bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of red propolis and Mikania glomerata in bitches´s surgical analgesia
Authors: Rocha Natanni Cinthia Vitor da , Graboschii Amanda Caroline Gomes , Lins Jackellyne Laís Ferreira , Rodrigues Mylena Ferreira , Mata Diogo Alexandre Tenório , Moreira Yane Fernandes , Nascimento Ticiano Gomes do , Notomi Marcia Kikuyo , Escodro Pierre Barnabé
Published: October 2020

The aim of this research was to evaluate the analgesia provided by red propolis and Mikania glomerata oral administration in 40 female dogs submitted to ovariohysterectomy (OH) compared to standard treatment with no steroidal anti-inflammatory ketoprofen. Through of a doble-blind and randomized study, the animals were divided in four different groups with 10 animals of treatments: control treatment with ketofen (CT), propolis treatment (PT), Mikania glomerata treatment (MT), and propolis-Mikania glomerata treatment (PGT). All pacients received one of these treatments two hours before OH and the pain evaluation was performed 1 (T1), 6 (T6), 12 (T12), and 24 hours (T24) after OH using University of Melbourne Pain Scale and the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale. Glucose levels were also measured at the same times, except at 6 hours after OH (T6). All treatments achieved similar and satisfactory analgesia. During the experiment, only three animals were rescued, two belonging to the PT and another of the MT. Considering the lower rate of complications and no rescue necessity of in PGT and CT treatments, they were considered the most effective and safer. The combined treatment with propolis and Mikania glomerata could  be a promising alternative method for OH surgery analgesia in bitches.
Daily precipitation characteristics of RegCM4 and WRF in China and their interannual variations
Authors: Kong X , Wang A , Bi X , Wei J
Published: October 2020

To evaluate and clarify the daily precipitation characteristics (i.e. amount, frequency and intensity) of the regional climate models (RCMs) in China, long-term simulations were carried out using RegCM4.5 and Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), which were nested within the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)’s 20th century reanalysis (ERA-20C) between 1901 and 2010. The 2 RCMs were initially run at a resolution of 50 km. Analyses mainly compared the model-simulated climatic means and interannual variations of precipitation characteristics with those of dense and high-quality station observations (STN) from 1961-2010. Both models satisfactorily reproduced the seasonal mean precipitation amount, but they overestimated its frequency and underestimated its intensity. Extreme rainfall frequency was also underestimated by both RCMs. In winter (DJF), the interannual variabilities in dry days, light precipitation and moderate precipitation were well represented by both models. However, they poorly reproduced the counterparts of extreme precipitation in winter. In summer (JJA), the 2 RCMs performed well in simulating the interannual variability of extreme precipitation. Comparably, RegCM outperformed WRF in reproducing the spatial patterns of precipitation amount, interannual variations in extreme precipitation and rain events. By contrast, WRF better represented precipitation frequency in different sub-regions overall. Moreover, when the horizontal resolution of RegCM was increased from 50 to 25 km, there was a slight improvement in the representation of precipitation amount and intensity. Our results show that RCMs perform well in reproducing actual climatic means and interannual variations of daily precipitation characteristics in China, and that high-resolution RCM simulations can produce improved results for precipitation amount and intensity.
Yield of subterranean clover after post-emergence herbicide application for broadleaf weed control
Authors: Taylor Breanna J. O. , Hofmann Rainer W. , Moot Derrick J.
Published: October 2020

A field experiment was established in Lincoln, Canterbury in autumn 2018 to evaluate the effect of acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides on subterraneun (sub) clover. Two herbicides, imazethapyr and flumetsulam, were applied to seven sub clover cultivars at the 4-5 trifoliate leaf stage during July 2018. By December 2018, both herbicides had reduced the broadleaf weed yield by 1000 kg DM/ha. Sub clover herbage yield in spring (3 Oct 2018) increased only for ‘Antas’ and ‘Napier’ cultivars but all cultivars had an increase in total annual herbage yield when herbicides were applied. Plots were managed for seed set so re-establishment was examined. Imazethapyr had a longer residual than flumetsulam with greater control of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) eight months after application. Herbicide application had no effect on subsequent sub clover emergence the following year. This experiment demonstrated the potential to establish a pure sward of sub clover with the use of ALS inhibiting herbicides, which could be used to create a high legume base in pasture before overdrilling grass the following year.
ANALYZING SEVERAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PEOPLE TO MAKE LOANS ONLINE
Authors: Sari Marta Widian , Novrianto Andry
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of cultural factors and psychological factors on people's decisions to apply for online loans (fintech) with religious factors as an intervening variable. The population in this study were the people of West Sumatra. The research sampling method was 100 people using quota sampling. Data processing with SmartPLS 3.0. The results of this study are Cultural Factors mediated by Religious Factors on Community Decisions to Apply for Online Loans (Fintech) and Psychological Factors mediated by Religious Factors on Community Decisions to Apply for Online Loans (Fintech).
LASIK – the second generation of laser vision correction
Authors: Shilova T. Yu.
Published: October 2020

LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) is the second generation of laser vision correction methods, which replaced PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and became a wide-spread method of laser keratorefractive surgery. The technology can improve vision in cases of myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism. The article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the LASIK method, its risks and side effects. Presented data is obtained from the analysis of scientific publications and by practical means.
PHF20 Promotes Glioblastoma Cell Malignancies Through a WISP1/BGN-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Ma Qianquan , Long Wenyong , Xing Changsheng , Jiang Chongming , Su Jun , Wang Helen Y. , Liu Qing , Wang Rongfu
Published: October 2020

Glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells are resistant to cancer therapy, and therefore responsible for tumor progression and recurrence after conventional therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the maintenance of stemness and dedifferentiation are poorly understood. In this study, we identified plant homeodomain finger-containing protein 20 (PHF20) as a crucial epigenetic regulator for sustaining the stem cell-like phenotype of GBM. It is highly expressed in GBM and tightly associated with high levels of aggressiveness of tumors and potential poor prognosis in GBM patients. Knockout of PHF20 inhibits GBM cell proliferation, as well as its invasiveness and stem cell-like traits. Mechanistically, PHF20 interacts with WDR5 and binds to the promoter regions of WISP1 for its expression. Subsequently, WISP1 and BGN act in concert to regulate the degradation of β-Catenin. Our findings have identified PHF20 as a key driver of GBM malignant behaviors, and provided a potential target for developing prognosis and therapy.
Melon Genetic Resources Characterization for Rind Volatile Profile
Authors: Esteras Cristina , Rambla Jose Luis , Sánchez Gerardo , Granell Antonio , Picó María Belén
Published: October 2020

A melon core collection was analyzed for rind volatile compounds as, despite the fact that they are scarcely studied, these compounds play an important role in consumer preferences. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry allowed the detection of 171 volatiles. The high volatile diversity found was analyzed by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), giving rise to two major clusters of accessions. The first cluster included climacteric and aromatic types such as Cantalupensis, Ameri, Dudaim and Momordica, rich in esters; the second one mainly included non-climacteric non-aromatic types such as Inodorus, Flexuosus, Acidulus, Conomon and wild Agrestis, with low volatiles content, specifically affecting esters. Many interesting accessions were identified, with different combinations of aroma profiles for rind and flesh, such as Spanish Inodorus landraces with low aroma flesh but rind levels of esters similar to those in climacteric Cantalupensis, exotic accessions sharing high contents of specific compounds responsible for the unique aroma of Dudaim melons or wild Agrestis with unexpected high content of some esters. Sesquiterpenes were present in rinds of some Asian Ameri and Momordica landraces, and discriminate groups of cultivars (sesquiterpene-rich/-poor) within each of the two most commercial melon horticultural groups (Cantalupensis and Inodorus), suggesting that the Asian germplasm is in the origin of specific current varieties or that this feature has been introgressed more recently from Asian sources. This rind characterization will encourage future efforts for breeding melon quality as many of the characterized landraces and wild accessions have been underexploited.
Preharvest Application of Oxalic Acid Improved Pomegranate Fruit Yield, Quality, and Bioactive Compounds at Harvest in a Concentration-Dependent Manner
Authors: García-Pastor María E. , Giménez María J. , Valverde Juan M. , Guillén Fabián , Castillo Salvador , Martínez-Romero Domingo , Serrano María , Valero Daniel , Zapata Pedro J.
Published: October 2020

The effects of oxalic acid (OA) applied in preharvest on pomegranate crop yield and quality properties have not yet been investigated. Pomegranate trees were treated with OA at 1, 5, and 10 mM along the developmental growth cycle during 2016, from full blossom until harvest, and the fruit diameter was recorded monthly. The yield was significantly higher in OA-treated pomegranate trees, the on-tree ripening process being promoted in a concentration-dependent manner. With respect to quality traits, OA at 10 mM showed better results in terms of firmness, external color due to a red color enhancement, and respiration rate and sensory attributes. Then, a second-year experiment was performed with OA at 10 mM, and crop yield and fruit quality results were confirmed. In addition, an increase in glucose and total acidity, specifically malic and ascorbic acids, was observed in OA 10 mM-treated pomegranate fruit. Bioactive compounds were also higher in OA-treated fruit than control, the 10 mM concentration being the most effective in increasing total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity. Overall, results suggest that OA applied at 10 mM as preharvest treatment could be an effective tool to enhance pomegranate crop and quality and to improve the content of health-related compounds.
Zoonotic Viruses in Three Species of Voles from Poland
Authors: Grzybek Maciej , Tołkacz Katarzyna , Sironen Tarja , Mäki Sanna , Alsarraf Mohammed , Behnke-Borowczyk Jolanta , Biernat Beata , Nowicka Joanna , Vaheri Antti , Henttonen Heikki , Behnke Jerzy M. , Bajer Anna
Published: October 2020

Rodents are known to be reservoir hosts for a plethora of zoonotic viruses and therefore play a significant role in the dissemination of these pathogens. We trapped three vole species (Microtus arvalis, Alexandromys oeconomus and Microtus agrestis) in northeastern Poland, all of which are widely distributed species in Europe. Using immunofluorescence assays, we assessed serum samples for the presence of antibodies to hantaviruses, arenaviruses and cowpox viruses (CPXV). We detected antibodies against CPXV and Puumala hantavirus (PUUV), the overall seroprevalence of combined viral infections being 18.2% [10.5–29.3] and mostly attributed to CPXV. We detected only one PUUV/TULV cross-reaction in Microtus arvalis (1.3% [0.1–7.9]), but found similar levels of antibodies against CPXV in all three vole species. There were no significant differences in seroprevalence of CPXV among host species and age categories, nor between the sexes. These results contribute to our understanding of the distribution and abundance of CPXV in voles in Europe, and confirm that CPXV circulates also in Microtus and Alexandromys voles in northeastern Poland.
Anti gC1qR/p32/HABP1 Antibody Therapy Decreases Tumor Growth in an Orthotopic Murine Xenotransplant Model of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Peerschke Ellinor I. , Stanchina Elisa de , Chang Qing , Manova-Todorova Katia , Barlas Afsar , Savitt Anne G. , Geisbrecht Brian V. , Ghebrehiwet Berhane
Published: October 2020

gC1qR is highly expressed in breast cancer and plays a role in cancer cell proliferation. This study explored therapy with gC1qR monoclonal antibody 60.11, directed against the C1q binding domain of gC1qR, in a murine orthotopic xenotransplant model of triple negative breast cancer. MDA231 breast cancer cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of athymic nu/nu female mice. Mice were segregated into three groups (n = 5, each) and treated with the vehicle (group 1) or gC1qR antibody 60.11 (100 mg/kg) twice weekly, starting at day 3 post-implantation (group 2) or when the tumor volume reached 100 mm3 (group 3). At study termination (d = 35), the average tumor volume in the control group measured 895 ± 143 mm3, compared to 401 ± 48 mm3 and 701 ± 100 mm3 in groups 2 and 3, respectively (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining of excised tumors revealed increased apoptosis (caspase 3 and TUNEL staining) in 60.11-treated mice compared to controls, and decreased angiogenesis (CD31 staining). Slightly decreased white blood cell counts were noted in 60.11-treated mice. Otherwise, no overt toxicities were observed. These data are the first to demonstrate an in vivo anti-tumor effect of 60.11 therapy in a mouse model of triple negative breast cancer.
Antibiotic Resistance and Mobile Genetic Elements in Extensively Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 147 Recovered from Germany
Authors: Xanthopoulou Kyriaki , Carattoli Alessandra , Wille Julia , Biehl Lena M. , Rohde Holger , Farowski Fedja , Krut Oleg , Villa Laura , Feudi Claudia , Seifert Harald , Higgins Paul G
Published: October 2020

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), especially multidrug-resistance plasmids, are major vehicles for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance determinants. Herein, we analyse the MGEs in three extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Germany. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is performed using Illumina and MinION platforms followed by core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The plasmid content is analysed by conjugation, S1-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE) and Southern blot experiments. The K. pneumoniae isolates belong to the international high-risk clone ST147 and form a cluster of closely related isolates. They harbour the blaOXA-181 carbapenemase on a ColKP3 plasmid, and 12 antibiotic resistance determinants on an multidrug-resistant (MDR) IncR plasmid with a recombinogenic nature and encoding a large number of insertion elements. The IncR plasmids within the three isolates share a high degree of homology, but present also genetic variations, such as inversion or deletion of genetic regions in close proximity to MGEs. In addition, six plasmids not harbouring any antibiotic resistance determinants are present in each isolate. Our study indicates that genetic variations can be observed within a cluster of closely related isolates, due to the dynamic nature of MGEs. The mobilome of the K. pneumoniae isolates combined with the emergence of the XDR ST147 high-risk clone have the potential to become a major challenge for global healthcare.
Some Suggestions from PK/PD Principles to Contain Resistance in the Clinical Setting—Focus on ICU Patients and Gram-Negative Strains
Authors: Adembri Chiara , Novelli Andrea , Nobili Stefania
Published: October 2020

The containment of the phenomenon of resistance towards antimicrobials is a priority, especially in preserving molecules acting against Gram-negative pathogens, which represent the isolates more frequently found in the fragile population of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units. Antimicrobial therapy aims to prevent resistance through several actions, which are collectively known as “antimicrobial stewardship”, to be taken together, including the application of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) principles. PK/PD application has been shown to prevent the emergence of resistance in numerous experimental studies, although a straight translation to the clinical setting is not possible. Individualized antibiotic dosing and duration should be pursued in all patients, and even more especially when treating intensive care unit (ICU) septic patients in whom optimal exposure is both difficult to achieve and necessary. In this review, we report on the available data that support the application of PK/PD parameters to contain the development of resistance and we give some practical suggestions that can help to translate the benefit of PK/PD application to the bedside.
The Preventive Effects of Xanthohumol on Vascular Calcification Induced by Vitamin D3 Plus Nicotine
Authors: Liou Shu-Fen , Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan , Hsu Jong-Hau , Sulistyowati Erna , Huang Shang-En , Wu Bin-Nan , Lin Ming-Chung , Yeh Jwu-Lai
Published: October 2020

Vascular calcification (VC) is highly prevalent in patients with atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. In blood vessels, VC is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Xanthohumol (XN), a main prenylated chalcone found in hops, has antioxidant effects to inhibit VC. This study aimed to investigate whether XN attenuates VC through in vivo study. A rat VC model was established by four weeks oral administration of vitamin D3 plus nicotine in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. In brief, 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, 25 mg/kg nicotine in 5 mL corn oil and 3 × 105 IU/kg vitamin D3 administration (VDN), and combination of VDN with 20 mg/L in 0.1% ethanol of XN (treatment group). Physiological variables such as body and heart weight and drinking consumption were weekly observed, and treatment with XN caused no differences among the groups. In comparison with the control group, calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were increased in calcified arteries, and XN treatment reduced these levels. Dihydroethidium (DHE) and 2′,7′-dichloroflurescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining to identify Superoxide and reactive oxygen species generation from aorta tissue showed increased production in VDN group compared with the control and treatment groups. Hematoxylin eosin (HE) and Alizarin Red S staining were determined to show medial vascular thickness and calcification of vessel wall. Administration of VDN resulted in VC, and XN treatment showed improvement in vascular structure. Moreover, overexpression of osteogenic transcription factors bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) were significantly suppressed by XN treatment in VC. Moreover, downregulation of vascular phenotypic markers alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α) were increased by XN treatment in VC. Furthermore, XN treatment in VC upregulated nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions. Otherwise, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) was alleviated by XN treatment in VC. In conclusion, our findings suggested that XN enhances antioxidant capacity to improve VC by regulating the Nrf2/Keap1/HO-1 pathway. Therefore, XN may have potential effects to decrease cardiovascular risk by reducing VC.
The Circadian Effect Versus Mesopic Vision Effect in Road Lighting Applications
Authors: Li Min , Wu Peiyu , Ding Jianhua , Yao Qi , Ju Jiaqi
Published: October 2020

Several models on the circadian effect have been applied to indoor circadian lighting design, but applications in road lighting have not yet been clarified. Based on existing models and circadian research, we examined equivalent melanopic lux (EML), circadian light (CLA), and circadian stimulus (CS) representing the circadian effect and the S/P ratio representing the mesopic vision effect, among a dataset of light sources at photopic adaptation illuminance values of 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 lx. The results show that the S/P ratio correlates with EML and CS (or CLA) much stronger than it correlates with color temperature. The EMLs of light sources are below 50 EML in mesopic vision, and the CSs of most light sources are below or around the threshold value of 0.05. We conclude that the circadian effect is not a significant issue in mesopic vision under most conditions and that optimization for mesopic efficiency is still a good strategy. There are quite a few light sources that may achieve both ideal mesopic efficiency and low CS. This work clarifies the circadian effect and mesopic vision effect performance of light sources in mesopic vision and will help guide choosing suitable light sources and optimization strategies for road lighting.
Fragmented Rockfall Volume Distribution from Photogrammetry-Based Structural Mapping and Discrete Fracture Networks
Authors: Macciotta Renato , Gräpel Chris , Skirrow Roger
Published: October 2020

The design of rockfall protection structures requires information about the falling block volumes. Computational tools for rockfall trajectory simulation are now capable of modeling block fragmentation, requiring the fragmented volume-relative frequency distribution of rockfalls as input. This can be challenging at locations with scarce or nonexistent rockfall records and where block surveys are not feasible. The work in this paper shows that simple discrete fracture network realizations from structural mapping based on photogrammetric techniques can be used to reliably estimate rock fall block volumes. These estimates can be used for dimensioning rockfall protection structures in cases where data is scarce or not available. The methodology is tested at two sites in the Canadian Cordillera where limestone outcrops have been the source of recurrent rockfalls. The results suggest that fragmentation will largely tend to occur through weak planes and expansion of non-persistent discontinuities, while other block breakage mechanisms exert less influence in the fragmented volume-relative frequency distribution of rockfalls. Therefore, block volume distribution can be estimated using a simple discrete fracture network (DFN) with fully persistent discontinuities. Limitations of the methods are also discussed, as well as potential future research to address such limitations.
Active Load-Sensitive Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator for More Electric Aircraft
Authors: Huang Ligang , Yu Tian , Jiao Zongxia , Li Yanpeng
Published: October 2020

In the flight control system, using an electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA) instead of the currently used relatively mature electro-hydraulic valve-controlled actuator, there are three prevailing concerns, namely heating, size, and stiffness. This paper proposes a novel principle EHA, called active load-sensitive EHA (ALS-EHA), which can actively realize the adaptive adjustment of pump displacement with load pressure. Its principle analysis and mathematical modeling based on the direct load-sensitive EHA (DLS-EHA) configuration is done to obtain the relationship between motor current and hydraulic reduction ratio. Then, its stiffness characteristics are analyzed, especially the influence of hydraulic reduction ratio on impedance at low frequencies combined with investigating the power matching of ALS-EHA. A comparative experiment between the developed ALS-EHA and the EHA with fixed pump displacement and variable motor speed (EHA-FPVM) was carried out. The results reveal that the proposed ALS-EHA can reduce the motor heating and its displacement tracking error is smaller near zero speed owing to its higher impedance from the lower hydraulic reduction ratio under heavy load conditions.
Transitional SAX Representation for Knowledge Discovery for Time Series
Authors: Song Kiburm , Ryu Minho , Lee Kichun
Published: October 2020

Numerous dimensionality-reducing representations of time series have been proposed in data mining and have proved to be useful, especially in handling a high volume of time series data. Among them, widely used symbolic representations such as symbolic aggregate approximation and piecewise aggregate approximation focus on information of local averages of time series. To compensate for such methods, several attempts were made to include trend information. However, the included trend information is quite simple, leading to great information loss. Such information is hardly extendable, so adjusting the level of simplicity to a higher complexity is difficult. In this paper, we propose a new symbolic representation method called transitional symbolic aggregate approximation that incorporates transitional information into symbolic aggregate approximations. We show that the proposed method, satisfying a lower bound of the Euclidean distance, is able to preserve meaningful information, including dynamic trend transitions in segmented time series, while still reducing dimensionality. We also show that this method is advantageous from theoretical aspects of interpretability, and practical and superior in terms of time-series classification tasks when compared with existing symbolic representation methods.
Green Extracts from Coffee Pulp and Their Application in the Development of Innovative Brews
Authors: Loukri Anastasia , Tsitlakidou Petroula , Goula Athanasia , Assimopoulou Andreana N. , Kontogiannopoulos Konstantinos N. , Mourtzinos Ioannis
Published: October 2020

Coffee pulp, a by-product of coffee production, contains valuable compounds such as caffeine and chlorogenic acid with high antiradical activity. In this study, aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were used as a non-conventional solvent for the extraction of targeted compounds from coffee pulp. The parameters of β-CD concentration (Cβcd), liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S), and temperature (T) were evaluated based on the antiradical activity (AAR) and the caffeine content (CCaf). The optimum operational conditions were found to be Cβcd: 9.25 mg/mL, L/S: 30 mL/g and T: 80 °C. The sensory profiles of brews prepared with coffee and coffee pulp with or without cyclodextrin were studied with quantitative descriptive analysis. The brew from the by-product had fruity, botanic, sweet and sourness sensory properties, and cyclodextrin was found to be able to affect the overall taste of the brew.
Machine Learning Model for Identifying Antioxidant Proteins Using Features Calculated from Primary Sequences
Authors: Ho Thanh Lam Luu , Le Ngoc Hoang , Van Tuan Le , Tran Ban Ho , Nguyen Khanh Hung Truong , Nguyen Ngan Thi Kim , Huu Dang Luong , Le Nguyen Quoc Khanh
Published: October 2020

Antioxidant proteins are involved importantly in many aspects of cellular life activities. They protect the cell and DNA from oxidative substances (such as peroxide, nitric oxide, oxygen-free radicals, etc.) which are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Free radical generation and antioxidant defenses are opposing factors in the human body and the balance between them is necessary to maintain a healthy body. An unhealthy routine or the degeneration of age can break the balance, leading to more ROS than antioxidants, causing damage to health. In general, the antioxidant mechanism is the combination of antioxidant molecules and ROS in a one-electron reaction. Creating computational models to promptly identify antioxidant candidates is essential in supporting antioxidant detection experiments in the laboratory. In this study, we proposed a machine learning-based model for this prediction purpose from a benchmark set of sequencing data. The experiments were conducted by using 10-fold cross-validation on the training process and validated by three different independent datasets. Different machine learning and deep learning algorithms have been evaluated on an optimal set of sequence features. Among them, Random Forest has been identified as the best model to identify antioxidant proteins with the highest performance. Our optimal model achieved high accuracy of 84.6%, as well as a balance in sensitivity (81.5%) and specificity (85.1%) for antioxidant protein identification on the training dataset. The performance results from different independent datasets also showed the significance in our model compared to previously published works on antioxidant protein identification.
IL-37 Gene and Cholesterol Metabolism: Association of Polymorphisms with the Presence of Hypercholesterolemia and Cardiovascular Risk Factors. The GEA Mexican Study
Authors: López-Bautista Fabiola , Posadas-Sánchez Rosalinda , Vázquez-Vázquez Christian , Fragoso José Manuel , Rodríguez-Pérez José Manuel , Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto
Published: October 2020

Interleukin 37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, reducing the levels of plasma cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of the IL-37 polymorphisms with the presence of hypercholesterolemia (HC), and with cardiovascular risk factors. Nine IL-37 polymorphisms (rs2708965, rs2708962, rs6717710, rs2708961, rs2708960, rs2708958, rs2723187, rs2708947, and rs2723192) were determined by TaqMan assays in a group of 1292 individuals (514 with and 778 without hypercholesterolemia) belonging to the cohort of the GEA Mexican Study. The associations were evaluated by logistic regression, using inheritance models adjusted by confounding variables. Under codominant 1 model, the rs2708961 (OR = 0.51, p = 0.02), rs2723187 (OR = 0.35, p = 0.005), and rs2708947 (OR = 0.49, p = 0.02) polymorphisms were associated with low risk of HC. The association of the polymorphisms with cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated independently in HC and non-HC individuals. In non-HC individuals, some polymorphisms were associated with the risk of having high levels of LDL-C, glucose, and high risk of T2DM, and low risk of having high visceral abdominal fat. On the other hand, in individuals with HC five, polymorphisms were associated with high levels of C-reactive protein. The IL-37 rs2708961, rs2723187, rs2708947 polymorphisms were associated with low risk of HC, and some IL-37 polymorphisms were associated with cardiometabolic factors in both individuals with and without HC.
Questioning Cause and Effect: Children with Severe Asthma Exhibit High Levels of Inflammatory Biomarkers Including Beta-Hexosaminidase, but Low Levels of Vitamin A and Immunoglobulins
Authors: Samarasinghe Amali E. , Penkert Rhiannon R. , Hurwitz Julia L. , Sealy Robert E. , LeMessurier Kim S. , Hammond Catherine , Dubin Patricia J. , Lew D. Betty
Published: October 2020

Asthma affects over 8% of the pediatric population in the United States, and Memphis, Tennessee has been labeled an asthma capital. Plasma samples were analyzed for biomarker profiles from 95 children with severe asthma and 47 age-matched, hospitalized nonasthmatic controls at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, where over 4000 asthmatics are cared for annually. Asthmatics exhibited significantly higher levels of periostin, surfactant protein D, receptor for advanced glycation end products and β-hexosaminidase compared to controls. Children with severe asthma had lower levels of IgG1, IgG2 and IgA, and higher levels of IgE compared to controls, and approximately half of asthmatics exhibited IgG1 levels that were below age-specific norms. Vitamin A levels, measured by the surrogate retinol-binding protein, were insufficient or deficient in most asthmatic children, and correlated positively with IgG1. Which came first, asthma status or low levels of vitamin A and immunoglobulins? It is likely that inflammatory disease and immunosuppressive drugs contributed to a reduction in vitamin A and immunoglobulin levels. However, a nonmutually exclusive hypothesis is that low dietary vitamin A caused reductions in immune function and rendered children vulnerable to respiratory disease and consequent asthma pathogenesis. Continued attention to nutrition in combination with the biomarker profile is recommended to prevent and treat asthma in vulnerable children.
Tractography-Based Analysis of Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of the Uncinate Fasciculus in Human Brains
Authors: Kierońska Sara , Sokal Paweł , Dura Marta , Jabłońska Magdalena , Rudaś Marcin , Jabłońska Renata
Published: October 2020

(1) Background: The uncinate fasciculus (UF) is a white matter bundle connecting the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe. The functional role of the uncinate fasciculus is still uncertain. The role of the UF is attributed to the emotional empathy network. The present study aimed to more accurately the describe anatomical variability of the UF by focusing on the volume of fibers and testing for correlations with sex and age. (2) Material and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging of adult patients with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on 34 patients. The total number of fibers, volume of UF, and number of tracts were processed using DSI studio software. The DSI studio allows for mapping of different nerve pathways and visualizing of the obtained results using spatial graphics. (3) Results: The total number of UF tracts was significantly higher in the right hemisphere compared to the left hemisphere (right M ± SD = 52 ± 24; left: 39 ± 25, p < 0.05). A hook-shaped UF was the most common variant (91.7%). The UF volumes were larger in men (1410 ± 150.7 mm3) as compared to women (1325 ± 133.2 mm3) (p < 0.05). The mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the UF were significantly larger on the left side 0.597, while the right UF had an average of 0.346 (p < 0.05). Patients older than 50 years old had a significantly higher value of mean diffusivity (MD) (p = 0.034). In 73.5% of patients, a greater number of fibers terminated in the inferior part of the inferior frontal gyrus. (4) Conclusions: The morphological characteristics of the UF, unlike the shape, are associated with sex and are characterized by hemispheric dominance. These findings confirm the results of the previous studies. Future research should examine the potential correlation among the UF volume, number of fibers, and total brain volume in both sexes and patient psychological state.
African American College Students’ Drinking Behaviors and Their Relationship to Self-Efficacy and Positive or Negative Expectancies Regarding Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Jenkins Patrice R. , Hernandez Pedro M. , Harris Chaiqua A.
Published: October 2020

College students’ alcohol consumption remains a significant concern for colleges and universities. However, most research overwhelmingly utilizes White samples from predominantly White universities, limiting knowledge of African American students’ drinking behaviors on historically Black campuses. This study examined alcohol usage among African American college students by investigating relationships between alcohol consumption and positive and negative expectancies as well as self-efficacy. A convenience sample of 282 students was used. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) measured alcohol consumption and identified individuals whose consumption created hazardous drinking patterns. Alcohol expectancy was measured by the Alcohol Effects Questionnaire (AEQ), and the Spheres of Control Scale measured self-efficacy. Students in this sample tended to believe that alcohol consumption was linked with more negative than positive alcohol expectancy beliefs. Alcohol expectancies, specifically positive expectancies, appeared to play a significant role in predicting alcohol consumption. There was also a positive relationship between positive expectancies and alcohol consumption. Despite these results, our regression model was only able to account for about 20% of the variance (r2 = 0.187). These findings are important in developing prevention and intervention programs to address the pervasive and critical social ills and reduce alcohol consumption among African American college students.
New Spiro[cycloalkane-pyridazinone] Derivatives with Favorable Fsp3 Character
Authors: Sepsey Für Csilla , Bölcskei Hedvig
Published: October 2020

The large originator pharmaceutical companies need more and more new compounds for their molecule banks, because high throughput screening (HTS) is still a widely used method to find new hits in the course of the lead discovery. In the design and synthesis of a new compound library, important points are in focus nowadays: Lipinski’s rule of five (RO5); the high Fsp3 character; the use of bioisosteric heterocycles instead of aromatic rings. With said aim in mind, we have synthesized a small compound library of new spiro[cycloalkane-pyridazinones] with 36 members. The compounds with this new scaffold may be useful in various drug discovery projects.
Pulmonary Exacerbation of Undiagnosed Toxocariasis in Intensively-Treated High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients
Authors: Janczar Szymon , Bulas Monika , Walenciak Justyna , Baranska Dobromila , Ussowicz Marek , Młynarski Wojciech , Zalewska-Szewczyk Beata
Published: October 2020

Toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonoses, with high seroprevalence in apparently healthy individuals. Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer. The cure rates are improving due to dose-dense chemotherapy, progress in surgical practice, myeloablative therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation, and recently, anti-GD2 immunotherapy. This is associated with a burden of complications, some of which are relatively specific for neuroblastoma treatment. Based on previous reports of Toxocara canis infection in high-risk neuroblastoma patients and cases of pulmonary exacerbation from our center in this disease, we propose that toxocariasis is a specific complication of intensive pediatric cancer treatment and advocate for active surveillance.
Evaluating the Emissions of the Heat Supplied by District Heating Networks through A Life Cycle Perspective
Authors: Neirotti Francesco , Noussan Michel , Simonetti Marco
Published: October 2020

The Life Cycle Assessment methodology has proven to be effective in evaluating the impacts of goods production throughout their life cycle. While many studies are available on specific products, in recent years a growing interest is related to the analysis of services, including energy supply for final customers. Different LCA evaluations are available for electricity, while the heating and cooling sector has not yet been properly investigated. The objective of this study is the analysis of the specific impacts of the heat supplied to the final users connected to a district heating system, in comparison with traditional individual natural gas boilers, which represent the baseline heating solution in several urban contexts in Europe. The results show that the comparison is heavily dependent on the allocation method used for combined heat and power plant production. District Heating impact on heat supplied to the users can vary from 0.10 to 0.47 kgCO2eq/kWh, while distributed natural gas boilers present an overall impact equal to 0.27 kgCO2eq/kWh.
Preparation and Evaluation of Rebamipide Colloidal Nanoparticles Obtained by Cogrinding in Ternary Ground Mixtures
Authors: Kawano Yayoi , Utsunomiya Yuiko , Yokoyama Fumiya , Ishii Naoko , Hanawa Takehisa
Published: October 2020

Aphthous stomatitis is one of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer treatment. Rebamipide (RB) mouthwash for stomatitis acts as a radical scavenger. However, RB is poorly soluble in water, which leads to aggregation and precipitation of the dispersoid. The particle size of the drug needs to be less than 100 nm for the particles to reach the mucus layer in the oral cavity. In this study, we attempted to prepare nanoparticles of RB by cogrinding with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using a mixer ball mill, and evaluated the physicochemical properties of RB nanoparticles, the stability of dispersion in water, and permeation of the mucus layer in vitro. By cogrinding, the particle size decreased to around 110 nm, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of the particles showed totally broad halo patterns, which suggested a decreased crystalline region. Furthermore, the solubility of RB nanoparticles increased by approximately fourfold compared with RB crystals, and the water dispersibility and permeation of the mucus layer were improved. The results suggest that in a ternary ground mixture of RB, PVP or HPC, and SDS, the RB nanoparticles obtained can be applied as a formulation for stomatitis.
Graphene to Advanced MoS2: A Review of Structure, Synthesis, and Optoelectronic Device Application
Authors: Nawz Tahreem , Safdar Amna , Hussain Muzammil , Sung Lee Dae , Siyar Muhammad
Published: October 2020

In contrast to zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and even their bulk equivalents, in two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, charge carriers are confined across thickness and are empowered to move across the planes. The features of 2D structures, such as quantum confinement, high absorption coefficient, high surface-to-volume ratio, and tunable bandgap, make them an encouraging contestant in various fields such as electronics, energy storage, catalysis, etc. In this review, we provide a gentle introduction to the 2D family, then a brief description of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), mainly focusing on MoS2, followed by the crystal structure and synthesis of MoS2, and finally wet chemistry methods. Later on, applications of MoS2 in dye-sensitized, organic, and perovskite solar cells are discussed. MoS2 has impressive optoelectronic properties; due to the fact of its tunable work function, it can be used as a transport layer, buffer layer, and as an absorber layer in heterojunction solar cells. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.40% as an absorber and 13.3% as carrier transfer layer have been reported for MoS2-based organic and perovskite solar cells, respectively. Moreover, MoS2 is a potential replacement for the platinum counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PCE of 7.50%. This review also highlights the incorporation of MoS2 in silicon-based heterostructures where graphene/MoS2/n-Si-based heterojunction solar cell devices exhibit a PCE of 11.1%.
Fatigue Crack Initiation of Metals Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing—A Crystal Plasticity Energy-Based Approach to IN718 Life Prediction
Authors: Ou Chun-Yu , Voothaluru Rohit , Liu C. Richard
Published: October 2020

There has been a long-standing need in the marketplace for the economic production of small lots of components that have complex geometry. A potential solution is additive manufacturing (AM). AM is a manufacturing process that adds material from the bottom up. It has the distinct advantages of low preparation costs and a high geometric creation capability. However, the wide range of industrial processing conditions results in large variations in the fatigue lives of metal components fabricated using AM. One of the main reasons for this variation of fatigue lives is differences in microstructure. Our methodology incorporated a crystal plasticity finite element model (CPFEM) that was able to simulate a stress–strain response based on a set of randomly generated representative volume elements. The main advantage of this approach was that the model determined the elastic constants (C11, C12, and C44), the critical resolved shear stress (g0), and the strain hardening modulus (h0) as a function of microstructure. These coefficients were determined based on the stress–strain relationships derived from the tensile test results. By incorporating the effect of microstructure on the elastic constants (C), the shear stress amplitude (Δτ2) can be computed more accurately. In addition, by considering the effect of microstructure on the critical resolved shear stress (g0) and the strain hardening modulus (h0), the localized dislocation slip and plastic slip per cycle (Δγp2) can be precisely calculated by CPFEM. This study represents a major advance in fatigue research by modeling the crack initiation life of materials fabricated by AM with different microstructures. It is also a tool for designing laser AM processes that can fabricate components that meet the fatigue requirements of specific applications.
Quantitative Measurement of Breast Density Using Personalized 3D-Printed Breast Model for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Sindi Rooa , Wong Yin How , Yeong Chai Hong , Sun Zhonghua
Published: October 2020

Despite the development and implementation of several MRI techniques for breast density assessments, there is no consensus on the optimal protocol in this regard. This study aimed to determine the most appropriate MRI protocols for the quantitative assessment of breast density using a personalized 3D-printed breast model. The breast model was developed using silicone and peanut oils to simulate the MRI related-characteristics of fibroglandular and adipose breast tissues, and then scanned on a 3T MRI system using non-fat-suppressed and fat-suppressed sequences. Breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percentage of breast density from these imaging sequences were objectively assessed using Analyze 14.0 software. Finally, the repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to examine the differences between the quantitative measurements of breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percentage of breast density with respect to the corresponding sequences. The volume of fibroglandular tissue and the percentage of breast density were significantly higher in the fat-suppressed sequences than in the non-fat-suppressed sequences (p < 0.05); however, the difference in breast volume was not statistically significant (p = 0.529). Further, a fat-suppressed T2-weighted with turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) imaging sequence was superior to the non-fat- and fat-suppressed T1- and T2-weighted sequences for the quantitative measurement of breast density due to its ability to represent the exact breast tissue compositions. This study shows that the fat-suppressed sequences tended to be more useful than the non-fat-suppressed sequences for the quantitative measurements of the volume of fibroglandular tissue and the percentage of breast density.