bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functionalized Upconversion Nanoparticles for Targeted Labelling of Bladder Cancer Cells
Authors: Polikarpov Dmitry , Liang Liuen , Care Andrew , Sunna Anwar , Campbell Douglas , Walsh Bradley , Balalaeva Irina , Zvyagin Andrei , Gillatt David , Guryev Evgenii
Published: December 2019

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Due to a high risk of recurrence and progression of bladder cancer, every patient needs long-term surveillance, which includes regular cystoscopy, sometimes followed by a biopsy of suspicious lesions or resections of recurring tumours. This study addresses the development of novel biohybrid nanocomplexes representing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) coupled to antibodies for photoluminescent (PL) detection of bladder cancer cells. Carrying specific antibodies, these nanoconjugates selectively bind to urothelial carcinoma cells and make them visible by emitting visible PL upon excitation with deeply penetrating near-infrared light. UCNP were coated with a silica layer and linked to anti-Glypican-1 antibody MIL38 via silica-specific solid-binding peptide. Conjugates have been shown to specifically attach to urothelial carcinoma cells with high expression of Glypican-1. This result highlights the potential of produced conjugates and conjugation technology for further studies of their application in the tumour detection and fluorescence-guided resection.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis, Catabolism, and Signaling in Sorghum Bicolor under Saline-Alkali Stress
Authors: Ma Siqi , Lv Lin , Meng Chen , Zhou Chao , Fu Jie , Shen Xiangling , Zhang Chengsheng , Li Yiqiang
Published: December 2019

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world. It is an annual C4 crop due to its high biomass and wide usage, and has a strong resistance to stress. Obviously, there are many benefits of planting sorghum on marginal soils such as saline-alkali land. Although it is known that abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in plant abiotic stress responses, there are few reports on sorghum. Here, we obtained RNA-seq data, which showed gene expression at the genome-wide level under saline-alkali stress. The genes related to ABA biosynthesis, catabolism, and signaling were identified and analyzed. Meanwhile, their amino acid sequences were intermingled with rice genes to form several distinct orthologous and paralogous groups. ABA-related differentially expressed genes under saline-alkali stress were identified, and family members involved in ABA signaling were hypothesized based on the expression levels and homologous genes in rice. Furthermore, the ABA signaling pathway in Sorghum bicolor was understood better by interaction analysis. These findings present a comprehensive overview of the genes regulating ABA biosynthesis, catabolism, and signaling in Sorghum bicolor under saline-alkali stress, and provide a foundation for future research regarding their biological roles in sorghum stress tolerance.
Process and Techno-Economic Analysis for Fuel and Chemical Production by Hydrodeoxygenation of Bio-Oil
Authors: Bagnato Giuseppe , Sanna Aimaro
Published: December 2019

The catalytic hydrogenation of lignocellulosic derived bio-oil was assessed from the thermodynamic simulation perspective, in order to evaluate its economic potential for the production of added-value chemicals and drop-in fuels. A preliminary economic evaluation was first run to identify the conditions where the process is profitable, while a full economic analysis evaluated how the operating conditions affected the reaction in terms of yield. The results indicate that the bio-oil should be separated into water-soluble and insoluble fractions previous hydrogenation, since very different process conditions are required for the two portions. The maximum economic potential resulted in 38,234 MM$/y for a capacity of bio-oil processed of 10 Mt/y. In the simulated biorefinery, the insoluble bio-oil fraction (IBO) was processed to produce biofuels with a cost of 22.22 and 18.87 $/GJ for light gasoline and diesel, respectively. The water-soluble bio-oil fraction (WBO) was instead processed to produce 51.43 ton/day of chemicals, such as sorbitol, propanediol, butanediol, etc., for a value equal to the market price. The economic feasibility of the biorefinery resulted in a return of investment (ROI) of 69.18%, a pay-out time of 2.48 years and a discounted cash flow rate of return (DCFROR) of 19.11%, considering a plant cycle life of 30 years.
Extracellular Vesicles–Encapsulated MicroRNA-125b Produced in Genetically Modified Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation
Authors: Baldari Silvia , Di Rocco Giuliana , Magenta Alessandra , Picozza Mario , Toietta Gabriele
Published: December 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of primary liver cancer and one of the prominent causes of cancer mortality, leading to approximately 780,000 deaths per year worldwide. Down-regulation of microRNA-125b (miR-125b) is a prognostic indicator in HCC patients. Conversely, over-expression of miR-125b in HCC cells induces cell cycle arrest, inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) function as intercellular messengers transferring proteins, RNAs, DNAs, carbohydrates, and lipids. Since EVs protect their cargo from degradation, delivery of therapeutic bioactive molecules, in particular miRNAs, through EVs represents an innovative avenue for cancer therapy. In this study, we evaluated a replacement strategy for the treatment of HCC via delivery of EVs secreted from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal/medicinal signaling cells (ASCs) genetically modified with a lentiviral vector expressing miR-125b with a specific ExoMotif sequence tag to enhance the loading into extracellular vesicles. In particular, we determined that the delivery of miR-125b-loaded EVs produced in engineered ASCs specifically reduces HCC cell proliferation in vitro modulating a series of miR-125b targets, which belong to the p53 signaling pathway. This proof-of-concept study supports the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for HCC via EV-mediated miRNA delivery.
Key Problems Affecting the Anti-Erosion Coating Performance of Aero-Engine Compressor: A Review
Authors: He Guangyu , Sun Danyang , Chen Jiao , Han Xiao , Zhang Zhaolu , Fang Zhihao , Yang Lingwei , Yang Zhufang
Published: December 2019

Sand erosion has always been a key threat to the performance and service life of aero-engines. The compressor, the key component installed at the front of the aero-engine, suffers the most from sand erosion, especially compressors serving in deserts. Ceramic hard coating is a traditional way to improve the hardness and wear resistance of cutting and grinding tools. It may also be used to improve the erosion resistance of aero- engine compressor. However, the mechanism of erosion damage is complicated, which may include wear, secondary erosion, anisotropic erosion, impact, and fatigue. Recent research discovered the major problems with ceramic hard coating on aero-engine compressors. In this paper, these following problems are discussed: the design of coating material and structure, the preparation method and technology, the effects of droplets and clusters of coating surface, microstructure and characteristics of interface. The review of the major problems and possible solutions discussed in this paper may contribute to the future research on erosion coating theoretically and practically.
Rheological Solidification Behavior and Mechanical Properties of AZ91-Sn Alloys
Authors: Tie Di , Zhang Boyu , Yan Lufei , Guan Renguo , Ji Zhaoshan , Liu Haifeng , Zhang Deliang , Liu Debao , Chen Minfang
Published: December 2019

The solidification and tensile deformation behaviors of rheo-cast AZ91-Sn alloys were revealed to study the effects of Sn alloying on improvement of AZ91 alloy’s mechanical properties. Two kinds of Mg17Al12 phases precipitated from the supersaturated magnesium matrix during rheo-solidification were observed: coarse discontinuous precipitates (DP) at grain boundaries and small-sized continuous precipitates (CP) inside grains. With increasing Sn content, the amount of Mg17Al12 phases was increased whilst the amount of Al atoms in the matrix was decreased. Due to the higher melting point of Mg2Sn than Mg17Al12, Mg2Sn precipitated earlier from the melt, and therefore provided heterogeneous nuclei for Mg17Al12 during the eutectic reaction. Due to grain refinement and solid solution strengthening, AZ91-2.4Sn (mass%) gained 52% increase in tensile strength and 93% increase in elongation compared with pure AZ91 alloy. The higher-density twins and microcracks induced by Sn alloying relaxed stress concentration during plastic deformation, so the fracture mode was transformed from cleavage fracture of pure AZ91 alloy to ductile fracture of AZ91-Sn alloys.
Nitrogen Fixing and Phosphate Mineralizing Bacterial Communities in Sweet Potato Rhizosphere Show a Genotype-Dependent Distribution
Authors: Marques Joana Montezano , Mateus Jackeline Rossetti , da Silva Thais Freitas , Couto Camila Rattes de Almeida , Blank Arie Fitzgerald , Seldin Lucy
Published: December 2019

We hypothesize that sweet potato genotypes can influence the bacterial communities related to phosphate mineralization and nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere. Tuberous roots of field-grown sweet potato from genotypes IPB-149, IPB-052, and IPB-137 were sampled three and six months after planting. The total community DNA was extracted from the rhizosphere and analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), based on the alkaline phosphatase coding gene (alp gene) and on the nitrogenase coding gene (nifH gene). The cluster analysis based on DGGE showed that plant age slightly influenced the bacterial community related to phosphate mineralization in the rhizosphere of IPB-137, although it did not affect the bacterial community related to nitrogen fixation. The statistical analysis of DGGE fingerprints (Permutation test, p ≤ 0.05) showed that nitrogen-fixing bacterial community of IPB-052 statistically differed from genotypes IPB-149 and IPB-137 after six months of planting. The bacterial community of IPB-137 rhizosphere analyzed by alp gene also showed significant differences when compared to IPB-149 in both sampling times (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, alp gene copy numbers significantly increased in abundance in the rhizosphere of IPB-137 after six months of planting. Therefore, plant genotype should be considered in the biofertilization of sweet potato.
Thermodynamics of Gas–Liquid Colloidal Equilibrium States: Hetero-Phase Fluctuations
Authors: Woodcock Leslie V.
Published: December 2019

Following on from two previous JETC (Joint European Thermodynamics Conference) presentations, we present a preliminary report of further advances towards the thermodynamic description of critical behavior and a supercritical gas-liquid coexistence with a supercritical fluid mesophase defined by percolation loci. The experimental data along supercritical constant temperature isotherms (T ≥ Tc) are consistent with the existence of a two-state mesophase, with constant change in pressure with density, rigidity, (dp/dρ) T, and linear thermodynamic state-functions of density. The supercritical mesophase is bounded by 3rd-order phase transitions at percolation thresholds. Here we present the evidence that these percolation transitions of both gaseous and liquid states along any isotherm are preceded by pre-percolation hetero-phase fluctuations that can explain the thermodynamic properties in the mesophase and its vicinity. Hetero-phase fluctuations give rise to one-component colloidal-dispersion states; a single Gibbs phase retaining 2 degrees of freedom in which both gas and liquid states with different densities percolate the phase volume. In order to describe the thermodynamic properties of two-state critical and supercritical coexistence, we introduce the concept of a hypothetical homo-phase of both gas and liquid, defined as extrapolated equilibrium states in the pre-percolation vicinity, with the hetero-phase fractions subtracted. We observe that there can be no difference in chemical potential between homo-phase liquid and gaseous states along the critical isotherm in mid-critical isochoric experiments when the meniscus disappears at T = Tc. For T > Tc, thermodynamic states comprise equal mole fractions of the homo-phase gas and liquid, both percolating the total phase volume, at the same temperature, pressure, and with a uniform chemical potential, stabilised by a positive finite interfacial surface tension.
Macroeconomic Forecasting with Factor-Augmented Adjusted Band Regression
Authors: Chudý Marek , Reschenhofer Erhard
Published: December 2019

Previous findings indicate that the inclusion of dynamic factors obtained from a large set of predictors can improve macroeconomic forecasts. In this paper, we explore three possible further developments: (i) using automatic criteria for choosing those factors which have the greatest predictive power; (ii) using only a small subset of preselected predictors for the calculation of the factors; and (iii) utilizing frequency-domain information for the estimation of the factor models. Reanalyzing a standard macroeconomic dataset of 143 U.S. time series and using the major measures of economic activity as dependent variables, we find that (i) is not helpful, whereas focusing on the low-frequency components of the factors and disregarding the high-frequency components can actually improve the forecasting performance for some variables. In the case of the gross domestic product, a combination of (ii) and (iii) yields the best results.
Analysis and Classification of Motor Dysfunctions in Arm Swing in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Steinmetzer Tobias , Maasch Michele , Bönninger Ingrid , Travieso Carlos M.
Published: December 2019

Due to increasing life expectancy, the number of age-related diseases with motor dysfunctions (MD) such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) is also increasing. The assessment of MD is visual and therefore subjective. For this reason, many researchers are working on an objective evaluation. Most of the research on gait analysis deals with the analysis of leg movement. The analysis of arm movement is also important for the assessment of gait disorders. This work deals with the analysis of the arm swing by using wearable inertial sensors. A total of 250 records of 39 different subjects were used for this task. Fifteen subjects of this group had motor dysfunctions (MD). The subjects had to perform the standardized Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to ensure that the recordings were comparable. The data were classified by using the wavelet transformation, a convolutional neural network (CNN), and weight voting. During the classification, single signals, as well as signal combinations were observed. We were able to detect MD with an accuracy of 93.4% by using the wavelet transformation and a three-layer CNN architecture.
New Curved Reflectors for Significantly Enhanced Solar Power Generation in Four Seasons
Authors: Choi Jin S. , Choi Byeong G. , Kim Ji H. , Ryu Seung-Tak , Rim Chun T. , Kim Yun-Su
Published: December 2019

A new curved-type reflector for solar power generation is proposed. By adopting the curved-type reflector between consecutive solar panel arrays, all incoming sunlight can be utilized and thus, the generated power is significantly increased. Furthermore, the proposed curved-type reflector can be generally used in four seasons regardless of the altitude or angle of the installation environment. The optimum design rule for the curved-reflector, comparing to a plane-type reflector, is completely developed in this paper. A new solar cell configuration best fit for the proposed curved-reflector is also provided. Experimental results showed that the curved-type reflector improves the spatial average solar power by 61% compared to no reflector case, which is even 11% higher than the plane-type reflector. Reflectors, especially curved-type reflectors, are found to be one of promising solutions for highly efficient solar power generation.
Differential Effects of Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fats on Satiety and Gut Hormone Responses in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Sun Lijuan , Goh Hui Jen , Govindharajulu Priya , Khee-Shing Leow Melvin , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar
Published: December 2019

The difference between fat saturation on postprandial hormone responses and acute appetite control is not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) response and subjective appetite responses after isoenergetic high-fat meals rich in either monounsaturated (MUFAs) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in healthy Chinese males. A randomized, controlled, single-blinded crossover study was conducted in 13 healthy Chinese men. Two high-fat meals (64% of energy) rich in MUFAs or PUFAs were tested. Total ghrelin, GIP and active GLP1 and visual analog scale (VAS) were measured over 4 h. Ghrelin was reduced greater after MUFA compared to PUFA at the beginning of the meal (at 30 and 60 min) and was significantly negatively correlated with subjective VAS for preoccupation for both MUFA and PUFA meals. No significant difference for ghrelin 240 min incremental area under the curve (iAUCs) were found. MUFA induced higher GIP response than PUFA. GIP was associated with all the VAS measurements except preoccupation for MUFA meal. No difference was found for GLP1 between two meals, nor was GLP1 associated with VAS. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that ghrelin, GIP and VAS respond differently to MUFA and PUFA meals. Ghrelin and GIP, but not GLP1, were associated with acute appetite control, especially after MUFA meal.
The Effect of Cantharellus Cibarius Addition on Quality Characteristics of Frankfurter during Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Novakovic Sasa , Djekic Ilija , Klaus Anita , Vunduk Jovana , Djordjevic Vesna , Tomović Vladimir , Šojić Branislav , Kocić-Tanackov Sunčica , Lorenzo Jose M. , Barba Francisco J. , Tomasevic Igor
Published: December 2019

The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Cantharellus cibarius decoction and the effect of mushroom addition on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of frankfurters during refrigerated storage were studied. Mushroom addition significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the formation of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria during storage. Regarding the texture, there was no negative effect in frankfurters with the mushroom added, compared to the control group of sausages. Generally, C. cibarius can be used as a natural ingredient in order to prevent the growth of microorganisms in cooked pork sausages, causing an extension in shelf life during chilled storage.
Impacts of Clarification Techniques on Sample Constituents and Pathogen Retention
Authors: Armstrong Cheryl M. , Gehring Andrew G. , Paoli George C. , Chen Chin-Yi , He Yiping , Capobianco Joseph A.
Published: December 2019

Determination of the microbial content in foods is important, not only for safe consumption, but also for food quality, value, and yield. A variety of molecular techniques are currently available for both identification and quantification of microbial content within samples; however, their success is often contingent upon proper sample preparation when the subject of investigation is a complex mixture of components such as foods. Because of the importance of sample preparation, the present study employs a systematic approach to compare the effects of four different separation techniques (glass wool, 50 μm polypropylene filters, graphite felt, and continuous flow centrifugation (CFC)) on sample preparation. To define the physical effects associated with the use of these separation methods, a multifactorial analysis was performed where particle size and composition, both pre- and post- processing, were analyzed for four different food matrices including lean ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey and spinach. Retention of three important foodborne bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes) was also examined to evaluate the feasibility of the aforementioned methods to be utilized within the context of foodborne pathogen detection. Data from the multifactorial analysis not only delineated the particle size ranges but also defined the unique compositional profiles and quantified the bacterial retention. The three filtration membranes allowed for the passage of bacteria with minimal loss while CFC concentrated the inoculated bacteria. In addition, the deposition and therefore concentration of food matrix observed with CFC was considerably higher for meat samples relative to spinach. However, filtration with glass wool prior to CFC helped clarify meat samples, which led to considerably lower amounts of solids in the CFC vessel post processing and an increase in the recovery of the bacteria. Overall, by laying a framework for the deductive selection of sample preparation techniques, the results of the study can be applied to a range of applications where it would be beneficial to scientifically guide the pairing of the criteria associated with a downstream detection method with the most advantageous sample preparation techniques for complex matrices such as foods.
Effectiveness of Consumers Washing with Sanitizers to Reduce Human Norovirus on Mixed Salad
Authors: Anfruns-Estrada Eduard , Bottaro Marilisa , Pintó Rosa M. , Guix Susana , Bosch Albert
Published: December 2019

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a foremost cause of domestically acquired foodborne acute gastroenteritis and outbreaks. Despite industrial efforts to control HuNoV contamination of foods, its prevalence in foodstuffs at retail is significant. HuNoV infections are often associated with the consumption of contaminated produce, including ready-to-eat (RTE) salads. Decontamination of produce by washing with disinfectants is a consumer habit which could significantly contribute to mitigate the risk of infection. The aim of our study was to measure the effectiveness of chemical sanitizers in inactivating genogroup I and II HuNoV strains on mixed salads using a propidium monoazide (PMAxx)-viability RTqPCR assay. Addition of sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, or chlorine dioxide significantly enhanced viral removal as compared with water alone. Peracetic acid provided the highest effectiveness, with log10 reductions on virus levels of 3.66 ± 0.40 and 3.33 ± 0.19 for genogroup I and II, respectively. Chlorine dioxide showed lower disinfection efficiency. Our results provide information useful to the food industry and final consumers for improving the microbiological safety of fresh products in relation to foodborne viruses.
TILLING by Sequencing: A Successful Approach to Identify Rare Alleles in Soybean Populations
Authors: Thapa Rima , Carrero-Colón Militza , Rainey Katy M. , Hudson Karen
Published: December 2019

Soybean seeds produce valuable protein that is a major component of livestock feed. However, soybean seeds also contain the anti-nutritional raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) raffinose and stachyose, which are not digestible by non-ruminant animals. This requires the proportion of soybean meal in the feed to be limited, or risk affecting animal growth rate or overall health. While reducing RFOs in soybean seed has been a goal of soybean breeding, efforts are constrained by low genetic variability for carbohydrate traits and the difficulty in identifying these within the soybean germplasm. We used reverse genetics Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING)-by-sequencing approach to identify a damaging polymorphism that results in a missense mutation in a conserved region of the RAFFINOSE SYNTHASE3 gene. We demonstrate that this mutation, when combined as a double mutant with a previously characterized mutation in the RAFFINOSE SYNTHASE2 gene, eliminates nearly 90% of the RFOs in soybean seed as a proportion of the total seeds carbohydrates, and results in increased levels of sucrose. This represents a proof of concept for TILLING by sequencing in soybean.
Factors Influencing Long-Term Care Service Needs among the Elderly Based on the Latest Anderson Model: A Case Study from the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: Zeng Liao , Xu Xiaocang , Zhang Chunxun , Chen Linhong
Published: December 2019

The rapid growth of population aging makes providing adequate long-term care (LTC) services for the elderly a serious social dilemma in China. Thus, it is necessary to carry out a theoretical discussion on the LTC service needs of the elderly and find out their influencing factors. With four regions of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River as the sample case, this study aims to explore the factors that affect LTC service needs of the elderly in the frame of the latest Anderson Model, which added psychosocial factors to predisposing characteristics, enabling factors, and need factors in the old version. Some interesting results have been found, for example, self-image evaluation is composed of several factors such as general physical health, attitude towards life, or psychosocial states. Finally, sub-analyses—namely, by age, by gender, and by educational level—were carried out since the choice of different long-term care service patterns is related to different age/gender/education groups.
Geo-Tagged Photo Metadata Processing Method for Beijing Inbound Tourism Flow
Authors: Chen Wen , Xu Zhiyun , Zheng Xiaoyao , Luo Yonglong
Published: December 2019

Technological advances have led to numerous developments in data sources. Geo-tagged photo metadata has provided a new source of mass research data for tourism studies. A series of data processing methods centering on the various types of information contained in geo-tagged photo metadata have thus been proposed; as a result, the development of tourism studies based on such data has advanced. However, an in-depth study of the data processing methods designed to conduct tourist flow prediction based on geo-tagged photo metadata has not yet been conducted. In order to acquire accurate substitutive data regarding inbound flows in cities, this paper introduces and designs several methods, including data screening, text data similarity calculation, geographical location clustering, and time series data modelling, in order to realize a data preprocessing model for inbound tourist flows in cities based on geo-tagged photo metadata. Wherein, the entropy filtering method was introduced to aid in determining whether the data were posted by inbound tourists; whether the inbound persons’ activities were related to tourism was judged through the calculation of tag text similarity; an efficient clustering method based on geographic grid partition was designed for cases in which the tag values were empty; finally, the time series of the inbound tourist flows of a certain region and period were obtained through data statistics and normalization. For the empirical research, Beijing City in China was selected as the research case, after which the feasibility and accuracy of the methods proposed in this paper were verified through data correlation analysis between Flickr data and real statistical yearbook data, as well as analysis of the prediction results based on a machine learning algorithm. The data preprocessing method introduced and designed in this paper provides a reference for the study of geo-tagged photo metadata in the field of tourism flow prediction. These methods can effectively filter out inbound tourist flow data from geotag photo metadata, thus providing a novel, reliable, and low-cost research data source for urban inbound tourism flow forecasting.
The Role of Immune Cells and Cytokines in Intestinal Wound Healing
Authors: Xue Xiang , Falcon Daniel M.
Published: December 2019

Intestinal wound healing is a complicated process that not only involves epithelial cells but also immune cells. In this brief review, we will focus on discussing the contribution and regulation of four major immune cell types (neutrophils, macrophages, regulatory T cells, and innate lymphoid cells) and four cytokines (interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-22) to the wound repair process in the gut. Better understanding of these immune factors will be important for developing novel targeted therapy.
MCP-1/MCPIP-1 Signaling Modulates the Effects of IL-1β in Renal Cell Carcinoma through ER Stress-Mediated Apoptosis
Authors: Lee Chia-Huei , Hung Pin-Feng , Lu Shang-Chieh , Chung Hsuan-Lien , Chiang Shang-Lun , Wu Chun-Te , Chou Wei-Chun , Sun Chiao-Yin
Published: December 2019

In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), interleukin (IL)-1β may be a pro-metastatic cytokine. However, we have not yet noted the clinical association between tumoral expression or serum level of IL-1β and RCC in our patient cohort. Herein, we investigate molecular mechanisms elicited by IL-1β in RCC. We found that IL-1β stimulates substantial monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 production in RCC cells by activating NF-kB and AP-1. In our xenograft RCC model, intra-tumoral MCP-1 injection down-regulated Ki67 expression and reduced tumor size. Microarray analysis revealed that MCP-1 treatment altered protein-folding processes in RCC cells. MCP-1-treated RCC cells and xenograft tumors expressed MCP-1-induced protein (MCPIP) and molecules involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis, namely C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP), protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK), and calnexin (CNX). ER stress-mediated apoptosis in MCP-1-treated RCC cells was confirmed using Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. Moreover, ectopic MCPIP expression increased PERK expression in Human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells. Our meta-analysis revealed that low MCP-1 levels reduce 1-year post-nephrectomy survival in patients with RCC. Immunohistochemistry indicated that in some RCC biopsy samples, the correlation between MCP-1 or MCPIP expression and tumor stages was inverse. Thus, MCP-1 and MCPIP potentially reduce the IL-1β-mediated oncogenic effect in RCC; our findings suggest that ER stress is a potential RCC treatment target.
Molecular Pattern and Density of Axons in the Long Head of the Biceps Tendon and the Superior Labrum
Authors: Boesmueller Sandra , Blumer Roland , Gesslbauer Bernhard , Hirtler Lena , Fialka Christian , Mittermayr Rainer
Published: December 2019

The type II superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair is a viable option in young and demanding patients, although a prolonged period of pain after surgery is described in the literature. The reason for this fact remains unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular pattern of the biceps tendon anchor, where the sutures for repair are placed. The long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT), including the superior labrum, was dissected in the setting of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using neurofilament (NF) and protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 as general markers for axons and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P for nociceptive transmission. A quantitative assessment was performed according to the two regions of interest (ROIs), i.e., the anterosuperior (ROI I) and the posterosuperior labrum (ROI II). Eleven LHBTs with a mean age of 73 years (range: 66–87 years) were harvested intraoperatively. Six LHBTs were gained in osteoarthrosis and five in fractures. We found an inhomogeneous distribution of axons in the anterosuperior and posterosuperior parts of the labrum in all the specimens irrespective of the age, gender, and baseline situation. There was a significantly higher number (p < 0.01) as well as density (p < 0.001) of NF-positive axons in ROI I compared to ROI II. Nociceptive fibers were always found along the NF-positive axons. Thus, our results indicate that the biceps tendon anchor itself is a highly innervated region comprising different nerve qualities. The anterosuperior labrum contains a higher absolute number and density of axons compared to the posterosuperior parts. Furthermore, we were able to prove the presence of nociceptive fibers in the superior labrum. The results obtained in this study could contribute to the variability of pain after SLAP repair.
International Differences in Outpatient Pain Management: A Survey of Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: El-Amin Nadirah , Nietert Paul , Kanter Julie
Published: December 2019

Vaso-occlusive pain crises are the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) and the primary reason for health care utilization. Both national and international guidelines recommend aggressive intravenous opioids, intravenous fluids and anti-inflammatory therapy as the mainstay of treatment for acute SCD pain. However, many vaso-occlusive crises are managed at home with oral medication and supportive care. There are no guidelines on home medication management of SCD-related pain, likely due to the lack of well-defined endpoints for acute events and the lack of funding for already approved pain medications. Amplifying this issue is the growing concern for opioid abuse and misuse in the United States (US) and internationally. This study aimed to evaluate differences in opioid prescribing practices among providers treating SCD in the US and internationally. A survey was disseminated electronically to known providers using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling strategy. There were 127 responses and 17 countries represented. US providers were more likely to prescribe opioids (p < 0.001) and were more likely to be “very comfortable” prescribing opioids than non-US prescribers (p < 0.001). US providers also tended to prescribe more tablets per patient of stronger opioids than non-US physicians. US physicians were more likely to be concerned that patients were abusing opioids than non-US physicians (32% vs. 27%, p < 0.05). There are significant variations in how different parts of the world manage pain in the outpatient setting for SCD. Identifying optimal home pain management strategies is necessary to improve care and long-term outcomes in SCD.
Paralogues of Mmp11 and Timp4 Interact during the Development of the Myotendinous Junction in the Zebrafish Embryo
Authors: Matchett Emma F. , Wang Shuaijin , Crawford Bryan D.
Published: December 2019

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the myotendinous junction (MTJ) undergoes dramatic physical and biochemical remodeling during the first 48 h of development in zebrafish, transforming from a rectangular fibronectin-dominated somite boundary to a chevron-shaped laminin-dominated MTJ. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (Mmp11, a.k.a. Stromelysin-3) is both necessary and sufficient for the removal of fibronectin at the MTJ, but whether this protease acts directly on fibronectin and how its activity is regulated remain unknown. Using immunofluorescence, we show that both paralogues of Mmp11 accumulate at the MTJ during this time period, but with Mmp11a present early and later replaced by Mmp11b. Moreover, Mmp11a also accumulates intracellularly, associated with the Z-discs of sarcomeres within skeletal muscle cells. Using the epitope-mediated MMP activation (EMMA) assay, we show that despite having a weaker paired basic amino acid motif in its propeptide than Mmp11b, Mmp11a is activated by furin, but may also be activated by other mechanisms intracellularly. One or both paralogues of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-4 (Timp4) are also present at the MTJ throughout this process, and yeast two-hybrid assays reveal distinct and specific interactions between various domains of these proteins. We propose a model in which Mmp11a activity is modulated (but not inhibited) by Timp4 during early MTJ remodeling, followed by a phase in which Mmp11b activity is both inhibited and spatially constrained by Timp4 in order to maintain the structural integrity of the mature MTJ.
Coordination of Marine Functional Zoning Revision at the Provincial and Municipal Levels: A Case Study of Putian, China
Authors: Huang Faming , Lin Yanhong , Liang Huixin , Zhao Rongrong , Chen Qiuming , Lin Jie , Huang Jinliang
Published: December 2019

Marine functional zoning (MFZ) is a type of marine spatial planning (MSP) implemented widely in China and one of the three major systems defined in the Law of the PRC on the Administration of Sea Area Use. China adopts “top-down management” for MFZ, in which upper management levels impose clear constraints and restrictions on lower levels. However, this approach has led to issues, such as a rigid MFZ classification system and unreasonable re-allocation of control indicators in the process of assigning MFZ classification at different levels. In this study, we propose and demonstrate the coordination of MFZ revision in terms of the classification system and the re-allocation of control indicators in the coastal city of Putian, China. The results show that the proposed measures could help realize the effective and reasonable coordination of MFZ revisions at the provincial and municipal levels, providing a reference for such MFZ revisions in other regions of China and the coordination of MSP between different levels in other countries.
Vibration Reduction of an Overhung Rotor Supported by an Active Magnetic Bearing Using a Decoupling Control System
Authors: Numanoy Nitisak , Srisertpol Jiraphon
Published: December 2019

Overhung rotors are important for use in industrial turbo-machines. The effects of a lateral force can increase as a result of the rotor weight, misalignment, or the operating speed of the suspension system for which the rotor is carrying a transmission connection. In this paper, the reduction of vibration in supported lateral directions by varying control is discussed in a radial active magnetic bearing system (AMBS). An experimental test was conducted on the orbital response of an overhung rotor supported by an AMBS, to provide an alternative for improving precision. To simplify the system design, decoupling was achieved using a PID controller and harmonic disturbance compensator (HDC), which improved the rotating performance of an overhung active magnetic bearing (AMB) rotor system, using a frequency response function (FRF) approach and a description of the overhung rotor during normal operational conditions at unique frequencies. The experimental results show that the precision rotation, due to harmonic excitation of the shaft orbit, can be removed in real time using compensation signals using trigonometry. The compensation criteria for the changed run-up and coast-down consistently helped to maintain the rotational center in a central position. A reduction of up to 55% in vibration amplitude on average was achieved under appropriate conditions, and the significance of the overhung rotor symptoms faults were investigated.
Computing the Matrix Exponential with an Optimized Taylor Polynomial Approximation
Authors: Bader Philipp , Blanes Sergio , Casas Fernando
Published: December 2019

A new way to compute the Taylor polynomial of a matrix exponential is presented which reduces the number of matrix multiplications in comparison with the de-facto standard Paterson-Stockmeyer method for polynomial evaluation. Combined with the scaling and squaring procedure, this reduction is sufficient to make the Taylor method superior in performance to Padé approximants over a range of values of the matrix norms. An efficient adjustment to make the method robust against overscaling is also introduced. Numerical experiments show the superior performance of our method to have a similar accuracy in comparison with state-of-the-art implementations, and thus, it is especially recommended to be used in conjunction with Lie-group and exponential integrators where preservation of geometric properties is at issue.
Some Applications of a New Integral Operator in q-Analog for Multivalent Functions
Authors: Khan Qaiser , Arif Muhammad , Raza Mohsan , Srivastava Gautam , Tang Huo , Rehman Shafiq ur
Published: December 2019

This paper introduces a new integral operator in q-analog for multivalent functions. Using as an application of this operator, we study a novel class of multivalent functions and define them. Furthermore, we present many new properties of these functions. These include distortion bounds, sufficiency criteria, extreme points, radius of both starlikness and convexity, weighted mean and partial sum for this newly defined subclass of multivalent functions are discussed. Various integral operators are obtained by putting particular values to the parameters used in the newly defined operator.
A Fuzzy Collaborative Approach for Evaluating the Suitability of a Smart Health Practice
Authors: Chen Tin-Chih Toly , Wang Yu-Cheng , Lin Yu-Cheng , Wu Hsin-Chieh , Lin Hai-Fen
Published: December 2019

A fuzzy collaborative approach is proposed in this study to assess the suitability of a smart health practice, which is a challenging task, as the participating decision makers may not reach a consensus. In the fuzzy collaborative approach, each decision maker first applies the alpha-cut operations method to derive the fuzzy weights of the criteria. Then, fuzzy intersection is applied to aggregate the fuzzy weights derived by all decision makers to measure the prior consensus among them. The fuzzy intersection results are then presented to the decision makers so that they can subjectively modify the pairwise comparison results to bring them closer to the fuzzy intersection results. Thereafter, the consensus among decision makers is again measured. The collaboration process will stop when no more modifications are made by any decision maker. Finally, the fuzzy weighted mean-centroid defuzzification method is applied to assess the suitability of a smart health practice. The fuzzy collaborative approach and some existing methods have been applied to assess the suitabilities of eleven smart health practices for a comparison. Among the compared practices, only the fuzzy collaborative approach could guarantee the existence of a full consensus among decision makers after the collaboration process, i.e., that the assessment results were acceptable to all decision makers.
Stage-Dependent Structured Discrete-Time Models for Mosquito Population Evolution with Survivability: Solution Properties, Equilibrium Points, Oscillations, and Population Feedback Controls
Authors: De la Sen Manuel , Ibeas Asier , Garrido Aitor J.
Published: December 2019

This paper relied on the investigation of the properties of the stage-structured model of coupled larvae and adult mosquito populations’ evolution when parameterized, in general, by time-varying (or stage-dependent) sequences. In particular, the investigated properties were the non-negativity of the solution under non-negative initial conditions, the boundedness of the sequence solutions under any finite non-negative initial conditions, the equilibrium points, and the convergence conditions to them in the event that the parameterizing sequences converge to finite limits. Some further properties that were investigated relied on deriving the oscillation conditions of the solutions under certain conditions of the parameterizations. The use of feedback controls to decrease the foreseen numbers of alive mosquitoes in future evolution stages is also proposed. The proposed control actions are exerted on the birth rate and/or the maximum progression rate sequences. Some illustrative examples are also given.
A Novel Graphically-Based Network Reconfiguration for Power Loss Minimization in Large Distribution Systems
Authors: Mohamed Diaaeldin Ibrahim , Abdel Aleem Shady H. E. , El-Rafei Ahmed , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y. , Zobaa Ahmed F.
Published: December 2019

Distribution network reconfiguration (DNR) is the optimized change in the topological structure of distribution systems without violating its radial configuration. DNR has been of interest in applied mathematics and engineering because of its importance in modern power systems. In literature, various optimization techniques that constitute a large area of applied mathematics were proposed to obtain optimized radial configurations; however, most of them were tested in small distribution systems. In this paper, a novel graphically-based DNR is proposed to obtain the optimized radial configurations for power loss minimization. The proposed DNR is based on the graphical representation of the distribution system without any need for a radiality check. Case studies were conducted on 16-, 33-, 70-, 83-, 136-, 415-, 880-, 1760-, and 4400-node distribution systems in order to minimize the total power loss. Results have proven the ability of the proposed graphical DNR for power loss minimization by obtaining fast radial configurations in comparison with previous studies and also its ability to deal with large distribution systems efficiently. The proposed DNR succeeded in minimizing the total losses for large distribution systems as the 880-, 1760-, and 4400-node distribution systems by 69.45%, 72.51%, and 74.35%, respectively.
An Innovative Approach towards Possibility Fuzzy Soft Ordered Semigroups for Ideals and Its Application
Authors: Habib Sana , Garg Harish , Nie Yufeng , Muhammad Khan Faiz
Published: December 2019

The objective of this paper is put forward the novel concept of possibility fuzzy soft ideals and the possibility of fuzzy soft interior ideals. The various results in the form of the theorems with these notions are presented and further validated by suitable examples. In modern life decision-making problems, there is a wide applicability of the possibility fuzzy soft ordered semigroup which has also been constructed in the paper to solve the decision-making process. Elementary and fundamental concepts including regular, intra-regular and simple ordered semigroups in terms of possibility fuzzy soft ordered semigroup are presented. Later, the concept of left (resp. right) regular and left (resp. right) simple in terms of possibility fuzzy soft ordered semigroups are delivered. Finally, the notion of possibility fuzzy soft semiprime ideals in an ordered semigroup is defined and illustrated by theorems and example.
Evolutionary Game Analysis on Strategies in “Main Manufacturer–Supplier” Mode Considering Technology Docking and Price Concluding under Competition Condition
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhu Jianjun , Wang Hehua , Liu Pei
Published: December 2019

This paper analyses the strategies of the substitutable suppliers competing to collaborate with a main manufacturer in “main manufacturer–supplier” (M-S) mode. In the research and development (R&D) of complex products, only one supplier can be chosen for one kind of part as a long-term collaboration partner with the manufacturer. The competition between substitutable suppliers focuses on the technology docking and price-concluding strategies. In this paper, one original supplier as the first-mover and one new supplier as the second-mover chose between the two strategies sequentially to compete for the collaborative preference of the manufacturer. We also took the delay cost brought by strategy changing into the consideration of the risks, which the suppliers and the manufacturer should prepare to share. With evolutionary game theory applied, we can conclude that the initial costs have little impact on suppliers’ making decisions, while the initial prices are correlated with both suppliers’ decision making. Results also show that hesitation and fluctuation periods exist in suppliers’ decision making, which have a relationship with existing strategy conditions, initial prices, and the cost caused by modifying the part. These results provide practical and reasonable managerial implications for M-S collaboration.
Differential Sandwich-Type Results for Symmetric Functions Connected with a Q-Analog Integral Operator
Authors: El-Deeb Sheza M. , Bulboacă Teodor
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we obtain some applications of the theory of differential subordination, differential superordination, and sandwich-type results for some subclasses of symmetric functions connected with a q-analog integral operator.