bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sperm Proteome Analysis and Identification of Fertility-Associated Biomarkers in Unexplained Male Infertility
Authors: Panner Selvam Manesh Kumar , Agarwal Ashok , Pushparaj Peter Natesan , Baskaran Saradha , Bendou Hocine
Published: July 2019

Up to 30% of men with normal semen parameters suffer from infertility and the reason for this is unknown. Altered expression of sperm proteins may be a major cause of infertility in these men. Proteomic profiling was performed on pooled semen samples from eight normozoospermic fertile men and nine normozoospermic infertile men using LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, key differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to the fertilization process were selected for validation using Western blotting. A total of 1139 and 1095 proteins were identified in normozoospermic fertile and infertile men, respectively. Of these, 162 proteins were identified as DEPs. The canonical pathway related to free radical scavenging was enriched with upregulated DEPs in normozoospermic infertile men. The proteins associated with reproductive system development and function, and the ubiquitination pathway were underexpressed in normozoospermic infertile men. Western blot analysis revealed the overexpression of annexin A2 (ANXA2) (2.03 fold change; P = 0.0243), and underexpression of sperm surface protein Sp17 (SPA17) (0.37 fold change; P = 0.0205) and serine protease inhibitor (SERPINA5) (0.32 fold change; P = 0.0073) in men with unexplained male infertility (UMI). The global proteomic profile of normozoospermic infertile men is different from that of normozoospermic fertile men. Our data suggests that SPA17, ANXA2, and SERPINA5 may potentially serve as non-invasive protein biomarkers associated with the fertilization process of the spermatozoa in UMI.
Synthetic DNA and RNA Programming
Authors: O’Donoghue Patrick , Heinemann Ilka U.
Published: July 2019

Synthetic biology is a broad and emerging discipline that capitalizes on recent advances in molecular biology, genetics, protein and RNA engineering as well as omics technologies. Together these technologies have transformed our ability to reveal the biology of the cell and the molecular basis of disease. This Special Issue on “Synthetic RNA and DNA Programming” features original research articles and reviews, highlighting novel aspects of basic molecular biology and the molecular mechanisms of disease that were uncovered by the application and development of novel synthetic biology-driven approaches.
MODIMA, a Method for Multivariate Omnibus Distance Mediation Analysis, Allows for Integration of Multivariate Exposure–Mediator–Response Relationships
Authors: Hamidi Bashir , Wallace Kristin , Alekseyenko Alexander V.
Published: July 2019

Many important exposure–response relationships, such as diet and weight, can be influenced by intermediates, such as the gut microbiome. Understanding the role of these intermediates, the mediators, is important in refining cause–effect theories and discovering additional medical interventions (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics). Mediation analysis has been at the heart of behavioral health research, rapidly gaining popularity with the biomedical sciences in the last decade. A specific analytic challenge is being able to incorporate an entire ’omics assay as a mediator. To address this challenge, we propose a hypothesis testing framework for multivariate omnibus distance mediation analysis (MODIMA). We use the power of energy statistics, such as partial distance correlation, to allow for analysis of multivariate exposure–mediator–response triples. Our simulation results demonstrate the favorable statistical properties of our approach relative to the available alternatives. Finally, we demonstrate the application of the proposed methods in two previously published microbiome datasets. Our framework adds a new tool to the toolbox of approaches to the integration of ‘omics big data.
Earthquake-Induced Landslide Risk Assessment: An Example from Sakhalin Island, Russia
Authors: Konovalov Alexey , Gensiorovskiy Yuriy , Lobkina Valentina , Muzychenko Alexandra , Stepnova Yuliya , Muzychenko Leonid , Stepnov Andrey , Mikhalyov Mikhail
Published: July 2019

Damages caused by earthquake-induced ground effects can be of the order or significantly exceed the expected damages from ground shaking. A new probabilistic technique is considered in this study for earthquake-induced landslide risk assessment. A fully probabilistic technique suggests a multi-stage hazard assessment. These stages include the determination of seismic hazard curves and landslide probabilistic models, a vulnerability assessment, and geotechnical investigations. At each of the stages, the uncertainties should be carefully analyzed. A logic tree technique, which handles all available models and parameters, was used in the study. The method was applied considering child education facilities located at the foot of a natural slope in the south of Sakhalin Island which is known as an active seismic and land sliding area. The significant differences in the ground motion scenario in terms of the 475-year seismic hazard map and the fully probabilistic approach considered suggests that seismic landslide risk could be underestimated or overestimated when using the 475-year seismic hazard map for risk assessment. The given approach follows the rational risk management idea that handles well all possible ground motion scenarios, slope models, and parameters. The authors suggest that the given approach can improve geotechnical studies of slope stability.
Grass-Roots Initiatives and Bottom-Up Musealisation Mechanisms in Urban Space: The Case of Heraklion Crete
Authors: Nikolopoulou Konstantina
Published: July 2019

Heraklion is gradually transforming into the newest tourist destination in Crete, which is one of the most popular island destinations in Greece. The regional statutory and local tourist bodies aim to develop Heraklion as a destination per se, overcoming the “gateway to the rest of the island” identity that the city currently holds. At the same time, grass-roots initiatives are active in the city context, defending public space and urban cultural heritage, in idiosyncratic, bottom-up ways. This paper investigates the role undertaken by three such initiatives, currently active in Heraklion, to better comprehend their possible impact on the urban landscape and cultural heritage, within this gradually developing tourist landscape. The structure, aims and vision of the initiatives were documented through semi-structured interviews. Their actions, despite being diverse, are compared to the wider activity of similar initiatives in Greece, especially against neoliberal politics, culminating in defending public space, activating bottom-up musealisation mechanisms and participating in urban design in their own ways.
Land Cover Change Intensifies Actual and Potential Radiative Forcing through CO2 in South and Southeast Asia from 1992 to 2015
Authors: Cui Yaoping , Meadows Michael , Li Nan , Fu Yiming , Zhao Guosong , Dong Jinwei
Published: July 2019

Land cover change (LCC) and its impact on CO2 sequestration and radiative forcing (RF) could dramatically affect climate change, but there has been little effort to address this issue in South and Southeast Asia over a long period of time using actual land cover information. In this study, annual land cover data from 1992 to 2015 were used to assess the CO2 flux and corresponding RF due to LCC in South and Southeast Asia. The results showed that 553.2 × 103 km2 of the region experienced LCC during this period, mostly due to land reclamation, urban expansion, and deforestation. These LCC caused a marked net decrease in net ecosystem productivity (NEP) as a composite of the various land cover categories during the whole study period, especially since 2001. The CO2 sequestration was 2160 TgCO2 during the early 1990s however cumulative sequestration decreased by 414.95 TgCO2 by 2015. Correspondingly, the cooling effect of NEP, i.e. the total actual RF, was −0.366 W m−2 in South and Southeast Asia between 1992 and 2015. However, the potential RF of the cumulatively reduced NEP due to LCC relative to the 1990s resulted in a warming effect of 2.33 × 10−3 W m−2 in 2015. Our study provides an applicable framework to accurately assess the potential effect of large-scale LCC on climate.
Intensity of Health Behaviors in People Who Practice Combat Sports and Martial Arts
Authors: Kotarska Katarzyna , Nowak Leonard , Szark-Eckardt Mirosława , Nowak Maria Alicja
Published: July 2019

Background: Health behaviors are associated with a healthy lifestyle, in which relative possibilities of choice play an important part. Athletes are a group of people who should particularly endeavor to have a health-oriented lifestyle. It is believed that combat sports (CS) and martial arts (MA) have an especially significant educational potential, connected with several desirable values which provide positive patterns of health behaviors. The aim of the work was to assess the intensity of health behaviors in athletes who practiced CS and MA in relation to the length of their training history, their age, sex, place of residence, education level, and financial situation. Methods: The research involved 441 men and women who practiced boxing (B), Brazilian ju-jitsu (BJJ), karate (K), mixed martial arts (MMA) and Muay Thai (MT). The average age of the subjects was 24.68 ± 8.24 years. The standardized Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) questionnaire and another questionnaire for a lifestyle survey were applied. Individual behaviors covered four areas: Correct eating habits (CEH), preventive behaviors (PB), positive mental attitude (PMA), and health practices (HP). The one-way analysis of variance (F-test) for independent groups was used (ANOVA). The effect size was calculated with Hedge’s g for Student’s t-test, and with Cramér’s V for the χ2 test. The value of p ≤ 0.05 was assumed to be statistically significant. Results: CS and MA athletes presented a moderate level of health behaviors. The greater intensity of health behaviors (HBI and its categories) was found among B, K and MMA athletes, and the smaller among those who practiced MT. Correct eating habits (CEH) were characteristic of subjects who practiced every day and whose length of training history was 4–8 years. Greater intensity of preventive behaviors (PB) was observed among individuals aged under-19 years, who still studied. Greater intensity of health practices (HP) was found among those who exercised every day. Influence of financial situation was observed in relations to PMA. Conclusions: It seems that the existing educational potential of CS and MA was not fully realized in the studied population. Determining the place of health in the system of values of CS and MA athletes may be the basis for predicting health behaviors and developing health education programs.
Experiences of the Urban Green Local Environment as a Factor for Well-Being among Adults: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in Southern Sweden
Authors: Weimann Hanna , Björk Jonas , Håkansson Carita
Published: July 2019

The amount and quality of greenness in the local outdoor environment has repeatedly been linked to human well-being. Different types of green areas are likely required in order to meet the various needs of people throughout the course of their lives and with regard to individual social and economic living conditions. The aim of the present study was to increase the understanding of different pathways between green environments, well-being and health. We conducted 16 interviews to explore perceptions and experiences among adults residing in a semi-urban to urban area and derived categories and subcategories from the data using content analysis. We identified six categories; promoting activities, supporting social contacts, stimulating sensory impressions, providing a retreat, offering ways to influence and creating a sense of coherence, and we recognized that the availability to, and contrasts between and maintenance of the environment were experienced as prerequisites for health-promoting properties of the green local environment. The results illustrate a rich variety in potential pathways through which the green local environment may promote well-being. The study highlights the need to plan the local environment from multiple perspectives, as well as carefully considering prerequisites of various kinds in order for the green environment to support health across the life-course.
Characterizing the Hourly Variation of Urban Heat Islands in a Snowy Climate City during Summer
Authors: Yang Chaobin , Wang Ranghu , Zhang Shuwen , Ji Caoxiang , Fu Xie
Published: July 2019

Temporal variation of urban heat island (UHI) intensity is one of the most important themes in UHI studies. However, fine-scale temporal variability of UHI with explicit spatial information is sparse in the literature. Based on the hourly air temperature from 195 meteorological stations during August 2015 in Changchun, China, hourly spatiotemporal patterns of UHI were mapped to explore the temporal variability and the effects of land use on the thermal environment using time series analysis, air temperature profiling, and spatial analysis. The results showed that: (1) high air temperature does not indicate strong UHI intensity. The nighttime UHI intensity (1.51 °C) was much stronger than that in the daytime (0.49 °C). (2) The urban area was the hottest during most of the day except the period from late morning to around 13:00 when there was about a 40% possibility for an “inverse UHI intensity” to appear. Paddy land was the coolest in the daytime, while woodland had the lowest temperature during the nighttime. (3) The rural area had higher warming and cooling rates than the urban area after sunrise and sunset. It appeared that 23 °C was the threshold at which the thermal characteristics of different land use types changed significantly.
Assessing Workplace Health and Safety Strategies, Trends, and Barriers through a Statewide Worksite Survey
Authors: Sedani Ami , Stover Derry , Coyle Brian , Wani Rajvi J.
Published: July 2019

Chronic diseases have added to the economic burden of the U.S. healthcare system. Most Americans spend most of their waking time at work, thereby, presenting employers with an opportunity to protect and promote health. The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of workplace health governance and safety strategies among worksites in the State of Nebraska, over time and by industry sector using a randomized survey. Weighted percentages were compared by year, industry sector, and worksite size. Over the three study periods, 4784 responses were collected from worksite representatives. Adoption of workplace health governance and planning strategies increased over time and significantly varied across industry sector groups. Organizational safety policies varied by industry sector and were more commonly reported than workplace health governance and planning strategies. Time constraints were the most common barrier among worksites of all sizes, and stress was reported as the leading employee health issue that negatively impacts business. Results suggest that opportunities exist to integrate workplace health and safety initiatives, especially in blue-collar industry sectors and small businesses.
Factors Influencing Escalator-Related Incidents in China: A Systematic Analysis Using ISM-DEMATEL Method
Authors: Xie Kefan , Liu Zimei
Published: July 2019

Escalator-related incidents (EIs) have recently resulted in serious injuries and even deaths. Given the frequency and severity of EIs, a systematic exploration of factors influencing EIs is critical in order to identify preventive measures. Twenty-two factors influencing EIs were identified by analyzing 213 EI cases in China and related literatures. A combination of the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods were utilized to establish a hierarchical structure of the influencing factors and to distinguish cause factors and effect factors. The results show: (i) behavior, emergency plan, safety rules, safety supervision, information exchange, safety culture, and safety education are the most important factors influencing EIs; (ii) safety education is the cause factor imposing the greatest influence on other factors while behavior is the effect factor that is the most influenced; and (iii) the structure of influencing factors has five hierarchies, and factors in the root cause layer are settings and components, safety rules, safety supervision, safety culture, and safety education. Management priority should be given according to the hierarchy level, and the interaction of factors should be considered when taking preventive measures. The corresponding five-layer countermeasures are proposed to reduce escalator-related injuries.
Evaluation of the Biases in the Studies that Assess the Effects of the Great Recession on Health. A Systematic Review
Authors: Saez Marc , Barceló Maria Antònia , Saurina Carme , Cabrera Andrés , Daponte Antonio
Published: July 2019

Background: Our main objective was to evaluate the fundamental biases detected in studies assessing the effects the Great Recession had on health for the case of Spain. As secondary objectives we presented methods to control these biases and to discuss the results of the studies in question if they had controlled for them. Methods: We carried out a systematic review of the literature published up to June 2018. We evaluated the biases that could have happened in all the eligible studies. Results: From the review, we finally selected 53 studies. Of the studies we reviewed, 60.38% or 32 out of 53, were evaluated as having a high risk of bias. The main biases our review revealed were problems with evaluation, time bias, lack of control of unobserved confounding, and non-exogeneity when defining the onset of the Great Recession. Conclusions: The results from the studies that controlled the biases were quite consistent. Summing up, the studies reviewed found that the Great Recession increased the risk of declaring poor self-rated health and the deterioration of mental health. Both the mortality rate and the suicide rate may well have increased after the Great Recession, probably after a three- to four-year delay.
Serious Games and Their Effect Improving Attention in Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: García-Redondo Patricia , García Trinidad , Areces Débora , Núñez José Carlos , Rodríguez Celestino
Published: July 2019

Previous studies have shown the positive effects of educational video games (serious games) in improving motivation, attention and other cognitive components in students with learning disabilities. This study analyzes the effects on attention of a serious game based on multiple intelligences in a sample of 44 students (age range = 6–16 years; experimental group = 24; control group = 20) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD). Performance and observation measures of attention were used. The intervention consisted of 28 sessions (10 min each), in which the participants trained with 10 games based on multiple intelligences. A significant improvement in attention performance measures (visual attention) was found after the intervention, with the experimental and the control groups significantly differing in the posttest. These results invite consideration of the applicability of boosting different intelligences, talents or unique abilities through educational videogames as an important bridge to improving areas of deficit-in this case attention-in students with learning disabilities.
The Association between Frailty and Disability among the Elderly in Rural Areas of Korea
Authors: Choi Yeun-Soon , Kim Mi-Ji , Lee Gyeong-Ye , Seo Young-Mi , Seo Ae-Rim , Kim Bokyoung , Yoo Jun-Il , Park Ki Soo
Published: July 2019

Background: The rapid increase in the elderly population in Korea is associated with an expanded burden of health problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between frailty and physical disability among Koreans using the frailty index, which was developed to assess health conditions in elderly people. Methods: We included 503 elderly people from the Namgaram-II cohort. We used the Korean version of the Kaigo-Yobo checklist as our frailty assessment tool. For the disability assessment tool, we used the Korean version of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS-12). We fit multiple linear regression models for men and women for each section. Our models also included variables for musculoskeletal diseases that are known to be associated with frailty, such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and radiologic knee osteoarthritis. Results: After correcting for social demographic characteristics, blood profiles, high blood pressure, and diabetes, the Kaigo-Yobo results showed a significant difference in frailty between men (1.53 ± 0.74) and women (2.60 ± 0.77), and WHODAS-12 also showed a significant difference between men (6.59 ± 5.08) and women (15.99 ± 5.70). After correcting for social demographic characteristics, blood profiles, high blood pressure, and diabetes, Kaigo-Yobo and WHODAS-12 were significantly associated with each other among both men (β = 2.667) and women (β = 3.200) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study results show an association between frailty and disability among elderly people in rural areas. Therefore, prevention should occur at the pre-frailty stage of a person’s life to prevent further disability. Also, disability welfare programs should be provided to elderly people who present with frailty.
Spectroscopic Characterisation of the Naphthalene Dioxygenase from Rhodococcus sp. Strain NCIMB12038
Authors: Baratto Maria Camilla , Lipscomb David A. , Larkin Michael J. , Basosi Riccardo , Allen Christopher C. R. , Pogni Rebecca
Published: July 2019

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as naphthalene, are potential health risks due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Bacteria from the genus Rhodococcus are able to metabolise a wide variety of pollutants such as alkanes, aromatic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons. A naphthalene dioxygenase from Rhodococcus sp. strain NCIMB12038 has been characterised for the first time, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. In the native state, the EPR spectrum of naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (NDO) is formed of the mononuclear high spin Fe(III) state contribution and the oxidised Rieske cluster is not visible as EPR-silent. In the presence of the reducing agent dithionite a signal derived from the reduction of the [2Fe-2S] unit is visible. The oxidation of the reduced NDO in the presence of O2-saturated naphthalene increased the intensity of the mononuclear contribution. A study of the “peroxide shunt”, an alternative mechanism for the oxidation of substrate in the presence of H2O2, showed catalysis via the oxidation of mononuclear centre while the Rieske-type cluster is not involved in the process. Therefore, the ability of these enzymes to degrade recalcitrant aromatic compounds makes them suitable for bioremediative applications and synthetic purposes.
Structure-Based Virtual Screening Allows the Identification of Efficient Modulators of E-Cadherin-Mediated Cell–Cell Adhesion
Authors: Dalle Vedove Andrea , Falchi Federico , Donini Stefano , Dobric Aurelie , Germain Sebastien , Di Martino Giovanni Paolo , Prosdocimi Tommaso , Vettraino Chiara , Torretta Archimede , Cavalli Andrea , Rigot Veronique , André Frederic , Parisini Emilio
Published: July 2019

Cadherins are a large family of transmembrane calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins that orchestrate adherens junction formation and are crucially involved in tissue morphogenesis. Due to their important role in cancer development and metastasis, cadherins can be considered attractive targets for drug discovery. A recent crystal structure of the complex of a cadherin extracellular portion and a small molecule inhibitor allowed the identification of a druggable interface, thus providing a viable strategy for the design of cadherin dimerization modulators. Here, we report on a structure-based virtual screening approach that led to the identification of efficient and selective modulators of E-cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion. Of all the putative inhibitors that were identified and experimentally tested by cell adhesion assays using human pancreatic tumor BxPC-3 cells expressing both E-cadherin and P-cadherin, two compounds turned out to be effective in inhibiting stable cell–cell adhesion at micromolar concentrations. Moreover, at the same concentrations, one of them also showed anti-invasive properties in cell invasion assays. These results will allow further development of novel and selective cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion modulators for the treatment of a variety of cadherin-expressing solid tumors and for improving the efficiency of drug delivery across biological barriers.
Heavy Metal Pollutions: State of the Art and Innovation in Phytoremediation
Authors: DalCorso Giovanni , Fasani Elisa , Manara Anna , Visioli Giovanna , Furini Antonella
Published: July 2019

Mineral nutrition of plants greatly depends on both environmental conditions, particularly of soils, and the genetic background of the plant itself. Being sessile, plants adopted a range of strategies for sensing and responding to nutrient availability to optimize development and growth, as well as to protect their metabolisms from heavy metal toxicity. Such mechanisms, together with the soil environment, meaning the soil microorganisms and their interaction with plant roots, have been extensively studied with the goal of exploiting them to reclaim polluted lands; this approach, defined phytoremediation, will be the subject of this review. The main aspects and innovations in this field are considered, in particular with respect to the selection of efficient plant genotypes, the application of improved cultural strategies, and the symbiotic interaction with soil microorganisms, to manage heavy metal polluted soils.
Adaptable Model Parameters in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Lead to More Stable Predictions
Authors: Gazdarica Juraj , Budis Jaroslav , Duris Frantisek , Turna Jan , Szemes Tomas
Published: July 2019

Recent advances in massively parallel shotgun sequencing opened up new options for affordable non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetus aneuploidy from DNA material extracted from maternal plasma. Tests typically compare chromosomal distributions of a tested sample with a control set of healthy samples with unaffected fetuses. Deviations above certain threshold levels are concluded as positive findings. The main problem with this approach is that the variance of the control set is dependent on the number of sequenced fragments. The higher the amount, the more precise the estimation of actual chromosomal proportions is. Testing a sample with a highly different number of sequenced reads as used in training may thus lead to over- or under-estimation of their variance, and so lead to false predictions. We propose the calculation of a variance for each tested sample adaptively, based on the actual number of its sequenced fragments. We demonstrate how it leads to more stable predictions, mainly in real-world diagnostics with the highly divergent inter-sample coverage.
Increased mtDNA Abundance and Improved Function in Human Barth Syndrome Patient Fibroblasts Following AAV-TAZ Gene Delivery
Authors: Suzuki-Hatano Silveli , Sriramvenugopal Mughil , Ramanathan Manash , Soustek Meghan , Byrne Barry J. , Cade W. Todd , Kang Peter B. , Pacak Christina A.
Published: July 2019

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare, X-linked, mitochondrial disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding tafazzin. BTHS results in cardiomyopathy, muscle fatigue, and neutropenia in patients. Tafazzin is responsible for remodeling cardiolipin, a key structural lipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane. As symptoms can vary in severity amongst BTHS patients, we sought to compare mtDNA copy numbers, mitochondrial fragmentation, and functional parameters between primary dermal BTHS fibroblasts isolated from patients with two different mutations in the TAZ locus. To confirm cause‒effect relationships and further support the development of gene therapy for BTHS, we also characterized the BTHS cells following adeno-associated virus (AAV)-TAZ transduction. Our data show that, in response to AAV-TAZ transduction, these remarkably dynamic organelles show recovery of mtDNA copy numbers, mitochondrial structure, and mitochondrial function, providing additional evidence to support the therapeutic potential of AAV-mediated gene delivery for BTHS. This study also demonstrates the direct relationship between healthy mitochondrial membrane structure and maintenance of proper levels of mtDNA copy numbers.
Effects of Exergames on Brain Dynamics in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Villafaina Santos , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Fuentes Juan Pedro , Rohlfs-Domínguez Paloma , Gusi Narcís
Published: July 2019

Background: Exergames are non-immersive versions of virtual reality that involve physical exercise and have shown several benefits on physical fitness and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. However, the effects on brain dynamics are still unknown. Aim: the aim was to evaluate the effects of a 24-week exergame intervention on resting brain dynamics in women with fibromyalgia in a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fifty-six women with fibromyalgia were assessed for eligibility; 55 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The exercise group completed a 24-week exergame-based intervention that focused on mobility, postural control, upper and lower limb coordination, aerobic fitness, and strength. This group received two 60-min sessions per week. We measured electroencephalographic (EEG) signals from 19 channels. Participants were also divided into two subgroups according to the duration of their symptoms. The intervention was more effective in the group with a shorter duration of symptoms, showing between-group differences in F8, T5 and T4. Conclusion: Exergames may lead to changes in brain dynamics that could be related to increased cerebral blood flow.
Determinants of Early Response to Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwaves for the Treatment of Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: An Open-Label, Prospective Study
Authors: Vita Roberto , Benvenga Salvatore , Giammusso Bruno , La Vignera Sandro
Published: July 2019

The aim of this study was to expand existing literature on the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the outcome of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwaves therapy (LIESWT), and to evaluate the role of hormone concentrations. Twenty patients with long-standing, PDE5i-resistant, vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (VED) were treated with six weekly sessions of LIESWT (9000 pulses). After a three-week break, four poor responders underwent another six weekly sessions. Rigidity score (RS) questionnaire was administered at baseline (T0), last session (T1), and three months after LIESWT (T2), while the Improvement component of the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC-I) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaires were administered at T1 and T2, and at T0 and T2, respectively. At T0 serum luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), calculated free testosterone, and prolactin levels were also recorded. At T1 and T2, 12/20 (60%) and 11/20 (55%) patients reached a RS ≥ 3; 16/20 (80%) and 13/20 (65%) improved their erections variably. Testosterone levels correlated positively with CGIC-I at T1. Patients < 65 years and those nonhypercholesterolemic had higher RS at T1 and T2. Age correlated negatively with RS at T1 and T2. At T0, diabetic patients had lower IIEF-5 scores, but those with RS ≥ 3 at T1 had higher IIEF-5 compared to those with RS < 3. Also, diabetes duration correlated inversely with IIEF-5 at T0. At T2, IIEF-5 improved significantly by an average of 2.8-points. We confirm safety and effectiveness of LIESWT for the treatment of VED. Age ≥ 65 years, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia influence early and negatively the outcome of LIESWT.
Hypoxia Decreases Diagnostic Biomarkers for Aspergillosis In Vitro
Authors: Maurer Elisabeth , Aigner Maria , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Binder Ulrike
Published: July 2019

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of hypoxia on galactomannan and (1,3)-β-d-glucan release of clinically relevant Aspergilli in vitro. Hypoxia decreased biomass and consequently led to lower biomarker release. However, when normalized to biomass, hypoxia led to increased levels of biomarkers at early growth stages (24 h). Antifungals (amphotericin B and voriconazole) decreased the galactomannan amount of A. fumigatus, even more prominently in hypoxia.
Modeling and Forecasting Realized Portfolio Diversification Benefits
Authors: Golosnoy Vasyl , Hildebrandt Benno , Köhler Steffen
Published: July 2019

For a financial portfolio, we suggest a realized measure of diversification benefits, which is based on intraday high-frequency returns. Our measure quantifies volatility reduction, which could be achieved by including an additional asset in the portfolio. In order to make our approach feasible for investors, we also provide time series modeling of both the realized diversification measure and realized portfolio weight. The performance of our approach is evaluated in-sample and out-of-sample. We find out that our approach is helpful for the purpose of portfolio variance minimization.
The Essence of Systems Chemistry
Authors: Strazewski Peter
Published: July 2019

Systems Chemistry investigates the upkeep of specific interactions of an exceptionally broad choice of objects over longer periods of time than the average time of existence of the objects themselves. This maintenance of a dynamic state focuses on conditions where the objects are thermodynamically not very stable and should be rare or virtually inexistent. It does not matter whether they are homochirally enriched populations of chiral molecules, a specific composition of some sort of aggregate, supramolecules, or even a set of chemically relatively unstable molecules that constantly transform one into another. What does matter is that these specific interactions prevail in complex mixtures and eventually grow in numbers and frequency through the enhancing action of autocatalysis, which makes such systems ultimately resemble living cells and interacting living populations. Such chemical systems need to be correctly understood, but also intuitively described. They may be so complex that metaphors become practically more important, as a means of communication, than the precise and correct technical description of chemical models and complex molecular or supramolecular relations. This puts systems chemists on a tightrope walk of science communication, between the complex reality and an imaginative model world. This essay addresses, both, scientists who would like to read “A Brief History of Systems Chemistry”, that is, about its “essence”, and systems chemists who work with and communicate complex life-like chemical systems. I illustrate for the external reader a light mantra, that I call “to make more of it”, and I charily draw systems chemists to reflect upon the fact that chemists are not always good at drawing a clear line between a model and “the reality”: The real thing. We are in a constant danger of taking metaphors for real. Yet in real life, we do know very well that we cannot smoke with Magritte’s pipe, don’t we?
High-throughput Production of ZnO-MoS2-Graphene Heterostructures for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Dong Haocong , Li Junzhu , Chen Mingguang , Wang Hongwei , Jiang Xiaochuan , Xiao Yongguang , Tian Bo , Zhang Xixiang
Published: July 2019

High-throughput production of highly efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution remains a considerable challenge for materials scientists. Here, we produced extremely uniform high-quality graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoplatelets through the electrochemical-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation, out of which we subsequently fabricated MoS2/graphene van der Waals heterostructures. Ultimately, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were deposited into these two-dimensional heterostructures to produce an artificial ZnO/MoS2/graphene nanocomposite. This new composite experimentally exhibited an excellent photocatalytic efficiency in hydrogen evolution under the sunlight illumination ( λ > 400   n m ), owing to the extremely high electron mobilities in graphene nanoplatelets and the significant visible-light absorptions of MoS2. Moreover, due to the synergistic effects in MoS2 and graphene, the lifetime of excited carriers increased dramatically, which considerably improved the photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnO/MoS2/graphene heterostructure. We conclude that the novel artificial heterostructure presented here shows great potential for the high-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation and the high throughput production of visible-light photocatalysts for industrial applications.
A Novel Coordinated TOPSIS Based on Coefficient of Variation
Authors: Chen Pengyu
Published: July 2019

Coordinated Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is a significant improvement of TOPSIS, which take into account the coordination level of attributes in the decision-making or assessment. However, in this study, it is found that the existing coordinated TOPSIS has some limitations and problems, which are listed as follows. (1) It is based on modified TOPSIS, not the original TOPSIS. (2) It is inapplicable when using vector normalization. (3) The calculation formulas of the coordination degree are incorrect. (4) The coordination level of attributes is interrelated with the weights. In this paper, the problems of the existing coordinated TOPSIS are explained and revised, and a novel coordinated TOPSIS based on coefficient of variation is proposed to avoid the limitations. Comparisons of the existing, revised, and proposed coordinated TOPSIS are carried out based on two case studies. The comparison results validate the feasibility of the proposed coordinated TOPSIS.
On Fixed Point Results in Gb-Metric Spaces
Authors: Aydi Hassen , Rakić Dušan , Aghajani Asadolah , Došenović Tatjana , Noorani Mohd Salmi Md , Qawaqneh Haitham
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this paper is to consider various results in the context of G b -metric spaces that have been recently published after the paper (Aghajani, A.; Abbas, M.; Roshan, J.R. Common fixed point of generalized weak contractive mappings in partially ordered G b -metric spaces. Filomat 2014, 28, 1087–1101). Our new results improve, complement, unify, enrich and generalize already well known results on G b -metric spaces. Moreover, some coupled and tripled coincidence point results have been provided.
On the Modeling of Five-Layer Thin Prismatic Bodies
Authors: Nikabadze Mikhail U. , Ulukhanyan Armine R. , Moseshvili Tamar , Tskhakaia Ketevan , Mardaleishvili Nodar , Arkania Zurab
Published: July 2019

Proceeding from three-dimensional formulations of initial boundary value problems of the three-dimensional linear micropolar theory of thermoelasticity, similar formulations of initial boundary value problems for the theory of multilayer thermoelastic thin bodies are obtained. The initial boundary value problems for thin bodies are also obtained in the moments with respect to systems of orthogonal polynomials. We consider some particular cases of formulations of initial boundary value problems. In particular, the statements of the initial-boundary value problems of the micropolar theory of K-layer thin prismatic bodies are considered. From here, we can easily get the statements of the initial-boundary value problems for the five-layer thin prismatic bodies.
Identification and Total Synthesis of Two Previously Unreported Odd-Chain Bis-Methylene-Interrupted Fatty Acids with a Terminal Olefin that Activate Protein Phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+-Dependent 1A (PPM1A) in Ovaries of the Limpet Cellana toreuma
Authors: Kawashima Hideki , Toyooka Naoki , Okada Takuya , Nguyen Huy Du , Nishikawa Yuya , Miura Yuka , Inoue Nana , Kimura Ken-ichi
Published: July 2019

Diverse non-methylene-interrupted (NMI) fatty acids (FAs) with odd-chain lengths have been recognized in triacylglycerols and polar lipids from the ovaries of the limpet Cellana toreuma, however their biological properties remain unclear. In this study, two previously unreported odd-chain NMI FAs, (12Z)-12,16-heptadecadienoic (1) and (14Z)-14,18-nonadecadienoic (2) acids, from the ovary lipids of C. toreuma were identified by a combination of equivalent chain length (ECL) values of their methyl esters and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of their 3-pyridylcarbinol derivatives. On the basis of the experimental results, both 1 and 2 were synthesized to prove their structural assignments and to test their biological activity. The ECL values and electron impact-mass (EI-MS) spectra of naturally occurring 1 and 2 were in agreement with those of the synthesized 1 and 2. In an in vitro assay, both 1 and 2 activated protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1A (PPM1A) up to 100 μM in a dose-dependent manner.
New Antiproliferative Cembrane Diterpenes from the Red Sea Sarcophyton Species
Authors: Hassan Hossam M. , Rateb Mostafa E. , Hassan Marwa H. , Sayed Ahmed M. , Shabana Samah , Raslan Mai , Amin Elham , Behery Fathy A. , Ahmed Osama M. , Bin Muhsinah Abdullatif , A. M. Gulder Tobias , Ramadan Abdelmohsen Usama
Published: July 2019

The combination of liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRESMS)-based dereplication and antiproliferative activity-guided fractionation was applied on the Red Sea-derived soft coral Sarcophyton sp. This approach facilitated the isolation of five new cembrane-type diterpenoids (1–5), along with two known analogs (6 and 7), as well as the identification of 19 further, known compounds. The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated while using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR and HRMS. All of the isolated cembranoids (1–7) showed moderate in vitro antiproliferative activity against a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), with IC50 ranging from 22.39–27.12 µg/mL. This class of compounds could thus serve as scaffold for the future design of anticancer leads.
Lung Cancer Screening in Patients with COPD—A Case Report
Authors: Amirahmadi Roxana , Kumar Avnee J. , Cowan Mark , Deepak Janaki
Published: July 2019

We present two cases demonstrating the nuances that must be considered when determining if a patient could benefit from low dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening. Our case report discusses the available literature, where it exists, on lung cancer screening with special attention to the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and poor functional status. Patients with COPD and concurrent smoking history are at higher risk of lung cancer and may therefore benefit from lung cancer screening. However, this population is at increased risk for complications related to biopsies and lobar resections. Appropriate interventions other than surgical resection exist for COPD patients with poor pulmonary reserve. Risks and benefits of lung cancer screening are unique to each patient and require shared decision-making.
Effect of Topical Prostaglandin F2α Analogs on Selected Oxidative Stress Parameters in the Tear Film
Authors: Sedlak Lech , Zych Maria , Wojnar Weronika , Wyględowska-Promieńska Dorota
Published: July 2019

Background and Objectives: Topically administered antiglaucoma medications, especially those containing benzalkonium chloride (BAC), may cause local adverse effects and compromise ocular surface. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of topical prostaglandin F2α analogs (PGAs): preservative-free latanoprost, BAC-preserved latanoprost, preservative-free tafluprost, and BAC-preserved bimatoprost, on selected oxidative stress parameters in the tear film. Materials and Methods: The patients were divided into five groups: group C (n = 25) control group—subjects who did not use topical antiglaucoma medications, group L (n = 22)—patients using topical preservative-free latanoprost, group L+BAC (n = 25)—patients using topical BAC-preserved latanoprost, group T (n = 19)—patients using topical preservative-free tafluprost, and group B+BAC (n = 17)—patients using topical BAC-preserved bimatoprost. The oxidative stress markers in the tear film samples were evaluated: total protein (TP) concentration, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) content, total sulfhydryl (-SH) groups content, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Response (TAR), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI). Results: The TP concentrations in the groups L, L+BAC, and B+BAC were statistically significantly higher in comparison with group C. The SOD and CAT activities in the groups L+BAC and B+BAC were statistically significantly higher when compared to group C. As compared to group C, AOPP and TOS were statistically significantly higher in all the study groups. OSI was found to be statistically significantly higher in the groups L+BAC, T, and B+BAC in comparison with group C. Conclusion: Use of topical PGAs by the patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma is associated with increased oxidative stress in the tear film which is additionally exacerbated by the presence of BAC in the formulation.
Salivary Metabolome and Soccer Match: Challenges for Understanding Exercise induced Changes
Authors: Pitti Erica , Petrella Greta , Di Marino Sara , Summa Vincenzo , Perrone Marco , D’Ottavio Stefano , Bernardini Andrea , Cicero Daniel Oscar
Published: July 2019

Saliva samples of seventeen soccer players were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance before and after an official match. Two different ways of normalizing data are discussed, using total proteins and total metabolite concentrations. Changes in markers related to energy, hydration status, amino acids and other compounds were found. The limits and advantages of using saliva to define the systemic responses to exercise are examined, both in terms of data normalization and interpretation, and the time that the effect lasts in this biofluid, which is shorter to that commonly observed in blood. The heterogeneous nature and different timing of the exercise developed by players also plays an important role in the metabolic changes that can be measured. Our work focuses mainly on three different aspects: The effect that time sampling has on the observed effect, the type of normalization that is necessary to perform in order to cope with changes in water content, and the metabolic response that can be observed using saliva.
Scalable Fabrication of Metallopolymeric Superstructures for Highly Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue
Authors: Zhou Meirong , Yang Tianyu , Hu Weibin , He Xiaohong , Xie Junni , Wang Pan , Jia Kun , Liu Xiaobo
Published: July 2019

Metallopolymeric superstructures (MPS) are hybrid functional materials that find wide applications in environmental, energy, catalytic and biomedical-related scenarios, while their fabrication usually suffers from the complicated polymerization between monomeric ligands and metal ions. In this work, we have developed a facile one-step protocol to fabricate metallopolymeric superstructures with different morphology including nanospheres, nanocubes, nanorods, and nanostars for environmental remediation application. Specifically, we have firstly synthesized the amphiphilic block copolymers (BCP) bearing hydrophobic aromatic backbone and hydrophilic pendent carboxylic/sulfonic groups, which have been subsequently transformed into MPS via the metal ions mediated self-assembly in mixed solution of dimethylformamide (DMF) and H2O. Based on SEM, FTIR, XRD and XPS characterization, we have revealed that the fine morphology and condensed structures of MPS can be modulated via the metal ions and BCP concentration, and the obtained MPS can be employed as efficient adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue with maximum adsorption capacity approaching 936.13 mg/g.