bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioactivities of Halometabolites from Marine Actinobacteria
Authors: Kasanah Noer , Triyanto Triyanto
Published: June 2019

Natural halogenated compounds (halometabolites) are produced mainly by marine organisms, including marine Actinobacteria. Many commercially important compounds for pharmaceuticals contain halogen, and the halogen is responsible for the physical and chemical properties as well as bioactivities and toxicities. In the exploration of marine environment that is supported by advanced structure elucidation, varied panel bioassays and high-throughput screening have accelerated number of halometabolites isolated from marine Actinobacteria to date. The metabolites exhibited unique structures and promising bioactivities. This review focuses on the chemodiversity and bioactivities of marine halometabolites from marine Actinobacteria reported in the last 15 years (2003–2018).
Comparative Analysis of Two Methods for the Detection of EGFR Mutations in Plasma Circulating Tumor DNA from Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Hung Ming-Szu , Lung Jr-Hau , Lin Yu-Ching , Fang Yu-Hung , Huang Shu-Yi , Jiang Yuan-Yuan , Hsieh Meng-Jer , Tsai Ying-Huang
Published: June 2019

Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are associated with various solid tumors. This study aimed to compare two methods for the detection of EGFR mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients and to evaluate the clinical significance of EGFR mutations in ctDNA. In this prospective cohort study, the EGFR mutation status of 77 patients with stage IIIB or IV LUAD was first determined using lung cancer tissue. The amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and single allele base extension reaction combined with mass spectroscopy (SABER/MassARRAY) methods were also used to detect EGFR mutations in plasma ctDNA from these patients and then compared using the EGFR mutation status in lung cancer tissue as a standard. Furthermore, the relationship between the presence of EGFR mutations in ctDNA after receiving first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy and survival was evaluated. The overall sensitivity and specificity for the detection of EGFR mutations in plasma ctDNA by ARMS and SABER/MassARRAY were 49.1% vs. 56% and 90% vs. 95%, respectively. The agreement level between these methods was very high, with a kappa-value of 0.88 (95% CI 0.77–0.99). Moreover, 43 of the patients who carried EGFR mutations also received first-line EGFR-TKI therapy. Notably, patients with EGFR mutations in plasma ctDNA had significantly shorter progression-free survival (9.0 months, 95% CI 7.0–11.8, vs. 15.0 months, 95% CI 11.7–28.2; p = 0.02) and overall survival (30.6 months, 95% CI 12.4–37.2, vs. 55.6 months, 95% CI 25.8–61.8; p = 0.03) compared to those without detectable EGFR mutations. The detection of EGFR mutations in plasma ctDNA is a promising, minimally invasive, and reliable alternative to tumor biopsy, and the presence of EGFR mutations in plasma ctDNA after first-line EGFR-TKI therapy is associated with poor prognosis.
Bioinformatics Analysis for Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Cancer
Authors: Huang Chiang-Ching , Du Meijun , Wang Liang
Published: June 2019

Molecular analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) that circulates in plasma and other body fluids represents a “liquid biopsy” approach for non-invasive cancer screening or monitoring. The rapid development of sequencing technologies has made cfDNA a promising source to study cancer development and progression. Specific genetic and epigenetic alterations have been found in plasma, serum, and urine cfDNA and could potentially be used as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers in various cancer types. In this review, we will discuss the molecular characteristics of cancer cfDNA and major bioinformatics approaches involved in the analysis of cfDNA sequencing data for detecting genetic mutation, copy number alteration, methylation change, and nucleosome positioning variation. We highlight specific challenges in sensitivity to detect genetic aberrations and robustness of statistical analysis. Finally, we provide perspectives regarding the standard and continuing development of bioinformatics analysis to move this promising screening tool into clinical practice.
PD-L1 Expression with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition of Circulating Tumor Cells Is Associated with Poor Survival in Curatively Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Manjunath Yariswamy , Upparahalli Sathisha V. , Avella Diego M. , Deroche Chelsea B. , Kimchi Eric T. , Staveley-O’Carroll Kevin F. , Smith Charles J. , Li Guangfu , Kaifi Jussuf T.
Published: June 2019

In addition to the FDA-approved definition of a circulating tumor cell (CTC), various CTC phenotypes have been discovered. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells is directly linked to PD-L1 upregulation. The goal of the study was to investigate PD-L1 expression and EMT in CTCs of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and perform an outcome analysis. Prospectively, 7.5 mL peripheral blood was collected from 30 NSCLC patients that underwent surgery and 15 healthy controls. CTCs were enriched by size-based microfilter and immunofluorescence stainings performed (cytokeratin (CK) 8/18/19, EpCAM, CD45, PD-L1, EMT markers vimentin, and N-Cadherin, DAPI). Patient-matched NSCLC tissues were also stained. CTC staining intensity was quantified with a software and correlated with patient-matched NSCLC tissues and survival. PD-L1 and EMT markers were expressed at significantly higher proportions in CTCs than patient-matched NSCLC tissues (p < 0.05); ≥3 PD-L1pos/EMTposCTCs were associated with significantly poorer survival after curative surgery (p < 0.05). No CTCs were detected in 15 healthy controls. This study shows that PD-L1 expression and EMT of CTCs is a negative survival predictor for NSCLC patients. The therapeutic role of the molecular linkage of PD-L1 and EMT will need to be further investigated, as linked pathways could be targeted to improve NSCLC outcome.
A Versatile Strategy to Reduce UGA-Selenocysteine Recoding Efficiency of the Ribosome Using CRISPR-Cas9-Viral-Like-Particles Targeting Selenocysteine-tRNA[Ser]Sec Gene
Authors: Vindry Caroline , Guillin Olivia , Mangeot Philippe E. , Ohlmann Théophile , Chavatte Laurent
Published: June 2019

The translation of selenoprotein mRNAs involves a non-canonical ribosomal event in which an in-frame UGA is recoded as a selenocysteine (Sec) codon instead of being read as a stop codon. The recoding machinery is centered around two dedicated RNA components: The selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) located in the 3′ UTR of the mRNA and the selenocysteine-tRNA (Sec-tRNA[Ser]Sec). This translational UGA-selenocysteine recoding event by the ribosome is a limiting stage of selenoprotein expression. Its efficiency is controlled by the SECIS, the Sec-tRNA[Ser]Sec and their interacting protein partners. In the present work, we used a recently developed CRISPR strategy based on murine leukemia virus-like particles (VLPs) loaded with Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteins to inactivate the Sec-tRNA[Ser]Sec gene in human cell lines. We showed that these CRISPR-Cas9-VLPs were able to induce efficient genome-editing in Hek293, HepG2, HaCaT, HAP1, HeLa, and LNCaP cell lines and this caused a robust reduction of selenoprotein expression. The alteration of selenoprotein expression was the direct consequence of lower levels of Sec-tRNA[Ser]Sec and thus a decrease in translational recoding efficiency of the ribosome. This novel strategy opens many possibilities to study the impact of selenoprotein deficiency in hard-to-transfect cells, since these CRISPR-Cas9-VLPs have a wide tropism.
An Investigation into the Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Meteorological Drought in Jordan
Authors: Aladaileh Haitham , Al Qinna Mohammed , Karoly Barta , Al-Karablieh Emad , Rakonczai János
Published: June 2019

Following the impact of droughts witnessed during the last decade there is an urgent need to develop a drought management strategy, policy framework, and action plan for Jordan. This study aims to provide a historical baseline using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and meteorological drought maps, and to investigate the spatial and temporal trends using long-term historical precipitation records. Specifically, this study is based on the statistical analysis of 38 years of monthly rainfall data, gathered from all 29 meteorological stations that cover Jordan. The Mann–Kendall test and linear regression analysis were used to uncover evidence of long-term trends in precipitation. Drought indices were used for calculating the meteorological SPI on an annual (SPI12), 6-months (SPI6), and 3-months basis (SPI3). At each level, every drought event was characterized according to its duration, interval, and intensity. Then, drought maps were generated using interpolation kriging to investigate the spatial extent of drought events, while drought patterns were temporally characterized using multilinear regression and spatial grouped using the hierarchical clustering technique. Both annual and monthly trend analyses and the Mann–Kendall test indicated significant reduction of precipitation in time for all weather stations except for Madaba. The rate of decrease is estimated at approximately 1.8 mm/year for the whole country. The spatial SPI krig maps that were generated suggest the presence of two drought types in the spatial dimension: Local and national. Local droughts reveal no actual observed trends or repeatable patterns of occurrence. However, looking at meteorological droughts across all time scales indicated that Jordan is facing an increasing number of local droughts. With a probability of occurrence of once every two years to three years. On the other hand, extreme national droughts occur once every 15 to 20 years and last for two or more consecutive years. Linear trends indicated significant increase in drought magnitude by time with a rate of 0.02 (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis indicated that draught in Jordan is time dependent (p < 0.001) rather than being spatially dependent (p > 0.99). Hierarchical clustering was able to group national draughts into three zones, namely the northern zone, the eastern zone, and the southern zone. This study highlights the urgent need for a monitoring program to investigate local and national drought impacts on all sectors, as well as the development of a set of proactive risk management measures and preparedness plans for various physiographic regions.
Corrosion Behavior of AZ91D Magnesium Alloy with a Calcium–Phosphate–Vanadium Composite Conversion Coating
Authors: Sun Ruixue , Yang Shuaikang , Lv Tao
Published: June 2019

A novel self-healing calcium–phosphate–vanadium (Ca–P–V) composite coating on Mg alloy was successfully fabricated through a chemical conversion method. The effects of the vanadium concentration on the anticorrosion property of the substrate were also tested. The Ca–P–V coating with the main composition of CaHPO4, Ca3(PO4)2, and Mg3(PO4)2, with some hydroxides of V(V) dispersed into it has a similar morphology to the single vanadium coating. The corrosion behaviour of the Ca–P–V coating was studied through the electrochemical tests and the scratch immersion test in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution. The results showed that the Ca–P–V coated samples not only exhibit good corrosion resistance property, but also show self-healing ability. The ions of Ca, P, and V released from the coating can migrate in the corrosion solution and form a new compound layer on the damaged zone.
3D Printed Radar Lenses with Anti-Reflective Structures
Authors: Friel Ross J. , Gerling-Gerdin Maria , Nilsson Emil , Andreasson Björn P.
Published: June 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if 3D printed lenses with wavelength specific anti-reflective (AR) surface structures would improve beam intensity and thus radar efficiency for a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)-based 60 GHz radar. This would have potential for improved low-cost radar lenses for the consumer product market. Methods: A hyperbolic lens was designed in 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and was then modified with a wavelength specified AR structure. Electromagnetic computer simulation was performed on both the ‘smooth’ and ‘AR structure’ lenses and compared to actual 60 GHz radar measurements of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) lenses. Results: The simulation results showed an increase of 10% in signal intensity of the AR structure lens over the smooth lens. Actual measurement showed an 8% increase in signal of the AR structure lens over the smooth lens. Conclusions: Low cost and readily available Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing has been shown to be capable of printing an AR structure coated hyperbolic lens for millimeter wavelength radar applications. These 3D Printed AR structure lenses are effective in improving radar measurements over non-AR structure lenses.
Multifractal Spectrum Curvature of RR Tachograms of Healthy People and Patients with Congestive Heart Failure, a New Tool to Assess Health Conditions
Authors: Aguilar-Molina Ana María , Angulo-Brown Fernando , Muñoz-Diosdado Alejandro
Published: June 2019

We calculate the multifractal spectra of heartbeat RR-interval time series (tachograms) of healthy subjects and patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). From these time series, we obtained new subseries of 6 h durations when healthy persons and patients were asleep and awake respectively. For each time series and subseries, we worked out the multifractal spectra with the Chhabra and Jensen method and found that their graphs have different shapes for CHF patients and healthy persons. We suggest to measure two parameters: the curvature around the maximum and the symmetry for all these multifractal spectra graphs, because these parameters were different for healthy and CHF subjects. Multifractal spectra of healthy subjects tend to be right skewed especially when the subjects are asleep and the curvature around the maximum is small compared with the curvature around the maximum of the CHF multifractal spectra; that is, the spectra of patients tend to be more pointed around the maximum. In CHF patients, we also have encountered differences in the curvature of the multifractal spectra depending on their respective New York Heart Association (NYHA) index.
Mechanism of Degradation Rate on the Irradiated Double-Polysilicon Self-Aligned Bipolar Transistor
Authors: Liu Mohan , Lu Wu , Yu Xin , Wang Xin , Li Xiaolong , Yao Shuai , Guo Qi
Published: June 2019

The latent enhanced low dose rate sensitivity (ELDRS) effect is observed in the double-polysilicon self-aligned (DPSA) technology PNP bipolar junction transistor (BJT) irradiated with a high and low dose rate gamma ray, which is discussed from the perspective of the three-stage degradation rate of the excess base current. The great degradation rate as a result of the high dose irradiation of the first stage is dominantly ascribed to the positive oxide trap charges accumulated during a short irradiation, and then due to the competition between the recombination of electrons and capture of the hole by the traps. It declined sharply into a degradation rate saturated region of the second stage. However, for the low dose rate, the small increase in the degradation rate in the first stage is caused by the holes escaping from the initial recombination and being transported to the interface to form the interface states. Then, the competition between the steadily increasing interfacial trap charge and the continuously annealed shallow level oxide trap charge leads to the stable increase of degradation under low dose irradiation. Finally, in stage three, the increases of the degradation rates for high and low dose irradiation result from the different amounts of the hydrogen molecules generated by the hole reactive with depassiviated Si suspended bonds, which can interact with the deep level defects and release protons, causing an increase of interfacial trap charges with prolonged irradiation.
Research on an EV Dynamic Wireless Charging Control Method Adapting to Speed Change
Authors: Tan Linlin , Zhao Wenxuan , Ju Minghao , Liu Han , Huang Xueliang
Published: June 2019

In order to solve the problem of the electric vehicle (EV) charging amount fluctuation caused by the variation of driving speed during dynamic wireless charging, this paper proposes an EV dynamic wireless charging control method adapting to speed change. Firstly, a dynamic wireless charging model based on a long-track transmitting coil is established, and the expression of the charging power of each load under multi-load situation is obtained. Secondly, the influence of the EV charging number and maximum driving speed on the range of system parameters is studied. Subsequently, the method for determining the load resistance value according to the driving speed under a multi-EV charging condition is further discussed. Afterwards, a charging power control method adapting to the speed variation by load adjustment is proposed. By adjusting the equivalent load of the variable-speed charging EV, its speed variation range can reach 20~60 km/h, while the remaining EVs’ charging power fluctuation range can be kept within 10%~15%. Finally, the experimental prototype is built to verify the above-mentioned control method.
Energy Renovation versus Demolition and Construction of a New Building—A Comparative Analysis of a Swedish Multi-Family Building
Authors: La Fleur Lina , Rohdin Patrik , Moshfegh Bahram
Published: June 2019

This study addresses the life cycle costs (LCC) of energy renovation, and the demolition and construction of a new building. A comparison is made between LCC optimal energy renovations of four different building types with thermal performance, representing Swedish constructions from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, as well as the demolition of the building and construction of a new building that complies with the Swedish building code. A Swedish multi-family building from the 1960s is used as a reference building. LCC optimal energy renovations are identified with energy saving targets ranging between 10% and 70%, in addition to the lowest possible life cycle cost. The analyses show that an ambitious energy renovation is not cost-optimal in any of the studied buildings, if achieving the lowest LCC is the objective function. The cost of the demolition and construction of a new building is higher compared to energy renovation to the same energy performance. The higher rent in new buildings does not compensate for the higher cost of new construction. A more ambitious renovation is required in buildings that have a shape factor with a high internal volume to heated floor area ratio.
A Method to Enhance the Global Efficiency of High-Power Photovoltaic Inverters Connected in Parallel
Authors: Liberos Marian , González-Medina Raúl , Garcerá Gabriel , Figueres Emilio
Published: June 2019

Central inverters are usually employed in large photovoltaic farms because they offer a good compromise between costs and efficiency. However, inverters based on a single power stage have poor efficiency in the low power range, when the irradiation conditions are low. For that reason, an extended solution has been the parallel connection of several inverter modules that manage a fraction of the full power. Besides other benefits, this power architecture can improve the efficiency of the whole system by connecting or disconnecting the modules depending on the amount of managed power. In this work, a control technique is proposed that maximizes the global efficiency of this kind of systems. The developed algorithm uses a functional model of the inverters’ efficiency to decide the number of modules on stream. This model takes into account both the power that is instantaneously processed and the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) voltage that is applied to the photovoltaic field. A comparative study of several models of efficiency for photovoltaic inverters is carried out, showing that bidimensional models are the best choice for this kind of systems. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated by considering the real characteristics of commercial inverters, showing that a significant improvement of the global efficiency is obtained at the low power range in the case of sunny days. Moreover, the proposed technique dramatically improves the global efficiency in cloudy days.
Study on A Simple Model to Forecast the Electricity Demand under China’s New Normal Situation
Authors: Lin Jinchai , Zhu Kaiwei , Liu Zhen , Lieu Jenny , Tan Xianchun
Published: June 2019

A simple model was built to predict the national and regional electricity demand by sectors under China’s new normal situation. In the model, the data dimensionality reduction method and the Grey model (GM(1,1)) were combined and adopted to disaggregate the national economic growth rate into regional levels and forecast each region’s contribution rate to the national economic growth and regional industrial structure. Then, a bottom–up accounting model that considered the impacts of regional industrial structure transformation, regional energy efficiency, and regional household electric consumption was built to predict national and regional electric demand. Based on the predicted values, this paper analyzed the spatial changes in electric demand, and our results indicate the following. Firstly, the proposed model has high accuracy in national electricity demand prediction: the relative error in 2017 and 2018 was 2.90% and 2.60%, respectively. Secondly, China’s electric demand will not peak before 2025, and it is estimated to be between 7772.16 and 8458.85 billion kW·h in 2025, which is an increase of 31.28–42.88% compared with the total electricity consumption in 2016. The proportion of electricity demand in the mid-west regions will increase, while the eastern region will continue to be the country’s load center. Thirdly, under China’s new normal, households and the tertiary industry will be the main driving forces behind the increases in electric demand. Lastly, the drop in China’s economy under the new normal will lead to a decline in the total electricity demand, but it will not evidently change the electricity consumption share of the primary industry, secondary industry, tertiary industry, and household sector.
Research on Evaluation of Power Supply Capability of Active Distribution Network with Distributed Power Supply with High Permeability
Authors: Ren Jiafeng , Liang Haifeng , Gao Yajing
Published: June 2019

With the large number of distributed generation (DG) access to the distribution network, the traditional distribution network with a single-supply radial structure has been transformed into an active distribution system (ADS) with source and bidirectional currents. This transformation makes the calculation of the power supply capacity (PSC) of the ADS face new challenges, and the uncertainty of the DG output increases the difficulty in calculating the PSC. At the same time, the power market transaction check needs to meet the safety constraints of the distribution network operation, and is required to know the PSC information of the ADS more quickly and accurately. Therefore, in order to quickly evaluate the PSC of the ADS, this paper proposes a fast evaluation method of the PSC based on the DG output rolling prediction and the information gap decision theory (IGDT). The method first establishes a rolling prediction model of the DG output, and calculates the PSC of the ADS at the corresponding time. Next, it establishes a risk avoidance model (RAM) and a risk speculation model (RSM) for the PSC of the ADS based on the IGDT. These models further calculate the probability of the range of the PSC at the corresponding time, so as to better evaluate the PSC of the ADS. Finally, the improved IEEE-14 node is used to verify that the model can consider the influence of the DG output uncertainty and quickly calculate the information of PSC.
The Heterogeneous Interconnections between Supply or Demand Side and Oil Risks
Authors: Liao Gaoke , Li Zhenghui , Du Ziqing , Liu Yue
Published: June 2019

Due to the crucial implication of oil risks for economic growth and policy making, the aim of this paper is to explore the heterogeneous interconnections of supply or demand in oil risks over time horizons and different countries. Specifically, we first examine the correlation of supply or demand in oil return risks and show the relationships in different countries based on wavelet coherence. Furthermore, we explore the time-varying interconnections between supply- or demand-side and oil return risks, as well as oil producers and demand countries. The empirical results show that the correlation between supply and oil return risks is relatively stable, whereas the linkage between demand and oil return risks shows greater volatility due to the impact of specific events. Further study indicates that there are heterogeneous interconnections between supply- or demand-side and oil return risks over sample periods. Specifically, the sign of response could be divided into four phases, i.e., 1997–2002, 2002–2010, 2010–2013 and 2014–2018. In addition, the interconnections of the demand side could be divided into three phases due to the sign of it. What is more, the dynamic interconnections of oil producers’ or countries’ demands behave quite heterogeneously in different countries. Thus policymakers should focus on the coordination level and space capacity in the global crude oil market.
The Impacts of Vegetation Types and Soil Properties on Soil Microbial Activity and Metabolic Diversity in Subtropical Forests
Authors: Pang Danbo , Wang Genzhu , Liu Yuguo , Cao Jianhua , Wan Long , Wu Xiuqin , Zhou Jinxing
Published: June 2019

Microbial functional diversity is significantly associated with both nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. However, how different forests as well as the soil parent materials influence the soil microbial carbon metabolism remains poorly understood. In this study, a natural secondary forest and a Pinus yunnanensis plantation, with similar climatic conditions under contrasting parent materials (clasolite in the non-karst areas and limestone in the karst areas) in Yunnan Province, China, were investigated. The soil microbial carbon metabolism diversity was assessed by the Biolog® ECO-plates. During the dry season, the soil microbial communities used carbon substrate in secondary forest and Pinus yunnanensis plantation, showing no significant difference, both in non-karst and karst areas. The microbial communities in the non-karst area were more efficient in utilizing carbon substrates than those in the karst area with the same vegetation types, resulting in the higher accumulation of organic carbon in the karst area. The six categories of most frequently utilized carbon substrates were carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, and amino acids in both the non-karst and the karst areas. The soil basal respiration of the secondary forest was higher than that of the Pinus yunnanensis plantation, both in the non-karst and the karst areas. In addition, the driving factors of the soil microbial community functional diversity in the non-karst and karst areas are different. Our findings suggest that soil microbial functional diversity is governed by vegetation types as well as by soil properties in subtropical forests. Moreover, calcareous soil holds a higher proportion of recalcitrant organic carbon, which is difficult to utilize by microorganisms.
Potential Distribution Shifts of Plant Species under Climate Change in Changbai Mountains, China
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Wen J. , Wu Zhengfang , Du Haibo , Zong Shengwei , Ma Shuang
Published: June 2019

Shifts in alpine tundra plant species have important consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, recent research on upward species shifts have focused mainly on polar and high-latitude regions and it therefore remains unclear whether such vegetation change trends also are applicable to the alpine tundra at the southern edges of alpine tundra species distribution. This study evaluated an alpine tundra region within the Changbai Mountains, China, that is part of the southernmost alpine tundra in eastern Eurasia. We investigated plant species shifts in alpine tundra within the Changbai Mountains over the last three decades (1984–2015) by comparing contemporary survey results with historical ones and evaluated potential changes in the distribution of dwarf shrub and herbaceous species over the next three decades (2016–2045) using a combination of observations and simulations. The results of this study revealed that the encroachment of herbaceous plants had altered tundra vegetation to a significant extent over the last three decades, especially within low and middle alpine tundra regions in Changbai Mountains, China. The herbaceous species would continue shifting upward and expanding while their dwarf shrub counterparts would continue shifting upward and shrinking over the next three decades under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The upward shifts of plant species would not keep up with the rate of climate warming under the RCP 8.5 scenarios. The dominant plant tundra species may transform from dwarf shrubs to herbaceous varieties. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for biodiversity protection under climate change and a reference data set for additional research on alpine vegetation dynamics.
Food Industrial Production of Monosaccharides Using Microbial, Enzymatic, and Chemical Methods
Authors: Shintani Tomoya
Published: June 2019

Most monosaccharides in nature are hexoses, which have six carbon atoms; the most well-known hexose is d-glucose. Various hexoses with distinct characteristics can be produced from inexpensive polysaccharides for applications in the food industry. Therefore, identification of the health-related functions of hexose will facilitate the consumption of hexoses in food products to improve quality of life. The hexoses available in foods include N-acetyl glucosamine, d-glucosamine, d-fructose, d-mannose, d-galactose, other d-hexoses, and l-hexoses. Here, an updated overview of food industrial production methods for natural hexoses by microbial, enzymatic, and chemical methods is provided.
Added Mass Effects on a Francis Turbine Runner with Attached Blade Cavitation
Authors: Huang Xingxing , Escaler Xavier
Published: June 2019

To have a safe structural design, an analysis of the dynamic behavior of a Francis turbine runner with consideration of the added mass effects of surrounding water is necessary during design phase. Both in design and at off-design operations, large-scale forms of attached cavitation may appear on runner blades and can change the added mass effects of the surrounding fluid in relation to a single water domain. Consequently, a numerical investigation of the modal response of a Francis runner has been carried out by reproducing the presence of various sizes of leading edge cavitation (LEC) and trailing edge cavitation (TEC). The fluid–structure interaction problem has been solved by means of an acoustic-structural coupling method. The calculated added mass effects with cavitation have been compared with those corresponding to the pure water condition without cavitation. Firstly, a single blade has been investigated to evaluate the level of significance for the proposed cavity shapes and dimensions. Afterwards, based on the results obtained, the complete runner structure has been considered, factoring in similar cavity shapes and locations. The results prove that significant added mass effects are induced on the entire runner by the attached cavitation that increase the natural frequencies of the first modes. Moreover, the added mass effects increase with cavity size and amplitude of blade deformation below the cavity.
Variations in Amino Acid and Protein Profiles in White versus Brown Teff (Eragrostis Tef) Seeds, and Effect of Extraction Methods on Protein Yields
Authors: Gebru Yoseph Asmelash , Hyun-II Jun , Young-Soo Kim , Myung-Kon Kim , Kwang-Pyo Kim
Published: June 2019

Data on variations in amino acid compositions and protein profiles among white and brown teff, a grain of growing interest, is either limited or contradicting at the moment. In this study, three white (Addis-W, Mekel-W and Debre-W) and three brown (Addis-B, Mekel-B and Debre-B) teff seed samples were used for whole flour amino acid analysis and protein fractionation with three different methods. White and brown seed types showed different physical changes during protein extraction. Brown teff displayed higher essential amino acid content than white with lysine present in high concentration in both seed types. Extraction with tert-butanol increased prolamin yields in teff compared to ethanol. The major protein fraction in teff was glutelin with white teff containing higher glutelin proportion than brown. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed clear genetic variability between white and brown teff seed types.
The Development of a Uniform Alginate-Based Coating for Cantaloupe and Strawberries and the Characterization of Water Barrier Properties
Authors: Senturk Parreidt Tugce , Lindner Martina , Rothkopf Isabell , Schmid Markus , Müller Kajetan
Published: June 2019

Water loss, gain or transfer results in a decline in the overall quality of food. The aim of this study was to form a uniform layer of sodium alginate-based edible coating (1.25% sodium alginate, 2% glycerol, 0.2% sunflower oil, 1% span 80, 0.2% tween 80, (w/w)) and investigate the effects on the water barrier characteristics of fresh-cut cantaloupe and strawberries. To this end, a uniform and continuous edible film formation was achieved (0.187 ± 0.076 mm and 0.235 ± 0.077 mm for cantaloupe and strawberries, respectively) with an additional immersion step into a calcium solution at the very beginning of the coating process. The coating application was effective in significantly reducing the water loss (%) of the cantaloupe pieces. However, no significant effect was observed in water vapor resistance results and weight change measurements in a climate chamber (80%→60% relative humidity (RH) at 10 °C). External packaging conditions (i.e., closed, perforated, and open) were not significantly effective on water activity (aw) values of cantaloupe, but were effective for strawberry values. In general, the coating application promoted the water loss of strawberry samples. Additionally, the water vapor transmission rate of stand-alone films was determined (2131 g·100 µm/(m2·d·bar) under constant environmental conditions (23 °C, 100%→50% RH) due to the ability to also evaluate the efficacy in ideal conditions.
Headspace Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Volatile Components Analysis in Ipomoea Cairica (L.) Sweet Leaves: Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents as Green Extraction and Dilution Matrix
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liang Xianrui
Published: June 2019

In this study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were used as both the extraction and dilution matrix in static headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SHS-GC-MS) for the analysis of volatile components in Ipomoea cairica (L). Sweet (ICS) leaves. Six NADESs were prepared and the NADESs composed of choline chloride and glucose with a 1:1 molar ratio containing 15% water were preferred due to the better peak responses. A total of 77 volatiles in ICS leaves were detected and tentatively identified by mass spectral matching with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, 2014) Mass Spectral Library and the retention index-assisted qualitative method. These 77 volatile components were mainly terpenoids, aromatics, and aliphatics. Among them, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenol were found to be the main components. This investigation verified that the use of NADESs is an efficient green extraction and dilution matrix of the SHS-GC-MS method for direct volatile component analysis of plant materials without extra extraction work.
Random Variables and Stable Distributions on Fractal Cantor Sets
Authors: Khalili Golmankhaneh Alireza , Fernandez Arran
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we introduce the concept of fractal random variables and their related distribution functions and statistical properties. Fractal calculus is a generalisation of standard calculus which includes function with fractal support. Here we combine this emerging field of study with probability theory, defining concepts such as Shannon entropy on fractal thin Cantor-like sets. Stable distributions on fractal sets are suggested and related physical models are presented. Our work is illustrated with graphs for clarity of the results.
Genomic Diversity of Two Hydrocarbon-Degrading and Plant Growth-Promoting Pseudomonas Species Isolated from the Oil Field of Bóbrka (Poland)
Authors: Imperato Valeria , Portillo-Estrada Miguel , McAmmond Breanne M. , Douwen Yorben , Van Hamme Jonathan D. , Gawronski Stanislaw W. , Vangronsveld Jaco , Thijs Sofie
Published: June 2019

Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are important resources for use in phytoremediation applications. Yet, for many hydrocarbonoclastic strains the genetic information regarding pollutant degradation and detoxification has not been thoroughly revealed. In this study, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were isolated from a long-term oil-polluted soil in Bóbrka, Poland. Pseudomonas spp. was the most dominant species. Of all 69 isolated strains tested in the laboratory using qualitative biochemical assays, 61% showed the capability to use diesel as sole carbon source, 33% could produce indole, 19% produced siderophores, 36% produced organic acids, and 54% were capable of producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-deaminase. From all morphologically and genetically different strains, two representative Pseudomonas spp., strain VI4.1 and VI4T1, were selected for genome sequencing. Genomic analyses indicated the presence of the full naphthalene dioxygenase operon (plasmid and chromosomal), of genes involved in the degradation of BTEX compounds (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) and alkanes (alkB gene) as well as the anthranilate degradation pathway (strain VI4T1) and terephthalate dioxygenase protein (strain VI4.1). Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) analyses confirmed naphthalene and BTEX degradation within seven days. Motility, resistance to abiotic stresses, high and low temperatures, low pH, and salinity were confirmed at the genetic level and experimentally verified. The presence of multiple degradative and plant growth promotion genes, together with the in vitro experimental evidence, indicates the high value of these two strains and their potential use for sustainable site clean-up.
Methylome-Wide Association Study in Peripheral White Blood Cells Focusing on Central Obesity and Inflammation
Authors: Arpón Ana , Milagro Fermín I. , Ramos-Lopez Omar , Mansego Maria L. , Riezu-Boj José-Ignacio , Martínez J. Alfredo
Published: June 2019

Epigenetic signatures such as DNA methylation may be associated with specific obesity traits in different tissues. The onset and development of some obesity-related complications are often linked to visceral fat accumulation. The aim of this study was to explore DNA methylation levels in peripheral white blood cells to identify epigenetic methylation marks associated with waist circumference (WC). DNA methylation levels were assessed using Infinium Human Methylation 450K and MethylationEPIC beadchip (Illumina) to search for putative associations with WC values of 473 participants from the Methyl Epigenome Network Association (MENA) project. Statistical analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were employed for assessing the relationship between methylation and WC. A total of 669 CpGs were statistically associated with WC (FDR < 0.05, slope ≥ |0.1|). From these CpGs, 375 CpGs evidenced a differential methylation pattern between females with WC ≤ 88 and > 88 cm, and 95 CpGs between males with WC ≤ 102 and > 102 cm. These differentially methylated CpGs are located in genes related to inflammation and obesity according to IPA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the top four significant differentially methylated CpGs separated by sex discriminated individuals with presence or absence of abdominal fat. ROC curves of all the CpGs from females and one CpG from males were validated in an independent sample (n = 161). These methylation results add further insights about the relationships between obesity, adiposity-associated comorbidities, and DNA methylation where inflammation processes may be involved.
Exploring the Potential Health Risks Faced by Waste Pickers on Landfills in South Africa: A Socio-Ecological Perspective
Authors: Schenck Catherina J , Blaauw Phillip F , Viljoen Jacoba MM , Swart Elizabeth C
Published: June 2019

Landfill and street waste pickers in South Africa are responsible for collecting substantial volumes of recyclable material, saving municipalities millions and contributing to a generally healthier and cleaner environment. Yet waste pickers continue to operate on the fringes of the economy and are exposed to many risks, particularly health risks which have a direct impact on the sustainability of their livelihoods. This article, using a mixed-methods approach, explores the health risks to which waste pickers working on nine different landfills in the country are exposed. The socio-ecological framework was used to analyse and present the results. A key finding was that waste picking, by its very nature, lends itself to innumerable health risks, but that these can be lessened through concerted and collaborative efforts on the part of landfill operators, local authorities and other stakeholders. Integrating the ‘self-employed’ waste pickers into the formal waste management system should be comprehensive in order to limit health risks. Waste pickers will never have a risk-free environment, but facilitative policies and supportive institutions can collaboratively help to mitigate these risks and create a more sustainable and dignified working environment towards sustaining their livelihoods.
Paraquat Preferentially Induces Apoptosis of Late Stage Effector Lymphocyte and Impairs Memory Immune Response in Mice
Authors: Shao Yiming , Zhao Yifan , Zhu Tingting , Zhang Fen , Chang Xiuli , Zhang Yubin , Zhou Zhijun
Published: June 2019

Paraquat (PQ) is a toxic non-selective herbicide. To date, the effect of PQ on memory immune response is still unknown. We investigated the impact of PQ on memory immune response. Adult C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously injected with 2 mg/kg PQ, 20 mg/kg PQ or vehicle control every three days for two weeks. A single injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) at day four after the initial PQ treatment was used to induce a primary immune response; a second KLH challenge was performed at three months post the first KLH immunization to induce a secondary immune response. In steady state, treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ reduced the level of serum total IgG, but not that of IgM; treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ decreased the number of effector and memory lymphocytes, but not naïve or inactivated lymphocytes. During the primary immune response to KLH, treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ did not influence the proliferation of lymphocytes or expression of co-stimulatory molecules. Instead, treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ increased the apoptosis of lymphocytes at late stage, but not early stage of the primary immune response. During the secondary immune response to KLH, treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ reduced the serum anti-KLH IgG and KLH-responsive CD4 T cells and B cells. Moreover, effector or activated lymphocytes were more sensitive to PQ-induced apoptosis in vitro. Treatment with 2 mg/kg PQ did not impact memory immune response to KLH. Thus, treatment with 20 mg/kg PQ increased apoptosis of late stage effector cells to yield less memory cells and thereafter impair memory immune response, providing a novel understanding of the immunotoxicity of PQ.
Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease in an Italian Prison
Authors: Fasciana Teresa , Mascarella Chiara , Distefano Salvatore Antonino , Calà Cinzia , Capra Giuseppina , Rampulla Angela , Di Carlo Paola , Palermo Mario , Giammanco Anna
Published: June 2019

Background: Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is the most common etiologic agent causing Legionnaires’ Disease (LD). Water systems offer the best growth conditions for Lp and support its spread by producing aerosols. From 2015 to 2017, the Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis of Palermo monitored the presence of Lp in nine prisons in Western Sicily. During this investigation, we compared Lp isolates from environmental samples in a prison located in Palermo with isolates from two prisoners in the same prison. Methods: We collected 93 water samples from nine Sicilian prisons and the bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) of two prisoners considered cases of LD. These samples were processed following the procedures described in the Italian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Legionellosis of 2015. Then, genotyping was performed on 19 Lp colonies (17 from water samples and 2 from clinical samples) using the Sequence-Based Typing (SBT) method, according to European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) protocols. Results: Lp serogroup (sg) 6 was the most prevalent serogroup isolated from the prisons analyzed (40%), followed by Lp sg 1 (16%). Most of all, in four penitentiary institutions, we detected a high concentration of Lp >104 Colony Forming Unit/Liter (CFU/L). The environmental molecular investigation found the following Sequence Types (STs) in Lp sg 6: ST 93, ST 292, ST 461, ST 728, ST 1317 and ST 1362, while most of the isolates in sg 1 belonged to ST 1. We also found a new ST that has since been assigned the number 2451 in the ESGLI-SBT database. From the several Lp sg 1 colonies isolated from the two BALs, we identified ST 2451. Conclusions: In this article, we described the results obtained from environmental and epidemiological investigations of Lp isolated from prisons in Western Sicily. Furthermore, we reported the first cluster of Legionnaires’ in an Italian prison and the molecular typing of Lp sg 1 from one prison’s water system and two BALs, identified the source of the contamination, and discovered a new ST.
Taxonomy-Oriented Domain Analysis of GIS: A Case Study for Paleontological Software Systems
Authors: Buccella Agustina , Cechich Alejandra , Porfiri Juan , Diniz Dos Santos Domenica
Published: June 2019

Documenting the paleontological process includes data produced by different techniques and protocols, which are used by paleontologists to prospect and eventually find a new fossil. Nowadays, together with the aforementioned data, a great amount of information is also available in terms of georeferenced systems, including contextual as well as descriptive information. However, the use of this information into a model capable of recognizing similarities and differences is still an open issue within the Natural Heritage community. From the software engineering field, software product lines are models that focus on reusing common assets, in such a way that new software developments are only concern on differentiation relying on already modeled (and implemented) systems. This synergy leads us to apply our taxonomy-oriented domain analysis for Software Product Line (SPL) development, when building systems for documenting the paleontological process. In this paper, we introduce the approach for building such software systems, and illustrate its use through a case study in North Patagonia. Findings show promissory results in terms of reuse.