bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acidentes por animais peçonhentos: uma análise do perfil epidemiológico na região Nordeste do Brasil no período de 2010 a 2019
Authors: Gonçalves José Erivaldo , Medeiros Sandrelli Meridiana de Fátima Ramos dos Santos , Cavalcanti Iago Dillion Lima , Mendes Ryanne Carolynne Marques Gomes , Bezerra Isaac Newton Machado , Nóbrega Marília Marlene , Lima Mariel Wágner Holanda
Published: October 2020

Objetivo: A presente pesquisa objetiva caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico dos acidentes por animais peçonhentos na região Nordeste do Brasil. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa sobre os acidentes com animais peçonhentos no Nordeste brasileiro no período de 2010 a 2019. Esta pesquisa consistiu em seis etapas, onde estabeleceu critérios bem definidos sobre a coleta de dados, análise e apresentação dos resultados. As variáveis qualitativas foram distribuídas a partir do tipo de animal, sexo, intervalos de faixa etária, tempo decorrido entre a picada e o atendimento, classificação do caso, evolução clínica e estado de notificação. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 607.966 casos distribuídos nos anos coletados, sendo mais prevalente acidentes envolvendo pessoas do sexo feminino, cor parda, adultos jovens entre 20 e 39 anos e o escorpião o animal mais envolvido nos casos. Houve um aumento exponencial dos acidentes com animais peçonhentos em todos os estados da região Nordeste, variando entre 84,5% e 352,4% entre o primeiro e o último ano do estudo. O Piauí mostrou a maior variação no número de casos, porém a Bahia foi o estado com o maior quantitativo de notificações.  A evolução dos casos apresentou um bom indicie de cura. Conclusão: Foi possível caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico dos acidentes por animais peçonhentos na região Nordeste do Brasil. Portanto, tem-se que esses acidentes estão cada vez mais aumentando, com isso torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento de estratégias que possam minimizar os acidentes, agravos e as subnotificações.
Impact of pasture height and herbage mass on suppression of variegated thistle in North Island East Coast hill country
Authors: Tozer Katherine N. , Greenfield Rose , Grigson Renee , Cameron Catherine , Roberts Ants , Noakes Emma , Rhodes Tim , Zydenbos Sue
Published: October 2020

Variegated thistle in East Coast North Island hill country reduces pasture and livestock productivity. To quantify the impact of increasing amounts of pasture cover (herbage mass) on this weed, variegated thistle seeds were hand-sown in autumn into pasture swards that ranged in height from 0 cm (bare ground) to 12 cm, on an East Coast property near Gisborne. Sward height was maintained by mowing without damaging the thistle plants. Increasing pasture cover reduced thistle emergence, height, diameter, biomass, survival, and seed production. By early June, 7 weeks after sowing, thistle emergence was greatest from bare ground and from maintaining a pasture at a height of 3 cm (>1100 kg DM ha-1 in autumn) and declined with increasing pasture height. By December, thistle height, diameter, biomass, flowerhead production and survival were highest in the bare ground treatment (thistle biomass ≈760 g plant-1), much lower in the 3-cm pasture height treatment (≈20 g plant-1), negligible in the 6-cm (>1600 kg DM/ha) and nil in the 8-cm (>1800 kg DM ha-1) and 12-cm (>2700 kg DM ha-1) pasture treatments (P<0.002). Maintaining pasture height of 3 cm severely reduced variegated thistle establishment, growth and flowerhead production. Results infer that grazing management strategies, such as lengthening the interval between grazing events in autumn and early winter, will increase pasture cover and are likely to severely reduce thistle establishment, growth and seed production.
Strobilurin Effects on Nitrogen Use Efficiency for the Yield and Protein in Durum Wheat Grown Under Rainfed Mediterranean Conditions
Authors: Carucci Federica , Gatta Giuseppe , Gagliardi Anna , Vita Pasquale De , Giuliani Marcella Michela
Published: October 2020

In wheat, the increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and optimization of the nitrogen doses to be used are both very important aspects for improving sustainable and productive agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate, under rainfed Mediterranean conditions, the influence of strobilurin treatment and N fertilization on durum wheat N use efficiency for yield (NUEy) and protein (NUEp) and on the contribution of their components, nitrogen uptake efficiency (UPE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). Two durum wheat cultivars (Saragolla and Sfinge) were grown for two years in field conditions under five nitrogen treatments (60 kg ha−1 N60; 90 and 120 kg ha−1 given two and three times; N90, N90T3, N120 and N120T3) comparing a control without strobilurin treatment (ST0) and one application of strobilurin (STaz). In Sfinge, STaz caused a decrease in UPE and NUEp and an increase in NUtE and NUEy. In Saragolla, the opposite behavior was observed. Moreover, strobilurin positively affected the contribution of UPE and negatively that of NUtE to NUEy only in Saragolla. Furthermore, strobilurin determined higher NUEy and NUEp values under most of the N treatments adopted in the drier year. With this study, we supported the hypothesis that in Mediterranean conditions, the possibility of reducing N rate application from 120 to 90 kg ha−1 with a strobilurin-based treatment, even in the absence of fungal diseases, could represent a useful agronomic strategy for durum wheat grown under drought conditions as those predicted under the ongoing climate change.
Winter Pruning: Effect on Root Density, Root Distribution and Root/Canopy Ratio in Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Gris
Authors: Tomasi Diego , Gaiotti Federica , Petoumenou Despoina , Lovat Lorenzo , Belfiore Nicola , Boscaro Davide , Mian Giovanni
Published: October 2020

As in any other plant, the grapevine roots play a vital role in terms of anchorage, uptake of water and nutrients, as well as storage and production of chemicals. Their behaviour and development depend on various factors, namely rootstock genetics, soil physical and chemical features, and field agronomic practices. Canopy management, involving techniques such as defoliation and pruning, could greatly influence root growth. To date, most of the studies on grapevine winter pruning have focused on the effects on yield and quality of the grapes achievable through different pruning systems and techniques, while knowledge regarding root distribution, development, and growth in relation to winter pruning is still not completely understood. In this context, the purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of winter pruning on the root system of field-grown Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Gris grafted onto rootstock SO4. We compared two pruning treatments (pruned-P and no pruned-NP) and analysed the effect on root distribution and density, the root index, and the root sugar reserve. Root data were analysed in relation to canopy growth and yield, to elucidate the effect of winter pruning on the root/yield ratio. Our data indicated that: (1) winter pruning stimulated the root growth and distribution; (2) canopy development was not negatively affected by this technique; (3) no pruned treatment produced less growth of the roots but a larger canopy. Information regarding both root growth and root canopy ratio is important as it gives us an understanding of the relationship between the aerial and subterranean parts of the plant, how they compete, and finally, offers us the possibility to ponder on the cultural practices.
Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants
Authors: Torres-Fajardo Rafael Arturo , González-Pech Pedro Geraldo , Sandoval-Castro Carlos Alfredo , Torres-Acosta Juan Felipe de Jesús
Published: October 2020

The plant kingdom can influence the productivity and health of herbivores at different levels. However, demonstrating this process in a scientific manner entails substantial endeavors from different disciplines. In the present review, we will describe the features of a native vegetation system traditionally used by small ruminants and use its particularities to build an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate the nutraceutical properties of plants. Initially, we will establish the context of the low deciduous forest (LDF), considering some botanical and nutritional aspects, as well as the presence of plant secondary compounds (PSC) and gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Furthermore, we will focus on coevolutionary aspects that undoubtedly shaped the plants–nutrients–PSC–GIN–herbivore relationship. In addition, the concept of nutraceutical will be discussed to provide clarity and aspects to be considered for their evaluation. Then, ethological, agronomical, nutritional, PSC, parasitological and animal species issues are deepened placing emphasis on methodological approaches. Special focus is given to condensed tannins, as they are the fourth largest group of PSCs and the most studied in livestock sciences. Validation of the nutraceutical properties of plants from native vegetation systems should be seen as a process derived from many scientific disciplines that feed into each other in a cyclic manner.
3D Geometric Morphometrics Reveals Convergent Character Displacement in the Central European Contact Zone between Two Species of Hedgehogs (Genus Erinaceus)
Authors: Černá Bolfíková Barbora , Evin Allowen , Rozkošná Knitlová Markéta , Loudová Miroslava , Sztencel-Jabłonka Anna , Bogdanowicz Wiesław , Hulva Pavel
Published: October 2020

Hedgehogs, as medium-sized plantigrade insectivores with low basal metabolic rates and related defensive anti-predator strategies, are quite sensitive to temperature and ecosystem productivity. Their ranges therefore changed dramatically due to Pleistocene climate oscillations, resulting in allopatric speciation and the subsequent formation of secondary contact zones. Such interactions between closely related species are known to generate strong evolutionary forces responsible for niche differentiation. In this connection, here, we detail the results of research on the phenotypic evolution in the two species of hedgehog present in central Europe, as based on genetics and geometric morphometrics in samples along a longitudinal transect that includes the contact zone between the species. While in allopatry, Erinaceus europaeus is found to have a larger skull than E. roumanicus and distinct cranial and mandibular shapes; the members of the two species in sympatry are smaller and more similar to each other, with a convergent shape of the mandible. The relevant data fail to reveal any major role for either hybridisation or clinal variation. We, therefore, hypothesise that competitive pressure exerted on the studied species does not generate divergent selection sufficient for divergent character displacement to evolve, instead giving rise to convergent selection in the face of resource limitation in the direction of smaller skull size. Considering the multi-factorial constraints present in the relevant adaptive landscape, reduction in size could also be facilitated by predator pressure in ecosystems characterised by mesopredator release and other anthropogenic factors. As the function of the animals’ lower jaw is mainly connected with feeding (in contrast to the cranium whose functions are obviously more complex), we interpret the similarity in shape as reflecting local adaptations to overlapping dietary resources in the two species and hence as convergent character displacement.
Expression of Phosphatonin-Related Genes in Sheep, Dog and Horse Kidneys Using Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR
Authors: Dittmer Keren E. , Heathcott Rosemary W. , Marshall Jonathan C. , Azarpeykan Sara
Published: October 2020

The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the relative expression of phosphatonin pathway-related genes in normal dog, sheep and horse kidneys and to explore the relationships between the different genes. Kidneys were collected post-mortem from 10 sheep, 10 horses and 8 dogs. RNA was extracted, followed by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction for fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 IIIc (FGFR1IIIC), sodium-phosphate co-transporter (NPT) 1 (SLC17A1), NPT2a (SLC34A1), NPT2c (SLC34A3), parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R), klotho (KL), vitamin D receptor (VDR), 1a-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1). NPT2a was highly expressed in the dog kidneys, compared with those of the horses and sheep. NPT1 had greatest expression in horses and sheep, although the three different NPTs all had relatively similar expression in sheep. There was little variability in FGFR1IIIc expression, particularly in the dogs and horses. FGFR1IIIc expression was negatively correlated with NPT genes (except NPT2a in sheep), while NPT genes were all positively correlated with each other. Unexpectedly, klotho was positively correlated with NPT genes in all three species. These results provide the basis for further research into this important regulatory system. In particular, species differences in phosphatonin gene expression should be considered when considering the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease.
Zeolite-Rich Composite Materials for Environmental Remediation: Arsenic Removal from Water
Authors: de Gennaro Bruno , Aprea Paolo , Liguori Barbara , Galzerano Barbara , Peluso Antonio , Caputo Domenico
Published: October 2020

Natural zeolites are used as adsorbents in purification processes due to their cation-exchange ability and molecular sieve properties. Surface modified natural zeolites (SMNZs), produced by attaching cationic organic surfactants to the external surface, can simultaneously act as ionic exchangers and organic molecule adsorbents. In this paper, SMNZs were produced and investigated as adsorbents for As(V) removal from wastewater: two natural zeolites, clinoptilolite and phillipsite, were modified using HDTMA-Br and HDTMA-Cl as surfactants. The obtained samples were then characterized under static and dynamic conditions. Results showed that As(V) removal follows a pseudo-second order kinetic, with fast adsorption rates: every sample reached 100 % removal in 2 h, while equilibrium data showed a Langmuir-like behavior, with a greater anion uptake by the HDTMA-Br modified SMNZs due to the formation of a compact and complete micellar structure. Finally, fixed-bed tests were performed to characterize the samples under dynamic conditions assessing the effect of severe operating parameters on the dynamic exchange capacity, selectivity and efficiency of the process. The obtained results demonstrate a good ability of the tested materials to adsorb As(V) from wastewater, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed surface modification technique in expanding the possibility of using natural zeolites in these processes.
Design of Experiment in the Milling Process of Aluminum Alloys in the Aerospace Industry
Authors: Țîțu Aurel Mihail , Sandu Andrei Victor , Pop Alina Bianca , Țîțu Ștefan , Frățilă Dragos Nicolae , Ceocea Costel , Boroiu Alexandru
Published: October 2020

For many years, surface has quality received a serious attention due to its influence on various mechanical properties. The main contribution made in this scientific paper is the performance of actual experiments, as well as the experimental processing obtained in order to develop a model for predicting the surface roughness based on the optimization of cutting parameters. The novelty of this paper is brought by the method of obtaining the regression equation of the surface roughness, resulted from a standard end-milling process (standard milling tools, standard milling parameters, recommended by the tool manufacturer, 3 axis CNC machine and standard vice), on aluminum alloy 7136 in temper T76511, through two statistical methods of data analysis. This material is used for the production of extruded parts and is poorly understood for the proposed line of research. This study’s aim is to determine the surface roughness equation obtained by the milling of aluminum alloy 7136 in two ways: using Taguchi′s experimental design once and the other, using the central composite design. The Taguchi method and the central composite design are used to develop an efficient mathematical model to predict the optimal level of certain processing parameters. Using ANOVA analysis, a comparative study of calculated and experimental surface roughness values is carried out. The initial characteristics (surface roughness) and the controlled factors (cutting speed, depth of cut and feed) are analyzed with the Minitab program. Finally, an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods used is presented. This study has a great industrial application, since the main task of every manufacturer is to achieve a better quality of the final product with minimal processing time.
Experimental & Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of the Suitability of Different Solid Feed Pellets for Aquaculture Systems
Authors: Papáček Štěpán , Petera Karel , Císař Petr , Stejskal Vlastimil , Saberioon Mohammadmehdi
Published: October 2020

Fish feed delivery is one of the challenges which fish farmers encounter daily. The main aim of the feeding process is to ensure that every fish is provided with sufficient feed to maintain desired growth rates. The properties of fish feed pellet, such as water stability, degree of swelling or floating time, are critical traits impacting feed delivery. Some considerable effort is currently being made with regard to the replacement of fish meal and fish oil with other sustainable alternative raw materials (i.e., plant or insect-based) with different properties. The main aim of this study is to investigate the motion and residence time distribution (RTD) of two types of solid feed pellets with different properties in a cylindrical fish tank. After experimental identification of material and geometrical properties of both types of pellets, a detailed 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study for each type of pellets is performed. The mean residence time of pellets injected at the surface of the fish tank can differ by up to 75% depending on the position of the injection. The smallest residence time is when the position is located at the center of the liquid surface (17 s); the largest is near the edge of the tank (75 s). The maximum difference between the two studied types of pellets is 25% and it increases with positions closer to the center of the tank. The maximum difference for positions along the perimeter at 3/4 tank radius is 8%; the largest residence times are observed at the opposite side of the water inlet. Based on this study, we argue that the suitability of different solid feed pellets for aquaculture systems with specific fish can be determined, and eventually the pellet composition (formula) as well as the injection position can be optimized.
Probabilistic Studies on the Shear Strength of Slender Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Olalusi Oladimeji B. , Spyridis Panagiotis
Published: October 2020

Shear failure is a brittle and undesirable mode of failure in reinforced concrete structures. Many of the existing shear design equations for steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams include significant uncertainty due to the failure in accurately predicting the true shear capacity. Given these, adequate quantification and description of model uncertainties considering the systematic variation in the model prediction and measured shear capacity is crucial for reliability-based investigation. Reliability analysis must account for model uncertainties in order to predict the probability of failure under prescribed limit states. This study focuses on the quantification and description of model uncertainty related to the current shear resistance predictive models for SFRC beams without shear reinforcement. The German (DAfStB) model displayed the lowest bias and dispersion, whereas the fib Model 2010 and the Bernat et al., model displayed the highest bias and dispersion. The inconsistencies observed in the resistance model uncertainties at the variation of shear span to effective depth ratio are a major cause for concern, and differentiation with respect to this parameter is advised. Finally, in line with the EN 1990 semi-probabilistic approach for reliability-based design, the global partial safety factors related to model uncertainties in the shear resistance prediction of SFRC beams are proposed.
Application of Innovative SMA-MA Mixtures on Bridges
Authors: Budziński Bartosz , Mieczkowski Paweł
Published: October 2020

This paper presents a case study of the application of an innovative asphaltic mixture used for making protective layers on bridges. This mixture, called stone mastic asphalt rich in bitumen mastic (shortened to SMA-MA) produces an impervious surface, resistant to permanent deformation and fatigue, easily produced and laid down on bridge decks. The authors analyzed the state of knowledge on the asphalt mixtures used on bridges. This article describes the first trials with the SMA-MA mixtures and an example of the most spectacular application.
Improved Uncalibrated Visual Servo Strategy for Hyper-Redundant Manipulators in On-Orbit Automatic Assembly
Authors: Gu Jinlin , Zhu Mingchao , Cao Lihua , Li Ang , Wang Wenrui , Xu Zhenbang
Published: October 2020

Aiming at on-orbit automatic assembly, an improved uncalibrated visual servo strategy for hyper-redundant manipulators based on projective homography is proposed. This strategy uses an improved homography-based task function with lower dimensions while maintaining its robustness to image defects and noise. This not only improves the real-time performance but also makes the joint space of hyper-redundant manipulator redundant to the homography-based task function. Considering that the kinematic parameters of the manipulator are easily changed in a space environment, the total Jacobian between the task function and manipulator joints is estimated online and used to construct a controller to directly control the manipulator joints without a kinematics model. When designing the controller, the above-mentioned redundancy is exploited to solve the problem of the over-limiting of the joint angles of the manipulator. The KF-SVSF method, which combines the optimality of the Kalman filter (KF) and the robustness of the smooth variable structure filter (SVSF), is introduced to the field of uncalibrated visual servos for the first time to perform the online estimation of the total Jacobian. In addition, the singular value filtering (SVF) method is adopted for the first time to avoid the interference caused by the unstable condition number of the estimated total Jacobian. Finally, simulations and experiments verify the superiority of this strategy in terms of its real-time performance and precision.
Damage Diagnosis for Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations Based on the Fractal Dimension
Authors: Hoxha Ervin , Vidal Yolanda , Pozo Francesc
Published: October 2020

Cost-competitiveness of offshore wind depends heavily in its capacity to switch preventive maintenance to condition-based maintenance. That is, to monitor the actual condition of the wind turbine (WT) to decide when and which maintenance needs to be done. In particular, structural health monitoring (SHM) to monitor the foundation (support structure) condition is of utmost importance in offshore-fixed wind turbines. In this work a SHM strategy is presented to monitor online and during service a WT offshore jacket-type foundation. Standard SHM techniques, as guided waves with a known input excitation, cannot be used in a straightforward way in this particular application where unknown external perturbations as wind and waves are always present. To face this challenge, a vibration-response-only SHM strategy is proposed via machine learning methods. In this sense, the fractal dimension is proposed as a suitable feature to identify and classify different types of damage. The proposed proof-of-concept technique is validated in an experimental laboratory down-scaled jacket WT foundation undergoing different types of damage.
Investigating the Impacts of Urbanization on PM2.5 Pollution in the Yangtze River Delta of China: A Spatial Panel Data Approach
Authors: Cheng Liang , Zhang Ting , Chen Longqian , Li Long , Wang Shangjiu , Hu Sai , Yuan Lina , Wang Jia , Wen Mingxin
Published: October 2020

Urbanization is a key determinant of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution variability. However, there is a limited understanding of different urbanization factors’ roles in PM2.5 pollution. Using satellite-derived PM2.5 data from 2002 to 2017, we investigated the spatiotemporal evolution and the spatial autocorrelation of PM2.5 pollution in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. Afterwards, the impacts of three urbanization factors (population urbanization, land urbanization and economic urbanization) on PM2.5 pollution were estimated by a spatial Durbin panel data model (SDM). Obtained results showed that: (i) PM2.5 pollution was larger in the north than in the south of YRD; (ii) Lianyungang and Yancheng cities had significant increasing trends in PM2.5 pollution from 2002 to 2017; (iii) the regional median center of PM2.5 pollution was observed in the Nanjing city, with gradual shifting to the northwest during the 16-year period; (iv) PM2.5 pollution showed significant and positive spatial autocorrelation and spillover effect; (v) population urbanization contributed more to the increase in PM2.5 pollution than land urbanization, while economic urbanization had no significant impact. The present study highlights the impacts of three urbanization factors on PM2.5 pollution which represent valuable and relevant information for air pollution control and urban planning.
The Influence of Land Surface Temperature in Evapotranspiration Estimated by the S-SEBI Model
Authors: Rocha Nájila Souza da , Käfer Pâmela S. , Skokovic Drazen , Veeck Gustavo , Diaz Lucas Ribeiro , Kaiser Eduardo André , Carvalho Cibelle Machado , Cruz Rafael Cabral , Sobrino José A. , Roberti Débora Regina , Rolim Silvia Beatriz Alves
Published: October 2020

Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the least understood components of the hydrological cycle. Its applications are varied, from agricultural, ecological and hydrological monitoring, to control of the evolution of climate change. The goal of this work was to analyze the influence that uncertainties in the estimate of land surface temperature (Ts) can cause on ET estimates by S-SEBI model in the Pampa biome area. Also, the specificities of native grassland of Pampa biome related to energy balance were analyzed. The results indicate that the daily evapotranspiration is higher when the pixel Ts is lower, which also shows the influence of land use on the variability of ET. The results demonstrated that the S-SEBI is less dependent on Ts estimation than other models reported in the literature, such as the SEBS, which not exceed 0.5 mm/day in grasslands. The evapotranspiration variability between forest and grassland were lower than expected, demonstrating that the Pampa biome have in Rio Grande do Sul the same importance that forests regarding to the processes of the hydrological cycle, since it covers 63% of the State.
Effect of Flow Rate and Filter Efficiency on Indoor PM2.5 in Ventilation and Filtration Control
Authors: Kim Ji-Hye , Yeo Myoung-Souk
Published: October 2020

Ventilation and filtration control play a critical role in determining indoor PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) concentrations of outdoor or indoor origin in residential environments. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of flow rates and filter efficiency on indoor PM2.5 concentrations of residential buildings in Seoul, Korea. Using a particle model based on a mass–balance equation, parametric analysis was performed to examine indoor PM2.5 concentrations according to flow rates and filter efficiency under a wide range of outdoor concentrations and indoor generations. Results showed that ventilation control equipped with a medium–efficiency filter was as effective as that with a high-efficiency filter under normal outdoor concentration and high indoor generation rate conditions. It is not recommended to apply a low-efficiency filter because indoor concentration increases rapidly as outdoor PM2.5 increases when ventilation flow rate is high. For filtration control, it is important to increase both flow rate and filter efficiency in order to improve indoor PM2.5 concentration.
Exogenous Abscisic Acid Can Influence Photosynthetic Processes in Peas through a Decrease in Activity of H+-ATP-ase in the Plasma Membrane
Authors: Yudina Lyubov , Sukhova Ekaterina , Sherstneva Oksana , Grinberg Marina , Ladeynova Maria , Vodeneev Vladimir , Sukhov Vladimir
Published: October 2020

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone in plants that participates in their acclimation to the action of stressors. Treatment by exogenous ABA and its synthetic analogs are a potential way of controlling the tolerance of agricultural plants; however, the mechanisms of influence of the ABA treatment on photosynthetic processes require further investigations. The aim of our work was to investigate the participation of inactivation of the plasma membrane H+-ATP-ase on the influence of ABA treatment on photosynthetic processes and their regulation by electrical signals in peas. The ABA treatment of seedlings was performed by spraying them with aqueous solutions (10−5 M). The combination of a Dual-PAM-100 PAM fluorometer and GFS-3000 infrared gas analyzer was used for photosynthetic measurements; the patch clamp system on the basis of a SliceScope Pro 2000 microscope was used for measurements of electrical activity. It was shown that the ABA treatment stimulated the cyclic electron flow around photosystem I and decreased the photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, the amplitude of burning-induced electrical signals (variation potentials), and the magnitude of photosynthetic responses relating to these signals; in contrast, treatment with exogenous ABA increased the heat tolerance of photosynthesis. An investigation of the influence of ABA treatment on the metabolic component of the resting potential showed that this treatment decreased the activity of the H+-ATP-ase in the plasma membrane. Inhibitor analysis using sodium orthovanadate demonstrated that this decrease may be a mechanism of the ABA treatment-induced changes in photosynthetic processes, their heat tolerance, and regulation by electrical signals.
The Impact of Sex on Changes in Plasma Corticosterone and Cotinine Levels Induced by Nicotine in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Nguyen Khoa , Kanamori Keiko , Shin Chang Sung , Hamid Abdul , Lutfy Kabirullah
Published: October 2020

We assessed if there were any sex-related differences in the ability of nicotine to increase plasma corticosterone secretion after single or repeated nicotine administration. For single-dose studies, male and female mice were habituated to the test room for 1 h and injected with saline or nicotine (0.25 or 1 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)). In repeated-dosing studies, mice were injected with saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) once daily for six days, and, on day 7, received nicotine (1 mg/kg, s.c.). Mice were then euthanized 15 min later, and trunk blood was collected for the measurement of corticosterone, nicotine, and cotinine. Our results showed that saline or nicotine each significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels in both males and females, with a greater response in female mice. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased in male but not female mice after being treated repeatedly compared to single nicotine administration. The level of cotinine, a biomarker of nicotine use, was significantly higher in female than in male mice. Taken together, these novel findings suggest that female mice respond to nicotine and the stress of handling more than male mice and provide for the first-time quantitative data on male–female differences in nicotine-induced elevations of corticosterone and cotinine plasma levels.
Regression Networks for Neurophysiological Indicator Evaluation in Practicing Motor Imagery Tasks
Authors: Velasquez-Martinez Luisa , Caicedo-Acosta Julian , Acosta-Medina Carlos , Alvarez-Meza Andres , Castellanos-Dominguez German
Published: October 2020

Motor Imagery (MI) promotes motor learning in activities, like developing professional motor skills, sports gestures, and patient rehabilitation. However, up to 30% of users may not develop enough coordination skills after training sessions because of inter and intra-subject variability. Here, we develop a data-driven estimator, termed Deep Regression Network (DRN), which jointly extracts and performs the regression analysis in order to assess the efficiency of the individual brain networks in practicing MI tasks. The proposed double-stage estimator initially learns a pool of deep patterns, extracted from the input data, in order to feed a neural regression model, allowing for infering the distinctiveness between subject assemblies having similar variability. The results, which were obtained on real-world MI data, prove that the DRN estimator fosters pre-training neural desynchronization and initial training synchronization to predict the bi-class accuracy response, thus providing a better understanding of the Brain–Computer Interface inefficiency of subjects.
Cyber and Offline Dating Abuse in a Portuguese Sample: Prevalence and Context of Abuse
Authors: Caridade Sónia , e Sousa Hélder Fernando Pedrosa , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta
Published: October 2020

The increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and networking has promoted the occurrence of different forms of victimization, specifically in terms of interpersonal interaction (e.g., cyberbullying or online risk-taking behaviour), which also includes cyber dating abuse (CDA). Some studies report that CDA is an extension of offline dating abuse (ODA). Because Portuguese studies in this area are scarce, this study aims to bridge this knowledge gap, seeking to investigate the extent and the context of CDA occurrence, and the relationship between CDA and all forms of ODA, i.e., physical, verbal–emotional and control. A convenience sample of 173 Portuguese adolescents and young adults was studied. This sample is mostly female (86.7%), has a mean (M) age of 25.36 years old and a standard deviation (SD) of 6.88 years of age. The results show that CDA and ODA among the Portuguese are very prevalent and related. Control (31.8 vs. 20.8%) and verbal–emotional ODA (26.7 vs. 20.2%) as well as control CDA (38.2 vs. 43.4%) were the most prevalent forms of abuse, either in terms of victimization or in terms of perpetration. The results also showed that CDA usually appears in a context of jealousy, also explaining control CDA and CDA direct aggression. A significant relationship between control CDA and CDA direct aggression and physical, verbal–emotional and control ODA was found. Experiencing control and verbal–emotional ODA are the main risk factors of control CDA victimization. This study allows to lay the groundwork for further research on dating victimization and perpetration through ICT, and has important practical implications at the level of Portuguese prevention strategies and intervention policies, thus emphasizing the role of the official authorities and the law itself.
The Oncoprotein SKI Acts as A Suppressor of NK Cell-Mediated Immunosurveillance in PDAC
Authors: Ponath Viviane , Frech Miriam , Bittermann Mathis , Al Khayer Reem , Neubauer Andreas , Brendel Cornelia , Pogge von Strandmann Elke
Published: October 2020

Drugs targeting epigenetic mechanisms such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) suppress tumor growth. HDACi also induce the expression of ligands for the cytotoxicity receptor NKG2D rendering tumors more susceptible to natural killer (NK) cell-dependent killing. The major acetylases responsible for the expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2D-L) are CBP and p300. The role of the oncogene and transcriptional repressor SKI, an essential part of an HDAC-recruiting co-repressor complex, which competes with CBP/p300 for binding to SMAD3 in TGFβ signaling, is unknown. Here we show that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of SKI in the pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1 and Patu8988t leads to an increased target cell killing by primary NK cells. However, the higher cytotoxicity of NK cells did not correlate with the induction of NKG2D-L. Of note, the expression of NKG2D-L and consequently NK cell-dependent killing could be induced upon LBH589 (LBH, panobinostat) or valproic acid (VPA) treatment irrespective of the SKI expression level but was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer cells upon genetic ablation of SKI. These data suggest that SKI represses the inducible expression of NKG2D-L. The combination of HDACi with NK cell-based immunotherapy is an attractive treatment option for pancreatic tumors, specifically for patients with high SKI protein levels.
Predicting Survival in Glioblastoma Patients Using Diffusion MR Imaging Metrics—A Systematic Review
Authors: Brancato Valentina , Nuzzo Silvia , Tramontano Liberatore , Condorelli Gerolama , Salvatore Marco , Cavaliere Carlo
Published: October 2020

Despite advances in surgical and medical treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), the medium survival is about 15 months and varies significantly, with occasional longer survivors and individuals whose tumours show a significant response to therapy with respect to others. Diffusion MRI can provide a quantitative assessment of the intratumoral heterogeneity of GBM infiltration, which is of clinical significance for targeted surgery and therapy, and aimed at improving GBM patient survival. So, the aim of this systematic review is to assess the role of diffusion MRI metrics in predicting survival of patients with GBM. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, a systematic literature search was performed to identify original articles since 2010 that evaluated the association of diffusion MRI metrics with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the QUIPS tool. A total of 52 articles were selected. The most examined metrics were associated with the standard Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) (34 studies) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) models (17 studies). Our findings showed that quantitative diffusion MRI metrics provide useful information for predicting survival outcomes in GBM patients, mainly in combination with other clinical and multimodality imaging parameters.
Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A 2021 Update
Authors: Kole Christo , Charalampakis Nikolaos , Tsakatikas Sergios , Vailas Michail , Moris Dimitrios , Gkotsis Efthymios , Kykalos Stylianos , Karamouzis Michalis V. , Schizas Dimitrios
Published: October 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of one of the most frequent liver cancers and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Current treatment options such as surgery, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, liver transplantation, and radiofrequency ablation will benefit only a very small percentage of patients. Immunotherapy is a novel treatment approach representing an effective and promising option against several types of cancer. The aim of our study is to present the currently ongoing clinical trials and to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC. In this paper, we demonstrate that combination of different immunotherapies or immunotherapy with other modalities results in better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to single immunotherapy agent. Another objective of this paper is to demonstrate and highlight the importance of tumor microenvironment as a predictive and prognostic marker and its clinical implications in immunotherapy response.
Dangerous Liaisons: Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs)
Authors: Hurtado Pablo , Martínez-Pena Inés , Piñeiro Roberto
Published: October 2020

The crosstalk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key determinant of cancer metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), one of the main cellular components of TME, promote cancer cell invasion and dissemination through mechanisms including cell-cell interactions and the paracrine secretion of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. During metastasis, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from the primary tumor to the bloodstream, where they can be detected as single cells or clusters. The current knowledge about the biology of CTC clusters positions them as key actors in metastasis formation. It also indicates that CTCs do not act alone and that they may be aided by stromal and immune cells, which seem to shape their metastatic potential. Among these cells, CAFs are found associated with CTCs in heterotypic CTC clusters, and their presence seems to increase their metastatic efficiency. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role that CAFs play on metastasis and we discuss their implication on the biogenesis, metastasis-initiating capacity of CTC clusters, and clinical implications. Moreover, we speculate about possible therapeutic strategies aimed to limit the metastatic potential of CTC clusters involving the targeting of CAFs as well as their difficulties and limitations.
Acid/Base-Treated Activated Carbon Catalysts for the Low-Temperature Endothermic Cracking of N-Dodecane with Applications in Hypersonic Vehicle Heat Management Systems
Authors: Song Kyoung Ho , Jeong Soon Kwan , Jeong Byung Hun , Lee Kwan-Young , Kim Hak Joo
Published: October 2020

Hypersonic aircrafts suffer from heat management problems caused by the air friction produced at high speeds. The supercritical catalytic cracking of fuel is endothermic and can be exploited to remove heat from the aircraft surfaces using specially designed heat management systems. Here, we report that an acid/base-treated activated carbon (AC) catalyst shows superior performance to the conventional ZSM-5 catalyst at 4 MPa and 450 °C. Further, under these conditions, coke formation is thermodynamically avoided. Of the prepared catalysts, the AC catalyst treated with NaOH and subsequently with HNO3 (denoted AC-3Na-N) was the most active catalyst, showing the highest selectivity toward light olefins and best heat sink capacity. The acid/base-treated ACs and ZSM-5 catalysts were characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. Characterization reveals the importance of acid strength and density in promoting the cracking reaction pathway to light olefins observed over the acid/base-treated AC catalysts, which show comparable activity at 450 °C to that of the ZSM-5 catalyst operated above 550 °C. The low-temperature activity suppressed coke and aromatic compound (coke precursors) formation. The stability of the acid/base-treated activated carbon catalysts was confirmed over a time-on-stream of 30 min.
HDAC6 Regulates Radiosensitivity of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Promoting Degradation of Chk1
Authors: Moses Niko , Zhang Mu , Wu Jheng-Yu , Hu Chen , Xiang Shengyan , Geng Xinran , Chen Yue , Bai Wenlong , Zhang You-Wei , Bepler Gerold , Zhang Xiaohong Mary
Published: October 2020

We have previously discovered that HDAC6 regulates the DNA damage response (DDR) via modulating the homeostasis of a DNA mismatch repair protein, MSH2, through HDAC6’s ubiquitin E3 ligase activity. Here, we have reported HDAC6’s second potential E3 ligase substrate, a critical cell cycle checkpoint protein, Chk1. We have found that HDAC6 and Chk1 directly interact, and that HDAC6 ubiquitinates Chk1 in vivo and in vitro. Specifically, HDAC6 interacts with Chk1 via the DAC1 domain, which contains its ubiquitin E3 ligase activity. During the cell cycle, Chk1 protein levels fluctuate, peaking at the G2 phase, subsequently resolving via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and thereby allowing cells to progress to the M phase. However, in HDAC6 knockdown non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, Chk1 is constitutively active and fails to resolve post-ionizing radiation (IR), and this enhanced Chk1 activity leads to preferential G2 arrest in HDAC6 knockdown cells accompanied by a reduction in colony formation capacity and viability. Depletion or pharmacological inhibition of Chk1 in HDAC6 knockdown cells reverses this radiosensitive phenotype, suggesting that the radiosensitivity of HDAC6 knockdown cells is dependent on increased Chk1 kinase activity. Overall, our results highlight a novel mechanism of Chk1 regulation at the post-translational level, and a possible strategy for sensitizing NSCLC to radiation via inhibiting HDAC6’s E3 ligase activity.
The Biomarker and Therapeutic Potential of Circular Rnas in Schizophrenia
Authors: Nedoluzhko Artem , Gruzdeva Natalia , Sharko Fedor , Rastorguev Sergey , Zakharova Natalia , Kostyuk Georgy , Ushakov Vadim
Published: October 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous, single-stranded, most frequently non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules that play a significant role in gene expression regulation. Circular RNAs can affect microRNA functionality, interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), translate proteins by themselves, and directly or indirectly modulate gene expression during different cellular processes. The affected expression of circRNAs, as well as their targets, can trigger a cascade of events in the genetic regulatory network causing pathological conditions. Recent studies have shown that altered circular RNA expression patterns could be used as biomarkers in psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia (SZ); moreover, circular RNAs together with other cell molecules could provide new insight into mechanisms of this disorder. In this review, we focus on the role of circular RNAs in the pathogenesis of SZ and analyze their biomarker and therapeutic potential in this disorder.
The Potential of IgG to Induce Murine and Human Thymic Maturation of IL-10+ B Cells (B10) Revealed in a Pilot Study
Authors: Inoue Amanda Harumi Sabô , Lira Aline Aparecida de Lima , de-Oliveira Marília Garcia , de Sousa Thamires Rodrigues , Sgnotto Fábio da Ressureição , Duarte Alberto José da Silva , Victor Jefferson Russo
Published: October 2020

Regulatory B (B10) cells can control several inflammatory diseases, including allergies; however, the origin of peripheral B10 cells is not fully understood, and the involvement of primary lymphoid organs (PLOs) as a primary site of maturation is not known. Here, using a murine model of allergy inhibition mediated by maternal immunization with ovalbumin (OVA), we aimed to evaluate whether B10 cells can mature in the thymus and whether IgG can mediate this process. Female mice were immunized with OVA, and offspring thymus, bone marrow, spleen, lung, and serum samples were evaluated at different times and after passive transfer of purified IgG or thymocytes. A translational approach was implemented using human nonatopic thymus samples, nonatopic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and IgG from atopic or nonatopic individuals. Based on the expression of CD1d on B cells during maturation stages, we suggest that B10 cells can also mature in the murine thymus. Murine thymic B10 cells can be induced in vitro and in vivo by IgG and be detected in the spleen and lungs in response to an allergen challenge. Like IgG from atopic individuals, human IgG from nonatopic individuals can induce B10 cells in the infant thymus and adult PBMCs. Our observations suggest that B10 cells may mature in the thymus and that this mechanism may be mediated by IgG in both humans and mice. These observations may support the future development of IgG-based immunoregulatory therapeutic strategies.