bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tubercular mastitis: An institutional experience from a tertiary care centre of northern India
Authors: Gupta Amit , Bains Lovenish , Yadav Deepshikha , Durgapal Prashant , Agrawal Manish Kumar
Published: August 2017

Background: Tuberculous mastitis (TM) is a rare extra pulmonary presentation of tuberculosis. It may be problematic to distinguish from carcinoma breast, a condition with which it may coexist.  Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) / biopsy are indispensable for diagnosis and tuberculosis culture when positive may be very valuable to guide antimicrobial therapy.Aims and Objectives:  To disseminate the message to the concerned expertise that it can present a diagnostic problem on radiological and microbiological investigations, and thus a high index of suspicion is needed.Materials and Methods: 19 cases of tubercular mastitis between  January 2012 to March 2014 were identified and included in the present study. Cytology and biopsy alongwith AFB stain was done for confirmation.Results: Age ranged between 23- 55 years (median 33 years). Axillary nodes were palpable in 9 (47.3%) patients. Acid Fast Bacilli stain which was positive in only 3 patients. All the 19 patients were started on antitubercular treatment.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive medical and if required surgical management to cure this disease.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 72-75
Maternal vitamin A status in intrauterine growth retarded babies
Authors: Verma Alakh Ram , Khodiar Prafulla Kumar , Rath Debapriya , Dhurandhar Seema , Patra Pradeep Kumar
Published: August 2017

Background: Beside calorie and protein consumption micronutrients like folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin A have been postulated to play major role in intrauterine growth of neonates. Vitamin A compounds are critical for vision, reproduction, embryonic development, immune function and regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation.Aims and Objectives: To determine the relationship of maternal serum vitamin A levels with birth weight of babies.Material and Methods: Study group consisted of 58 randomly selected mothers who delivered at term small for gestational age babies (birth weight less than 2.5kg.). The control group comprises of 52 matched mothers, who delivered normal babies. Biochemical estimation of serum vitamin A was done by HPLC method using sigma reagent of all subjects.Results: Significantly high (p<0.05) number of mothers in study group had low serum vitamin A level compared to mothers in control group. There was a linear relationship between vitamin A status and mean birth weight of the babies.Conclusion: Although the low serum vitamin A level of mothers was significantly associated with intrauterine growth retardation, the exact effect of a vitamin A deficiency on the birth weight of babies remain unclear, but the finding suggests the importance of adequate vitamin A supplementation to pregnant mothers in India.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 30-34
Askin tumour following traumatic rib injury in a young adult
Authors: Sabir Mele Chelakkoth , Manappallil Robin George , Mampilly Neena , Abdurahman Ramna
Published: August 2017

Askin tumour is a form of primitive neuroectodermal tumour arising from the thoracopulmonary region. The patient being reported is a young adult who initially presented in dyspnoea and was found to have hemothorax following chest wall injury. About one year later, he again presented in dyspnoea. But this time he was found to have a mass arising from the previous traumatic site, which was diagnosed as Askin tumour. Such a scenario of Askin tumour arising from a traumatic site is uncommon. Moreover, Askin tumour itself is a rare presentation in adults.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 84-86
Electrochemically fabricated Fe–Ni alloy nanowires and their structural characterization
Authors: Mehmood Tahir , Wu K. M. , Mukhtar Aiman , Khan Babar S. , Saeed Adnan , Latif Humaira , Parveen Zahida , Kazmi Syeda Ruqaya
Published: August 2017

Anodic alumina oxide membrane was used to electrodeposit Fe–Ni alloy nanowires by varying the potential. The morphology of electrodeposited alloy nanowires was studied by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy characterization techniques. The results indicate that Fe–Ni alloy nanowires have stable fcc phase at −1.4 V and −0.7 V and the content of iron inside nanopores increased with increasing applied potential during deposition. This can be verified by the current density vs time graphs of depositing Fe and Ni nanowires, the current density ratio of Ni to Fe at lower applied potential is greater than at comparatively higher applied potential.
Characteristics of RF-Sputtered Thin Films of Calcium Phosphate on Titanium Dental Implants
Authors: Hung Kuo-Yung , Lai Hong-Chen , Feng Hui-Ping
Published: August 2017

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on titanium have been investigated for many years, and have demonstrated advantageous biocompatibility in dental implants. Animal experiments have demonstrated that the biological response to plasma-sprayed HA-coated implants shows disadvantages in terms of adherence, thickness uniformity, and long-term osseointegration effects. Determining how to resolve the degradation problem of HA in the body by improving osseointegration and stability in alveolar bones has become an increasingly researched topic. The present study investigated the film characteristics and dissolution properties of calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings obtained by radio-frequency (RF) sputtering of a self-developed atmospheric plasma spray (APS) HA target. The experimental parameters varied, including RF power (60–250 W), sputtering time (15–120 min), and substrate roughness (0.4–4 μm). Analyses were conducted using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), white light interferometry, and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). EDS analysis showed that the Ca/P ratio increased as the discharge power was increased. The analysis results also showed that a lower surface roughness resulted in higher crystallinity, because a larger surface-free energy was attained during sputtering. In-plane texturing has been proven when HA films are sputtered onto substrates of varying roughness, within appropriate deposition parameters. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of the principal PO43- bonds in the deposited calcium phosphate films. The CaP films induced calcium phosphate precipitation when immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF), suggesting that, based on in vitro bioactive behavior, the proposed combined surface modification can be used in dental implants.
Venetian Local Corn (Zea mays L.) Germplasm: Disclosing the Genetic Anatomy of Old Landraces Suited for Typical Cornmeal Mush Production
Authors: Palumbo Fabio , Galla Giulio , Martínez-Bello Liliam , Barcaccia Gianni
Published: August 2017

Due to growing concern for the genetic erosion of local varieties, four of the main corn landraces historically grown in Veneto (Italy)—Sponcio, Marano, Biancoperla and Rosso Piave—were characterized in this work. A total of 197 phenotypically representative plants collected from field populations were genotyped at 10 SSR marker loci, which were regularly distributed across the 10 genetic linkage groups and were previously characterized for high polymorphism information content (PIC), on average equal to 0.5. The population structure analysis based on this marker set revealed that 144 individuals could be assigned with strong ancestry association (>90%) to four distinct clusters, corresponding to the landraces used in this study. The remaining 53 individuals, mainly from Sponcio and Marano, showed admixed ancestry. Among all possible pairwise comparisons of individual plants, these two landraces exhibited the highest mean genetic similarity (approximately 67%), as graphically confirmed through ordination analyses based on PCoA centroids and UPGMA trees. Our findings support the hypothesis of direct gene flow between Sponcio and Marano, likely promoted by the geographical proximity of these two landraces and their overlapping cultivation areas. Conversely, consistent with its production mainly confined to the eastern area of the region, Rosso Piave scored the lowest genetic similarity (<59%) to the other three landraces and firmly grouped (with average membership of 89%) in a separate cluster, forming a molecularly distinguishable gene pool. The elite inbred B73 used as tester line scored very low estimates of genetic similarity (on average <45%) with all the landraces. Finally, although Biancoperla was represented at K = 4 by a single subgroup with individual memberships higher than 80% in almost all cases (57 of 62), when analyzed with an additional level of population structure for K = 6, it appeared to be entirely (100%) constituted by individuals with admixed ancestry. This suggests that the current population could be the result of repeated hybridization events between the two accessions currently bred in Veneto. The genetic characterization of these heritage landraces should prove very useful for monitoring and preventing further genetic erosion and genetic introgression, thus preserving their gene pools, phenotypic identities and qualitative traits for the future.
Recent Advances in the Quest for a New Insulation Gas with a Low Impact on the Environment to Replace Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Gas in High-Voltage Power Network Applications
Authors: Beroual Abderrahmane , Haddad Abderrahmane (Manu)
Published: August 2017

The growing environmental challenge of electrical energy systems has prompted a substantial increase in renewable energy generation. Such generation systems allow for significant reduction of CO2 emissions compared with a traditional fossil fuel plant. Furthermore, several improvements in power systems network configuration and operation combined with new technologies have enabled reduction of losses and energy demand, thus contributing to reduction of CO2 emissions. Another environmental threat identified in electrical networks is the leaking of insulating sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas used in electrical gas insulated substations (GIS) and equipment. Because of its Global Warming Potential (GWP) of nearly 24,000 and its long life in the atmosphere (over 3000 years), SF6 gas was recognized as a greenhouse gas at the 1997 COP3; since then its use and emissions in the atmosphere have been regulated by international treaties. It is expected that as soon as an alternative insulating gas is found, SF6 use in high-voltage (HV) equipment will be banned. This paper presents an overview of the key research advances made in recent years in the quest to find eco-friendly gases to replace SF6. The review reports the main properties of candidate gases that are being investigated; in particular, natural gases (dry air, N2 or CO2) and polyfluorinated gases especially Trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I), Perfluorinated Ketones, Octafluorotetra-hydrofuran, Hydrofluoroolefin (HFOs), and Fluoronitriles are presented and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed with an emphasis on their dielectric properties (especially their dielectric strength), GWP, and boiling point with respect to the minimum operating temperature for HV power network applications.
Comparison of Heat Transfer and Soil Impacts of Air Curtain Burner Burning and Slash Pile Burning
Authors: Jang Woongsoon , Page-Dumroese Deborah , Han Han-Sup
Published: August 2017

We measured soil heating and subsequent changes in soil properties between two forest residue disposal methods: slash pile burning (SPB) and air curtain burner (ACB). The ACB consumes fuels more efficiently and safely via blowing air into a burning container. Five burning trials with different fuel sizes were implemented in northern California, USA. Soil temperature was measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 cm depth. Immediately after burning, soil samples from two depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm) and ash samples were collected for analyzing organic matter; carbon and nitrogen content; and calcium, magnesium, and potassium concentrations. The highest temperature observed was 389 °C at 1 cm depth under the SPB. Mean peak temperatures were 133.2 °C and 162.2 °C for ACB and SPB, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in peak temperatures and duration of lethal soil temperatures (total minutes over 60 °C) between ACB and SPB. Heat transfer decreased rapidly as the soil depth increased. There is little evidence that any subsequent changes in soil chemical properties occurred, concluding that these small-scale burns had few negative impacts at our study site. Therefore, given the lack of extreme soil heating and more efficient and safer woody residue reduction, the ACB may be more effective than open SPB, especially where fire escape or long-term fire damage to soils are of concern.
The Impact of Water Content on Sources of Heterotrophic Soil Respiration
Authors: McElligott Kristin M. , Seiler John R. , Strahm Brian D.
Published: August 2017

Heterotrophic respiration (RH) is a major flux of CO2 from forest ecosystems and represents a large source of uncertainty in estimating net ecosystem productivity (NEP) using regional soil respiration (RS) models. RH from leaf litter (RHL) may contribute greatly to annual RH estimates, but its contribution may be misrepresented due to the logistical and technical challenges associated with chamber-based field measurements of RHL. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of sources of RH (mineral soil-derived heterotrophic respiration [RHM] and leaf litter-derived heterotrophic respiration [RHL]) of a loblolly pine plantation (Pinus taeda L.) to varying soil and litter water content over the course of a dry down event. Additionally, we investigated whether fertilization influenced RHL and RHM to understand how forest nutrient management may impact forest soil carbon (C) dynamics. RHL was measured under dry conditions and at field capacity to evaluate water content controls on RHL, determine the duration of increased CO2 release following wetting, and evaluate the potential contribution to total RH. We also measured RHM inside collars that excluded plant roots and litter inputs, from field capacity until near-zero RHM rates were attained. We found that RHL was more sensitive to water content than RHM, and increased linearly with increasing litter water content (R2 = 0.89). The contribution of RHL to RH was greatest immediately following the wetting event, and decreased rapidly to near-zero rates between 3 and 10 days. RHM also had a strong relationship with soil water content (R2 = 0.62), but took between 200 and 233 days to attain near-zero RHM rates. Fertilization had no effect on RHM (p = 0.657), but significantly suppressed RHL rates after the wetting event (p < 0.009). These results demonstrate that there is great temporal variability in both CO2 released and the water content of differing sources of RH, and forest fertilization may largely impact forest floor C stocks. This variability may not be captured reliably using conventional weekly to monthly chamber-based field sampling efforts and could lead to over- or underestimation of RH. In the context of climate change, changes in the frequency and intensity of wetting and drying events will likely alter RHL and its contribution to RS. Separate consideration of RH sources and controls, along with increased field sampling frequency using chamber-based methodology under a broader range of specific environmental conditions, are likely needed to reduce variability in RH estimates and improve the accuracy of forest NEP predictions.
Comment on Piscitelli et al. Hospitalizations in Pediatric and Adult Patients for All Cancer Type in Italy: The EPIKIT Study under the E.U. COHEIRS Project on Environment and Health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 495
Authors: Terracini Benedetto , Alessi Daniela , Isaevska Elena , Macerata Vanda , Magnani Corrado , Manasievska Milena , Maule Milena , Merletti Franco , Mosso Maria , Rosso Tiziana , Sacerdote Carlotta
Published: August 2017

In the “Epikit study” [1], P. Piscitelli with 27 co-authors from 20 scientific institutions estimated the absolute number of hospital admissions for newly diagnosed cancer in people aged 0–19 in Italian provinces and regions in 2007–2011.[...]
Association between Promoter Methylation of Gene ERCC3 and Benzene Hematotoxicity
Authors: Zheng Min , Lin Feiliang , Hou Fenxia , Li Guilan , Zhu Caiying , Xu Peiyu , Xing Caihong , Wang Qianfei
Published: August 2017

Benzene is a primary industrial chemical and a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. ERCC3 is a key player in nucleotide excision repair. Recent studies suggested that site-specific methylation is a possible mechanism of the transcriptional dysregulation by blocking transcription factors binding. We previously found that the average promoter methylation level of ERCC3 was increased in benzene-exposed workers. In order to test whether specific CpG sites of ERCC3 play an important role in benzene-induced epigenetic changes and whether the specific methylation patterns are associated with benzene hematotoxicity, we analyzed the promoter methylation levels of individual CpG sites, transcription factor binding motif and the correlation between aberrant CpG methylation and hematotoxicity in 76 benzene-exposed workers and 24 unexposed controls in China. Out of all the CpGs analyzed, two CpG units located 43 bp upstream and 99 bp downstream of the transcription start site of ERCC3 (CpG 2–4 and CpG 17–18, respectively), showed the most pronounced increase in methylation levels in benzene-exposed workers, compared with unexposed controls (Mean ± SD: 5.86 ± 2.77% vs. 4.92 ± 1.53%, p = 0.032; 8.45 ± 4.09% vs. 6.79 ± 2.50%, p = 0.024, respectively). Using the JASPAR CORE Database, we found that CpG 2–4 and CpG 17–18 were bound by three putative transcription factors (TFAP2A, E2F4 and MZF1). Furthermore, the methylation levels for CpG 2–4 were correlated negatively with the percentage of neutrophils (β = −0.676, p = 0.005) in benzene-exposed workers. This study demonstrates that CpG-specific DNA methylation in the ERCC3 promoter region may be involved in benzene-induced epigenetic modification and it may contribute to benzene-induced hematotoxicity.
An Overview of Factors Associated with Adherence to Lifestyle Modification Programs for Weight Management in Adults
Authors: Leung Alice W. Y. , Chan Ruth S. M. , Sea Mandy M. M. , Woo Jean
Published: August 2017

This review aims to provide an overview of the factors associated with adherence reported in existing literature on lifestyle modification programs for weight management among the adult population. An electronic search was performed using PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLE to identify studies that examined the factors of adherence to lifestyle modification programs with explicit definition of adherence indicators. We identified 19 studies published between 2004 and 2016. The most commonly used indicator of adherence was attrition, followed by attendance, self-monitoring and dietary adherence. A broad array of factors has been studied but only few studies exploring each factor. Limited evidence suggested older age, higher education, healthier eating and physical activity behaviours, higher stage of change at baseline and higher initial weight loss may predict better adherence. On the other hand, having depression, stress, strong body shape concern, more previous weight loss attempts and being unemployed may predict poor adherence. Inconsistent findings were obtained for self-efficacy, motivation and male gender. This review highlights the need for more rigorous studies to enhance our knowledge on factors related to adherence. Identification of the factors of adherence could provide important implication for program improvement, ultimately improving the effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle modification program.
The Retinoblastoma (RB) Tumor Suppressor: Pushing Back against Genome Instability on Multiple Fronts
Authors: Vélez-Cruz Renier , Johnson David
Published: August 2017

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor is known as a master regulator of the cell cycle. RB is mutated or functionally inactivated in the majority of human cancers. This transcriptional regulator exerts its function in cell cycle control through its interaction with the E2F family of transcription factors and with chromatin remodelers and modifiers that contribute to the repression of genes important for cell cycle progression. Over the years, studies have shown that RB participates in multiple processes in addition to cell cycle control. Indeed, RB is known to interact with over 200 different proteins and likely exists in multiple complexes. RB, in some cases, acts through its interaction with E2F1, other members of the pocket protein family (p107 and p130), and/or chromatin remodelers and modifiers. RB is a tumor suppressor with important chromatin regulatory functions that affect genomic stability. These functions include the role of RB in DNA repair, telomere maintenance, chromosome condensation and cohesion, and silencing of repetitive regions. In this review we will discuss recent advances in RB biology related to RB, partner proteins, and their non-transcriptional functions fighting back against genomic instability.
Advances in Understanding of Penile Carcinogenesis: The Search for Actionable Targets
Authors: Chipollini Juan , Chaing Sharon , Azizi Mounsif , Kidd Laura , Kim Patricia , Spiess Philippe
Published: August 2017

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare malignancy with potentially devastating effects. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common variant with distinct precancerous lesions before development into invasive disease. Involvement of the inguinal lymph nodes is the most important prognostic factor in PeCa, and once disease is present outside the groin, prognosis is poor. Metastatic PeCa is challenging to treat and often requires multidisciplinary approaches in management. Due to its rarity, molecular understanding of the disease continues to be limited with most studies based on small, single center series. Thus far, it appears PeCa has diverse mechanisms of carcinogenesis affecting similar molecular pathways. In this review, we evaluate the current landscape of the molecular carcinogenesis of PeCa and explore ongoing research on potential actionable targets of therapy. The emergence of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and other immunotherapeutic strategies may improve outcomes for PeCa patients.
Samarium Monosulfide (SmS): Reviewing Properties and Applications
Authors: Sousanis Andreas , Smet Philippe , Poelman Dirk
Published: August 2017

In this review, we give an overview of the properties and applications of samarium monosulfide, SmS, which has gained considerable interest as a switchable material. It shows a pressure-induced phase transition from the semiconducting to the metallic state by polishing, and it switches back to the semiconducting state by heating. The material also shows a magnetic transition, from the paramagnetic state to an antiferromagnetically ordered state. The switching behavior between the semiconducting and metallic states could be exploited in several applications, such as high density optical storage and memory materials, thermovoltaic devices, infrared sensors and more. We discuss the electronic, optical and magnetic properties of SmS, its switching behavior, as well as the thin film deposition techniques which have been used, such as e-beam evaporation and sputtering. Moreover, applications and possible ideas for future work on this material are presented. Our scope is to present the properties of SmS, which were mainly measured in bulk crystals, while at the same time we describe the possible deposition methods that will push the study of SmS to nanoscale dimensions, opening an intriguing range of applications for low-dimensional, pressure-induced semiconductor–metal transition compounds.
Antibacterial Properties of Nonwoven Wound Dressings Coated with Manuka Honey or Methylglyoxal
Authors: Bulman Sophie , Tronci Giuseppe , Goswami Parikshit , Carr Chris , Russell Stephen
Published: August 2017

Manuka honey (MH) is used as an antibacterial agent in bioactive wound dressings via direct impregnation onto a suitable substrate. MH provides unique antibacterial activity when compared with conventional honeys, owing partly to one of its constituents, methylglyoxal (MGO). Aiming to investigate an antibiotic-free antimicrobial strategy, we studied the antibacterial activity of both MH and MGO (at equivalent MGO concentrations) when applied as a physical coating to a nonwoven fabric wound dressing. When physically coated on to a cellulosic hydroentangled nonwoven fabric, it was found that concentrations of 0.0054 mg cm−2 of MGO in the form of MH and MGO were sufficient to achieve a 100 colony forming unit % bacteria reduction against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae, based on BS EN ISO 20743:2007. A 3- to 20-fold increase in MGO concentration (0.0170–0.1 mg cm−2) was required to facilitate a good antibacterial effect (based on BS EN ISO 20645:2004) in terms of zone of inhibition and lack of growth under the sample. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was also assessed for MGO in liquid form against three prevalent wound and healthcare-associated pathogens, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis. Other than the case of MGO-containing fabrics, solutions with much higher MGO concentrations (128 mg L−1–1024 mg L−1) were required to provide either a bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect. The results presented in this study therefore demonstrate the relevance of an MGO-based coating as an environmentally friendly strategy for the design of functional dressings with antibiotic-free antimicrobial chemistries.
Pt-Co Alloys-Loaded Cubic SiC Electrode with Improved Photoelectrocatalysis Property
Authors: Liu Dan , Yang Tao , Chen Junhong , Chou Kuo-Chih , Hou Xinmei
Published: August 2017

A novel composite photocatalyst was synthesized by loading 5 wt % of platinum cobalt alloy on 3C-SiC nanowires and powder (Pt-Co-SiC) respectively via a simple polyol reduction method. Pt-Co-SiC were comprehensively characterized by SEM, HRTEM, XRD, PL, and XPS. The results indicated that Pt-Co nanoparticles in the size of 2–5 nm were dispersed homogeneously in the SiC nanowires and powders. The photocurrent response of the Pt-Co-SiC increased remarkably with increasing Pt content and the best performance was observed with the sample of Pt3Co-SiC. Especially, the Pt3Co-SiC nanowires photoelectrode exhibited improved cathodic current density (0.14 mA·cm−2) under the simulated sunlight, which was about 10 times higher than the Pt3Co-SiC powders. The H2 production rate for the Pt3Co-SiC nanowires is 30 times more than that of the pure SiC nanowires. The enhancement of the Pt-Co-SiC properties could be ascribed to the fact that more visible light was harvested and the photogenerated electron and the interfacial electron transfered more easily.
A Novel High-Mannose Specific Lectin from the Green Alga Halimeda renschii Exhibits a Potent Anti-Influenza Virus Activity through High-Affinity Binding to the Viral Hemagglutinin
Authors: Mu Jinmin , Hirayama Makoto , Sato Yuichiro , Morimoto Kinjiro , Hori Kanji
Published: August 2017

We have isolated a novel lectin, named HRL40 from the green alga Halimeda renschii. In hemagglutination-inhibition test and oligosaccharide-binding experiment with 29 pyridylaminated oligosaccharides, HRL40 exhibited a strict binding specificity for high-mannose N-glycans having an exposed (α1-3) mannose residue in the D2 arm of branched mannosides, and did not have an affinity for monosaccharides and other oligosaccharides examined, including complex N-glycans, an N-glycan core pentasaccharide, and oligosaccharides from glycolipids. The carbohydrate binding profile of HRL40 resembled those of Type I high-mannose specific antiviral algal lectins, or the Oscillatoria agardhii agglutinin (OAA) family, which were previously isolated from red algae and a blue-green alga (cyanobacterium). HRL40 potently inhibited the infection of influenza virus (A/H3N2/Udorn/72) into NCI-H292 cells with half-maximal effective dose (ED50) of 2.45 nM through high-affinity binding to a viral envelope hemagglutinin (KD, 3.69 × 10−11 M). HRL40 consisted of two isolectins (HRL40-1 and HRL40-2), which could be separated by reverse-phase HPLC. Both isolectins had the same molecular weight of 46,564 Da and were a disulfide -linked tetrameric protein of a 11,641 Da polypeptide containing at least 13 half-cystines. Thus, HRL40, which is the first Type I high-mannose specific antiviral lectin from the green alga, had the same carbohydrate binding specificity as the OAA family, but a molecular structure distinct from the family.
Nine New Triterpene Glycosides, Magnumosides A1–A4, B1, B2, C1, C2 and C4, from the Vietnamese Sea Cucumber Neothyonidium (=Massinium) magnum: Structures and Activities against Tumor Cells Independently and in Synergy with Radioactive Irradiation
Authors: Silchenko Alexandra , Kalinovsky Anatoly , Avilov Sergey , Kalinin Vladimir , Andrijaschenko Pelageya , Dmitrenok Pavel , Chingizova Ekaterina , Ermakova Svetlana , Malyarenko Olesya , Dautova Tatyana
Published: August 2017

Nine new sulfated triterpene glycosides, magnumosides A1 (1), A2 (2), A3 (3), A4 (4), B1 (5), B2 (6), C1 (7), C2 (8) and C4 (9) as well as a known colochiroside B2 (10) have been isolated from the tropical Indo-West Pacific sea cucumber Neothynidium (=Massinium) magnum (Phyllophoridae, Dendrochirotida) collected in the Vietnamese shallow waters. The structures of new glycosides were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass-spectrometry. All the isolated new glycosides were characterized by the non-holostane type lanostane aglycones having 18(16)-lactone and 7(8)-double bond and differed from each other by the side chains and carbohydrate moieties structures. Magnumoside A1 (1) has unprecedented 20(24)-epoxy-group in the aglycone side chain. Magnumosides of the group A (1–4) contained disaccharide monosulfated carbohydrate moieties, of the group B (5, 6)—tetrasaccharide monosulfated carbohydrate moieties and, finally, of the group C (7–9)—tetrasaccharide disulfated carbohydrate moieties. The cytotoxic activities of the compounds 1–9 against mouse spleen lymphocytes, the ascites form of mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells, human colorectal carcinoma DLD-1 cells as well as their hemolytic effects have been studied. Interestingly, the erythrocytes were more sensitive to the glycosides action than spleenocytes and cancer cells tested. The compounds 3 and 7 significantly inhibited the colony formation and decreased the size of colonies of DLD-1 cancer cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Moreover, the synergism of effects of radioactive irradiation and compounds 3 and 7–9 at subtoxic doses on proliferation of DLD-1 cells was demonstrated.
Erratum: Structure, Texture and Phases in 3D Printed IN718 Alloy Subjected to Homogenization and HIP Treatments. Metals 2017, 7, 196
Authors: Mostafa Ahmad , Picazo Rubio Ignacio , Brailovski Vladimir , Jahazi Mohammad , Medraj Mamoun
Published: August 2017

The authors wish to make the following corrections to the main text in the published paper [1]. In this paper, the weight of CuCl2 should be changed from 5 mg to 5 g to provide accurate recipe for the IN718 etchant.[...]
Transcriptional Responses of Creeping Bentgrass to 2,3-Butanediol, a Bacterial Volatile Compound (BVC) Analogue
Authors: Shi Yi , Niu Kuiju , Huang Bingru , Liu Wenhui , Ma Huiling
Published: August 2017

Bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs) have been reported to enhance plant growth and elicit plant defenses against fungal infection and insect damage. The objective of this study was to determine transcriptomic changes in response to synthetic BVC that could be associated with plant resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in creeping bentgrass. The 2,3-butanediol (BD) (250 µM) was sprayed on creeping bentgrass leaves grown in jam jars. The result showed that synthetic BD induced plant defense against R. solani for creeping bentgrass. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that more genes were repressed by BD while less showed up-regulation. BD suppressed the expression of some regular stress-related genes in creeping bentgrass, such as pheromone activity, calcium channel activity, photosystem II oxygen evolving complex, and hydrolase activity, while up-regulated defense related transcription factors (TFs), such as basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TFs, cysteine2-cysteine2-contans-like (C2C2-CO) and no apical meristem TFs (NAC). Other genes related to disease resistance, such as jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, leucine rich repeats (LRR)-transmembrane protein kinase, pathogen-related (PR) gene 5 receptor kinase and nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeats (NBS-LRR) domain containing plant resistance gene (R-gene) were also significantly up-regulated. These results suggest that BD may induce changes to the plant transcriptome in induced systemic resistance (ISR) pathways.
Inhibitory Effect of Lycopene on Amyloid-β-Induced Apoptosis in Neuronal Cells
Authors: Hwang Sinwoo , Lim Joo , Kim Hyeyoung
Published: August 2017

Alzheimer′s disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Brain amyloid-β deposition is a crucial feature of AD, causing neuronal cell death by inducing oxidative damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate NF-κB, which induces expression of Nucling. Nucling is a pro-apoptotic factor recruiting the apoptosome complex. Lycopene is an antioxidant protecting from oxidative stress-induced cell damage. We investigated whether lycopene inhibits amyloid-β-stimulated apoptosis through reducing ROS and inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction and NF-κB-mediated Nucling expression in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. We prepared cells transfected with siRNA for Nucling or nontargeting control siRNA to determine the role of Nucling in amyloid-β-induced apoptosis. The amyloid-β increased intracellular and mitochondrial ROS levels, apoptotic indices (p53, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 cleavage), NF-kB activation and Nucling expression, while cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxygen consumption rate decreased in SH-SY5Y cells. Lycopene inhibited these amyloid-β-induced alterations. However, amyloid-β did not induce apoptosis, determined by cell viability and apoptotic indices (p53, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 cleavage), in the cells transfected with siRNA for Nucling. Lycopene inhibited apoptosis by reducing ROS, and by inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction and NF-κB-target gene Nucling expression in neuronal cells. Lycopene may be beneficial for preventing oxidative stress-mediated neuronal death in patients with neurodegeneration.
Characterization of Breakfast Cereals Available in the Mexican Market: Sodium and Sugar Content
Authors: Nieto Claudia , Rincon-Gallardo Patiño Sofia , Tolentino-Mayo Lizbeth , Carriedo Angela , Barquera Simón
Published: August 2017

Preschool Mexican children consume 7% of their total energy intake from processed breakfast cereals. This study characterized the nutritional quality and labelling (claims and Guideline Daily Amount (GDA)) of the packaged breakfast cereals available in the Mexican market. Photographs of all breakfast cereals available in the 9 main food retail chains in the country were taken. The nutrition quality of cereals was assessed using the United Kingdom Nutrient Profiling Model (UKNPM). Claims were classified using the International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) taxonomy and the GDA was defined according to the Mexican regulation, NOM-051. Overall, a total of 371 different breakfast cereals were analysed. The nutritional profile showed that 68.7% were classified as “less healthy”. GDAs and claims were displayed more frequently on the “less healthy” cereals. Breakfast cereals within the “less healthy” category had significantly higher content of energy, sugar and sodium (p < 0.001). Most of the claims were displayed in the “less healthy” cereals (n = 313). This study has shown that there is a lack of consistency between the labelling on the front of the pack and the nutritional quality of breakfast cereals.
Dietary Fructose Enhances the Ability of Low Concentrations of Angiotensin II to Stimulate Proximal Tubule Na+ Reabsorption
Authors: Gonzalez-Vicente Agustin , Cabral Pablo , Hong Nancy , Asirwatham Jessica , Yang Nianxin , Berthiaume Jessica , Dominici Fernando , Garvin Jeffrey
Published: August 2017

Fructose-enriched diets cause salt-sensitive hypertension. Proximal tubules (PTs) reabsorb 70% of the water and salt filtered through the glomerulus. Angiotensin II (Ang II) regulates this process. Normally, dietary salt reduces Ang II allowing the kidney to excrete more salt, thereby preventing hypertension. We hypothesized that fructose-enriched diets enhance the ability of low concentrations of Ang II to stimulate PT transport. We measured the effects of a low concentration of Ang II (10−12 mol/L) on transport-related oxygen consumption (QO2), and Na/K-ATPase and Na/H-exchange (NHE) activities and expression in PTs from rats consuming tap water (Control) or 20% fructose (FRUC). In FRUC-treated PTs, Ang II increased QO2 by 14.9 ± 1.3 nmol/mg/min (p < 0.01) but had no effect in Controls. FRUC elevated NHE3 expression by 19 ± 3% (p < 0.004) but not Na/K-ATPase expression. Ang II stimulated NHE activity in FRUC PT (Δ + 0.7 ± 0.1 Arbitrary Fluorescent units (AFU)/s, p < 0.01) but not in Controls. Na/K-ATPase activity was not affected. The PKC inhibitor Gö6976 blocked the ability of FRUC to augment the actions of Ang II. FRUC did not alter the inhibitory effect of dopamine on NHE activity. We conclude that dietary fructose increases the ability of low concentrations of Ang II to stimulate PT Na reabsorption via effects on NHE.
Pre-Trained AlexNet Architecture with Pyramid Pooling and Supervision for High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Image Scene Classification
Authors: Han Xiaobing , Zhong Yanfei , Cao Liqin , Zhang Liangpei
Published: August 2017

The rapid development of high spatial resolution (HSR) remote sensing imagery techniques not only provide a considerable amount of datasets for scene classification tasks but also request an appropriate scene classification choice when facing with finite labeled samples. AlexNet, as a relatively simple convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, has obtained great success in scene classification tasks and has been proven to be an excellent foundational hierarchical and automatic scene classification technique. However, current HSR remote sensing imagery scene classification datasets always have the characteristics of small quantities and simple categories, where the limited annotated labeling samples easily cause non-convergence. For HSR remote sensing imagery, multi-scale information of the same scenes can represent the scene semantics to a certain extent but lacks an efficient fusion expression manner. Meanwhile, the current pre-trained AlexNet architecture lacks a kind of appropriate supervision for enhancing the performance of this model, which easily causes overfitting. In this paper, an improved pre-trained AlexNet architecture named pre-trained AlexNet-SPP-SS has been proposed, which incorporates the scale pooling—spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) and side supervision (SS) to improve the above two situations. Extensive experimental results conducted on the UC Merced dataset and the Google Image dataset of SIRI-WHU have demonstrated that the proposed pre-trained AlexNet-SPP-SS model is superior to the original AlexNet architecture as well as the traditional scene classification methods.
Correction: Yao, P. et al. Rebuilding Long Time Series Global Soil Moisture Products Using the Neural Network Adopted the Microwave Vegetation Index. Remote Sens. 2017, 9, 35
Authors: Yao Panpan , Shi Jiancheng , Zhao Tianjie , Lu Hui , Al-Yaari Amen
Published: August 2017

After publication of the research paper [1], the authors wish to make the following correction to this paper. In the fourth line from the bottom in abstract, due to a typing error, “RMSE = 0.84 m3/m3” should be replaced with “RMSE = 0.084 m3/m3”.[...]
What is the Direction of Land Change? A New Approach to Land-Change Analysis
Authors: You Mingde , Filippi Anthony , Güneralp İnci , Güneralp Burak
Published: August 2017

Accurate characterization of the direction of land change is a neglected aspect of land dynamics. Knowledge on direction of historical land change can be useful information when understanding relative influence of different land-change drivers is of interest. In this study, we present a novel perspective on land-change analysis by focusing on directionality of change. To this end, we employed Maximum Cross-Correlation (MCC) approach to estimate the directional change in land cover in a dynamic river floodplain environment using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) images. This approach has previously been used for detecting and measuring fluid and ice motions but not to study directional changes in land cover. We applied the MCC approach on land-cover class membership layers derived from fuzzy remote-sensing image classification. We tested the sensitivity of the resulting displacement vectors to three user-defined parameters—template size, search window size, and a threshold parameter to determine valid (non-noisy) displacement vectors—that directly affect the generation of change, or displacement, vectors; this has not previously been thoroughly investigated in any application domain. The results demonstrate that it is possible to quantitatively measure the rate of directional change in land cover in this floodplain environment using this particular approach. Sensitivity analyses indicate that template size and MCC threshold parameter are more influential on the displacement vectors than search window size. The results vary by land-cover class, suggesting that spatial configuration of land-cover classes should be taken into consideration in the implementation of the method.
Optimizing Waveform Maximum Determination for Specular Point Tracking in Airborne GNSS-R
Authors: Motte Erwan , Zribi Mehrez
Published: August 2017

Airborne GNSS-R campaigns are crucial to the understanding of signal interactions with the Earth’s surface. As a consequence of the specific geometric configurations arising during measurements from aircraft, the reflected signals can be difficult to interpret under certain conditions like over strongly attenuating media such as forests, or when the reflected signal is contaminated by the direct signal. For these reasons, there are many cases where the reflectivity is overestimated, or a portion of the dataset has to be flagged as unusable. In this study we present techniques that have been developed to optimize the processing of airborne GNSS-R data, with the goal of improving its accuracy and robustness under non-optimal conditions. This approach is based on the detailed analysis of data produced by the instrument GLORI, which was recorded during an airborne campaign in the south west of France in June 2015. Our technique relies on the improved determination of reflected waveform peaks in the delay dimension, which is related to the loci of the signals contributed by the zone surrounding the specular point. It is shown that when developing techniques for the correct localization of waveform maxima under conditions of surfaces of low reflectivity, and/or contamination from the direct signal, it is possible to correct and extract values corresponding to the real reflectivity of the zone in the neighborhood of the specular point. This algorithm was applied to a reanalysis of the complete campaign dataset, following which the accuracy and sensitivity improved, and the usability of the dataset was improved by 30%.
A Microneedle Functionalized with Polyethyleneimine and Nanotubes for Highly Sensitive, Label-Free Quantification of DNA
Authors: Saadat-Moghaddam Darius , Kim Jong-Hoon
Published: August 2017

The accurate measure of DNA concentration is necessary for many DNA-based biological applications. However, the current methods are limited in terms of sensitivity, reproducibility, human error, and contamination. Here, we present a microneedle functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for the highly sensitive quantification of DNA. The microneedle was fabricated using ultraviolet (UV) lithography and anisotropic etching, and then functionalized with PEI and SWCNTs through a dip coating process. The electrical characteristics of the microneedle change with the accumulation of DNA on the surface. Current-voltage measurements in deionized water were conducted to study these changes in the electrical properties of the sensor. The sensitivity test found the signal to be discernable from the noise level down to 100 attomolar (aM), demonstrating higher sensitivity than currently available UV fluorescence and UV absorbance based methods. A microneedle without any surface modification only had a 100 femtomolar (fM) sensitivity. All measurement results were consistent with fluorescence microscopy.
A Framework Based on Reference Data with Superordinate Accuracy for the Quality Analysis of Terrestrial Laser Scanning-Based Multi-Sensor-Systems
Authors: Stenz Ulrich , Hartmann Jens , Paffenholz Jens-André , Neumann Ingo
Published: August 2017

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is an efficient solution to collect large-scale data. The efficiency can be increased by combining TLS with additional sensors in a TLS-based multi-sensor-system (MSS). The uncertainty of scanned points is not homogenous and depends on many different influencing factors. These include the sensor properties, referencing, scan geometry (e.g., distance and angle of incidence), environmental conditions (e.g., atmospheric conditions) and the scanned object (e.g., material, color and reflectance, etc.). The paper presents methods, infrastructure and results for the validation of the suitability of TLS and TLS-based MSS. Main aspects are the backward modelling of the uncertainty on the basis of reference data (e.g., point clouds) with superordinate accuracy and the appropriation of a suitable environment/infrastructure (e.g., the calibration process of the targets for the registration of laser scanner and laser tracker data in a common coordinate system with high accuracy) In this context superordinate accuracy means that the accuracy of the acquired reference data is better by a factor of 10 than the data of the validated TLS and TLS-based MSS. These aspects play an important role in engineering geodesy, where the aimed accuracy lies in a range of a few mm or less.