bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Wellbeing of the Oldest-Old in China: A Study of Socio-Economic and Geographical Variations Based on CLHLS Data
Authors: Gu Lijuan , Cheng Yang , Phillips David R. , Rosenberg Mark
Published: February 2019

Empirical studies of the socio-economic determinants of the wellbeing of the oldest-old in China including the role of geography and spatial factors are rare. This paper applies binary logistic regression analysis to data on the oldest-old aged 80 years old and higher from the 2011 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS). Socioeconomic determinants of the self-reported quality of life (QoL) and self-reported health (SRH) of the oldest-old population are explored, with special attention paid to the role of residence and region. The results indicate that, after controlling for individual demographic and health behavior variables, both economic status and social welfare have a significant effect on self-reported QoL and SRH. There are also significant differences in self-reported QoL among cities, towns and rural areas, with the oldest-old respondents living in Central rural, Western town and Western rural areas being significantly less likely to report good QoL, compared to the oldest-old living in Eastern cities. Significant differences in SRH exist among Eastern China, Western China and Northeastern China, with the oldest-old from Western towns being significantly less likely to report good health, and the oldest-old from Northeastern cities being significantly more likely to report good health than those from Eastern cities. The results of this study indicate that socioeconomic factors that explain self-reported QoL and SRH of the older population are in general factors that explain the self-reported QoL and SRH of the oldest-old cohorts. The interaction effect of residence and region matters more than each of the individual factors, in providing us with more detailed information on the role of geography in explaining QoL and health of the oldest-old. At a time when the oldest-old cohorts in China are at the beginning of their projected growth, these findings are vital for providing policy makers with more information on the urgency of making more geographically targeted policy to improve more effectively the self-reported QoL and SRH of the oldest-old population.
Antibacterial Activities of Crude Secondary Metabolite Extracts from Pantoea Species Obtained from the Stem of Solanum mauritianum and Their Effects on Two Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Uche-Okereafor Nkemdinma , Sebola Tendani , Tapfuma Kudzanai , Mekuto Lukhanyo , Green Ezekiel , Mavumengwana Vuyo
Published: February 2019

Endophytes are microorganisms that are perceived as non-pathogenic symbionts found inside plants since they cause no symptoms of disease on the host plant. Soil conditions and geography among other factors contribute to the type(s) of endophytes isolated from plants. Our research interest is the antibacterial activity of secondary metabolite crude extracts from the medicinal plant Solanum mauritianum and its bacterial endophytes. Fresh, healthy stems of S. mauritianum were collected, washed, surface sterilized, macerated in PBS, inoculated in the nutrient agar plates, and incubated for 5 days at 30 °C. Amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was applied to identify the isolated bacterial endophytes. These endophytes were then grown in nutrient broth for 7–14 days, after which sterilized Amberlite® XAD7HP 20–60 mesh (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) resin was added to each culture to adsorb the secondary metabolites, which were later extracted using ethyl acetate. Concentrated crude extracts from each bacterial endophyte were tested for antibacterial activity against 11 pathogenic bacteria and two human cancer cell lines. In this study, a total of three bacterial endophytes of the Pantoea genus were identified from the stem of S. mauritianum. The antibacterial test showed that crude secondary metabolites of the endophytes and stem of S. mauritianum possessed antibacterial properties against pathogenic microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with concentrations showing inhibition ranging from 0.0625 to 8.0000 mg/mL. The anticancer analysis showed an increase in cell proliferation when A549 lung carcinoma and UMG87 glioblastoma cell lines were treated with both the plant and endophytes’ crude extracts. As far as we know, this is the first study of its kind on Solanum mauritianum in South Africa showing S. mauritianum endophytes having activity against some of the common human pathogenic organisms.
Reducing Racial Inequities in Health: Using What We Already Know to Take Action
Authors: Williams David R. , Cooper Lisa A.
Published: February 2019

This paper provides an overview of the scientific evidence pointing to critically needed steps to reduce racial inequities in health. First, it argues that communities of opportunity should be developed to minimize some of the adverse impacts of systemic racism. These are communities that provide early childhood development resources, implement policies to reduce childhood poverty, provide work and income support opportunities for adults, and ensure healthy housing and neighborhood conditions. Second, the healthcare system needs new emphases on ensuring access to high quality care for all, strengthening preventive health care approaches, addressing patients’ social needs as part of healthcare delivery, and diversifying the healthcare work force to more closely reflect the demographic composition of the patient population. Finally, new research is needed to identify the optimal strategies to build political will and support to address social inequities in health. This will include initiatives to raise awareness levels of the pervasiveness of inequities in health, build empathy and support for addressing inequities, enhance the capacity of individuals and communities to actively participate in intervention efforts and implement large scale efforts to reduce racial prejudice, ideologies, and stereotypes in the larger culture that undergird policy preferences that initiate and sustain inequities.
Serratia marcescens Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)
Authors: Cristina Maria Luisa , Sartini Marina , Spagnolo Anna Maria
Published: February 2019

Serratia marcescens belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which is commonly found in water, soil, animals, insects, plants. Although S. marcescens displays relatively low virulence, it causes nosocomial infections and outbreaks in severely immunocompromised or critically ill patients, particularly in settings such as intensive care units (ICUs), especially neonatal units (NICUs). This microorganism gives rise to a wide range of clinical manifestations in newborns: from asymptomatic colonization to keratitis, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, surgical wound infections, sepsis, bloodstream infection and meningitis. The most frequent site of infection is the bloodstream, followed by the respiratory apparatus and the gastrointestinal tract. Strains of S. marcescens involved in epidemic events have frequently proved to be multi-resistant. Indeed, this species displays intrinsic resistance to several classes of antibiotics. Often, the specific source of the infection cannot be identified. However, the contaminated hands of healthcare workers are believed to be a major vehicle of its transmission. In neonatal intensive care units, colonized or infected newborns are the main potential source of S. marcescens, particularly in the respiratory apparatus, but also in the gastrointestinal tract. The early identification of colonized or infected patients and the prompt implementation of infection control measures, particularly rigorous hand hygiene and contact precautions, are essential in order to curb the spread of infection.
Warning against Critical Slopes in Agriculture: Comprehension of Targeted Safety Signs in a Group of Machinery Operators in Italy
Authors: Vigoroso Lucia , Caffaro Federica , Cavallo Eugenio
Published: February 2019

Steep slopes are the main cause of rollover incidents in agriculture. Targeted safety signs have been developed to warn machinery operators against risky slopes. However, machinery user’s manuals and road signs report information regarding slope steepness in two different ways, by using the tilt angle in degrees and the slope percentage, respectively. In this study, we investigated the comprehension of safety signs depicting critical slopes, either in degrees or as percent values in a group of Italian agricultural machinery operators while considering the possible influence of previous experience with agricultural machinery, previous incidents, and on-farm occupation. Eighteen tractor and self-propelled machinery operators were administered graphical representations of seven slope angles in a randomized order and then were asked to estimate the slope steepness as both a tilt angle and a slope percentage. The participants tended to overestimate slope steepness in degrees, whereas the opposite was true for percentages. Farmers who were previously involved in a machinery-related incident were more accurate in their estimates. The present results raise some considerations regarding the need to redesign safety communication and to promote targeted training interventions.
Biodegradability of Trimethylbenzene Isomers under Denitrifying and Sulfate-Reducing Conditions
Authors: Fichtner Thomas , Fischer Axel Rene , Dornack Christina
Published: February 2019

Trimethylbenzene (TMB) isomers (1,2,3-TMB, 1,2,4-TMB, and 1,3,5-TMB) are often used as conservative tracers in anaerobic, contaminated aquifers for assessing BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) biodegradation at field sites. However, uncertainties exist about the behavior of these compounds under anaerobic conditions. For this reason, the influence of various parameters (temperature, residence time) on the biodegradability of TMB isomers was investigated under denitrifying and sulfate-reducing conditions in microcosms and 1D-column experiments. Soil and groundwater contaminated with a cocktail of aromatic hydrocarbons including the TMB isomers, both collected from an industrial site in Berlin, Germany, were used for the laboratory investigations. A continuous and complete biodegradation of 1,3,5-TMB and 1,2,4-TMB under denitrifying conditions was observed independent of realized temperature (10–20 °C) and residence time. Biodegradation of 1,2,3-TMB started after longer lag-phases and was not continuous over the whole experimental period; a strong dependence on temperature and residence time was identified. The biodegradability of all TMB isomers under sulfate-reducing conditions was continuous and complete at higher temperatures (20 °C), whereas no degradation was observed for lower temperatures (10 °C). First-order biodegradation rate constants ranged from 0.05 to 0.21 d−1 for 1,3,5-TMB and 1,2,4-TMB and from 0.01 to 0.11 d−1 for 1,2,3-TMB.
Influence of Boundary Layer Structure and Low-Level Jet on PM2.5 Pollution in Beijing: A Case Study
Authors: Miao Yucong , Liu Shuhua , Sheng Li , Huang Shunxiang , Li Jian
Published: February 2019

Beijing experiences frequent PM2.5 pollution, which is influenced by the planetary boundary layer (PBL) structure/process. Partly due to a lack of appropriate observations, the impacts of PBL on PM2.5 pollution are not yet fully understood. Combining wind-profiler data, radiosonde measurements, near-surface meteorological observations, aerosol measurements, and three-dimensional simulations, this study investigated the influence of PBL structure and the low-level jet (LLJ) on the pollution in Beijing from 19 to 20 September 2015. The evolution of the LLJ was generally well simulated by the model, although the wind speed within the PBL was overestimated. Being influenced by the large-scale southerly prevailing winds, the aerosols emitted from the southern polluted regions could be easily transported to Beijing, contributing to ~68% of the PM2.5 measured in Beijing on 20 September. The relative contribution of external transport of PM2.5 to Beijing was high in the afternoon (≥80%), which was related to the strong southerly PBL winds and the presence of thermally-induced upslope winds. On 20 September, the LLJ in Beijing demonstrated a prominent diurnal variation, which was predominant in the morning and after sunset. The occurrence of the LLJ could enhance the dilution capacity in Beijing to some extent, which favors the dilution of pollutants at a local scale. This study has important implications for better understanding the complexity of PBL structure/process associated with PM2.5 pollution in Beijing.
How Can Cities Respond to Flood Disaster Risks under Multi-Scenario Simulation? A Case Study of Xiamen, China
Authors: Shi Yijun , Zhai Guofang , Zhou Shutian , Lu Yuwen , Chen Wei , Deng Jinyang
Published: February 2019

Flood disasters often have serious impacts on cities. Disaster prevention and mitigation schemes for flood disasters must be based on risk assessment. We constructed an indicator system for flood disaster risk assessment from the aspects of hazard factors, sensitivity to the environment, disaster vulnerability, flood disaster prevention, and resilience. Then we add the precipitation factor as a scenario parameter to the assessment of flood disasters, in order to assess the flood disaster risk under annual average precipitation scenarios, multi-year flood season average precipitation scenarios, and large typhoon precipitation scenarios. Xiamen is one of the cities with more serious flood disasters. We select Xiamen as an example and refer to existing indicators of flood disaster assessment. The results show that: (1) the coefficient of variation of flood disasters in Xiamen under the impact of large-scale typhoon precipitation is large; (2) the drainage and flood control capacity of Xiamen is generally insufficient, and the risk in the old city is high; (3) there are many flood-prone locations in Xiamen. Underpass interchanges, underground spaces, and urban villages have become the new key areas for flood control; and (4) the flood risk in the northern mountainous areas of Xiamen is the highest. Based on the assessment results, we further delineate the urban flood control zones and propose corresponding countermeasures. The study expands the research on flood disaster risk assessment, and also provides reference for relevant cities to deal with flood disasters.
Cross-Regional Comparative Study on Carbon Emission Efficiency of China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt Based on the Meta-Frontier
Authors: Tian Ze , Ren Fang-Rong , Xiao Qin-Wen , Chiu Yung-Ho , Lin Tai-Yu
Published: February 2019

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is one of the most important areas for the economic growth of China, but rapid development has caused tremendous damage to the energy and ecological environments of the region. Very few studies have compared the carbon emissions of YREB with that of non-YREB and furthermore, have not considered regional differences and radial or non-radial characteristics in their analysis. This paper thus selects the energy consumption data of 19 provinces and cities in YREB and 19 provinces and cities in non-YREB from 2013 to 2016, constructs the modified meta-frontier Epsilou-based measure (EBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and adds an undesirable factor, energy consumption, and CO2 emission efficiency of each province and city of the two regions. The results are as follows. (1) China’s provinces and cities have different energy efficiency scores in energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions. The regional ranks and technology gaps of five provinces and cities in non-YREB and of four provinces and cities in YREB exhibit a decline. Overall, the ranks and technology gaps of the provinces and cities in YREB are significantly lower than those in non-YREB, meaning that there is greater room for efficiency improvement in the latter region. (2) The gross domestic product (GDP) and CO2 efficiency values of non-YREB provinces present great differences, especially the CO2 efficiency value that ranges from 0.2 to 1, while their values in YREB are more balanced with little difference between provinces and cities. Thus, YREB is more coordinated in terms of energy savings and air pollutant reduction. (3) Some cities with good economic development such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin have regional and technology gap values of one, indicating that they not only target economic growth but also address energy savings and air pollutant reduction. The regional rank and technology gap values of some underdeveloped provinces such as Neimenggu, Ningxia, and Qinghai are also one. Finally, this research proposes countermeasures and recommendations to both areas.
Walk Score® and Its Associations with Older Adults’ Health Behaviors and Outcomes
Authors: Liao Yung , Lin Chien-Yu , Lai Ting-Fu , Chen Yen-Ju , Kim Bohyeon , Park Jong-Hwan
Published: February 2019

This study aimed to investigate the associations between Walk Score® and lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in older Taiwanese adults. A nationwide survey was conducted through telephone-based interviews with older adults (65 years and older) in Taiwan. Data on Walk Score®, lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, healthy eating behavior, alcohol use, and smoking status), health outcomes (overweight/obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), and personal characteristics were obtained from 1052 respondents. A binary logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders was employed. None of the Walk Score® categories were related to the recommended levels of total physical activity. The categories “very walkable” and “walker’s paradise” were positively related to total sedentary time and TV viewing among older adults. No significant associations were found between Walk Score® and other lifestyle health behaviors or health outcomes. While Walk Score® was not associated with recommended levels of physical activity, it was positively related to prolonged sedentary time in the context of a non-Western country. The different associations between the walk score and health lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in different contexts should be noted.
Managing Supplier-Manufacturer Closed-Loop Supply Chain Considering Product Design and Take-Back Legislation
Authors: Wang Yue , Xin Baoying , Wang Zhe , Li Bangyi
Published: February 2019

Facing a growing amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), a recent recast of the WEEE directive has put a specific reuse target for manufacturers, aiming to reduce environmental pollution and incentivize a green product design. In this paper, in order to examine whether the above two goals can be achieved by setting a specific reuse target, we have modelled a closed-loop supply chain consisting of a supplier (the leader) and a manufacturer (the follower) with the constraint of a mandated remanufacturing target. In this model, the supplier determines the level of interchangeability in product design and the wholesale price of the key component. The manufacturer buys the key components from the supplier and makes production and remanufacturing decisions under the requirement of a mandated remanufacturing target. We have investigated the supply chain’s members’ optimal decisions and analyzed the impact of the mandated remanufacturing target on the optimal profits of the supply chain’s members and consumer surplus, and finally, we have explored the environmental implications of the mandated remanufacturing target. We found that the supply chain’s members’ optimal decisions are affected by the mandated remanufacturing target and the cost of the new component. In terms of the economic implications of the mandated remanufacturing target, we have demonstrated that the increase in the mandated remanufacturing target has negative effects on the profits of the supply chain’s members and consumer surplus. Regarding the goal of incentivizing green product design, we found that the mandated remanufacturing target cannot always incentivize the supplier to implement product design that is beneficial to remanufacturing. From the perspective of the environment, we further indicate that more stringent mandated remanufacturing targets may bring an undesirable environmental outcome.
Characterizing Mental Health Treatment Utilization among Individuals Exposed to the 2001 World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks 14–15 Years Post-Disaster
Authors: Jacobson Melanie H. , Norman Christina , Sadler Pablo , Petrsoric Lysa J. , Brackbill Robert M.
Published: February 2019

Following the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks in New York City (NYC) on 11 September 2001 (9/11), thousands in NYC experienced significant stress reactions and disorders, presenting an immediate need for counseling and treatment. While other studies documented post-9/11 mental health treatment utilization, none have data more than two years post-disaster. We used data from 35,629 enrollees of the WTC Health Registry, a longitudinal cohort study of those exposed to the WTC attacks, to examine predictors of counseling after 9/11, the types of practitioners seen, and the perceived helpfulness of therapy up to 15 years post-disaster. Among enrollees, 37.7% reported receiving counseling at some time after 9/11. Predictors of seeking counseling included race/ethnicity, age at 9/11, education level, exposure to the WTC attacks, other traumatic experiences, mental health symptomology, and pre-9/11 counseling. Whites and Hispanics, those who were children on 9/11, and those with high levels of exposure to the WTC attacks sought counseling soonest after 9/11. Among those who sought counseling, Blacks, Asians, and those with lower education and income were less likely to see mental health specialists and more likely to see general practitioners or religious advisors. Finally, among those who sought recent counseling, women, Blacks, those aged ≥65 years, and those with very high WTC exposures were more likely to rate their recent counseling as very helpful. This study used data up to 15 years post-disaster to document mental health treatment utilization patterns, trends, and disparities that have implications for future preparedness plans and needs assessments.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) and 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2c (5-HT2c) Receptor Agonists in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) Inhibit Ghrelin-Stimulated Appetitive Reward
Authors: Howell Erin , Baumgartner Hannah M. , Zallar Lia J. , Selva Joaquín A. , Engel Liv , Currie Paul J.
Published: February 2019

Current literature indicates that the orexigenic peptide ghrelin increases appetitive motivation via signaling in the mesolimbic reward system. Another gastric peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), are both known to suppress operant responding for food by acting on key mesolimbic nuclei, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In order to investigate the interaction effects of ghrelin, GLP-1, and 5-HT within the VTA, we measured operant responding for sucrose pellets after the administration of ghrelin, the GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4), and the 5-HT2c receptor agonist Ro60-0175 in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Following training on a progressive ratio 3 (PR3) schedule, animals were first injected with ghrelin into the VTA at doses of 3 to 300 pmol. In subsequent testing, separate rats were administered intraperitoneal (IP) Ex-4 (0.1–1.0 µg/kg) or VTA Ex-4 (0.01–0.1 µg) paired with 300 pmol ghrelin. In a final group of rats, the 5-HT2c agonist Ro60-0175 was injected IP (0.25–1.0 mg/kg) or into the VTA (1.5–3.0 µg), and under both conditions paired with 300 pmol ghrelin delivered into the VTA. Our results indicated that ghrelin administration increased operant responding for food reward and that this effect was attenuated by IP and VTA Ex-4 pretreatment as well as pre-administration of IP or VTA Ro60-0175. These data provide compelling evidence that mesolimbic GLP-1 and serotonergic circuitry interact with the ghrelinergic system to suppress ghrelin’s effects on the mediation of food reinforcement.
A Novel Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury, Vanin-1, for Obstructive Nephropathy: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study
Authors: Washino Satoshi , Hosohata Keiko , Oshima Masashi , Okochi Tomohisa , Konishi Tsuzumi , Nakamura Yuhki , Saito Kimitoshi , Miyagawa Tomoaki
Published: February 2019

Background: Vanin-1 is a novel acute kidney injury (AKI) biomarker that has not been clinically investigated as a biomarker for obstructive nephropathy. This study investigated the diagnostic value of vanin-1 as a biomarker for adult obstructive nephropathy by comparing it to existing AKI biomarkers. Methods: A total of 49 patients, 21 controls, and 28 hydronephrosis (HN) cases were assessed. AKI biomarkers in bladder (BL) urine and renal pelvic (RP) urine in the HN group were compared to each BL marker in the control group. In a subgroup of cases receiving interventions for obstructive nephropathy, the BL values of each biomarker were assessed after the intervention. Results: RP vanin-1 levels were significantly higher while BL vanin-1 levels were marginally higher in the HN group than in the control group. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve values for RP and BL vanin-1 were 0.9778 and 0.6386, respectively. In multivariate analyses, BL vanin-1 and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), but not kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), were independent factors for predicting the presence of HN. In cases receiving interventions, vanin-1 decreased significantly from 1 week after the intervention in cases of moderate to severe obstructive nephropathy compared to RP values at baseline. Conclusion: Urinary vanin-1 is a useful biomarker to detect and monitor the clinical course of obstructive nephropathy.
Genome-Wide Characterization of NBS-Encoding Genes in Watermelon and Their Potential Association with Gummy Stem Blight Resistance
Authors: Hassan Md Zahid , Rahim Md Abdur , Jung Hee-Jeong , Park Jong-In , Kim Hoy-Taek , Nou Ill-Sup
Published: February 2019

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a nutritionally rich and economically important horticultural crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. Gummy stem blight (GSB) is a major disease of watermelon, which is caused by the fungus Didymella bryoniae, and results in substantial economic losses in terms of yield and quality. However, only a few molecular studies have focused on GSB resistance in watermelon. Nucleotide binding site (NBS)-encoding resistance (R) genes play important roles in plant defense responses to several pathogens, but little is known about the role of NBS-encoding genes in disease resistance in watermelon. The analyzed NBS-encoding R genes comprises several domains, including Toll/interleukin-1 receptor(TIR), NBS, leucine-rich repeat (LRR), resistance to powdery mildew8(RPW8) and coiled coil (CC), which are known to be involved in disease resistance. We determined the expression patterns of these R genes in resistant and susceptible watermelon lines at different time points after D. bryoniae infection by quantitative RT-PCR. The R genes exhibited various expression patterns in the resistant watermelon compared to the susceptible watermelon. Only six R genes exhibited consistent expression patterns (Cla001821, Cla019863, Cla020705, Cla012430, Cla012433 and Cla012439), which were higher in the resistant line compared to the susceptible line. Our study provides fundamental insights into the NBS-LRR gene family in watermelon in response to D. bryoniae infection. Further functional studies of these six candidate resistance genes should help to advance breeding programs aimed at improving disease resistance in watermelons.
Quality Screening of Incorrectly Folded Soluble Aggregates from Functional Recombinant Proteins
Authors: Kwon Soon Bin , Yu Ji Eun , Kim Jihoon , Oh Hana , Park Chan , Lee Jinhee , Seong Baik L.
Published: February 2019

Solubility is the prime criterion for determining the quality of recombinant proteins, yet it often fails to represent functional activity due to the involvement of non-functional, misfolded, soluble aggregates, which compromise the quality of recombinant proteins. However, guidelines for the quality assessment of soluble proteins have neither been proposed nor rigorously validated experimentally. Using the aggregation-prone enhanced green-fluorescent protein (EGFP) folding reporter system, we evaluated the folding status of recombinant proteins by employing the commonly used sonication and mild lysis of recombinant host cells. We showed that the differential screening of solubility and folding competence is crucial for improving the quality of recombinant proteins without sacrificing their yield. These results highlight the importance of screening out incorrectly folded soluble aggregates at the initial purification step to ensure the functional quality of recombinant proteins.
Twin CHCH Proteins, CHCHD2, and CHCHD10: Key Molecules of Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Imai Yuzuru , Meng Hongrui , Shiba-Fukushima Kahori , Hattori Nobutaka
Published: February 2019

Mutations of coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 2 (CHCHD2) and 10 (CHCHD10) have been found to be linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and/or frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD). CHCHD2 and CHCHD10 proteins, which are homologous proteins with 54% identity in amino acid sequence, belong to the mitochondrial coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix (CHCH) domain protein family. A series of studies reveals that these twin proteins form a multimodal complex, producing a variety of pathophysiology by the disease-causing variants of these proteins. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge about the physiological and pathological roles of twin proteins, CHCHD2 and CHCHD10, in neurodegenerative diseases.
Auxins and Cytokinins in Plant Development 2018
Authors: Petrasek Jan , Hoyerova Klara , Motyka Vaclav , Hejatko Jan , Dobrev Petre , Kaminek Miroslav , Vankova Radomira
Published: February 2019

The international symposium “Auxins and Cytokinins in Plant Development” (ACPD), which is held every 4–5 years in Prague, Czech Republic, is a meeting of scientists interested in the elucidation of the action of two important plant hormones—auxins and cytokinins. It is organized by a group of researchers from the Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants at the Institute of Experimental Botany, the Czech Academy of Sciences. The symposia already have a long tradition, having started in 1972. Thanks to the central role of auxins and cytokinins in plant development, the ACPD 2018 symposium was again attended by numerous experts who presented their results in the opening, two plenary lectures, and six regular sessions, including two poster sessions. Due to the open character of the research community, which is traditionally very well displayed during the meeting, a lot of unpublished data were presented and discussed. In this report, we summarize the contributions in individual sessions that attracted our attention.
Understanding the Impact of Aberrant Splicing in Coagulation Factor V Deficiency
Authors: Paraboschi Elvezia Maria , Menegatti Marzia , Peyvandi Flora , Duga Stefano , Asselta Rosanna
Published: February 2019

Rare inherited coagulation disorders (RICDs) are congenital deficiencies of the plasma proteins that are involved in blood coagulation, which generally lead to lifelong bleeding manifestations. These diseases are generally qualitative and/or quantitative defects that are associated with monoallelic or biallelic mutations in the relevant gene. Among RICDs, factor V (FV) deficiency is one of the least characterized at the molecular level. Here, we investigated four unrelated patients with reduced plasma FV levels (three severe, one mild), which were associated with a moderately severe bleeding tendency. Sequence analysis of the FV gene identified seven different variants, five hitherto unknown (p.D1669G, c.5789-11C>A, c.5789-12C>A, c.5789-5T>G, and c.6528G>C), and two previously reported (c.158+1G>A and c.5789G>A). The possible pathogenic role of the newly identified missense variant was studied by in silico approaches. The remaining six genetic defects (all putative splicing mutations) were investigated for their possible effects on pre-mRNA splicing by transient transfection experiments in HeLa cells with plasmids expressing appropriate hybrid minigenes. The preparation of minigene constructs was instrumental to demonstrate that the two adjacent variants c.5789-11C>A and c.5789-12C>A are indeed present in cis in the analyzed FV-deficient patient (thus leading to the c.5789-11_12CC>AA mutation). Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that each variant causes either a skipping of the relevant exon or the activation of cryptic splice sites (exonic or intronic), eventually leading to the introduction of a premature termination codon.
FGF23 and Fetuin-A Interaction and Mesenchymal Osteogenic Transformation
Authors: Mattinzoli Deborah , Ikehata Masami , Tsugawa Koji , Alfieri Carlo M. , Barilani Mario , Lazzari Lorenza , Andreetta Paola , Elli Francesca M. , Mantovani Giovanna , Messa Piergiorgio
Published: February 2019

Recently, we found a strict bone association between Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and Fetuin-A, both involved in cardiovascular and mineral bone disorders. In this study, an uninvestigated bone marrow positivity for both was found. Though the role of exogenous FGF23 on mesenchymal cells (MSCs) was reported, no information is as yet available on the possible production of this hormone by MSCs. To further analyze these uninvestigated aspects, we studied human primary cells and mouse and human cell lines by means of immunostaining, qRT-PCR, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, transfection, and a streamlined approach for the FGF23–Fetuin-A interaction called Duolink proximity ligation assay. Mesenchymal cells produce but do not secrete FGF23 and its expression increases during osteo-differentiation. Fibroblast growth factor 23 is also involved in the regulation of Fetuin-A by binding directly to the Fetuin-A promoter and then activating its transcription. Both FGF23 overexpression and addition induced an upregulation of Fetuin-A in the absence of osteo-inducer factors. Fibroblast growth factor 23 and Fetuin-A promoter were increased by osteo-inducer factors with this effect being abolished after FGF23 silencing. In conclusion, both FGF23 and Fetuin-A are present and strictly linked to each other in MSCs with FGF23 driving Fetuin-A production. This mechanism suggests a role for these two proteins in the osteoblast differentiation.
Differences of the Structure of Immune Regulatory Cell Populations between Cellular Material from Sonographically Detected Focal Thyroid Lesions and Peripheral Blood in Humans
Authors: Stasiołek Mariusz , Śliwka Przemysław W. , Stasiak Magdalena , Krawczyk-Rusiecka Kinga , Skowrońska-Jóźwiak Elżbieta , Adamczewski Zbigniew , Lewiński Andrzej
Published: February 2019

Focal thyroid lesions are common ultrasound findings with the estimated prevalence up to 67% of the population. They form characteristically enveloped regions with individual encapsulated microenvironment that may involve the specific distribution of immune system compounds—especially antigen presenting cells (APC). We analyzed and compared the most potent APC—plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells (DCs) subpopulations and three monocyte subpopulations as well as other immune cells—in peripheral blood and local blood of thyroid gland obtained parallelly in patients with focal thyroid lesions using flow cytometry. The analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of main subsets of assessed cells between peripheral blood and biopsy material. The results support the existence of local, organ-specific immune reaction control networks within thyroid nodules.
Systematical Identification of Breast Cancer-Related Circular RNA Modules for Deciphering circRNA Functions Based on the Non-Negative Matrix Factorization Algorithm
Authors: Wang Shuyuan , Xia Peng , Zhang Li , Yu Lei , Liu Hui , Meng Qianqian , Liu Siyao , Li Jie , Song Qian , Wu Jie , Wang Weida , Yang Lei , Xiao Yun , Xu Chaohan
Published: February 2019

Circular RNA (circRNA), a kind of special endogenous RNA, has been shown to be implicated in crucial biological processes of multiple cancers as a gene regulator. However, the functional roles of circRNAs in breast cancer (BC) remain to be poorly explored, and relatively incomplete knowledge of circRNAs handles the identification and prediction of BC-related circRNAs. Towards this end, we developed a systematic approach to identify circRNA modules in the BC context through integrating circRNA, mRNA, miRNA, and pathway data based on a non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm. Thirteen circRNA modules were uncovered by our approach, containing 4164 nodes (80 circRNAs, 2703 genes, 63 miRNAs and 1318 pathways) and 67,959 edges in total. GO (Gene Ontology) function screening identified nine circRNA functional modules with 44 circRNAs. Within them, 31 circRNAs in eight modules having direct relationships with known BC-related genes, miRNAs or disease-related pathways were selected as BC candidate circRNAs. Functional enrichment results showed that they were closely related with BC-associated pathways, such as ‘KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) PATHWAYS IN CANCER’, ‘REACTOME IMMUNE SYSTEM’ and ‘KEGG MAPK SIGNALING PATHWAY’, ‘KEGG P53 SIGNALING PATHWAY’ or ‘KEGG WNT SIGNALING PATHWAY’, and could sever as potential circRNA biomarkers in BC. Comparison results showed that our approach could identify more BC-related functional circRNA modules in performance. In summary, we proposed a novel systematic approach dependent on the known disease information of mRNA, miRNA and pathway to identify BC-related circRNA modules, which could help identify BC-related circRNAs and benefits treatment and prognosis for BC patients.
Potential Analysis and Preparation of Chitosan Oligosaccharides as Oral Nutritional Supplements of Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
Authors: Jiang Zhiwen , Li Hui , Qiao Jing , Yang Yan , Wang Yanting , Liu Wanshun , Han Baoqin
Published: February 2019

Cancer is considered to have an adverse influence on health around the world. Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide that contains copolymers of β-1-4 linked d-glucosamine and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine units, has been widely used in the field of biomedicine, owing to its nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hemocompatibility. This study was aimed at preparing the chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) and examining its ability on suppressing lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells model and C57BL/6 mice bearing lung cancer model were adopted. COS showed inhibition on the viability and proliferation of lung carcinoma cells (A549) in time-dependent manners, but no cytotoxicity to human liver cell (HL-7702). Moreover, COS could significantly increase Bax expression of A549 cells while decreasing Bcl-2 expression. COS supplementation significantly inhibited the growth of Lewis tissues and promoted necrosis of tumor cells in vivo. After treatment with COS, significantly elevated concentrations of Bax and reduced expression of Bcl-2 in tumor tissues, as well as elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-2, Fas and Fas-L in mice serum were observed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, COS had certain anti-tumor effects and potential application as a synergic functional food ingredient to prevent cancer.
Resveratrol as a Tumor-Suppressive Nutraceutical Modulating Tumor Microenvironment and Malignant Behaviors of Cancer
Authors: Han Youngjin , Jo HyunA , Cho Jae Hyun , Dhanasekaran Danny N. , Song Yong Sang
Published: February 2019

Tumor-suppressive effects of resveratrol have been shown in various types of cancer. However, regulation of tumor microenvironment by resveratrol is still unclear. Recent findings suggest resveratrol can potentiate its tumor-suppressive effect through modulation of the signaling pathways of cellular components (fibroblasts, macrophages and T cells). Also, studies have shown that resveratrol can suppress malignant phenotypes of cancer cells acquired in response to stresses of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, oxidative stress and inflammation. We discuss the effects of resveratrol on cancer cells in stress environment of tumors as well as interactions between cancer cells and non-cancer cells in this review.
Covalently Linking Oligomerization-Impaired GlpF Protomers Does Not Completely Re-establish Wild-Type Channel Activity
Authors: Klein Noreen , Trefz Margareta , Schneider Dirk
Published: February 2019

Integral membrane proteins of the aquaporin family facilitate rapid water flux across cellular membranes in all domains of life. Although the water-conducting pore is clearly defined in an aquaporin monomer, all aquaporins assemble into stable tetramers. In order to investigate the role of protomer–protomer interactions, we analyzed the activity of heterotetramers containing increasing fractions of mutated monomers, which have an impaired oligomerization propensity and activity. In order to enforce interaction between the protomers, we designed and analyzed a genetically fused homotetramer of GlpF, the aquaglyceroporin of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). However, increasing fractions of the oligomerization-impaired mutant GlpF E43A affected the activity of the GlpF heterotetramer in a nearly linear manner, indicating that the reduced protein activity, caused by the introduced mutations, cannot be fully compensated by simply covalently linking the monomers. Taken together, the results underline the importance of exactly positioned monomer–monomer contacts in an assembled GlpF tetramer.
Performance of Li4SiO4 Material for CO2 Capture: A Review
Authors: Yan Xianyao , Li Yingjie , Ma Xiaotong , Zhao Jianli , Wang Zeyan
Published: February 2019

Lithium silicate (Li4SiO4) material can be applied for CO2 capture in energy production processes, such as hydrogen plants, based on sorption-enhanced reforming and fossil fuel-fired power plants, which has attracted research interests of many researchers. However, CO2 absorption performance of Li4SiO4 material prepared by the traditional solid-state reaction method is unsatisfactory during the absorption/regeneration cycles. Improving CO2 absorption capacity and cyclic stability of Li4SiO4 material is a research highlight during the energy production processes. The state-of-the-art kinetic and quantum mechanical studies on the preparation and CO2 absorption process of Li4SiO4 material are summarized, and the recent studies on the effects of preparation methods, dopants, and operating conditions on CO2 absorption performance of Li4SiO4 material are reviewed. Additionally, potential research thoughts and trends are also suggested.
Mono- and Hexanuclear Zinc Halide Complexes with Soft Thiopyridazine Based Scorpionate Ligands
Authors: Tüchler Michael , Ramböck Melanie , Glanzer Simon , Zangger Klaus , Belaj Ferdinand , Mösch-Zanetti Nadia C.
Published: February 2019

Scorpionate ligands with three soft sulfur donor sites have become very important in coordination chemistry. Despite its ability to form highly electrophilic species, electron-deficient thiopyridazines have rarely been used, whereas the chemistry of electron-rich thioheterocycles has been explored rather intensively. Here, the unusual chemical behavior of a thiopyridazine (6-tert-butylpyridazine-3-thione, HtBuPn) based scorpionate ligand towards zinc is reported. Thus, the reaction of zinc halides with tris(6-tert-butyl-3-thiopyridazinyl)borate Na[TntBu] leads to the formation of discrete torus-shaped hexameric zinc complexes [TntBuZnX]6 (X = Br, I) with uncommonly long zinc halide bonds. In contrast, reaction of the sterically more demanding ligand K[TnMe,tBu] leads to decomposition, forming Zn(HPnMe,tBu)2X2 (X = Br, I). The latter can be prepared independently by reaction of the respective zinc halides and two equiv of HPnMe,tBu. The bromide compound was used as precursor which further reacts with K[TnMe,tBu] forming the mononuclear complex [TnMe,tBu]ZnBr(HPnMe,tBu). The molecular structures of all compounds were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Characterization in solution was performed by means of 1H, 13C and DOSY NMR spectroscopy which revealed the hexameric constitution of [TntBuZnBr]6 to be predominant. In contrast, [TnMe,tBu]ZnBr(HPnMe,tBu) was found to be dynamic in solution.
Somatosensory Electrical Stimulation Does Not Improve Motor Coordination in Patients with Unilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Veldman Menno P. , Item-Glatthorn Julia F. , Visscher Rosa M.S. , Hortobágyi Tibor , Maffiuletti Nicola A.
Published: February 2019

Non-surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is often focused on the motor component of KOA even though there is evidence that sensory dysfunctions play an important role in the impaired control of the affected joint. Excitation of sensory afferents can increase motor function by exploiting the nervous system’s ability to adapt to changing environments (i.e., neuronal plasticity). Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of a single session (30 min) of sensory intervention targeting neuronal plasticity using low-frequency (10 Hz) somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) of the femoral nerve. We evaluated the effects of SES on the position and force control of the affected knee and self-reported pain in KOA patients (n = 14) in a sham-controlled randomized trial. The results showed that SES did not improve measures of lower-limb motor coordination compared to sham stimulation in KOA patients, nor did it improve self-reported knee function and pain (all p > 0.05). In conclusion, despite sensory involvement in KOA, the sensory intervention used in the present explorative study did not relieve self-reported pain, which may underlie the absence of an effect on measures of motor coordination. In sum, the present explorative study showed that SES alone does not improve motor coordination in KOA patients.
A Pilot Study of Infrared Thermography Based Assessment of Local Skin Temperature Response in Overweight and Lean Women during Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Authors: Jalil Bushra , Hartwig Valentina , Moroni Davide , Salvetti Ovidio , Benassi Antonio , Jalil Zunera , Pistoia Laura , Minutoli Tegrimi Tommaso , Quinones-Galvan Alfredo , Iervasi Giorgio , L’Abbate Antonio , Guiducci Letizia
Published: February 2019

Obesity is recognized as a major public health issue, as it is linked to the increased risk of severe pathological conditions. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the relations between adiposity (and biophysical characteristics) and temperature profiles under thermoneutral conditions in normal and overweight females, investigating the potential role of heat production/dissipation alteration in obesity. We used Infrared Thermography (IRT) to evaluate the thermogenic response to a metabolic stimulus performed with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Thermographic images of the right hand and of the central abdomen (regions of interests) were obtained basally and during the oral glucose tolerance test (3 h OGTT with the ingestion of 75 g of oral glucose) in normal and overweight females. Regional temperature vs BMI, % of body fat and abdominal skinfold were statistically compared between two groups. The study showed that mean abdominal temperature was significantly greater in lean than overweight participants (34.11 ± 0.70 °C compared with 32.92 ± 1.24 °C, p < 0.05). Mean hand temperature was significantly greater in overweight than lean subjects (31.87 ± 3.06 °C compared with 28.22 ± 3.11 °C, p < 0.05). We observed differences in temperature profiles during OGTT between lean and overweight subjects: The overweight individuals depict a flat response as compared to the physiological rise observed in lean individuals. This observed difference in thermal pattern suggests an energy rate imbalance towards nutrients storage of the overweight subjects.