bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacto de las redes sociales en el periodismo
Authors: Campos-Freire Francisco , Rúas-Araújo José , López-García Xosé , Martínez-Fernández Valentín-Alejandro
Published: April 2019

Metamedia and value networks are two emerging concepts in the communication area. The first one refers to the computingtransformation of media processes and contexts, both in production and use of the media; the second one relates to the system encouraging information flows, knowledge, and communication social relationships. The revolution of metamedia and digital networks is to be seen in the way people use and consume information, as well as organizations and traditional media outlets. They understand the networks –mainly Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube- as the main value providers, as the present study concludes. This work offers the results of the Media management barometer, a survey undertaken at the end of 2015 and administered to 300 Spanish media companies to check their metamedia transformation and the use of digital social networks.
The Relationship Between Patient Reported Dysphagia Symptom Severity and Swallowing Related Quality of Life in Patients with Neurological Disorders
Authors: ARSLAN Selen Serel , DEMİR Numan , KARADUMAN A. Ayse
Published: April 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between patient reported dysphagia symptom severity and swallowing relatedquality of life (SRQOL) in patients with neurological disorders.Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of neurological disorders who aged between 25 to 60 years were included. The dysphagia symptom severity wasassessed with the Turkish Eating Assessment Tool (T-EAT-10). SRQOL was assessed by the Turkish version of the Swallow Quality of Life Questionnaire(T-SWAL-QOL).Results: Eighty-four patients with neurological disorder were included. The mean T-EAT-10 score was 19.59 ± 11.16 (min = 0, max = 40), and themean total score of T-SWAL-QOL was 50.63 ± 23.52 (min = 0, max = 90). A negative, good, statistically significant correlation between T-EAT-10 andtotal T-SWAL-QOL was found (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Higher patient reported dysphagia symptom severity is associated with lower scores of SRQOL. Therefore, appropriate managementstrategies which also focus on patient reported symptoms may be necessary to minimize negative SRQOL issues of patients with neurogenicdysphagia.
Juglone in Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling
Authors: Ahmad Taseer , Suzuki Yuichiro J.
Published: April 2019

Juglone (5-hydroxyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a phenolic compound found in walnuts. Because of the antioxidant capacities of phenolic compounds, juglone may serve to combat oxidative stress, thereby protecting against the development of various diseases and aging processes. However, being a quinone molecule, juglone could also act as a redox cycling agent and produce reactive oxygen species. Such prooxidant properties of juglone may confer health effects, such as by killing cancer cells. Further, recent studies revealed that juglone influences cell signaling. Notably, juglone is an inhibitor of Pin1 (peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase) that could regulate phosphorylation of Tau, implicating potential effects of juglone in Alzheimer’s disease. Juglone also activates mitogen-activated protein kinases that could promote cell survival, thereby protecting against conditions such as cardiac injury. This review describes recent advances in the understanding of the effects and roles of juglone in oxidative stress and cell signaling.
Roof-Crush Protection Design of Automotive Bodies Using Clustering and Pattern Recognition
Authors: Shin Yong-Sang , Eun Hyo-Jun , Chu Yong-Ju , Lee Seung-Yop
Published: April 2019

Computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools play an indispensable role in the vehicle development process. However, it is difficult to accurately predict the relationships and behavior of automotive bodies in vehicle crashes owing to high-order nonlinearity and numerous design variables of the automotive body structure. In this study, clustering and pattern recognition techniques were used to develop a novel optimization design of an automotive body considering roof crushing by vehicle rollover. The large-scale data were clustered to find the strong and weak clusters, and new response surface models were acquired by clustering analysis to achieve better performance than the response surface model of traditional optimization. For an efficient robust design, clusters with weak performance were excluded from the optimum solution. Finally, it was confirmed that the solutions by the proposed optimization technique were better than those obtained by the traditional optimum method based on a comparative analysis by various cluster combinations.
Lightweight Conversion from Arithmetic to Boolean Masking for Embedded IoT Processor
Authors: Kim HanBit , Hong Seokhie , Kim HeeSeok
Published: April 2019

A masking method is a widely known countermeasure against side-channel attacks. To apply a masking method to cryptosystems consisting of Boolean and arithmetic operations, such as ARX (Addition, Rotation, XOR) block ciphers, a masking conversion algorithm should be used. Masking conversion algorithms can be classified into two categories: “Boolean to Arithmetic (B2A)” and “Arithmetic to Boolean (A2B)”. The A2B algorithm generally requires more execution time than the B2A algorithm. Using pre-computation tables, the A2B algorithm substantially reduces its execution time, although it requires additional space in RAM. In CHES2012, B. Debraize proposed a conversion algorithm that somewhat reduced the memory cost of using pre-computation tables. However, they still require ( 2 ( k + 1 ) ) entries of length ( k + 1 ) -bit where k denotes the size of the processed data. In this paper, we propose a low-memory algorithm to convert A2B masking that requires only ( 2 k ) ( k ) -bit. Our contributions are three-fold. First, we specifically show how to reduce the pre-computation table from ( k + 1 ) -bit to ( k ) -bit, as a result, the memory use for the pre-computation table is reduced from ( 2 ( k + 1 ) ) ( k + 1 ) -bit to ( 2 k ) ( k ) -bit. Second, we optimize the execution times of the pre-computation phase and the conversion phase, and determine that our pre-computation algorithm requires approximately half of the operations than Debraize’s algorithm. The results of the 8/16/32-bit simulation show improved speed in the pre-computation phase and the conversion phase as compared to Debraize’s results. Finally, we verify the security of the algorithm against side-channel attacks as well as the soundness of the proposed algorithm.
Fault Diagnosis for a Bearing Rolling Element Using Improved VMD and HT
Authors: Liu Haodong , Li Dongyan , Yuan Yu , Zhang Shengjie , Zhao Huimin , Deng Wu
Published: April 2019

The variational mode decomposition (VMD) method for signal decomposition is severely affected by the number of components of the VMD method. In order to determine the decomposition modal number, K, in the VMD method, a new center frequency method of the multi-threshold is proposed in this paper. Then, an improved VMD (MTCFVMD) algorithm based on the center frequency method of the multi-threshold is obtained to decompose the vibration signal into a series of intrinsic modal functions (IMFs). The Hilbert transformation is used to calculate the envelope signal of each IMF component, and the maximum frequency value of the power spectral density is obtained in order to effectively and accurately extract the fault characteristic frequency and realize the fault diagnosis. The rolling element vibration data of the motor bearing is used to test the effectiveness of proposed methods. The experiment results show that the center frequency method of the multi-threshold can effectively determine the number, K, of decomposed modes. The proposed fault diagnosis method based on MTCFVMD and Hilbert transformation can effectively and accurately extract the fault characteristic frequency, rotation frequency, and frequency doubling, and can obtain higher diagnostic accuracy.
The Potential of Blockchain in Building Construction
Authors: Dakhli Zakaria , Lafhaj Zoubeir , Mossman Alan
Published: April 2019

Construction customers want more complex facilities delivered faster and at a lower cost. Transaction costs account for a significant proportion of each new or refurbished facility (a 2017 report from the Infrastructure Client Group in the UK suggests as high as 50%), yet they contribute no value to the customer. Blockchain is being suggested as a way to reduce transaction costs by eliminating the need for intermediaries to build trust as a prerequisite for successfully executed agreements. This study first describes the thinking that underpins blockchain technology, outlining how it works, and the potential limitations of the technology. Second, using a case study, reviews the potential cost savings from the use of blockchain for a real estate company. The results reveal a potential cost savings from blockchain deployment at 8.3% of the total cost of residential construction, with a standard deviation of 1.26%. Third, we explore the implications, risks and applications of blockchain technology for improving flow in the end-to-end design and construction process and we identify opportunities for future research on blockchain applications in construction.
Combined Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling and the PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Is Differentially Effective in Tumor Models
Authors: Sow Heng , Ren Jiang , Camps Marcel , Ossendorp Ferry , ten Dijke Peter
Published: April 2019

Antibodies blocking the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have shown impressive and durable responses in clinical studies. However, this type of immunotherapy is only effective in a subset of patients and not sufficient for rejection of all tumor types. In this study, we explored in two mouse tumor models whether the antitumor effect could be enhanced by the combined blockade of PD-L1 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a potent immunosuppressive cytokine. The effect of anti-PD-L1 mouse monoclonal (mAb) and a TGF-β type I receptor small molecule kinase inhibitor (LY364947) was evaluated in the highly immunogenic mouse MC38 colon adenocarcinoma and the poorly immunogenic mouse KPC1 pancreatic tumor model. In the MC38 tumor model, LY364947 monotherapy did not show any antitumor effect, whereas treatment with anti-PD-L1 mAb significantly delayed tumor outgrowth. However, combination therapy showed the strongest therapeutic efficacy, resulting in improved long-term survival compared with anti-PD-L1 mAb monotherapy. This improved survival was associated with an increased influx of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. In the KPC1 tumor model, LY364947 did not enhance the antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 mAb. Despite this, delayed KPC1 tumor outgrowth was observed in the LY364947-treated group and this treatment led to a significant reduction of CD4+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Together, our data indicate that an additive anti-tumor response of dual targeting PD-L1 and TGF-β is dependent on the tumor model used, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate cancer types, using in-depth analysis of the tumor microenvironment, which can benefit from combinatorial immunotherapy regimens.
Deformation Mechanisms of Isotactic Poly-1-Butene and Its Copolymers Deformed by Plane-Strain Compression and Tension
Authors: Bartczak Zbigniew , Grala Magdalena , Vozniak Alina
Published: April 2019

The deformation-induced crystalline texture of isotactic poly-1-butene and its random copolymers with ethylene, developing during plane-strain compression and uniaxial tension, was investigated with X-Ray pole figures, supported by small-angle scattering (SAXS) and thermal analysis (DSC). The crystallographic (100)[001] chain slip was identified as the primary deformation mechanism, active in both compression and tension, supported by the transverse slip system and interlamellar shear. At the true strain around 0.8, lamellae fragmentation and partial destruction of the crystalline phase due to slip localization was observed, much heavier in tension than in plane-strain compression. That fragmentation brought an acceleration of the slip, which ultimately led to a common fiber texture in tensile samples, with the chain direction oriented preferentially along the drawing (flow) direction. Slightly more complicated crystal texture, reflecting triaxiality of the stress field, still with the chain direction preferentially oriented near the flow direction, was observed in compression. Additional deformation mechanism was observed at low strain in the plane-strain compression, which was either interlamellar shear operating in amorphous layers and supported by crystallographic slips or the simultaneous (110)[110] transverse slip operating on a pair of (110) planes. It was concluded that deformation proceeded similarly in both studied deformation modes, with practically the same deformation mechanisms engaged. Then, the plane-strain compression, proceeding homogeneously and preventing cavitation, seems more suitable for studies of the real deformation behavior, not obscured by any unwanted side-effects.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Entropy of Complex Systems with Hidden and Self-Excited Attractors
Authors: Volos Christos K. , Jafari Sajad , Kengne Jacques , Munoz-Pacheco Jesus M. , Rajagopal Karthikeyan
Published: April 2019

In the last few years, entropy has been a fundamental and essential concept in information theory [...]
The Influence of Different Knowledge-Driven Methods on Landslide Susceptibility Mapping: A Case Study in the Changbai Mountain Area, Northeast China
Authors: Ma Zhongjun , Qin Shengwu , Cao Chen , Lv Jiangfeng , Li Guangjie , Qiao Shuangshuang , Hu Xiuyu
Published: April 2019

Landslides are one of the most frequent geomorphic hazards, and they often result in the loss of property and human life in the Changbai Mountain area (CMA), Northeast China. The objective of this study was to produce and compare landslide susceptibility maps for the CMA using an information content model (ICM) with three knowledge-driven methods (the artificial hierarchy process with the ICM (AHP-ICM), the entropy weight method with the ICM (EWM-ICM), and the rough set with the ICM (RS-ICM)) and to explore the influence of different knowledge-driven methods for a series of parameters on the accuracy of landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM). In this research, the landslide inventory data (145 landslides) were randomly divided into a training dataset: 70% (81 landslides) were used for training the models and 30% (35 landslides) were used for validation. In addition, 13 layers of landslide conditioning factors, namely, altitude, slope gradient, slope aspect, lithology, distance to faults, distance to roads, distance to rivers, annual precipitation, land type, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), topographic wetness index (TWI), plan curvature, and profile curvature, were taken as independent, causal predictors. Landslide susceptibility maps were developed using the ICM, RS-ICM, AHP-ICM, and EWM-ICM, in which weights were assigned to every conditioning factor. The resultant susceptibility was validated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) method. The success accuracies of the landslide susceptibility maps produced by the ICM, RS-ICM, AHP-ICM, and EWM-ICM methods were 0.931, 0.939, 0.912, and 0.883, respectively, with prediction accuracy rates of 0.926, 0.927, 0.917, and 0.878 for the ICM, RS-ICM, AHP-ICM, and EWM-ICM, respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that the four models used in this study gave close results, with the RS-ICM exhibiting the best performance in landslide susceptibility mapping.
Quantitative Assessment and Diagnosis for Regional Agricultural Drought Resilience Based on Set Pair Analysis and Connection Entropy
Authors: Chen Menglu , Ning Shaowei , Cui Yi , Jin Juliang , Zhou Yuliang , Wu Chengguo
Published: April 2019

Assessment and diagnosis of regional agricultural drought resilience (RADR) is an important groundwork to identify the shortcomings of regional agriculture to resist drought disasters accurately. In order to quantitatively assess the capacity of regional agriculture system to reduce losses from drought disasters under complex conditions and to identify vulnerability indexes, an assessment and diagnosis model for RADR was established. Firstly, this model used the improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to determine the index weights, then proposed an assessment method based on connection number and an improved connection entropy. Furthermore, the set pair potential based on subtraction was used to diagnose the vulnerability indexes. In addition, a practical application had been carried out in the region of the Huaibei Plain in Anhui Province. The evaluation results showed that the RADR in this area from 2005 to 2014 as a whole was in a relatively weak situation. However, the average grade values had decreased from 3.144 to 2.790 during these 10 years and the RADR had an enhanced tendency. Moreover, the possibility of RADR enhancement for six cities in this region decreased from east to west, and the drought emergency condition was the weak link of the RADR in the Huaibei Plain.
Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of Impedance-Source Networks for DC and AC Application
Authors: Husev Oleksandr , Shults Tatiana , Vinnikov Dmitri , Roncero-Clemente Carlos , Romero-Cadaval Enrique , Chub Andrii
Published: April 2019

This paper presents a comprehensive analytical comparison of the impedance-source-based dc-dc and dc-ac converters in terms of the passive component count and size, semiconductor stress, and range of input voltage variation. The conventional solution with a boost converter was considered as a reference value. The main criterion of the comprehensive comparison was the energy stored in the passive elements, which was considered both under a constant and predefined high frequency current ripple in the inductors and the voltage ripple across the capacitors. Main impedance-source converters with or without a transformer and with or without inductor coupling were analyzed. Dc-dc and dc-ac applications were considered. Selective simulation results along with experimental verification are shown. The conclusions provide a selection guide of impedance-source networks for different applications taking into account its advantages and disadvantages.
Methodology for the Quantification of the Impact of Weather Forecasts in Predictive Simulation Models
Authors: Lucas Segarra Eva , Du Hu , Ramos Ruiz Germán , Fernández Bandera Carlos
Published: April 2019

The use of Building Energy Models (BEM) has become widespread to reduce building energy consumption. Projection of the model in the future to know how different consumption strategies can be evaluated is one of the main applications of BEM. Many energy management optimization strategies can be used and, among others, model predictive control (MPC) has become very popular nowadays. When using models for predicting the future, we have to assume certain errors that come from uncertainty parameters. One of these uncertainties is the weather forecast needed to predict the building behavior in the near future. This paper proposes a methodology for quantifying the impact of the error generated by the weather forecast in the building’s indoor climate conditions and energy demand. The objective is to estimate the error introduced by the weather forecast in the load forecasting to have more precise predicted data. The methodology employed site-specific, near-future forecast weather data obtained through online open access Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The weather forecast providers supply forecasts up to 10 days ahead of key weather parameters such as outdoor temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction. This approach uses calibrated EnergyPlus models to foresee the errors in the indoor thermal behavior and energy demand caused by the increasing day-ahead weather forecasts. A case study investigated the impact of using up to 7-day weather forecasts on mean indoor temperature and energy demand predictions in a building located in Pamplona, Spain. The main novel concepts in this paper are: first, the characterization of the weather forecast error for a specific weather data provider and location and its effect in the building’s load prediction. The error is calculated based on recorded hourly data so the results are provided on an hourly basis, avoiding the cancel out effect when a wider period of time is analyzed. The second is the classification and analysis of the data hour-by-hour to provide an estimate error for each hour of the day generating a map of hourly errors. This application becomes necessary when the building takes part in the day-ahead programs such as demand response or flexibility strategies, where the predicted hourly load must be provided to the grid in advance. The methodology developed in this paper can be extrapolated to any weather forecast provider, location or building.
Wind Energy Prediction in Highly Complex Terrain by Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Tabas Daniel , Fang Jiannong , Porté-Agel Fernando
Published: April 2019

With rising levels of wind power penetration in global electricity production, the relevance of wind power prediction is growing. More accurate forecasts reduce the required total amount of energy reserve capacity needed to ensure grid reliability and the risk of penalty for wind farm operators. This study analyzes the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software WindSim regarding its ability to perform accurate wind power predictions in complex terrain. Simulations of the wind field and wind farm power output in the Swiss Jura Mountains at the location of the Juvent Wind Farm during winter were performed. The study site features the combined presence of three complexities: topography, heterogeneous vegetation including forest, and interactions between wind turbine wakes. Hence, it allows a comprehensive evaluation of the software. Various turbulence models, forest models, and wake models, as well as the effects of domain size and grid resolution were evaluated against wind and power observations from nine Vestas V90’s 2.0-MW turbines. The results show that, with a proper combination of modeling options, WindSim is able to predict the performance of the wind farm with sufficient accuracy.
The Influence of Permanent Magnet Material Properties on Generator Rotor Design
Authors: Eklund Petter , Eriksson Sandra
Published: April 2019

Due to the price and supply insecurities for rare earth metal-based permanent magnet (PM) materials, a search for new PM materials is ongoing. The properties of a new PM material are not known yet, but a span of likely parameters can be studied. This paper presents an investigation on how the remanence and recoil permeability of a PM material affect its usefulness in a low speed, multi-pole, and PM synchronous generator. Demagnetisation is also considered. The investigation is carried out by constrained optimisation of three different rotor topologies for maximum torque production for different PM material parameters and a fixed PM maximum energy. The rotor topologies used are surface mounted PM rotor, spoke type PM rotor and an interior PM rotor with radially magnetised PMs. The three different rotor topologies have their best performance for different kinds of materials. The spoke type PM rotor is the best at utilising low remanence materials as long as they are sufficiently resistant to demagnetisation. The surface mounted PM rotor works best with very demagnetisation resistant PM materials with a high remanence, while the radial interior PM rotor is preferable for high remanence materials with low demagnetisation resistance.
A Holistic Methodology for Optimizing Industrial Resource Efficiency
Authors: Kermani Maziar , Kantor Ivan , Wallerand Anna , Granacher Julia , Ensinas Adriano , Maréchal François
Published: April 2019

Efficient consumption of energy and material resources, including water, is the primary focus for process industries to reduce their environmental impact. The Conference of Parties in Paris (COP21) highlighted the prominent role of industrial energy efficiency in combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Consumption of energy and material resources, especially water, are strongly interconnected and, therefore, must be treated simultaneously using a holistic approach to identify optimal solutions for efficient processing. Such approaches must consider energy and water recovery within a comprehensive process integration framework which includes options such as organic Rankine cycles for electricity generation from low–medium-temperature heat. This work addresses the importance of holistic approaches by proposing a methodology for simultaneous consideration of heat, mass, and power in industrial processes. The methodology is applied to a kraft pulp mill. In doing so, freshwater consumption is reduced by more than 60%, while net power output is increased by a factor of up to six (from 3.2 MW to between 10–26 MW). The results show that interactions among these elements are complex and therefore underline the necessity of such comprehensive methods to explore their optimal integration with industrial processes. The potential applications of this work are vast, extending from total site resource integration to addressing synergies in the context of industrial symbiosis.
Vertical Stress and Deformation Characteristics of Roadside Backfilling Body in Gob-Side Entry for Thick Coal Seams with Different Pre-Split Angles
Authors: Ren Yuqi , Feng Guorui , Wang Pengfei , Guo Jun , Luo Yi , Qian Ruipeng , Sun Qiang , Li Songyu , Yan Yonggan
Published: April 2019

Retained gob-side entry (RGE) is a significant improvement for fully-mechanized longwall mining. The environment of surrounding rock directly affects its stability. Roadside backfilling body (RBB), a man-made structure in RGE plays the most important role in successful application of the technology. In the field, however, the vertical deformation of RBB is large during the panel extraction, which leads to malfunction of the RGE. In order to solve the problem, roof pre-split is employed. According to geological conditions as well as the physical modeling of roof behavior and deformation of surrounding rock, the support resistance of RBB is calculated. The environment of surrounding rock, vertical stress and vertical deformation of the RBB in the RGE with different roof pre-split angles are analyzed using FLAC3D software. With the increase of roof pre-split angle, the vertical stresses both in the coal wall and RBB are minimum, and the vertical deformation of RBB also decreases from 110.51 mm to 6.1 mm. Therefore, based on the results of numerical modeling and field observation, roof pre-split angle of 90° is more beneficial to the maintenance of the RGE.
Multi-Agent Recommendation System for Electrical Energy Optimization and Cost Saving in Smart Homes
Authors: Jiménez-Bravo Diego M. , Pérez-Marcos Javier , H. De la Iglesia Daniel , Villarrubia González Gabriel , De Paz Juan F.
Published: April 2019

The European Union Establishes that for the next few years, a cleaner and more efficient energy system should be used. In order to achieve this, this work proposes an energy optimization method that facilitates the achievement of these objectives. Existing technologies allow us to create a system that optimizes the use of energy in homes and offers some type of benefit to its residents. Specifically, this study has developed a recommendation system based on a multiagent system that allows to obtain consumption data from electronic devices in a home, obtain information on electricity prices from the Internet, and provide recommendations based on consumption patterns of users and electricity prices. In this way, the system recommends new hours in which to use the appliances, offering the economic benefit that it would propose recommendations for the user. In this way, it is possible to distribute and optimize the use of energy in homes and reduce the peaks in electricity consumption. The system provides encouraging results in order to resolve the problem proposed by the European Union by optimizing the use of energy among different hours of the day and saving money for the customer.
Re-Inventing Underground Space in Matera
Authors: Varriale Roberta
Published: April 2019

The site of Sassi in Matera originates from a troglodyte village that is believed to be one of the first human settlements in Italy. The structure reflects the progressive transformation of natural caves into closed caves for urban use, and over time has distinguished a complex urban landscape that can only be fully appreciated when observed in cross-section. During the 20th century, the demographic rise and the socio-economic decline of the area turned these dwellings into a socio-environmental disaster and the area was definitively evacuated in the 1960s. Since then, the underground settlement has been revisited and is now considered and valorized as a cultural site. Inscribed in the UNESCO list in 1993, Sassi in Matera is the current European Capital of Culture (2019). This paper presents a brief overview on the worldwide approach to historical underground artifacts within contemporary urban planning, followed by an analysis of the application of the recent classification for underground built heritage (UBH) to Sassi. The different levels of reuse that have been carried out in Matera during the last decades are examined with a particular focus on the difficulties in facing gentrification, and examples of possible remedies provided by “ethical conservation for architecture” that preserves the communication of historical functions are discussed.
Motivating Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients to Engage in Regular Physical Activity: A Multi-Component Intervention Derived from the Concept of Photovoice
Authors: Leung Angela Y.M. , Chau Pui Hing , Leung Isaac S.H. , Tse Michael , Wong Perick L.C. , Tam Wai Ming , Leung Doris Y. P.
Published: April 2019

Aims: A community-based multi-component intervention (increasing awareness of the importance of physical activity in chronic illness management through reading comic books, training regarding warm-up stretching exercises, identifying facilitators and barriers to exercise through photosharing, supporting self-reflection and development of action plans) was developed to promote physical activity (PA) among patients with diabetes and hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention on health behaviour (walking) and health outcomes. Design: A non-randomized controlled trial with waitlisted control and pre- and post-measures. Setting: Community centres for the elderly. Participants: A total of 204 older adults with diabetes and/or hypertension were recruited. They were assigned to either the intervention group (IG) or waitlisted to the control group (CG). Intervention: Under the supervision of a nurse, six weekly group meetings were arranged in community centres for the elderly in which the participants freely exchanged their views regarding the barriers and facilitators of regular physical activity. Participants were encouraged to take photos in their neighbourhood or at home and brought these photos to share at the group meetings. The photos showed both the barriers and the facilitators to PA. In the last meeting, each participant worked out a plan to perform PA in the coming four weeks. Measures: PA referred to the number of steps taken per day and it was measured by a Garmin Accelerometer at baseline, Week 6 and Week 10. Other measures included the nine-item Self-Efficacy Scale for Exercise–Chinese version (SEE-C), and the 23-item Chinese Barriers to Exercise Scale and Senior Fitness Tests. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) models compared the outcomes over time between IG and CG. Results: A statistically significant difference in the changes in the average number of steps taken daily between the two groups at Week 10 (mean difference = 965.4; 95% confidence interval: 92.2, 1838.6, p = 0.030) was observed, although the difference at Week 6 was non-significant (mean difference = 777.6; 95% confidence interval: −35.3, 1590.5, p = 0.061). IG participants also showed significant improvements in lower body strength (mean difference = 0.967; 95% confidence interval: 0.029, 1.904, p = 0.043) and lower limb flexibility (mean difference = 2.068; 95% confidence interval: 0.404, 3.731, p = 0.015) at Week 10 compared to CG participants. Conclusion: This multi-component intervention improved the participants’ physical activity level and physical fitness, particularly in lower limb flexibility and body strength.
Low Serum Melatonin Levels Prior to Liver Transplantation in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma are Associated with Lower Survival after Liver Transplantation
Authors: Lorente Leonardo , Rodriguez Sergio T. , Sanz Pablo , Abreu-González Pedro , González-Rivero Agustín F. , Pérez-Cejas Antonia , Padilla Javier , Díaz Dácil , González Antonio , Martín María M. , Jiménez Alejandro , Cerro Purificación , Portero Julián , Barrera Manuel A.
Published: April 2019

Melatonin administration has been associated with different benefits in animals and patients suffering from liver diseases. However, there is no published data about circulating melatonin levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver transplantation (LT). Thus, the objective of this observational and retrospective study was to determine whether patients with HCC with lower serum melatonin levels prior to LT have a higher risk of one-year mortality after LT. We measured serum levels of melatonin, malondialdehyde (to assess lipid peroxidation), and total antioxidant capacity (to assess antioxidant state) before LT. One-year surviving LT patients (n = 129) showed higher serum levels of melatonin (p = 0.001) and total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.001) and lower serum levels of malondialheyde (p = 0.01) than non-surviving LT patients (n = 16). Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum melatonin levels prior to LT were associated with lower one-year LT mortality (odds ratio = 0.525; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.331–0.834; p = 0.006). We found an association between serum levels of melatonin with serum levels of malondialheyde (rho = −0.22; p = 0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (rho = 0.21; p = 0.01). Thus, the novel findings of our study were the association between high serum melatonin levels prior to LT and survival at first year after LT and the association between serum levels of melatonin with malondialheyde and total antioxidant capacity.
Cross-Talk between Neurohormonal Pathways and the Immune System in Heart Failure: A Review of the Literature
Authors: De Angelis Elena , Pecoraro Michela , Rusciano Maria Rosaria , Ciccarelli Michele , Popolo Ada
Published: April 2019

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome involving a multitude of neurohormonal pathways including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system, and natriuretic peptides system. It is now emerging that neurohumoral mechanisms activated during heart failure, with both preserved and reduced ejection fraction, modulate cells of the immune system. Indeed, these cells express angiotensin I receptors, adrenoceptors, and natriuretic peptides receptors. Ang II modulates macrophage polarization, promoting M2 macrophages phenotype, and this stimulation can influence lymphocytes Th1/Th2 balance. β-AR activation in monocytes is responsible for inhibition of free oxygen radicals production, and together with α2-AR can modulate TNF-α receptor expression and TNF-α release. In dendritic cells, activation of β2-AR inhibits IL-12 production, resulting in the inhibition of Th1 and promotion of Th2 differentiation. ANP induces the activation of secretion of superoxide anion in polymorphonucleated cells; reduces TNF-α and nitric oxide secretion in macrophages; and attenuates the exacerbated TH1 responses. BNP in macrophages can stimulate ROS production, up-regulates IL-10, and inhibits IL-12 and TNF-α release by dendritic cells, suggesting an anti-inflammatory cytokines profile induction. Therefore, different neurohormonal-immune cross-talks can determine the phenotype of cardiac remodeling, promoting either favorable or maladaptive responses. This review aims to summarize the available knowledge on neurohormonal modulation of immune responses, providing supportive rational background for further research.
Mitochondrial Targeting of Antioxidants Alters Pancreatic Acinar Cell Bioenergetics and Determines Cell Fate
Authors: Armstrong Jane A. , Cash Nicole J. , Morton Jack C. , Tepikin Alexei V. , Sutton Robert , Criddle David N.
Published: April 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a core feature of acute pancreatitis, a severe disease in which oxidative stress is elevated. Mitochondrial targeting of antioxidants is a potential therapeutic strategy for this and other diseases, although thus far mixed results have been reported. We investigated the effects of mitochondrial targeting with the antioxidant MitoQ on pancreatic acinar cell bioenergetics, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and cell fate, in comparison with the non-antioxidant control decyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (DecylTPP) and general antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). MitoQ (µM range) and NAC (mM range) caused sustained elevations of basal respiration and the inhibition of spare respiratory capacity, which was attributable to an antioxidant action since these effects were minimal with DecylTPP. Although MitoQ but not DecylTPP decreased cellular NADH levels, mitochondrial ATP turnover capacity and cellular ATP concentrations were markedly reduced by both MitoQ and DecylTPP, indicating a non-specific effect of mitochondrial targeting. All three compounds were associated with a compensatory elevation of glycolysis and concentration-dependent increases in acinar cell apoptosis and necrosis. These data suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute a significant negative feedback control of basal cellular metabolism. Mitochondrial targeting using positively charged molecules that insert into the inner mitochondrial member appears to be deleterious in pancreatic acinar cells, as does an antioxidant strategy for the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
Delayed Astrogliosis Associated with Reduced M1 Microglia Activation in Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 Knockout Mice during Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Hansmann Florian , Zhang Ning , Herder Vanessa , Leitzen Eva , Baumgärtner Wolfgang
Published: April 2019

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis (TME) represents a versatile animal model for studying the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Hallmarks of TME are demyelination, astrogliosis, as well as inflammation. Previous studies showed that matrix metalloproteinase 12 knockout (Mmp12−/−) mice display an ameliorated clinical course associated with reduced demyelination. The present study aims to elucidate the impact of MMP12 deficiency in TME with special emphasis on astrogliosis, macrophages infiltrating the central nervous system (CNS), and the phenotype of microglia/macrophages (M1 or M2). SJL wild-type and Mmp12−/− mice were infected with TME virus (TMEV) or vehicle (mock) and euthanized at 28 and 98 days post infection (dpi). Immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence of cervical and thoracic spinal cord for detecting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), CD107b, CD16/32, and arginase I was performed and quantitatively evaluated. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Mann–Whitney U post hoc tests. TMEV-infected Mmp12−/− mice showed transiently reduced astrogliosis in association with a strong trend (p = 0.051) for a reduced density of activated/reactive microglia/macrophages compared with wild-type mice at 28 dpi. As astrocytes are an important source of cytokine production, including proinflammatory cytokines triggering or activating phagocytes, the origin of intralesional microglia/macrophages as well as their phenotype were determined. Only few phagocytes in wild-type and Mmp12−/− mice expressed CCR2, indicating that the majority of phagocytes are represented by microglia. In parallel to the reduced density of activated/reactive microglia at 98 dpi, TMEV-infected Mmp12−/− showed a trend (p = 0.073) for a reduced density of M1 (CD16/32- and CD107b-positive) microglia, while no difference regarding the density of M2 (arginase I- and CD107b-positive) cells was observed. However, a dominance of M1 cells was detected in the spinal cord of TMEV-infected mice at all time points. Reduced astrogliosis in Mmp12−/− mice was associated with a reduced density of activated/reactive microglia and a trend for a reduced density of M1 cells. This indicates that MMP12 plays an important role in microglia activation, polarization, and migration as well as astrogliosis and microglia/astrocyte interaction.
Effects of High Temperature on Embryological Development and Hormone Profile in Flowers and Leaves of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)
Authors: Płażek Agnieszka , Słomka Aneta , Kopeć Przemysław , Dziurka Michał , Hornyák Marta , Sychta Klaudia , Pastuszak Jakub , Dubert Franciszek
Published: April 2019

Common buckwheat is a valuable crop, mainly due to the beneficial chemical composition of its seeds. However, buckwheat cultivation is limited because of unstable seed yield. The most important reasons for the low yield include embryo and flower abortion. The aim of this work is to verify whether high temperature affects embryological development in this plant species. The experiment was conducted on plants of a Polish cultivar ‘Panda’ and strain PA15, in which the percentage of degenerating embryo sacs was previously determined and amounted to 32% and 10%, respectively. The plants were cultivated in phytotronic conditions at 20 °C (control), and 30 °C (thermal stress). The embryological processes and hormonal profiles in flowers at various developmental stages (buds, open flowers, and wilted flowers) and in donor leaves were analyzed in two-month-old plants. Significant effects of thermal stress on the defective development of female gametophytes and hormone content in flowers and leaves were observed. Ovules were much more sensitive to high temperature than pollen grains in both genotypes. Pollen viability remained unaffected at 30 °C in both genotypes. The effect of temperature on female gametophyte development was visible in cv. Panda but not in PA15 buds. A drastic reduction in the number of properly developed embryo sacs was clear in open flowers at 30 °C in both genotypes. A considerable increase in abscisic acid in open flowers ready for fertilization may serve as a signal inducing flower senescence observed in the next few days. Based on embryological analyses and hormone profiles in flowers, we conclude that cv. ‘Panda’ is more sensitive to thermal stress than strain PA15, mainly due to a much earlier response to thermal stress involving impairment of embryological processes already in the flower buds.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases (MKPs) in Fungal Signaling: Conservation, Function, and Regulation
Authors: González-Rubio Gema , Fernández-Acero Teresa , Martín Humberto , Molina María
Published: April 2019

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are key mediators of signaling in fungi, participating in the response to diverse stresses and in developmental processes. Since the precise regulation of MAPKs is fundamental for cell physiology, fungi bear dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) that act as MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs). Whereas fungal MKPs share characteristic domains of this phosphatase subfamily, they also have specific interaction motifs and particular activation mechanisms, which, for example, allow some yeast MKPs, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sdp1, to couple oxidative stress with substrate recognition. Model yeasts show that MKPs play a key role in the modulation of MAPK signaling flow. Mutants affected in S. cerevisiae Msg5 or in Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pmp1 display MAPK hyperactivation and specific phenotypes. MKPs from virulent fungi, such as Candida albicans Cpp1, Fusarium graminearum Msg5, and Pyricularia oryzae Pmp1, are relevant for pathogenicity. Apart from transcriptional regulation, MKPs can be post-transcriptionally regulated by RNA-binding proteins such as Rnc1, which stabilizes the S. pombe PMP1 mRNA. P. oryzae Pmp1 activity and S. cerevisiae Msg5 stability are regulated by phosphorylation and ubiquitination, respectively. Therefore, fungi offer a platform to gain insight into the regulatory mechanisms that control MKPs.
Gonadal, Not Maternal, Acquisition of Duplicated pax6 Orthologs in Megalobrama Amblycephala
Authors: Pan Qihua , Xue Ting , Xia Bilin , Luo Junzhi , Wang Qian , Jiang Yuewen , Yu Miao , Chen Tiansheng
Published: April 2019

The highly conserved transcription factor Pax6 is involved in the development of the eyes, brain, and pancreas in vertebrates and invertebrates, whereas the additional expression pattern in other organs is still elusive. In this study, we cloned and characterized two pax6 homologs in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), named Mapax6a and Mapax6b. The protein alignment and phylogenetic tree showed that Mapax6a and Mapax6b were highly conserved compared with their counterparts in other species. Genomic information analysis revealed that the synteny conservation of Wilms tumor, Aniridia, genitourinary abnormalities, and mental retardation loci was also maintained in this species. By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the expression of Mapax6a was later than that of Mapax6b which was found in the blastula stage, while the expression of Mapax6a started from the somite stage, and both of them persisted in a subsequent stage during the embryonic development. By RNA and protein detection, Mapax6a and Mapax6b were detected in the eye and brain as canonic patterns, and most importantly, they were also enriched in germ cells of the testis and ovary. Therefore, our findings validate the duplication of pax6 in fish, confirm the classical expression patterns in the brain and eye, and, for the first time, present a new acquisition of Mapax6a and Mapax6b in gonadal germ cells in particular. Therefore, our results enrich the expression pattern and evolutionary relationship of pax6 by suggesting that duplicated Mapax6 is involved in gametogenesis in Megalobrama amblycephala.
The Effects of High- Versus Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Fatigue in Sarcoidosis
Authors: Grongstad Anita , Vøllestad Nina , Oldervoll Line , Spruit Martijn , Edvardsen Anne
Published: April 2019

Background: Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with sarcoidosis. Despite lacking evidence on whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) will aggravate fatigue, moderate-intensity exercise is often recommended. This study aimed to investigate whether a single session of HIIT would affect fatigue differently from a single session of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Methods: Forty-one patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were recruited to a cross-over study. All patients completed one treadmill session of HIIT (85% of peak heart rate (HRpeak)) and one of MICT (70% of HRpeak). Fatigue was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale 0–100 mm, before (T0), after (T1), and 24 hours after (T2) each exercise session. Paired sample t-test was used to compare changes in fatigue from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2 between HIIT and MICT. Results: No statistically significant difference in fatigue levels was found between HIIT and MICT, either at T1 (3.6 (13.5) and 1.4 (13.5)) or at T2 (8.2 (17.0) and 2.1 (17.1)). Conclusions: A single session of HIIT did not affect fatigue differently than a single session of MICT. These preliminary findings support the need for further research on the long-term effect of HIIT on fatigue in patients with sarcoidosis.