bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutation of SlSBPASE Aggravates Chilling-Induced Oxidative Stress by Impairing Glutathione Biosynthesis and Suppressing Ascorbate-Glutathione Recycling in Tomato Plants
Authors: Wang Meiling , Ding Fei , Zhang Shuoxin
Published: December 2020

Sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) is a crucial enzyme for photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the Calvin-Benson cycle. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of SBPase is advantageous to chilling tolerance in plants; however, the mechanisms of SBPase acting in the improvement of chilling tolerance remain largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to uncover the essential role of SBPase in the response of tomato plants to oxidative stress induced by low temperature. To fulfill that, we performed an array of comparative studies between slsbpase mutant plants that we previously generated using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system and their wild-type counterparts under chilling stress. It was observed that following a 24 h chilling treatment, slsbpase mutant plants accumulated higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than wild-type plants and consequently, more severe lipid peroxidation occurred in slsbpase plants. Activity assay of antioxidant enzymes showed that mutation in SlSBPASE significantly decreased activities of peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), but surprisingly did not significantly alter activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) under the chilling condition. Notably, mutation in SlSBPASE reduced the contents of total ascorbate (AsA) and total glutathione (GSH) and suppressed the recycling of AsA and GSH in chilling-stressed tomato plants. In addition, activities of two GSH biosynthetic enzymes (gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase) and transcript abundance of their coding genes (GSH1 and GSH2) were markedly reduced in slsbpase mutant plants in comparison with those in wild-type plants under chilling stress. Furthermore, exogenous GSH remarkably mitigated chilling damage in slsbpase plants. Collectively, these results support that mutation in SlSBPASE aggravates chilling-induced oxidative stress by suppressing GSH biosynthesis and AsA-GSH recycling and suggest that SBPase is required for optimal response to chilling stress in tomato plants. The findings also shed light on the idea to mitigate chilling-induced damages by genetically manipulating a photosynthetic enzyme in plants.
Molecular Mechanism Underlying Derepressed Male Production in Hexaploid Persimmon
Authors: Masuda Kanae , Fujita Naoko , Yang Ho-Wen , Ushijima Koichiro , Kubo Yasutaka , Tao Ryutaro , Akagi Takashi
Published: December 2020

Sex expression in plants is often flexible and contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity within a species. In diploid persimmons (the genusDiospyros), the sexuality is controlled by the Y chromosome-encoded small-RNA gene,OGI, and its autosomal counterpart,MeGI. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) evolved more flexible sex expression, where genetically male individuals carryingOGIcan produce both male and female flowers (monoecy). This is due to (semi-)inactivation ofOGIby theKali-SINE retrotransposon insertion on the promoter region and the resultant DNA methylations. Instead, flower sex determination in Oriental persimmon is also dependent on DNA methylation states ofMeGI. Here, we focused on a cultivar, Kumemaru, which shows stable male flower production. Our results demonstrated that cv. Kumemaru carriesOGIwithKali-SINE, which was highly methylated as well as in other monoecious cultivars; nevertheless,OGIgene could have a basal expression level. Transcriptomic analysis between cv. Kumemaru and 14 cultivars that predominantly produce female flowers showed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to cv. Kumemaru, which is mainly involved in stress responses. Co-expression gene networks focusing on the DEGs also suggested the involvement of stress signals, mainly via gibberellin (GA), salicylic acid (SA), and especially jasmonic acid (JA) signal pathways. We also identified potential regulators of this co-expression module, represented by the TCP4 transcription factor. Furthermore, we attempted to identify cv. Kumemaru-specific transcript polymorphisms potentially contributing to derepressedOGIexpression by cataloging subsequences (k-mers) in the transcriptomic reads from cv. Kumemaru and the other 14 female cultivars. Overall, although the direct genetic factor to activateOGIremains to be solved, our results implied the involvement of stress signals in the release of silencedOGIand the resultant continuous male production.
The Influence of Robot Verbal Support on Human Team Members: Encouraging Outgroup Contributions and Suppressing Ingroup Supportive Behavior
Authors: Sebo Sarah , Dong Ling Liang , Chang Nicholas , Lewkowicz Michal , Schutzman Michael , Scassellati Brian
Published: December 2020

As teams of people increasingly incorporate robot members, it is essential to consider how a robot's actions may influence the team's social dynamics and interactions. In this work, we investigated the effects of verbal support from a robot (e.g., “good idea Salim,” “yeah”) on human team members' interactions related to psychological safety and inclusion. We conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 39 groups, 117 participants) where the robot team member either (A) gave verbal support or (B) did not give verbal support to the human team members of a human-robot team comprised of 2 human ingroup members, 1 human outgroup member, and 1 robot. We found that targeted support from the robot (e.g., “good idea George”) had a positive effect on outgroup members, who increased their verbal participation after receiving targeted support from the robot. When comparing groups that did and did not have verbal support from the robot, we found that outgroup members received fewer verbal backchannels from ingroup members if their group had robot verbal support. These results suggest that verbal support from a robot may have some direct benefits to outgroup members but may also reduce the obligation ingroup members feel to support the verbal contributions of outgroup members.
“Time for Recovery” or “Utter Uncertainty”? The Postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Through the Eyes of Olympic Athletes and Coaches. A Qualitative Study
Authors: Oblinger-Peters Violetta , Krenn Björn
Published: December 2020

The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire globe, including the world of high-performance sports. Accordingly, it has been widely assumed that the thereby caused postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games could have negative psychological impacts for aspirants, since they were halted abruptly in the pursuit of their Olympic endeavors and their daily lives drastically altered. Considering the sudden nature of the pandemic, few researchers, if any, have yet scrutinized the individual experience of Olympic aspirants. This qualitative study examines the subjective perceptions of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponement among Austrian Olympic athletes and coaches. To this end, 21 Austrian athletes (13 male, 8 female; mean age = 26.67 ± 4.93 years) and six male coaches were recruited through a criterion-based purposive sampling strategy. Five athletes had already qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and 15 athletes were still in an ongoing qualification process. Data was collected by means of short written statements, elicited via open-format questions on an anonymous online survey platform. In order to infer meaning from the text, a qualitative content analysis with an interpretative focus was conducted inductively, which allowed for deriving alternative explanations of findings. The results support the notion that the Olympic postponement was experienced in myriad ways by affected participants. Three general themes comprised of several meaning units of different levels of abstraction were created from the text data. Many respondents experienced an immediate emotional reaction to the postponement characterized by confusion, disappointment and/or relief. Participants associated multiple consequences with the postponement, such as the prolongation of physical and psychological pressure, a lack of motivation, concerns about future performance, living and their occupational career, but also the opportunity for performance improvement and recovery. Respondents displayed various coping strategies, such as distancing themselves from sports, cognitive reframing, appealing for acceptance, and planning behavior. This study gleans first insights into the idiosyncratic experience of the Olympic Games 2020 postponement among Austrian aspirants. The findings could serve to assist sport psychologists in their applied practice by informing them about athletes’ and coaches’ needs in their Olympic preparation during the ongoing pandemic.
Agronomic Biofortification of Zinc in Pakistan: Status, Benefits, and Constraints
Authors: Rehman Abdul , Farooq Muhammad , Ullah Aman , Nadeem Faisal , Im Seon Young , Park Sang Koo , Lee Dong-Jin
Published: December 2020

Micronutrient malnutrition (e.g., zinc) is one of the major causes of human disease burden in the developing world. Zinc (Zn) deficiency is highly prevalent in the Pakistani population (22.1%), particularly in women and children (under 5 years) due to low dietary Zn intake. In Pakistan, wheat is the primary staple food and is poor in bioavailable Zn. However, the number of malnourished populations has decreased over the last decade due to multiplied public awareness, accelerated use of Zn fertilizers (particularly in wheat and rice), initiation of several national/international research initiatives focusing on Zn biofortification in staple crops and availability of supplements and Zn fortified meals merchandise, nonetheless a large number of people are facing Zn or other micronutrient deficiencies in the country. There are few reports highlighting the significant increase in daily dietary Zn uptake in population consuming biofortified wheat (Zincol-2016) flour; indicating the positive prospect of biofortification interventions up scaling in lowering the risk of dietary Zn deficiency in rural and marginalized communities. Zinc fertilizer strategy has not only helped in enhancing the grain Zn concentration, but it also helped in improving crop yield with high economic return. In addition, Zn biofortified seeds have exhibited strong inherent ability to withstand abiotic stresses and produce higher grain yield under diverse climatic conditions. However, there are many constraints (soil, environment, genetic diversity, antinutrients concentration, socioeconomic factors etc.) that hinder the success of biofortification interventions. This review highlights the status of Zn deficiency in Pakistan, the success of agronomic and genetic biofortification interventions. It also discusses the economics of agronomic biofortification and cost effectiveness of Zn fertilization in field conditions in Pakistan and the potential of Zn biofortified seeds against abiotic stresses. Furthermore, it also highlights the constraints which limit the sustainability of biofortification interventions.
A Boom Energy Regeneration System of Hybrid Hydraulic Excavator Using Energy Conversion Components
Authors: Do Tri Cuong , Nguyen Duc Giap , Dang Tri Dung , Ahn Kyoung Kwan
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a novel design of an energy regeneration system was proposed for recovering as well as reusing potential energy in a boom cylinder. The proposed system included a hydraulic pump/motor and an electrical motor/generator. When the boom moved down, the energy regeneration components converted the hydraulic energy to electrical energy and stored in a battery. Then, the regenerated energy was reused at subsequent cycles. In addition, an energy management strategy has been designed based on discrete time-optimal control to guarantee position tracking performance and ensure component safety during the operation. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, a co-simulation (using MATLAB and AMESim) was carried out. Through the simulation results, the maximum energy regeneration efficiency could achieve up to 44%. Besides, the velocity and position of the boom cylinder achieved good performance with the proposed control strategy.
Debureaucratization Limits in Administrative Procedures Codification: Lessons from Slovenia
Authors: Kovač Polonca
Published: December 2020

This article explores bureaucratization and its boundaries in the framework of cutting red tape in the regulation of administrative procedures. Law is not an end in itself but should contribute to predictable and thus better relations in society. In this sense, the priority protection of public interest—which is characteristic of administrative relations between individual holders of rights and obligations and administrative bodies—presents certain limitations to simplification. Through qualitative research methods (dogmatic, normative, and comparative methods, as well as case studies), this article examines examples of debureaucratization in Slovenia provided by the amendments to the General Administrative Procedure Act. In most cases, e.g., in waiving the right to appeal or broad fiction of service, modifications were not appropriate since constitutional guarantees cannot be subject to “debureaucratization”. However, crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic call for even greater simplification. The approach to address bureaucratization as an obstacle to the economy should therefore be holistic and proportionate. Debureaucratization should be implemented in individual administrative areas rather than by an umbrella law that ensures fundamental administrative principles, and through process optimization rather than deregulation. The results of the analysis are useful for comparable, particularly Central European countries.
Effects of Olive Cake and Cactus Cladodes as Alternative Feed Resources on Goat Milk Production and Quality
Authors: El Otmani Samira , Chebli Youssef , Chentouf Mouad , Hornick Jean-Luc , Cabaraux Jean-François
Published: December 2020

In the Mediterranean area, the olive cake (OC) and cactus cladodes (CC) are two alternative resources widely available that could be used for ruminants’ feeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of OC and/or CC diet incorporation on the production performance and quality of goat milk. Forty-four lactating goats were randomly allocated to four groups. The control one (Co) received a conventional feed. Test groups (TOC; TCC and TOC+CC) received 20% OC, 30% CC, or 15% OC and 20% CC, respectively, on concentrate dry matter basis. Over three months, milk production was evaluated, and samples were collected to analyze the milk quality. No significant differences were observed between control and test groups for daily milk production, yield, composition and acidity. In milk fat, OC incorporation increased C18:1n-9, mono-unsaturated (MUFA) and n-9 fatty acid (FA), and decreased 9t-C18:1 and poly-unsaturated FA (PUFA) (p < 0.05). Significantly highest contents of C15:0, C18:1n-9, and C21:0, and lowest levels of C4:0, 9t-C18:1, 6t-C18:2, C20:0, and PUFA were obtained with cactus cladodes administration (p < 0.05). The TOC + CC diet reduced C4:0, 9t-C18:1, 6t-C18:2, C22:6n-3, and PUFA proportions, and increased C18:1n-9, MUFA/PUFA, and thrombogenic indexes. The incorporation rates of OC and CC that could reach 20% and 30%, respectively, had no major negative effects on milk production performance, composition, and quality. Thus, they could be introduced in the diets of lactating goats.
Trading Tactics: Time to Rethink the Global Trade in Wildlife
Authors: D’Cruze Neil , Green Jennah , Elwin Angie , Schmidt-Burbach Jan
Published: December 2020

The Covid-19 outbreak has brought about fresh and intensified scrutiny of the wildlife trade, which substantively involves commerce in exotic pets. In response, major policy decisions involving trade bans have ensued, with calls for similar such action to be applied across the trade chain. Yet, these measures have been criticised, largely based on concerns that they risk exacerbating poverty, undermining human rights, damaging conservation incentives, and otherwise harming sustainable development and conservation efforts. Instead, many critics propose improved regulation of the status quo, with the intention of nurturing a legal, sustainable, safe, humane, and equitable wildlife trade. Herein, we provide a countering view that outlines how the risks presented by the wildlife trade are becoming increasingly recognised as being both manifold and severe; and raise concerns that the goal of a well-regulated wildlife trade is becoming increasingly exposed as a mirage. We conclude that while pursuing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (with their focus on poverty alleviation, food security, public health, and conservation) is enduringly vital, a flourishing wildlife trade is not. Given that the exploitation of wildlife, including for the pet trade, has been identified as one of the dominant drivers of biodiversity loss, emergence of zoonotic infectious disease, animal suffering, and financial instability, perpetuating the concept of utilising a regulated wildlife trade as the default approach to protect people and planet is in urgent need of re-evaluation.
Analysis of Hindgut Microbiome of Sheep and Effect of Different Husbandry Conditions
Authors: Minozzi Giulietta , Biscarini Filippo , Dalla Costa Emanuela , Chincarini Matteo , Ferri Nicola , Palestrini Clara , Minero Michela , Mazzola Silvia , Piccinini Renata , Vignola Giorgio , Cannas Simona
Published: December 2020

The microbiome is now seen as an important resource to understand animal health and welfare in many species. However, there are few studies aiming at identifying the association between fecal microbiome composition and husbandry conditions in sheep. A wide range of stressors associated with management and housing of animals increases the hypothalamic–pituitary axis activity, with growing evidence that the microbiome composition can be modified. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to describe the core microbiome in sheep, characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and to explore whether exposure to stressful husbandry conditions changed sheep hindgut microbiome composition. Sheep (n = 10) were divided in two groups: isolated group (individually separated for 3 h/day) and control group (housed in the home pen for the entire trial period). Sheep core microbiome was dominated by Firmicutes (43.6%), Bacteroidetes (30.38%), Proteobacteria (10.14%), and Verrucomicrobia (7.55%). Comparative results revealed few operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with significantly different relative abundance between groups. Chao1, abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE), and Fisher’s alpha indices did not show differences between groups. OTU-based Bray–Curtis distances between groups were not significant (p-value = 0.07). In conclusion, these results describing the core microbiome of sheep do not suggest a strong effect of stressful husbandry conditions on microbial composition.
Chronic Metabolic Acidosis Elicits Hypertension via Upregulation of Intrarenal Angiotensin II and Induction of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Aryal Dinesh , Roy Tithi , Chamcheu Jean Christopher , Jackson Keith E.
Published: December 2020

Chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) can be a consequence of persistent hypertension but could potentially play a role in invoking hypertension. Currently, there is a scarcity of studies examining the outcome of induced chronic acidosis on blood pressure regulation. This study investigates CMA as a cause of hypertension. Chronic acidosis was induced in Sprague Dawley rats (100–150 g) by providing a weak acid solution of 0.28 M ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) in tap water for 8 weeks. To determine whether the rats were acidotic, blood pH was measured, while blood pressure (BP) was monitored by tail-cuff plethysmography weekly. Rats were divided into five groups: control, CMA, CMA ± spironolactone, captopril, and tempol. Serum sodium and potassium; renal interstitial fluid (for Angiotensin II concentration); and kidney proximal tubules (for Na+/K+ ATPase- α1 concentration) were analyzed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected in renal cortical homogenates using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In the CMA rats, a sustained elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP) associated with a significant decrease in blood pH was observed compared to that of control over the 8 weeks. A significant decrease in MAP was observed in acidotic rats treated with captopril/tempol, whereas spironolactone treatment caused no decrease in MAP as compared to that of the CMA group. The interstitial angiotensin II was increased in the CMA group but decreased in the CMA with captopril and tempol groups. In addition, the urinary sodium was decreased, and the serum sodium levels increased significantly in the CMA groups as compared to that of control. However, the acidotic groups with captopril and tempol showed reduced levels of serum sodium and an elevation in urinary sodium as compared to that of the CMA group. In addition, there was a significant increase in plasma renin and no change in plasma aldosterone in the CMA group with no significant differences in plasma renin or aldosterone observed during spironolactone, captopril, or tempol treatments. The increased expression of Na+/K+ ATPase-α1 in the CMA group suggests that active transport of Na+ to the blood could be causative of the observed hypertension. Furthermore, the EPR analysis confirmed an elevation in superoxide (O2-) radical levels in the CMA group, but the tempol/captopril treated acidotic groups showed less (O2-) compared to that of either the CMA group or control. Taken together, our data suggest that induction of CMA could potentially be causative of hypertension, while the mechanisms underlying the increased BP could be through the activation of intrarenal Ang II and induction of oxidative stress.
Acute Effects of Oatmeal on Exercise-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production Following High-Intensity Interval Training in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zeng Zhen , Jendricke Patrick , Centner Christoph , Storck Helen , Gollhofer Albert , König Daniel
Published: December 2020

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been demonstrated to increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, strategies to mitigate excessive ROS productions could be useful to reduce the negative consequences of oxidative damage for health, as well as for physical, performances. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of pre-exercise oatmeal consumption on exercise-induced ROS generation in young, healthy women. Thirty-four participants were randomly allocated in one of two groups: oatmeal prior to HIIT (oatmeal; n = 17) or HIIT alone (control; n = 17). Blood samples were obtained at pre-meal, pre-HIIT, immediately post-HIIT, and 15 min after HIIT. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the concentrations of ROS in the capillary blood. In addition, the blood glucose and blood lactate levels were measured. Immediately post-HIIT, the ROS generation in the oatmeal group was significantly lower in contrast to the control group (p < 0.05). A significant interaction effect of time × meal (p < 0.05; η2 = 0.234) was detected from the pre-meal to 15 post-HIIT for ROS production. Moreover, significant differences in the blood glucose levels were observed between the groups at pre-HIIT and immediately post-HIIT (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the consumption of oatmeal before HIIT may mitigate exercise-induced ROS production.
(Ascorb)ing Pb Neurotoxicity in the Developing Brain
Authors: Ahmad Faraz , Liu Ping
Published: December 2020

Lead (Pb) neurotoxicity is a major concern, particularly in children. Developmental exposure to Pb can alter neurodevelopmental trajectory and has permanent neuropathological consequences, including an increased vulnerability to further stressors. Ascorbic acid is among most researched antioxidant nutrients and has a special role in maintaining redox homeostasis in physiological and physio-pathological brain states. Furthermore, because of its capacity to chelate metal ions, ascorbic acid may particularly serve as a potent therapeutic agent in Pb poisoning. The present review first discusses the major consequences of Pb exposure in children and then proceeds to present evidence from human and animal studies for ascorbic acid as an efficient ameliorative supplemental nutrient in Pb poisoning, with a particular focus on developmental Pb neurotoxicity. In doing so, it is hoped that there is a revitalization for further research on understanding the brain functions of this essential, safe, and readily available vitamin in physiological states, as well to justify and establish it as an effective neuroprotective and modulatory factor in the pathologies of the nervous system, including developmental neuropathologies.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Air Quality
Authors: Liang Yun-Chia , Maimury Yona , Chen Angela Hsiang-Ling , Juarez Josue Rodolfo Cuevas
Published: December 2020

Air, an essential natural resource, has been compromised in terms of quality by economic activities. Considerable research has been devoted to predicting instances of poor air quality, but most studies are limited by insufficient longitudinal data, making it difficult to account for seasonal and other factors. Several prediction models have been developed using an 11-year dataset collected by Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Machine learning methods, including adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest, stacking ensemble, and support vector machine (SVM), produce promising results for air quality index (AQI) level predictions. A series of experiments, using datasets for three different regions to obtain the best prediction performance from the stacking ensemble, AdaBoost, and random forest, found the stacking ensemble delivers consistently superior performance for R2 and RMSE, while AdaBoost provides best results for MAE.
InGaN Resonant-Cavity Light-Emitting Diodes with Porous and Dielectric Reflectors
Authors: Wang Cheng-Jie , Ke Ying , Shiu Guo-Yi , Chen Yi-Yun , Lin Yung-Sen , Chen Hsiang , Lin Chia-Feng
Published: December 2020

InGaN based resonant-cavity light-emitting diode (RC-LED) structures with an embedded porous-GaN/n-GaN distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and a top dielectric Ta2O5/SiO2 DBR were demonstrated. GaN:Si epitaxial layers with high Si-doping concentration (n+-GaN:Si) in the 20-period n+-GaN/n-GaN stacked structure were transformed into a porous-GaN/n-GaN DBR structure through the doping-selective electrochemical wet etching process. The central wavelength and reflectivity were measured to be 434.3 nm and 98.5% for the porous DBR and to be 421.3 nm and 98.1% for the dielectric DBR. The effective 1λ cavity length at 432nm in the InGaN resonant-cavity consisted of a 30 nm-thick Ta2O5 spacer and a 148 nm-thick InGaN active layer that was analyzed from the angle-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra. In the optical pumping PL spectra, non-linear emission intensity and linewidths reducing effect, from 6.5 nm to 0.7 nm, were observed by varying the laser pumping power. Directional emission pattern and narrow linewidth were observed in the InGaN active layer with bottom porous DBR, top dielectric DBR, and the optimum spacer layer to match the short cavity structure.
The Mkurtogram: A Novel Method to Select the Optimal Frequency Band in the AC Domain for Railway Wheelset Bearings Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Liu Wenpeng , Yang Shaopu , Li Qiang , Liu Yongqiang , Hao Rujiang , Gu Xiaohui
Published: December 2020

A wheelset bearing is one of the main components of the train bogie frame. The early fault detection of the wheelset bearing is quite important to ensure the safety of the train. Among numerous diagnostic methods, envelope analysis is one of the most effective approaches in the detection of bearing faults which has been amply applied, but its validity greatly depends on the informative frequency band (IFB) determined. For the wheelset bearing faulty signal, it is often difficult to identify the IFB and extract fault characteristics due to the influence of complex operating conditions. To address this problem, a novel method to select optimal IFB, called the Mkurtogram, is proposed for railway wheelset bearings fault diagnosis. It takes the multipoint kurtosis (Mkurt) of unbiased autocorrelation (AC) of the squared envelope signal generated from sub-bands as assessment indicator for the first time. The fundamental concept which inspires this proposed method is to make full use of regular periodicity of AC of squared envelope signal. In the AC domain, the impulsiveness and periodicity, two distinctive signatures of the repetitive transients, have achieved a united representation by Mkurt. A simulated signal with multiple interferences and two experimental signals collected from wheelset bearings are applied to verify its performances and advantages. The results indicate that the proposed method is more effective to extract the wheelset bearings fault feature under complex interferences. It can not only decrease the influence of large impulse interference and the discrete harmonics interference, but also effectively overcome the influence of amplitude fluctuation caused by variable working conditions. Moreover, based on the periodic directivity of Mkurt, the proposed method also can be applied to the compound faults diagnosis of the wheelset bearing.
Situated AR Simulations of a Lantern Festival Using a Smartphone and LiDAR-Based 3D Models
Authors: Shih Naai-Jung , Diao Pei-Huang , Qiu Yi-Ting , Chen Tzu-Yu
Published: December 2020

A lantern festival was 3D-scanned to elucidate its unique complexity and cultural identity in terms of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Three augmented reality (AR) instancing scenarios were applied to the converted scanned data from an interaction to the entire site; a forward additive instancing and interactions with a pre-defined model layout. The novelty and contributions of this study are three-fold: documentation, development of an AR app for situated tasks, and AR verification. We presented ready-made and customized smartphone apps for AR verification to extend the model’s elaboration of different site contexts. Both were applied to assess their feasibility in the restructuring and management of the scene. The apps were implemented under a homogeneous and heterogeneous combination of contexts, originating from an as-built event description to a remote site as a sustainable cultural effort. A second reconstruction of screenshots in an AR loop process of interaction, reconstruction, and confirmation verification was also made to study the manipulated result in 3D prints.
Adhesive Catechol-Conjugated Hyaluronic Acid for Biomedical Applications: A Mini Review
Authors: Kim Jongho , Lee Chaemyeong , Ryu Ji Hyun
Published: December 2020

Recently, catechol-containing polymers have been extensively developed as promising materials for surgical tissue adhesives, wound dressing, drug delivery depots, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Catechol conjugation to the polymer backbone provides adhesive properties to the tissue and does not significantly affect the intrinsic properties of the polymers. An example of a catecholic polymer is catechol-conjugated hyaluronic acid. In general, hyaluronic acid shows excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability; thus, it is used in various medical applications. However, hyaluronic acid alone has poor mechanical and tissue adhesion properties. Catechol modification considerably increases the mechanical and underwater adhesive properties of hyaluronic acid, while maintaining its biocompatibility and biodegradability and enabling its use in several biomedical applications. In this review, we briefly describe the synthesis and characteristics of catechol-modified hyaluronic acid, with a specific focus on catechol-involving reactions. Finally, we discuss the basic concepts and therapeutic effects of catechol-conjugated hyaluronic acid for biomedical applications.
Automated Confirmation of Protein Annotation Using NLP and the UniProtKB Database
Authors: Tao Jin , Brayton Kelly , Broschat Shira
Published: December 2020

Advances in genome sequencing technology and computing power have brought about the explosive growth of sequenced genomes in public repositories with a concomitant increase in annotation errors. Many protein sequences are annotated using computational analysis rather than experimental verification, leading to inaccuracies in annotation. Confirmation of existing protein annotations is urgently needed before misannotation becomes even more prevalent due to error propagation. In this work we present a novel approach for automatically confirming the existence of manually curated information with experimental evidence of protein annotation. Our ensemble learning method uses a combination of recurrent convolutional neural network, logistic regression, and support vector machine models. Natural language processing in the form of word embeddings is used with journal publication titles retrieved from the UniProtKB database. Importantly, we use recall as our most significant metric to ensure the maximum number of verifications possible; results are reported to a human curator for confirmation. Our ensemble model achieves 91.25% recall, 71.26% accuracy, 65.19% precision, and an F1 score of 76.05% and outperforms the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers for Biomedical Text Mining (BioBERT) model with fine-tuning using the same data.
Can Biomarkers Respond Upon Freshwater Pollution?—A Moss-Bag Approach
Authors: Gecheva Gana , Mollov Ivelin , Yahubyan Galina , Gozmanova Mariyana , Apostolova Elena , Vasileva Tonka , Nikolova Mariana , Dimitrova-Dyulgerova Ivanka , Radoukova Tzenka
Published: December 2020

Moss-bags were applied to study the effect of contamination in three standing water bodies in Bulgaria (Kardzhali, Studen Kladenets and Zhrebchevo Reservoirs), the first two with old industrial contamination and the last polluted with short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. collected from background (unpolluted) site was placed in cages for a period of 30 days. The present study examined whether inorganic and organic pollution detected with moss-bags resulted in corresponding differences in molecular, chemical and micromorphological markers. Suppressed large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) expression was assessed in moss-bags from two of the reservoirs, contaminated with heavy metals. There was a decrease of the total phenolic content (TPC) in the moss-bags, which provides a basis for further studies of the chemical content of aquatic mosses. Fontinalis antipyretica also showed a response through leaf micromorphological characteristics. In the all three reservoirs, an increase of the twig leaf cell number was recorded (p ≤ 0.01 for Kardzhali and p ≤ 0.001 for Studen Kladenets and Zhrebchevo reservoirs), as well as of the stem leaf cell number in Zhrebchevo Reservoir (p ≤ 0.001). On the contrary, the width of the cells decreased in the studied anthropogenically impacted reservoirs. All three studied groups of biomarkers (molecular, chemical and micromorphological) appeared to be sensitive to freshwater pollution. The results achieved indicated that rbcL gene expression, TPC, cell number and size are promising biomonitoring tools.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Predict that rSNP Located in the HNF-1α Gene Promotor Region Linked with MODY3 and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Promotes Stronger Binding of the HNF-4α Transcription Factor
Authors: Španinger Eva , Potočnik Uroš , Bren Urban
Published: December 2020

Our study aims to investigate the impact of the Maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 disease-linked rSNP rs35126805 located in the HNF-1α gene promotor on the binding of the transcription factor HNF-4α and consequently on the regulation of HNF-1α gene expression. Our focus is to calculate the change in the binding affinity of the transcription factor HNF-4α to the DNA, caused by the regulatory single nucleotide polymorphism (rSNP) through molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic analysis of acquired results. Both root-mean-square difference (RMSD) and the relative binding free energy ΔΔGbind reveal that the HNF-4α binds slightly more strongly to the DNA containing the mutation (rSNP) making the complex more stable/rigid, and thereby influencing the expression of the HNF-1α gene. The resulting disruption of the HNF-4α/HNF-1α pathway is also linked to hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and enhanced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first study where thermodynamic analysis of the results obtained from molecular dynamics simulations is performed to uncover the influence of rSNP on the protein binding to DNA. Therefore, our approach can be generally applied for studying the impact of regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms on the binding of transcription factors to the DNA.
Pursuing the Complexity of Alzheimer’s Disease: Discovery of Fluoren-9-Amines as Selective Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors and N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Konecny Jan , Misiachna Anna , Hrabinova Martina , Pulkrabkova Lenka , Benkova Marketa , Prchal Lukas , Kucera Tomas , Kobrlova Tereza , Finger Vladimir , Kolcheva Marharyta , Kortus Stepan , Jun Daniel , Valko Marian , Horak Martin , Soukup Ondrej , Korabecny Jan
Published: December 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disorder with unknown etiology. Currently, only symptomatic therapy of AD is available, comprising cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. Drugs targeting only one pathological condition have generated only limited efficacy. Thus, combining two or more therapeutic interventions into one molecule is believed to provide higher benefit for the treatment of AD. In the presented study, we designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated 15 novel fluoren-9-amine derivatives. The in silico prediction suggested both the oral availability and permeation through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). An initial assessment of the biological profile included determination of the cholinesterase inhibition and NMDA receptor antagonism at the GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/GluN2B subunits, along with a low cytotoxicity profile in the CHO-K1 cell line. Interestingly, compounds revealed a selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition pattern with antagonistic activity on the NMDARs. Their interaction with butyrylcholinesterase was elucidated by studying enzyme kinetics for compound 3c in tandem with the in silico docking simulation. The docking study showed the interaction of the tricyclic core of new derivatives with Trp82 within the anionic site of the enzyme in a similar way as the template drug tacrine. From the kinetic analysis, it is apparent that 3c is a competitive inhibitor of BChE.
Chemokine and Cytokine Profiles in Patients with Hand Osteoarthritis
Authors: Baloun Jiří , Kropáčková Tereza , Hulejová Hana , Tomčík Michal , Růžičková Olga , Šléglová Olga , Gatterová Jindřiška , Vencovský Jiří , Pavelka Karel , Šenolt Ladislav
Published: December 2020

Background: The development of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) and its progression into the erosive subset are unclear, but inflammation is suspected to be the main source. To verify the involvement of inflammation in HOA pathogenesis, we evaluate serum inflammatory mediators and their association with HOA-related clinical features in patients. Methods: 153 participants (50 non-erosive HOA patients, 54 erosive HOA patients, and 49 healthy control subjects) were included in this study. All patients underwent clinical examination, which included assessment of tender and swollen small hand joints, ultrasound (US) examination, and self-reported measures (e.g., AUSCAN or algofunctional indexes). Serum inflammatory mediators were quantified using human cytokine 27-plex immunoassay. We employed linear modelling, correlation analysis, and resampling statistics to evaluate the association of these mediators to HOA. Results: We identified increased levels of nine inflammatory mediators (e.g., eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin-8, and tumour necrosis factor) in HOA patients compared to healthy controls. Increased mediators correlated with ultrasound findings as well as with clinically tender and swollen joint counts in patients with erosive HOA. However, none of the mediators distinguished between erosive and non-erosive HOA subtypes. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis on the involvement of inflammation in HOA.
An Electrochemical Aptasensor for Pb2+ Detection Based on Metal–Organic-Framework-Derived Hybrid Carbon
Authors: Ding Jina , Zhang Dongwei , Liu Yang , Zhan Xuejia , Lu Yitong , Zhou Pei , Zhang Dan
Published: December 2020

A new double-shelled carbon nanocages material was synthesized and developed an aptasensor for determining Pb2+ in aqueous solution. Herein, nanoporous carbon materials derived from core–shell zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) demonstrated excellent electrochemical activity, stability, and high specificity surface area, consequently resulting in the strong binding with aptamers. The aptamer strands would be induced to form G-quadruplex structure when Pb2+ was introduced. Under optimal conditions, the aptasensor exhibited a good linear relationship of Pb2+ concentration ranging from 0.1 to 10 μg L−1 with the detection limits of 0.096 μg L−1. The feasibility was proved by detecting Pb2+ in spiked water samples and polluted soil digestion solution. The proposed aptasensor showed excellent selectivity and reproducibility, indicating promising applications in environmental monitoring.
Targeting Glycans and Heavily Glycosylated Proteins for Tumor Imaging
Authors: Houvast Ruben D. , Vankemmelbeke Mireille , Durrant Lindy G. , Wuhrer Manfred , Baart Victor M. , Kuppen Peter J. K. , de Geus-Oei Lioe-Fee , Vahrmeijer Alexander L. , Sier Cornelis F. M.
Published: December 2020

Real-time tumor imaging techniques are increasingly used in oncological surgery, but still need to be supplemented with novel targeted tracers, providing specific tumor tissue detection based on intra-tumoral processes or protein expression. To maximize tumor/non-tumor contrast, targets should be highly and homogenously expressed on tumor tissue only, preferably from the earliest developmental stage onward. Unfortunately, most evaluated tumor-associated proteins appear not to meet all of these criteria. Thus, the quest for ideal targets continues. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids is a fundamental hallmark of almost all cancer types and contributes to tumor progression. Additionally, overexpression of glycoproteins that carry aberrant glycans, such as mucins and proteoglycans, is observed. Selected tumor-associated glyco-antigens are abundantly expressed and could, thus, be ideal candidates for targeted tumor imaging. Nevertheless, glycan-based tumor imaging is still in its infancy. In this review, we highlight the potential of glycans, and heavily glycosylated proteoglycans and mucins as targets for multimodal tumor imaging by discussing the preclinical and clinical accomplishments within this field. Additionally, we describe the major advantages and limitations of targeting glycans compared to cancer-associated proteins. Lastly, by providing a brief overview of the most attractive tumor-associated glycans and glycosylated proteins in association with their respective tumor types, we set out the way for implementing glycan-based imaging in a clinical practice.
Design and Implementation of NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy to Overcome the Solid Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Navin Ishwar , Lam Michael T. , Parihar Robin
Published: December 2020

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune effectors capable of broad cytotoxicity via germline-encoded receptors and can have conferred cytotoxic potential via the addition of chimeric antigen receptors. Combined with their reduced risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), NK cells are an attractive therapeutic platform. While significant progress has been made in treating hematological malignancies, challenges remain in using NK cell-based therapy to combat solid tumors due to their immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs). The development of novel strategies enabling NK cells to resist the deleterious effects of the TME is critical to their therapeutic success against solid tumors. In this review, we discuss strategies that apply various genetic and non-genetic engineering approaches to enhance receptor-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity, improve NK cell resistance to TME effects, and enhance persistence in the TME. The successful design and application of these strategies will ultimately lead to more efficacious NK cell therapies to treat patients with solid tumors. This review outlines the mechanisms by which TME components suppress the anti-tumor activity of endogenous and adoptively transferred NK cells while also describing various approaches whose implementation in NK cells may lead to a more robust therapeutic platform against solid tumors.
Clinical Significance of Annexin A2 Expression in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Gibbs Lee D. , Mansheim Kelsey , Maji Sayantan , Nandy Rajesh , Lewis Cheryl M. , Vishwanatha Jamboor K. , Chaudhary Pankaj
Published: December 2020

Increasing evidence suggests that AnxA2 contributes to invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. However, the clinical significance of AnxA2 expression in breast cancer has not been reported. The expression of AnxA2 in cell lines, tumor tissues, and serum samples of breast cancer patients were analyzed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We found that AnxA2 was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues and serum samples of breast cancer patients compared with normal controls. The high expression of serum AnxA2 was significantly associated with tumor grades and poor survival of the breast cancer patients. Based on molecular subtypes, AnxA2 expression was significantly elevated in tumor tissues and serum samples of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients compared with other breast cancer subtypes. Our analyses on breast cancer cell lines demonstrated that secretion of AnxA2 is associated with its tyrosine 23 (Tyr23) phosphorylation in cells. The expression of non-phosphomimetic mutant of AnxA2 in HCC1395 cells inhibits its secretion from cells compared to wild-type AnxA2, which further suggest that Tyr23 phosphorylation is a critical step for AnxA2 secretion from TNBC cells. Our analysis of AnxA2 phosphorylation in clinical samples further confirmed that the phosphorylation of AnxA2 at Tyr23 was high in tumor tissues of TNBC patients compared to matched adjacent non-tumorigenic breast tissues. Furthermore, we observed that the diagnostic value of serum AnxA2 was significantly high in TNBC compared with other breast cancer subtypes. These findings suggest that serum AnxA2 concentration could be a potential diagnostic biomarker for TNBC patients.