bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the Profiles of Yield, Yield Component, Oil Content, and Citral Content in Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon Following Foliar Fertilization with Zinc and Boron
Authors: Gao Ming , Chen Yicun , Wu Liwen , Wang Yangdong
Published: January 2019

Mountain pepper (Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon) is an important oil plant used as an ingredient in edible oil, cooking condiments, cosmetics, pesticides, and potential biofuels. Zinc and boron are essential micronutrients for plant growth. However, the effects of zinc and boron on the yield, yield component, oil content, and citral content in L. cubeba have not been determined. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the foliar application of zinc, boron, and multiple micronutrients (zinc + boron) on the yield, yield component, oil content, and citral content of three varieties (Fuyang 1 (FY1), Jianou 2 (JO2), and Jianou 3 (JO3)) of L. cubeba. Zinc sulfate (0.25%), boric acid (0.25%), and zinc sulfate (0.25%) + boric acid (0.25%) were sprayed on selected trees at five different times at full bloom and 28 days before harvest, once every seven days. The results indicated that Zn had a negative effect on the yield, yield component, oil content, and citral content of the FY1, JO2, and JO3 varieties compared to the untreated trees. B had positive effects on the yield, yield component, oil content, and citral content of the JO2 and JO3 varieties but not on those of the FY1 variety when compared to the untreated trees. The highest levels of yield, yield component, oil content, and citral content for all three varieties were obtained with the combined application of zinc sulfate + boric acid. Hence, the foliar application of multiple micronutrients (zinc + boron) is an effective method to improve the yield, oil content, and citral content in L. cubeba. In addition, the 100-fruit weight (HFW) was positively correlated with the yield, oil content, and citral content and could be used as a tool to select new cultivars with high yield, high oil content, and high citral content under zinc sulfate, boric acid, and zinc sulfate + boric acid applications in L. cubeba.
Validation and Application of European Beech Phenological Metrics Derived from MODIS Data along an Altitudinal Gradient
Authors: Lukasová Veronika , Bucha Tomáš , Škvareninová Jana , Škvarenina Jaroslav
Published: January 2019

Monitoring plant phenology is one of the means of detecting the response of vegetation to changing environmental conditions. One approach for the study of vegetation phenology from local to global scales is to apply satellite-based indices. We investigated the potential of phenological metrics from moderate resolution remotely sensed data to monitor the altitudinal variations in phenological phases of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Phenological metrics were derived from the NDVI annual trajectories fitted with double sigmoid logistic function. Validation of the satellite-derived phenological metrics was necessary, thus the multiple-year ground observations of phenological phases from twelve beech stands along the altitudinal gradient were employed. In five stands, the validation process was supported with annual (in 2011) phenological observations of the undergrowth and understory vegetation, measurements of the leaf area index (LAI), and with laboratory spectral analyses of forest components reflecting the red and near-infrared radiation. Non-significant differences between the satellite-derived phenological metrics and the in situ observed phenological phases of the beginning of leaf onset (LO_10); end of leaf onset (LO_100); and 80% leaf coloring (LC_80) were detected. Next, the altitude dependent variations of the phenological metrics were investigated in all beech-dominated pixels over the area between latitudes 47°44′ N and 49°37′ N, and longitudes 16°50′ E and 22°34′ E (Slovakia, Central Europe). In all cases, this large-scale regression revealed non-linear relationships. Since spring phenological metrics showed strong dependence on altitude, only a weak relationship was detected between autumn phenological metric and altitude. The effect of altitude was evaluated through differences in local climatic conditions, especially temperature and precipitation. We used normal values from the last 30 years to evaluate the altitude-conditioned differences in the growing season length in 12 study stands. The approach presented in this paper contributes to a more explicit understanding of satellite data-based beech phenology along the altitudinal gradient, and will be useful for determining the optimal distribution range of European beech under changing climate conditions.
Illegal Selective Logging and Forest Fires in the Northern Brazilian Amazon
Authors: M. Condé Tiago , Higuchi Niro , J. N. Lima Adriano
Published: January 2019

Illegal selective logging and forest fires occur on a large scale in the northern Brazilian Amazon, contributing to an increase in tree mortality and a reduction in forest carbon stock. A total of 120 plots of 0.25 ha (30 ha) were installed in transitional ecosystems or ecotones (LOt) between the forested shade-loving campinarana (Ld) and dense-canopy rainforest, submontane (Ds), in the National Forest (Flona) of Anauá, southern Roraima. Measuring the diameters at breast height (DBH ≥ 10 cm) and the heights of 171 dead trees (fallen naturally, illegally exploited, and affected by forest fires), enabled the estimation of carbon content from the application of a biomass equation developed at Manaus, and the calculation of a correction factor, using the average height of the largest trees. From 2015–2017, we mapped the real extent of illegal selective logging and forest fires across the region with CLASlite and INPE/Queimadas. From measurements of 14,730 live and dead trees across 30 hectares (491 ± 15 trees·ha−1), the illegal selective logging and associated forest fires, and aggravation by severe El Niño droughts resulted in an 8.2% mortality of trees (40 ± 9 dead trees·ha−1) and a 3.5% reduction in forest carbon stock (6 ± 3 Mg·ha−1) in the short-term. The surface area or influence of forest fires of very high density were estimated in the south-central region of Roraima (8374 km²) and the eastern region of the Flona Anauá (37 km²). Illegal selective logging and forest fires in forest areas totaled 357 km² in the mosaic area, and 6 km² within Flona Anaua. Illegal selective logging and forest fires in the years of severe El Niño droughts threatened the maintenance of environmental services provided by Amazonian forests.
Modeling the Effect of Climate Change on the Potential Distribution of Qinghai Spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) in Qilian Mountains
Authors: Rong Zhanlei , Zhao Chuanyan , Liu Junjie , Gao Yunfei , Zang Fei , Guo Zhaoxia , Mao Yahua , Wang Ling
Published: January 2019

Qinghai spruce forests play a key role in water conservation in the dry region of northwest China. So, it is necessary to understand the impacts of climate change on the species to implement adaptation strategies. Based on the four-emission scenario (i.e., RCP2.6 (Representative Concentration Pathway), RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5) set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth assessment report, in the study, we predicted the potential distribution of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) under current and future scenarios using a maximum entropy (Maxent) model. Seven variables, selected from 22 variables according to correlation analysis combining with their contribution rates to the distribution, are used to simulate the potential distribution of the species under current and future scenarios. Simulated results are validated by area under the operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results demonstrate that elevation, mean temperature of wettest quarter, annual mean temperature, and mean diurnal range are more important in dominating the potential distribution of Qinghai spruce. Ratios of the suitable area to the total study area are 34.3% in current climate condition, 34% in RCP2.6, 33.9% in RCP4.5, 33.8% in RCP6.0, and 30.5% in RCP8.5, respectively. The warmer the climate condition is, the more area of higher suitable classification is changed to that of lower suitable classification. The ratios of real distribution area in simulated unsuitable class to the real distribution area change from 4.3% (60.7 km2) in the current climate to 13% (185 km2) in RCP8.5, suggesting that the real distribution area may decrease in the future. We conclude that there is a negative effect of climate change on the distribution of Qinghai spruce forest. The result can help decision-makers to draft adaptation countermeasures based on climate change.
Forward-Looking Element Recognition Based on the LSTM-CRF Model with the Integrity Algorithm
Authors: Xu Dong , Ge Ruping , Niu Zhihua
Published: January 2019

A state-of-the-art entity recognition system relies on deep learning under data-driven conditions. In this paper, we combine deep learning with linguistic features and propose the long short-term memory-conditional random field model (LSTM-CRF model) with the integrity algorithm. This approach is primarily based on the use of part-of-speech (POS) syntactic rules to correct the boundaries of LSTM-CRF model annotations and improve its performance by raising the integrity of the elements. The method incorporates the advantages of the data-driven method and dependency syntax, and improves the precision rate of the elements without losing recall rate. Experiments show that the integrity algorithm is not only easy to combine with the other neural network model, but the overall effect is better than several advanced methods. In addition, we conducted cross-domain experiments based on a multi-industry corpus in the financial field. The results indicate that the method can be applied to other industries.
The Effect of Increasing Levels of Dehulled Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.) on Extrusion and Product Parameters for Dry Expanded Dog Food
Authors: Corsato Alvarenga Isabella , Aldrich Charles Gregory
Published: January 2019

The growing pet food market is continuously in search for novel ingredients. Legumes such as faba beans are increasingly popular in human nutrition but have not yet been explored in pet foods. Extruded dog diets were produced with 0, 10, 20, and 30% dehulled faba bean (DFB) inclusion (FB0, FB10, FB20, and FB30, respectively) in exchange for rice and corn gluten meal. Fixed processing inputs were extruder screw configuration, die size (5.2 mm diameter), dry feed rate (237 kg/h), extruder water and steam (0%), and die knife speed (1100 rpm). Variable inputs were managed by an operator with the goal to obtain similar kibble bulk density at the extruder die (OE) across treatments. Output parameters were measured at the pre-conditioner, extruder, and kibble. Measurements were collected at uniform time increments during production of each experimental diet and considered treatment replicates. Single degree of freedom contrasts were analyzed on extrusion and product outputs. The target of producing diets with similar wet bulk density was achieved, with moderate modifications at the pre-conditioner (PC) and extruder. As DFB increased, diets had increased retention time and water at the PC to improve starch hydration and swelling. The FB20 and FB30 required a more restricted flow to improve kibble expansion. After drying, the FB20 and FB30 diets were denser, harder and tougher (p < 0.05) than FB0 and FB10. The increasing levels of DFB up to 30% can be effectively controlled in an extruded pet food application with modest changes to extrusion parameters.
When and How Does Mutation-Generated Variation Promote the Evolution of Cooperation?
Authors: Spichtig Mathias , Egas Martijn
Published: January 2019

Mutation-generated variation in behavior is thought to promote the evolution of cooperation. Here, we study this by distinguishing two effects of mutation in evolutionary games of the finitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma in infinite asexual populations. First, we show how cooperation can evolve through the direct effect of mutation, i.e., the fitness impact that individuals experience from interactions with mutants before selection acts upon these mutants. Whereas this direct effect suffices to explain earlier findings, we question its generality because mutational variation usually generates the highest direct fitness impact on unconditional defectors (AllD). We identify special conditions (e.g., intermediate mutation rates) for which cooperation can be favored by an indirect effect of mutation, i.e., the fitness impact that individuals experience from interactions with descendants of mutants. Simulations confirm that AllD-dominated populations can be invaded by cooperative strategies despite the positive direct effect of mutation on AllD. Thus, here the indirect effect of mutation drives the evolution of cooperation. The higher level of cooperation, however, is not achieved by individuals triggering reciprocity (‘genuine cooperation’), but by individuals exploiting the willingness of others to cooperate (‘exploitative cooperation’). Our distinction between direct and indirect effects of mutation provides a new perspective on how mutation-generated variation alters frequency-dependent selection.
Survivin Splice Variants in Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3)-Induced Deactivation of PI3K and MAPK Cell Signalling Pathways in MCF-7 Cells
Authors: Laka Kagiso , Makgoo Lilian , Mbita Zukile
Published: January 2019

Several pathways are deregulated during carcinogenesis but most notably, tumour cells can lose cell cycle control and acquire resistance to apoptosis by expressing a number of anti-apoptotic proteins such as the Inhibitors of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) family of proteins that include survivin, which is implicated in cancer development. There is no study which had proven that arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has any effect on the splicing machinery of survivin and its splice variants, hence this study was aimed at determining the cytotoxic effect of As2O3 and its effect on the expression pattern of survivin splice variants in MCF-7 cells. As2O3 inhibited the growth of the MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The Muse® Cell Analyser showed that As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, promoted caspase-dependent apoptosis without causing any damage to the mitochondrial membrane of MCF-7 cells. As2O3 also deactivated two survival pathways, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) signalling pathways in MCF-7 cells. Deactivation of the two pathways was accompanied by the upregulation of survivin 3α during As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Survivin 2B was found to be upregulated only during As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest but downregulated during As2O3-induced apoptosis. Survivin wild-type was highly expressed in the untreated MCF-7 cells, the expression was upregulated during As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and it was downregulated during As2O3-induced apoptosis. Survivin variant ΔEx3 was undetected in both untreated and treated MCF-7 cells. Survivin proteins were localised in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in MCF-7 cells and highly upregulated during the As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, which can be attributed to the upregulation of survivin-2B. This study has provided the first evidence showing that the novel survivin 2B splice variant may be involved in the regulation of As2O3-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest only. This splice variant can therefore, be targeted for therapeutic purposes against Luminal A breast cancer cells.
Dynamics of Socioeconomic Exposure, Vulnerability and Impacts of Recent Droughts in Argentina
Authors: Naumann Gustavo , Vargas Walter M. , Barbosa Paulo , Blauhut Veit , Spinoni Jonathan , Vogt Jürgen V.
Published: January 2019

During the last 20 years, Argentina experienced several extreme and widespread droughts in many different regions, including the core cropland areas. The most devastating recent events were recorded in the years 2006, 2009 and 2011. Reported impacts of the main events induced losses of more than 4 billion U.S. dollars and more than 1 million persons were reported to be directly or indirectly affected. In this paper, we analyse the drought risk in Argentina, taking into account recent information on drought hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Accordingly, we identified the most severe droughts in Argentina during the 2000–2015 period using a combination of drought hazard indicators and exposure layers. Three main events were identified: (1) during spring 2006 droughts peaked in the northeast of Argentina, (2) in 2009 precipitation deficits indicated a drought epicenter in the central Argentinian plains, and (3) in 2011 the northern Patagonia region experienced a combination of natural disasters due to severe drought conditions and a devastating volcanic eruption. Furthermore, we analysed the dynamics of drought exposure for the population and the main economic sectors affected by municipality, i.e., agriculture and livestock production. Assets exposed to droughts have been identified with several records of drought impacts and declarations of farming emergencies. We show that by combining exposure and vulnerability with drought intensity it is feasible to detect the likelihood of regional impacts in different sectors.
Aeolian Material Migration in Transbaikalia (Asian Russia)
Authors: Bazhenova Olga , Kobylkin Dmitrii , Tyumentseva Elizaveta
Published: January 2019

We revealed regional features of functioning of a large Transbaikalian aeolian morphodynamic system. Natural pre-conditions, current realities and factors of development of aeolian processes are investigated. The paper considers regularities of spatial distribution of deflation, transit, and aeolian accumulation zones. Main directions of aeolian migration of matter are determined. Pulsating nature of aeolian processes development in Holocene has been established. Identified are intrasecular cycles and Holocene dynamics of aeolian processes. We identified intrasecular (11, 27–35 years old), secular (80 year old) and Holocene (500, 2000 year old) cycles of aeolian process dynamics. The paper shows the influence of anthropogenic activity on the activation of aeolian migration of material for the historical period. It presents an overview of extreme aeolian events. Regionalization of Transbaikalia was carried out according to the degree of probable desertification of the territory due to development of aeolian processes. Areas of catastrophic manifestation of processes are highlighted. The results of long-term experimental observations of deflation and aeolian accumulation are presented. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the aeolian corridors. The important role of aeolian processes in the intensive material transport from Transbaikalia to the south and southeast to neighboring regions of Mongolia and China is shown.
“The Past Is Never Dead. It’s Not Even Past”: The Ambivalent Call of Nostalgic Memory in Richard Ford’s Short Story “Calling” (A Multitude of Sins, 2001)
Authors: Gay Marie-Agnès
Published: January 2019

This article focuses on Richard Ford’s short story “Calling,” collected in the volume entitled A Multitude of Sins (2001). It consists of the detailed recalling by a first-person narrator, from the vantage point of adulthood, of a duck-hunting outing with his father at a moment of acute family crisis when he was still a teenager. This episode, redolent of America’s nostalgic motif of male bonding and father-son transmission in the midst of mythical American nature, is shown to have proved a pathetic failure at the time, and the story stages—to pick up Svetlana Boym’s famous distinction between two main types of nostalgia—the enlightening “reflective” effects of recalling this moment of “restorative” longing for the protagonist. However, the highly analytical narrator does not consciously dwell upon the peripheral yet disturbing presence of two grotesque characters that, I contend, are the locus of the implicit meaning of the text. Through precise textual reading and references to Southern Gothic, I indeed argue that the subtext of “Calling” invites the reader to journey back into a region’s (the South’s) troubled collective past and to question its own relation to nostalgia. “Calling” thus also stages the ambivalence of nostalgic longing on the collective plane as it shows willful nostalgic recollection wavering in the face of the return of the historical repressed, that of America’s ineffable original sin.
Perpetual Vanishing: Animal Lives in Contemporary Scottish Fiction
Authors: Baker Timothy C.
Published: January 2019

Animals, writes Akira Mizuta Lippit, ‘exist in a state of perpetual vanishing’: they haunt human concerns, but rarely appear as themselves. This is especially notable in contemporary Scottish fiction. While other national literatures often reflect the ‘animal turn’ in contemporary theory, the number of twenty-first-century Scottish novels concerned with human–animal relations remains disproportionately small. Looking at a broad cross-section of recent and understudied novels, including Mandy Haggith’s Bear Witness (2013), Ian Stephen’s A Book of Death and Fish (2014), Andrew O’Hagan’s The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe (2010), Malachy Tallack’s The Valley at the Centre of the World (2018), James Robertson’s To Be Continued (2016), and Sarah Hall’s The Wolf Border (2015) highlights the marginalisation of both nonhuman animals and texts centred on them. The relative absence of engagement with animal studies in Scottish fiction and criticism suggests new opportunities for reevaluating the formulation of environmental concerns in a Scottish context. By moving away from the unified concepts of ‘the land’ to a perspective that includes the precarious relations between humans, nonhuman animals, and their environment, these texts highlight the need for greater, and more nuanced, engagement with fictional representations of nonhuman animals.
Regional Planning and the Environmental Impact of Coastal Tourism: The Mission Racine for the Redevelopment of Languedoc-Roussillon’s Littoral
Authors: Parrinello Giacomo , Bécot Renaud
Published: January 2019

Research on the coast has highlighted the role of mass tourism as a driver of littoral urbanization. This article emphasizes the role of public policy by focusing on Languedoc-Roussillon in Mediterranean France. This littoral was the target of a state-driven development initiative known as Mission Racine, which aimed to promote the growth of what was seen as a backward area via the development of seaside tourism. For that purpose, the Mission promoted coordinated interventions including forest management, eradication of mosquitoes, construction of resorts, and transport infrastructure. This large-scale redevelopment significantly reshaped the littoral environment, severely impacted pre-existing forms of coastal activities and launched a new tourism industry. The legacy of the Mission, however, also included innovative land-use planning, which established protected areas and sought to contain urbanization. This case study illustrates the ambiguities of public policies for the coast, which can act alternatively as drivers of development or conservation and at times of both, and therein lies the importance of a contextual analysis of their role.
Museum Moving to Inpatients: Le Louvre à l’Hôpital
Authors: Monsuez Jean-Jacques , François Véronique , Ratiney Robert , Trinchet Isabelle , Polomeni Pierre , Sebbane Georges , Muller Séverine , Litout Marylène , Castagno Cécile , Frandji Didier
Published: January 2019

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common in hospitalized patients. Arts and cultural programs were reported to enhance their quality of life. The Le Louvre à l’hôpital study presents a new approach in which the museum moves to the hospital by displaying and discussing artworks with patients interactively. Over one year, four large statues were disposed in the hospital gardens, 30 reprints of large painting were exhibited in the hospital hall, dining rooms, and circulations areas. A total of 83 small-group guided art discussions (90 min) were organized, which 451 patients attended. The 200 small-size reproductions of paintings placed in the patients’ rooms were chosen based on their individual preferences. Decreased anxiety after the art sessions was reported by 160 of 201 patients (79.6%). Out of 451 patients, 406 (90%) said the art program had met their expectations, and 372 (82.4%) wished to continue the experience with caregivers (162 paramedics trained for art activity during 66 workshops). In conclusion, moving the museum to the hospital constitutes a valuable way to provide art activities for inpatients in large numbers, which may reduce hospital-related anxiety in many instances.
Change in the Distribution of Phosphorus Fractions in Aggregates under Different Land Uses: A Case in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Cui Hu , Ou Yang , Wang Lixia , Yan Baixing , Han Lu , Li Yingxin
Published: January 2019

Phosphorus in agro-ecosystems has attracted much attention due to its impact on the nutrient supply of plants and the risk of loss of non-point source pollution. This study investigated the fraction distribution and release of phosphorus from soil aggregates structure under different land uses (rice, maize and soybean). The soil aggregates were characterized as large macro-aggregates (L-mac, >1 mm), small macro-aggregates (S-mac, 0.25–1 mm), micro-aggregates (MIC, 0.053–0.25 mm) and silt clay (SC, <0.053 mm) with the wet-sieving method. A sequential chemical extraction scheme was used to separate phosphorus into labile inorganic phosphorus (L-Pi), labile organic phosphorus (L-Po), moderately labile organic phosphorus (Ml-Po), iron-aluminum bound phosphorus (Fe.Al-P), calcium-magnesium bound phosphorus (Ca.Mg-P), humic phosphorus (Hu-P) and residual phosphorus (Re-P). Experimental results indicated that soil aggregates were mainly S-mac and MIC, followed by L-mac and SC, and they accounted for 52.16%, 25.20%, 14.23% and 8.49% in rice fields, 44.21%, 34.61%, 12.88% and 8.30% in maize fields, and 28.87%, 47.63%, 3.52% and 19.99% in soybean fields, respectively. Total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), Fe and Mn in soil aggregate fractions decreased with the reduction in soil aggregate grain-sizes. For phosphorus fractions (P-fractions), Fe.Al-P and Re-P tended to condense in L-mac and S-mac. MIC and SC were the primary carriers of Ca.Mg-P. Adsorption isotherm simulation results demonstrated that L-mac and S-mac have a strong capacity to retain phosphorus. In rice fields, phosphorus bioavailability and utilization rate were high. However, the P-fractions there were easily changed under aerobic-anaerobic conditions. Therefore, the risk of phosphorus loss during drainage should be given considerable attention.
Barriers and Facilitators for the Implementation and Evaluation of Community-Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Diet: A Mixed Methods Study in Argentina
Authors: Belizan Maria , Chaparro R. Martin , Santero Marilina , Elorriaga Natalia , Kartschmit Nadja , Rubinstein Adolfo L. , Irazola Vilma E.
Published: January 2019

Background: Obesogenic environments promote sedentary behavior and high dietary energy intake. The objective of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation and impact evaluation of projects oriented to promote physical activity and healthy diet at community level. We analyzed experiences of the projects implemented within the Healthy Municipalities and Communities Program (HMCP) in Argentina. Methods: A mixed methods approach included (1) in-depth semi-structured interviews, with 44 stakeholders; and (2) electronic survey completed by 206 individuals from 96 municipalities across the country. Results: The most important barriers included the lack of: adequate funding (43%); skilled personnel (42%); equipment and material resources (31%); technical support for data management and analysis (20%); training on project designs (12%); political support from local authorities (17%) and acceptance of the proposed intervention by the local community (9%). Facilitators included motivated local leaders, inter-sectorial participation and seizing local resources. Project evaluation was mostly based on process rather than outcome indicators. Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of the difficulties in the implementation of community-based intervention projects. Findings may guide stakeholders on how to facilitate local initiatives. There is a need to improve project evaluation strategies by incorporating process, outcome and context specific indicators.
Socioeconomic Status and Morbidity Rate Inequality in China: Based on NHSS and CHARLS Data
Authors: Jiang Yunyun , Zheng Haitao , Zhao Tianhao
Published: January 2019

Previous studies have shown there are no consistent and robust associations between socioeconomic status and morbidity rates. This study focuses on the relationship between the socioeconomic status and the morbidity rates in China, which helps to add new evidence for the fragmentary relationship between socioeconomic status and morbidity rates. The National Health Services Survey (NHSS) and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data are used to examine whether the association holds in both all-age cohorts and in older only cohorts. Three morbidity outcomes (two-week incidence rate, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and the number of sick days per thousand people) and two socioeconomic status indicators (income and education) are mainly examined. The results indicate that there are quadratic relationships between income per capita and morbidities. This non-linear correlation is similar to the patterns in European countries. Meanwhile, there is no association between education years and the morbidity in China, i.e., either two-week incidence rate or prevalence rate of chronic diseases has no statistically significant relationship with the education level in China.
Health Risk Assessment of Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury via Rice Consumption in the Urban City of Guiyang, Southwest China
Authors: Han Jialiang , Chen Zhuo , Pang Jian , Liang Longchao , Fan Xuelu , Li Qiuhua
Published: January 2019

Rice consumption is the main methylmercury (MeHg) exposure route for residents in mercury (Hg) mining areas. However, there is limited studies on mercury in commercial rice, which has high liquidity and can be directly consumed by urban residents. This study measured the total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations in 146 rice samples purchased from the markets in Guiyang city, southwest China, and both the inorganic Hg (IHg) and MeHg estimated daily intakes (EDIs) and hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated according to rice consumption. The THg concentrations in all rice samples (range: 0.97 to 13.10 μg·kg−1; mean: 3.88 μg·kg−1) were lower than the Chinese national standard (20 μg·kg−1). The average MeHg concentration in rice was 1.16 μg·kg−1. The total HQs (THQs) ranged from 0.0106 to 0.1048, with a mean of 0.0462, which was far lower than 1. This result suggests that there were low Hg exposure levels through consumption of commercial rice in residents of Guiyang.
Investigating Spatial Autocorrelation and Spillover Effects in Freeway Crash-Frequency Data
Authors: Wen Huiying , Zhang Xuan , Zeng Qiang , Lee Jaeyoung , Yuan Quan
Published: January 2019

This study attempts to investigate spatial autocorrelation and spillover effects in micro traffic safety analysis. To achieve the objective, a Poisson-based count regression with consideration of these spatial effects is proposed for modeling crash frequency on freeway segments. In the proposed hybrid model, the spatial autocorrelation and the spillover effects are formulated as the conditional autoregressive (CAR) prior and the exogenous variables of adjacent segments, respectively. The proposed model is demonstrated and compared to the models with only one kind of spatial effect, using one-year crash data collected from Kaiyang Freeway, China. The results of Bayesian estimation conducted in WinBUGS show that significant spatial autocorrelation and spillover effects simultaneously exist in the freeway crash-frequency data. The lower value of deviance information criterion (DIC) and more significant exogenous variables for the hybrid model compared to the other alternatives, indicate the strength of accounting for both spatial autocorrelation and spillover effects on improving model fit and identifying crash contributing factors. Moreover, the model results highlight the importance of daily vehicle kilometers traveled, and horizontal and vertical alignments of targeted segments and adjacent segments on freeway crash occurrences.
Roles of Different Transport Modes in the Spatial Spread of the 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic in Mainland China
Authors: Cai Jun , Xu Bo , Chan Karen Kie Yan , Zhang Xueying , Zhang Bing , Chen Ziyue , Xu Bing
Published: January 2019

There is increasing concern about another influenza pandemic in China. However, the understanding of the roles of transport modes in the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic spread across mainland China is limited. Herein, we collected 127,797 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in mainland China from May 2009 to April 2010. Arrival days and peak days were calculated for all 340 prefectures to characterize the dissemination patterns of the pandemic. We first evaluated the effects of airports and railway stations on arrival days and peak days, and then we applied quantile regressions to quantify the relationships between arrival days and air, rail, and road travel. Our results showed that early arrival of the virus was not associated with an early incidence peak. Airports and railway stations in prefectures significantly advanced arrival days but had no significant impact on peak days. The pandemic spread across mainland China from the southeast to the northwest in two phases that were split at approximately 1 August 2009. Both air and road travel played a significant role in accelerating the spread during phases I and II, but rail travel was only significant during phase II. In conclusion, in addition to air and road travel, rail travel also played a significant role in accelerating influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 spread between prefectures. Establishing a multiscale mobility network that considers the competitive advantage of rail travel for mid to long distances is essential for understanding the influenza pandemic transmission in China.
Exploiting the Potential of Integrated Public Building Data: Energy Performance Assessment of the Building Stock in a Case Study in Northern Italy
Authors: Pasquinelli Alice , Agugiaro Giorgio , Tagliabue Lavinia Chiara , Scaioni Marco , Guzzetti Franco
Published: January 2019

Smart management of urban built environment relies on the availability of data supporting sound policy making and guiding city renovation processes toward more sustainable and performant models. Nevertheless, public managers are unlikely to have comprehensive information on the existing building stock. In addition, tools providing effective insights on potential costs and benefits of retrofit strategies at city/district scale are hardly available. This article describes how data related to existing buildings may be effectively combined together into a so-called Building Information System, and discusses the advantages and shortcomings related to this process. At the same time, the implementation on a real case study in northern Italy demonstrates how the effort due to data harmonization and integration is able to foster applications to support policy makers in the management of the built environment and in the definition of urban sustainability strategies. Building data were harmonized according to the requirements of the international open standard CityGML, therefore facilitating the exchange of building information. The whole project was carried out while considering the characteristics of data sources that are available for each public body in Italy and, as a consequence, it may be replicated to other Italian municipalities.
Multisource Hyperspectral and LiDAR Data Fusion for Urban Land-Use Mapping based on a Modified Two-Branch Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Feng Quanlong , Zhu Dehai , Yang Jianyu , Li Baoguo
Published: January 2019

Accurate urban land-use mapping is a challenging task in the remote-sensing field. With the availability of diverse remote sensors, synthetic use and integration of multisource data provides an opportunity for improving urban land-use classification accuracy. Neural networks for Deep Learning have achieved very promising results in computer-vision tasks, such as image classification and object detection. However, the problem of designing an effective deep-learning model for the fusion of multisource remote-sensing data still remains. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes a modified two-branch convolutional neural network for the adaptive fusion of hyperspectral imagery (HSI) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. Specifically, the proposed model consists of a HSI branch and a LiDAR branch, sharing the same network structure to reduce the time cost of network design. A residual block is utilized in each branch to extract hierarchical, parallel, and multiscale features. An adaptive-feature fusion module is proposed to integrate HSI and LiDAR features in a more reasonable and natural way (based on “Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks”). Experiments indicate that the proposed two-branch network shows good performance, with an overall accuracy of almost 92%. Compared with single-source data, the introduction of multisource data improves accuracy by at least 8%. The adaptive fusion model can also increase classification accuracy by more than 3% when compared with the feature-stacking method (simple concatenation). The results demonstrate that the proposed network can effectively extract and fuse features for a better urban land-use mapping accuracy.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Required for the Neuroprotective Effect of Mifepristone on Immature Purkinje Cells in Cerebellar Slice Culture
Authors: Rakotomamonjy Jennifer , Ghoumari Abdel Mouman
Published: January 2019

Endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-dependent activity induces death of developing Purkinje neurons in mouse organotypic cerebellar cultures and the synthetic steroid mifepristone blocks this effect. Here, using brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) heterozygous mice, we show that BDNF plays no role in immature Purkinje cell death. However, interestingly, BDNF haploinsufficiency impairs neuronal survival induced by mifepristone and GABAA-receptors antagonist (bicuculline) treatments, indicating that the underlying neuroprotective mechanism requires the neurotrophin full expression.
Effect of Cyclic Stretch on Vascular Endothelial Cells and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Role in the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Ramella Martina , Bertozzi Giulia , Fusaro Luca , Talmon Maria , Manfredi Marcello , Catoria Marta Calvo , Casella Francesco , Porta Carla Maria , Boldorini Renzo , Fresu Luigia Grazia , Marengo Emilio , Boccafoschi Francesca
Published: January 2019

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a focal dilatation of the aorta, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Although vascular endothelium plays a key role in AAA progression, the biological mechanisms underlying the mechanical stress involvement are only partially understood. In this study, we developed an in vitro model to characterize the role of mechanical stress as a potential trigger of endothelial deregulation in terms of inflammatory response bridging between endothelial cells (ECs), inflammatory cells, and matrix remodeling. In AAA patients, data revealed different degrees of calcification, inversely correlated with wall stretching and also with inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation. In order to study the role of mechanical stimulation, endothelial cell line (EA.hy926) has been cultured in healthy (10% strain) and pathological (5% strain) dynamic conditions using a bioreactor. In presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), high levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and inflammation are obtained, while mechanical stimulation significantly counteracts the TNF-α effects. Moreover, physiological deformation also plays a significant role in the control of the oxidative stress. Overall our findings indicate that, due to wall calcification, in AAA there is a significant change in terms of decreased wall stretching.
RNA Sequencing Reveals Differential Gene Expression of Cerrena Unicolor in Response to Variable Lighting Conditions
Authors: Pawlik Anna , Mazur Andrzej , Wielbo Jerzy , Koper Piotr , Żebracki Kamil , Kubik-Komar Agnieszka , Janusz Grzegorz
Published: January 2019

To elucidate the light-dependent gene expression in Cerrena unicolor FCL139, the transcriptomes of the fungus growing in white, blue, green, and red lighting conditions and darkness were analysed. Among 10,413 all-unigenes detected in C. unicolor, 7762 were found to be expressed in all tested conditions. Transcripts encoding putative fungal photoreceptors in the C. unicolor transcriptome were identified. The number of transcripts uniquely produced by fungus ranged from 20 during its growth in darkness to 112 in the green lighting conditions. We identified numerous genes whose expression differed substantially between the darkness (control) and each of the light variants tested, with the greatest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (454 up- and 457 down-regulated) observed for the white lighting conditions. The DEGs comprised those involved in primary carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, autophagy, nucleotide repair systems, signalling pathways, and carotenoid metabolism as defined using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. The analysis of the expression profile of genes coding for lignocellulose-degrading enzymes suggests that the wood-degradation properties of C. unicolor may be independent of the lighting conditions and may result from the overall stimulation of fungal metabolism by daylight.
TNF-α Inhibitors Decrease Classical CD14hiCD16− Monocyte Subsets in Highly Active, Conventional Treatment Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Batko Bogdan , Schramm-Luc Agata , Skiba Dominik S. , Mikolajczyk Tomasz P. , Siedlinski Mateusz
Published: January 2019

Monocytes are pivotal cells in inflammatory joint diseases. We aimed to determine the effect of TNF-α inhibitors (TNFi) on peripheral blood monocyte subpopulations and their activation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with high disease activity. To address this, we studied 50 (32 AS, 18 RA) patients with highly active disease with no prior history of TNFi use who were recruited and assigned to TNFi or placebo treatment for 12 weeks. Cytometric and clinical assessment was determined at baseline, four, and 12 weeks after initiation of TNFi treatment. We observed that treatment with TNFi led to a significant decrease in CD14hiCD16− monocytes in comparison to placebo, while circulating CD14dimCD16+ monocytes significantly increased. The TNFi-induced monocyte subset shifts were similar in RA and AS patients. While the percentage of CD14dimCD16+ monocytes increased, expression of CD11b and CD11c integrins on their surface was significantly reduced by TNFi. Additionally, CD45RA+ cells were more frequent. The shift towards nonclassical CD14dimCD16+ monocytes in peripheral blood due to TNFi treatment was seen in both AS and RA. This may reflect reduced recruitment of these cells to sites of inflammation due to lower inflammatory burden, which is associated with decreased disease activity.
Ginsenoside Rb1 Blocks Ritonavir-Induced Oxidative Stress and eNOS Downregulation through Activation of Estrogen Receptor-Beta and Upregulation of SOD in Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Lü Jian-Ming , Jiang Jun , Jamaluddin Md Saha , Liang Zhengdong , Yao Qizhi , Chen Changyi
Published: January 2019

We have previously shown that ritonavir (RTV), a highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) drug, can cause endothelial dysfunction through oxidative stress. Several antioxidants including ginsenoside Rb1, a compound with antioxidant effect, can effectively block this side effect of RTV in endothelial cells. In the current study, we explored a mechanism by which ginsenoside Rb1 could protect these cells via binding of estrogen receptors (ERs). We found that several human endothelial cell lines differentially expressed ER-β and had very low levels of ER-α. RTV treatment significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the expression of endothelial nitric oxidase synthase (eNOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in HUVECs, while Rb1 effectively blocked these effects of RTV. These effects of Rb1 were effectively inhibited by silencing ER-β, indicating that ginsenoside Rb1 requires ER-β for its antioxidant activity in inhibiting the deleterious effect of RTV in human endothelial cells. Furthermore, Rb1 specifically activated ER-β transactivation activity by ER-β luciferase reporter assay. Rb1 competitively bound to ER-β, which was determined by the high sensitive fluorescent polarization assay.
Potential Interplay of the Gatipotuzumab Epitope TA-MUC1 and Estrogen Receptors in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Heublein Sabine , Page Sabina , Mayr Doris , Schmoeckel Elisa , Trillsch Fabian , Marmé Frederik , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo , Vattai Aurelia
Published: January 2019

Anti-tumor efficacy of Gatipotuzumab, a therapeutic antibody targeting Tumor-Associated Mucin-1 (TA-MUC1), in relapsed ovarian cancer (OC) appeared to be rather heterogeneous. Whether adding a second anti-neoplastic drug may augment response towards Gatipotuzumab, has not been elucidated so far. Since it is known that anti-MUC1 antibodies may alter estrogen receptor activity in breast cancer, this potential interplay was investigated in OC. The correlation between TA-MUC1, estrogen receptors (ERs) and another 12 protein markers as well as their correlation with clinico-pathological parameters in 138 ovarian cancer cases was studied. Finally, Gatipotuzumab and 4-Hydroxy-TTamoxifen (4-OHT) as well as the combination of both was tested for its impact on cell viability in COV318, OV-90, OVCAR-3, and SKOV-3 cells. A strong positive correlation between TA-MUC1 and ERs was detected in OC tissue. Those cases missing ERs but staining positive for TA-MUC1 had significantly reduced overall survival. The combination of 4-OHT and Gatipotuzumab significantly reduced cell viability and was more effective than treatment with Gatipotuzumab alone. Co-stimulation with Gatipotuzumab enhanced the efficacy of 4-OHT in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3. The data suggest an interplay of TA-MUC1 and ERs in OC. Whether the combination of Gatipotuzumab and TTamoxifen may enhance efficacy of either of the two drugs in vivo, or may even translate into a clinically relevant benefit over the respective monotherapies, remains to be investigated.
Diverse Functions of Autophagy in Liver Physiology and Liver Diseases
Authors: Ke Po-Yuan
Published: January 2019

Autophagy is a catabolic process by which eukaryotic cells eliminate cytosolic materials through vacuole-mediated sequestration and subsequent delivery to lysosomes for degradation, thus maintaining cellular homeostasis and the integrity of organelles. Autophagy has emerged as playing a critical role in the regulation of liver physiology and the balancing of liver metabolism. Conversely, numerous recent studies have indicated that autophagy may disease-dependently participate in the pathogenesis of liver diseases, such as liver hepatitis, steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions of autophagy in hepatic metabolism and the contribution of autophagy to the pathophysiology of liver-related diseases. Moreover, the impacts of autophagy modulation on the amelioration of the development and progression of liver diseases are also discussed.