bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and In Vivo Characterisation of Cardioactive Peptides in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Schiemann Ronja , Lammers Kay , Janz Maren , Lohmann Jana , Paululat Achim , Meyer Heiko
Published: December 2018

Neuropeptides and peptide hormones serve as critical regulators of numerous biological processes, including development, growth, reproduction, physiology, and behaviour. In mammals, peptidergic regulatory systems are complex and often involve multiple peptides that act at different levels and relay to different receptors. To improve the mechanistic understanding of such complex systems, invertebrate models in which evolutionarily conserved peptides and receptors regulate similar biological processes but in a less complex manner have emerged as highly valuable. Drosophila melanogaster represents a favoured model for the characterisation of novel peptidergic signalling events and for evaluating the relevance of those events in vivo. In the present study, we analysed a set of neuropeptides and peptide hormones for their ability to modulate cardiac function in semi-intact larval Drosophila melanogaster. We identified numerous peptides that significantly affected heart parameters such as heart rate, systolic and diastolic interval, rhythmicity, and contractility. Thus, peptidergic regulation of the Drosophila heart is not restricted to chronotropic adaptation but also includes inotropic modulation. By specifically interfering with the expression of corresponding peptides in transgenic animals, we assessed the in vivo relevance of the respective peptidergic regulation. Based on the functional conservation of certain peptides throughout the animal kingdom, the identified cardiomodulatory activities may be relevant not only to proper heart function in Drosophila, but also to corresponding processes in vertebrates, including humans.
Comparative Study of the Molecular Basis of Pathogenicity of M. bovis Strains in a Mouse Model
Authors: Cheng Guangyu , Hussain Tariq , Sabir Naveed , Ni Jiamin , Li Miaoxuan , Zhao Deming , Zhou Xiangmei
Published: December 2018

It is widely accepted that different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have variable degrees of pathogenicity and induce different immune responses in infected hosts. Similarly, different strains of Mycobacterium bovis have been identified but there is a lack of information regarding the degree of pathogenicity of these strains and their ability to provoke host immune responses. Therefore, in the current study, we used a mouse model to evaluate various factors involved in the severity of disease progression and the induction of immune responses by two strains of M. bovis isolated from cattle. Mice were infected with both strains of M. bovis at different colony-forming unit (CFU) via inhalation. Gross and histological findings revealed more severe lesions in the lung and spleen of mice infected with M. bovis N strain than those infected with M. bovis C68004 strain. In addition, high levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and IL-22 production were observed in the serum samples of mice infected with M. bovis N strain. Comparative genomic analysis showed the existence of 750 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 145 small insertions/deletions between the two strains. After matching with the Virulence Factors Database, mutations were found in 29 genes, which relate to 17 virulence factors. Moreover, we found an increased number of virulent factors in M. bovis N strain as compared to M. bovis C68004 strain. Taken together, our data reveal that variation in the level of pathogenicity is due to the mutation in the virulence factors of M. bovis N strain. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of mutation in the virulence factors will ultimately contribute to the development of new strategies for the control of M. bovis infection.
Olive Oil, Palm Oil, and Hybrid Palm Oil Distinctly Modulate Liver Transcriptome and Induce NAFLD in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Sales Rafael , Medeiros Priscylla , Spreafico Flavia , De Velasco Patrícia , Gonçalves Fernanda , Martín-Hernández Roberto , Mantilla-Escalante Diana , Gil-Zamorano Judit , Peres Wilza , De Souza Sergio , Dávalos Alberto , Tavares do Carmo Maria
Published: December 2018

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent worldwide. The most severe form is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Among risk factors for the development of NAFLD is excessive lipid intake. Since palm (P) oil is the most consumed oil in the world, we aimed to investigate the effects of high-fat diets made with P oil, hybrid palm (HP) oil, or olive (O) oil in liver. Twenty-four male mice (C57Bl/6J) were fed a high-fat diet (41% fat) containing P, HP, or O oils for 8 weeks and compared to a control (C) group fed a chow diet. Adiposity was measured with computed tomography. Body, adipose tissue, and liver weights, as well as liver fat (Bligh–Dyer), blood lipid profile, glucose, and liver enzymes were measured. Liver histology (hematoxylin–eosin) and transcriptome (microarray-based) were performed. ANOVA tests with Newman–Keuls were used. Body weight was increased in the P group (p < 0.001) and body fat in the O group (C vs. O p ≤ 0.01, P vs. O p ≤ 0.05, HP vs. O p ≤ 0.05). All high-fat diets disturbed the blood lipid profile and glucose, with marked effects of HP on very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), triglycerides, and alkaline phosphatase (p ≤ 0.001). HP had the highest liver fat (42.76 ± 1.58), followed by P (33.94 ± 1.13). O had a fat amount comparable to C (16.46 ± 0.34, 14.71 ± 0.70, respectively). P and HP oils induced hepatocyte ballooning. Transcriptome alterations of the O group were related to amino acid metabolism and fatty acid (FA) metabolism, the P group to calcium ion homeostasis, and HP oil to protein localization. Both P and HP oils induced NASH in mice via disturbed hepatocyte transcription. This raises concerns about the content of these oils in several industrialized foods.
From Tumor Immunology to Immunotherapy in Gastric and Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Vrána David , Matzenauer Marcel , Neoral Čestmír , Aujeský René , Vrba Radek , Melichar Bohuslav , Rušarová Nikol , Bartoušková Marie , Jankowski Janusz
Published: December 2018

Esophageal and gastric cancers represent tumors with poor prognosis. Unfortunately, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy have made only limited progress in recent years in improving the generally disappointing outcome. Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors is a novel treatment approach that quickly entered clinical practice in malignant melanoma and renal cell cancer, but the role in esophageal and gastric cancer is still poorly defined. The principal prognostic/predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy efficacy currently considered are PD-L1 expression along with defects in mismatch repair genes resulting in microsatellite instability (MSI-H) phenotype. The new molecular classification of gastric cancer also takes these factors into consideration. Available reports regarding PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2 expression and MSI status in gastric and esophageal cancer are reviewed to summarize the clinical prognostic and predictive role together with potential clinical implications. The most important recently published clinical trials evaluating checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in these tumors are also summarized.
A Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM) Encapsulated Live Fermenting Staphylococcus epidermidis as a Skin Probiotic Patch against Cutibacterium acnes
Authors: Yang Albert-Jackson , Marito Shinta , Yang John-Jackson , Keshari Sunita , Chew Chee-Ho , Chen Chien-Chung , Huang Chun-Ming
Published: December 2018

Antibiotics without selectivity for acne treatment may destroy the beneficial microbes in the human microbiome that helps to fight Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), a bacterium associated with inflammatory acne vulgaris. Probiotic treatment by direct application of live Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) onto the open acne lesions may run the risk of bloodstream infections. Here, we fabricated the polysulfone microtube array membranes (PSF MTAM) to encapsulate probiotic S. epidermidis. We demonstrate that the application of the encapsulation of S. epidermidis in PSF MTAM enhanced the glycerol fermentation activities of S. epidermidis. To mimic the granulomatous type of acne inflammatory acne vulgaris, the ears of mice were injected intradermally with C. acnes to induce the secretion of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), a murine counterpart of human interleukin (IL)-8. The C. acnes-injected mouse ears were covered with a PST MTAM encapsulated with or without S. epidermidis in the presence of glycerol. The application of S. epidermidis-encapsulated PST MTAM plus glycerol onto the C. acnes-injected mouse ears considerably reduced the growth of C. acnes and the production of MIP-2. Furthermore, no S. epidermidis leaked from PSF MTAM into mouse skin. The S. epidermidis-encapsulated PST MTAM functions as a probiotic acne patch.
Genome-Wide Analysis, Expression Profile, and Characterization of the Acid Invertase Gene Family in Pepper
Authors: Shen Long-Bin , Qin Yu-Ling , Qi Zhi-Qiang , Niu Yu , Liu Zi-Ji , Liu Wei-Xia , He Huang , Cao Zhen-Mu , Yang Yan
Published: December 2018

Catalytic decomposition of sucrose by acid invertases (AINVs) under acidic conditions plays an important role in the development of sink organs in plants. To reveal the function of AINVs in the development of pepper fruits, nine AINV genes of pepper were identified. Protein sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CaAINV family may be divided into cell wall invertases (CaCWINV1–7) and vacuolar invertases (CaVINV1–2). CaAINVs contain conserved regions and protein structures typical of the AINVs in other plants. Gene expression profiling indicated that CaCWINV2 and CaVINV1 were highly expressed in reproductive organs but differed in expression pattern. CaCWINV2 was mainly expressed in buds and flowers, while CaVINV1 was expressed in developmental stages, such as the post-breaker stage. Furthermore, invertase activity of CaCWINV2 and CaVINV1 was identified via functional complementation in an invertase-deficient yeast. Optimum pH for CaCWINV2 and CaVINV1 was found to be 4.0 and 4.5, respectively. Gene expression and enzymatic activity of CaCWINV2 and CaVINV1 indicate that these AINV enzymes may be pivotal for sucrose hydrolysis in the reproductive organs of pepper.
Advancements in Nucleic Acid Based Therapeutics against Respiratory Viral Infections
Authors: Asha Kumari , Kumar Prashant , Sanicas Melvin , Meseko Clement A. , Khanna Madhu , Kumar Binod
Published: December 2018

Several viruses cause pulmonary infections due to their shared tropism with cells of the respiratory tract. These respiratory problems due to viral infection become a public health concern due to rapid transmission through air/aerosols or via direct-indirect contact with infected persons. In addition, the cross-species transmission causes alterations to viral genetic makeup thereby increasing the risk of emergence of pathogens with new and more potent infectivity. With the introduction of effective nucleic acid-based technologies, post translational gene silencing (PTGS) is being increasingly used to silence viral gene targets and has shown promising approach towards management of many viral infections. Since several host factors are also utilized by these viruses during various stages of infection, silencing these host factors can also serve as promising therapeutic tool. Several nucleic acid-based technologies such as short interfering RNAs (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers, deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes), and ribozymes have been studied and used against management of respiratory viruses. These therapeutic nucleic acids can be efficiently delivered through the airways. Studies have also shown efficacy of gene therapy in clinical trials against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as models of respiratory diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), measles and influenza. In this review, we have summarized some of the recent advancements made in the area of nucleic acid based therapeutics and highlighted the emerging roles of nucleic acids in the management of some of the severe respiratory viral infections. We have also focused on the methods of their delivery and associated challenges.
Targeting Cellular Trafficking of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors as a Strategy for Selective Cancer Treatment
Authors: Porębska Natalia , Latko Marta , Kucińska Marika , Zakrzewska Małgorzata , Otlewski Jacek , Opaliński Łukasz
Published: December 2018

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) in response to fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) transmit signals across the cell membrane, regulating important cellular processes, like differentiation, division, motility, and death. The aberrant activity of FGFRs is often observed in various diseases, especially in cancer. The uncontrolled FGFRs’ function may result from their overproduction, activating mutations, or generation of FGFRs’ fusion proteins. Besides their typical subcellular localization on the cell surface, FGFRs are often found inside the cells, in the nucleus and mitochondria. The intracellular pool of FGFRs utilizes different mechanisms to facilitate cancer cell survival and expansion. In this review, we summarize the current stage of knowledge about the role of FGFRs in oncogenic processes. We focused on the mechanisms of FGFRs’ cellular trafficking—internalization, nuclear translocation, and mitochondrial targeting, as well as their role in carcinogenesis. The subcellular sorting of FGFRs constitutes an attractive target for anti-cancer therapies. The blocking of FGFRs’ nuclear and mitochondrial translocation can lead to the inhibition of cancer invasion. Moreover, the endocytosis of FGFRs can serve as a tool for the efficient and highly selective delivery of drugs into cancer cells overproducing these receptors. Here, we provide up to date examples how the cellular sorting of FGFRs can be hijacked for selective cancer treatment.
Physicochemical Properties of Cellulose Separators for Lithium Ion Battery: Comparison with Celgard2325
Authors: Sheng Jie , Wang Ruibin , Yang Rendang
Published: December 2018

High electrolyte wettability, thermal dimensional stability, and tensile strength are prerequisites for implementing separators in practical applications. In this study, we report on the discovery of nanofibril membranes derived from various plant fibers commonly used in the papermaking industry, for low cost and higher performances than the commercially available Celgard2325 in regard to the application of separators for lithium-ion batteries. Nanofibril membranes showed water contact angles as low as 18°, negligible size change at a heating temperature of 160 °C for 120 min, and tensile strength up to 137.6 MPa. The homogenization was found to strongly contribute to these improved performances. These findings suggest that the plant fiber-derived nanofibril membranes are anticipated to be promising candidates as separators for lithium-ion batteries.
Effect of Particles Size on Dielectric Properties of Nano-ZnO/LDPE Composites
Authors: Cheng YuJia , Bai Liyang , Yu Guang , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: December 2018

The melt blending was used to prepare 3 wt% ZnO/low density polyethylene (ZnO/LDPE) nanocomposites in this article. The effect of different inorganic ZnO particles doping on the dielectrical property and crystal habit of LDPE matrix was explored. The nanoparticles size was 9 nm, 30 nm, 100 nm, and 200 nm respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize ZnO nanoparticles whereas differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to make thermal characterization of the samples. Besides, the AC (alternating current), DC (direct current breakdown characteristics and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was studied in this article. The experimental results showed that nano-ZnO/LDPE composites had the advantages such as small crystal size, high crystallization rate and crystallinity owing to nano-ZnO particles doping, when doping nano-ZnO particles size was 30 nm, the ZnO/LDPE nanocomposite crystallinity crest value 39.77% appeared. At the mean time, the DC and AC breakdown field strength values of composites were 138.0 kV/mm and 340.4 kV/mm respectively. They were the maximal values which improved 8.24% and 13.85% than LDPE. The AC breakdown field strength of samples decreased with specimen thickness increase. The DC breakdown field strength of LDPE and ZnO/LDPE composites were greater than AC breakdown field strength. From the conductivity experimental result it could be seen that when the experimental temperature and electric field intensity rose, the current density and conductivity of ZnO/LDPE composites increased with the enlargement of ZnO particles size. But the values were less than which of LDPE.
PEDOT:PSS Morphostructure and Ion-To-Electron Transduction and Amplification Mechanisms in Organic Electrochemical Transistors
Authors: D’Angelo Pasquale , Tarabella Giuseppe , Romeo Agostino , Marasso Simone Luigi , Verna Alessio , Cocuzza Matteo , Peruzzi Carlotta , Vurro Davide , Iannotta Salvatore
Published: December 2018

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) represent a powerful and versatile type of organic-based device, widely used in biosensing and bioelectronics due to potential advantages in terms of cost, sensitivity, and system integration. The benchmark organic semiconductor they are based on is poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), the electrical properties of which are reported to be strongly dependent on film morphology and structure. In particular, the literature demonstrates that film processing induces morphostructural changes in terms of conformational rearrangements in the PEDOT:PSS in-plane phase segregation and out-of-plane vertical separation between adjacent PEDOT-rich domains. Here, taking into account these indications, we show the thickness-dependent operation of OECTs, contextualizing it in terms of the role played by PEDOT:PSS film thickness in promoting film microstructure tuning upon controlled-atmosphere long-lasting thermal annealing (LTA). To do this, we compared the LTA-OECT response to that of OECTs with comparable channel thicknesses that were exposed to a rapid thermal annealing (RTA). We show that the LTA process on thicker films provided OECTs with an enhanced amplification capability. Conversely, on lower thicknesses, the LTA process induced a higher charge carrier modulation when the device was operated in sensing mode. The provided experimental characterization also shows how to optimize the OECT response by combining the control of the microstructure via solution processing and the effect of postdeposition processing.
Effect of Different Additives in Diets on Secondary Structure, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Silkworm Silk
Authors: Cheng Lan , Huang Huiming , Zeng Jingyou , Liu Zulan , Tong Xiaoling , Li Zhi , Zhao Hongping , Dai Fangyin
Published: December 2018

In this study, eight types of materials including nanoparticles (Cu and CaCO3), metallic ions (Ca2+ and Cu2+), and amino acid substances (serine, tyrosine, sericin amino acid, and fibroin amino acid) were used as additives in silkworm diets to obtain in-situ modified silk fiber composites. The results indicate that tyrosine and fibroin amino acids significantly increase potassium content in silk fibers and induce the transformation of α-helices and random coils to β-sheet structures, resulting in higher crystallinities and better mechanical properties. However, the other additives-modified silk fibers show a decrease in β-sheet contents and a slight increase or even decrease in tensile strengths. This finding provides a green and effective approach to produce mechanically enhanced silk fibers with high crystallinity on a large scale. Moreover, the modification mechanisms of these additives were discussed in this study, which could offer new insights into the design and regulation of modified fibers or composites with desirable properties and functions.
The Winning Solution to the IEEE CIG 2017 Game Data Mining Competition
Authors: Guitart Anna , Chen Pei Pei , Periáñez África
Published: December 2018

Machine learning competitions such as those organized by Kaggle or KDD represent a useful benchmark for data science research. In this work, we present our winning solution to the Game Data Mining competition hosted at the 2017 IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games (CIG 2017). The contest consisted of two tracks, and participants (more than 250, belonging to both industry and academia) were to predict which players would stop playing the game, as well as their remaining lifetime. The data were provided by a major worldwide video game company, NCSoft, and came from their successful massively multiplayer online game Blade and Soul. Here, we describe the long short-term memory approach and conditional inference survival ensemble model that made us win both tracks of the contest, as well as the validation procedure that we followed in order to prevent overfitting. In particular, choosing a survival method able to deal with censored data was crucial to accurately predict the moment in which each player would leave the game, as censoring is inherent in churn. The selected models proved to be robust against evolving conditions—since there was a change in the business model of the game (from subscription-based to free-to-play) between the two sample datasets provided—and efficient in terms of time cost. Thanks to these features and also to their ability to scale to large datasets, our models could be readily implemented in real business settings.
System of Variational Inclusions and Fixed Points of Pseudocontractive Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Ceng Lu-Chuan , Postolache Mihai , Qin Xiaolong , Yao Yonghong
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this paper is to solve the general system of variational inclusions (GSVI) with hierarchical variational inequality (HVI) constraint, for an infinite family of continuous pseudocontractive mappings in Banach spaces. By utilizing the equivalence between the GSVI and the fixed point problem, we construct an implicit multiple-viscosity approximation method for solving the GSVI. Under very mild conditions, we prove the strong convergence of the proposed method to a solution of the GSVI with the HVI constraint, for infinitely many pseudocontractions.
Polyamines in Microalgae: Something Borrowed, Something New
Authors: Lin Hung-Yun , Lin Han-Jia
Published: December 2018

Microalgae of different evolutionary origins are typically found in rivers, lakes, and oceans, providing more than 45% of global primary production. They provide not only a food source for animals, but also affect microbial ecosystems through symbioses with microorganisms or secretion of some metabolites. Derived from amino acids, polyamines are present in almost all types of organisms, where they play important roles in maintaining physiological functions or against stress. Microalgae can produce a variety of distinct polyamines, and the polyamine content is important to meet the physiological needs of microalgae and may also affect other species in the environment. In addition, some polyamines produced by microalgae have medical or nanotechnological applications. Previous studies on several types of microalgae have indicated that the putative polyamine metabolic pathways may be as complicated as the genomes of these organisms, which contain genes originating from plants, animals, and even bacteria. There are also several novel polyamine synthetic routes in microalgae. Understanding the nature of polyamines in microalgae will not only improve our knowledge of microalgal physiology and ecological function, but also provide valuable information for biotechnological applications.
Two New Succinimide Derivatives Cladosporitins A and B from the Mangrove-derived Fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1
Authors: Wang Pei , Cui Yan , Cai Caihong , Chen Huiqin , Dai Yu , Chen Pengwei , Kong Fandong , Yuan Jingzhe , Song Xinming , Mei Wenli , Dai Haofu
Published: December 2018

Two new succinimide-containing derivatives, cladosporitins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the fermentation cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1, along with a new pyrone, clapone (3), as well as the previously reported talaroconvolutin A (4) and anthraquinone (5). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS spectral analysis. Compound 2 showed cytotoxicity against BEL-7042, K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines with IC50 values of 29.4 ± 0.35 μM, 25.6 ± 0.47 μM, and 41.7 ± 0.71 μM, respectively, whereas compound 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against Hela and BEL-7042 cell lines with IC50 values of 14.9 ± 0.21 μM and 26.7 ± 1.1 μM, respectively. In addition, compounds 4 and 5 displayed inhibitory activity against α-glycosidase, with IC50 values of 78.2 ± 2.1 μM and 49.3 ± 10.6 μM, respectively.
Microstructures and High Temperature Tensile Properties of As-Aged Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-(01, 0.5 and 1.0) Y Alloys
Authors: Hu Guangshan , Zhong Meipeng , Guo Changfa
Published: December 2018

The microstructures and high-temperature tensile properties of as-aged Mg-6Zn-1Mn-4Sn-(0.1, 0.5 and 1.0) Y (wt.%, ZMT614-Y) alloys were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-temperature tensile tests. The tensile temperatures were 150 °C, 200 °C, 250 °C and 300 °C, respectively. The results showed that the phase compositions of as-aged alloys were α-Mg, α-Mn, MgZn2, Mg2Sn, and MgSnY phases. The Mg2Sn and MgSnY high-temperature phases inhibited grain growth in the heat treatment and tensile processes. The as-aged ZMT614-0.5Y alloy has the best high-temperature mechanical properties, with yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation values of 277 MPa, 305 MPa, and 16.7%, respectively, at 150 °C. As the tensile temperature increased to 300 °C, the YS and UTS decreased to 136 MPa and 150 MPa, and elongation increased to 25.5%. The fracture mechanism changed as the tensile temperatures ranged from 150 °C to 300 °C, from the transgranular fracture type at temperatures of 150 °C and 200 °C, to the transgranular and intergranular mixed-mode fracture type when tensile temperatures increased to 250 °C, to an intergranular fracture mechanism at 300 °C.
Effect of Deformation Temperature on the Portevin-Le Chatelier Effect in Medium-Mn Steel
Authors: Grzegorczyk Barbara , Kozłowska Aleksandra , Morawiec Mateusz , Muszyński Rafał , Grajcar Adam
Published: December 2018

Experimental investigations of the plastic instability phenomenon in a hot-rolled medium manganese steel were performed. The effects of tensile deformation in a temperature range of 20–140°C on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and flow stress serrations were analyzed. The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) phenomenon was observed for the specimens deformed at 60 °C, 100 °C, and 140 °C. It was found that the deformation temperature substantially affects the type and intensity of serrations. The type of serration was changed at different deformation temperatures. The phenomenon was not observed at room temperature. The plastic instability occurring for the steel deformed at 60 °C was detected for lower strain levels than for the specimens deformed at 100 °C and 140 °C. The increase of the deformation temperature to 100 °C and 140 °C results in shifting the PLC effect to a post uniform deformation range. The complex issues related to the interaction of work hardening, the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, and the PLC effect stimulated by the deformation temperature were addressed.
Characterised Flavin-Dependent Two-Component Monooxygenases from the CAM Plasmid of Pseudomonas putida ATCC 17453 (NCIMB 10007): ketolactonases by Another Name
Authors: Willetts Andrew
Published: December 2018

The CAM plasmid-coded isoenzymic diketocamphane monooxygenases induced in Pseudomonas putida ATCC 17453 (NCIMB 10007) by growth of the bacterium on the bicyclic monoterpene (rac)-camphor are notable both for their interesting history, and their strategic importance in chemoenzymatic syntheses. Originally named ‘ketolactonase—an enzyme system for cyclic lactonization’ because of its characterised mode of action, (+)-camphor-induced 2,5-diketocamphane 1,2-monooxygenase was the first example of a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase activity to be confirmed in vitro. Both this enzyme and the enantiocomplementary (−)-camphor-induced 3,6-diketocamphane 1,6-monooxygenase were mistakenly classified and studied as coenzyme-containing flavoproteins for nearly 40 years before being correctly recognised and reinvestigated as FMN-dependent two-component monooxygenases. As has subsequently become evident, both the nature and number of flavin reductases able to supply the requisite reduced flavin co-substrate for the monooxygenases changes progressively throughout the different phases of camphor-dependent growth. Highly purified preparations of the enantiocomplementary monooxygenases have been exploited successfully for undertaking both nucleophilic and electrophilic biooxidations generating various enantiopure lactones and sulfoxides of value as chiral synthons and auxiliaries, respectively. In this review the chequered history, current functional understanding, and scope and value as biocatalysts of the diketocamphane monooxygenases are discussed.
Wound Healing Effect of Essential Oil Extracted from Eugenia dysenterica DC (Myrtaceae) Leaves
Authors: Mazutti da Silva Sandra Márcia , Rezende Costa Claudio Rodrigues , Martins Gelfuso Guilherme , Silva Guerra Eliete Neves , De Medeiros Nóbrega Yanna Karla , Gomes Sueli Maria , Pic-Taylor Aline , Fonseca-Bazzo Yris Maria , Silveira Damaris , Magalhães Pérola de Oliveira
Published: December 2018

The use of natural oils in topical pharmaceutical preparations has usually presented safe agents for the improvement of human health. Based on research into the immense potential of wound management and healing, we aimed to validate the use of topical natural products by studying the ability of the essential oil of Eugenia dysenterica DC leaves (oEd) to stimulate in vitro skin cell migration. Skin cytotoxicity was evaluated using a fibroblast cell line (L929) by MTT assay. The oil chemical profile was investigated by GC-MS. Moreover, the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in the macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) tested. The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assay was used to evaluate the angiogenic activity and irritating potential of the oil. The oEd induces skin cell migration in a scratch assay at a concentration of 542.2 µg/mL. α-humulene and β-caryophyllene, the major compounds of this oil, as determined by GC-MS, may partly explain the migration effect. The inhibition of nitric oxide by oEd and α-humulene suggested an anti-inflammatory effect. The CAM assay showed that treatment with oEd ≤ 292 µg/mL did not cause skin injury, and that it can promote angiogenesis in vivo. Hence, these results indicate the feasibility of the essential oil of Eugenia dysenterica DC leaves to developed dermatological products capable of helping the body to repair damaged tissue.
Multi-Target Cinnamic Acids for Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Modeling Studies
Authors: Pontiki Eleni , Hadjipavlou-Litina Dimitra
Published: December 2018

Inflammation is a complex phenomenon that results as a healing response of organisms to different factors, exerting immune signaling, excessive free radical activity and tissue destruction. Lipoxygenases and their metabolites e.g., LTB4, are associated with allergy, cell differentiation and carcinogenesis. Lipoxygenase 12/15 has been characterized as a mucosal-specific inhibitor of IgA and a contributor to the development of allergic sensitization and airway inflammation. Development of drugs that interfere with the formation or effects of these metabolites would be important for the treatment of various diseases like asthma, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer and blood vessel disorders. In this study we extended our previous research synthesizing a series of multi-target cinnamic acids from the corresponding aldehydes with suitable 4-OH/Br substituted phenyl acetic acid by Knoevenagel condensation. The final products 1i, 3i, 3ii, 4i, 6i, 6ii, and 7i were obtained in high yields (52–98%) Their structures were verified spectrometrically, while their experimentally lipophilicity was determined as RM values. The novel derivatives were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH, hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion and ABTS+•, anti-lipid peroxidation and soybean lipoxygenase inhibition assays. The compounds presented medium interaction with DPPH (30–48% at 100 µM). In contrast all the synthesized derivatives strongly scavenge OH radicals (72–100% at 100 µM), ABTS+• (24–83% at 100 µM) and presented remarkable inhibition (87–100% at 100 µM) in linoleic acid peroxidation (AAPH). The topological polar surface of the compounds seems to govern the superoxide anion scavenging activity. Molecular docking studies were carried out on cinnamic acid derivative 3i and found to be in accordance with experimental biological results. All acids presented interesting lipoxygenase inhibition (IC50 = 7.4–100 µM) with compound 3i being the most potent LOX inhibitor with IC50 = 7.4 µM combining antioxidant activities. The antioxidant results support the LOX inhibitory activities. The recorded in vitro results highlight compound 3i as a lead compound for the design of new potent lipoxygenase inhibitors for the treatment of asthma, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer and blood vessel disorders.
Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis for OPT Family Genes in Panax ginseng and Eleven Flowering Plants
Authors: Su He , Chu Yang , Bai Junqi , Gong Lu , Huang Juan , Xu Wen , Zhang Jing , Qiu Xiaohui , Xu Jiang , Huang Zhihai
Published: December 2018

Herb genomics and comparative genomics provide a global platform to explore the genetics and biology of herbs at the genome level. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is an important medicinal plant for a variety of bioactive chemical compounds of which the biosynthesis may involve transport of a wide range of substrates mediated by oligopeptide transporters (OPT). However, information about the OPT family in the plant kingdom is still limited. Only 17 and 18 OPT genes have been characterized for Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively. Additionally, few comprehensive studies incorporating the phylogeny, gene structure, paralogs evolution, expression profiling, and co-expression network between transcription factors and OPT genes have been reported for ginseng and other species. In the present study, we performed those analyses comprehensively with both online tools and standalone tools. As a result, we identified a total of 268 non-redundant OPT genes from 12 flowering plants of which 37 were from ginseng. These OPT genes were clustered into two distinct clades in which clade-specific motif compositions were considerably conservative. The distribution of OPT paralogs was indicative of segmental duplication and subsequent structural variation. Expression patterns based on two sources of RNA-Sequence datasets suggested that some OPT genes were expressed in both an organ-specific and tissue-specific manner and might be involved in the functional development of plants. Further co-expression analysis of OPT genes and transcription factors indicated 141 positive and 11 negative links, which shows potent regulators for OPT genes. Overall, the data obtained from our study contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of the OPT gene family in ginseng and other flowering plants. This genetic resource will help improve the interpretation on mechanisms of metabolism transportation and signal transduction during plant development for Panax ginseng.
A Guide to Applying the Sex-Gender Perspective to Nutritional Genomics
Authors: Corella Dolores , Coltell Oscar , Portolés Olga , Sotos-Prieto Mercedes , Fernández-Carrión Rebeca , Ramirez-Sabio Judith B. , Zanón-Moreno Vicente , Mattei Josiemer , Sorlí José V. , Ordovas Jose M.
Published: December 2018

Precision nutrition aims to make dietary recommendations of a more personalized nature possible, to optimize the prevention or delay of a disease and to improve health. Therefore, the characteristics (including sex) of an individual have to be taken into account as well as a series of omics markers. The results of nutritional genomics studies are crucial to generate the evidence needed so that precision nutrition can be applied. Although sex is one of the fundamental variables for making recommendations, at present, the nutritional genomics studies undertaken have not analyzed, systematically and with a gender perspective, the heterogeneity/homogeneity in gene-diet interactions on the different phenotypes studied, thus there is little information available on this issue and needs to be improved. Here we argue for the need to incorporate the gender perspective in nutritional genomics studies, present the general context, analyze the differences between sex and gender, as well as the limitations to measuring them and to detecting specific sex-gene or sex-phenotype associations, both at the specific gene level or in genome-wide-association studies. We analyzed the main sex-specific gene-diet interactions published to date and their main limitations and present guidelines with recommendations to be followed when undertaking new nutritional genomics studies incorporating the gender perspective.
Association of l-Arginine Supplementation with Markers of Endothelial Function in Patients with Cardiovascular or Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rodrigues-Krause Josianne , Krause Mauricio , Rocha Ilanna Marques Gomes da , Umpierre Daniel , Fayh Ana Paula Trussardi
Published: December 2018

l-Arginine supplementation is a potential therapy for treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the use of distinct l-arginine sources, intervened populations, and treatment regimens may have yielded confusion about their efficacy. This research constitutes a systematic review and meta-analysis summarizing the effects of l-arginine supplementation compared to placebo in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, or diabetes. Eligibility criteria included randomized clinical trials and interventions based on oral supplementation of l-arginine with a minimum duration of three days; comparison groups consisted of individuals with the same disease condition receiving an oral placebo substance. The primary outcome was flow-mediated dilation, and secondary outcomes were nitrite/nitrate (NOx) rate and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Statistical heterogeneity among studies included in the meta-analyses was assessed using the inconsistency index (I2). Fifty-four full-text articles from 3761 retrieved references were assessed for eligibility. After exclusions, 13 studies were included for data extraction. There was no difference in blood flow after post-ischemic hyperemia between the supplementation of l-arginine and placebo groups before and after the intervention period (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.30; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = −0.85 to 1.46; I2 = 96%). Sensitivity analysis showed decreased heterogeneity when the studies that most favor arginine and placebo were removed, and positive results in favor of arginine supplementation were found (SMD = 0.59; 95% CIs = 0.10 to 1.08; I2 = 75%). No difference was found in meta-analytical estimates of NOx and ADMA responses between arginine or placebo treatments. Overall, the results indicated that oral l-arginine supplementation was not associated with improvements on selected variables in these patients (PROSPERO Registration: CRD42017077289).
In Vivo Effects of Einkorn Wheat (Triticum monococcum) Bread on the Intestinal Microbiota, Metabolome, and on the Glycemic and Insulinemic Response in the Pig Model
Authors: Barone Francesca , Laghi Luca , Gianotti Andrea , Ventrella Domenico , Taneyo Saa Danielle Laure , Bordoni Alessandra , Forni Monica , Brigidi Patrizia , Bacci Maria Laura , Turroni Silvia
Published: December 2018

Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) is characterized by high content of proteins, bioactive compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, fructans, tocols, carotenoids, alkylresorcinols, and phytosterols, and lower α-, β-amylase and lipoxygenase activities compared to polyploid wheat. These features make einkorn flour a good candidate to provide healthier foods. In the present study, we investigated the effects of einkorn bread (EB) on the intestinal physiology and metabolism of the pig model by characterizing the glycemic and insulinemic response, and the microbiota and metabolome profiles. Sixteen commercial hybrid pigs were enrolled in the study; four pigs were used to characterize postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses and twelve pigs underwent a 30-day dietary intervention to assess microbiota and metabolome changes after EB or standard wheat bread (WB) consumption. The postprandial insulin rise after an EB meal was characterized by a lower absolute level, and, as also observed for glucose, by a biphasic shape in contrast to that in response to a WB meal. The consumption of EB led to enrichment in short-chain fatty acid producers (e.g., Blautia, Faecalibacterium, and Oscillospira) in the gut microbiota and to higher metabolic diversity with lower content of succinate, probably related to improved absorption and therefore promoting intestinal gluconeogenesis. The observed changes, at both a compositional and metabolic scale, strongly suggest that EB consumption may support a health-promoting configuration of the intestinal ecosystem.
Enhancement of Aqueous Solubility and Dissolution of Celecoxib through Phosphatidylcholine-Based Dispersion Systems Solidified with Adsorbent Carriers
Authors: Jo Kanghee , Cho Jae Min , Lee Hyunjoo , Kim Eun Kyung , Kim Hong Chul , Kim Hyeongmin , Lee Jaehwi
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to design phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based solid dispersion (SD) systems for enhancing the apparent aqueous solubility and dissolution of celecoxib (CLC), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor with a highly hydrophobic property. Although PC-based dispersion formulations considerably increased solubilities of CLC, the lipidic texture of PC was not appropriate as a solid dosage form for oral administration of CLC. To mask the lipidic texture of PC-based matrices, Neusilin® US2, an adsorbent material with a porous structure and large surface area widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, was employed and thereby fully powderized PC-based dispersion formulations could be fabricated. However, PC matrices containing CLC strongly adsorbed to the pores of Neusilin® US2 was not able to be rapidly released. To address this problem, different hydrophilic materials were examined to promote the release of the CLC-dispersed PC matrices from Neusilin® US2. Among tested hydrophilic materials, croscarmellose sodium was the most suitable to facilitate fast drug dissolution from Neusilin® US2 particles, showing significantly enhanced apparent aqueous solubility and dissolution behavior of CLC. Through differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, a considerably reduced crystallinity of CLC dispersed in the PC-based dispersion formulations was demonstrated. The PC-based SD formulations developed in this study would be useful for improving the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs such as CLC.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Approaches for Built-Up Area Extraction from Landsat OLI Images Using Massive Samples
Authors: Zhang Tao , Tang Hong
Published: December 2018

Detailed information about built-up areas is valuable for mapping complex urban environments. Although a large number of classification algorithms for such areas have been developed, they are rarely tested from the perspective of feature engineering and feature learning. Therefore, we launched a unique investigation to provide a full test of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) imagery for 15-m resolution built-up area classification in 2015, in Beijing, China. Training a classifier requires many sample points, and we proposed a method based on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) 38-m global built-up area data of 2014, OpenStreetMap, and MOD13Q1-NDVI to achieve the rapid and automatic generation of a large number of sample points. Our aim was to examine the influence of a single pixel and image patch under traditional feature engineering and modern feature learning strategies. In feature engineering, we consider spectra, shape, and texture as the input features, and support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and AdaBoost as the classification algorithms. In feature learning, the convolutional neural network (CNN) is used as the classification algorithm. In total, 26 built-up land cover maps were produced. The experimental results show the following: (1) The approaches based on feature learning are generally better than those based on feature engineering in terms of classification accuracy, and the performance of ensemble classifiers (e.g., RF) are comparable to that of CNN. Two-dimensional CNN and the 7-neighborhood RF have the highest classification accuracies at nearly 91%; (2) Overall, the classification effect and accuracy based on image patches are better than those based on single pixels. The features that can highlight the information of the target category (e.g., PanTex (texture-derived built-up presence index) and enhanced morphological building index (EMBI)) can help improve classification accuracy. The code and experimental results are available at https://github.com/zhangtao151820/CompareMethod.
Tidal Mixing Signatures in the Hong Kong Coastal Waters from Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature
Authors: Susanto R. Dwi , Pan Jiayi , Devlin Adam T.
Published: December 2018

Tidal mixing in the coastal waters of Hong Kong was investigated using a combination of in situ observations and high-resolution satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) data. An indicator of tide-induced mixing is a fortnightly (spring-neap cycle) signature in SST due to nonlinear interactions between the two principal diurnal and the two principal semi-diurnal tides. Both semi-diurnal and diurnal tides have strong tidal amplitudes and currents near Hong Kong. As a result, both the near-fortnightly (Mf) and fortnightly (MSf) tides are enhanced due to nonlinear tidal signal interactions. In addition, these fortnightly tidal signals are modulated by seasonal variability, with the maximum seasonal modulation of fortnightly tides occurring during the monsoon transition periods in May and October. The largest fortnightly signals are found in the southwestern part of the Pearl River estuary. Tidal constituent properties vary by space and depth, and high-resolution SST plays a pivotal role in resolving the spatial characteristics of tidal mixing.