bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kualitas Air dan Komunitas Plankton Pada Tambak Pesisir Kabupaten Subang Jawa Barat
Authors: Sudinno Dinno , Jubaedah Iis , Anas Pigoselpi
Published: April 2019

Kabupaten Subang merupakan salah satu wilayah pesisir dengan luas 333,57 km2 atau sekitar 16% dari luas seluruh Kabupaten Subang, memiliki hutan mangrove dan sangat potensial untuk pengembangan usaha budidaya. Telah dilakukan penelitian di tambak silvofishery kawasan pesisir Kabupaten Subang pada bulan Mei sampai dengan Agustus 2014. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui bagaimana Kualitas air pada Tambak Silvofishery dan bagaimana komunitas plankton pada Tambak Silvofishery Pesisir Kabupaten Subang Jawa Barat. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode survei. Pengamatan dilakukan pada 6 (Enam) stasiun pengamatan di Kecamatan Blanakan. Analisa Data terdiri dari analisis kualitas air dan indeks diversitas plankton. Hasil penelitian menunjukan Parameter kualitas air suhu, salinitas, pH, kecerahan, TSS, NO2, NO3, PO4 , DO, BOD dan COD nilainya di semua stasiun memenuhi nilai baku mutunya masing-masing. Sedangkan parameter NH3 dan NO3 di semua stasiun telah melebihi nilai baku mutunya masing masing. Komunitas plankton pada 6 (enam) stasiun pengambilan contoh di tambak Subang mendapatkan data plankton secara keseluruhan berjumlah 13 jenis, terdiri dari 10 jenis fitoplankton dan 3 jenis zooplankton. Pada masing-masing stasiun menunjukkan bahwa jumlah taksa berkisar antara 6 hingga 13 jenis, dengan kelimpahan total berkisar antara 400 hingga 2020 individu/liter. Hasil penghitungan indeks diversitas menunjukkan bahwa tingkat keanekaragaman komunitas plankton pada tambak yang bermangrove secara keseluruhan tergolong rendah yakni dari 1,2299 sampai 1,2731. Sedangkan pada tambak yang tidak bermangrove secara keseluruhan tergolong sangat rendah yakni dari 0,3509 sampai 0,7374. dan Fitoplankton yang mendominasi adalah divisi Chrysophyta.
The Relevance of Australasian Road Safety Strategies in a Future Context
Authors: Hughes Brett , Falkmer Torbjorn , Anund Anna
Published: April 2019

The improvements to road safety since the 1970’s are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in many developed countries. This paper analyses ten Australasian Government road safety strategies against two key criteria: 1. a comprehensive framework for road safety, and 2. the anticipated changing, difficult and unpredictable nature of future transport and its context. The analysis concludes that current Australasian road safety strategies are weak in some areas of content and do not address future challenges. Improvements are suggested to strengthen strategies’ thoroughness and robustness, as well as ways that the strategies can be more resilient to future circumstances.
Road Safety – Is It a Local Government Priority? (What Does the Experience Suggest?)
Authors: McTiernan David
Published: April 2019

As the road authority for the unclassified (i.e. local) roads in their local government area, councils have the legislated responsibility to manage their road infrastructure; this fundamentally includes the safety of road users on their networks. Almost 70% of the 392 fatalities on NSW roads in 2017 occurred on country roads (Transport for NSW, 2018). The contribution of the local road network to road trauma across Australasia is significant with over half (52%) of all fatal and serious injuries recorded on roads that are the sole responsibility of local government (McTiernan et. al., 2016). Governments at all levels - Local, State and Federal – can no longer ignore the contribution of local roads to the national tragedy and trauma occurring each year. Without a concerted effort by all tiers of government to address road safety performance on the vast local road network, Australia will not achieve the 30% reduction target in fatal and serious injuries as set out in the National Road Safety Plan. Unfortunately, the current status for managing safety on local roads sees a myriad of systemic hurdles and failures that ultimately result in local government not making road safety a genuine priority. But what is required to change this situation? Two case studies are presented to assist a discussion about some of the systemic failures that contribute to local councils not taking, or not being able to take, action to make road safety a genuine priority.
The Physiology of Peace and Coriolanus
Authors: Hunt Maurice
Published: April 2019

Written in the midst of the eight-year Jacobean Peace (1604–1612), Coriolanus turns the physiology of war and peace inside out. “No body can be healthfull without Exercise, neither Naturall Body, nor Politique,” Francis Bacon had written. “And certainly, to a Kingdome or Estate, a Just and Honourable Warre, is the true Exercise… . [A] Forraine Warre, is like the Heat of Exercise, and serveth to keepe the Body in Health: For in a Slothful Peace, both Courages will effeminate, and Manners Corrupt.” Bacon's claims were based upon Galenic medical theory that asserts that bloodletting purges the human body of debilitating toxins so that the four humours achieve a balance insuring both physical and psychological health. Shakespeare shows Coriolanus, repeatedly likened to a disease or toxin, disturbing the public body's peace. The playwright transforms the standard physiology of war and peace when Coriolanus—in keeping with the tail-end of his name—is vented through the Roman equivalent of London's Dungate. Then Romans enjoy a harmonious peace (4.6.2–9). When he returns to Rome leading a Volscian army, Coriolanus, advised by Volumnia, negotiates a peace that, while costing him his life, appears to persist at play's end when a calm Aufidius, all passion spent, never utters hostile words concerning Rome. The social importance of peace in other late plays—Antony and Cleopatra, Cymbeline, and The Life of Henry VIII—agrees with Shakespeare's revaluation of war and peace in Coriolanus.
Investigating the Response of a Small Urbanized Watershed to Acute Toxicity Events via Analysis of High-frequency Environmental Data
Authors: Clark Holly , McDonald Walter , Lohani Vinod , Dymond Randel
Published: April 2019

This study, conducted over 10 weeks by an undergraduate student in an NSF REU (U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program under mentorship of the co-authors, investigates responses of a small urban watershed, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, to acute toxicity events. High-frequency water and weather data were collected using monitoring equipment maintained by the Learning Enhanced Watershed Assessment System (LEWAS) lab, including a weather station, rain gauge, water quality sonde, and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. The location and attributes of local stormwater catchments were surveyed and recorded using GIS software to determine the overall contributing area of the LEWAS lab watershed. This fieldwork resulted in the construction of an accurate stormwater network map, which in turn allowed the identification of sources of sedimentation and other pollution from runoff events. A case study presents the response of the watershed to a winter storm event that resulted in acute chloride toxicity from runoff containing road salts.

KEYWORDS: Water; Stormwater, Urban Watersheds; Watershed Responses; Acute Toxicity; High-frequency Data; Data Analysis; Data Collection; Environmental Monitoring; Flow Measurements; Hydrologic Data.
Approximation of Euler Number Using Gamma Function
Authors: Zahid Shekh , Ray Prasanta
Published: April 2019

This research presents a formula to calculate Euler number using gamma function. The representation is somewhat similar to Taylor series expansion of e. The number e is presented as sum of an integral and decimal part. But it is well known that e is an irrational number, and therefore such an expression for e does not exist in principle, that is why we are approximately representing it for use in computation. The approximation of our formula increases as we increase the value of index in the summation formula. We also analyse the approximation of our formula by both numerical and graphical methods.

KEYWORDS: Euler Number, Gamma Function, Approximation, Computing, L’Hospital's Rule
Nutritional Stress of Cultured Vero Cells Causes Altered Growth and Morphology as Seen in Neoplastic Transformation
Authors: Adams Tyler , Anwar Rabia , Mfarej Michael , Rundatz Taylor , Coyle Melissa , McLaughlin Jacqueline
Published: April 2019

In this report, the authors describe the effects of stressed culture conditions on Vero cells, which are a form of epithelial cells derived from the African green monkey kidney. This project was designed in large part to replicate a previously published report on the effects of nutritional stress on the growth patterns of these cells. Culture conditions that include nutritional limitation and cell crowding have been shown to transform these cells into cells that differ morphologically, develop into spheroid- shaped clusters, as well as exhibit altered protein expression. It was suggested that these changes might mirror those occurring in metastatic cancer cells, and could therefore provide a useful experimental model system. In the current study, the investigators successfully cultured Vero cells in control cultures, and then compared their growth patterns and morphology to cells grown in nutritionally stressed and overcrowded cell culture conditions defined by extensive days in culture in unchanged media which did or did not contain glucose. The results confirmed that nutritionally stressed and over-crowded cultures result in cells that change morphologically, detach from the substrate, and exhibit spheroid-shaped clusters of cells. Sub-culturing these detached cells demonstrated that the results were permanent, meaning that the new growth patterns and clustering persisted. The results suggest that deprivation of nutrition and other factors essential to life may facilitate aberrant growth.

KEYWORDS: Vero Cells, Nutritional Stress, Cell Morphology, Neoplastic Transformation, Malignant Cells, Spheroid Formation.
Rebusan Buah Asam dan Jahe Sebagai Upaya Mengurangi Dismenore
Authors: Gustin Trio
Published: April 2019

SSetiap wanita sehat akan mengalami siklus menstruasi pada setiap bulannya. Lebih dari 50% wanita di setiap negara mengalami nyeri menstruasi atau dismenore. Cara mengatasi dismenore yang aman adalah dengan rebusan herbal. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui perbedaan efektivitas asam dan jahe dalam mengurangi dismenore. Desain penelitian ini menggunakan quasi eksperimen pre dan post test dengan sampel 30 mahasiswa yang dibagi dua kelompok. Masing-masing kelompok diberikan rebusan asam dan rebusan jahe pada pagi dan sore hari selama menstruasi hari pertama sampai hari ketiga. Responden dilakukan pengkajian nyeri sebelum dan sesudah diberikan intervensi. Analisis dengan menggunakan independent T-Test. Hasil didapatkan responden yang diberikan rebusan buah asam sebelum intervensi 60% mengalami nyeri sedang dan setelah intervensi 87% mengalami nyeri ringan, sedangkan responden yang diberikan rebusan jahe sebelum intervensi 67% mengalami nyeri sedang dan setelah intervensi 73% mengalami nyeri ringan sehingga disimpulkan rebusan jahe lebih efektif dibandingkan rebusan asam. Diharapkan peneliti selanjutnya melakukan penelitian mengurangi dismenore dengan rebusan herbal selain buah asam dan jahe.
Thermodynamic Analysis and Calculations of (Fe-Co) Alloy by Modeling and Simulation using Thermo-Calc Software
Authors: Mahmood Shah Syed , Ullah Nasib , Ullah Bakhtar , Shehzad Khan Muhammad , Usman Tariq
Published: April 2019

In this paper Thermodynamic calculation is shown. We have found simulation for phase diagram, Gibbs free energy and Activity curve at different temperatures (1200 K, 1225 K and 1250 K). Phase diagrams, Gibbs free-energy and the component activities of (Fe-Co) alloys system were calculated by Calphad method. Results show that the values of Gibbs energy were negative, which shows the stability of (Fe-Co). Negative deviation had occurred from Raoult’s Law in activities, which indicates that there is strong interaction between Fe and Co in (Fe-Co) alloy. By increasing the temperature the activity increases and deviation in activity decreases. For all the thermodynamic calculations the Thermo-Calc software, databases and Calphad method have used.
Vitamin B12 Enhances Nerve Repair and Improves Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury by Inhibiting ER Stress-Induced Neuron Injury
Authors: Wu Fangfang , Xu Ke , Liu Lei , Zhang Kairui , Xia Leilei , Zhang Man , Teng Chenhuai , Tong Heyan , He Yifang , Xue Yujie , Zhang Hongyu , Chen Daqing , Hu Aiping
Published: April 2019

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of neurological damage in young human populations. Vitamin B12 has been reported to promote axon growth of neuronal cells after peripheral nerve injury, which is currently used for the treatment of peripheral nerve damage in the clinical trial. Thus, we hypothesized that TBI can be attenuated by vitaminB12 treatment through its beneficial role on axon regeneration after nerve injury. To confirm it, the biological function of vitaminB12 was characterized using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry staining. The results showed that the neurological functional recovery was improved in the VitaminB12-treated group after TBI, which may be due to downregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related apoptosis signaling pathway. Moreover, the microtubule stabilization, remyelination and myelin reparation were rescued by vitamin B12, which was consistent with the treatment of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), an endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor. The study suggests that vitamin B12 may be useful as a novel neuroprotective drug for TBI.
Effects of Different Papua New Guinea Sweetpotato Varieties on Performance and Level of Enteric Pathogens in Chickens
Authors: Pandi Janet , Glatz Phil , Forder Rebecca , Chousalkar Kapil
Published: April 2019

In the last decade, research has targeted the evaluation of local feed ingredients for use in monogastric diets to alleviate the high cost of production of livestock at smallholder levels in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The PNG smallholder poultry production system involves many families who rear multiple batches of meat birds every year. This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of enteric pathogens in the caeca of broilers fed with sweetpotato diets with varying levels of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Selection of a sweetpotato variety for use in broiler diets should be based on the total NSP content. In particular, varieties with low soluble NSPs are economical to use as Apparent Metabolizable Energy (AME) values are within the desired range for poultry and there is minimal need to include enzymes to improve NSP digestibility. The use of varieties with a low total NSP is also advantageous as the numbers of Clostridium perfringens was lower in broilers fed with these sweetpotato varieties. The level of Campylobacter and Salmonella levels were high in the ceca of birds fed with the sweetpotato varieties with high total NSP. These levels can be reduced with the inclusion of enzymes. This information will assist in the efficient use of local varieties of sweetpotato in PNG by small holder poultry farmers for sustainable poultry production and the commercial industry.
Growth and Safety Assessment of Feed Streams for Black Soldier Fly Larvae: A Case Study with Aquaculture Sludge
Authors: Schmitt Eric , Belghit Ikram , Johansen Johan , Leushuis Raymond , Lock Erik-Jan , Melsen Diede , Kathirampatti Ramasamy Shanmugam Ram , Van Loon Joop , Paul Aman
Published: April 2019

The production of food is an intensive source of environmental impact. In aquaculture, one source of impact is solid waste, which contains high concentrations of minerals, other nutrients, and metals. The larvae of Hermetia illucens are capable of consuming this material, but applying technology that is based on these larvae for managing waste streams, like those from aquaculture, requires careful examination of safety risks. A study is performed examining the growth performance of larvae that were fed on solid aquaculture waste. Subsequently, a thorough analysis of safety risks from inorganics, with detailed the results on microelements that have previously received little attention in the literature, is performed to serve as a guideline for how to assess the safety of waste streams such as these. Findings confirm existing results in the literature that Cd is bioaccumulative, but also that other elements, including Hg, Mn, and especially K, are bioaccumulative. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research where the accumulation of Ag is also tested. The results of these tests are explained within the context of regulations in various countries where Hermetia illucens is cultivated, serving as a reference for practitioners to rigorously screen out high risk feed streams that they may consider using as feed sources. It is intended that these references and the demonstrated accumulation of a range of elements motivate comprehensive industry safety practices when evaluating new feed sources.
Abstract Text Summarization with a Convolutional Seq2seq Model
Authors: Zhang Yong , Li Dan , Wang Yuheng , Fang Yang , Xiao Weidong
Published: April 2019

Abstract text summarization aims to offer a highly condensed and valuable information that expresses the main ideas of the text. Most previous researches focus on extractive models. In this work, we put forward a new generative model based on convolutional seq2seq architecture. A hierarchical CNN framework is much more efficient than the conventional RNN seq2seq models. We also equip our model with a copying mechanism to deal with the rare or unseen words. Additionally, we incorporate a hierarchical attention mechanism to model the keywords and key sentences simultaneously. Finally we verify our model on two real-life datasets, GigaWord and DUC corpus. The experiment results verify the effectiveness of our model as it outperforms state-of-the-art alternatives consistently and statistical significantly.
HNRNPL Restrains miR-155 Targeting of BUB1 to Stabilize Aberrant Karyotypes of Transformed Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Pagotto Sara , Veronese Angelo , Soranno Alessandra , Balatti Veronica , Ramassone Alice , Guanciali-Franchi Paolo E. , Palka Giandomenico , Innocenti Idanna , Autore Francesco , Rassenti Laura Z. , Kipps Thomas J. , Mariani-Costantini Renato , Laurenti Luca , Croce Carlo M. , Visone Rosa
Published: April 2019

Aneuploidy and overexpression of hsa-miR-155-5p (miR-155) characterize most solid and hematological malignancies. We recently demonstrated that miR-155 sustains aneuploidy at early stages of in vitro cellular transformation. During in vitro transformation of normal human fibroblast, upregulation of miR-155 downregulates spindle checkpoint proteins as the mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1), the centromere protein F (CENPF) and the zw10 kinetochore protein (ZW10), compromising the chromosome alignment at the metaphase plate and leading to aneuploidy in daughter cells. Here we show that the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL) binds to the polymorphic marker D2S1888 at the 3′UTR of BUB1 gene, impairs the miR-155 targeting, and restores BUB1 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This mechanism occurs at advanced passages of cell transformation and allows the expansion of more favorable clones. Our findings have revealed, at least in part, the molecular mechanisms behind the chromosomal stabilization of cell lines and the concept that, to survive, tumor cells cannot continuously change their genetic heritage but need to stabilize the most suitable karyotype.
Numerical Evaluation of Potential Catalyst Savings for Ventilation Air Methane Catalytic Combustion in Helical Coil Reactors with Selective Wall Coating
Authors: Kurnia Jundika C. , Chaedir Benitta A. , Lim Desmond C. , Chen Lianjun , Jiang Lishuai , Sasmito Agus P.
Published: April 2019

During active mining operation of a gassy underground mine, large amounts of methane will be released from the mine ventilation shaft. To eliminate the harmful effects of this ventilation air methane and minimize the wastage of this potential energy resource, considerable effort has been devoted to converting this alternative fuel using catalytic combustion. This study numerically investigated the reaction performance of ventilation air methane (VAM) in helical coil tubes of various configurations utilizing a computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) approach. Several key factors affecting the catalytic combustion performance such as curvature, inlet Reynolds number, and cross-section aspect ratio were evaluated. Recalling the high cost of the catalyst used in this reaction—platinum—optimization of catalyst usage by implementing selective catalyst coating was conducted and investigated. For evaluation purposes, the reaction performance of the helical coil tube was compared to its straight counterpart. The results gave a firm confirmation of the superior performance of the helical coil tube compared to the straight one. In addition, it was found that the selective inner wall coating in the circular cross-section at a higher Reynolds number gave rise to the highest figure of merit (FoM), defined as the net energy produced per mg of catalyst platinum.
The Hippo Pathway in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Salem Omar , Hansen Carsten G.
Published: April 2019

Despite recent efforts, prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most common cancers in men. Currently, there is no effective treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). There is, therefore, an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets. The Hippo pathway and its downstream effectors—the transcriptional co-activators, Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog, transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ)—are foremost regulators of stem cells and cancer biology. Defective Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ hyperactivation are common across various cancers. Here, we draw on insights learned from other types of cancers and review the latest advances linking the Hippo pathway and YAP/TAZ to PCa onset and progression. We examine the regulatory interaction between Hippo-YAP/TAZ and the androgen receptor (AR), as main regulators of PCa development, and how uncontrolled expression of YAP/TAZ drives castration resistance by inducing cellular stemness. Finally, we survey the potential therapeutic targeting of the Hippo pathway and YAP/TAZ to overcome PCa.
A Primer on Multimodal Imaging and Cardiology-Radiology Congenital Heart Interface
Authors: Gupta-Malhotra Monesha , Schaaf William , Kutty Shelby
Published: April 2019

Pediatric cardiology imaging laboratories in the present day have several modalities for imaging of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease. These modalities include echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography and nuclear imaging. The utility and limitations of multimodal imaging is described herein along with a framework for establishing a cardiology-radiology interface.
The Effect of Forest Thinning on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Function
Authors: Wu Ran , Cheng Xiaoqin , Han Hairong
Published: April 2019

Microbial communities and their associated enzyme activities play key roles in carbon cycling in ecosystems. Forest thinning is likely to change the soil properties and feedbacks on the structure and function of microbial communities, consequently affecting microbial regulation on the soil carbon process. However, few studies have focused on the mechanism of how thinning affects the quantity and stability of soil carbon. To reveal the influence of thinning on soil carbon and to explore the regulated key factors, this study was conducted in a pure Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr plantation with different thinning intensity (light, medium, and high) in Shanxi province, China. Soil properties (soil pH, soil water content, soil organic carbon, and soil microbial biomass carbon) were measured. Meanwhile, soil microbial communities were examined with the method of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), and soil enzyme activities were measured as indicators of soil microbial functions. The results showed that medium and high thinning has positive effects on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial abundance, and soil enzyme activities. Actinomycetes and gram-negative bacteria were the major factors to affect soil microbial community function relating to carbon decomposition. Soil pH contributed to actinomycetes and gram-negative bacteria through direct influences on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Moreover, there were strong correlations between soil pH and microbial community to control soil carbon turnover. The increasing of soil microbial abundance and the microbial regulation on soil carbon in forest thinning need to be considered for sustainable forest management practices in northern China.
Drivers and Ideal Types towards Energy Transition: Anticipating the Futures Scenarios of OECD Countries
Authors: Huh Taewook , Yoon Kee-Young , Chung I Re
Published: April 2019

This study aims to identify the ideal types of energy transition of the thirty-five Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and to explore their implications using the fuzzy-set ideal type analysis. It then anticipates the futures scenarios of OECD member countries towards energy transition by placing the ideal type results. In particular, looking at the possibility of the futures towards energy transition, this study attempts to set up the comprehensive measurement framework of energy transition embracing the three key drivers (energy system (E), energy citizenship (S), and digital technology (T)). As a result, the eight OECD countries, including Denmark (fuzzy score 0.889), UK (0.800), and Norway (0.788) belonging to Type 1 (E*S*T) with the all high features of three key drivers, are expected to have ‘Outlier (super-potent) Futures’ of energy transition. The twelve countries of Type 2 (E*S*t), 3 (E*s*T), and 5 (e*S*T) with two high features of three ones will belong to the ‘Best (reformative) Futures’. The five countries of Type 4 (E*s*t), 6 (e*S*t), and 7 (e*s*T) with one high feature among three ones will be located in ‘Business-As-Usual Futures’. Finally, the ten countries, including Hungary (fuzzy score 0.881), Greece (0.716), Israel (0.679) belonging to Type 8 (e*s*t) with all three low features, are expected to have ‘Worst (declined) Futures’ of energy transition.
Addendum: Wang et al. A Bayesian Approach to Real-Time Monitoring and Forecasting of Chinese Foodborne Diseases. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2018, 15(8):1740; doi:10.3390/ijerph15081740
Authors: Wang Xueli , Zhou Moqin , Jia Jinzhu , Geng Zhi , Xiao Gexin
Published: April 2019

The authors wish to update the Abstract and Section 3 in their paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) [...]
Plant Cell Wall Proteomics: A Focus on Monocot Species, Brachypodium distachyon, Saccharum spp. and Oryza sativa
Authors: Calderan-Rodrigues Maria Juliana , Guimarães Fonseca Juliana , de Moraes Fabrício Edgar , Vaz Setem Laís , Carmanhanis Begossi Amanda , Labate Carlos Alberto
Published: April 2019

Plant cell walls mostly comprise polysaccharides and proteins. The composition of monocots’ primary cell walls differs from that of dicots walls with respect to the type of hemicelluloses, the reduction of pectin abundance and the presence of aromatic molecules. Cell wall proteins (CWPs) differ among plant species, and their distribution within functional classes varies according to cell types, organs, developmental stages and/or environmental conditions. In this review, we go deeper into the findings of cell wall proteomics in monocot species and make a comparative analysis of the CWPs identified, considering their predicted functions, the organs analyzed, the plant developmental stage and their possible use as targets for biofuel production. Arabidopsis thaliana CWPs were considered as a reference to allow comparisons among different monocots, i.e., Brachypodium distachyon, Saccharum spp. and Oryza sativa. Altogether, 1159 CWPs have been acknowledged, and specificities and similarities are discussed. In particular, a search for A. thaliana homologs of CWPs identified so far in monocots allows the definition of monocot CWPs characteristics. Finally, the analysis of monocot CWPs appears to be a powerful tool for identifying candidate proteins of interest for tailoring cell walls to increase biomass yield of transformation for second-generation biofuels production.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Developing Seeds and Silique Wall Reveals Dynamic Transcription Networks for Effective Oil Production in Brassica napus L.
Authors: Shahid Muhammad , Cai Guangqin , Zu Feng , Zhao Qing , Qasim Muhammad Uzair , Hong Yueyun , Fan Chuchuan , Zhou Yongming
Published: April 2019

Vegetable oil is an essential constituent of the human diet and renewable raw material for industrial applications. Enhancing oil production by increasing seed oil content in oil crops is the most viable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable approach to meet the continuous demand for the supply of vegetable oil globally. An in-depth understanding of the gene networks involved in oil biosynthesis during seed development is a prerequisite for breeding high-oil-content varieties. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops cultivated on multiple continents, contributing more than 15% of the world’s edible oil supply. To understand the phasic nature of oil biosynthesis and the dynamic regulation of key pathways for effective oil accumulation in B. napus, comparative transcriptomic profiling was performed with developing seeds and silique wall (SW) tissues of two contrasting inbred lines with ~13% difference in seed oil content. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high- and low-oil content lines were identified across six key developmental stages, and gene enrichment analysis revealed that genes related to photosynthesis, metabolism, carbohydrates, lipids, phytohormones, transporters, and triacylglycerol and fatty acid synthesis tended to be upregulated in the high-oil-content line. Differentially regulated DEG patterns were revealed for the control of metabolite and photosynthate production in SW and oil biosynthesis and accumulation in seeds. Quantitative assays of carbohydrates and hormones during seed development together with gene expression profiling of relevant pathways revealed their fundamental effects on effective oil accumulation. Our results thus provide insights into the molecular basis of high seed oil content (SOC) and a new direction for developing high-SOC rapeseed and other oil crops.
Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Promote the Expansion of Human Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Authors: Li Huilin , Pei Haiyun , Xie Xiaoyan , Wang Sihan , Jia Yali , Zhang Bowen , Fan Zeng , Liu Yiming , Bai Yun , Han Yi , He Lijuan , Nan Xue , Yue Wen , Pei Xuetao
Published: April 2019

Cord blood (CB) is an attractive source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, its application remains limited due to the low number of HSCs/progenitors in a single CB unit and its notoriously difficulty in expanding ex vivo. Here, we demonstrated that the human fetal liver sinusoidal endothelial cells engineered to constitutively express the adenoviral E4orf1 gene (hFLSECs-E4orf1) is capable of efficient expansion ex vivo for human CB hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Coculture of CD34+ hCB cells with hFLSECs-E4orf1 resulted in generation of substantially more total nucleated cells, CD34+CD38− and CD34+ CD38−CD90+ HSPCs in comparison with that of cytokines alone after 14 days. The multilineage differentiation potential of the expanded hematopoietic cells in coculture condition, as assessed by in vitro colony formation, was also significantly heightened. The CD34+ hCB cells amplified on hFLSECs-E4orf1 were capable of engraftment in vivo. Furthermore, hFLSECs-E4orf1 highly expressed hematopoiesis related growth factor and Notch receptors. Accordingly, the CD34+ hCB cells amplified on hFLSECs-E4orf1 exhibited Notch signaling activation. Taken together, our findings indicated that FLSECs may potentially be the crucial component of the microenvironment to support recapitulation of embryonic HSC amplification in vitro and allow identification of new growth factors responsible for collective regulation of hematopoiesis.
Clobetasol Modulates Adult Neural Stem Cell Growth via Canonical Hedgehog Pathway Activation
Authors: Vicario Nunzio , Bernstock Joshua D. , Spitale Federica M. , Giallongo Cesarina , Giunta Maria A.S. , Li Volti Giovanni , Gulisano Massimo , Leanza Giampiero , Tibullo Daniele , Parenti Rosalba , Gulino Rosario
Published: April 2019

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is a key pathway within the central nervous system (CNS), during both development and adulthood, and its activation via the 7-transmembrane protein Smoothened (Smo) may promote neuroprotection and restoration during neurodegenerative disorders. Shh signaling may also be activated by selected glucocorticoids such as clobetasol, fluocinonide and fluticasone, which therefore act as Smo agonists and hold potential utility for regenerative medicine. However, despite its potential role in neurodegenerative diseases, the impact of Smo-modulation induced by these glucocorticoids on adult neural stem cells (NSCs) and the underlying signaling mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Smo agonists (i.e., purmorphamine) and antagonists (i.e., cyclopamine) as well as of glucocorticoids (i.e., clobetasol, fluocinonide and fluticasone) on NSCs in terms of proliferation and clonal expansion. Purmorphamine treatment significantly increased NSC proliferation and clonal expansion via GLI-Kruppel family member 1 (Gli1) nuclear translocation and such effects were prevented by cyclopamine co-treatment. Clobetasol treatment exhibited an equivalent pharmacological effect. Moreover, cellular thermal shift assay suggested that clobetasol induces the canonical Smo-dependent activation of Shh signaling, as confirmed by Gli1 nuclear translocation and also by cyclopamine co-treatment, which abolished these effects. Finally, fluocinonide and fluticasone as well as control glucocorticoids (i.e., prednisone, corticosterone and dexamethasone) showed no significant effects on NSCs proliferation and clonal expansion. In conclusion, our data suggest that Shh may represent a druggable target system to drive neuroprotection and promote restorative therapies.
Individual and Combined Impact of Oxygen and Oxygen Transporter Supplementation during Kidney Machine Preservation in a Porcine Preclinical Kidney Transplantation Model
Authors: Kasil Abdelsalam , Giraud Sebastien , Couturier Pierre , Amiri Akbar , Danion Jerome , Donatini Gianluca , Matillon Xavier , Hauet Thierry , Badet Lionel
Published: April 2019

Marginal kidney graft preservation in machine perfusion (MP) is well-established. However, this method requires improvement in order to mitigate oxidative stress during ischemia-reperfusion, by using oxygenation or an O2 carrier with anti-oxidant capacities (hemoglobin of the marine worm; M101). In our preclinical porcine (pig related) model, kidneys were submitted to 1h-warm ischemia, followed by 23 h hypothermic preservation in Waves® MP before auto-transplantation. Four groups were studied: W (MP without 100%-O2), W-O2 (MP with 100%-O2; also called hyperoxia), W-M101 (MP without 100%-O2 + M101 2 g/L), W-O2 + M101 (MP with 100%-O2 + M101 2 g/L) (n = 6/group). Results: Kidneys preserved in the W-M101 group showed lower resistance, compared to our W group. During the first week post-transplantation, W-O2 and W-M101 groups showed a lower blood creatinine and better glomerular filtration rate. KIM-1 and IL-18 blood levels were lower in the W-M101 group, while blood levels of AST and NGAL were lower in groups with 100% O2. Three months after transplantation, fractional excretion of sodium and the proteinuria/creatinuria ratio remained higher in the W group, creatininemia was lower in the W-M101 group, and kidney fibrosis was lower in M101 groups. We concluded that supplementation with M101 associated with or without 100% O2 improved the Waves® MP effect upon kidney recovery and late graft outcome.
Median Arcuate Ligament Compression in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: Results from a Single-Center Analysis and a European Survey Study
Authors: Czigany Zoltan , Boecker Joerg , Morales Santana Daniel Antonio , Bednarsch Jan , Meister Franziska Alexandra , Amygdalos Iakovos , Isfort Peter , Liebl Martin , Neumann Ulf Peter , Lurje Georg
Published: April 2019

Median arcuate ligament compression (MALC) potentially causes arterial complications in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Here we aimed to investigate the incidence of MALC and its impact on clinical outcome after OLT. In addition, we performed an international survey among 52 European liver transplant centers to explore local protocols on the management of these patients. Data of 286 consecutive OLT recipients from a prospective database were analyzed retrospectively (05/2010-07/2017). Preoperative computed-tomography images were evaluated. Celiac axis stenosis due to MALC was found in 34 patients (12%). Intrinsic stenosis was present in 16 (6%) patients. Twenty-six patients (77%) with MALC underwent standard arterial revascularization with median arcuate ligament (MAL)-division. Patients treated for MALC had comparable baseline data and no difference was found in early- and long-term outcome compared to the rest of our cohort. Our survey found heterogeneous strategies regarding diagnosis and treatment of MALC. Only 29% of the centers reported the division of MAL in these patients as routine procedure. Even though there is no consensus on diagnosis and management of MALC among European centers, a surgical division of MAL is feasible and safe and should be considered in OLT recipients with MALC.
Anodic Fabrication of Ti-Ni-Si-O Nanostructures on Ti10Ni5Si Alloy
Authors: Li Ting , Ding Dongyan , Li Nan
Published: April 2019

Ti-Ni-Si-O nanostructures were synthesized on Ti10Ni5Si alloy through an electrochemical anodization in electrolyte solutions containing ammonium fluoride (NH4F). The anodic oxide structures were affected by the electrochemical anodization parameters, including the electrolyte viscosity, water content, anodization potential and anodization time. Using an anodization potential of 40 V for 90 min in an ethylene glycol/glycerol electrolyte with 3 vol.% deionized water, highly ordered self-organized nanotube arrays were obtained in the α-Ti phase region of the alloy substrate, with an average inner diameter of 70 nm and a wall thickness of about 12 nm. Self-organized nanopore structures with an average pore diameter of 25 nm grew in the Ti5Si3 phase region. Only etching pits were found in the Ti2Ni phase region. The Ti-Ni-Si-O nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, a formation mechanism of different nanostructures was presented.
Characterization of Nanolayer Intermetallics Formed in Cold Sprayed Al Powder on Mg Substrate
Authors: Shaha Sugrib Kumar , Jahed Hamid
Published: April 2019

Supersonic impact of particles in their solid state with substrate at a low temperature creates a complex bonding mechanism and surface modification in cold spray coating. Here, we report the formation of a layer of 200 to 300 nm intermetallic at the interface of cold spray coated AZ31B-type Mg alloy with AA7075-type Al alloy powder. XRD, SAED, and FFT analysis confirmed the layer possessed BBC crystal structure of Mg17Al12 intermetallic. The HR-TEM image analysis at the interface identified the BBC crystal structure with interplanar spacing of 0.745 nm for (110) planes, suggesting the Mg17Al12 phase. The nanoindentation tests showed that the hardness at the interface was ~3 times higher than the substrate. It was also noticed that Young’s modulus at the interface was 117GPa. The combined action of impact energy and carrier gas temperature, along with the multiple passes during coating, caused the formation of intermetallic.
Calcined Oyster Shell Powder as an Expansive Additive in Cement Mortar
Authors: Seo Joon Ho , Park Sol Moi , Yang Beom Joo , Jang Jeong Gook
Published: April 2019

The present study prepared calcined oyster shell powder having chemical composition and crystal structure of calcium oxide and lime, respectively, and investigated the fresh and hardened properties of cement mortar incorporating calcined oyster shell powder as an additive. The test results indicated that the hydration of calcined oyster shell powder promoted the additional formation of Ca(OH)2 at the initial reaction stage, thereby increasing the heat of hydration. In particular, the volumetric increase of calcined oyster shell powder during hydration compensated the autogenous shrinkage of mortar at early ages, ultimately leading to a clear difference in the shrinkage values at final readings. However, an excessive incorporation of calcined oyster shell powder affected the rate of C–S–H formation in the acceleratory period of hydration, resulting in a decrease in the compressive strength development. Meanwhile, the degree of flow loss was inconsequential and rapid flow loss was not observed in the specimens with calcined oyster shell powder. Therefore, considering the fresh and hardened properties of cement mortar, the incorporation of calcined oyster shell powder of approximately 3% by weight of cement is recommended to enhance the properties of cement mortar in terms of compressive strength and autogenous shrinkage.
Structure and Dynamics of Ferroelectric Domains in Polycrystalline Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3
Authors: Ursic Hana , Bencan Andreja , Prah Uros , Dragomir Mirela , Malic Barbara
Published: April 2019

A complex domain structure with variations in the morphology is observed at ambient temperature in monoclinic Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3. Using electron microscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy, it is possible to reveal micrometre-sized wedge, lamellar-like, and irregularly shaped domains. By increasing the temperature, the domain structure persists up to 80 °C, and then starts to disappear at around 100 °C due to the proximity of the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition, in agreement with macroscopic dielectric measurements. In order to understand to what degree domain switching can occur in the ceramic, the mobility of the domain walls was studied at ambient temperature. The in situ poling experiment performed using piezoresponse force microscopy resulted in an almost perfectly poled area, providing evidence that all types of domains can be easily switched. By poling half an area with 20 V and the other half with −20 V, two domains separated by a straight domain wall were created, indicating that Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 is a promising material for domain-wall engineering.
The Anti-Rotaviral Activity of Low Molecular Weight and Non-Proteinaceous Substance from Bifidobacterium longum BORI Cell Extract
Authors: Han Yeo Ok , Jeong Yunju , You Hyun Ju , Ku Seockmo , Ji Geun Eog , Park Myeong Soo
Published: April 2019

Rotavirus infection is the most common diarrheal disease worldwide in children under five years of age, and it often results in death. In recent years, research on the relationship between rotavirus and probiotics has shown that probiotics are effective against diarrhea. A clinical trial has reported that Bifidobacterium longum BORI reduced diarrhea induced by rotavirus. The present work investigated the anti-rotaviral effect of B. longum BORI by cytopathic effect observation and real time cell analyses. Our study found that B. longum BORI showed strong anti-rotaviral effect when incubated with MA104 cells prior to viral infection, suggesting that the probiotic does in fact interfere with the interaction of viruses and host cells. It is believed that the efficacy is due to low-molecular weight and non-protein components derived from B. longum BORI. This discovery can help broaden the industrial application of B. longum BORI, which has been proven to be a safe and effective probiotic.
Preparation of Fe3O4@polyoxometalates Nanocomposites and Their Efficient Adsorption of Cationic Dyes from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Li Jie , Zhao Haiyan , Ma Chenguang , Han Qiuxia , Li Mingxue , Liu Hongling
Published: April 2019

In this work, two magnetic adsorbents Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 were prepared by combining Fe3O4 nanoparticles and polyoxometalate hybrids [Ni(HL)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23]·4H2O (1), [H2L]5H[P2Mo5O23]·12H2O (2) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazone). The temperature-dependent zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) measurements indicated the blocking temperature at 160 K and 180 K, respectively. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 is 8.106 m2/g and 1.787 m2/g, respectively. Cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye methyl orange (MO) were investigated for selective dye adsorption on Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2. The two adsorbents were beneficial for selective adsorption of cationic dyes. The adsorption efficiency of MB was 94.8% for Fe3O4@1, 97.67% for Fe3O4@2. Furthermore, the two adsorbents almost maintained the same adsorption efficiency after seven runs. The maximum MB adsorption capacity of Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 is 72.07 and 73.25 mg/g, respectively. The fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of the adsorbents collected after adsorption of MB are very similar to the initial as-synthesized Fe3O4@polyoxometalates indicating the high stability of the two adsorbents. The adsorption kinetics indicated that the MB removal followed the pseudo-second-order model. These results showed that the two adsorbents had a potential application in treating wastewater.
Cordycepin, an Active Constituent of Nutrient Powerhouse and Potential Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris Linn., Ameliorates Age-Related Testicular Dysfunction in Rats
Authors: Kopalli Spandana Rajendra , Cha Kyu-Min , Lee Sang-Ho , Hwang Seock-Yeon , Lee Young-Joo , Koppula Sushruta , Kim Si-Kwan
Published: April 2019

Age-related male sexual dysfunction covers a wide variety of issues, together with spermatogenic and testicular impairment. In the present work, the effects of cordycepin (COR), an active constituent of a nutrient powerhouse Cordyceps militaris Linn, on senile testicular dysfunction in rats was investigated. The sperm kinematics, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenic factors, sex hormone receptors, histone deacetylating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and autophagy-related mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) expression in aged rat testes were evaluated. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into young control (2-month-old; YC), aged control (12-month-old; AC), and aged plus COR-treated groups (5 (COR-5), 10 (COR-10), and 20 (COR-20) mg/kg). The AC group showed reduced sperm kinematics and altered testicular histomorphology compared with the YC group (p < 0.05). However, compared with the AC group, the COR-treated group exhibited improved sperm motility, progressiveness, and average path/straight line velocity (p < 0.05–0.01). Alterations in spermatogenesis-related protein and mRNA expression were significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05) in the COR-20 group compared with the AC group. The altered histone deacetylating SIRT1 and autophagy-related mTORC1 molecular expression in aged rats were restored in the COR-20 group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that COR holds immense nutritional potential and therapeutic value in ameliorating age-related male sexual dysfunctions.