bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Single-Specimen/Locality Species in Insect Taxonomy: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Deng Jun , Guo Yanqing , Cheng Zhentao , Lu Congcong , Huang Xiaolei
Published: July 2019

Although about two million species have been named, our knowledge about the biodiversity of many taxonomic groups remains inadequate and incomplete. There has been increased taxonomic effort for the discovery of more species and their geographical distribution information. During this process, species collected only from a single specimen/locality often appear. However, there are very few empirical data available to understand the current situation of single specimen/locality species in insect taxonomy. In this paper, we collected 1261 articles containing 4811 insect species from ZooKeys between 2009 and 2017, and we extracted data, including the publication date, number of specimens/locality, and DNA usage. Our analyses demonstrated that 21.53% and 21.74% of new species were described from only one specimen and one locality, respectively, and approximately half of all new species were published based on fewer than five specimens. Meanwhile, the rate of single-specimen species in papers with or without DNA data was 15.06% and 23.43%, respectively, which indicates that incorporating DNA data in species descriptions might effectively decrease the occurrence of single-specimen species. We suggest that taxonomists should adopt more beneficial practices, such as increasing specimen diversity, incorporating DNA data, and improving international collaboration, in the description of new species.
Entropy and Information within Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions
Authors: Pritišanac Iva , Vernon Robert , Moses Alan , Forman Kay Julie
Published: July 2019

Bioinformatics and biophysical studies of intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDRs) note the high entropy at individual sequence positions and in conformations sampled in solution. This prevents application of the canonical sequence-structure-function paradigm to IDRs and motivates the development of new methods to extract information from IDR sequences. We argue that the information in IDR sequences cannot be fully revealed through positional conservation, which largely measures stable structural contacts and interaction motifs. Instead, considerations of evolutionary conservation of molecular features can reveal the full extent of information in IDRs. Experimental quantification of the large conformational entropy of IDRs is challenging but can be approximated through the extent of conformational sampling measured by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and lower-resolution structural biology techniques, which can be further interpreted with simulations. Conformational entropy and other biophysical features can be modulated by post-translational modifications that provide functional advantages to IDRs by tuning their energy landscapes and enabling a variety of functional interactions and modes of regulation. The diverse mosaic of functional states of IDRs and their conformational features within complexes demands novel metrics of information, which will reflect the complicated sequence-conformational ensemble-function relationship of IDRs.
Akaike’s Bayesian Information Criterion for the Joint Inversion of Terrestrial Water Storage Using GPS Vertical Displacements, GRACE and GLDAS in Southwest China
Authors: Liu Yongxin , Fok Hok Sum , Tenzer Robert , Chen Qiang , Chen Xiuwan
Published: July 2019

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) techniques, such as GPS, can be used to accurately record vertical crustal movements induced by seasonal terrestrial water storage (TWS) variations. Conversely, the TWS data could be inverted from GPS-observed vertical displacement based on the well-known elastic loading theory through the Tikhonov regularization (TR) or the Helmert variance component estimation (HVCE). To complement a potential non-uniform spatial distribution of GPS sites and to improve the quality of inversion procedure, herein we proposed in this study a novel approach for the TWS inversion by jointly supplementing GPS vertical crustal displacements with minimum usage of external TWS-derived displacements serving as pseudo GPS sites, such as from satellite gravimetry (e.g., Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, GRACE) or from hydrological models (e.g., Global Land Data Assimilation System, GLDAS), to constrain the inversion. In addition, Akaike’s Bayesian Information Criterion (ABIC) was employed during the inversion, while comparing with TR and HVCE to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. Despite the deterioration of the model fitness, our results revealed that the introduction of GRACE or GLDAS data as constraints during the joint inversion effectively reduced the uncertainty and bias by 42% and 41% on average, respectively, with significant improvements in the spatial boundary of our study area. In general, the ABIC with GRACE or GLDAS data constraints displayed an optimal performance in terms of model fitness and inversion performance, compared to those of other GPS-inferred TWS methodologies reported in published studies.
Structure Learning of Bayesian Network Based on Adaptive Thresholding
Authors: Zhang Yang , Wang Limin , Duan Zhiyi , Sun Minghui
Published: July 2019

Direct dependencies and conditional dependencies in restricted Bayesian network classifiers (BNCs) are two basic kinds of dependencies. Traditional approaches, such as filter and wrapper, have proved to be beneficial to identify non-significant dependencies one by one, whereas the high computational overheads make them inefficient especially for those BNCs with high structural complexity. Study of the distributions of information-theoretic measures provides a feasible approach to identifying non-significant dependencies in batch that may help increase the structure reliability and avoid overfitting. In this paper, we investigate two extensions to the k-dependence Bayesian classifier, MI-based feature selection, and CMI-based dependence selection. These two techniques apply a novel adaptive thresholding method to filter out redundancy and can work jointly. Experimental results on 30 datasets from the UCI machine learning repository demonstrate that adaptive thresholds can help distinguish between dependencies and independencies and the proposed algorithm achieves competitive classification performance compared to several state-of-the-art BNCs in terms of 0–1 loss, root mean squared error, bias, and variance.
Bridging the Gap between Academia and Practice: Project-Based Class for Prestressed Concrete Applications
Authors: Mantawy Islam M. , Rusch Conner , Ghimire Sushil , Lantz Lucas , Dhamala Hari , Shrestha Bipesh , Lampert Anthony , Khadka Mohit , Bista Anima , Soni Rhytham , Shaik Abdulu Saleem , Lujan Eric , Boyd Mika , Pickings Richard , Mabrich Alexander
Published: July 2019

Educational approaches in structural engineering have focused on classical methods for solving problems with manual calculations through assignments, quizzes, and exams. The use of computational software to apply the learned knowledge has been ignored for decades. This paper describes an educational approach to tackle the lack of applicable practical exercises in the structural engineering class “CE 506-Prestressed Concrete” at a university in the western United States during the spring of 2017. The class was designed to provide students with the theoretical concepts of prestressed concrete and the ability to interpret applicable design codes. In their project, students continued to build this knowledge by designing a prestressed bridge superstructure according to a unique state design manual. Students prepared a literature review of their selected state in the U.S.A. and used commercial software to perform an analysis and design of their bridge. Additionally, students were asked to backcheck their design using theoretical methods through manual calculations. By the end of the class, students presented their projects in a head-to-head presentation format, to contrast the differences between their designs in a competitive style. This paper summarizes the class structure, the outcome of the design project, and recommendations for future applications of computer technology in structural engineering education.
Robust Dynamic Sliding Mode Control-Based PID–Super Twisting Algorithm and Disturbance Observer for Second-Order Nonlinear Systems: Application to UAVs
Authors: Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh , Hong Sung Kyung
Published: July 2019

This paper introduces a robust dynamic sliding mode control algorithm using a nonlinear disturbance observer for system dynamics. The proposed method is applied to provide a rapid adaptation and strictly robust performance for the attitude and altitude control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The procedure of the proposed method consists of two stages. First, a nonlinear disturbance observer is applied to estimate the exogenous perturbation. Second, a robust dynamic sliding mode controller integrated with the estimated values of disturbances is presented by a combination of a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) sliding surface and super twisting technique to compensate for the effect of these perturbations on the system. In addition, the stability of a control system is established by Lyapunov theory. A numerical simulation was performed and compared to recently alternative methods. An excellent tracking performance and superior stability of the attitude and altitude control of UAVs, exhibiting a fast response, good adaptation, and no chattering effect in the simulation results proved the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
SoC Design Based on a FPGA for a Configurable Neural Network Trained by Means of an EKF
Authors: Renteria-Cedano Juan , Rivera Jorge , Sandoval-Ibarra F. , Ortega-Cisneros Susana , Loo-Yau Raúl
Published: July 2019

This work presents a configurable architecture for an artificial neural network implemented with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) in a System on Chip (SoC) environment. This architecture can reproduce the transfer function of different Multilayer Feedforward Neural Network (MFNN) configurations. The functionality of this configurable architecture relies on a single perceptron, multiplexers, and memory blocks that allow routing, storing, and processing information. The extended Kalman filter is the training algorithm that obtains the optimal weight values for the MFNN. The presented architecture was developed using Verilog Hardware Description Language, which permits designing hardware with a fair number of logical resources, and facilitates the portability to different FPGAs models without compatibility problems. A SoC that mainly incorporates a microprocessor and a FPGA is proposed, where the microprocessor is used for configuring the the MFNN and to enable and disable some functional blocks in the FPGA. The hardware was tested with measurements from a GaN class F power amplifier, using a 2.1 GHz Long Term Evolution signal with 5 MHz of bandwidth. In particular, a special case of an MFNN with two layers, i.e., a real-valued nonlinear autoregressive with an exogenous input neural network, was considered. The results reveal that a normalized mean square error value of −32.82 dB in steady-state was achievable, with a 71.36% generalization using unknown samples.
LoBEMS—IoT for Building and Energy Management Systems
Authors: Mataloto Bruno , Ferreira Joao C. , Cruz Nuno
Published: July 2019

This work presents the efforts on optimizing energy consumption by deploying an energy management system using the current IoT component/system/platform integration trends through a layered architecture. LoBEMS (LoRa Building and Energy Management System), the proposed platform, was built with the mindset of proving a common platform that would integrate multiple vendor locked-in systems together with custom sensor devices, providing critical data in order to improve overall building efficiency. The actions that led to the energy savings were implemented with a ruleset that would control the already installed air conditioning and lighting control systems. This approach was validated in a kindergarten school during a three-year period, resulting in a publicly available dataset that is useful for future and related research. The sensors that feed environmental data to the custom energy management system are composed by a set of battery operated sensors tied to a System on Chip with a LoRa communication interface. These sensors acquire environmental data such as temperature, humidity, luminosity, air quality but also motion. An already existing energy monitoring solution was also integrated. This flexible approach can easily be deployed to any building facility, including buildings with existing solutions, without requiring any remote automation facilities. The platform includes data visualization templates that create an overall dashboard, allowing management to identify actions that lead to savings using a set of pre-defined actions or even a manual mode if desired. The integration of the multiple systems (air-conditioning, lighting and energy monitoring) is a key differentiator of the proposed solution, especially when the top energy consumers for modern buildings are cooling and heating systems. As an outcome, the evaluation of the proposed platform resulted in a 20% energy saving based on these combined energy saving actions.
Digital Forensic Analysis of Industrial Control Systems Using Sandboxing: A Case of WAMPAC Applications in the Power Systems
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Mahmood Farhan , Ekstedt Mathias
Published: July 2019

In today’s connected world, there is a tendency of connectivity even in the sectors which conventionally have been not so connected in the past, such as power systems substations. Substations have seen considerable digitalization of the grid hence, providing much more available insights than before. This has all been possible due to connectivity, digitalization and automation of the power grids. Interestingly, this also means that anybody can access such critical infrastructures from a remote location and gone are the days of physical barriers. The power of connectivity and control makes it a much more challenging task to protect critical industrial control systems. This capability comes at a price, in this case, increasing the risk of potential cyber threats to substations. With all such potential risks, it is important that they can be traced back and attributed to any potential threats to their roots. It is extremely important for a forensic investigation to get credible evidence of any cyber-attack as required by the Daubert standard. Hence, to be able to identify and capture digital artifacts as a result of different attacks, in this paper, the authors have implemented and improvised a forensic testbed by implementing a sandboxing technique in the context of real time-hardware-in-the-loop setup. Newer experiments have been added by emulating the cyber-attacks on WAMPAC applications, and collecting and analyzing captured artifacts. Further, using sandboxing for the first time in such a setup has proven helpful.
Bi-Objective Optimization Model for Optimal Placement of Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensator Devices
Authors: Salehizadeh Mohammad Reza , Koohbijari Mahdi Amidi , Nouri Hassan , Taşcıkaraoğlu Akın , Erdinç Ozan , Catalão João P. S.
Published: July 2019

Exposure to extreme weather conditions increases power systems’ vulnerability in front of high impact, low probability contingency occurrence. In the post-restructuring years, due to the increasing demand for energy, competition between electricity market players and increasing penetration of renewable resources, the provision of effective resiliency-based approaches has received more attention. In this paper, as the major contribution to current literature, a novel approach is proposed for resiliency improvement in a way that enables power system planners to manage several resilience metrics efficiently in a bi-objective optimization planning model simultaneously. For demonstration purposes, the proposed method is applied for optimal placement of the thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC). Improvement of all considered resilience metrics regardless of their amount in a multi-criteria decision-making framework is novel in comparison to the other previous TCSC placement approaches. Without loss of generality, the developed resiliency improvement approach is applicable in any power system planning and operation problem. The simulation results on IEEE 30-bus and 118-bus test systems confirm the practicality and effectiveness of the developed approach. Simulation results show that by considering resilience metrics, the performance index, importance of curtailed consumers, congestion management cost, number of curtailed consumers, and amount of load loss are improved by 0.63%, 43.52%, 65.19%, 85.93%, and 85.94%, respectively.
A Frequency Locking Method for ICPT System Based on LCC/S Compensation Topology
Authors: Li Yansong , Wang Minhao , Zhang Weiwei , Zhao Mengmeng , Liu Jun
Published: July 2019

Aiming to maximize the transmission efficiency of inductively coupled power transmission (ICPT) system with the designed output power, a frequency locking method for an ICPT system based on LCC/S compensation topology is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the relationship between compensation component Lf1 and output power was deduced by the lossless model, and the initial value of Lf1 was obtained. Then, considering the system loss, the designed output power and frequency were input into the frequency locking program, and Lf1 and other compensation parameters were dynamically tracked. At the same time, the transmission efficiency of the system was calculated, and the frequency that achieved maximum efficiency was automatically locked when the system met the requirements of the designed output power. Finally, based on the method, the output characteristics of the system were verified by experiments.
Selection of Native Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts with Biocontrol Activity against Spoilage Yeasts in Order to Produce Healthy Regional Wines
Authors: Kuchen Benjamín , Maturano Yolanda Paola , Mestre María Victoria , Combina Mariana , Toro María Eugenia , Vazquez Fabio
Published: July 2019

Two major spoilage yeasts in the wine industry, Brettanomyces bruxellensis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, produce off-flavors and gas, causing considerable economic losses. Traditionally, SO2 has been used in winemaking to prevent spoilage, but strict regulations are in place regarding its use due to its toxic and allergenic effects. To reduce its usage researchers have been searching for alternative techniques. One alternative is biocontrol, which can be used either independently or in a complementary way to chemical control (SO2). The present study analyzed 122 native non-Saccharomyces yeasts for their biocontrol activity and their ability to be employed under fermentation conditions, as well as certain enological traits. After the native non-Saccharomyces yeasts were assayed for their biocontrol activity, 10 biocontroller yeasts were selected and assayed for their ability to prevail in the fermentation medium, as well as with respect to their corresponding positive/negative contribution to the wine. Two yeasts that satisfy these characteristics were Wickerhamomyces anomalus BWa156 and Metschnikowia pulcherrima BMp29, which were selected for further research in application to mixed fermentations.
Structuring Reference Architectures for the Industrial Internet of Things
Authors: Bader Sebastian R. , Maleshkova Maria , Lohmann Steffen
Published: July 2019

The ongoing digital transformation has the potential to revolutionize nearly all industrial manufacturing processes. However, its concrete requirements and implications are still not sufficiently investigated. In order to establish a common understanding, a multitude of initiatives have published guidelines, reference frameworks and specifications, all intending to promote their particular interpretation of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). As a result of the inconsistent use of terminology, heterogeneous structures and proposed processes, an opaque landscape has been created. The consequence is that both new users and experienced experts can hardly manage to get an overview of the amount of information and publications, and make decisions on what is best to use and to adopt. This work contributes to the state of the art by providing a structured analysis of existing reference frameworks, their classifications and the concerns they target. We supply alignments of shared concepts, identify gaps and give a structured mapping of regarded concerns at each part of the respective reference architectures. Furthermore, the linking of relevant industry standards and technologies to the architectures allows a more effective search for specifications and guidelines and supports the direct technology adoption.
Identification and Characterization of a Thermotolerant TILLING Allele of Heat Shock Binding Protein 1 in Tomato
Authors: Marko Dominik , El-shershaby Asmaa , Carriero Filomena , Summerer Stephan , Petrozza Angelo , Iannacone Rina , Schleiff Enrico , Fragkostefanakis Sotirios
Published: July 2019

The identification of heat stress (HS)-resilient germplasm is important to ensure food security under less favorable environmental conditions. For that, germplasm with an altered activity of factors regulating the HS response is an important genetic tool for crop improvement. Heat shock binding protein (HSBP) is one of the main negative regulators of HS response, acting as a repressor of the activity of HS transcription factors. We identified a TILLING allele of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) HSBP1. We examined the effects of the mutation on the functionality of the protein in tomato protoplasts, and compared the thermotolerance capacity of lines carrying the wild-type and mutant alleles of HSBP1. The methionine-to-isoleucine mutation in the central heptad repeats of HSBP1 leads to a partial loss of protein function, thereby reducing the inhibitory effect on Hsf activity. Mutant seedlings show enhanced basal thermotolerance, while mature plants exhibit increased resilience in repeated HS treatments, as shown by several physiological parameters. Importantly, plants that are homozygous for the wild-type or mutant HSBP1 alleles showed no significant differences under non-stressed conditions. Altogether, these results indicate that the identified mutant HSBP1 allele can be used as a genetic tool in breeding, aiming to improve the thermotolerance of tomato varieties.
A Mosquito Workshop and Community Intervention: A Pilot Education Campaign to Identify Risk Factors Associated with Container Mosquitoes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Authors: Parker Casey , Garcia Felicita , Menocal Oscar , Jeer Dunia , Alto Barry
Published: July 2019

Dengue poses a significant public health threat and results in ~96 million clinical cases every year. Central America is a region burdened by neglected tropical diseases, including dengue. The primary vectors of dengue, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are widely distributed in Honduras. Additionally, sustained and consistent mosquito control is lacking in the country. Successful control of container mosquitoes relies heavily on participation from community leaders, stakeholders, and the community itself. We conducted a pilot study in San Pedro Sula, Honduras where community leaders and stakeholders were trained on mosquito biology and control and were able to apply that knowledge to an underserved community in San Pedro Sula. Surveys to assess the number and type of containers in the community and the number of containers on the residence identified associations with select socioeconomic factors and other variables based on survey questions. The average number of containers on the premises was 15 (± 2.3) and the most prevalent containers (>50%) were flowerpots, garbage, and toys, which could be targeted in mosquito control programs. This pilot study offers a framework for training community leaders and stakeholders to create a sustainable community-based vector control program for container mosquitoes.
Polish Adaptation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey: Measurement Properties
Authors: Król-Zielińska Magdalena , Zieliński Jacek , Kantanista Adam , Szeklicki Robert , Osiński Wiesław , Ciekot-Sołtysiak Monika
Published: July 2019

The aim of this study was to assess the measurement properties of a Polish adaptation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS-PL). The Polish cultural adaptation of the YPAS was administered to a group of 104 people aged 65 to 89 years (mean age 72 ± 5). To assess the reliability of the YPAS-PL, a test-retest procedure was applied. Validity was assessed by comparing the results of the YPAS-PL with accelerometery (ActiGraph wGT3X+). The indicators based on the YPAS-PL activities checklist were characterized by high repeatability and had better reliability values than the YPAS-PL activity dimension indices (energy expenditure interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.81, total time physical activity ICC = 0.86). We noted a significant positive relationship between energy expenditure measured by an accelerometer and the YPAS-PL (r = 0.23). We can conclude that the YPAS-PL is an adequate tool for assessing energy expenditure related to physical activity in a Polish population of older adults. We also recommend the cautious and well thought-out use of the YPAS-PL activity dimension indices (summary, vigorous, leisurely walking, moving, standing, and sitting indexes).
Cultural Intelligence and Work–Family Conflict: A Moderated Mediation Model Based on Conservation of Resources Theory
Authors: He Guohua , An Ran , Zhang Feng
Published: July 2019

This study aims to explore the influence mechanism of cultural intelligence on work–family conflict for Chinese expatriates in cross-cultural non-profit organizations. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this longitudinal study (six-month time lag) is the first to examine cultural intelligence as an antecedent of work–family conflict. The study also examines the mediating role of work engagement and the moderating role of leader–member exchange (LMX) in the cultural intelligence and work–family conflict relationship. The sample comprises 206 expatriate Chinese language teachers working at 45 Confucius Institutes in the US, Canada, and Russia. Results show that cultural intelligence not only reduces work–family conflict but also promotes expatriates’ work engagement. The higher the work engagement, the higher the work–family conflict experienced by expatriates. LMX moderates not only the positive relationship between work engagement and work–family conflict but also the indirect effect of cultural intelligence on work–family conflict through work engagement. Thus, the indirect effect of cultural intelligence on work–family conflict through work engagement is stronger with low (compared to high) LMX. This study’s findings provide implications for managers of cross-cultural non-profit organizations to better understand and solve expatriates’ work–family conflict problem.
Does Parental Mediation of Technology Use Moderate the Associations between Cyber Aggression Involvement and Substance Use? A Three-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Wright Michelle F. , Wachs Sebastian
Published: July 2019

The goal of this three-year longitudinal study was to examine the buffering effect of parental mediation of adolescents’ technology use (i.e., restrictive, co-viewing, and instructive) on the relationships among cyber aggression involvement and substance use (i.e., alcohol use, marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and non-marijuana illicit drug use). Overall, 867 (Mage = 13.67, age range from 13–15 years, 51% female, 49% White) 8th grade adolescents from the Midwestern United States participated in this study during the 6th grade (Wave 1), 7th grade (Wave 2), and 8th grade (Wave 3). Results revealed that higher levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation weakened the association between Wave 1 cyber victimization and Wave 3 alcohol use and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use. The relationship was stronger between Wave 1 cyber victimization and Wave 3 alcohol use and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use when adolescents reported lower levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation. At lower levels of Wave 2 instructive mediation, the association between Wave 1 cyber aggression perpetration and Wave 3 non-marijuana illicit drug use was stronger. Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of parents recognizing their role in helping to mitigate the negative consequences associated with adolescents’ cyber aggression involvement.
Does Death Anxiety Moderate the Adequacy of Retirement Savings? Empirical Evidence from 40-Plus Clients of Spanish Financial Advisory Firms
Authors: Garmendia Pablo , Topa Gabriela , Herrador Teresa , Hernández Montserrat
Published: July 2019

This three-wave study analyses the mediating role of financial behavior in the relationship between financial goals and retirement saving adequacy, and the moderating role of Death anxiety. The participants in the study (N = 276) were 40-plus Spanish clients of financial advisory firms. The results show that the relationship between financial goals and retirement saving adequacy is, in fact, mediated by financial behavior. We also found that death anxiety moderates the financial behavior-retirement saving adequacy relationship. The theoretical and practical implications of the study for design are discussed at the end of the paper.
Identification of a 119-bp Promoter of the Maize Sulfite Oxidase Gene (ZmSO) That Confers High-Level Gene Expression and ABA or Drought Inducibility in Transgenic Plants
Authors: Xu Ziwei , Wang Meiping , Guo Ziting , Zhu Xianfeng , Xia Zongliang
Published: July 2019

Drought adversely affects crop growth and yields. The cloning and characterization of drought- or abscisic acid (ABA)-inducible promoters is of great significance for their utilization in the genetic improvement of crop resistance. Our previous studies have shown that maize sulfite oxidase (SO) has a sulfite-oxidizing function and is involved in the drought stress response. However, the promoter of the maize SO gene has not yet been characterized. In this study, the promoter (ZmSOPro, 1194 bp upstream region of the translation initiation site) was isolated from the maize genome. The in-silico analysis of the ZmSOPro promoter identified several cis-elements responsive to the phytohormone ABA and drought stress such as ABA-responsive element (ABRE) and MYB binding site (MBS), besides a number of core cis-acting elements, such as TATA-box and CAAT-box. A 5′ RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) assay identified an adenine residue as the transcription start site of the ZmSO. The ZmSOPro activity was detected by β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining at nearly all developmental stages and in most plant organs, except for the roots in transgenic Arabidopsis. Moreover, its activity was significantly induced by ABA and drought stress. The 5′-deletion mutant analysis of the ZmSOPro in tobacco plants revealed that a 119-bp fragment in the ZmSOPro (upstream of the transcription start site) is a minimal region, which is required for its high-level expression. Moreover, the minimal ZmSOPro was significantly activated by ABA or drought stress in transgenic plants. Further mutant analysis indicated that the MBS element in the minimal ZmSOPro region (119 bp upstream of the transcription start site) is responsible for ABA and drought-stress induced expression. These results improve our understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of the ZmSO gene, and the characterized 119-bp promoter fragment could be an ideal candidate for drought-tolerant gene engineering in both monocot and dicot crops.
Photosensitizers Used in the Photodynamic Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Gallardo-Villagrán Manuel , Leger David Yannick , Liagre Bertrand , Therrien Bruno
Published: July 2019

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has become one of the most promising treatment against autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as in the treatment of different types of cancer, since it is a non-invasive method and easy to carry out. The three main ingredients of PDT are light irradiation, oxygen, and a photosensitizer (PS). Light irradiation depends on the type of molecule or compound to be used as a PS. The concentration of O2 fluctuates according to the medium where the target tissue is located and over time, although it is known that it is possible to provide oxygenated species to the treated area through the PS itself. Finally, each PS has its own characteristics, the efficacy of which depends on multiple factors, such as solubility, administration technique, retention time, stability, excitation wavelength, biocompatibility, and clearance, among others. Therefore, it is essential to have a thorough knowledge of the disease to select the best PS for a specific target, such as RA. In this review we will present the PSs used in the last three decades to treat RA under PDT protocol, as well as insights on the relevant strategies.
Diagnostic Roles of Postmortem cTn I and cTn T in Cardiac Death with Special Regard to Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cao Zhipeng , Zhao Mengyang , Xu Chengyang , Zhang Tianyi , Jia Yuqing , Wang Tianqi , Zhu Baoli
Published: July 2019

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTn I) and cardiac troponin T (cTn T) are currently widely used as diagnostic biomarkers for myocardial injury caused by ischemic heart diseases in clinical and forensic medicine. However, no previous meta-analysis has summarized the diagnostic roles of postmortem cTn I and cTn T. The aim of the present study was to meta-analyze the diagnostic roles of postmortem cTn I and cTn T for cardiac death in forensic medicine, present a systematic review of the previous literature, and determine the postmortem cut-off values of cTn I and cTn T. Methods: We searched multiple databases for the related literature, performed a meta-analysis to investigate the diagnostic roles of postmortem cardiac troponins, and analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine their postmortem cut-off values. Results and Conclusions: The present meta-analysis demonstrated that postmortem cTn I and cTn T levels were increased in pericardial fluid and serum in cardiac death, especially in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We determined the postmortem cut-off value of cTn I in the pericardial fluid at 86.2 ng/mL, cTn I in serum at 9.5 ng/mL, and cTn T in serum at 8.025 ng/mL.
Comparative Morphological, Ultrastructural, and Molecular Studies of Four Cicadinae Species Using Exuvial Legs
Authors: Song Jun-Ho , Kim Wook Jin , Cha Ji-Min , Yang Sungyu , Choi Goya , Moon Byeong Cheol
Published: July 2019

Previous studies have suggested that exuviae can be used for the identification of cicada species, but the precise characteristics that differ among species have not been determined. Thus, we performed the first comparative analyses of the leg morphology, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial DNA sequences of exuviae of four dominant cicada species in Korea, Hyalessa maculaticollis (Motschulsky, 1866), Meimuna opalifera (Walker, 1850), Platypleura kaempferi (Fabricius, 1794) and Cryptotympana atrata (Fabricius, 1775), the source of Cicadidae Periostracum, a well-known traditional medicine. A morphological analysis revealed that the profemur length, femoral tooth angle, and distance between the intermediate and last tooth of the femoral comb are useful characteristics for identification. We also evaluated the usefulness of the size, degree of reflex, and number of spines on the mid-legs and hind legs as diagnostic features. An ultrastructural study showed that Meimuna opalifera has a unique surface pattern on the legs. The sequences obtained using exuviae were identical to previously obtained sequences for adult tissues. Moreover, in a phylogenetic analysis using CO1 sequences, each species formed a monophyletic cluster with high bootstrap support. Accordingly, multiple methodological approaches using exuviae might provide highly reliable identification tools. The integrative data provide useful characteristics for the exuviae-based identification of closely related species and for further taxonomic and systematic studies of Cicadinae.
Comparison of the Efficacy of Different Techniques for the Removal of Root Canal Filling Material in Artificial Teeth: A Micro-Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Nguyen Tuan Anh , Kim Yaelim , Kim Euiseong , Shin Su-Jung , Kim Sunil
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of canal filling material removal using three different techniques after filling with a Gutta–Percha (GP) cone and calcium silicate-based sealer, by measuring the percentage of volume debris of GP and sealer remaining intracanal with micro computed tomography (micro-CT). The filling material was removed from 30 plastic teeth by a nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) rotary retreatment system. Final irrigation was performed with 2 mL of saline and 10 specimens were randomly allocated to a conventional group. In the passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) group, ultrasonic irrigation was added to the conventional group (n = 10). In the Gentlefile Brush (GF Brush) group, irrigation with GF Brush was added to the conventional group (n = 10). Remaining filling material was measured using micro-CT imaging analysis. The total mean volume of residual filling material after retreatment in the conventional group, PUI group and GF Brush group were 4.84896 mm3, 0.80702 mm3, and 0.05248 mm3, respectively. The percentage of filling material remaining intracanal was 6.76% in the conventional group, 1.12% in the PUI group and 0.07% in the GF Brush group. This study shows that the cleaning effect of the GF Brush system is superior to those of Ni–Ti retreatment files and the PUI system in the apical area.
Potential Role of the Microbiome in Acne: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Lee Young Bok , Byun Eun Jung , Kim Hei Sung
Published: July 2019

Acne is a highly prevalent inflammatory skin condition involving sebaceous sties. Although it clearly develops from an interplay of multiple factors, the exact cause of acne remains elusive. It is increasingly believed that the interaction between skin microbes and host immunity plays an important role in this disease, with perturbed microbial composition and activity found in acne patients. Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes; formerly called Propionibacterium acnes) is commonly found in sebum-rich areas and its over-proliferation has long been thought to contribute to the disease. However, information provided by advanced metagenomic sequencing has indicated that the cutaneous microbiota in acne patients and acne-free individuals differ at the virulent-specific lineage level. Acne also has close connections with the gastrointestinal tract, and many argue that the gut microbiota could be involved in the pathogenic process of acne. The emotions of stress (e.g., depression and anxiety), for instance, have been hypothesized to aggravate acne by altering the gut microbiota and increasing intestinal permeability, potentially contributing to skin inflammation. Over the years, an expanding body of research has highlighted the presence of a gut–brain–skin axis that connects gut microbes, oral probiotics, and diet, currently an area of intense scrutiny, to acne severity. This review concentrates on the skin and gut microbes in acne, the role that the gut–brain–skin axis plays in the immunobiology of acne, and newly emerging microbiome-based therapies that can be applied to treat acne.
Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use
Authors: Brown Joshua , Winterstein Almut
Published: July 2019

Cannabidiol (CBD) is ubiquitous in state-based medical cannabis programs and consumer products for complementary health or recreational use. CBD has intrinsic pharmacologic effects and associated adverse drug events (ADEs) along with the potential for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions (DDIs). Given CBD use among patients with complex conditions and treatment regimens, as well as its expanded consumer use, awareness of potential safety issues with CBD is needed. Prescribing information for federally approved products containing CBD were reviewed. Data on ADEs and DDIs were extracted and summarized. Nearly one-half of CBD users experienced ADEs, which displayed a general dose-response relationship. Common ADEs include transaminase elevations, sedation, sleep disturbances, infection, and anemia. Given CBD effects on common biological targets implicated in drug metabolism (e.g., CYP3A4/2C19) and excretion (e.g., P-glycoprotein), the potential for DDIs with commonly used medication is high. General clinical recommendations of reducing substrate doses, monitoring for ADEs, and finding alternative therapy should be considered, especially in medically complex patients. CBD is implicated as both a victim and perpetrator of DDIs and has its own ADE profile. These effects should be considered in the risk-benefit assessment of CBD therapy and patients and consumers made aware of potential safety issues with CBD use.
Mucormycosis of the Central Nervous System
Authors: Chikley Amanda , Ben-Ami Ronen , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P
Published: July 2019

Mucormycosis involves the central nervous system by direct extension from infected paranasal sinuses or hematogenous dissemination from the lungs. Incidence rates of this rare disease seem to be rising, with a shift from the rhino-orbital-cerebral syndrome typical of patients with diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis, to disseminated disease in patients with hematological malignancies. We present our current understanding of the pathobiology, clinical features, and diagnostic and treatment strategies of cerebral mucormycosis. Despite advances in imaging and the availability of novel drugs, cerebral mucormycosis continues to be associated with high rates of death and disability. Emerging molecular diagnostics, advances in experimental systems and the establishment of large patient registries are key components of ongoing efforts to provide a timely diagnosis and effective treatment to patients with cerebral mucormycosis.
A Low Power IoT-Connected Smart Canister System Creating Automatic Shopping List
Authors: Khan Tareq
Published: July 2019

One of the most common forgotten things of adults is that they go to the shops and completely forget what they went for. The solution to this problem is to carry a shopping list. In this project, a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-connected smart canister system is developed, which automatically senses the item quantity in the canisters using proximity sensor, sends the data to a hub using Bluetooth Low Energy, and then the hub sends a cloud message to the consumer’s smartphone app using the Internet. The hub and the smartphone app display the item quantities and automatically add the items that are about to finish to a digital shopping list. The automatic generation of the shopping list removes the burden of manually checking each item before going to the shops and gives peace of mind to the consumers. A prototype of the proposed system with three canister devices, one hub, and the smartphone app is developed and tested successfully. The canister device consumes ultra-low power and has a battery life of more than a year.
Growth of Large-Area, Stress-Free, and Bulk-Like 3C-SiC (100) Using 3C-SiC-on-Si in Vapor Phase Growth
Authors: Schuh Philipp , La Via Francesco , Mauceri Marco , Zielinski Marcin , Wellmann Peter J.
Published: July 2019

We report on the reproducible growth of two inch 3C-SiC crystals using the transfer of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown (100) oriented epitaxial layers. Additional experiments, in which the diameter of the free-standing layers is increased, are presented, indicating the upscale potential of this process. The nucleation and growth of cubic silicon carbide is supported by XRD and Raman measurements. The rocking curve data yield a full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) between 138 to 140 arc sec for such grown material. Analysis of the inbuilt stress of the bulk-like material shows no indications of any residual stress.
Preparation and Evaluation of Exhaust-Purifying Cement Concrete Employing Titanium Dioxide
Authors: He Rui , Huang Xin , Zhang Jiansong , Geng Yao , Guo Haidong
Published: July 2019

To address the increasing air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust, environment-friendly pavement materials that possesses exhaust-purifying properties were prepared using common cement concrete and porous cement concrete as the base of photocatalyst nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2), respectively. Firstly, Fe3+-doped TiO2 powder was prepared by applying planetary high-energy ball milling in order to improve the efficiency of the semiconductor photocatalyst for degrading vehicle exhausts. Two nano-TiO2, namely the original and modified nanomaterials, were adopted to produce the photocatalytic cement concretes subsequently. The physicochemical properties of the modified powder, as well as the mechanical and photocatalytic properties of TiO2-modified concrete, were characterized using a suite of complementary techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), compressive strength and degradation efficiency tests. The results show that the ball milling method not only successfully doped Fe3+ into catalysts but also caused significant changes in: (1) decreased particle sizes, (2) more amorphous morphology, (3) decreased percentage of the most thermodynamically stable crystal facet, and (4) increased percentage of other high gas sensing crystal facets. Both the original and modified nano-TiO2 can improve the concrete strength while the strengthening effect of modified nanomaterials is superior. It is pronounced that the photocatalytic property of the modified nano-TiO2 is much better than that of the original nano particles, and the degradation rate of porous concrete is also better than common concrete when exposed to the same photocatalyst content. In a comprehensive consideration of both mechanical performance and degradation efficiency, the recommended optimum dosage of TiO2 is 3% to 4% for exhaust-purifying concrete.
Durability of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Containing SiO2 Nano-Particles
Authors: Zhang Peng , Li Qingfu , Chen Yuanzhao , Shi Yan , Ling Yi-Feng
Published: July 2019

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect ofnano-SiO2 and steel fiber content on the durability of concrete. Five different dosages of nano-SiO2 particles and five volume dosages of steel fiber were used. The durability of concretes includes permeability resistance, cracking resistance, carbonation resistance, and freezing-thawing resistance, and these were evaluated by the water permeation depth, number of cracks, total cracking area per unit area of the specimens, carbonation depth of the specimens, and the relative dynamic elastic modulus of the specimens after freezing-thawing cycles, respectively. The results indicate that the addition of nano-SiO2 particles significantly improves the durability of concrete when the content of nano-SiO2 is limited within a certain range. With the increase of nano-SiO2 content, the durability of concrete first increases and then decreases. An excessive number of nano-SiO2 particles could have an adverse effect on the durability of the concrete. The addition of the correct amount of steel fibers improves the carbonation resistance of concrete containing nano-particles, but excessive steel fiber reduces the carbonation resistance. Moreover, the addition of steel fibers reduces the permeability resistance of concrete containing nano-particles. The incorporation of steel fiber enhanced the freezing-thawing resistance and cracking resistance of concrete containing nano-particles. With increasing steel fiber content, the freezing-thawing resistance of the concrete containing nano-particles increases, and the cracking resistance of the concrete decreases gradually.