bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taking Construction Grammar One Step Further: Families, Clusters, and Networks of Evaluative Constructions in Russian
Authors: Endresen Anna , Janda Laura A.
Published: November 2020

We present a case study of grammatical constructions and how their function in a single language (Russian) can be captured through semantic and syntactic classification. Since 2016 an on-going joint project of UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow has been collecting and analyzing multiword grammatical constructions of Russian. The main product is the Russian Constructicon (https://site.uit.no/russian-constructicon/), which, with over two thousand two hundred constructions (and more being continuously added), is arguably the largest openly available constructicon resource for any language. The combination of this large size with depth of analysis, containing both syntactic and semantic tags, makes it possible to view the interrelation of constructions as families and to discover trends in their behavior. Our annotation includes 53 semantic tags of varying frequency, with three tags that are by far more frequent than all the rest, accounting for 30% of the entire inventory of the Russian Constructicon. These three semantic types are Assessment, Attitude, and Intensity, all of which convey a speaker’s evaluation of a topic, in contrast to most of the other tags (such as Time, Manner, and Comparison). Assessment and Attitude constructions are investigated in greater detail in this article. Secondary semantic tags reveal that negative evaluation among these two semantic types is more than twice as frequent as positive evaluation. Examples of negative evaluations are: for Assessment VP tak sebe, as in Na pianino ja igraju tak sebe “I play the piano so-so [lit. thus self]”; for Attitude s PronPers-Gen xvatit/xvatilo (NP-Gen), as in S menja xvatit “I’m fed up [lit. from me enough].” In terms of syntax, the most frequent syntactic types of constructions in the Russian Constructicon are clausal constructions [constituting an independent clause like s PronPers-Gen xvatit/xvatilo (NP-Gen)] and constructions with the anchor in the role of adverbial modifier (like VP tak sebe). Our semantic and syntactic classification of this large body of Russian constructions makes it possible to postulate patterns of grammatical constructions constituting a radial category with central and peripheral types. Classification of large numbers of constructions reveals systematic relations that structure the grammar of a language.
The Family Health Scale: Reliability and Validity of a Short- and Long-Form
Authors: Crandall AliceAnn , Weiss-Laxer Nomi S. , Broadbent Eliza , Holmes Erin Kramer , Magnusson Brianna Michele , Okano Lauren , Berge Jerica M. , Barnes Michael D. , Hanson Carl Lee , Jones Blake L. , Novilla Len B.
Published: November 2020

Families strongly influence the health of communities and individuals across the life course, but no validated measure of family health exists. The absence of such a measure has limited the examination of family health trends and the intersection of family health with individual and community health. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Family Health Scale (FHS), creating a multi-factor long-form and a uniform short-form. The primary sample included 1,050 adults recruited from a national quota sample Qualtrics panel. Mplus version 7 was used to analyze the data using a structural equation modeling framework. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed a 32-item, 4-factor long-form scale. The four factors included (1) family social and emotional health processes; (2) family healthy lifestyle; (3) family health resources; and (4) family external social supports. A 10-item short-form of the FHS was also validated in the initial sample and a second sample of 401 adults. Both the long-form and short-form FHS correlated in the expected direction with validated measures of family functioning and healthy lifestyle. A preliminary assessment of clinical cutoffs in the short-form were correlated with depression risk. The FHS offers the potential to assess family health trends and to develop accessible, de-identified databases on the well-being of families. Important next steps include validating the scale among multiple family members and collecting longitudinal data.
Analysis of COVID-19 Infections on a CT Image Using DeepSense Model
Authors: Khadidos Adil , Khadidos Alaa O. , Kannan Srihari , Natarajan Yuvaraj , Mohanty Sachi Nandan , Tsaramirsis Georgios
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a data mining model on a hybrid deep learning framework is designed to diagnose the medical conditions of patients infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus. The hybrid deep learning model is designed as a combination of convolutional neural network (CNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) and named as DeepSense method. It is designed as a series of layers to extract and classify the related features of COVID-19 infections from the lungs. The computerized tomography image is used as an input data, and hence, the classifier is designed to ease the process of classification on learning the multidimensional input data using the Expert Hidden layers. The validation of the model is conducted against the medical image datasets to predict the infections using deep learning classifiers. The results show that the DeepSense classifier offers accuracy in an improved manner than the conventional deep and machine learning classifiers. The proposed method is validated against three different datasets, where the training data are compared with 70%, 80%, and 90% training data. It specifically provides the quality of the diagnostic method adopted for the prediction of COVID-19 infections in a patient.
Tropical Livestock Units: Re-evaluating a Methodology
Authors: Rothman-Ostrow Peregrine , Gilbert William , Rushton Jonathan
Published: November 2020

The dynamic between humans, livestock, and wildlife is evolving owing to growth in populations, a finite global landmass, and shifting climatic conditions. This change comes with certain benefits in terms of food security, nutrition, and livelihoods as livestock populations increase, but is not without risk. The role of livestock in infectious disease emergence, environmental degradation, and the development of antimicrobial resistance is becoming more apparent. An understanding of these risks and development of mitigation tactics, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the pace of change is most rapid, is increasingly based on comprehensive models and tools built to map livestock populations at the global, regional or national level. Translation of model estimates into evidence is often underpinned by a quantification of livestock biomass to support policy development and implementation. This paper discusses the application of the Tropical Livestock Unit in the context of measuring biomass. It examines the established method of calculation, designating all cattle a standard weight of 175 kg, and compares it to two proposed alternatives. In doing so, the potential to refine estimates of biomass in low and middle-income countries is explored, though this concept could be extrapolated to higher income economies as well. Publicly available data from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa was utilized to demonstrate how breed liveweight, herd structures, and growth rates have the potential to dramatically alter the estimates of cattle biomass in each country. Establishing standardized data collection procedures to capture this information on a regular basis would grant a better understanding of the true nature of livestock populations, aid in the development of superior disease prevention and response measures, bolster food security initiatives through improving livestock production, and inform the intelligent management of shared ecosystems to improve conservation and biodiversity.
Incorporating a Fresh Mixed Annual Ryegrass and Berseem Clover Forage Into the Winter Diet of Dairy Cows Resulted in Reduced Milk Yield, but Reduced Nitrogen Excretion and Reduced Methane Yield
Authors: Enriquez-Hidalgo Daniel , Teixeira Dayane Lemos , Pinheiro Machado Filho Luiz Carlos , Hennessy Deirdre , Toro-Mujica Paula , Williams Shaun Richard Owen , Pereira Fabiellen Cristina
Published: November 2020

The winter diet of dairy cows in Mediterranean climate regions is usually a total mixed ration with a base of conserved summer crops such as corn silage and alfalfa hay. However, there is increased labor and financial cost related to this kind of feeding, which could be reduced if fresh forages were used in place of some of the conserved forage in the cow diet. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of including fresh mixed annual ryegrass and berseem clover into the diet of dairy cows on milk, nitrogen utilization, and methane emission. Twenty-four lactating dairy cows were split into two groups and offered either a diet similar to that usually offered to the cows (CON) or one where a mixture of fresh annual ryegrass and berseem clover was used to partially substitute the corn silage and alfalfa hay in the diet (MIX). Milk yield was recorded automatically, and methane emissions were estimated using the SF6 tracer technique. The MIX diet had lower crude protein concentration (148 vs. 170 g/kg DM) but higher DM digestibility (81.6 vs. 78.6%) than the CON diet. Compared to the cows offered the CON diet, milk yield was reduced when cows were fed the MIX diet (36.4 vs. 31.9 kg/d), but methane emissions (381 vs. 332 g/d) and nitrogen excretion were also reduced (238 vs. 180 g/d). Nitrogen use efficiency was unaffected (30.8%). In addition, milk from cows fed the MIX diet had a fatty acid profile considered to be more beneficial to human health than that of the milk from cows fed the CON diet. Increasing the protein concentration in the MIX diet, either by direct supplementation or increasing the proportion of legume in the mixed herbage, could overcome the reduction on milk and positively affect methane emission and N use efficiency.
Expression of Pro-Angiogenic Markers Is Enhanced by Blue Light in Human RPE Cells
Authors: Scimone Concetta , Alibrandi Simona , Scalinci Sergio Zaccaria , Trovato Battagliola Edoardo , D’Angelo Rosalia , Sidoti Antonina , Donato Luigi
Published: November 2020

Inherited retinal dystrophies are characterized by photoreceptor death. Oxidative stress usually occurs, increasing vision loss, and oxidative damage is often reported in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). More than 300 genes have been reported as RP causing. In contrast, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) only occasionally develops in the late stages of RP. We herein study the regulation of RP causative genes that are likely linked to CNV onset under oxidative conditions. We studied how the endogenous adduct N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) affects the expression of angiogenic markers in human retinal pigment epithelium (H-RPE) cells and a possible correlation with RP-causing genes. H-RPE cells were exposed to A2E and blue light for 3 and 6h. By transcriptome analysis, genes differentially expressed between A2E-treated cells and untreated ones were detected. The quantification of differential gene expression was performed by the Limma R package. Enrichment pathway analysis by the FunRich tool and gene prioritization by ToppGene allowed us to identify dysregulated genes involved in angiogenesis and linked to RP development. Two RP causative genes, AHR and ROM1, can be associated with an increased risk of CNV development. Genetic analysis of RP patients affected by CNV will confirm this hypothesis.
On the Stark Effect of the O I 777-nm Triplet in Plasma and Laser Fields
Authors: Stambulchik Evgeny , Kroupp Eyal , Maron Yitzhak , Malka Victor
Published: November 2020

The O I 777-nm triplet transition is often used for plasma density diagnostics. It is also employed in nonlinear optics setups for producing quasi-comb structures when pumped by a near-resonant laser field. Here, we apply computer simulations to situations of the radiating atom subjected to the plasma microfields, laser fields, and both perturbations together. Our results, in particular, resolve a controversy related to the spectral line anomalously broadened in some laser-produced plasmas. The importance of using time-dependent density matrix is discussed.
HumiR: Web Services, Tools and Databases for Exploring Human microRNA Data
Authors: Solomon Jeffrey , Kern Fabian , Fehlmann Tobias , Meese Eckart , Keller Andreas
Published: November 2020

For many research aspects on small non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs, computational tools and databases are developed. This includes quantification of miRNAs, piRNAs, tRNAs and tRNA fragments, circRNAs and others. Furthermore, the prediction of new miRNAs, isomiRs, arm switch events, target and target pathway prediction and miRNA pathway enrichment are common tasks. Additionally, databases and resources containing expression profiles, e.g., from different tissues, organs or cell types, are generated. This information in turn leads to improved miRNA repositories. While most of the respective tools are implemented in a species-independent manner, we focused on tools for human small non-coding RNAs. This includes four aspects: (1) miRNA analysis tools (2) databases on miRNAs and variations thereof (3) databases on expression profiles (4) miRNA helper tools facilitating frequent tasks such as naming conversion or reporter assay design. Although dependencies between the tools exist and several tools are jointly used in studies, the interoperability is limited. We present HumiR, a joint web presence for our tools. HumiR facilitates an entry in the world of miRNA research, supports the selection of the right tool for a research task and represents the very first step towards a fully integrated knowledge-base for human small non-coding RNA research. We demonstrate the utility of HumiR by performing a very comprehensive analysis of Alzheimer’s miRNAs.
A Novel Surface-Exposed Polypeptide Is Successfully Employed as a Target for Developing a Prototype One-Step Immunochromatographic Strip for Specific and Sensitive Direct Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Causing Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Mohamed Sally A. , Samir Tamer M. , Helmy Omneya M. , Elhosseiny Noha M. , Ali Aliaa A. , El-Kholy Amani A. , Attia Ahmed S.
Published: November 2020

Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening condition and Staphylococcus aureus is one of its major causes. However, to date, no rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool has been developed for its direct detection. Bioinformatics analyses identified a surface-exposed 112-amino acid polypeptide of the cell wall protein NWMN_1649, a surface protein involved in cell aggregation and biofilm formation, as being a species-specific and highly conserved moiety. The polypeptide was cloned, purified, and used to immunize mice to raise specific immunoglobulins. The purified antibodies were conjugated to gold nano-particles and used to assemble an immunochromatographic strip (ICS). The developed prototype ICS detected as low as 5 µg purified polypeptide and 102 CFU/mL S. aureus within 15 min. The strip showed superior ability to directly detect S. aureus in neonatal sepsis blood specimens without prior sample processing. Moreover, it showed no cross-reaction in specimens infected with two other major causes of neonatal sepsis; coagulase-negative staphylococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The selected NWMN_1649-derived polypeptide demonstrates success as a promising biomolecule upon which a prototype ICS has been developed. This ICS provides a rapid, direct, sensitive, and specific option for the detection of S. aureus causing neonatal sepsis. Such a tool is urgently needed especially in resources-limited countries.
ACTN4 Mediates SEPT14 Mutation-Induced Sperm Head Defects
Authors: Lin Yu-Hua , Huang Chia-Yen , Ke Chih-Chun , Wang Ya-Yun , Lai Tsung-Hsuan , Liu Hsuan-Che , Ku Wei-Chi , Chan Chying-Chyuan , Lin Ying-Hung
Published: November 2020

Septins (SEPTs) are highly conserved GTP-binding proteins and the fourth component of the cytoskeleton. Polymerized SEPTs participate in the modulation of various cellular processes, such as cytokinesis, cell polarity, and membrane dynamics, through their interactions with microtubules, actin, and other cellular components. The main objective of this study was to dissect the molecular pathological mechanism of SEPT14 mutation-induced sperm head defects. To identify SEPT14 interactors, co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry were applied. Immunostaining showed that SEPT14 was significantly localized to the manchette structure. The SEPT14 interactors were identified and classified as (1) SEPT-, (2) microtubule-, (3) actin-, and (4) sperm structure-related proteins. One interactor, ACTN4, an actin-holding protein, was selected for further study. Co-IP experiments showed that SEPT14 interacts with ACTN4 in a male germ cell line. SEPT14 also co-localized with ACTN4 in the perinuclear and manchette regions of the sperm head in early elongating spermatids. In the cell model, mutated SEPT14 disturbed the localization pattern of ACTN4. In a clinical aspect, sperm with mutant SEPT14, SEPT14A123T (p.Ala123Thr), and SEPT14I333T (p.Ile333Thr), have mislocalized and fragmented ACTN4 signals. Sperm head defects in donors with SEPT14 mutations are caused by disruption of the functions of ACTN4 and actin during sperm head formation.
Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Structured Literature Scoping Review
Authors: Vescio Andrea , Testa Gianluca , Culmone Annalisa , Sapienza Marco , Valenti Fabiana , Di Maria Fabrizio , Pavone Vito
Published: November 2020

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by chronic, spontaneous and provoked pain of the distal extremities whose severity is disproportionate to the triggering event. Diagnosis and treatment are still debated and multidisciplinary. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the available literature to provide an update on the latest evidence related to the treatment of CRPS in growing age. Methods: Data extraction was performed independently by three reviewers based on predefined criteria and the methodologic quality of included studies was quantified by the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale Cohort Studies. Results: At the end of the first screening, following the previously described selection criteria, we selected n = 103 articles eligible for full-text reading. Ultimately, after full-text reading and a reference list check, we selected n = 6. The articles focused on physical (PT), associated with cognitive behavioral (CBT) and pharmacological (PhT) treatments. The combination of PT + CBT shows the most efficacy as suggested, but a commonly accepted protocol has not been developed. Conclusions: Physical therapy in association with occupational and cognitive behavioral treatment is the recommended option in the management of pediatric CPRS. Pharmacological therapy should be reserved for refractory and selected patients. The design and development of a standard protocol are strongly suggested.
Fabrication and Property Evaluation of the Al2O3-TiO2 Composite Coatings Prepared by Plasma Spray
Authors: Zhou Jingzhong , Sun Kuoteng , Huang Songqiang , Cai Weichen , Wei Yangzhi , Meng Liang , Hu Zhaowei , Li Wenge
Published: November 2020

The Al2O3-13 wt.% TiO2 (AT13) composite coatings were prepared on Q235 steel by plasma spray technique. The spray parameters were designed by the orthogonal experiments, and the properties of the coating were evaluated. Results showed that with respect to the bond strength of the coating, the optimized spraying parameters were the plasma current of 530 A, Ar flow of 41 L/min, H2 flow of 10 L/min, and spray standoff distance of 100 mm. The plasma spray process led to the transition of α-Al2O3 to γ-Al2O3, resulting in the increase in the porosity of AT13 coating prepared at nonoptimized parameters. Meanwhile, the porosity and cracks were also increased due to the decrease in the Ar flow and the increase in spray standoff distance. The low porosity, a few cracks, and the uniformly dispersed TiO2 particles contributed the enhanced properties including mechanical and corrosion behaviors of the AT13 coating prepared at optimized parameters. The bond strength, microhardness, and thermal shock resistance of the AT13 coating could reach 25.01 MPa, 1000.6 HV0.5, and 40 times when the coating was prepared at optimized parameters, respectively. Especially, the static Icorr of the AT13 coating prepared at optimized parameters was two order of magnitude less than that of Q235 steel. In addition, the erosion weight loss of Q235 steel could be decreased about 30 times by the protection of the AT13 coating.
Bottleneck Problems: An Information and Estimation-Theoretic View
Authors: Asoodeh Shahab , Calmon Flavio P.
Published: November 2020

Information bottleneck (IB) and privacy funnel (PF) are two closely related optimization problems which have found applications in machine learning, design of privacy algorithms, capacity problems (e.g., Mrs. Gerber’s Lemma), and strong data processing inequalities, among others. In this work, we first investigate the functional properties of IB and PF through a unified theoretical framework. We then connect them to three information-theoretic coding problems, namely hypothesis testing against independence, noisy source coding, and dependence dilution. Leveraging these connections, we prove a new cardinality bound on the auxiliary variable in IB, making its computation more tractable for discrete random variables. In the second part, we introduce a general family of optimization problems, termed “bottleneck problems”, by replacing mutual information in IB and PF with other notions of mutual information, namely f-information and Arimoto’s mutual information. We then argue that, unlike IB and PF, these problems lead to easily interpretable guarantees in a variety of inference tasks with statistical constraints on accuracy and privacy. While the underlying optimization problems are non-convex, we develop a technique to evaluate bottleneck problems in closed form by equivalently expressing them in terms of lower convex or upper concave envelope of certain functions. By applying this technique to a binary case, we derive closed form expressions for several bottleneck problems.
A Dynamic Multi-Cell FCL to Improve the Fault Ride through Capability of DFIG-Based Wind Farms
Authors: Shafiee M. R. , Kartijkolaie H. Shahbabaei , Firouzi M. , Mobayen S. , Fekih A.
Published: November 2020

Endowing wind farms (WFs) with fault ride through (FRT) capability is crucial to their continuous availability under various operating conditions. This paper proposes a dynamic adaptive multi-cell fault current limiter (MCFCL) topology to enhance the FRT capability of grid connected WFs. The proposed MCFCL consists of one transient cell (TC) and multi resistive cells (RCs) directly connected to the grid’s high voltage without using any series injection transformers nor any series connection of semiconductor switches. The transient cell of the MCFCL includes two transient limiting reactors (TLRs) to mitigate the transient fault current and limit the rate of change of the currents of the semiconductor switches during fault occurrence. The number of RCs in the MCFCL is determined based on voltage sag level. These latter are inserted in the fault path to provide an adaptive voltage sag compensation mechanism according to the voltage sag level. Assessment of the MCFCL under various sag conditions, showed that the MCFCL is able to effectively compensate for a wide range of voltage sags without any over voltage at the WF’s terminal. Comparison analysis with the conventional single-cell bridge-type FCL (SBFCL) showed the superior performance of the proposed MCFCL.
The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat
Authors: Peakman Aiden , Gregg Robert
Published: November 2020

International and UK fuel cycle scenario analyses performed to date have focused on nuclear plants producing electricity without considering in detail the other potential drivers for nuclear power, such as industrial process heat. Part of the reason behind the restricted applications of nuclear power is because the assumptions behind the future scenario are not fully captured, for example how big are demands from different sectors? Here we present a means to fully capture the potential opportunities for nuclear power using Sankey diagrams and then, using this information, consider for the first time in the UK the fuel cycle implications of decarbonising industrial heat demand in the year 2050 with nuclear power using the ORION fuel cycle code to study attributes related to spent fuel, uranium demand and decay heat from the spent fuel. We show that even in high industrial energy demand scenarios, the sensitivity of spent fuel masses and decay heat to the types of reactor deployed is relatively small compared to the greater fuel cycle demands from large-scale deployment of nuclear plants for electricity production. However, the sensitivity of spent fuel volumes depends heavily on the extent to which High Temperature Reactor and Light Water Reactor systems operating on a once-through cycle are deployed.
Voltage Modulated DPC Strategy of DFIG Using Extended Power Theory under Unbalanced Grid Voltage Conditions
Authors: Cheng Peng , Wu Chao , Ning Fuwei , He Jing
Published: November 2020

This paper develops a voltage modulated direct power control (VM-DPC) strategy of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) using extended power theory under unbalanced grid voltage conditions. By introducing the modulated voltage of the active and reactive powers and the non-linear VM controller, the proposed VM-DPC strategy enables the generator dynamics to change from the time-varying differential equations into the time-invariant ones. Then, in order to deal with the voltage unbalance, three available power feedbacks, a combination of real active power and extended reactive power, a combination of extended active power and real reactive power, a combination of extended active power and extended reactive power, are developed. Together with a conventional controller (PI + R and feedforwards) and a non-linear VM controller, the power feedbacks are well controlled to track their references with the achievement of the constant active power, the constant reactive power and the balanced stator current. The main advantage of the VM-DPC strategy is the introduction of the modulated voltage and the non-linear VM controller making the generator dynamics time-invariant, which is easy for applying various control methods. Furthermore, the application of extended power can avoid the sequence extractions and the power compensations under unbalanced grid voltage. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed VM-DPC strategy.
Thermophysical Properties of IoNanofluids Composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Thiocyanate and Carboxyl-functionalized Long Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Jóźwiak Bertrand , Dziadosz Justyna , Golba Adrian , Cwynar Krzysztof , Dzido Grzegorz , Zorębski Edward , Kolanowska Anna , Jędrysiak Rafał , Gancarz Paweł , Scheller Łukasz , Boncel Sławomir , Dzida Marzena
Published: November 2020

The concept of IoNanofluids (INFs) as the stable dispersions of nanoparticles in ionic liquids was proposed in 2009 by Nieto de Castro’s group. INFs characterize exciting properties such as improved thermal conductivity, non-volatility, and non-flammability. This work is a continuation of our studies on the morphology and physicochemistry of carbon-based nanomaterials affecting thermal conductivity, viscosity, and density of INFs. We focus on the characterization of dispersions composed of long carboxylic group-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate. The thermal conductivity of INFs was measured using KD2 Pro Thermal Properties Analyzer (Decagon Devices Inc., Pullman, WA, USA). The viscosity was investigated using rotary viscometer LV DV-II+Pro (Brookfield Engineering, Middleboro, MA, USA). The density of INFs was measured using a vibrating tube densimeter Anton Paar DMA 5000 (Graz, Austria). The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement of 22% was observed for INF composed of 1 wt% long carboxylic group-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Chilean Salmon Sushi: Genetics Reveals Product Mislabeling and a Lack of Reliable Information at the Point of Sale
Authors: Prida Valentina , Sepúlveda Maritza , Quezada-Romegialli Claudio , Harrod Chris , Gomez-Uchida Daniel , Cid Beatriz , Canales-Aguirre Cristian B.
Published: November 2020

Species diagnosis is essential to assess the level of mislabeling or misnamed seafood products such as sushi. In Chile, sushi typically includes salmon as the main ingredient, but species used are rarely declared on the menu. In order to identify which species are included in the Chilean sushi market, we analyzed 84 individual sushi rolls sold as “salmon” from sushi outlets in ten cities across Chile. Using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism protocol (PCR-RFLP), we identified mislabeled and misnamed products. Atlantic salmon was the most common salmonid fish used in sushi, followed by coho salmon, rainbow trout, and Chinook salmon. We found a total of 23% and 18% of the products were mislabeled and misnamed, respectively. In 64% of cases, the salesperson selling the product could not identify the species. We also identified the use of wild-captured Chinook salmon samples from a naturalized population. Our results provide a first indication regarding species composition in Chilean sushi, a quantification of mislabeling and the level of misinformation declared by sales people to consumers. Finally, considering that Chinook salmon likely originates from a non-licensed origin and that sushi is an uncooked product, proper identification in the food production chain may have important consequences for the health of consumers.
Non-Destructive Luminescence-Based Screening Tool for Listeria monocytogenes Growth on Ham
Authors: Rezac Shannon D. , Resendiz-Moctezuma Cristina , Boler Dustin D. , Stasiewicz Matthew J. , Miller Michael J.
Published: November 2020

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen often associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) food products. Many antimicrobial compounds have been evaluated in RTE meats. However, the search for optimum antimicrobial treatments is ongoing. The present study developed a rapid, non-destructive preliminary screening tool for large-scale evaluation of antimicrobials utilizing a bioluminescent L. monocytogenes with a model meat system. Miniature hams were produced, surface treated with antimicrobials nisin (at 0–100 ppm) and potassium lactate sodium diacetate (at 0–3.5%) and inoculated with bioluminescent L. monocytogenes. A strong correlation (r = 0.91) was found between log scale relative light units (log RLU, ranging from 0.00 to 3.35) read directly from the ham surface and endpoint enumeration on selective agar (log colony forming units (CFU)/g, ranging from 4.7 to 8.3) when the hams were inoculated with 6 log CFU/g, treated with antimicrobials, and L. monocytogenes were allowed to grow over a 12 d refrigerated shelf life at 4 °C. Then, a threshold of 1 log RLU emitted from a ham surface was determined to separate antimicrobial treatments that allowed more than 2 log CFU/g growth of L. monocytogenes (from 6 log CFU/g inoculation to 8 log CFU/g after 12 d). The proposed threshold was utilized in a luminescent screening of antimicrobials with days-to-detect growth monitoring of luminescent L. monocytogenes. Significantly different (p < 0.05) plate counts were found in antimicrobial treated hams that had reached a 1 log RLU increase (8.1–8.5 log(CFU/g)) and the hams that did not reach the proposed light threshold (5.3–7.5 log(CFU/g)). This confirms the potential use of the proposed light threshold as a qualitative tool to screen antimicrobials with less than or greater than a 2 log CFU/g increase. This screening tool can be used to prioritize novel antimicrobials targeting L. monocytogenes, alone or in combination, for future validation.
The Effect of Deflazacort Treatment on the Functioning of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Dubinin Mikhail V. , Talanov Eugeny Yu. , Tenkov Kirill S. , Starinets Vlada S. , Belosludtseva Natalia V. , Belosludtsev Konstantin N.
Published: November 2020

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe hereditary disease caused by a lack of dystrophin, a protein essential for myocyte integrity. Mitochondrial dysfunction is reportedly responsible for DMD. This study examines the effect of glucocorticoid deflazacort on the functioning of the skeletal-muscle mitochondria of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice and WT animals. Deflazacort administration was found to improve mitochondrial respiration of mdx mice due to an increase in the level of ETC complexes (complexes III and IV and ATP synthase), which may contribute to the normalization of ATP levels in the skeletal muscle of mdx animals. Deflazacort treatment improved the rate of Ca2+ uniport in the skeletal muscle mitochondria of mdx mice, presumably by affecting the subunit composition of the calcium uniporter of organelles. At the same time, deflazacort was found to reduce the resistance of skeletal mitochondria to MPT pore opening, which may be associated with a change in the level of ANT2 and CypD. In this case, deflazacort also affected the mitochondria of WT mice. The paper discusses the mechanisms underlying the effect of deflazacort on the functioning of mitochondria and contributing to the improvement of the muscular function of mdx mice.
HGF-Induced PD-L1 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer: Preclinical and Clinical Findings
Authors: Boschert Verena , Teusch Jonas , Aljasem Anwar , Schmucker Philipp , Klenk Nicola , Straub Anton , Bittrich Max , Seher Axel , Linz Christian , Müller-Richter Urs D. A. , Hartmann Stefan
Published: November 2020

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a widespread disease with a low survival rate and a high risk of recurrence. Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment is approved for HNSCC as a first-line treatment in recurrent and metastatic disease. ICI treatment yields a clear survival benefit, but overall response rates are still unsatisfactory. As shown in different cancer models, hepatocyte growth factor/mesenchymal–epithelial transition (HGF/Met) signaling contributes to an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between HGF and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1) expression in HNSCC cell lines. The preclinical data show a robust PD-L1 induction upon HGF stimulation. Further analysis revealed that the HGF-mediated upregulation of PD-L1 is MAP kinase-dependent. We then hypothesized that serum levels of HGF and soluble programmed cell death protein 1 (sPD-L1) could be potential markers of ICI treatment failure. Thus, we determined serum levels of these proteins in 20 HNSCC patients before ICI treatment and correlated them with treatment outcomes. Importantly, the clinical data showed a positive correlation of both serum proteins (HGF and sPD-L1) in HNSCC patient’s sera. Moreover, the serum concentration of sPD-L1 was significantly higher in ICI non-responsive patients. Our findings indicate a potential role for sPD-L1 as a prognostic marker for ICI treatment in HNSCC.
Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Preclinical GL261 Glioblastoma: Influence of Therapeutic Parameters and Non-Invasive Response Biomarker Assessment with MRSI-Based Approaches
Authors: Wu Shuang , Calero-Pérez Pilar , Arús Carles , Candiota Ana Paula
Published: November 2020

Glioblastomas (GBs) are malignant brain tumours with poor prognosis even after aggressive therapy. Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint blockade is a promising strategy in many types of cancer, but its therapeutic effects in GB remain low and associated with immune infiltration. Previous work suggests that oscillations of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI)-based response pattern with chemotherapy could act as a biomarker of efficient immune system attack onto GBs. The presence of such oscillations with other monotherapies such as anti-PD-1 would reinforce its monitoring potential. Here, we confirm that the oscillatory behaviour of the response biomarker is also detected in mice treated with anti PD-1 immunotherapy both in combination with temozolomide and as monotherapy. This indicates that the spectral pattern changes observed during therapy response are shared by different therapeutic strategies, provided the host immune system is elicited and able to productively attack tumour cells. Moreover, the participation of the immune system in response is also supported by the rate of cured animals observed with different therapeutic strategies (in the range of 50–100% depending on the treatment), which also held long-term immune memory against tumour cells re-challenge. Taken together, our findings open the way for a translational use of the MRSI-based biomarker in patient-tailored GB therapy, including immunotherapy, for which reliable non-invasive biomarkers are still missing.
Microbial Upgrading of Acetate into Value-Added Products—Examining Microbial Diversity, Bioenergetic Constraints and Metabolic Engineering Approaches
Authors: Kutscha Regina , Pflügl Stefan
Published: November 2020

Ecological concerns have recently led to the increasing trend to upgrade carbon contained in waste streams into valuable chemicals. One of these components is acetate. Its microbial upgrading is possible in various species, with Escherichia coli being the best-studied. Several chemicals derived from acetate have already been successfully produced in E. coli on a laboratory scale, including acetone, itaconic acid, mevalonate, and tyrosine. As acetate is a carbon source with a low energy content compared to glucose or glycerol, energy- and redox-balancing plays an important role in acetate-based growth and production. In addition to the energetic challenges, acetate has an inhibitory effect on microorganisms, reducing growth rates, and limiting product concentrations. Moreover, extensive metabolic engineering is necessary to obtain a broad range of acetate-based products. In this review, we illustrate some of the necessary energetic considerations to establish robust production processes by presenting calculations of maximum theoretical product and carbon yields. Moreover, different strategies to deal with energetic and metabolic challenges are presented. Finally, we summarize ways to alleviate acetate toxicity and give an overview of process engineering measures that enable sustainable acetate-based production of value-added chemicals.
Purinergic Signaling in Pancreas—From Physiology to Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Novak Ivana , Yu Haoran , Magni Lara , Deshar Ganga
Published: November 2020

The purinergic signaling has an important role in regulating pancreatic exocrine secretion. The exocrine pancreas is also a site of one of the most serious cancer forms, the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we explore how the network of purinergic and adenosine receptors, as well as ecto-nucleotidases regulate normal pancreatic cells and various cells within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. In particular, we focus on the P2X7 receptor, P2Y2 and P2Y12 receptors, as well as A2 receptors and ecto-nucleotidases CD39 and CD73. Recent studies indicate that targeting one or more of these candidates could present new therapeutic approaches to treat pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer, as much as possible of normal pancreatic function should be preserved, and therefore physiology of purinergic signaling in pancreas needs to be considered.
Structural and Functional Enrichment Analyses for Antimicrobial Peptides
Authors: Lo Sheng C. , Xie Zhong-Ru , Chang Kuan Y.
Published: November 2020

Whether there is any inclination between structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a mystery yet to be unraveled. AMPs have various structures associated with many different antimicrobial functions, including antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral activities. However, none has yet reported any antimicrobial functional tendency within a specific category of protein/peptide structures nor any structural tendency of a specific antimicrobial function with respect to AMPs. Here, we examine the relationships between structures categorized by three structural classification methods (CATH, SCOP, and TM) and seven antimicrobial functions with respect to AMPs using an enrichment analysis. The results show that antifungal activities of AMPs were tightly related to the two-layer sandwich structure of CATH, the knottin fold of SCOP, and the first structural cluster of TM. The associations with knottin and TM Cluster 1 even sustained through the AMPs with a low sequence identity. Moreover, another significant mutual enrichment was observed between the third cluster of TM and anti-Gram-positive-bacterial/anti-Gram-negative-bacterial activities. The findings of the structure–function inclination further our understanding of AMPs and could help us design or discover new therapeutic potential AMPs.
Endothelial Damage in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Vassiliou Alice G. , Kotanidou Anastasia , Dimopoulou Ioanna , Orfanos Stylianos E.
Published: November 2020

The pulmonary endothelium is a metabolically active continuous monolayer of squamous endothelial cells that internally lines blood vessels and mediates key processes involved in lung homoeostasis. Many of these processes are disrupted in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is marked among others by diffuse endothelial injury, intense activation of the coagulation system and increased capillary permeability. Most commonly occurring in the setting of sepsis, ARDS is a devastating illness, associated with increased morbidity and mortality and no effective pharmacological treatment. Endothelial cell damage has an important role in the pathogenesis of ARDS and several biomarkers of endothelial damage have been tested in determining prognosis. By further understanding the endothelial pathobiology, development of endothelial-specific therapeutics might arise. In this review, we will discuss the underlying pathology of endothelial dysfunction leading to ARDS and emerging therapies. Furthermore, we will present a brief overview demonstrating that endotheliopathy is an important feature of hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).
A Potential Involvement of Anandamide in the Modulation of HO/NOS Systems: Women, Menopause, and “Medical Cannabinoids”
Authors: Szabó Renáta , Börzsei Denise , Szabó Zsuzsanna , Hoffmann Alexandra , Zupkó István , Priksz Dániel , Kupai Krisztina , Varga Csaba , Pósa Anikó
Published: November 2020

Endocannabinoids and their receptors are present in the cardiovascular system; however, their actions under different pathological conditions remain controversial. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of anandamide (AEA) on heme oxygenase (HO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) systems in an estrogen-depleted rat model. Sham-operated (SO) and surgically induced estrogen-deficient (OVX) female Wistar rats were used. During a two-week period, a group of OVX rats received 0.1 mg/kg estrogen (E2) per os, while AEA-induced alterations were analyzed after two weeks of AEA treatment at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, cardiac activity and expression of HO and NOS enzymes, content of cannabinoid 1 receptor, as well as concentrations of transient potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured. Our results show that estrogen withdrawal caused a significant decrease in both NOS and HO systems, and a similar tendency was observed regarding the TRPV1/CGRP pathway. Two weeks of either AEA or E2 treatment restored the adverse changes; however, the combined administration of these two molecules did not result in a further improvement. In light of the potential relationship between AEA and HO/NOS systems, AEA-induced upregulation of HO/NOS enzymes may be a therapeutic strategy in estrogen-deficient conditions.
Advances in the Coastal and Submarine Groundwater Processes: Controls and Environmental Impact on the Thriassion Plain and Eleusis Gulf (Attica, Greece)
Authors: Hermides Demetrios , Makri Panayota , Kontakiotis George , Antonarakou Assimina
Published: November 2020

This study focuses on the hydrogeological conditions in the coastal (Thriassion plain) and submarine (Eleusis Gulf) environment of West Attica, Greece. Up to now, the predominant aspect for the Thriassion plain groundwater—hosted within the Neogene-Quaternary sediments—was its direct hydraulic contact with the seawater. Due to that, the coastal plain groundwater is strongly believed to be of brackish quality irrespective of the local hydrodynamic conditions. Our major goal is to evaluate the actual mechanism controlling the groundwater flow, the origin and distribution of saline water, and the existence of fresh groundwater in the submarine environment. We summarize the following: (1) groundwater of the Thriassion plain is partly discharged as an upwards leakage from deeper aquifers, (2) modern direct seawater intrusion is not possible in the Neogene-Quaternary sediments, and (3) fresh groundwater possibly exists below the sea floor of the Eleusis Gulf. The results may serve as hint of further research in groundwater resources below the Mediterranean Sea floor, and, consequently, a new perspective on water resource management could emerge.
A Review of the Production, Recycling and Management of Marine Plastic Pollution
Authors: Issifu Ibrahim , Sumaila U. Rashid
Published: November 2020

The human attachment to plastic has intensified recently due to its lightweight, versatility, low-cost and durability and so has the damage to the marine environment as marine plastic pollution has correspondingly increased. As a result, there has been increasing concern on the issue of marine plastic pollution. Policy-based organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme have drawn public attention to the scope, magnitude and impacts of marine pollution in recent decades. Research on marine pollution can play a significant role in contributing to policy-making processes in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Life Below Water (SDG 14), by providing scientific analysis on the effects and sources of marine plastic pollution. This paper provides a theoretical and empirical overview of marine plastic pollution and its potential effects on marine ecosystems. It also discusses SDGs that are relevant to marine plastic pollution and suggest priorities for further research.