bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Findings from Community-Based Screenings for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in at Risk Communities in Cape Town, South Africa: A Pilot Study
Authors: Hill Jillian , Peer Nasheeta , Jonathan Deborah , Mayige Mary , Sobngwi Eugene , Kengne Andre Pascal
Published: April 2020

Completed and ongoing implementation activities globally advocate for community-based approaches to improve strategies for type 2 diabetes prevention. However, little is known about such strategies in the African region where there are higher relative increases in diabetes prevalence. We reported findings from the first 8-month pilot phase of the South African diabetes prevention program. The study was conducted across eight townships (four black and four mixed-ancestry communities) in Cape Town, South Africa, between August 2017 and March 2018. Participants were recruited using both random and self-selected sampling techniques because the former approach proved to be ineffective; <10% of randomly selected individuals consented to participate. Non-laboratory-based diabetes risk screening, using the African diabetes risk score, and based on targeted population specific cut-offs, identified potentially high-risk adults in the community. This was followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to confirm prevalent pre-diabetes. Among the 853 adults without prior diabetes who were screened in the community, 354 (43.4%) were classified as high risk, and 316 presented for further screening. On OGTT, 13.1% had dysglycemia, including 10% with screen-detected diabetes and 67.9% with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)-defined high risk. Participants with pre-diabetes (n = 208) had high levels of common cardiovascular risk factors, i.e., obesity (73.7%), elevated total cholesterol (51.9%), and hypertension (29.4%). Self-referral is likely an efficient method for selecting participants for community-based diabetes risk screening in Africa. Post-screening management of individuals with pre-diabetes must include attention to co-morbid cardiovascular risk factors.
Neuroprotective Effects of Emodin against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Activating ERK-1/2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Leung Stephen Wan , Lai Jing Huei , Wu John Chung-Che , Tsai Yan-Rou , Chen Yen-Hua , Kang Shuo-Jhen , Chiang Yung-Hsiao , Chang Cheng-Fu , Chen Kai-Yun
Published: April 2020

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and places a heavy burden on the economy in our society. Current treatments, such as the use of thrombolytic agents, are often limited by a narrow therapeutic time window. However, the regeneration of the brain after damage is still active days, even weeks, after stroke occurs, which might provide a second window for treatment. Emodin, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used to treat acute hepatitis, has been reported to possess antioxidative capabilities and protective effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the underlying mechanisms and neuroprotective functions of Emodin in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemic stroke remain unknown. This study investigates neuroprotective effects of Emodin in ischemia both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: PC12 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation to simulate hypoxic injury, and the involved signaling pathways and results of Emodin treatment were evaluated. The therapeutic effects of Emodin in ischemia animals were further investigated. Results: Emodin reduced infarct volume and cell death following focal cerebral ischemia injury. Emodin treatment restored PC12 cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and glutamate release under conditions of ischemia/hypoxia. Emodin increased Bcl-2 and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-l) expression but suppressed activated-caspase 3 levels through activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 signaling pathway. Conclusion: Emodin induced Bcl-2 and GLT-1 expression to inhibit neuronal apoptosis and ROS generation while reducing glutamate toxicity via the ERK-1/2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, Emodin alleviated nerve cell injury following ischemia/reperfusion in a rat MCAO model. Emodin has neuroprotective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury both in vitro and in vivo, which may be through activating the ERK-1/2 signaling pathway.
Integrin αvβ3 in the Mediating Effects of Dihydrotestosterone and Resveratrol on Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
Authors: Ho Yih , Li Zi-Lin , Shih Ya-Jung , Chen Yi-Ru , Wang Kuan , Whang-Peng Jacqueline , Lin Hung-Yun , Davis Paul J.
Published: April 2020

Hormones and their receptors play an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Hormones regulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells through binding between estrogen or progestins and steroid receptors that may reside in the cytoplasm or be transcriptionally activated as steroid–protein nuclear receptor complexes. However, receptors for nonpeptide hormones also exist in the plasma membrane. Via those receptors, hormones are able to stimulate breast cancer cell proliferation when activated. Integrins are heterodimeric structural proteins of the plasma membrane. Their primary functions are to interact with extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors. Recently, integrin αvβ3 has been identified as a receptor for nonpeptide hormones, such as thyroid hormone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT promotes the proliferation of human breast cancer cells through binding to integrin αvβ3. A receptor for resveratrol, a polyphenol stilbene, also exists on this integrin in breast cancer cells, mediating the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic action of the compound in these cells. Unrelated activities of DHT and resveratrol that originate at integrin depend upon downstream stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK1/2) activity, suggesting the existence of distinct, function-specific pools of ERK1/2 within the cell. This review will discuss the features of these receptors in breast cancer cells, in turn suggesting clinical applications that are based on the interactions of resveratrol/DHT with integrin αvβ3 and other androgen receptors.
Amino Acid Deletions in p6Gag Domain of HIV-1 CRF07_BC Ameliorate Galectin-3 Mediated Enhancement in Viral Budding
Authors: Wang Wen-Hung , Yeh Chun-Sheng , Lin Chih-Yen , Yuan Ruei-Yu , Urbina Aspiro Nayim , Lu Po-Liang , Chen Yen-Hsu , Chen Yi-Ming Arthur , Liu Fu-Tong , Wang Sheng-Fan
Published: April 2020

HIV-1 CRF07_BC is a recombinant virus with amino acid (a.a.) deletions in p6Gag, which are overlapped with the Alix-binding domain. Galectin-3 (Gal3), a β-galactose binding lectin, has been reported to interact with Alix and regulate HIV-1 subtype B budding. This study aims to evaluate the role of Gal3 in HIV-1 CRF07_BC infection and the potential effect of a.a. deletions on Gal3-mediated regulation. A total of 38 HIV-1+ injecting drug users (IDUs) were enrolled in the study. Viral characterization and correlation of Gal3 were validated. CRF07_BC containing 7 a.a. deletions and wild-type in the p6Gag (CRF07_BC-7d and -wt) were isolated and infectious clones were generated. Viral growth kinetic and budding assays using Jurkat-CCR5/Jurkat-CCR5-Gal3 cells infected with CRF07_BC were performed. Results indicate that 69.4% (25/38) of the recruited patients were identified as CRF07_BC, and CRF07_BC-7d was predominant. Slow disease progression and significantly higher plasma Gal3 were noted in CRF07_BC patients (p < 0.01). Results revealed that CRF07_BC infection resulted in Gal3 expression, which was induced by Tat. Growth dynamic and budding assays indicated that Gal3 expression in Jurkat-CCR5 cells significantly enhanced CRF07_BC-wt replication and budding (p < 0.05), while the promoting effect was ameliorated in CRF07_BC-7d. Co-immunoprecipitation found that deletions in the p6Gag reduced Gal-3-mediated enhancement of the Alix–Gag interaction.
Alteration of the Dopamine Receptors’ Expression in the Cerebellum of the Lysosomal Acid Phosphatase 2 Mutant (Naked–Ataxia (NAX)) Mouse
Authors: Mehdizadeh Mehdi , Ashtari Niloufar , Jiao Xiaodan , Rahimi Balaei Maryam , Marzban Asghar , Qiyami-Hour Farshid , Kong Jiming , Ghavami Saeid , Marzban Hassan
Published: April 2020

A spontaneous mutation in the lysosomal acid phosphatase (Acp2) enzyme (nax: naked–ataxia) in experimental mice results in delayed hair appearance and severe cytoarchitectural impairments of the cerebellum, such as a Purkinje cell (PC) migration defect. In our previous investigation, our team showed that Acp2 expression plans a significant role in cerebellar development. On the other hand, the dopaminergic system is also a player in central nervous system (CNS) development, including cerebellar structure and function. In the current investigation, we have explored how Acp2 can be involved in the regulation of the dopaminergic pathway in the cerebellum via the regulation of dopamine receptor expression and patterning. We provided evidence about the distribution of different dopamine receptors in the developing cerebellum by comparing the expression of dopamine receptors on postnatal days (P) 5 and 17 between nax mice and wild–type (wt) littermates. To this aim, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were conducted using five antibodies against dopamine receptors (DRD1, –2, –3, –4, and –5) accompanied by RNAseq data. Our results revealed that DRD1, –3, and –4 gene expressions significantly increased in nax cerebella but not in wt, while gene expressions of all 5 receptors were evident in PCs of both wt and nax cerebella. DRD3 was strongly expressed in the PCs’ somata and cerebellar nuclei neurons at P17 in nax mice, which was comparable to the expression levels in the cerebella of wt littermates. In addition, DRD3 was expressed in scattered cells in a granular layer reminiscent of Golgi cells and was observed in the wt cerebella but not in nax mice. DRD4 was expressed in a subset of PCs and appeared to align with the unique parasagittal stripes pattern. This study contributes to our understanding of alterations in the expression pattern of DRDs in the cerebellum of nax mice in comparison to their wt littermates, and it highlights the role of Acp2 in regulating the dopaminergic system.
Correction: Qi, W., et al. (+)-Usnic Acid Induces ROS-Dependent Apoptosis via Inhibition of Mitochondria Respiratory Chain Complexes and Nrf2 Expression in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 876
Authors: Qi Wanchen , Lu Changpeng , Huang Huiliang , Zhang Weinan , Song Shaofei , Liu Bing
Published: April 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
A Review of In-Situ Grown Nanocomposite Coatings for Titanium Alloy Implants
Authors: Gunputh Urvashi F. , Le Huirong
Published: April 2020

Composite coatings are commonly applied to medical metal implants in order to improve biocompatibility and/or bioactivity. In this context, two types of titanium-based composite coatings have been reviewed as biocompatible and anti-bacterial coatings. The different composites can be synthesised on the surface of titanium using various methods, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Moving with the smart and nanotechnology, multifunctional nanocomposite coatings have been introduced on implants and scaffolds for tissue engineering with the aim of providing more than one properties when required. In this context, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes have been shown to enhance the properties of titanium-based implants as part of nanocomposite coatings.
Application of STORMTOOLS Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI) to Inform State and Local Planning and Decision Making along the Southern RI Shoreline
Authors: Spaulding Malcolm L. , Grilli Annette , Damon Chris , Crean Teresa , Fugate Grover
Published: April 2020

STORMTOOLS coastal environmental risk index (CERI) was applied to communities located along the southern coast of Rhode Island (RI) to determine the risk to structures located in the flood plain. CERI uses estimates of the base flood elevation (BFE), explicitly including the effects of sea level rise (SLR); details on the structure types, from the E911 emergency data base/parcel data, and associated first floor elevation (FFE); and damage curves from the US Army Corp of Engineers North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) to determine the damages to structures for the study area. Surge levels and associated offshore waves used to determine BFEs were obtained from the NACCS hydrodynamic and wave model predictions. The impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion on flooding were modeled using XBeach and STWAVE and validated by observations at selected locations along the coastline. CERI estimated the structural damage to each structure in the coastal flood plain for 100 yr flooding with SLR ranging from 0 to 10 ft. The number of structures at risk was estimated to increase approximate linearly from 3700 for no SLR to about 8000 for 10 ft SLR, with about equal percentages for each of the four coastal communities (Narragansett, South Kingstown, Charlestown, and Westerly, Rhode Island (RI)). The majority of the structures in the flood plain are single/story residences without (41%) and with (46%) basements (total 87%; structures with basements are the most vulnerable). Less vulnerable are structures elevated on piles with 8.8% of the total. The remaining are commercial structures principally located either in the Port of Galilee and or Watch Hill. The analysis showed that about 20% of the structures in the 100 yr flood plain are estimated to be damaged at 50% or greater. This increases to 55% of structures as SLR rises to 5 ft. At higher SLR values the percent damaged at 50% or greater slowly declines to 45% at 10 ft SLR. This behavior is a result of the number of homes below MSL increasing dramatically as SLR values moves higher than 5 ft and thus being removed from the structures damaged pool. Generalized CERI risk maps have developed to allow the managers to determine the broad risk of siting structures at any location in their communities. CERI has recently become available as a mobile phone App, facilitating the ability of state and local decision makers and the public to determine the risk of locating a selected building type at any location in their communities.
Identification of AflR Binding Sites in the Genome of Aspergillus flavus by ChIP-Seq
Authors: Kong Qing , Chang Perng-Kuang , Li Chunjuan , Hu Zhaorong , Zheng Mei , Sun Quanxi , Shan Shihua
Published: April 2020

We report here the AflR binding motif of Aspergillus flavus for the first time with the aid of ChIP-seq analysis. Of the 540 peak sequences associated with AflR binding events, 66.8% were located within 2 kb upstream (promoter region) of translational start sites. The identified 18-bp binding motif was a perfect palindromic sequence, 5′-CSSGGGWTCGAWCCCSSG’3′ with S representing G or C and W representing A or T. On closer examination, we hypothesized that the 18-bp motif sequence identified contained two identical parts (here called motif A and motif B). Motif A was in positions 8–18 on the upper strand, while motif B was in positions 11-1 on the bottom strand. The inferred length and sequence of the putative motif identified in A. flavus were similar to previous findings in A. parasiticus and A. nidulans. Gene ontology analysis indicated that AflR bound to other genes outside the aflatoxin biosynthetic gene cluster.
An Experimental and Computational Study of the High-Velocity Impact of Low-Density Aluminum Foam
Authors: Borovinšek Matej , Vesenjak Matej , Hokamoto Kazuyuki , Ren Zoran
Published: April 2020

The study presents the results of an experimental and computational study of the high-velocity impact of low-density aluminum foam into a rigid wall. It is shown that the aluminum foam samples deformed before hitting the rigid wall because of the high inertial forces during the acceleration. During the impact, the samples deformed only in the region contacting the rigid wall due to the high impact velocity; the inertial effects dominated the deformation process. However, the engineering stress–strain relationship retains its typical plateau shape until the densification strain. The experimental tests were successfully reproduced with parametric computer simulations using the LS-DYNA explicit finite element code. A unique computational lattice-type model was used, which can reproduce the randomness of the irregular, open-cell structure of aluminum foams. Parametric computer simulations of twenty different aluminum foam sample models with randomly generated irregular lattice structures were carried out at different acceleration levels to obtain representative statistical results. The high strain-rate sensitivity of low-density aluminum foam was also observed. A comparison of experimental and computational results during aluminum foam sample impact shows very similar deformation behavior. The computational model correctly represents the real impact conditions of low-density aluminum foam and can be recommended for use in similar high-velocity impact investigations.
A Characterization of Ruled Real Hypersurfaces in Non-Flat Complex Space Forms
Authors: Kaimakamis George , Panagiotidou Konstantina , Pérez Juan de Dios
Published: April 2020

The Levi-Civita connection and the k-th generalized Tanaka-Webster connection are defined on a real hypersurface M in a non-flat complex space form. For any nonnull constant k and any vector field X tangent to M the k-th Cho operator F X ( k ) is defined and is related to both connections. If X belongs to the maximal holomorphic distribution D on M, the corresponding operator does not depend on k and is denoted by F X and called Cho operator. In this paper, real hypersurfaces in non-flat space forms such that F X S = S F X , where S denotes the Ricci tensor of M and a further condition is satisfied, are classified.
Analysis of Sexual Disorders in Men with Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treated by Stent-Graft or Prosthesis Implantation—A Pilot Study
Authors: Sznapka Mariola , Brzęk Anna , Ziaja Damian , Tkocz Michał , Pawlicki Krzysztof , Ziaja Krzysztof , Skrzypulec-Plinta Violetta , Chudek Jerzy , Kuczmik Wacław
Published: April 2020

Background and objectives: Patients with obstruction or stenosis of the aorta and iliac arteries or with aortic aneurysm, often co-existing with iliac artery aneurysms, suffer from sexual disorders because of insufficient perfusion to the pelvic organs and penis. This is often the cause of visits to a medical doctor’s office with reports of a difficult life situation and a problem with the satisfactory completion of sexual intercourse. A low percentage of vascular surgeons or angiologists are prepared to talk about issues related to the hereditary sphere with a patient who qualifies for the treatment of Leriche syndrome or abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aim of this study was to analyze sexual disorders in men with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm treated by stent-graft or prosthesis implantation. Material and methods, Outcomes: 38 patients who completed the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile for Men) questionnaire are presented. Initially, 146 qualified for the study after meeting the study inclusion criteria for surgery (Group 1) or for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (Group 2). Results: In the study, no negative impact of smoking was found; however, over 95% of respondents had been smoking for many years in both groups. Patients who qualified for vascular prosthesis implantation were subject to a more advanced atherosclerotic process involving the aorta and iliac arteries. Patients who qualified for stent-graft implantation were twice as often treated for coronary vessel stenosis. In Group 1, the percentage differences, as shown by questions 1 and 5, were statistically significant (58, i.e., 25%, and 40, i.e., 29%). Conclusions: Education should target medical personnel in terms of conversations with patients, as well as men who are directly affected by this problem, although their partners and families should not be neglected in these activities. The ability to communicate properly allows for an open dialogue on issues that the patient finds difficult, particularly in the field of sexology.
Investigation on the Case-Hardening Behavior of Additively Manufactured 16MnCr5
Authors: Bartels Dominic , Klaffki Julian , Pitz Indra , Merklein Carsten , Kostrewa Florian , Schmidt Michael
Published: April 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M), allow for the fabrication of complex parts due to their high freedom of design. PBF-LB/M is already used in several different industrial application fields, especially the automotive and aerospace industries. Nevertheless, the amount of materials being processed using AM technologies is relatively small compared to conventional manufacturing. Due to this, an extension of the material portfolio is necessary for fulfilling the demands of these industries. In this work, the AM of case-hardening steel 16MnCr5 using PBF-LB/M is investigated. In this context, the influences of different processing strategies on the final hardness of the material are studied. This includes, e.g., stress relief heat treatment and microstructure modification to increase the resulting grain size, thus ideally simplifying the carbon diffusion during case hardening. Furthermore, different heat treatment strategies (stress relief heat treatment and grain coarsening annealing) were applied to the as-built samples for modifying the microstructure and the effect on the final hardness of case-hardened specimens. The additively manufactured specimens are compared to conventionally fabricated samples after case hardening. Thus, an increase in both case-hardening depth and maximum hardness is observed for additively manufactured specimens, leading to superior mechanical properties.
Mechanical Performance Evaluation of the Al-Mg-Si-(Cu) Aluminum Alloys after Transient Thermal Shock through an Novel Equivalent Structure Design and Finite Element Modeling
Authors: Xu Congchang , Liu Ke , He Hong , Xiang Hanlin , Zhang Xinxin , Li Luoxing
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the microstructure evolution and mechanical performance of the Al-Mg-Si-(Cu) aluminum alloy after transient thermal shock were investigated through experimental tests and finite element simulations. A novel equivalent structure was designed as a typical case in which one side of the plate was welded therefore the other side was thermally shocked with different temperature distribution and duration. The temperature gradient which influences most importantly the mechanical properties was simulated and experimentally verified. Through cutting layers and tensile testing, the mechanical response and material constitutive relation were obtained for each layer. Gurson-Tvergaard-Needlemen (GTN) damage parameters of these samples under large strains were then obtained by the Swift law inverse analysis approach. By sorting the whole welded joint into multi-material composed structure and introducing the obtained material constitutive relation and damage parameters, tensile properties were precisely predicted for typical types of weld joint such as butt, corner, and lap joints. The results show that precipitate coarsening, phase transformation from β″ phase to Q′ phase, and dissolving in the temperature range of 243.3–466.3 °C during the thermal shock induced a serious deterioration of the mechanical properties. The highest reduction of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS) would be 38.6% and 57.4% respectively. By comparing the simulated and experimentally obtained force-displacement curves, the error for the above prediction method was evaluated to be less than 8.1%, indicating the proposed method being effective and reliable.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Assemblages Significantly Shifted upon Bacterial Inoculation in Non-Contaminated and Petroleum-Contaminated Environments
Authors: Dagher Dimitri J. , de la Providencia Ivan E. , Pitre Frédéric E. , St-Arnaud Marc , Hijri Mohamed
Published: April 2020

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to reduce plant stress and improve their health and growth, making them important components of the plant-root associated microbiome, especially in stressful conditions such as petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) contaminated environments. Purposely manipulating the root-associated AMF assemblages in order to improve plant health and modulate their interaction with the rhizosphere microbes could lead to increased agricultural crop yields and phytoremediation performance by the host plant and its root-associated microbiota. In this study, we tested whether repeated inoculations with a Proteobacteria consortium influenced plant productivity and the AMF assemblages associated with the root and rhizosphere of four plant species growing either in non-contaminated natural soil or in sediments contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. A mesocosm experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design in four blocks with two factors: (1) substrate contamination (contaminated or not contaminated), and (2) inoculation (or not) with a bacterial consortium composed of ten isolates of Proteobacteria. Plants were grown in a greenhouse over four months, after which the effect of treatments on plant biomass and petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the substrate were determined. MiSeq amplicon sequencing, targeting the 18S rRNA gene, was used to assess AMF community structures in the roots and rhizosphere of plants growing in both contaminated and non-contaminated substrates. We also investigated the contribution of plant identity and biotope (plant roots and rhizospheric soil) in shaping the associated AMF assemblages. Our results showed that while inoculation caused a significant shift in AMF communities, the substrate contamination had a much stronger influence on their structure, followed by the biotope and plant identity to a lesser extent. Moreover, inoculation significantly increased plant biomass production and was associated with a decreased petroleum hydrocarbons dissipation in the contaminated soil. The outcome of this study provides knowledge on the factors influencing the diversity and community structure of AMF associated with indigenous plants following repeated inoculation of a bacterial consortium. It highlights the dominance of soil chemical properties, such as petroleum hydrocarbon presence, over biotic factors and inputs, such as plant species and microbial inoculations, in determining the plant-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities.
Natronomonas salsuginis sp. nov., a New Inhabitant of a Marine Solar Saltern
Authors: Durán-Viseras Ana , Sánchez-Porro Cristina , Ventosa Antonio
Published: April 2020

A halophilic archaeon, strain F20-122T, was isolated from a marine saltern of Isla Bacuta (Huelva, Spain). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and coccoid in morphology. It grew at 25–50 °C (optimum 37 °C), pH 6.5–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0), and 10–30% (w/v) total salts (optimum 25% salts). The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA and rpoB’ genes showed its affiliation with the genus Natronomonas and suggested its placement as a new species within this genus. The in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses of this strain against closely related species supported its placement in a new taxon. The DNA G + C content of this isolate was 63.0 mol%. The polar lipids of strain F20-122T were phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylglycerol sulfate (PGS). Traces of biphosphatidylglycerol (BPG) and other minor phospholipids and unidentified glycolipids were also present. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characterization, we propose strain F20-122T (= CCM 8891T = CECT 9564T = JCM 33320T) as the type strain of a new species within the genus Natronomonas, with the name Natronomonas salsuginis sp. nov. Rhodopsin-like sequence analysis of strain F20-122T revealed the presence of haloarchaeal proton pumps, suggesting a light-mediated ATP synthesis for this strain and a maximum wavelength absorption in the green spectrum.
Pore Connectivity and Dewatering Mechanism of Tailings Bed in Raking Deep-Cone Thickener Process
Authors: Chen Xinming , Jin Xiangfei , Jiao Huazhe , Yang Yixuan , Liu Juanhong
Published: April 2020

Paste and thickened tailings (PTT) technology can improve the utilization and management of tailings from processing plants. The pore size distribution (PSD) and microstructure evolution affected by the rake shear in thickening tailings beds are essential to produce a high-density tailings underflow. Continuous thickening and computed tomography (CT) scanning tests were conducted to study the PSD with and without shear. The pore morphology was studied to reveal the shearing-dewatering performance of the tailings bed. The results show that at a flocculant solution concentration of 0.01 wt % and a feed slurry concentration of 10 wt%, the underflow concentration with and without shear can reach 58.5 wt %and 55.8 wt %, respectively. The CT image reconstruction models demonstrated that the porosity of the sheared tailings bed increased with the bed height. When the bed height increased from 2.5 to 10 cm, the porosity increased from 35.1% to 41.9%, the pore fractal dimension increased from the range 1.8–1.95 to the range 2.1–2.15, and the pore quantity decreased by 21.39%. The average pore volume increased with increasing height by 13.93%, 16.57% and 12.07%. The pore structure became more complex with the bed height, and the connectivity between pores increased to form water-flow channels, which were beneficial to the drainage of sealed water.
Selective Degradation of Target Proteins by Chimeric Small-Molecular Drugs, PROTACs and SNIPERs
Authors: Ishikawa Minoru , Tomoshige Shusuke , Demizu Yosuke , Naito Mikihiko
Published: April 2020

New therapeutic modalities are needed to address the problem of pathological but undruggable proteins. One possible approach is the induction of protein degradation by chimeric drugs composed of a ubiquitin ligase (E3) ligand coupled to a ligand for the target protein. This article reviews chimeric drugs that decrease the level of specific proteins such as proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs) and specific and nongenetic inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-dependent protein erasers (SNIPERs), which target proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation. We cover strategies for increasing the degradation activity induced by small molecules, and their scope for application to undruggable proteins.
Spatially Resolved Effects of Protein Freeze-Thawing in a Small-Scale Model Using Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Spadiut Oliver , Gundinger Thomas , Pittermann Birgit , Slouka Christoph
Published: April 2020

Protein freeze-thawing is frequently used to stabilize and store recombinantly produced proteins after different unit operations in upstream and downstream processing. However, freeze-thawing is often accompanied by product damage and, hence, loss of product. Different effects are responsible, including cold denaturation, aggregation effects, which are caused by inhomogeneities in protein concentration, as well as pH and buffer ingredients, especially during the freeze cycle. In this study, we tested a commercially available small-scale protein freezing unit using immunoglobin G (IgG) as monoclonal antibody in a typical formulation buffer containing sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, and Tween 80. Different freezing rates were used respectively, and the product quality was tested in the frozen sample. Spatially resolved tests for protein concentration, pH, conductivity, and aggregation revealed high spatial differences in the frozen sample. Usage of slow freezing rates revealed high inhomogeneities in terms of buffer salt and protein distribution, while fast rates led to far lower spatial differences. These protein and buffer salt inhomogeneities can be reliably monitored using straight forward analytics, like conductivity and photometric total protein concentration measurements, reducing the need for HPLC analytics in screening experiments. Summarizing, fast freezing using steep rates shows promising results concerning homogeneity of the final frozen product and inhibits increased product aggregation.
Glycopeptide Hypersensitivity and Adverse Reactions
Authors: Huang Vanthida , Clayton Nicola A. , Welker Kimberly H.
Published: April 2020

Glycopeptides, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin, are primarily used in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, such as cellulitis, endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia, and are some of the most commonly prescribed parenteral antimicrobials. Parenteral glycopeptides are first-line therapy for severe MRSA infections; however, oral vancomycin is used as a first-line treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections. Also, we currently have the longer-acting lipoglycopeptides, such as dalbavancin, oritavancin, and telavancin to our armamentarium for the treatment of MRSA infections. Lastly, vancomycin is often used as an alternative treatment for patients with β-lactam hypersensitivity. Common adverse effects associated with glycopeptide use include nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and Redman Syndrome (RMS). The RMS is often mistaken for a true allergy; however, it is a histamine-related infusion reaction rather than a true immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic reaction. Although hypersensitivity to glycopeptides is rare, both immune-mediated and delayed reactions have been reported in the literature. We describe the various types of glycopeptide hypersensitivity reactions associated with glycopeptides and lipoglycopeptides, including IgE-mediated reactions, RMS, and linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis, as well as describe cross-reactivity with other glycopeptides.
Optiknot 3D—Free-Formed Frameworks out of Wood with Mass Customized Knots Produced by FFF Additive Manufactured Polymers: Experimental Investigations, Design Approach and Construction of a Prototype
Authors: Kromoser Benjamin , Pachner Thomas
Published: April 2020

Free-formed frameworks are architecturally appealing constructions. They allow for maximum creative freedom as well as for a structural optimization of the support structure. The design and construction of these kind of structures is complex however, and therefore challenging, with each frame member having an individual length, each cladding plate an individual dimension and especially each knot having an individual geometry. The result is that geometry optimization and production technology become the most important processes when striving for an economic and ecological construction. The goals of the authors are the automation of the design process by applying a parametric model and the collection of the complete complexity in the knots as well as the production of these knots without material wastage by additive manufacturing. The development process was split into three different phases: (1) Preliminary experiments determining the tension, compression and bending load-bearing behavior of the knots produced by additive manufacturing, using different polymer-based materials: ABS, ASA, PA-CF, PA6CT, PCX, PETG and a mixture of PLA and ABS. (2) Development of an automated digital workflow for the design and production of these structures by the use of a parametric approach. (3) Design, production and assembly of a full-scale prototype in the form of a free-formed shell structure spanning an area of 20 m2. The prototype was made from fumed oak wood members in combination with white stained plywood panels connected by knots produced by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing, using polymer-based materials and screws. At the end of the contribution, a summary and an outlook on further research is given.
Gradient Hydrogels—The State of the Art in Preparation Methods
Authors: Zinkovska Natalia , Smilek Jiri , Pekar Miloslav
Published: April 2020

Gradient hydrogels refer to hydrogel materials with a gradual or abrupt change in one or some of their properties. They represent examples of more sophisticated gel materials in comparison to simple, native gel networks. Here, we review techniques used to prepare gradient hydrogels which have been reported in literature over the last few years. A variety of simple preparation methods are available, most of which can be relatively easily utilized in standard laboratories
Protection of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Films against Photodegradation Using Various Valsartan Tin Complexes
Authors: Mohammed Alaa , El-Hiti Gamal A. , Yousif Emad , Ahmed Ahmed A. , Ahmed Dina S. , Alotaibi Mohammad Hayal
Published: April 2020

Poly(vinyl chloride) is a common plastic that is widely used in many industrial applications. Poly(vinyl chloride) is mixed with additives to improve its mechanical and physical properties and to enable its use in harsh environments. Herein, to protect poly(vinyl chloride) films against photoirradiation with ultraviolet light, a number of tin complexes containing valsartan were synthesized and their chemical structures were established. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, weight loss, and molecular weight determination showed that the non-desirable changes were lower in the films containing the tin complexes than for the blank polymeric films. Analysis of the surface morphology of the irradiated polymeric materials showed that the films containing additives were less rough than the irradiated blank film. The tin complexes protected the poly(vinyl chloride) films against irradiation, where the complexes with high aromaticity were particularly effective. The additives act as primary and secondary stabilizers that absorb the incident radiation and slowly remit it to the polymeric chain as heat energy over time at a harmless level.
Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) Operation
Authors: Dering Daniela , Swartz Christopher , Dogan Neslihan
Published: April 2020

Basic oxygen furnaces (BOFs) are widely used to produce steel from hot metal. The process typically has limited automation which leads to sub-optimal operation. Economically optimal operation can be potentially achieved by using a dynamic optimization framework to provide operators the best combination of input trajectories. In this paper, a first-principles based dynamic model for the BOF that can be used within the dynamic optimization routine is described. The model extends a previous work by incorporating a model for slag formation and energy balances. In this new version of the mathematical model, the submodel for the decarburization in the emulsion zone is also modified to account for recent findings, and an algebraic equation for the calculation of the calcium oxide saturation in slag is developed. The dynamic model is then used to simulate the operation of two distinct furnaces. It was found that the prediction accuracy of the developed model is significantly superior to its predecessor and the number of process variables that it is able to predict is also higher.
Multitemporal 2016-2018 Sentinel-2 Data Enhancement for Landscape Archaeology: The Case Study of the Foggia Province, Southern Italy
Authors: Abate Nicodemo , Elfadaly Abdelaziz , Masini Nicola , Lasaponara Rosa
Published: April 2020

This paper is focused on the use of satellite Sentinel-2 data for assessing their capability in the identification of archaeological buried remains. We selected the “Tavoliere delle Puglie” (Foggia, Italy) as a test area because it is characterized by a long human frequentation and is very rich in archaeological remains. The investigations were performed using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data and spectral indices, commonly used in satellite-based archaeology, and herein analyzed in known archaeological areas to capture the spectral signatures of soil and crop marks and characterize their temporal behavior using Time Series Analysis and Spectral Un-mixing. Tasseled Cap Transformation and Principal Component Analysis have been also adopted to enhance archaeological features. Results from investigations were compared with independent data sources and enabled us to (i) characterize the spectral signatures of soil and crop marks, (ii) assess the performance of the diverse spectral channels and indices, and (iii) identify the best period of the year to capture the archaeological proxy indicators. Additional very important results of our investigations were (i) the discovery of unknown archaeological areas and (ii) the setup of a database of archaeological features devised ad hoc to characterize and categorize the diverse typologies of archaeological remains detected using Sentinel-2 Data.
Intertidal Bathymetry Extraction with Multispectral Images: A Logistic Regression Approach
Authors: Bué Isabel , Catalão João , Semedo Álvaro
Published: April 2020

In this study, a methodology to estimate the intertidal bathymetry from multispectral remote sensing images is presented. The technique is based on the temporal variability of the water and the intertidal zone reflectance and their correlation with the tidal height. The water spectral behavior is characterized by high absorption at the infrared (IR) band or radiation with higher wavelengths. Due to tidal cycles, pixels on the intertidal zone have higher temporal variability on the near IR spectral reflectance. The variability of IR reflectivity in time is modeled through a sigmoid function of three parameters, where the inflection parameter corresponds to the pixel elevation. The methodology was tested at the Tagus river estuary in Lisbon, Portugal, and at the Bijagós archipelago, in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau. Multispectral images from Sentinel-2 satellites were used, after atmospheric corrections from ACOLITE processor and the derived bathymetric model validated with in situ data. The presented method does not require additional depth data for calibration, and the output can generate intertidal digital elevation models at 10 m spatial resolution, without any manual editing by the operator. The results show a standard deviation of 0.34 m at the Tagus tidal zone, with −0.50 m bias, performing better than the Stumpf ratio transform algorithm, also applied to the test areas to derive intertidal bathymetry. This methodology can be used to update intertidal elevation models with clear benefits to monitoring of intertidal dynamics, morphodynamic modeling, and cartographic update.
Relation of Photochemical Reflectance Indices Based on Different Wavelengths to the Parameters of Light Reactions in Photosystems I and II in Pea Plants
Authors: Sukhova Ekaterina , Sukhov Vladimir
Published: April 2020

Measurement and analysis of the numerous reflectance indices of plants is an effective approach for the remote sensing of plant physiological processes in agriculture and ecological monitoring. A photochemical reflectance index (PRI) plays an important role in this kind of remote sensing because it can be related to early changes in photosynthetic processes under the action of stressors (excess light, changes in temperature, drought, etc.). In particular, we previously showed that light-induced changes in PRIs could be strongly related to the energy-dependent component of the non-photochemical quenching in photosystem II. The aim of the present work was to undertake comparative analysis of the efficiency of using light-induced changes in PRIs (ΔPRIs) based on different wavelengths for the estimation of the parameters of photosynthetic light reactions (including the parameters of photosystem I). Pea plants were used in the investigation; the photosynthetic parameters were measured using the pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorometer Dual-PAM-100 and the intensities of the reflected light were measured using the spectrometer S100. The ΔPRIs were calculated as ΔPRI(band,570), where the band was 531 nm for the typical PRI and 515, 525, 535, 545, or 555 nm for modified PRIs; 570 nm was the reference wavelength for all PRIs. There were several important results: (1) ∆PRI(525,570), ∆PRI(531,570), ∆PRI(535,570), and ∆PRI(545,570) could be used for estimation of most of the photosynthetic parameters under light only or under dark only conditions. (2) The combination of dark and light conditions decreased the efficiency of ∆PRIs for the estimation of the photosynthetic parameters; ∆PRI(535,570) and ∆PRI(545,570) had maximal efficiency under these conditions. (3) ∆PRI(515,570) and ∆PRI(525,570) mainly included the slow-relaxing component of PRI; in contrast, ∆PRI(531,570), ∆PRI(535,570), ∆PRI(545,570), and ∆PRI(555,570) mainly included the fast-relaxing component of PRI. These components were probably caused by different mechanisms.
A Survey of Differential-Fed Microstrip Bandpass Filters: Recent Techniques and Challenges
Authors: Al-Yasir Yasir I. A. , Ojaroudi Parchin Naser , Abdulkhaleq Ahmed M. , Bakr Mustafa S. , Abd-Alhameed Raed A.
Published: April 2020

Differentially driven devices represent a highly promising research field for radio frequency (RF), microwave (MW), and millimeter-wave (mmWave) designers and engineers. Designs employing differential signals are essential elements in low-noise fourth-generation (4G) and fifth-generation (5G) communications. Apart from the conventional planar MW components, differential–fed balanced microstrip filters, as promising alternatives, have several advantages, including high common-mode rejection, low unwanted radiation levels, high noise immunity, and wideband harmonic suppression. In this paper, a comprehensive and in-depth review of the existing research on differential-fed microstrip filter designs are presented and discussed with a focus on recent advances in this research and the challenges facing the researchers. A comparison between different design techniques is presented and discussed in detail to provide the researchers with the advantages and disadvantages of each technique that could be of interest to a specific application. Challenges and future developments of balanced microstrip bandpass filters (BPFs) are also presented in this paper. Balanced filters surveyed include recent single-, dual-, tri-, and wide-band BPFs, which employ different design techniques and accomplish different performances for current and future wireless applications.
A Throughput and Energy Efficiency Scheme for Unlicensed Massive Machine Type Communications †
Authors: Ramezanipour Iran , Alves Hirley , J. Nardelli Pedro H. , Pouttu Ari
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the throughput and energy efficiency of an unlicensed machine type communications network is studied. If an outage event happens in the network, there is a possibility for packet retransmission in order to obtain a lower error probability. The concept of spectrum sharing is used here for modeling the network, which allows the two types of licensed and unlicensed users to share the same uplink channel allocated to the licensed users. However, it is done in a way that no harm is done to the licensed nodes’ transmission for sharing the same channel with the unlicensed users, while licensed nodes’ transmission causes interference on the unlicensed network. Poisson point process is used here to model the location of the nodes and the effect of interference on the network. We study how different factors such as the number of retransmissions, SIR threshold and outage can affect the throughput and energy efficiency of the network. Throughput and energy efficiency are also both studied in constrained optimization problems where the constraints are the SIR threshold and the number of retransmission attempts. We also show why it is important to use limited transmissions and what are the benefits.