bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mud Loss Restricts Yki-Dependent Hyperplasia in Drosophila Epithelia
Authors: Parra Amalia S. , Johnston Christopher A.
Published: December 2020

Tissue development demands precise control of cell proliferation and organization, which is achieved through multiple conserved signaling pathways and protein complexes in multicellular animals. Epithelia are a ubiquitous tissue type that provide diverse functions including physical protection, barrier formation, chemical exchange, and secretory activity. However, epithelial cells are also a common driver of tumorigenesis; thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms that control their growth dynamics is important in understanding not only developmental mechanisms but also disease. One prominent pathway that regulates epithelial growth is the conserved Hippo/Warts/Yorkie network. Hippo/Warts inactivation, or activating mutations in Yorkie that prevent its phosphorylation (e.g., YkiS168A), drive hyperplastic tissue growth. We recently reported that loss of Mushroom body defect (Mud), a microtubule-associated protein that contributes to mitotic spindle function, restricts YkiS168A-mediated growth in Drosophila imaginal wing disc epithelia. Here we show that Mud loss alters cell cycle progression and triggers apoptosis with accompanying Jun kinase (JNK) activation in YkiS168A-expressing discs. To identify additional molecular insights, we performed RNAseq and differential gene expression profiling. This analysis revealed that Mud knockdown in YkiS168A-expressing discs resulted in a significant downregulation in expression of core basement membrane (BM) and extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, including the type IV collagen gene viking. Furthermore, we found that YkiS168A-expressing discs accumulated increased collagen protein, which was reduced following Mud knockdown. Our results suggest that ECM/BM remodeling can limit untoward growth initiated by an important driver of tumor growth and highlight a potential regulatory link with cytoskeleton-associated genes.
Research on Tool Wear Based on 3D FEM Simulation for Milling Process
Authors: Liu Zhibo , Yue Caixu , Li Xiaochen , Liu Xianli , Liang Steven Y. , Wang Lihui
Published: December 2020

In the process of metal cutting, the anti-wear performance of the tool determines the life of the tool and affects the surface quality of the workpiece. The finite element simulation method can directly show the tool wear state and morphology, but due to the limitations of the simulation time and complex boundary conditions, it has not been commonly used in tool life prediction. Based on this, a tool wear model was established on the platform of a finite element simulation software for the cutting process of titanium alloy TC4 by end milling. The key technique is to embed different types of tool wear models into the finite element model in combination with the consequent development technology. The effectiveness of the tool wear model was validated by comparing the experimental results with the simulation results. At the same time, in order to quickly predict the tool life, an empirical prediction formula of tool wear was established, and the change course of tool wear under time change was obtained.
Augmented Reality Lights for Compromised Visibility Navigation
Authors: Bandara Doupadi , Woodward Michael , Chin Christopher , Jiang Danchi
Published: December 2020

This paper considers the feasibility of using augmented reality (AR) as a tool for enhancing visualization in maritime operations to avoid collision in different environmental conditions. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO 2010), 90% of maritime accidents due to collisions at sea are caused in part by human error. This study investigates the new technology (AR) used to superimpose holographic images onto the real world; now reaching a state of readiness for commercial application. This paper demonstrates the competence of AR technology to serve as a maritime navigational aid. The research explores the viability of improving navigational safety in low visibility by projecting holograms of real-world objects in the same geo-location as the real object to make them “visible”. The paper presents the logical deconstruction of the technical problems and identified solutions, together with results of experiments used to validate the concept and technology readiness for real word maritime application. The paper presents a verified demonstrator; a proposed holographic bridge interface with an innovative way of presenting information using AR technology. Furthermore, it identifies that new technologies offer the opportunity for enhanced operator performances, with the expectation being that this should lead to reduce risk to persons, property, and the environment.
Influence of Computed Wave Spectra on Statistical Wave Properties
Authors: Kokina Tatjana , Dias Frederic
Published: December 2020

The main goal of the paper is to compare the effects of the wave spectrum, computed using the Discrete Interaction Approximation (DIA) and the Webb–Resio–Tracy (WRT) methods, on statistical wave properties such as skewness and kurtosis in the context of large ocean waves. The statistical properties are obtained by integrating the three-dimensional free-surface Euler equations with a high-order spectral method combined with a phenomenological filter to account for the energy dissipation due to breaking waves. In addition, we investigate the minimum spatial domain size required to obtain meaningful statistical wave properties. The example we chose to illustrate the influence of the wave spectrum on statistical wave properties is that of a hindcast of the sea state that occurred when the extreme Draupner wave was recorded. The numerical simulations are performed over a physical domain of size 4.13 km × 4.13 km. The results indicate that statistical properties must be computed over an area of at least 4 km2. The results also suggest that selecting a more computationally expensive WRT method does not affect the statistical values to a great extent. The most noticeable effect is due to the energy dissipation filter that is applied. It is concluded that selecting the WRT or the DIA algorithm for computing the wave spectrum needed for the numerical simulations does not lead to major differences in the statistical wave properties. However, more accurate energy dissipation mechanisms due to wave breaking are needed.
Siderophore Scaffold as Carrier for Antifungal Peptides in Therapy of Aspergillus fumigatus Infections
Authors: Pfister Joachim , Bata Roland , Hubmann Isabella , Hörmann Anton Amadeus , Gsaller Fabio , Haas Hubertus , Decristoforo Clemens
Published: December 2020

Antifungal resistance of human fungal pathogens represents an increasing challenge in modern medicine. Short antimicrobial peptides (AMP) display a promising class of antifungals with a different mode of action, but lack target specificity and metabolic stability. In this study the hexapeptide PAF26 (Ac-dArg-dLys-dLys-dTrp-dPhe-dTrp-NH2) and the three amino acid long peptide NLF (H2N-Asn-Leu-dPhe-COOH) were coupled to diacetylfusarinine C (DAFC), a derivative of the siderophore triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) of Aspergillus fumigatus, to achieve targeted delivery for treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Conjugated compounds in various modifications were labelled with radioactive gallium-68 to perform in vitro and in vivo characterizations. LogD, serum stability, uptake- growth promotion- and minimal inhibitory concentration assays were performed, as well as in vivo stability tests and biodistribution in BALB/c mice. Uptake and growth assays revealed specific internalization of the siderophore conjugates by A. fumigatus. They showed a high stability in human serum and also in the blood of BALB/c mice but metabolites in urine, probably due to degradation in the kidneys. Only PAF26 showed growth inhibition at 8 µg/ml which was lost after conjugation to DAFC. Despite their lacking antifungal activity conjugates based on a siderophore scaffold have a potential to provide the basis for a new class of antifungals, which allow the combination of imaging by using PET/CT with targeted treatment, thereby opening a theranostic approach for personalized therapy.
Comparison between Additive and Subtractive CAD-CAM Technique to Produce Orthognathic Surgical Splints: A Personalized Approach
Authors: Palazzo Giuseppe , Ronsivalle Vincenzo , Oteri Giacomo , Lo Giudice Antonino , Toro Corrado , Campagna Paola , Patini Romeo , Bocchieri Salvatore , Bianchi Alberto , Isola Gaetano
Published: December 2020

The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of digitally designed surgical splints generated with milling technology (material subtractive procedure) and with 3D printing technology (material additive procedure) through a customized approach in the planning of surgical orthognathic splints. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations and scanned dental models of 10 subjects who had required surgical treatment of skeletal malocclusion were included. Simulation of the orthognathic surgery was performed according to dento-skeletal and aesthetic characteristics of the subjects and the visual treatment objective (VTO), using Dolphin3D software (Dolphin Imaging, version 11.0, Chatsworth, CA, USA). Afterward, the Appliance Designer software (3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used to digitally design the surgical splints that were generated twice using laser stereolithography technology (DWS 0.29D, DWS, Vicenza, Italy) and milling technology (Sirona inLab MC X5). Finally, each physical splint was digitalized using a desktop scanner (D500 3D, 3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) in order to perform deviation analysis using the original project as a reference. The relative percentage of matching (trueness) was calculated (Geomagic Control X software (3D Systems, version 2018.1.1, 3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC, USA). An Independent Student’s t-test was used to statistically analyze the data. The milled splints showed a lower value of root to mean square (RMS) relative to the original project (0.20 mm ± 0.018) compared to the prototyped splints (0.31 ± 0.021) (p < 0.001). According to the present findings, surgical splints generated with milling technology present higher trueness compared with 3D printing technology.
End-to-End Performance Evaluation of MEC Deployments in 5G Scenarios
Authors: Virdis Antonio , Nardini Giovanni , Stea Giovanni , Sabella Dario
Published: December 2020

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) promises to deliver localized computing power and storage. Coupled with low-latency 5G radio access, this enables the creation of high added-value services for mobile users, such as in-vehicle infotainment or remote driving. The performance of these services as well as their scalability will however depend on how MEC will be deployed in 5G systems. This paper evaluates different MEC deployment options, coherent with the respective 5G migration phases, using an accurate and comprehensive end-to-end (E2E) system simulation model (exploiting Simu5G for radio access and Intel CoFluent for core network and MEC), taking into account user-related metrics, such as response time or MEC latency. Our results show that 4G radio access is going to be a bottleneck, preventing MEC services from scaling up. On the other hand, the introduction of 5G will allow a considerable higher penetration of MEC services.
De Novo Nucleic Acids: A Review of Synthetic Alternatives to DNA and RNA That Could Act as Bio-Information Storage Molecules
Authors: Devine Kevin G , Jheeta Sohan
Published: December 2020

Modern terran life uses several essential biopolymers like nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides. The nucleic acids, DNA and RNA are arguably life’s most important, acting as the stores and translators of genetic information contained in their base sequences, which ultimately manifest themselves in the amino acid sequences of proteins. But just what is it about their structures; an aromatic heterocyclic base appended to a (five-atom ring) sugar-phosphate backbone that enables them to carry out these functions with such high fidelity? In the past three decades, leading chemists have created in their laboratories synthetic analogues of nucleic acids which differ from their natural counterparts in three key areas as follows: (a) replacement of the phosphate moiety with an uncharged analogue, (b) replacement of the pentose sugars ribose and deoxyribose with alternative acyclic, pentose and hexose derivatives and, finally, (c) replacement of the two heterocyclic base pairs adenine/thymine and guanine/cytosine with non-standard analogues that obey the Watson–Crick pairing rules. This manuscript will examine in detail the physical and chemical properties of these synthetic nucleic acid analogues, in particular on their abilities to serve as conveyors of genetic information. If life exists elsewhere in the universe, will it also use DNA and RNA?
Exact Solutions of Bernoulli and Logistic Fractional Differential Equations with Power Law Coefficients
Authors: Tarasov Vasily E.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we consider a nonlinear fractional differential equation. This equation takes the form of the Bernoulli differential equation, where we use the Caputo fractional derivative of non-integer order instead of the first-order derivative. The paper proposes an exact solution for this equation, in which coefficients are power law functions. We also give conditions for the existence of the exact solution for this non-linear fractional differential equation. The exact solution of the fractional logistic differential equation with power law coefficients is also proposed as a special case of the proposed solution for the Bernoulli fractional differential equation. Some applications of the Bernoulli fractional differential equation to describe dynamic processes with power law memory in physics and economics are suggested.
Bioactivity Potential of Marine Natural Products from Scleractinia-Associated Microbes and In Silico Anti-SARS-COV-2 Evaluation
Authors: Zahran Eman Maher , Albohy Amgad , Khalil Amira , Ibrahim Alyaa Hatem , Ahmed Heba Ali , El-Hossary Ebaa M. , Bringmann Gerhard , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: December 2020

Marine organisms and their associated microbes are rich in diverse chemical leads. With the development of marine biotechnology, a considerable number of research activities are focused on marine bacteria and fungi-derived bioactive compounds. Marine bacteria and fungi are ranked on the top of the hierarchy of all organisms, as they are responsible for producing a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites with possible pharmaceutical applications. Thus, they have the potential to provide future drugs against challenging diseases, such as cancer, a range of viral diseases, malaria, and inflammation. This review aims at describing the literature on secondary metabolites that have been obtained from Scleractinian-associated organisms including bacteria, fungi, and zooxanthellae, with full coverage of the period from 1982 to 2020, as well as illustrating their biological activities and structure activity relationship (SAR). Moreover, all these compounds were filtered based on ADME analysis to determine their physicochemical properties, and 15 compounds were selected. The selected compounds were virtually investigated for potential inhibition for SARS-CoV-2 targets using molecular docking studies. Promising potential results against SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and methyltransferase (nsp16) are presented.
Influence of Lab Adapted Natural Diet and Microbiota on Life History and Metabolic Phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bombin Andrei , Cunneely Owen , Eickman Kira , Bombin Sergei , Ruesy Abigail , Su Mengting , Myers Abigail , Cowan Rachael , Reed Laura
Published: December 2020

Symbiotic microbiota can help its host to overcome nutritional challenges, which is consistent with a holobiont theory of evolution. Our project investigated the effects produced by the microbiota community, acquired from the environment and horizontal transfer, on metabolic traits related to obesity. The study applied a novel approach of raising Drosophila melanogaster, from ten wild-derived genetic lines on naturally fermented peaches, preserving genuine microbial conditions. Larvae raised on the natural and standard lab diets were significantly different in every tested phenotype. Frozen peach food provided nutritional conditions similar to the natural ones and preserved key microbial taxa necessary for survival and development. On the peach diet, the presence of parental microbiota increased the weight and development rate. Larvae raised on each tested diet formed microbial communities distinct from each other. The effect that individual microbial taxa produced on the host varied significantly with changing environmental and genetic conditions, occasionally to the degree of opposite correlations.
Transcriptional Profiling of Immune and Inflammatory Responses in the Context of SARS-CoV-2 Fungal Superinfection in a Human Airway Epithelial Model
Authors: Nicolas de Lamballerie Claire , Pizzorno Andrés , Fouret Julien , Szpiro Lea , Padey Blandine , Dubois Julia , Julien Thomas , Traversier Aurélien , Dulière Victoria , Brun Pauline , Lina Bruno , Rosa-Calatrava Manuel , Terrier Olivier
Published: December 2020

An increasing amount of evidence indicates a relatively high prevalence of superinfections associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including invasive aspergillosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be characterized. In the present study, to better understand the biological impact of superinfection, we determine and compare the host transcriptional response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) versus Aspergillus superinfection, using a model of reconstituted human airway epithelium. Our analyses reveal that both simple infection and superinfection induce strong deregulation of core components of innate immune and inflammatory responses, with a stronger response to superinfection in the bronchial epithelial model compared to its nasal counterpart. Our results also highlight unique transcriptional footprints of SARS-CoV-2 Aspergillus superinfection, such as an imbalanced type I/type III IFN, and an induction of several monocyte and neutrophil associated chemokines, that could be useful for the understanding of Aspergillus-associated COVID-19 and also the management of severe forms of aspergillosis in this specific context.
Role of SrtA in Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus lugdunensis
Authors: Hussain Muzaffar , Kohler Christian , Becker Karsten
Published: December 2020

Among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), Staphylococcus lugdunensis has a special position as causative agent of aggressive courses of infectious endocarditis (IE) more reminiscent of IEs caused by Staphylococcus aureus than those by CoNS. To initiate colonization and invasion, bacterial cell surface proteins are required; however, only little is known about adhesion of S. lugdunensis to biotic surfaces. Cell surface proteins containing the LPXTG anchor motif are covalently attached to the cell wall by sortases. Here, we report the functionality of Staphylococcus lugdunensis sortase A (SrtA) to link LPXTG substrates to the cell wall. To determine the role of SrtA dependent surface proteins in biofilm formation and binding eukaryotic cells, we generated SrtA-deficient mutants (ΔsrtA). These mutants formed a smaller amount of biofilm and bound less to immobilized fibronectin, fibrinogen, and vitronectin. Furthermore, SrtA absence affected the gene expression of two different adhesins on transcription level. Surprisingly, we found no decreased adherence and invasion in human cell lines, probably caused by the upregulation of further adhesins in ΔsrtA mutant strains. In conclusion, the functionality of S. lugdunensis SrtA in anchoring LPXTG substrates to the cell wall let us define it as the pathogen’s housekeeping sortase.
Not That Close to Mommy: Horizontal Transmission Seeds the Microbiome Associated with the Marine Sponge Plakina cyanorosea
Authors: Oliveira Bruno F. R. , Lopes Isabelle R. , Canellas Anna L. B. , Muricy Guilherme , Dobson Alan D. W. , Laport Marinella S.
Published: December 2020

Marine sponges are excellent examples of invertebrate–microbe symbioses. In this holobiont, the partnership has elegantly evolved by either transmitting key microbial associates through the host germline and/or capturing microorganisms from the surrounding seawater. We report here on the prokaryotic microbiota during different developmental stages of Plakina cyanorosea and their surrounding environmental samples by a 16S rRNA metabarcoding approach. In comparison with their source adults, larvae housed slightly richer and more diverse microbial communities, which are structurally more related to the environmental microbiota. In addition to the thaumarchaeal Nitrosopumilus, parental sponges were broadly dominated by Alpha- and Gamma-proteobacteria, while the offspring were particularly enriched in the Vibrionales, Alteromonodales, Enterobacterales orders and the Clostridia and Bacteroidia classes. An enterobacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) was the dominant member of the strict core microbiota. The most abundant and unique OTUs were not significantly enriched amongst the microbiomes from host specimens included in the sponge microbiome project. In a wider context, Oscarella and Plakina are the sponge genera with higher divergence in their associated microbiota compared to their Homoscleromorpha counterparts. Our results indicate that P. cyanorosea is a low microbial abundance sponge (LMA), which appears to heavily depend on the horizontal transmission of its microbial partners that likely help the sponge host in the adaptation to its habitat.
Evaluation of a kDNA-Based qPCR Assay for the Detection and Quantification of Old World Leishmania Species
Authors: Ceccarelli Marcello , Buffi Gloria , Diotallevi Aurora , Andreoni Francesca , Bencardino Daniela , Vitale Fabrizio , Castelli Germano , Bruno Federica , Magnani Mauro , Galluzzi Luca
Published: December 2020

The parasite protozoan Leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis, includes two subgenera of medical interest: Leishmania (Leishmania) and Leishmania (Viannia). Parasite species detection and characterization is crucial to choose treatment protocols and to monitor the disease evolution. Molecular approaches can speed up and simplify the diagnostic process. In particular, several molecular assays target the mitochondrial DNA minicircle network (kDNA) that characterizes the Leishmania genus. We previously proposed a qPCR assay targeting kDNA, followed by high resolution melt (HRM) analysis (qPCR-ML) to distinguish L. (L.) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis from L. Viannia species. Successively, this assay has been integrated with other qPCR assays, to differentiate L. (L.) infantum, L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) mexicana. In this work, we tested the applicability of our qPCR-ML assay on L. (L.) donovani, L. (L.) major, L. (L.) tropica and L. (L.) aethiopica, showing that the qPCR-ML assay can also amplify Old World species, different from L. (L.) infantum, with good quantification limits (1 × 10−4–1 × 10−6 ng/pcr tube). Moreover, we evaluated 11 L. (L.) infantum strains/isolates, evidencing the variability of the kDNA minicircle target molecules among the strains/isolates of the same species, and pointing out the possibility of quantification using different strains as reference. Taken together, these data account for the consideration of qPCR-ML as a quantitative pan-Leishmania assay.
Higher Mortality and Intensive Care Unit Admissions in COVID-19 Patients with Liver Enzyme Elevations
Authors: Taramasso Lucia , Vena Antonio , Bovis Francesca , Portunato Federica , Mora Sara , Dentone Chiara , Delfino Emanuele , Mikulska Malgorzata , Giacobbe Daniele Roberto , De Maria Andrea , Magnasco Laura , Giacomini Mauro , Di Biagio Antonio , Bassetti Matteo
Published: December 2020

The aim of the present study is to evaluate if an independent association exists between liver enzyme elevations (LEE) and the risk of mortality or intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in patients with COVID-19. This was a single-center observational study, recruiting all consecutive adults with COVID-19. The elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to the highest level between COVID-19 diagnosis and hospital discharge was categorized according to a standardized toxicity grade scale. In total, 799 patients were included in this study, 39% of which were female, with a mean age of 69.9 (±16.0) years. Of these patients, 225 (28.1%) developed LEE of grade ≥2 after a median of three days (interquartile range (IQR): 0–8 days) from the diagnosis of COVID-19, and they were estimated to have a higher hazard of death or ICU admission (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–1.88). The clinical and laboratory variables associated with the development of LEE were male sex, higher respiratory rate, higher gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and lower albumin levels at baseline. Among the analyzed treatments, steroids, tocilizumab and darunavir/ritonavir correlated with LEE. In conclusion, LEE were associated with mortality and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients. While the origin of LEE is probably multifactorial, LEE evaluation could add information to the clinical and laboratory variables that are commonly evaluated during the course of COVID-19.
Longitudinal Study of Viral and Bacterial Contamination of Hospital Pediatricians’ Mobile Phones
Authors: Cantais Aymeric , Grattard Florence , Gagnaire Julie , Mory Olivier , Plat Aurélie , Lleres-Vadeboin Manon , Berthelot Philippe , Bourlet Thomas , Botelho-Nevers Elisabeth , Pozzetto Bruno , Pillet Sylvie
Published: December 2020

Mobile phones (MPs) of healthcare workers (HCWs) may represent an important source of transmission of infectious agents. This longitudinal study documents the contamination of these tools. Ten MPs handled by senior pediatricians were sampled once a week during 23 weeks in three pediatric wards of the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, France. Cultures were performed for bacteria and multiplex PCR assays for a panel of respiratory and enteric viruses. A questionnaire on hygiene habits regarding phoning and care was filled-in by pediatricians before and after the study. From a total of 230 samples, 145 (63%) were contaminated by at least one pathogen. The MPs from emergency departments were the most impacted. Viruses were detected in 179 samples; bacteria were isolated in 59 samples. Contamination increased during the winter epidemic peak. A cross-contamination by Paracoccus yeei between hands and MPs of different HCWs was demonstrated. The communication of the study results influenced the hygiene behaviors. This study highlights the contamination of MPs by pathogens that are resistant in the environment, and its sustainability along the winter season. The role of MPs as vectors of nosocomial infection needs to be better investigated.
Characterization of Actinomycetes Strains Isolated from the Intestinal Tract and Feces of the Larvae of the Longhorn Beetle Cerambyx welensii
Authors: Santamaría Ramón I. , Martínez-Carrasco Ana , Sánchez de la Nieta Ricardo , Torres-Vila Luis M. , Bonal Raúl , Martín Jesús , Tormo Rubén , Reyes Fernando , Genilloud Olga , Díaz Margarita
Published: December 2020

Actinomycetes constitute a large group of Gram-positive bacteria present in different habitats. One of these habitats involves the association of these bacteria with insects. In this work, we have studied twenty-four actinomycetes strains isolated from the intestinal tract and feces from larvae of the xylophagous coleopteran Cerambyx welensii and have shown that seventeen strains present hydrolytic activity of some of the following substrates: cellulose, hemicellulose, starch and proteins. Fourteen of the isolates produce antimicrobial molecules against the Gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus luteus. Analysis of seven strains led us to identify the production of a wide number of compounds including streptanoate, alpiniamide A, alteramides A and B, coproporphyrin III, deferoxamine, demethylenenocardamine, dihydropicromycin, nocardamine, picromycin, surugamides A, B, C, D and E, tirandamycins A and B, and valinomycin. A significant number of other compounds, whose molecular formulae are not included in the Dictionary of Natural Products (DNP), were also present in the extracts analyzed, which opens up the possibility of identifying new active antibiotics. Molecular identification of ten of the isolated bacteria determined that six of them belong to the genus Streptomyces, two of them are included in the genus Amycolatopsis and two in the genus Nocardiopsis.
Co-Solvent Selection for Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) of Phenolic Compounds from Labisia pumila
Authors: Radzali Shazana Azfar , Markom Masturah , Saleh Noorashikin Md
Published: December 2020

A preliminary study was conducted to study the effects of different types and concentrations of co-solvents based on yield, composition and antioxidants capacity of extract prior to optimization studies of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Labisia pumila (locally referred to as ‘kacip fatimah’). The following co-solvents were studied prior to the optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO2) technique: ethanol, water, methanol, as well as aqueous solutions of ethanol–water and methanol–water (50% and 70% v/v). By using the selected co-solvents, identification of phenolic acids (gallic acid, methyl gallate and caffeic acid) was determined by using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Then, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using three different assays: total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and free radical-scavenging capacity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). SC–CO2 with 70% ethanol–water co-solvent was superior in terms of a higher combination of phenolic compounds extracted and antioxidants capacity. Overall, SC–CO2 with co-solvent 70% ethanol–water technique was efficient in extracting phenolic compounds from L. pumila, and thus the usage of this solvent system should be considered for further optimization studies.
Statistical Decomposition of the Recent Increase in the Intensity of Tropical Storms
Authors: Jewson Stephen , Lewis Nicholas
Published: December 2020

In a recent paper, Kossin et al. showed that during the period from 1979 to 2017, there was a statistically significant increase in the ratio of category 3–5 to category 1–5 tropical storm fixes in the ADT-HURSAT satellite dataset of tropical cyclone observations. The sign of this increase is consistent with previously developed theory and modelling results for how tropical cyclones may change due to climate change. However, without further analysis, it is difficult to understand what the implications of this increase might be for present day tropical cyclone risk. It is also difficult to understand how tropical cyclone risk models might be adjusted to reflect this increase, since this ratio is not typically directly represented in such models. Our goal is therefore to understand the drivers for this increase in terms of changes in the numbers of fixes of different categories of storms in different basins, which are quantities that are more directly related to tropical cyclone risk and risk modelling. We use both heuristic and quantitative methods. We find that the increase in the ratio is mainly driven by a decrease in the denominator (the number of category 1–5 fixes) and to a small extent by a slight increase in the numerator (the number of category 3–5 fixes). The decrease in the denominator is mostly driven by a statistically significant reduction in the number of category 1 fixes outside the North Atlantic. The slight increase in the numerator is mostly driven by a statistically significant increase in the number of category 3–4 fixes in the North Atlantic. Based on these results, we discuss different ways in which the increase in the ratio could be represented in risk models.
Collateral Impact of Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis on Parasitological Indicators of Loa loa Infection
Authors: Nana-Djeunga Hugues , Lenou-Nanga Cédric , Donfo-Azafack Cyrille , Djune-Yemeli Linda , Fossuo-Thotchum Floribert , Domche André , Litchou-Tchuinang Arsel , Bopda Jean , Mbickmen-Tchana Stève , Nkoa Thérèse , Penlap Véronique , Ntoumi Francine , Kamgno Joseph
Published: December 2020

Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad spectrum endectocide whose initial indication was onchocerciasis. Although loiasis is not among its indications, IVM also exhibits antiparasitic activity against Loa loa. IVM-based preventive chemotherapies (PCs), so-called community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), have led to the interruption of transmission of onchocerciasis in some foci. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Yabassi Health District where CDTI have been implemented since 20 years to fight onchocerciasis. All volunteers aged ≥ 5 years underwent daytime calibrated thick blood smears to search for L. loa microfilariae (mf). The prevalence of loiasis was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.2–6.2), significantly lower than its baseline prevalence (12.4%; 95% CI: 10.1–15.2; Chi-Square = 21.4; df = 1; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the microfilarial density was significantly low (mean = 1.8 mf/mL; SD = 13.6; max = 73,600) compared to baseline microfilarial density (mean = 839.3 mf/mL; SD = 6447.1; max = 130,840; Wilcoxon W = 179,904.5; p < 0.0001). This study revealed that the endemicity level of loiasis was significantly low compared to its baseline value, indicating a significant impact of IVM-based PC on this filarial disease. However, transmission is still ongoing, and heavily infected individuals are still found in communities, supporting why some individuals are still experiencing severe adverse events despite > 2 decades of CDTI in this Health District.
Imaging Feature Analysis-Based Intelligent Laser Cleaning Using Metal Color Difference and Dynamic Weight Dispatch Corrosion Texture
Authors: Li Jiacheng , Liu Haoting , Shi Limin , Lan Jinhui
Published: December 2020

To improve the laser cleaning efficiency of Q235 carbon steel, an imaging analysis-based intelligent technique is proposed. Both offline and online computations are designed. Regarding the offline procedure, first, the corrosion images are accumulated to compute the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and the concave-convex region features. Second, different laser cleanings are performed to obtain various cleaned images. Third, a new cleaning performance evaluation method is developed: a metal color difference feature and a dynamic weight dispatch (DWD) corrosion texture are computed. Finally, a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-support vector machine (SVM) is utilized to forecast the laser process parameters. The corresponding laser parameters include power, linear velocity, and line spacing. For the online computation, after the GLCM and the concave-convex region features are computed, an iterative computation is used to tune the process parameters: the random laser parameters are generated constantly, and the iteration is performed and terminated only if the PSO-SVM output is positive. The experimental results have shown that the cleaning efficiency of this method can be improved, and the qualified rate is 92.5%.
Analysis of the Interaction between Pisum sativum L. and Rhizobium laguerreae Strains Nodulating This Legume in Northwest Spain
Authors: Flores-Félix José David , Carro Lorena , Cerda-Castillo Eugenia , Squartini Andrea , Rivas Raúl , Velázquez Encarna
Published: December 2020

Pisum sativum L. (pea) is one of the most cultivated grain legumes in European countries due to the high protein content of its seeds. Nevertheless, the rhizobial microsymbionts of this legume have been scarcely studied in these countries. In this work, we analyzed the rhizobial strains nodulating the pea in a region from Northwestern Spain, where this legume is widely cultivated. The isolated strains were genetically diverse, and the phylogenetic analysis of core and symbiotic genes showed that these strains belong to different clusters related to R. laguerreae sv. viciae. Representative strains of these clusters were able to produce cellulose and cellulases, which are two key molecules in the legume infection process. They formed biofilms and produced acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which are involved in the quorum sensing regulation process. They also exhibited several plant growth promotion mechanisms, including phosphate solubilization, siderophore, and indole acetic acid production and symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation. All strains showed high symbiotic efficiency on pea plants, indicating that strains of R. laguerreae sv. viciae are promising candidates for the biofertilization of this legume worldwide.
Two Self-Incompatibility Sites Occur Simultaneously in the Same Acianthera Species (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae)
Authors: Duarte Mariana Oliveira , Oliveira Denise Maria Trombert , Borba Eduardo Leite
Published: December 2020

In most species of Pleurothallidinae, the self-incompatibility site occurs in the stylar canal inside the column, which is typical of gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI). However, in some species of Acianthera, incompatible pollen tubes with anomalous morphology reach the ovary, as those are obstructed in the column. We investigated if a distinct self-incompatibility (SI) system is acting on the ovary of A. johannensis, which is a species with partial self-incompatibility, contrasting with a full SI species, A. fabiobarrosii. We analyzed the morphology and development of pollen tubes in the column, ovary, and fruit using light, epifluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. Our results show that the main reaction site in A. johannensis is in the stylar canal inside the column, which was also recorded in A. fabiobarrosii. Morphological and cytological characteristics of the pollen tubes with obstructed growth in the column indicated a process of programmed cell death in these tubes, showing a possible GSI reaction. In addition, partially self-incompatible individuals of A. johannensis exhibit a second SI site in the ovary. We suggest that this self-incompatibility site in the ovary is only an extension of GSI that acts in the column, differing from the typical late-acting self-incompatibility system recorded in other plant groups.
The Impact of the Method Extraction and Different Carrot Variety on the Carotenoid Profile, Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Properties of Juices
Authors: Purkiewicz Aleksandra , Ciborska Joanna , Tańska Małgorzata , Narwojsz Agnieszka , Starowicz Małgorzata , Przybyłowicz Katarzyna E. , Sawicki Tomasz
Published: December 2020

The study assesses the antioxidant activity (AA), carotenoid profile and total phenolic content (TPC) of carrot juices obtained from three different varieties (black, orange and yellow) and prepared using high- (HSJ) and low-speed juicer (LSJ). The AA assessment was carried out using four assays (DPPH, ABTS, PCL ACW and PCL ACL). The content of carotenoids was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method, while the total phenolic content by the spectrophotometric method. It was shown that orange carrot juices contain more carotenoids than yellow and black carrot juices, approximately ten and three times more, respectively. The total carotenoid content in orange carrot juice made by the HSJ was higher (by over 11%) compared to juice prepared by the LSJ. The highest total phenolic content was noticed in black carrot juices, while the lowest in orange carrot juices. In black carrot juices, a higher range of TPC was found in juices made by HSJ, while in the case of the orange and yellow carrots, the highest content of TPC was detected in juices prepared by the LSJ. AA of the juices was highly dependent on the carrot variety, juice extraction method. The most assays confirmed the highest AA values in black carrot juices. Furthermore, it was shown that the HSJ method is more preferred to obtain orange and yellow carrot juices with higher antioxidant properties, while the LSJ method is more suitable for black carrot juice extraction.
Induction of Radiata Pine Somatic Embryogenesis at High Temperatures Provokes a Long-Term Decrease in DNA Methylation/Hydroxymethylation and Differential Expression of Stress-Related Genes
Authors: Castander-Olarieta Ander , Pereira Cátia , Sales Ester , Meijón Mónica , Arrillaga Isabel , Cañal María Jesús , Goicoa Tomás , Ugarte María Dolores , Moncaleán Paloma , Montalbán Itziar A.
Published: December 2020

Based on the hypothesis that embryo development is a crucial stage for the formation of stable epigenetic marks that could modulate the behaviour of the resulting plants, in this study, radiata pine somatic embryogenesis was induced at high temperatures (23 °C, eight weeks, control; 40 °C, 4 h; 60 °C, 5 min) and the global methylation and hydroxymethylation levels of emerging embryonal masses and somatic plants were analysed using LC-ESI-MS/ MS-MRM. In this context, the expression pattern of six genes previously described as stress-mediators was studied throughout the embryogenic process until plant level to assess whether the observed epigenetic changes could have provoked a sustained alteration of the transcriptome. Results indicated that the highest temperatures led to hypomethylation of both embryonal masses and somatic plants. Moreover, we detected for the first time in a pine species the presence of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, and revealed its tissue specificity and potential involvement in heat-stress responses. Additionally, a heat shock protein-coding gene showed a down-regulation tendency along the process, with a special emphasis given to embryonal masses at first subculture and ex vitro somatic plants. Likewise, the transcripts of several proteins related with translation, oxidative stress response, and drought resilience were differentially expressed.
Therapeutic Potential of Lindera obtusiloba: Focus on Antioxidative and Pharmacological Properties
Authors: Haque Md Ezazul , Azam Shofiul , Balakrishnan Rengasamy , Akther Mahbuba , Kim In-Su
Published: December 2020

Lindera obtusiloba (LO) BLUME from the genus Lindera (Lauraceae) is a medicinal herb traditionally used in Southeast Asian countries. Indigenously, extracts of different parts of the plant have been used to improve blood circulation and treat allergy, inflammation, rheumatism, and liver diseases. LO is a rich source of therapeutically beneficial antioxidative phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, butenolides, lignans and neolignans. Moreover, recent studies have unravelled the pharmacological properties of several newly found active constituents of LO, such as anti-inflammatory antioxidants (+)-syringaresinol, linderin A, anti-atherosclerotic antioxidant (+)-episesamin, anti-melanogenic antioxidants quercitrin and afzelin, cytotoxic 2-(1-methoxy-11-dodecenyl)-penta-2,4-dien-4-olide, (2Z,3S,4S)-2-(11-dodecenylidene)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl butanolide, anti-allergic koaburaside, (6-hydroxyphenyl)-1-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside and 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-1-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside and the antiplatelet-activity compound Secolincomolide A. These findings demonstrate that LO can be a potential source of antioxidants and other prospective therapeutically active constituents that can lead to the development of oxidative stress-mediated diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, allergies, inflammation, hepatotoxicity, and cancer. Here, the antioxidant properties of different species of Lindera genus are discussed briefly. The traditional use, phytochemistry, antioxidative and pharmacological properties of LO are also considered to help researchers screen potential lead compounds and design and develop future therapeutic agents to treat oxidative stress-mediated disorders.
Rational Shari’ah: Ahmad Qabel’s Reformist Approach
Authors: Jahanbakhsh Forough
Published: December 2020

This article introduces the late Ahmad Qabel (1958–2012), a new figure among contemporary Iranian religious reformers. Qabel, a progressive mujtahid, proposed the creative theory of Shari’at-e ’Aqlani in order to reform stagnant Shari’ah rules and align the application of legal norms and precepts with the space-time considerations of modern life. Critical of the superficiality of traditional jurists, who led into abeyance the progressive rational praxis within classical Shi’i theology and jurisprudence, Qabel revived and employed these rational principles in his novel method of ijtihad. This paper has four sections: first, there will be a short biographical sketch of Ahmad Qabel. The second section surveys the trajectory of the development of Shi’i fiqh in order to set the backdrop for Qabel’s arguments. Then, I will discuss some of the major rational principles which constitute the heart of Qabel’s methodology. In the last section, the practical results of Qabel’s Shari’at-e ’Aqlani are presented through some of his unconventional fatwas, which, though solidly based within the Shari’ah, took on controversial topics such as women’s rights, religious minorities, jihad, and Islamic government.
Information Fusion Based on Complementary Filter for SINS/CNS/GPS Integrated Navigation System of Aerospace Plane
Authors: Zhao Yanming , Yan Gongmin , Qin Yongyuan , Fu Qiangwen
Published: December 2020

In order to solve the problems of heavy computational load and poor real time of the information fusion method based on the federated Kalman filter (FKF), a novel information fusion method based on the complementary filter is proposed for strapdown inertial navigation (SINS)/celestial navigation system (CNS)/global positioning system (GPS) integrated navigation system of an aerospace plane. The complementary filters are designed to achieve the estimations of attitude, velocity, and position in the SINS/CNS/GPS integrated navigation system, respectively. The simulation results show that the proposed information fusion method can effectively realize SINS/CNS/GPS information fusion. Compared with FKF, the method based on complementary filter (CF) has the advantages of simplicity, small calculation, good real-time performance, good stability, no need for initial alignment, fast convergence, etc. Furthermore, the computational efficiency of CF is increased by 94.81%. Finally, the superiority of the proposed CF-based method is verified by both the semi-physical simulation and real-time system experiment.
Automatic Detection of Individual Trees from VHR Satellite Images Using Scale-Space Methods
Authors: Mahour Milad , Tolpekin Valentyn , Stein Alfred
Published: December 2020

This research investigates the use of scale-space theory to detect individual trees in orchards from very-high resolution (VHR) satellite images. Trees are characterized by blobs, for example, bell-shaped surfaces. Their modeling requires the identification of local maxima in Gaussian scale space, whereas location of the maxima in the scale direction provides information about the tree size. A two-step procedure relates the detected blobs to tree objects in the field. First, a Gaussian blob model identifies tree crowns in Gaussian scale space. Second, an improved tree crown model modifies this model in the scale direction. The procedures are tested on the following three representative cases: an area with vitellaria trees in Mali, an orchard with walnut trees in Iran, and one case with oil palm trees in Indonesia. The results show that the refined Gaussian blob model improves upon the traditional Gaussian blob model by effectively discriminating between false and correct detections and accurately identifying size and position of trees. A comparison with existing methods shows an improvement of 10–20% in true positive detections. We conclude that the presented two-step modeling procedure of tree crowns using Gaussian scale space is useful to automatically detect individual trees from VHR satellite images for at least three representative cases.