased by increasing In2O3 oxidizer (27.71 mJ). The combustion speed in confined geometries experiments was established near 500 m/s. The nature of the oxidizer implemented herein within a thermite formulation is reported for the first time.
Prospecting the Effects on Abalone (H. discus) Growth under Low-Salinity Stress after Feeding Citrus Peel (CP) and Ecklonia cava disuse (ECD) as Feed Additives
Authors: Jwa Min-Seok , Hong Chang-Yu
Published: June 2021

This study addressed the effects of adding citrus peel (CP) and Ecklonia cava disuse extract (ECD) in the diet of abalones, which are a highly utilized marine species in Korea. As interest in abalone farming is increasing around the fishing community, the installation of land tanks and fish farms on the southern coast and Jeju Island in South Korea is spreading remarkably. In order to create the best opportunities for survival and reproduction, immunity to disease, and growth potential of abalones, we must consider the diet implemented in abalone farming. The survival rate of abalone has shown positive results when their diet is supplemented with CP and ECD. Our research also concluded that the addition of ECD may have a significant effect on the abalone growth and physiology.
Mean Wave Drift Forces on a Barge-Type Floating Wind Turbine Platform with Moonpools
Authors: Tan Lei , Ikoma Tomoki , Aida Yasuhiro , Masuda Koichi
Published: June 2021

Barge-type platforms with moonpools are a promising type of foundation for floating offshore wind turbines due to their good seakeeping performance. In this paper, the mean wave drift force on a barge-type vertical-axis floating wind turbine with multiple moonpools was investigated through physical model testing and numerical calculations using WAMIT. The focus was on the characteristics of mean drift load and its optimization potential. The present numerical results indicated that the application of moonpools was useful in reducing horizontal mean drift force at specific frequencies, and the reason was ascribed to the significant radiation effect of the resonant water oscillations in moonpools. The observed reduction effect on mean drift force was shown to be dependent on the viscous damping of moonpool resonance. The experimental results showed that the maximum response of the mean sway drift force was reduced by the gyroscopic effect of rotations of the vertical-axis wind turbine, and this reduction effect became stronger as the rotating speed of the wind turbine increased, but was weakened as wave amplitude increased. The comparisons between experimental data and potential flow predictions indicated that viscous effects should be taken into account to reasonably estimate the mean wave drift forces on barge-type floating wind turbines.
The Influence of Wind Direction during Storms on Sea Temperature in the Coastal Water of Muping, China
Authors: Zheng Xiangyang , Ding Yana , Xu Yandong , Zou Tao , Wang Chunlei , Xing Qianguo
Published: June 2021

Sea temperature structures are important for water stratification and marine ecosystems. In the coastal water of Muping, China, stationary measurements of sea temperature captured temporal temperature changes during two summer storm events. The north component of the wind during the two storms was opposite. The temperature responded differently to wind directions in the two storm events. A well-validated numerical ocean model was used to investigate the mechanism of sea temperature variation of the coast of Muping. The model revealed that the southerly and easterly wind was upwelling-favorable in the study area. They generated the shoreward transport of bottom cold water, which induced bottom water cooling, enhanced stratification, and weakened vertical mixing. On the other hand, the northerly and westerly wind was downwelling-favorable and enhanced turbulent mixing. The alongshore upwelling-favorable wind caused more cross-shore transport than cross-shore upwelling-favorable wind, which resulted in stronger bottom cooling. Similarly, alongshore downwelling-favorable wind generated lower temperature than cross-shore wind. A surface cold-water band was formed in the second storm. Although it was formed during upwelling-favorable wind, the temperature balance analysis indicated that vertical mixing and westward horizontal advection were the two dominant processes compared to upwelling.
A Review of Marine Viruses in Coral Ecosystem
Authors: Ambalavanan Logajothiswaran , Iehata Shumpei , Fletcher Rosanne , Stevens Emylia H. , Zainathan Sandra C.
Published: June 2021

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse biological systems on earth. Corals are classified as marine invertebrates and filter the surrounding food and other particles in seawater, including pathogens such as viruses. Viruses act as both pathogen and symbiont for metazoans. Marine viruses that are abundant in the ocean are mostly single-, double stranded DNA and single-, double stranded RNA viruses. These discoveries were made via advanced identification methods which have detected their presence in coral reef ecosystems including PCR analyses, metagenomic analyses, transcriptomic analyses and electron microscopy. This review discusses the discovery of viruses in the marine environment and their hosts, viral diversity in corals, presence of virus in corallivorous fish communities in reef ecosystems, detection methods, and occurrence of marine viral communities in marine sponges.
Design and Implementation for the High Voltage DC-DC Converter of the Subsea Observation Network
Authors: Zhang Feng , Zhang Zhifeng , Xiao Sa , Xie Kai , Ni Jiawei , Gu Haolun , Wu Yong , Ning Yang , Xia Qingchao
Published: June 2021

The subsea observation network has become an indispensable means of ocean exploration worldwide. However, the scale of the subsea observation network is limited by the power supply voltage and power level. Hence, to promote the development of a subsea observation network, this paper investigates the underwater high voltage DC-DC converter (HVC), which greatly improves the voltage and power level of the subsea observation network. The traditional series-parallel converter based on multi-module is faced with many technical problems, such as difficult transformer isolation, many fault points, low power density under higher input voltage level, and higher output power. The subsea HVC of this paper adopts a modular multilevel resonant DC-DC converter. The main circuit of HVC is designed in detail, including a module circuit, a resonant circuit, and a control scheme. Through the combination of the sub-module removal voltage regulation and closed-loop control, the converter can still output a stable voltage of 375 V when the input voltage changes. The modular sub-module and centralized transformer structure enables the converter to isolate high voltage easily, small volume, and high power density. The simulation and experiment results show the proposed HVC meets the design requirements and has good application prospects. It can be applied to submarine power transmission and distribution needs because of its wide range, large transformation ratio, and high efficiency.
Eye Infections Caused by Filamentous Fungi: Spectrum and Antifungal Susceptibility of the Prevailing Agents in Germany
Authors: Walther Grit , Zimmermann Anna , Theuersbacher Johanna , Kaerger Kerstin , von Lilienfeld-Toal Marie , Roth Mathias , Kampik Daniel , Geerling Gerd , Kurzai Oliver
Published: June 2021

Fungal eye infections can lead to loss of vision and blindness. The disease is most prevalent in the tropics, although case numbers in moderate climates are increasing as well. This study aimed to determine the dominating filamentous fungi causing eye infections in Germany and their antifungal susceptibility profiles in order to improve treatment, including cases with unidentified pathogenic fungi. As such, we studied all filamentous fungi isolated from the eye or associated materials that were sent to the NRZMyk between 2014 and 2020. All strains were molecularly identified and antifungal susceptibility testing according to the EUCAST protocol was performed for common species. In total, 242 strains of 66 species were received. Fusarium was the dominating genus, followed by Aspergillus, Purpureocillium, Alternaria, and Scedosporium. The most prevalent species in eye samples were Fusarium petroliphilum, F. keratoplasticum, and F. solani of the Fusarium solani species complex. The spectrum of species comprises less susceptible taxa for amphotericin B, natamycin, and azoles, including voriconazole. Natamycin is effective for most species but not for Aspergillus flavus or Purpureocillium spp. Some strains of F. solani show MICs higher than 16 mg/L. Our data underline the importance of species identification for correct treatment.
Discovery of Novel Backusella (Backusellaceae, Mucorales) Isolated from Invertebrates and Toads in Cheongyang, Korea
Authors: Nguyen Thuong T.T. , Voigt Kerstin , Santiago André Luiz Cabral Monteiro de Azevedo , Kirk Paul M. , Lee Hyang Burm
Published: June 2021

Three novel fungal species, Backusella chlamydospora sp. nov., B. koreana sp. nov., and B. thermophila sp. nov., as well as two new records, B. oblongielliptica and B. oblongispora, were found in Cheongyang, Korea, during an investigation of fungal species from invertebrates and toads. All species are described here using morphological characters and sequence data from internal transcribed spacer sequences of ribosomal DNA and large subunit of the ribosomal DNA. Backusella chlamydospora is different from other Backusella species by producing chlamydospores. Backusella koreana can be distinguished from other Backusella species by producing abundant yeast-like cells. Backusella thermophila is characterized by a variable (subglobose to oblong, applanate to oval, conical and ellipsoidal to pyriform) columellae and grows well at 37 °C. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of the combined ITS and LSU rDNA sequences data generated from maximum likelihood and MrBayes analyses indicate that B. chlamydospora, B. koreana, and B. thermophila form distinct lineages in the family Backusellaceae. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, phylogenetic tree, and taxonomic key to the Backusella species present in Korea are provided.
Cultivable Yeast Microbiota from the Marine Fish Species Genypterus chilensis and Seriolella violacea
Authors: Valderrama Benjamín , Ruiz José J. , Gutiérrez María Soledad , Alveal Katherine , Caruffo Mario , Oliva Marcia , Flores Héctor , Silva Alfonso , Toro Magaly , Reyes-Jara Angélica , Navarrete Paola
Published: June 2021

Because of its outstanding biological and industrial importance, many efforts have been made to characterize the mycobiota of new environments and their biochemical and biotechnological potentials. Gut mycobiota can be a source of novel yeasts with the potential to be used as probiotics or have industrial applications. In this work, we characterized two as-yet unexplored yeast communities from the intestinal content of the cultured marine Chilean fishes Genypterus chilensis (G. chilensis) and Seriolella violacea (S. violacea). Yeasts were isolated through culture, identified by sequencing their ITS region, and characterized their enzymatic profile with API®ZYM. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was identified in both fish species. For the first time, Candida palmioleophila, Candida pseudorugosa, Cystobasidium slooffiae, and a member of the Yamadazyma genus were also identified and described as part of the normal fish gut–microbiota. Furthermore, the diverse enzymatic profile exhibited by some of these isolates suggests that it may be possible to develop novel applications for them, such as new probiotics and other biotechnological applications.
Invasive Fungal Infections in Children with Haematological Malignancies: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges
Authors: Tragiannidis Athanasios , Kattamis Antonios , Vyzantiadis Timoleon-Achilleas
Published: June 2021

The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has dramatically increased over the last few decades in parallel with the increased number of immunocompromised patients [...]
Circulating Tumor Cell Persistence Associates with Long-Term Clinical Outcome to a Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Guldvik Ingrid Jenny , Ekseth Lina , Kishan Amar U. , Stensvold Andreas , Inderberg Else Marit , Lilleby Wolfgang
Published: June 2021

De novo metastatic or recurrence of prostate cancer (PC) remains life-threatening. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are noninvasive biomarkers and provide unique information that could enable tailored treatment. This study evaluated the impact of CTCs in PC patients eligible for peptide vaccine therapy. Twenty-seven patients were tested for CTCs with the CellCollector® device (Detector CANCER01(DC01)) during short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) before cancer vaccine treatment (cohort 1) or salvage radiation (cohort 2). CTC counts were compared to clinicopathological parameters. In cohort 1, CTCs were correlated to immune responses, serum protein profiles, and clinical outcomes. In cohort 2, captured CTCs were further profiled for expression of PSMA, PAP, and PD-L1. Nine out of 22 patients (40.9%) in cohort 1 were CTC positive. These patients demonstrated vaccine-specific immune response (p = 0.009) and long-term prostate cancer-specific survival (log-rank, p = 0.008). All five patients in cohort 2 had CTCs at recurrence (count range 18–31), and 4/5 had CTCs positive for PSMA, PAP, and PD-L1. The DC01 CTC detection provides information beyond current clinical practice. Despite the small size of cohort 1, a correlation between CTC detection and outcome was shown.
Forecasting Volatility and Tail Risk in Electricity Markets
Authors: Naimoli Antonio , Storti Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

This paper investigates the benefits of jointly using several realized measures in predicting daily price volatility, Value-at-Risk, and Expected Shortfall in the Australian electricity markets of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. We propose using Realized GARCH-type models with multiple measurement equations based on robust estimators to account for market microstructure noise and jumps in electricity price series. The model specifications that combine information from multiple realized measures improve the in-sample fit of the data. The out-of-sample analysis shows that use of the jump-robust medRV estimator significantly increases the accuracy of volatility forecasts, while in forecasting Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall at different risk levels, the standard GARCH(1,1) also performs remarkably well.
Factors Affecting the Price of Cost-Equivalent Land: Application of Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Authors: Fang Shao-Chi , Yeh Wen-Chih , Lee Chun-Chang , Yu Zheng
Published: June 2021

This study examined 19 urban land consolidation areas in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, as well as cost-equivalent lands auctioned off from 2013 to 2019. Hierarchical linear modeling was used for analysis, in which the Level 1b variables pertained to cost-equivalent land and the Level 2 variables pertained to land consolidation areas. According to the empirical results, in terms of the estimation results, there were significant differences between the mean price of each urban land consolidation area. Therefore, HLM is suitable for the subsequent analysis. A total of 76.7% of the differences in the mean land consolidation area price were contributed by the differences between the land consolidation areas. Therefore, it is important to consider the differences generated by the particular features of each area.
Report of a Novel ALOX12B Mutation in Self-Improving Collodion Ichthyosis with an Overview of the Genetic Background of the Collodion Baby Phenotype
Authors: Anker Pálma , Kiss Norbert , Kocsis István , Czemmel Éva , Becker Krisztina , Zakariás Sára , Plázár Dóra , Farkas Klára , Mayer Balázs , Nagy Nikoletta , Széll Márta , Ács Nándor , Szalai Zsuzsanna , Medvecz Márta
Published: June 2021

Collodion baby is a congenital, transient phenotype encountered in approximately 70–90% of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis and is an important entity of neonatal erythroderma. The clinical outcome after this severe condition is variable. Genetic mutations of components of the epidermal lipoxygenase pathway have been implicated in the majority of self-improving collodion ichthyosis (SICI). In SICI, the shedding of the collodion membrane reveals clear skin or only mild residual manifestation of ichthyosis. Here we report the case of a girl born with a severe form of collodion baby phenotype, whose skin almost completely cleared within the first month of life. At the age of 3 years, only mild symptoms of a keratinization disorder remained. However, the severity of erythema and scaling showed mild fluctuations over time. To objectively evaluate the skin changes of the patient, we assessed the ichthyosis severity index. Upon sequencing of the ALOX12B gene, we identified a previously unreported heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.1607G>A (p.Trp536Ter) with the recurrent, heterozygous mutation c.1562A>G (p.Tyr521Cys). Thereby, our findings expand the genotypic spectrum of SICI. In addition, we summarize the spectrum of further genetic diseases that can present at birth as collodion baby, in particular the SICI.
SSEA-4 Antigen Is Expressed on Rabbit Lymphocyte Subsets
Authors: Vašíček Jaromír , Baláži Andrej , Bauer Miroslav , Chrenek Peter
Published: June 2021

SSEA-4 antigen can be mainly found in embryos and embryonic stem cells. However, its expression has been observed also in adult stem and progenitor cells, or even in some differentiated cells. Moreover, we found a considerable number of SSEA-4 positive (SSEA-4+) cells within the rabbit peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells (PBMCs and BMMCs) in our previous study. Since no information about such cells can be found anywhere in the literature, the aim of this study was to identify their origin. At first, phenotypic analyses of fresh rabbit PBMCs and BMMCs were performed using flow cytometry and specific antibodies against SSEA-4 and leukocyte subsets. Then, SSEA-4+ were enriched using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and analyzed for their phenotype using qPCR. We found significant SSEA-4+ cell population in PBMCs (~50%) and BMMCs (~20%). All those cells co-expressed CD45 and a majority of them also expressed B-cell marker (IgM; 50% of SSEA-4+ PBMCs and 60% of SSEA-4+ BMMCs). Increased (p < 0.05) expression of SSEA-4, CD45 and B-cell markers (IgM, CD79α and MHCII) were also noticed by qPCR in SSEA-4+ cells enriched via MACS (with efficiency over 80%). Both methods did not detect significant expression of monocyte or T-cell markers. In conclusion, SSEA-4+ cells in rabbit blood and bone marrow are of hematopoietic origin and probably belong to B-lineage cells as possessing the phenotype of B lymphocytes. However, the true function of SSEA-4 antigen in these cells should be explored by further studies.
Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using a Grad-CAM-Based Convolutional Neuro-Fuzzy Network
Authors: Lin Cheng-Jian , Jhang Jyun-Yu
Published: June 2021

When a machine tool is used for a long time, its bearing experiences wear and failure due to heat and vibration, resulting in damage to the machine tool. In order to make the machine tool stable for processing, this paper proposes a smart bearing diagnosis system (SBDS), which uses a gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM)-based convolutional neuro-fuzzy network (GC-CNFN) to detect the bearing status of the machine tool. The developed GC-CNFN is composed of a convolutional layer and neuro-fuzzy network. The convolutional layer can automatically extract vibration signal features, which are then classified using the neuro-fuzzy network. Moreover, Grad-CAM is used to analyze the attention of the diagnosis model. To verify the performance of bearing fault classification, the 1D CNN (ODCNN) and improved 1D LeNet-5 (I1DLeNet) were adopted to compare with the proposed GC-CNFN. Experimental results showed that the proposed GC-CNFN required fewer parameters (20K), had a shorter average calculation time (117.7 s), and had a higher prediction accuracy (99.88%) in bearing fault classification. The proposed SBDS can not only accurately classify bearing faults, but also help users understand the current status of the machine tool.
A Variant of the Necessary Condition for the Absolute Continuity of Symmetric Multivariate Mixture
Authors: Savinov Evgeniy Anatolievich
Published: June 2021

Sufficient conditions are given under which the absolute continuity of the joint distribution of conditionally independent random variables can be violated. It is shown that in the case of a dimension n>1 this occurs for a sufficiently large number of discontinuity points of one-dimensional conditional distributions.
Definite Integral of Logarithmic Functions in Terms of the Incomplete Gamma Function
Authors: Reynolds Robert , Stauffer Allan
Published: June 2021

In this article we derive some entries and errata for the book of Gradshteyn and Ryzhik which were originally published by Bierens de Haan. We summarize our results using tables for easy reading and referencing.