bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The drnf1 Gene from the Drought-Adapted Cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme Improved Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Synechocystis and Arabidopsis Plant
Authors: Cui Lijuan , Liu Yinghui , Yang Yiwen , Ye Shuifeng , Luo Hongyi , Qiu Baosheng , Gao Xiang
Published: September 2018

Environmental abiotic stresses are limiting factors for less tolerant organisms, including soil plants. Abiotic stress tolerance-associated genes from prokaryotic organisms are supposed to have a bright prospect for transgenic application. The drought-adapted cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme is arising as a valuable prokaryotic biotic resource for gene excavation. In this study, we evaluated the salt-tolerant function and application potential of a candidate gene drnf1 from N. flagelliforme, which contains a P-loop NTPase (nucleoside-triphosphatase) domain, through heterologous expression in two model organisms Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Arabidopsis thaliana. It was found that DRNF1 could confer significant salt tolerance in both transgenic organisms. In salt-stressed transgenic Synechocystis, DRNF1 could enhance the respiration rate; slow-down the accumulation of exopolysaccharides; up-regulate the expression of salt tolerance-related genes at a higher level, such as those related to glucosylglycerol synthesis, Na+/H+ antiport, and sugar metabolism; and maintain a better K+/Na+ homeostasis, as compared to the wild-type strain. These results imply that DRNF1 could facilitate salt tolerance by affecting the respiration metabolism and indirectly regulating the expression of important salt-tolerant genes. Arabidopsis was employed to evaluate the salt tolerance-conferring potential of DRNF1 in plants. The results show that it could enhance the seed germination and shoot growth of transgenic plants under saline conditions. In general, a novel prokaryotic salt-tolerant gene from N. flagelliforme was identified and characterized in this study, enriching the candidate gene pool for genetic engineering in plants.
Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Their Preschool-Age Children’s Sleep and Bedtime Routines: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States
Authors: Lindsay Ana Cristina , Moura Arruda Carlos André , Tavares Machado Márcia M. , De Andrade Gabriela P. , Greaney Mary L.
Published: September 2018

In the United States (US), racial/ethnic minority children, low-income children, and children of immigrant families are at increased risk of childhood obesity. Mounting evidence documents that sleep duration and sleep quality are important modifiable factors associated with increased risk of obesity among preschool-aged children. The number of Brazilian immigrants in the US is increasing, yet no existing research, to our knowledge, has examined factors affecting sleep and bedtime routines of children of Brazilian immigrant families. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Brazilian immigrant mothers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to sleep and bedtime routines among preschool-aged children. Seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 37 Brazilian immigrant mothers of preschool-age children living in the US. The audio-recordings of the FGDs were transcribed verbatim in Portuguese without identifiers and analyzed using thematic analyses. Mothers also completed a brief questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and acculturation. Analyses revealed that most mothers were aware of the importance of sleep and sleep duration for their children’s healthy growth and development. Mothers also spoke of children needing consistent bedtime routines. Nevertheless, many mothers reported inconsistent and suboptimal bedtime routines (e.g., lack of predictable and orderly bedtime activities such as bath, reading, etc. and use of electronics in bed). These suboptimal routines appeared to be influenced by day-to-day social contextual and environmental factors that are part of Brazilian immigrant families’ lives such as parents’ work schedule, living with extended family, living in multi-family housing, neighborhood noise, etc. Analyses identified several modifiable parenting practices related to young children’s sleep and bedtime routines (e.g., irregular bedtime, late bedtime, inconsistent bedtime routines, use of electronics in bed, etc.) that can be addressed in parenting- and family-based obesity prevention interventions. Interventions should consider the social context of the home/family (e.g., parents’ work schedules) and the environment (e.g., multi-family housing; neighborhood noise, etc.) faced by Brazilian immigrant families when developing health promotion messages and parenting interventions tailored to this ethnic group.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Properties of Peptides Mimicking Copolymers of Maleic Anhydride and 4-Methyl-1-pentene
Authors: Szkudlarek Marian , Heine Elisabeth , Keul Helmut , Beginn Uwe , Möller Martin
Published: September 2018

Synthetic amphiphilic copolymers with strong antimicrobial properties mimicking natural antimicrobial peptides were obtained via synthesis of an alternating copolymer of maleic anhydride and 4-methyl-1-pentene. The obtained copolymer was modified by grafting with 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine (DMAPA) and imidized in a one-pot synthesis. The obtained copolymer was modified further to yield polycationic copolymers by means of quaternization with methyl iodide and dodecyl iodide, as well as by being sequentially quaternized with both of them. The antimicrobial properties of obtained copolymers were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Both tested quaternized copolymers were more active against the Gram-negative E. coli than against the Gram-positive S. aureus. The copolymer modified with both iodides was best when tested against E. coli and, comparing all three copolymers, also exhibited the best effect against S. aureus. Moreover, it shows (limited) selectivity to differentiate between mammalian cells and bacterial cell walls. Comparing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Nisin against the Gram-positive bacteria on the molar basis instead on the weight basis, the difference between the effect of Nisin and the copolymer is significantly lower.
Papillomaviruses and Endocytic Trafficking
Authors: Siddiqa Abida , Broniarczyk Justyna , Banks Lawrence
Published: September 2018

Endocytic trafficking plays a major role in transport of incoming human papillomavirus (HPVs) from plasma membrane to the trans Golgi network (TGN) and ultimately into the nucleus. During this infectious entry, several cellular sorting factors are recruited by the viral capsid protein L2, which plays a critical role in ensuring successful transport of the L2/viral DNA complex to the nucleus. Later in the infection cycle, two viral oncoproteins, E5 and E6, have also been shown to modulate different aspects of endocytic transport pathways. In this review, we highlight how HPV makes use of and perturbs normal endocytic transport pathways, firstly to achieve infectious virus entry, secondly to produce productive infection and the completion of the viral life cycle and, finally, on rare occasions, to bring about the development of malignancy.
Activation of Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Angiotensin (Ang) II Type 1 Receptor by Ang II Promotes Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability
Authors: Pellegrin Maxime , Bouzourène Karima , Aubert Jean-François , Nahimana Aimable , Duchosal Michel A. , Mazzolai Lucia
Published: September 2018

Angiotensin (Ang) II triggers vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque development. Bone marrow (BM)-derived cells are key players in atherogenesis but whether Ang II induces plaque vulnerability directly through Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) activation on these cells remains to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated whether a lack of AT1R on BM-derived cells might affect Ang II-mediated vulnerable plaque development. The 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) model (Ang II-dependent mouse model of advanced atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaques) was generated in ApoE−/− mice transplanted with AT1aR−/− or AT1aR+/+ BM. Plasma cholesterol as well as hepatic mRNA expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were significantly lower in 2K1C mice transplanted with AT1aR−/− BM than in controls. Atherosclerotic lesions were significantly smaller in AT1aR−/− BM 2K1C mice (−79% in the aortic sinus and −71% in whole aorta compared to controls). Plaques from AT1aR−/− BM 2K1C mice exhibited reduced lipid core/fibrous cap and macrophage/smooth muscle cells ratios (−82% and −88%, respectively), and increased collagen content (+70%), indicating a more stable phenotype. Moreover, aortic mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p35, IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly reduced in AT1aR−/− BM 2K1C mice. No significant differences in either the number of circulating Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocytes and Ly6Clow resident anti-inflammatory monocyte subsets, or in mRNA levels of aortic M1 or M2 macrophage markers were observed between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in splenic mRNA levels of T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg) markers between the two groups. In conclusion, direct AT1R activation by Ang II on BM-derived cells promotes hepatic mRNA expression of cholesterol-metabolism-related genes and vascular mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that may lead to plaque instability.
p53 Functions in Adipose Tissue Metabolism and Homeostasis
Authors: Krstic Jelena , Reinisch Isabel , Schupp Michael , Schulz Tim J. , Prokesch Andreas
Published: September 2018

As a tumor suppressor and the most frequently mutated gene in cancer, p53 is among the best-described molecules in medical research. As cancer is in most cases an age-related disease, it seems paradoxical that p53 is so strongly conserved from early multicellular organisms to humans. A function not directly related to tumor suppression, such as the regulation of metabolism in nontransformed cells, could explain this selective pressure. While this role of p53 in cellular metabolism is gradually emerging, it is imperative to dissect the tissue- and cell-specific actions of p53 and its downstream signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on studies reporting p53’s impact on adipocyte development, function, and maintenance, as well as the causes and consequences of altered p53 levels in white and brown adipose tissue (AT) with respect to systemic energy homeostasis. While whole body p53 knockout mice gain less weight and fat mass under a high-fat diet owing to increased energy expenditure, modifying p53 expression specifically in adipocytes yields more refined insights: (1) p53 is a negative regulator of in vitro adipogenesis; (2) p53 levels in white AT are increased in diet-induced and genetic obesity mouse models and in obese humans; (3) functionally, elevated p53 in white AT increases senescence and chronic inflammation, aggravating systemic insulin resistance; (4) p53 is not required for normal development of brown AT; and (5) when p53 is activated in brown AT in mice fed a high-fat diet, it increases brown AT temperature and brown AT marker gene expression, thereby contributing to reduced fat mass accumulation. In addition, p53 is increasingly being recognized as crucial player in nutrient sensing pathways. Hence, despite existence of contradictory findings and a varying density of evidence, several functions of p53 in adipocytes and ATs have been emerging, positioning p53 as an essential regulatory hub in ATs. Future studies need to make use of more sophisticated in vivo model systems and should identify an AT-specific set of p53 target genes and downstream pathways upon different (nutrient) challenges to identify novel therapeutic targets to curb metabolic diseases.
Exosomal Chaperones and miRNAs in Gliomagenesis: State-of-Art and Theranostics Perspectives
Authors: Caruso Bavisotto Celeste , Graziano Francesca , Rappa Francesca , Marino Gammazza Antonella , Logozzi Mariantonia , Fais Stefano , Maugeri Rosario , Bucchieri Fabio , Conway de Macario Everly , Macario Alberto J. L. , Cappello Francesco , Iacopino Domenico G. , Campanella Claudia
Published: September 2018

Gliomas have poor prognosis no matter the treatment applied, remaining an unmet clinical need. As background for a substantial change in this situation, this review will focus on the following points: (i) the steady progress in establishing the role of molecular chaperones in carcinogenesis; (ii) the recent advances in the knowledge of miRNAs in regulating gene expression, including genes involved in carcinogenesis and genes encoding chaperones; and (iii) the findings about exosomes and their cargo released by tumor cells. We would like to trigger a discussion about the involvement of exosomal chaperones and miRNAs in gliomagenesis. Chaperones may be either targets for therapy, due to their tumor-promoting activity, or therapeutic agents, due to their antitumor growth activity. Thus, chaperones may well represent a Janus-faced approach against tumors. This review focuses on extracellular chaperones as part of exosomes’ cargo, because of their potential as a new tool for the diagnosis and management of gliomas. Moreover, since exosomes transport chaperones and miRNAs (the latter possibly related to chaperone gene expression in the recipient cell), and probably deliver their cargo in the recipient cells, a new area of investigation is now open, which is bound to generate significant advances in the understanding and treatment of gliomas.
Machine Tool Volumetric Error Features Extraction and Classification Using Principal Component Analysis and K-Means
Authors: Xing Kanglin , Mayer J.R.R. , Achiche Sofiane
Published: September 2018

Volumetric errors (VE) are related to the machine tool accuracy state. Extracting features from the complex VE data provides with a means to characterize this data. VE feature classification can reveal the machine tool accuracy states. This paper presents a study on how to use principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the features of VE and how to use the K-means method for machine tool accuracy state classification. The proposed data processing methods have been tested with the VE data acquired from a five-axis machine tool with different states of malfunction. The results indicate that the PCA and K-means are capable of extracting the VE feature information and classifying the fault states including the C axis encoder fault, uncalibrated C axis encoder fault, and pallet location fault from the machine tool normal states. This research provides a new way for VE features extraction and classification.
Transmission Attenuation Power Ratio Analysis of Flexible Electromagnetic Absorber Sheets Combined with a Metal Layer
Authors: Victoria Jorge , Suarez Adrian , Torres Jose , Martinez Pedro A. , Alcarria Antonio , Martos Julio , Garcia-Olcina Raimundo , Soret Jesus , Muetsch Steffen , Gerfer Alexander
Published: September 2018

Electromagnetic noise absorber sheets have become a solution for solving complex electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems due to their high magnetic losses. This contribution is focused on characterizing a novel structure that is based on an absorber film with a metal layer attached on its top side. Two different absorber compositions were combined with Al and Cu metal layers in order to study the improvement on the performance of these structures, depending on the complex permeability, absorber film thickness, and type of metal. The transmission attenuation power ratio of the absorber films is analyzed and compared to the performance of absorber and metal structures. The measurement procedure is carried out attaching the films into a microstrip line that has been designed based on IEC standard (IEC 62333-2). This test fixture is employed as a transmission line to simulate a general noise path. The performance of absorber composites to filter electromagnetic noise is evaluated through analyzing S21 and S11 parameters. This is carried out with the aim of finding out in which conditions the absorption loss is improved when a metal layer is attached. In addition, the possible re-radiation effect, due to the magnetic field that is generated by the eddy currents induced in the metal layer, is examined.
Terahertz Spectroscopy of Amorphous WSe2 and MoSe2 Thin Films
Authors: Papari Gianpaolo , Koral Can , Hallam Toby , Duesberg Georg Stefan , Andreone Antonello
Published: September 2018

Time domain spectroscopy is used to determine the THz electromagnetic response of amorphous transition metal dichalcogenides WSe2 and MoSe2 in thin-film form. The dielectric function is obtained using a rigorous transmission model to account for the large etalon effect. The Drude–Smith model is applied to retrieve the dielectric function, and from there, the sample conductivity.
Dynamic Multicriteria Games with Finite Horizon
Authors: Rettieva Anna
Published: September 2018

The approaches to construct optimal behavior in dynamic multicriteria games with finite horizon are presented. To obtain a multicriteria Nash equilibrium, the bargaining construction (Nash product) is adopted. To construct a multicriteria cooperative equilibrium, a Nash bargaining scheme is applied. Dynamic multicriteria bioresource management problem with finite harvesting times is considered. The players’ strategies and the payoffs are obtained under cooperative and noncooperative behavior.
Introduction to the Medicines Special Issue on Acupuncture—Basic Research and Clinical Application
Authors: Litscher Gerhard
Published: September 2018

This Medicines special issue focuses on the further investigation, development, and modernization of acupuncture in basic research settings, as well as in clinical applications. The special issue contains 12 articles reporting latest evidence-based results of acupuncture research, and exploring acupuncture in general. Altogether 44 authors from all over the world contributed to this special issue.
Carbonaceous Materials in the Fault Zone of the Longmenshan Fault Belt: 1. Signatures within the Deep Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Zone and Their Implications
Authors: Kuo Li-Wei , Huang Jyh-Rou , Fang Jiann-Neng , Si Jialiang , Li Haibing , Song Sheng-Rong
Published: September 2018

Graphitization of carbonaceous materials (CM) has been experimentally demonstrated as potential evidence of seismic slip within a fault gouge. The southern segment of the Longmenshan fault, a CM-rich-gouge fault, accommodated coseismic slip during the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake and potentially preserves a record of processes that occurred on the fault during the slip event. Here, we present a multi-technique characterization of CM within the active fault zone of the Longmenshan fault from the Wenchuan earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling-1. By contrast with field observations, graphite is pervasively and only distributed in the gouge zone, while heterogeneously crystallized CM are present in the surrounding breccia. The composite dataset that is presented, which includes the localized graphite layer along the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake principal slip zone, demonstrates that graphite is widely distributed within the active fault zone. The widespread occurrence of graphite, a seismic slip indicator, reveals that surface rupturing events commonly occur along the Longmenshan fault and are characteristic of this tectonically active region.
Water Adsorption on the β-Dicalcium Silicate Surface from DFT Simulations
Authors: Wang Qianqian , Manzano Hegoi , López-Arbeloa Iñigo , Shen Xiaodong
Published: September 2018

β-dicalcium silicate (β-Ca2SiO4 or β-C2S in cement chemistry notation) is one of the most important minerals in cement. An improvement of its hydration rate would be the key point for developing environmentally-friendly cements with lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding on the water/β-C2S surface interactions. In this work, we aim to evaluate the water adsorption on three β-C2S surfaces at the atomic scale using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our results indicate that thermodynamically favorable water adsorption takes place in several surface sites with a broad range of adsorption energies (−0.78 to −1.48 eV) depending on the particular mineral surface and adsorption site. To clarify the key factor governing the adsorption of the electronic properties of water at the surface were analyzed. The partial density of states (DOS), charge analysis, and electron density difference analyses suggest a dual interaction of water with a β-C2S (100) surface including a nucleophilic interaction of the water oxygen lone pair with surface calcium atoms and an electrophilic interaction (hydrogen bond) of one water hydrogen with surface oxygen atoms. Despite the elucidation of the adsorption mechanism, no correlation was found between the electronic structure and the adsorption energies.
An Ab Initio Investigation of the Geometries and Binding Strengths of Tetrel-, Pnictogen-, and Chalcogen-Bonded Complexes of CO2, N2O, and CS2 with Simple Lewis Bases: Some Generalizations
Authors: Alkorta Ibon , Legon Anthony C.
Published: September 2018

Geometries, equilibrium dissociation energies (De), and intermolecular stretching, quadratic force constants (kσ) are presented for the complexes B⋯CO2, B⋯N2O, and B⋯CS2, where B is one of the following Lewis bases: CO, HCCH, H2S, HCN, H2O, PH3, and NH3. The geometries and force constants were calculated at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, while generation of De employed the CCSD(T)/CBS complete basis-set extrapolation. The non-covalent, intermolecular bond in the B⋯CO2 complexes involves the interaction of the electrophilic region around the C atom of CO2 (as revealed by the molecular electrostatic surface potential (MESP) of CO2) with non-bonding or π-bonding electron pairs of B. The conclusions for the B⋯N2O series are similar, but with small geometrical distortions that can be rationalized in terms of secondary interactions. The B⋯CS2 series exhibits a different type of geometry that can be interpreted in terms of the interaction of the electrophilic region near one of the S atoms and centered on the C∞ axis of CS2 (as revealed by the MESP) with the n-pairs or π-pairs of B. The tetrel, pnictogen, and chalcogen bonds so established in B⋯CO2, B⋯N2O, and B⋯CS2, respectively, are rationalized in terms of some simple, electrostatically based rules previously enunciated for hydrogen- and halogen-bonded complexes, B⋯HX and B⋯XY. It is also shown that the dissociation energy De is directly proportional to the force constant kσ, with a constant of proportionality identical within experimental error to that found previously for many B⋯HX and B⋯XY complexes.
Preparation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties of 3D Nanoarchitectural ZnO Hollow Spheres with Porous Shells
Authors: Li Lan , Han Lijuan , Han Yuqi , Yang Zhiwang , Su Bitao , Lei Ziqiang
Published: September 2018

By using ginkgo leaves (GL) as template and Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O as Zn source, a series of ZnO samples with special morphology were prepared via a template-assisted two-steps method without adding any other additives. The degradation of the dye MB was used to evaluate the photocatalytic property of the as-prepared samples. The results showed that when a proper amount of the template was used, a 3D nanoarchitectural ZnO hollow sphere with porous sphere shell assembled by well-distributed nanoparticles was obtained and its photocatalytic activity was much higher than that of ZnO nanoparticles. The special morphology of the sample was herein considered to be very helpful for highly efficient adsorption and activation of reactant molecules by multi-times adsorption-desorption-adsorption, efficient absorption of irradiation light by repeated absorption-reflection-absorption, and efficient separation of the photogenerated e−-h+ pairs. In addition, the formation of 3D structure of sample ZnO was also discussed.
Dietary Fibre Intake in Australia. Paper II: Comparative Examination of Food Sources of Fibre among High and Low Fibre Consumers
Authors: Fayet-Moore Flavia , Cassettari Tim , Tuck Kate , McConnell Andrew , Petocz Peter
Published: September 2018

Intakes of dietary fibre in Australia are lower than recommended. An understanding of food choices associated with fibre intake can help to inform locally relevant dietary interventions that aim to increase its consumption. This study aimed to profile the relationship between dietary choices and fibre intake of Australians. Using Day 1 data from the 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 12,153, ≥2 years), dietary fibre intake was classified by quartiles for children (2–18 years) and adults (≥19 years). Intakes of the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) food groups were calculated, as well as the major, sub-major, and minor food groups from the Australian Food Composition Database. Each of these food groups provide a progressively greater level of detail. Associations with ADG food groups and major food groups were determined, and the leading sub-major and minor food group sources of fibre for low (Quartile 1) and high (Quartile 4) fibre consumers were profiled. Energy-adjusted intakes of wholegrain and/or high fibre but not refined grain (cereal) foods, vegetables, and fruit were positively associated, and discretionary foods negatively associated, with quartile of fibre intake (p < 0.001). The top three sub-major food group sources of fibre were regular breads, cereal mixed dishes, and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals in high fibre consumers and regular breads, cereal mixed dishes, and potatoes in low fibre consumers. White breads was the leading minor food group contributor in low fibre consumers, and apples and lower sugar wheat based breakfast cereal were the leading fibre contributors in high fibre consumers in children and adults, respectively. Higher intakes of wholegrain, fruits, and vegetables, and a lower discretionary intake were associated with higher fibre intake. Encouraging these foods as part of any public health intervention is likely to be effective for increasing dietary fibre intakes.
Biotic Supplements for Renal Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pisano Anna , D’Arrigo Graziella , Coppolino Giuseppe , Bolignano Davide
Published: September 2018

Intestinal dysbiosis is highly pervasive among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and may play a key role in disease progression and complications. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate effects of biotic supplements on a large series of outcomes in renal patients. Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed and CENTRAL databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any biotic (pre-, pro- or synbiotics) to standard therapy or placebo. Primary endpoints were change in renal function and cardiovascular events; secondary endpoints were change in proteinuria/albuminuria, inflammation, uremic toxins, quality of life and nutritional status. Seventeen eligible studies (701 participants) were reviewed. Biotics treatment did not modify estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (mean difference (MD) 0.34 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI −0.19, 0.86), serum creatinine (MD −0.13 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.32, 0.07), C-reactive protein (MD 0.75 mg/dL; 95% CI −1.54, 3.03) and urea (standardized MD (SMD) −0.02; 95% CI −0.25, 0.20) as compared to control. Outcome data on the other endpoints of interest were lacking, sparse or in an unsuitable format to be analyzed collectively. According to the currently available evidence, there is no conclusive rationale for recommending biotic supplements for improving outcomes in renal patients. Large-scale, well-designed and adequately powered studies focusing on hard rather than surrogate outcomes are still awaited.
Carbohydrate Knowledge and Expectations of Nutritional Support among Five Ethnic Groups Living in New Zealand with Pre- and Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Zhang Zhuoshi , Monro John , Venn Bernard J.
Published: September 2018

Despite availability of diabetes and nutrition information for people with pre- and type 2 diabetes, the uptake and understanding of these resources may differ among ethnic groups. Our objective was to explore dietary knowledge and diabetes experiences amongst Māori, European, Pacific Island, Indian and East Asian people living in New Zealand with a focus on carbohydrate-containing foods. A registered diabetes dietitian led ethnic-specific discussions in groups involving 29 people with pre- or type 2 diabetes. Discussions were audio-recorded, fully transcribed and coded independently by two investigators. Themes were developed using deductive and inductive techniques. Five themes emerged: knowledge, concerns, achievements, simplicity and self-determination. Nutritional knowledge was lacking and a greater awareness of trustworthy dietary resources was needed. There were concerns about diabetes complications and appropriate carbohydrate-containing foods and portions. Contrary to this, people felt proud when achieving dietary goals and grateful for support from health care providers and family. Participants were willing to engage in self-care if advice from health professionals was given in plain language, and in a culturally appropriate manner. Given the desire to take an active role in diabetes self-management and willingness to use electronic devices, an ethnic-specific nutrition education resource could be a valuable tool.
Adipocytes ESR1 Expression, Body Fat and Response to Testosterone Therapy in Hypogonadal Men Vary According to Estradiol Levels
Authors: Colleluori Georgia , Aguirre Lina E. , Qualls Clifford , Chen Rui , Napoli Nicola , Villareal Dennis T. , Armamento-Villareal Reina
Published: September 2018

Estradiol (E2), mainly produced from Testosterone (T) in men, promotes visceral lipolysis. However, high visceral fat and hyperestrogenemia are features of obese hypogonadal (HG) men. Our study objectives are to evaluate relationships between circulating E2 and: (1) fat mass; (2) Estrogen Receptor α (ESR1) expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue; (3) changes in body fat after 6 months (M) of T therapy in HG men. Hypotheses: (1) existence of a range of circulating E2 associated with better body composition; (2) serum E2 determines tissue E2 sensitivity which affects response to T therapy. Men 40–74 years old, T < 300 (ng/dL), given T-cypionate for 6 months. Subjects were divided into 4-E2 categories: (1) <10.0; (2) 10.0–15.9; (3) 16.0–19.9; (4) ≥20.0 (pg/mL). Body composition (DXA), fat biopsies (liposuction), gene expression (qPCR), serum E2 and T (LC/MS), at baseline and 6 months. We enrolled 105 men; 90 completed the study. Group 2 had lower total and truncal fat mass (p < 0.01) but higher % lean mass (p < 0.001). ESR1 mRNA was the highest in group 1 (p = 0.01). At 6 months, group 1 had higher reduction in total (p = 0.03) and truncal (p = 0.01) fat. In conclusion, serum E2 = 10–15.9 (pg/mL) is associated with the best body composition profile in HG men; however, those with E2 < 10 (pg/mL) had the best response (greater fat loss) to T replacement possibly because of greater E2 sensitivity.
“Your Body Feels Better When You Drink Water”: Parent and School-Age Children’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Cognitions
Authors: Eck Kaitlyn M. , Dinesen Aleksandr , Garcia Elder , Delaney Colleen L. , Famodu Oluremi A. , Olfert Melissa D. , Byrd-Bredbenner Carol , Shelnutt Karla P.
Published: September 2018

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a leading source of added sugar in the American diet. Further, ingestion of added sugars from SSBs exceeds recommendations. Thus, interventions that effectively reduce SSB consumption are needed. Focus group discussions with parents (n = 37) and school-aged children between the ages of 6 and 11 years (n = 41) from Florida, New Jersey, and West Virginia were led by trained moderators using Social Cognitive Theory as a guide. Trends and themes that emerged from the content analysis of the focus group data indicated that both parents and children felt that limiting SSBs was important to health and weight control. However, parents and children reported consuming an average of 1.85 ± 2.38 SD and 2.13 ± 2.52 SD SSB servings/week, respectively. Parents and children were aware that parent behaviors influenced kids, but parents reported modeling healthy SSB behaviors was difficult. Busy schedules, including more frequent parties and events as children get older, were another barrier to limiting SSBs. Parents were most successful at limiting SSBs when they were not in the house. This qualitative research provides novel insights into parents’ and children’s cognitions (e.g., beliefs, attitudes), barriers, and facilitators related to SSB ingestion. Consideration of these insights during nutrition intervention development has the potential to improve intervention effectiveness in reducing SSB intake.
Folate and Borneol Modified Bifunctional Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oral Absorption
Authors: Yang Yifan , Yin Yunzhi , Zhang Jun , Zuo Tiantian , Liang Xiao , Li Jing , Shen Qi
Published: September 2018

Oral delivery is considered the preferred route of administration due to its convenience and favorable compliance. Here, docetaxel (DTX) loaded polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles, coated with polyethyleneimine–folic acid (PEI-FA) and polyethyleneimine–borneol (PEI-BO), were designed to enhance oral absorption (FA/BO-PLGA-NPs). The FA/BO-PLGA-NPs were spherical and smooth with an average size of (137.0 ± 2.1) nm. Encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and drug loading (DL%) were (80.3 ± 1.8)% and (2.3 ± 0.3)%, respectively. In vitro release studies showed that approximately 62.1% of DTX was released from FA/BO-PLGA-NPs in media at pH 7.4. The reverted gut sac method showed that the absorption of FA/BO-PLGA-NPs in the intestines was approximately 6.0 times that of DTX. Moreover, cellular uptake suggested that the obtained FA/BO-PLGA-NPs could be efficiently internalized into Caco-2 cells via FA-mediated active targeting and BO-mediated P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibition. Pharmacokinetics study demonstrated that after oral administration of DTX at a dose of 10 mg/kg in FA/BO-PLGA-NPs, the bioavailability of FA/BO-PLGA-NPs was enhanced by approximately 6.8-fold compared with that of DTX suspension. FA/BO-PLGA-NPs caused no obvious irritation to the intestines. Overall, the FA/BO-PLGA-NP formulation remarkably improved the oral bioavailability of DTX and exhibited a promising perspective in oral drug delivery.
Reinforcement of Thermoplastic Corn Starch with Crosslinked Starch/Chitosan Microparticles
Authors: Paiva Diana , Pereira André , Pires Ana , Martins Jorge , Carvalho Luísa , Magalhães Fernão
Published: September 2018

Microparticles of corn starch and chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, produced by the solvent exchange technique, are studied as reinforcement fillers for thermoplastic corn starch plasticized with glycerol. The presence of 10% w/w chitosan in the microparticles is shown to be essential to guaranteeing effective crosslinking, as demonstrated by water solubility assays. Crosslinked chitosan forms an interpenetrating polymer network with starch chains, producing microparticles with a very low solubility. The thermal stability of the microparticles is in agreement with their polysaccharide composition. An XRD analysis showed that they have crystalline fraction of 32% with Va-type structure, and have no tendency to undergo retrogradation. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness of thermoplastic starch increased by the incorporation of the crosslinked starch/chitosan microparticles by melt-mixing. Toughness increased 360% in relation to unfilled thermoplastic starch.
Biodegradable Polycarbonate Iongels for Electrophysiology Measurements
Authors: Y. Yuen Alexander , Porcarelli Luca , H. Aguirresarobe Robert , Sanchez-Sanchez Ana , Del Agua Isabel , Ismailov Usein , G. Malliaras George , Mecerreyes David , Ismailova Esma , Sardon Haritz
Published: September 2018

In recent years, gels based on ionic liquids incorporated into polymer matrices, namely iongels, have emerged as long-term contact media for cutaneous electrophysiology. Iongels possess high ionic conductivity and negligible vapor pressure and can be designed on demand. In spite of the extensive efforts devoted to the preparation of biodegradable ionic liquids, the investigations related to the preparation of iongels based on biodegradable polymers remain scarce. In this work, biodegradable polycarbonate-based iongels are prepared by ring-opening polymerization of N-substituted eight ring membered cyclic carbonate monomers in the presence of imidazolium lactate ionic liquid. Our iongels are able to take up 10–30 wt % of ionic liquid and become softer materials by increasing the amount of free ionic liquid. Rheological measurements showed that the cross-over point between the storage modulus G′ and loss modulus G″ occurs at lower angular frequencies when the loading of free ionic liquid increases. These gels are able to take up to 30 wt % of the ionic liquid and the ionic conductivity of these gels increased up to 5 × 10−4 S·cm−1 at 25 °C as the amount of free ionic liquid increased. Additionally, we assess the biodegradation studies of the iongels by immersing them in water. The iongels decrease the impedance with the human skin to levels that are similar to commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes, allowing an accurate physiologic signals recording. The low toxicity and biodegradability of polycarbonate-based iongels make these materials highly attractive for cutaneous electrophysiology applications.
Value Chain Actors and Recycled Polymer Products in Lagos Metropolis: Toward Ensuring Sustainable Development in Africa’s Megacity
Authors: Akanle Olayinka , Shittu Olamide
Published: September 2018

Polymer recycling is one of the major areas that need adequate intervention in any megacity’s effort toward sustainable development. However, megacities in Africa face various challenges in general waste management and also lag behind in developing efficient waste-to-wealth services. Therefore, this study examined the difficulties experienced by the actors involved in the value chain of polymer recycling in the Lagos megacity. Thirty in-depth interviews and four key informant interviews were conducted with value chain and supporting actors, while 400 questionnaires were administered among residents of Lagos metropolis. The study found that negative public perception, lack of adequate capital, poor health conditions, inefficient infrastructure, and technological difficulties are some of the problems in polymer recycling in the megacity. Therefore, social label redefinition, effective dissemination of recycling information, an efficient loan system, import duty relaxation, and stakeholder involvement are recommended.
Imaging Simulation for Synthetic Aperture Radar: A Full-Wave Approach
Authors: Ku Chiung-Shen , Chen Kun-Shan , Chang Pao-Chi , Chang Yang-Lang
Published: September 2018

Imaging simulation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is one of the potential tools in the field of remote sensing. The echo signal in imaging simulation based on the point target model cannot be linked to practical scenes due to the model being a simple mathematical form, stating only the synthetic process and lacking the physical process based on electromagnetic theory. In this paper, the full-wave method is applied to include the electromagnetic effects in raw data generation, and then a refined omega-K algorithm is used to perform image focusing. According to the proposed method, the focused images not only demonstrate the difference under dielectric constant variation but also present the diversified interaction among the targets with the spacing change. In addition, the images are simulated in different observation modes and bandwidths to provide a satisfactory reference for the design of system parameters. The simulation results from the full-wave method also compare well with chamber experiments. The simulation of SAR imaging based on a full-wave method offers more complete recovery of scattering information and is useful in designing future novel SAR systems and in speckle reduction analysis.
A Time-Distributed Spatiotemporal Feature Learning Method for Machine Health Monitoring with Multi-Sensor Time Series
Authors: Qiao Huihui , Wang Taiyong , Wang Peng , Qiao Shibin , Zhang Lan
Published: September 2018

Data-driven methods with multi-sensor time series data are the most promising approaches for monitoring machine health. Extracting fault-sensitive features from multi-sensor time series is a daunting task for both traditional data-driven methods and current deep learning models. A novel hybrid end-to-end deep learning framework named Time-distributed ConvLSTM model (TDConvLSTM) is proposed in the paper for machine health monitoring, which works directly on raw multi-sensor time series. In TDConvLSTM, the normalized multi-sensor data is first segmented into a collection of subsequences by a sliding window along the temporal dimension. Time-distributed local feature extractors are simultaneously applied to each subsequence to extract local spatiotemporal features. Then a holistic ConvLSTM layer is designed to extract holistic spatiotemporal features between subsequences. At last, a fully-connected layer and a supervised learning layer are stacked on the top of the model to obtain the target. TDConvLSTM can extract spatiotemporal features on different time scales without any handcrafted feature engineering. The proposed model can achieve better performance in both time series classification tasks and regression prediction tasks than some state-of-the-art models, which has been verified in the gearbox fault diagnosis experiment and the tool wear prediction experiment.
Microfluidically Frequency-Reconfigurable Quasi-Yagi Dipole Antenna
Authors: Shah Syed Imran Hussain , Lim Sungjoon
Published: September 2018

In this paper, a frequency reconfigurable quasi-Yagi dipole antenna is proposed by leveraging the properties of microfluidic technology. The proposed antenna comprises a metal-printed driven dipole element and three directors. To tune resonant frequencies, microfluidic channels are integrated into the driven element. To maintain a high gain for all the tuned frequencies, microfluidic channels are also integrated into the directors. Therefore, the length of the driven-element as well as directors can be controlled by injecting liquid metal in the microfluidic channels. The proposed antenna has the capability of tuning the frequency by varying the length of the metal-filled channels, while maintaining a high gain for all the tuned frequencies. The proposed antenna’s performance is experimentally demonstrated after fabrication. The injected amount of liquid metal into the microfluidic channels is controlled using programmable pneumatic micropumps. The prototype exhibits continuous tuning of the resonant frequencies from 1.8 GHz to 2.4 GHz; the measured peak gain of the proposed antenna is varied in the range of 8 dBi to 8.5 dBi. Therefore, continuous tuning with high gain is successfully demonstrated using liquid-metal-filled microfluidic channels.
Discrimination between Alternative Herbal Medicines from Different Categories with the Electronic Nose
Authors: Zhan Xianghao , Guan Xiaoqing , Wu Rumeng , Wang Zhan , Wang You , Li Guang
Published: September 2018

As alternative herbal medicine gains soar in popularity around the world, it is necessary to apply a fast and convenient means for classifying and evaluating herbal medicines. In this work, an electronic nose system with seven classification algorithms is used to discriminate between 12 categories of herbal medicines. The results show that these herbal medicines can be successfully classified, with support vector machine (SVM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) outperforming other algorithms in terms of accuracy. When principal component analysis (PCA) is used to lower the number of dimensions, the time cost for classification can be reduced while the data is visualized. Afterwards, conformal predictions based on 1NN (1-Nearest Neighbor) and 3NN (3-Nearest Neighbor) (CP-1NN and CP-3NN) are introduced. CP-1NN and CP-3NN provide additional, yet significant and reliable, information by giving the confidence and credibility associated with each prediction without sacrificing of accuracy. This research provides insight into the construction of a herbal medicine flavor library and gives methods and reference for future works.
A Capillary Computing Architecture for Dynamic Internet of Things: Orchestration of Microservices from Edge Devices to Fog and Cloud Providers
Authors: Taherizadeh Salman , Stankovski Vlado , Grobelnik Marko
Published: September 2018

The adoption of advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has impressively improved in recent years by placing such services at the extreme Edge of the network. There are, however, specific Quality of Service (QoS) trade-offs that must be considered, particularly in situations when workloads vary over time or when IoT devices are dynamically changing their geographic position. This article proposes an innovative capillary computing architecture, which benefits from mainstream Fog and Cloud computing approaches and relies on a set of new services, including an Edge/Fog/Cloud Monitoring System and a Capillary Container Orchestrator. All necessary Microservices are implemented as Docker containers, and their orchestration is performed from the Edge computing nodes up to Fog and Cloud servers in the geographic vicinity of moving IoT devices. A car equipped with a Motorhome Artificial Intelligence Communication Hardware (MACH) system as an Edge node connected to several Fog and Cloud computing servers was used for testing. Compared to using a fixed centralized Cloud provider, the service response time provided by our proposed capillary computing architecture was almost four times faster according to the 99th percentile value along with a significantly smaller standard deviation, which represents a high QoS.
A Residual Analysis-Based Improved Particle Filter in Mobile Localization for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Cheng Long , Feng Liang , Wang Yan
Published: September 2018

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have become a popular research subject in recent years. With the data collected by sensors, the information of a monitored area can be easily obtained. As a main contribution of WSN localization is widely applied in many fields. However, when the propagation of signals is obstructed there will be some severe errors which are called Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) errors. To overcome this difficulty, we present a residual analysis-based improved particle filter (RAPF) algorithm. Because the particle filter (PF) is a powerful localization algorithm, the proposed algorithm adopts PF as its main body. The idea of residual analysis is also used in the proposed algorithm for its reliability. To test the performance of the proposed algorithm, a simulation is conducted under several conditions. The simulation results show the superiority of the proposed algorithm compared with the Kalman Filter (KF) and PF. In addition, an experiment is designed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in an indoors environment. The localization result of the experiment also confirms the fact that the proposed algorithm can achieve a lower localization error compared with KF and PF.