bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Javanese Lexical Variation of Cirebon Dialect in Pabuaran and Ciperna Region
Authors: Durahman Eva utami , Sofiyani Dinny , Pratiwi Yosi Ayu , Setiani Fani
Published: March 2020

This study highlights the lexical differences phenomena in Pabuaran and Ciperna region which is located in Cirebon Regency of West Java. This study aims: 1) to describe the Javanese lexical variations of Cirebon dialect in Pabuaran and Ciperna region, 2) and to find out whether those variations are dialect, subdialect, or only speech level differences of Cirebon dialect itself by utilizing dialectometric method. The result shows that there are 108 lexical differences in the form of pronouns (10), nouns (26), verbs (44), adjectives (14), and adverb (14) in Pabuaran and Ciperna region. This result is obtained by using 207 words Swadesh List and 144 additional words submitted as questions to the local people. Furthermore, after being calculated by dialectometric method, it can be concluded that those lexical variation in Pabuaran and Ciperna are chategorized as subdialect rather than dialect or speech level differences.Keywords: Cirebon dialect, Javanese language, lexical variations
Conceptual Meaning of Secretary in Academic Students of Secretary’s Cognition in Bandung
Authors: Citraresmana Elvi
Published: March 2020

This article discusses the conceptual meaning of secretary through the cognition of Academic Students of Secretary in Bandung. This research was conducted in order to find out how did the secretary students describe the meaning of “secretary” through their essay writing. This research is statistic descriptive analysis, data were collected through Antconc software in order to observe the frequentative words used by the students. The node words of this research is the word secretary in which this word is used as much as 408 times by the students. Through the Cluster/N-grams, it is observed that the students tried their best efforts to describe the secretary. The theory of Semantic Cognitive especially frame semantics and image schemas proposed by Lakoff (1987); Johnson (1987); Lakoff and Turner (1989); Clausner and Croft (1999); Fillmore (1985) are used to analyze the conceptual meaning revealed from the students’s essay writing. The understanding of statistic descriptive refers to Palmer study (1933). The results show that the students mapped the secretary as the container in which it needs the container. The results can be seen through frame semantics that secretary is brain, secretary is the heart, secretary is one’s hand, secretary is one’s face, and secretary is a foundation of building.
Russians in Business: An Analytical Study of Culture, Governance and Behavior
Authors: Rudnev Evgeny
Published: March 2020

The article reveals the specifics of Russian national culture and its role in business. The data of studies of Russians are summarized in behavioral context. The historical periods of Russia's development and governance and their influence on behavior are described in the business environment. The greatest differences are noted between the Russian and Anglo-Saxon mentality. Russians are described in typical situations at the present stage of Russian economy development - the formal use of IT, bureaucracy, subordination, the importance of personal contacts, and desire to control workers behavior during off-hours.
Water temperature fluctuations as a key driver of cetacean pox (tattoo) lesions in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus
Authors: Croft LA , Laughlin R , Manley M , Nollens HH
Published: March 2020

Dolphin tattoo lesions are superficial non-raised skin lesions caused by poxviruses. Their presentation can vary but typical lesions in bottlenose dolphins are circular to ovoid with concentric rings of black stippling. These lesions have at times been suggested as an indicator of overall dolphin health and welfare. This study explored the effect of water temperature on the extent of tattoo lesions in 25 dolphins, along with established hematological health parameters and food consumption. Study animals consisted of 9 males and 16 females with dolphin tattoo lesions ranging in age from 2 to 45 yr. A significant decrease (p < 0.01) in extent and appearance of tattoo lesions was documented following increase in water temperature from 21-24°C (70-75°F) to 25.5-26.5°C (78-80°F). Reduction in tattoo lesions could be noted as early as 2-3 wk following water temperature increase. Marked reduction to complete resolution of tattoo lesions was reproducibly seen 5-6 wk post temperature increase. Food consumption following temperature increase was variable: decrease in intake was noted in 48% of dolphins, increase in intake in 52%. Routine blood parameters (complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) remained within normal limits. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in extent and appearance of tattoo lesions was documented in 3 dolphins as early as 4-5 wk following a decrease in water temperature from 26.1°C (79°F) to 21°C (70°F). Water temperature is a key environmental parameter affecting cetacean pox (‘tattoo’) lesions in bottlenose dolphins. The absence of changes in hematological parameters along with lack of correlation between extent of pox lesions and food intake indicates that dolphin tattoo lesions are not an appropriate indicator of overall health.
Stabilization of the front at frontal copolymerization of acrylamide with sodium acrylate in aqueous solutions
Authors: Salamevich Alena A. , Hryniuk Yauheni V. , Krul Leonid P.
Published: March 2020

The objects of research were the process of frontal copolymerization of acrylamide with sodium acrylate in aqueous solutions, as well as the copolymers and hydrogels thus obtained. It has been shown that the frontal polymerization of acrylamide with sodium acrylate in an aqueous solution of high molecular weight polyacrylamide helps to reduce the initiator concentration necessary for the process and the formation of non-crosslinked copolymers. The effect of the addition of aerosil in the initial reaction mixture on the parameters of the copolymerization process and on the properties of the products formed is studied. The values of water absorption and gel fractions of the obtained hydrogels were determined.
‘I am greatly obliged to the Dutch’: James Beattie's Dutch Connection
Authors: Hengstmengel Joost
Published: March 2020

In the second half of the 18th century, Scottish Enlightenment philosophy spread to the Dutch Republic, where it found a favourable reception. The most popular Scottish philosopher among Dutch intellectuals arguably was James Beattie of Aberdeen. Almost all of his prose works were translated into Dutch, and the Zeeland Society of Sciences elected him a foreign honorary member. It made Beattie remark that he was ‘greatly obliged to the Dutch’, and a Dutch learned journal that he had ‘in a sense become a native’. This article discusses why precisely the Dutch got interested in Beattie and what made his common sense philosophy appealing to a Dutch audience. It argues that it was the moderate and non-speculative nature of Beattie's moral philosophy that fitted well with the eclecticism of the Dutch Enlightenment.
Perspectival self-consciousness and ego-dissolution
Authors: Sebastian Miguel Angel
Published: March 2020

It is often claimed that a minimal form of self-awareness is constitutive of our conscious experience. Some have considered that such a claim is plausible for our ordinary experiences but false when considered unrestrictedly on the basis of the empirical evidence from altered states. In this paper I want to reject such a reasoning.
This requires, first, a proper understanding of a minimal form of self-awareness – one that makes it plausible that minimal self-awareness is part of our ordinary experiences. I will argue that it should be understood as Perspectival First-Person Awareness (PFP-Awareness): a non-conceptual identification-free self-attribution that defines the first-person perspective for our conscious experience. I will offer a detailed characterization of PFP-Awareness in semantic and epistemological terms.
With this tool in hand, I will review the empirical literature on altered states. I will focus on psychedelics, meditation and dreams, as they have been claimed to present the clearest cases in favor of a radical disruption of self-awareness. I will show that the rejection of the idea that minimal self-awareness is constitutive of our experience on the basis of this evidence is unfounded, for two main reasons. First, although there are good grounds to think that some forms of self-awareness that typically accompany our ordinary experiences are compromised, they do not support the claim that PFP-Awareness is absent. Secondly, the reports that could make us think of a radical disruption of self-awareness are most probably due to a confirmation bias – and hence we should mistrust them – derived from the expectations and metaphysical views of their subjects.
INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY HEAT-LIKE EQUATIONS
Authors: HARİR Atimad , SAİD Melliani , SAADİA Chadli
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the variational iteration method (VIM)  are used forfind exact intuitionistic fuzzy solution of the intuitionistic fuzzy heat-like equations with variable coefficients in one and two dimensions. Several examplesare given to show the new theorem of the solution.The results obtained in all cases show the reliability and the efficiency of this methods.
Observer-Based Tracking Control for Polysolenoid Linear Motor with Unknown Disturbance Load
Authors: Nguyen Hong Quang
Published: March 2020

Linear motors have been playing a crucial role in mechanical motion systems due to its ability to provide a straight motion directly without mediate mechanical actuators. This paper investigates tracking control problems of Polysolenoid Linear Motor, which is a particular type of permanent magnet linear motor in a tubular structure. In order to deal with unmeasurable velocity, our method proposes a novel observer guaranteed asymptotic convergence of the observer errors. Then, based on observed velocity, our method proposes controllers for position-velocity and current tracking control concerning an unknown disturbance load problem by using Lyapunov direct method. The proposed controllers ensure that the position-velocity tracking error converges to arbitrarily small values by adjusting control parameters. Finally, the validity and effectiveness of our approach are shown in illustrative examples.
Application of Simulation to Selecting Project Strategy for Autonomous Research Projects at Public Universities
Authors: Kuchta Dorota , Stanek Stanisław
Published: March 2020

The definition of the success of research projects implemented at public universities is far from being unequivocal. The success of a research project has to be in line with both the public university’s and the funding institution’s policies, as well as with the personal objectives and ambitions of the researchers. Once the success definition for the research project has been determined, the strategy of implementation must be defined. The omission of this step may result in effort lost (public money, time, enthusiasm, etc.) after being directed toward objectives which do not fit with either the public university’s or the funding agency’s policies, nor with the researchers’ personal objectives. This paper discusses this problem and proposes a model where simulation is used to choose the project strategy that best fits the selected research project success definition in the context of the policy of a given public university, the preferences of its researchers, and the policy of the funding agencies. The model is illustrated by means of a case study—a real world research project implemented at a public university in a European country, where the policy of subsidizing public universities has been changing both very regularly and in a highly unpredictable manner. It is shown how various project strategies can lead to multiple project outcomes, which are then evaluated in different ways depending on the point of view of public university policy or of the researchers, the funding agencies, and/or society. The main conclusion is that applying simulation to a research project before it starts may contribute significantly to the optimization of time, effort, and resource usage with the objective of project success maximization in the context of public university policy and the objectives of the researchers.
Genetic Basis Dissection for Eating and Cooking Qualities of Japonica Rice in Northeast China
Authors: Yang Yaolong , Xu Xin , Zhang Mengchen , Xu Qun , Feng Yue , Yuan Xiaoping , Yu Hanyong , Wang Yiping , Wei Xinghua
Published: March 2020

The japonica rice in Northeast China is famous because of its high quality. Eating and cooking qualities (ECQs) are the most important factors that determine cooked rice quality. However, the genetic basis of ECQ of japonica varieties in Northeast China needs further study. In this study, 200 japonica varieties that are widely distributed in Northeast China were collected to evaluate the physicochemical indices of grain ECQs. The distribution of each trait was concentrated without large variations. Correlation analysis indicated that gel consistency (GC) had a significantly negative correlation with gelatinization temperature (GT). By integrating various analyses including kinship calculation, principal component analysis (PCA), linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, and original parent investigation, we found that the japonica varieties in Northeast China exhibited a narrow genetic basis. An association study for grain ECQs was performed and eight quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected. ALK was the major locus that regulated GT and also significantly affecting GC. Through the linkage disequilibrium (LD) and expression pattern analysis, one possible candidate gene (LOC_Os02g29980) was predicted and required further research for validation. Additionally, a different allele of Wx was identified in the variety CH4126, and ALK was not fixed in these japonica varieties. These results further elucidate the genetic basis of ECQs of japonica varieties in Northeast China and provide local breeders some assistance for improving ECQs of rice grain in rice breeding.
Appraisal of Biodegradable Mulching Films and Vegetal-Derived Biostimulant Application as Eco-Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Lettuce Crop Performance and Nutritive Value
Authors: Cozzolino Eugenio , Giordano Maria , Fiorentino Nunzio , El-Nakhel Christophe , Pannico Antonio , Di Mola Ida , Mori Mauro , Kyriacou Marios , Colla Giuseppe , Rouphael Youssef
Published: March 2020

Scientists, extensions specialists, and growers are seeking sustainable agricultural practices that are able to cope with these objectives in order to ensure global food security and minimize environmental damage. The use of mulching films and plant biostimulants in agriculture seems to be a valid solution for tackling these rising concerns. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to elucidate the morpho-physiological and nutritive characteristics of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in response to foliar application of a tropical plant extract (PE) biostimulant and the use of plastic mulches. Two biodegradable mulch treatments (Mater-Bi® 1 and Mater-Bi® 2) were compared to black polyethylene (LDPE) and bare soil. Biodegradable mulch film Mater-Bi® 1 produced a comparable marketable fresh yield to the commercial standard polyethylene (LDPE), whereas Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited the highest crop productivity. When averaged over biostimulant application, lettuce plants grown with biodegradable film Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited superior quality traits in terms of K, Ca, total ascorbic acid, and carotenoids content. The combination of film mulching (LDPE, Mater-Bi® 1 or Mater-Bi® 2) with the tropical plant extract biostimulant exhibited a positive and significant synergistic effect (+30%) on yield. The PE-biostimulant induced higher values of SPAD index and total chlorophyll content when compared to untreated greenhouse lettuce. The mineral content of leaf tissues was greater by 10% and 17% (for P and Ca, respectively) when compared to the untreated lettuce (no PE application). Nitrate content was significantly reduced by 23% in greenhouse lettuce plants receiving PE as compared to the untreated control. The positive effect of Mater-Bi® 2 film on the ascorbic acid content has also been highlighted when combined with the biostimulant application, where a major amplification of total ascorbic acid (+168%) was recorded in comparison to the untreated lettuce. Overall, our work can assist leafy vegetables growers in adopting good agricultural practices, such as biodegradable plastic mulches and vegetal-derived biostimulants, to improve the sustainability of greenhouse production.
Bacteriophage Therapy: Developments and Directions
Authors: Nikolich Mikeljon P. , Filippov Andrey A.
Published: March 2020

In an era of proliferating multidrug resistant bacterial infections that are exhausting the capacity of existing chemical antibiotics and in which the development of new antibiotics is significantly rarer, Western medicine must seek additional therapeutic options that can be employed to treat these infections. Among the potential antibacterial solutions are bacteriophage therapeutics, which possess very different properties from broad spectrum antibiotics that are currently the standard of care, and which can be used in combination with them and often provide synergies. In this review we summarize the state of the development of bacteriophage therapeutics and discuss potential paths to the implementation of phage therapies in contemporary medicine, focused on fixed phage cocktail therapeutics since these are likely to be the first bacteriophage products licensed for broad use in Western countries.
A Bimanual Robotic Teleoperation Architecture with Anthropomorphic Hybrid Grippers for Unstructured Manipulation Tasks
Authors: Zhu Guoniu , Xiao Xiao , Li Changsheng , Ma Jin , Ponraj Godwin , Prituja A. V. , Ren Hongliang
Published: March 2020

Bimanual telemanipulation is vital for facilitating robots to complete complex and dexterous tasks that involve two handheld objects under teleoperation scenarios. However, the bimanual configuration introduces higher complexity, dynamics, and uncertainty, especially in those uncontrolled and unstructured environments, which require more advanced system integration. This paper presents a bimanual robotic teleoperation architecture with modular anthropomorphic hybrid grippers for the purpose of improving the telemanipulation capability under unstructured environments. Generally, there are two teleoperated subsystems within this architecture. The first one is the Leap Motion Controller and the anthropomorphic hybrid robotic grippers. Two 3D printed anthropomorphic hybrid robotic grippers with modular joints and soft layer augmentations are designed, fabricated, and equipped for telemanipulation tasks. A Leap Motion Controller is used to track the motion of two human hands, while each hand is utilized to teleoperate one robotic gripper. The second one is the haptic devices and the robotic arms. Two haptic devices are adopted as the master devices while each of them takes responsibility for one arm control. Based on such a framework, an average RMSE (root-mean-square-error) value of 0.0204 rad is obtained in joint tracking. Nine sign-language demonstrations and twelve object grasping tasks were conducted with the robotic gripper teleoperation. A challenging bimanual manipulation task for an object with 5.2 kg was well addressed using the integrated teleoperation system. Experimental results show that the proposed bimanual teleoperation system can effectively handle typical manipulation tasks, with excellent adaptabilities for a wide range of shapes, sizes, and weights, as well as grasping modes.
Thermoelectricity Modeling with Cold Dipole Atoms in Aubry Phase of Optical Lattice
Authors: Zhirov Oleg , Lages José , Shepelyansky Dima
Published: March 2020

We study analytically and numerically the thermoelectric properties of a chain of cold atoms with dipole-dipole interactions placed in an optical periodic potential. At small potential amplitudes the chain slides freely that corresponds to the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser phase of integrable curves of a symplectic map. Above a certain critical amplitude the chain is pinned by the lattice being in the cantori Aubry phase. We show that the Aubry phase is characterized by exceptional thermoelectric properties with the figure of merit Z T = 25 being 10 times larger than the maximal value reached in material science experiments. We show that this system is well accessible for magneto-dipole cold atom experiments that opens new prospects for investigations of thermoelectricity.
Prediction of Manufacturing Quality of Holes Based on a BP Neural Network
Authors: Jiao Anyuan , Zhang Guofu , Liu Binghong , Liu Weijun
Published: March 2020

In order to improve the manufacturing quality of holes (Φ3–Φ8 mm) and to optimize the hole drilling process in T300 carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and 7050-T7 Al alloy stacks, a prediction model of multiple objective parameter optimization was proposed based on a back propagation (BP) neural network algorithm. Four parameters of feed rate, spindle speed, drilling diameter, and cushion plate were taken as the input layer parameters to study the manufacturing quality of holes in four stack types: CFRP/Al, Al/CFRP, Al/CFRP/Al, and CFRP/Al/CFRP. Delamination and tearing defects often appear in the drilling process; thus, a certain degree of defects in CFRP was selected as the output parameter, in an effort to build a prediction model of drilling quality. After the neural network model of the optimized hole-making process of an 8–14–1 three-layer topology was corrected by 170 steps, the error was reduced to 0.00016882, the regression fitting was 0.99978, and the fitting error of training samples was 10−2~10−5. The prediction model of the number of defective holes provided basically similar results to the experimental data. This indicates that the prediction model based on a BP neural network has good prediction ability. Based on the prediction of parameters, verification tests were performed, and the number of defective holes in CFRP was reduced while the manufacturing quality of the holes was improved significantly; the qualified rate of manufactured holes reached 97%.
Thermal Analysis of Photoelectron Emission (PE) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Data for Iron Surfaces Scratched in Air, Water, and Liquid Organics
Authors: Momose Yoshihiro , Sakurai Takao , Nakayama Keiji
Published: March 2020

Little is known about the temperature dependence of electron transfer occurring at real metal surfaces. For iron surfaces scratched in seven environments, we report Arrhenius activation energies obtained from the data of photoelectron emission (PE) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The environments were air, benzene, cyclohexane, water, methanol, ethanol, and acetone. PE was measured using a modified Geiger counter during repeated temperature scans in the 25–339 °C range under 210-nm-wavelength light irradiation and during light wavelength scans in the range 300 to 200 nm at 25, 200, and 339 °C. The standard XPS measurement of Fe 2p, Fe 3p, O 1s, and C 1s spectra was conducted after wavelength scan. The total number of electrons counted in the XPS measurement of the core spectra, which was called XPS intensity, strongly depended on the environments. The PE quantum yields during the temperature scan increased with temperature, and its activation energies (ΔEaUp1) strongly depended on the environment, being in the range of 0.212 to 0.035 eV. The electron photoemission probability (αA) obtained from the PE during the wavelength scan increased with temperature, and its activation energies (ΔEαA) were almost independent of the environments, being in the range of 0.113–0.074 eV. The environment dependence of the PE behavior obtained from temperature and wavelength scans was closely related to that of the XPS characteristics, in particular, the XPS intensities of O 1s and the O2− component of the O 1s spectrum, the acid–base interaction between the environment molecule and Fe–OH, and the growth of non-stoichiometric FexO. Furthermore, the origin of the αA was attributed to the escape depth of hot electrons across the overlayer.
A Novel Dense Full-Field Displacement Monitoring Method Based on Image Sequences and Optical Flow Algorithm
Authors: Deng Guojun , Zhou Zhixiang , Shao Shuai , Chu Xi , Jian Chuanyi
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to achieve a large bridge structural health monitoring (SHM) efficiently, economically, credibly, and holographically through noncontact remote sensing (NRS). For these purposes, the author proposes a NRS method for collecting the holographic geometric deformation of test bridge, using static image sequences. Specifically, a uniaxial automatic cruise acquisition device was designed to collect static images on bridge elevation under different damage conditions. Considering the strong spatiotemporal correlations of the sequence data, the relationships between six fixed fields of view were identified through the SIFT algorithm. On this basis, the deformation of the bridge structure was obtained by tracking a virtual target using the optical flow algorithm. Finally, the global holographic deformation of the test bridge was derived. The research results show that: The output data of our NRS method are basically consistent with the finite-element prediction (maximum error: 11.11%) and dial gauge measurement (maximum error: 12.12%); the NRS method is highly sensitive to the actual deformation of the bridge structure under different damage conditions, and can capture the deformation in a continuous and accurate manner. The research findings lay a solid basis for structure state interpretation and intelligent damage identification.
Women Architects on the Road to an Egalitarian Profession—The Portuguese and Spanish Cases
Authors: Pérez-Moreno Lucía C. , Santos Pedrosa Patrícia
Published: March 2020

The 1970s was a key decade in the path towards democracy in the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal and Spain suffered deep social, cultural and political changes, with Salazar’s and Franco’s Totalitarian Regimes ending in 1974 and 1975 respectively. In both countries, located side-by-side in the Western end of Southern Europe, democracy was finally established, marking a turning point in the liberties of all Iberian citizens, but especially in regard to women’s life and work. As the Editorial of the Special Issue ‘Becoming a Gender Equity Democracy: Women and Architecture Practice in Spain and Portugal’, this text aims to briefly present this panorama to appreciate the particularities of Portugal and Spain in relation with the delay incorporation of women to the architecture profession. It explains the gender stereotypes of Salazar’s and Franco’s Regime in order to understand the discrimination against women that they produced and how it maintained women far from the architecture profession. Therefore, it provides useful data on the incorporation of women into architectural studies in order to understand the feminization of this gendered profession in both countries. This Special Issue aims to create an opportunity for researchers and scholars to present discussions and ongoing research on how democracy affected women that wanted to practice architecture as well as architectural analysis of women architects.
The Influence of Micro-Structured Anode Current Collectors in Combination with Highly Concentrated Electrolyte on the Coulombic Efficiency of In-Situ Deposited Li-Metal Electrodes with Different Counter Electrodes
Authors: Heim Fabian , Kreher Tina , Birke Kai Peter
Published: March 2020

This paper compares and combines two common methods to improve the cycle performance of lithium metal (Li) electrodes. One technique is to establish a micro-structured current collector by chemical separation of a copper/zinc alloy. Furthermore, the use of a highly concentrated ether-based electrolyte is applied as a second approach for improving the cycling behavior. The influence of the two measures compared with a planar current collector and a 1 M concentrated carbonate-based electrolyte, as well as the combination of the methods, are investigated in test cells both with Li and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) as counter electrodes. In all cases Li is in-situ plated onto the micro-structured current collectors respectively a planar copper foil without presence of any excess Li before first deposition. In experiments with Li counter electrodes, the effect of a structured current collector is not visible whereas the influence of the electrolyte can be observed. With NCM counter electrodes and carbonate-based electrolyte structured current collectors can improve Coulombic efficiency. The confirmation of this outcome in experiments with highly concentrated ether-based electrolyte is challenging due to high deviations. However, these results indicate, that improvements in Coulombic efficiency achieved by structuring the current collector’s surface and using ether-based electrolyte do not necessarily add up, if both methods are combined in one cell.
Actionable Potentials of Less Frequently Mutated Genes in Colorectal Cancer and Their Roles in Precision Medicine
Authors: Mohd Yunos Ryia Illani , Ab Mutalib Nurul Syakima , Tieng Francis Yew Fu , Abu Nadiah , Jamal Rahman
Published: March 2020

Global statistics have placed colorectal cancer (CRC) as the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth principal cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Improving survival for CRC is as important as early detection. Personalized medicine is important in maximizing an individual’s treatment success and minimizing the risk of adverse reactions. Approaches in achieving personalized therapy in CRC have included analyses of specific genes with its clinical implications. Tumour genotyping via next-generation sequencing has become a standard practice to guide clinicians into predicting tumor behaviour, disease prognosis, and treatment response. Nevertheless, better prognostic markers are necessary to further stratify patients for personalized treatment plans. The discovery of new markers remains indispensable in providing the most effective chemotherapy in order to improve the outcomes of treatment and survival in CRC patients. This review aims to compile and discuss newly discovered, less frequently mutated genes in CRC. We also discuss how these mutations are being used to assist therapeutic decisions and their potential prospective clinical utilities. In addition, we will summarize the importance of profiling the large genomic rearrangements, gene amplification, and large deletions and how these alterations may assist in determining the best treatment option for CRC patients.
Graphene Oxide Bulk-Modified Screen-Printed Electrodes Provide Beneficial Electroanalytical Sensing Capabilities
Authors: Rowley-Neale Samuel J. , Brownson Dale A. C. , Smith Graham , Banks Craig E.
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate a facile methodology for the mass production of graphene oxide (GO) bulk-modified screen-printed electrodes (GO-SPEs) that are economical, highly reproducible and provide analytically useful outputs. Through fabricating GO-SPEs with varying percentage mass incorporations (2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%) of GO, an electrocatalytic effect towards the chosen electroanalytical probes is observed, which increases with greater GO incorporated compared to bare/graphite SPEs. The optimum mass ratio of 10% GO to 90% carbon ink produces an electroanalytical signal towards dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) which is ca. ×10 greater in magnitude than that achievable at a bare/unmodified graphite SPE. Furthermore, 10% GO-SPEs exhibit a competitively low limit of detection (3σ) towards DA at ca. 81 nM, which is superior to that of a bare/unmodified graphite SPE at ca. 780 nM. The improved analytical response is attributed to the large number of oxygenated species inhabiting the edge and defect sites of the GO nanosheets, which are able to exhibit electrocatalytic responses towards inner-sphere electrochemical analytes. Our reported methodology is simple, scalable, and cost effective for the fabrication of GO-SPEs that display highly competitive LODs and are of significant interest for use in commercial and medicinal applications.
Overcoming Alzheimer’s Disease Stigma by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technologies
Authors: Pilozzi Alexander , Huang Xudong
Published: March 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) imposes a considerable burden on those diagnosed. Faced with a neurodegenerative decline for which there is no effective cure or prevention method, sufferers of the disease are subject to judgement, both self-imposed and otherwise, that can have a great deal of effect on their lives. The burden of this stigma is more than just psychological, as reluctance to face an AD diagnosis can lead people to avoid early diagnosis, treatment, and research opportunities that may be beneficial to them, and that may help progress towards fighting AD and its progression. In this review, we discuss how recent advents in information technology may be employed to help fight this stigma. Using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, specifically natural language processing (NLP), to classify the sentiment and tone of texts, such as those of online posts on various social media sites, has proven to be an effective tool for assessing the opinions of the general public on certain topics. These tools can be used to analyze the public stigma surrounding AD. Additionally, there is much concern among individuals that an AD diagnosis, or evidence of pre-clinical AD such as a biomarker or imaging test results, may wind up unintentionally disclosed to an entity that may discriminate against them. The lackluster security record of many medical institutions justifies this fear to an extent. Adopting more secure and decentralized methods of data transfer and storage, and giving patients enhanced ability to control their own data, such as a blockchain-based method, may help to alleviate some of these fears.
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Hand Dexterity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Design for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ayache Samar S. , Riachi Naji , Ahdab Rechdi , Chalah Moussa A.
Published: March 2020

Background: Cerebellar and motor tracts are frequently impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS). Altered hand dexterity constitutes a challenge in clinical practice, since medical treatment shows very limited benefits in this domain. Cerebellar control is made via several cerebellocortical pathways, of which the most studied one links the cerebellum to the contralateral motor cortex via the contralateral ventro-intermediate nucleus of the thalamus influencing the corticospinal outputs. Modulating the activity of the cerebellum or of the motor cortex could be of help. Method: The main interest here is to evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, in treating altered dexterity in MS. Forty-eight patients will be recruited in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, and crossover study. They will randomly undergo one of the three interventions: anodal tDCS over the primary motor area, cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum, or sham. Each block consists of five consecutive daily sessions with direct current (2 mA), lasting 20 min each. The primary outcome will be the improvement in manual dexterity according to the change in the time required to complete the nine-hole pegboard task. Secondary outcomes will include fatigue, pain, spasticity, and mood. Patients’ safety and satisfaction will be rated. Discussion: Due to its cost-effective, safe, and easy-to-use profile, motor or cerebellar tDCS may constitute a potential tool that might improve dexterity in MS patients and therefore ameliorate their quality of life.
Olfactory Memory in Depression: State and Trait Differences between Bipolar and Unipolar Disorders
Authors: Kazour François , Richa Sami , Abi Char Chantale , Atanasova Boriana , El-Hage Wissam
Published: March 2020

Background: Changes in olfactory recognition memory may constitute sensory markers in depression. Significant differences may exist between unipolar and bipolar depression. Our study compares olfactory memory between control, unipolar, and bipolar patients in depressed and euthymic states in order to identify potential markers of depression. Methods: 176 participants were recruited in 5 groups: depressed bipolar (DB), euthymic bipolar (EB), depressed unipolar (DU), euthymic unipolar (EU), and controls (HC). The participants had a standardized clinical and olfactory assessment (olfactory memory, evaluation of pleasantness, intensity, familiarity, and emotional aspect of smells). Results: DU, DB, and EU patients had a deficit in olfactory memory compared to HC. DB patients had lower capacity to recognize new odors. DB and DU patients had more limited detection of unfamiliar odors than HC. DB patients rated odors as less pleasant compared to the other groups. All groups had lower hedonic ratings than HC. DB patients had lower emotional ratings than EU patients. Conclusions: Olfactory memory is impaired in depressive states, thus constituting a state marker of depression. Impairments in olfactory memory persist after remission of bipolar depression, thus constituting a possible trait marker of bipolarity. Hedonic rating differentiates unipolar from bipolar depression. This is the first study that identifies a sensory marker differentiating between unipolar and bipolar depression.
A Calculation Method for Interconnected Timber Elements Using Wood-Wood Connections
Authors: Gamerro Julien , Bocquet Jean , Weinand Yves
Published: March 2020

Wood-wood connections, widely used in the past, have been progressively replaced by steel fasteners in timber constructions. Currently, they can be manufactured and implemented more efficiently thanks to digital fabrication techniques. In addition, with the emergence of new timber plate engineered products, digitally produced wood-wood connections have been developed with a strong focus on complex free-form geometries. The gained knowledge through research and building implementations have pushed the development of more standardized structural elements. As a result, this work presents a new concept of building components using through tenon connections based on the idea of transportable flat-packs directly delivered and assembled on site. The main objective of this research is to develop a convenient calculation model for practice that can capture the semi-rigid behavior of the connections and predict the effective bending stiffness of such structural elements. A case study is used as a reference with three large-scale slabs of a 8.1 m span. Bending and vibration tests are performed to study the mechanical behavior and assess the proposed calculation method. The results show the high influence of the semi-rigid behavior of connections on the bending properties and, therefore, on the serviceability limit state. The model is in good agreement with the test results, and further improvements can be made regarding the local behavior of the connection. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed construction system and the applicability of the developed calculation model to design practice.
Interactions between a H2 Molecule and Carbon Nanostructures: A DFT Study
Authors: Gehringer Dominik , Dengg Thomas , Popov Maxim N. , Holec David
Published: March 2020

On a long path of finding appropriate materials to store hydrogen, graphene and carbon nanotubes have drawn a lot of attention as potential storage materials. Their advantages lie at hand since those materials provide a large surface area (which can be used for physisorption), are cheap compared to metal hydrides, are abundant nearly everywhere, and most importantly, can increase safety to existing storage solutions. Therefore, a great variety of theoretical studies were employed to study those materials. After a benchmark study of different van-der-Waals corrections to Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA), the present Density Functional Theory (DFT) study employs Tkatchenko–Scheffler (TS) correction to study the influence of vacancy and Stone–Wales defects in graphene on the physisorption of the hydrogen molecule. Furthermore, we investigate a large-angle (1,0) grain boundary as well as the adsorption behaviour of Penta-Octa-Penta (POP)-graphene.
Transcription Factors in Cancer: When Alternative Splicing Determines Opposite Cell Fates
Authors: Belluti Silvia , Rigillo Giovanna , Imbriano Carol
Published: March 2020

Alternative splicing (AS) is a finely regulated mechanism for transcriptome and proteome diversification in eukaryotic cells. Correct balance between AS isoforms takes part in molecular mechanisms that properly define spatiotemporal and tissue specific transcriptional programs in physiological conditions. However, several diseases are associated to or even caused by AS alterations. In particular, multiple AS changes occur in cancer cells and sustain the oncogenic transcriptional program. Transcription factors (TFs) represent a key class of proteins that control gene expression by direct binding to DNA regulatory elements. AS events can generate cancer-associated TF isoforms with altered activity, leading to sustained proliferative signaling, differentiation block and apoptosis resistance, all well-known hallmarks of cancer. In this review, we focus on how AS can produce TFs isoforms with opposite transcriptional activities or antagonistic functions that severely impact on cancer biology. This summary points the attention to the relevance of the analysis of TFs splice variants in cancer, which can allow patients stratification despite the presence of interindividual genetic heterogeneity. Recurrent TFs variants that give advantage to specific cancer types not only open the opportunity to use AS transcripts as clinical biomarkers but also guide the development of new anti-cancer strategies in personalized medicine.
Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies by RT-qPCR in HepaRG Cells during Toxicity Testing and Disease Modelling
Authors: Brzeszczyńska Joanna , Brzeszczyński Filip , Samuel Kay , Morgan Katie , Morley Steven D. , Plevris John N. , Hayes Peter C.
Published: March 2020

Gene expression analysis by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is routinely used in biomedical studies. The reproducibility and reliability of the data fundamentally depends on experimental design and data interpretation. Despite the wide application of this assay, there is significant variation in the validation process of gene expression data from research laboratories. Since the validity of results depends on appropriate normalisation, it is crucial to select appropriate reference gene(s), where transcription of the selected gene is unaffected by experimental setting. In this study we have applied geNorm technology to investigate the transcription of 12 ‘housekeeping’ genes for use in the normalisation of RT-qPCR data acquired using a widely accepted HepaRG hepatic cell line in studies examining models of pre-clinical drug testing. geNorm data identified a number of genes unaffected by specific drug treatments and showed that different genes remained invariant in response to different drug treatments, whereas the transcription of ‘classical’ reference genes such as GAPDH (glyceralde- hyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was altered by drug treatment. Comparing data normalised using the reference genes identified by geNorm with normalisation using classical housekeeping genes demonstrated substantial differences in the final results. In light of cell therapy application, RT-qPCR analyses has to be carefully evaluated to accurately interpret data obtained from dynamic cellular models undergoing sequential stages of phenotypic change.
Pirfenidone Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Collagen I Production of Primary Human Intestinal Fibroblasts
Authors: Cui Yingying , Zhang Mengfan , Leng Changsen , Blokzijl Tjasso , Jansen Bernadien H. , Dijkstra Gerard , Faber Klaas Nico
Published: March 2020

Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease. So far, there is no safe and effective drug for intestinal fibrosis. Pirfenidone is an anti-fibrotic compound available for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we explored the anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic properties of pirfenidone on primary human intestinal fibroblasts (p-hIFs). p-hIFs were cultured in the absence and presence of pirfenidone. Cell proliferation was measured by a real-time cell analyzer (xCELLigence) and BrdU incorporation. Cell motility was monitored by live cell imaging. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were analyzed by Sytox green, Caspase-3 and Water Soluble Tetrazolium Salt-1 (WST-1) assays. Gene expression of fibrosis markers was determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling was analyzed by Western blotting and type I collagen protein expression additionally by immunofluorescence microscopy. Pirfenidone dose-dependently inhibited p-hIF proliferation and motility, without inducing cell death. Pirfenidone suppressed mRNA levels of genes that contribute to extracellular matrix production, as well as basal and TGF-β1-induced collagen I protein production, which was associated with inhibition of the rapamycin-sensitive mTOR/p70S6K pathway in p-hIFs. Thus, pirfenidone inhibits the proliferation of intestinal fibroblasts and suppresses collagen I production through the TGF-β1/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway, which might be a novel and safe anti-fibrotic strategy to treat intestinal fibrosis.
Role of Histone Deacetylases in Carcinogenesis: Potential Role in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Pant Kishor , Peixoto Estanislao , Richard Seth , Gradilone Sergio A.
Published: March 2020

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly invasive and metastatic form of carcinoma with bleak prognosis due to limited therapies, frequent relapse, and chemotherapy resistance. There is an urgent need to identify the molecular regulators of CCA in order to develop novel therapeutics and advance diseases diagnosis. Many cellular proteins including histones may undergo a series of enzyme-mediated post-translational modifications including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, and crotonylation. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in regulating epigenetic maintenance and modifications of their targets, which in turn exert critical impacts on chromatin structure, gene expression, and stability of proteins. As such, HDACs constitute a group of potential therapeutic targets for CCA. The aim of this review was to summarize the role that HDACs perform in regulating epigenetic changes, tumor development, and their potential as therapeutic targets for CCA.
Multilayer Nanoimprinting to Create Hierarchical Stamp Masters for Nanoimprinting of Optical Micro- and Nanostructures
Authors: Moharana Amiya R. , Außerhuber Helene M. , Mitteramskogler Tina , Haslinger Michael J. , Mühlberger Michael M.
Published: March 2020

Nanoimprinting is a well-established replication technology for optical elements, with the capability to replicate highly complex micro- and nanostructures. One of the main challenges, however, is the generation of the master structures necessary for stamp fabrication. We used UV-based Nanoimprint Lithography to prepare hierarchical master structures. To realize structures with two different length scales, conventional nanoimprinting of larger structures and conformal reversal nanoimprinting to print smaller structures on top of the larger structures was performed. Liquid transfer imprint lithography proved to be well suited for this purpose. We used the sample prepared in such a way as a master for further nanoimprinting, where the hierarchical structures can then be imprinted in one single nanoimprinting step. As an example, we presented a diffusor structure with a diffraction-grating structure on top.