bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Shedding of Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Related Protein 1 Reverses Cartilage Matrix Degradation in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Yamamoto Kazuhiro , Santamaria Salvatore , Botkjaer Kenneth A. , Dudhia Jayesh , Troeberg Linda , Itoh Yoshifumi , Murphy Gillian , Nagase Hideaki
Published: February 2017

Objective

The aggrecanase ADAMTS‐5 and the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13) are constitutively secreted by chondrocytes in normal cartilage, but rapidly endocytosed via the cell surface endocytic receptor low‐density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 (LRP‐1) and subsequently degraded. This endocytic system is impaired in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage due to increased ectodomain shedding of LRP‐1. The aim of this study was to identify the LRP‐1 sheddase(s) in human cartilage and to test whether inhibition of LRP‐1 shedding prevents cartilage degradation in OA.

Methods

Cell‐associated LRP‐1 and soluble LRP‐1 (sLRP‐1) released from human cartilage explants and chondrocytes were measured by Western blot analysis. LRP‐1 sheddases were identified by proteinase inhibitor profiling and gene silencing with small interfering RNAs. Specific monoclonal antibodies were used to selectively inhibit the sheddases. Degradation of aggrecan and collagen in human OA cartilage was measured by Western blot analysis using an antibody against an aggrecan neoepitope and a hydroxyproline assay, respectively.

Results

Shedding of LRP‐1 was increased in OA cartilage compared with normal tissue. Shed sLRP‐1 bound to ADAMTS‐5 and MMP‐13 and prevented their endocytosis without interfering with their proteolytic activities. Two membrane‐bound metalloproteinases, ADAM‐17 and MMP‐14, were identified as the LRP‐1 sheddases in cartilage. Inhibition of their activities restored the endocytic capacity of chondrocytes and reduced degradation of aggrecan and collagen in OA cartilage.

Conclusion

Shedding of LRP‐1 is a key link to OA progression. Local inhibition of LRP‐1 sheddase activities of ADAM‐17 and MMP‐14 is a unique way to reverse matrix degradation in OA cartilage and could be effective as a therapeutic approach.
Topical treatment with coenzyme Q10‐containing formulas improves skin's Q10 level and provides antioxidative effects
Authors: Knott Anja , Achterberg Volker , Smuda Christoph , Mielke Heiko , Sperling Gabi , Dunckelmann Katja , Vogelsang Alexandra , Krüger Andrea , Schwengler Helge , Behtash Mojgan , Kristof Sonja , Diekmann Heike , Eisenberg Tanya , Berroth Andreas , Hildebrand Janosch , Siegner Ralf , Winnefeld Marc , Teuber Frank , Fey Sven , Möbius Janne , Retzer Dana , Burkhardt Thorsten , Lüttke Juliane , Blatt Thomas
Published: February 2017

Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10, Q10) represents an endogenously synthesized lipid‐soluble antioxidant which is crucial for cellular energy production but is diminished with age and under the influence of external stress factors in human skin. Here, it is shown that topical Q10 treatment is beneficial with regard to effective Q10 replenishment, augmentation of cellular energy metabolism, and antioxidant effects. Application of Q10‐containing formulas significantly increased the levels of this quinone on the skin surface. In the deeper layers of the epidermis the ubiquinone level was significantly augmented indicating effective supplementation. Concurrent elevation of ubiquinol levels suggested metabolic transformation of ubiquinone resulting from increased energy metabolism. Incubation of cultured human keratinocytes with Q10 concentrations equivalent to treated skin showed a significant augmentation of energy metabolism. Moreover, the results demonstrated that stressed skin benefits from the topical Q10 treatment by reduction of free radicals and an increase in antioxidant capacity. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(6):383–390, 2015
Stencil computations for PDE‐based applications with examples from DUNE and hypre
Authors: Engwer C. , Falgout R. D. , Yang U. M.
Published: February 2017

Stencils are commonly used to implement efficient on‐the‐fly computations of linear operators arising from partial differential equations. At the same time the term “stencil” is not fully defined and can be interpreted differently depending on the application domain and the background of the software developers. Common features in stencil codes are the preservation of the structure given by the discretization of the partial differential equation and the benefit of minimal data storage. We discuss stencil concepts of different complexity, show how they are used in modern software packages like hypre and DUNE, and discuss recent efforts to extend the software to enable stencil computations of more complex problems and methods such as inf‐sup‐stable Stokes discretizations and mixed finite element discretizations.
Gas‐Phase Vibrational Spectroscopy of the Aluminum Oxide Anions (Al2O3)1–6AlO2−
Authors: Song Xiaowei , Fagiani Matias R. , Gewinner Sandy , Schöllkopf Wieland , Asmis Knut R. , Bischoff Florian A. , Berger Fabian , Sauer Joachim
Published: February 2017

We use cryogenic ion trap vibrational spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory to probe how the structural variability of alumina manifests itself in the structures of the gas‐phase clusters (Al2O3)nAlO2− with n=1–6. The infrared photodissociation spectra of the D2‐tagged complexes, measured in the fingerprint spectral range (400–1200 cm−1), are rich in spectral features and start approaching the vibrational spectrum of amorphous alumina particles for n>4. Aided by a genetic algorithm, we find a trend towards the formation of irregular structures for larger n, with the exception of n=4, which exhibits a C3v ground‐state structure. Locating the global minima of the larger systems proves challenging.
Positive selection ofIL‐33 in adaptive immunity of domestic Chinese goats
Authors: Asif Akhtar Rasool , Awais Muhammad , Qadri Sumayyah , Ahmad Hafiz Ishfaq , Du Xiaoyong
Published: February 2017

The identification of the candidate genes that play key role in phenotypic variation in livestock populations can provide new information about evolution and positive selection.IL‐33 (71954) (Interleukin) gene is associated with the increased nematode resistance in small ruminants; however, the role ofIL‐33 for the genetic control of different diseases in Chinese goat breeds is poorly described in scientific literature. Therefore, the current investigation was performed for the better understanding of the molecular evolution and the positive selection of single‐nucleotide polymorphism inIL‐33 gene. Fixation Index (FST)‐based method was used for the outlier loci determination and found thatIL‐33 was present in outlier area with the provisional combined allocation of mean heterozygosity andFST. Positively selectedIL‐33 gene was significantly, that is,p(SimulFST < sampleFST = 0.98*) present in corresponding positive selection area. Hence, our study provided novel information about the nucleotide variations inIL‐33 gene and found to be nonsynonymous which may helpful for the genetic control of diseases by enhancing the immune system in local Chinese goat breeds as well as in other analyzed vertebrate species.
Autonomic, functional, skeletal muscle, and cardiac abnormalities are associated with increased ergoreflex sensitivity in mitochondrial disease
Authors: Giannoni Alberto , Aimo Alberto , Mancuso Michelangelo , Piepoli Massimo Francesco , Orsucci Daniele , Aquaro Giovanni Donato , Barison Andrea , De Marchi Daniele , Taddei Claudia , Cameli Matteo , Raglianti Valentina , Siciliano Gabriele , Passino Claudio , Emdin Michele
Published: February 2017

Aims

Mitochondrial disease (MD) is a genetic disorder affecting skeletal muscles, with possible myocardial disease. The ergoreflex, sensitive to skeletal muscle work, regulates ventilatory and autonomic responses to exercise. We hypothesized the presence of an increased ergoreflex sensitivity in MD patients, its association with abnormal ventilatory and autonomic responses, and possibly with subclinical cardiac involvement.

Methods and results

Twenty‐five MD patients (aged 46 ± 3 years, 32% male) with skeletal myopathy but without known cardiac disease, underwent a thorough evaluation including BNPs, galectin‐3, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2 (sST2), high sensitivity troponin T/I, catecholamines, ECG, 24‐h ECG recording, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, cardiac/muscle magnetic resonance (C/MMR), and ergoreflex assessment. Thirteen age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were chosen. Among these myopathic patients, subclinical cardiac damage was detected in up to 80%, with 44% showing fibrosis at CMR. Ergoreflex sensitivity was markedly higher in patients than in controls (64% vs. 37%, P < 0.001), and correlated with muscle fat to water ratio and extracellular volume at MMR (both P < 0.05). Among patients, ergoreflex sensitivity was higher in those with cardiac involvement (P = 0.034). Patients showed a lower peak oxygen consumption (VO2/kg) than controls (P < 0.001), as well as ventilatory inefficiency (P = 0.024). Ergoreflex sensitivity correlated with reduced workload and peak VO2/kg (both P < 0.001), and several indicators of autonomic imbalance (P < 0.05). Plasma norepinephrine was the unique predictor of myocardial fibrosis at univariate analysis (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Skeletal myopathy in MD is characterized by enhanced ergoreflex sensitivity, which is associated with a higher incidence of cardiac involvement, exercise intolerance, and sympathetic activation.
Reward Dependence and Harm Avoidance among Patients with Binge‐Purge Type Eating Disorders
Authors: Gat‐Lazer Sigal , Geva Ronny , Gur Eitan , Stein Daniel
Published: February 2017

Introduction

The Cloninger's Psychobiological Model of Temperament and Character includes temperamental dimensions such as reward dependence (RD) and harm avoidance (HA). Studies of RD differentiate between sensitivity to reward (SR) versus to punishment (SP). We investigated the interrelationship between HA and RD in acutely ill patients with binge/purge (B/P) type eating disorders (EDs) and following symptomatic stabilization.

Methods

Fifty patients with B/P EDs were assessed at admission to inpatient treatment, 36 of whom were reassessed at discharge. Thirty‐six controls were similarly assessed. Participants completed Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), and took the Gambling Task.

Results

Patients with B/P EDs had higher TPQ‐RD and lower TPQ‐HA accompanied by lower SPSRQ‐SR and SPSRQ‐SP. SPSRQ‐SP correlated positively and negatively with TPQ‐HA and TPQ‐RD, respectively.

Conclusions

Combination of lower TPQ‐HA, lower SPSRQ‐SP, and greater risk‐taking inclination may maintain disordered eating in patients with B/P EDs. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Effect of seepage on flow and bedforms dynamics
Authors: Patel Mahesh , Majumder Shantanaba , Kumar Bimlesh
Published: February 2017

This study, using an experimental approach, focuses on the effect of downward seepage on a threshold alluvial channel morphology and corresponding turbulent flow characteristics. In all the experiments, we observed that the streamwise time‐averaged velocities and Reynolds shear stresses were increased under the influence of downward seepage. Scales of eddy length and eddy turnover time were significantly increased with the application of downward seepage, leading to sediment transport and initiation of bedforms along the channel length. As the amount of seepage discharge increased, eddy length and turnover time were further increased, causing the development of larger bedforms. It was revealed that the geometry of bedforms was linked with the size of eddies. In this work, statistics of bedform dynamics are presented in terms of multi‐scalar bedforms in the presence of seepage. These multi‐scalar ubiquitous bedforms cast a potential impact on flow turbulence as well as stream bed morphology in channels. We used wavelet to analyse temporally lagged spatial bed elevation profiles that were obtained from a set of laboratory experiments and synchronized the wavelet coefficients with bed elevation fluctuations at different length scales. A spatial cross‐correlation analysis, based on the wavelet coefficients, was performed on these bed elevation datasets to observe the effect of downward seepage on the dynamic behaviour of bedforms at different length scales. It was found that celerity of bedforms reduced with increase in seepage percentage. Bedform celerity was best approximated by a probability density function such as Rayleigh distribution under varying downward seepage. Further, statistical analysis of physical parameters of bedforms ascertained that the reduction in bedform celerity was a result of increased bedform size. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secure massive MIMO‐enabled full‐duplex 2‐tier heterogeneous networks by exploiting in‐band wireless backhauls
Authors: Xie Mangang , Jia Xiangdong , Zhou Meng , Yang Longxiang
Published: February 2017

To enhance the spectrum efficiency and secrecy performance, by using in‐band full‐duplex (FD) wireless backhaul technique, a secure massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO)–enabled heterogeneous cellular network (HCN) model is presented, where the macro base stations (MBSs) are equipped with massive MIMO antenna array, whereas the small cell base stations (SBSs) and user equipment have the single antenna. The ultradense small cells underlay the macro cells and offload traffic from macro cells. With FD mode, the massive MIMO MBSs and single‐antenna SBSs are responsible, respectively, for the access traffic of macro and small cells as well as the backhaul transmission between MBSs and SBSs over the same time‐frequency resource. The transmissions of macro and small cells are exposed to non‐colluding and passive eavesdroppers that attempt to decode the signals of legitimate users. For such HCN with in‐band wireless backhaul, by modeling the network elements as the independent Possion point processes and using the stochastic geometry, we first investigate the secrecy probabilities of the macro cell downlink and small cell uplink transmissions. At the same time, to achieve a comprehensive view, we also investigate the corresponding signal‐interference‐noise ratio (SINR) coverage performance. The presented numerical results show that when the intensity of user equipment is small relatively, exploiting the in‐band backhaul interference as jamming signals can enhance the secrecy probabilities of both the macro and small cell transmissions so that the in‐band FD backhaul mode outperforms the out‐band FD one. However, for the SINR coverage, the opposite results are achieved. That is to say, the in‐band backhaul transmission degrades the SINR coverage probabilities because of the existence of wireless backhaul interference. Besides of these, in numerical analysis, we also investigate the effect of the network parameters on the secrecy and coverage performance of both the macro and small cells. The derived results can be used for guiding the design of HCNs.
Dynamic scheduling algorithm for LTE uplink with smart‐metering traffic
Authors: Amarasekara Bhagya , Ranaweera Chathurika , Evans Rob , Nirmalathas Ampalavanapillai
Published: February 2017

Long‐term evolution (LTE) is a promising last mile access candidate technology for the smart‐metering communication architecture. However, when the mobile LTE network is used to support smart meters (SMs), the quality‐of‐service (QoS) requirements of the smart‐metering traffic as well as all the other typical mobile network traffic need to be ensured. This becomes problematic when the network users generate diverse traffic types that have different QoS requirements. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a dynamic bandwidth scheduling algorithm to ensure the required QoS of various traffic types arising from both SMs and mobile users. Our proposed dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm integrates two schedulers that are designed for periodic and emergency SM traffic situations that have different SM traffic intensities and QoS requirements. Designing of two schedulers provides the advantages of leveraging the particular traffic characteristics of these two diverse operational situations and achieving the maximum use of resources to ensure QoS requirements. In addition, to alleviate potential problems created by simultaneous emergency SM traffic, we also propose a method that deploys a random delay for SM packet transmissions. We analyse the delay and packet drop ratio of diverse traffic types when both the LTE base station scheduler and the SMs deploy our proposed methods under either periodic or emergency SM traffic conditions in the smart grid. Our results show that our proposed mechanisms are capable of satisfying the QoS requirements of both mobile users and SMs under diverse traffic conditions.
A rapid and efficient DNA extraction protocol from fresh and frozen human blood samples
Authors: Guha Pokhraj , Das Avishek , Dutta Somit , Chaudhuri Tapas Kumar
Published: February 2017

Background

Different methods available for extraction of human genomic DNA suffer from one or more drawbacks including low yield, compromised quality, cost, time consumption, use of toxic organic solvents, and many more. Herein, we aimed to develop a method to extract DNA from 500 μL of fresh or frozen human blood.

Methods

Five hundred microliters of fresh and frozen human blood samples were used for standardization of the extraction procedure. Absorbance at 260 and 280 nm, respectively, (A260/A280) were estimated to check the quality and quantity of the extracted DNA sample. Qualitative assessment of the extracted DNA was checked by Polymerase Chain reaction and double digestion of the DNA sample.

Results

Our protocol resulted in average yield of 22±2.97 μg and 20.5±3.97 μg from 500 μL of fresh and frozen blood, respectively, which were comparable to many reference protocols and kits.

Conclusion

Besides yielding bulk amount of DNA, our protocol is rapid, economical, and avoids toxic organic solvents such as Phenol. Due to unaffected quality, the DNA is suitable for downstream applications. The protocol may also be useful for pursuing basic molecular researches in laboratories having limited funds.
MicroRNA106a regulates matrix metalloprotease 9 in a sirtuin‐1 dependent mechanism
Authors: Edatt Lincy , Maurya Ashutosh K. , Raji Grace , Kunhiraman Haritha , Kumar Sameer V. B.
Published: February 2017

Cellular migration is important during many physiological as well as pathological conditions and is regulated very tightly by an intricate network of signaling and effector molecules. One of the important players during cellular migration are matrix metalloproteases and their levels have been reported to be important in determining the cellular migratory properties during metastasis. MMPs and regulators of MMPs therefore, present themselves as potent candidates for manipulation, to control conditions where they get dysregulated. Micro RNAs are a group of micro regulators that can modulate expression of a gene through transcriptional and post transcriptional regulations. Owing to the fact that many microRNAs have already been reported to regulate MMPs and that miR106a, a member of oncomir17 family has been implicated in metastatic conditions, the present study intended to analyze if miR106a can regulate levels of MMP9, an important inducible matrix metalloproteinase. The results of the in vitro experiments demonstrated that under conditions of migration cells showed elevated levels of miR106a, which could regulate the expression of major MMP9 regulator, SIRT‐1. Decreased levels of SIRT1thus resulted in an increase in the expression and activity of MMP9. Over expression and mRNA stability studies carried out also suggested regulatory role of miR106a. The overall results thus suggested that the levels of miR106a gets modulated during cellular migration, causing a change in the levels of SIRT‐1 mRNA by affecting its stability and the levels of SIRT‐1 in turn can regulate the levels of MMP9.
The effect of aspirated barium sulfate, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on survival and lung injury in a lagomorph model
Authors: Siddiqui M. Tausif , Litts Juliana K. , Cheney Diane M. , Kuhn Maggie A. , Nativ‐Zeltzer Nogah , Belafsky Peter C.
Published: February 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Contrast agents are an integral component of the video fluoroscopic swallow study. Agents commonly used include barium sulfate (E‐Z Paque), iodixanol (Visipaque), and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Barium is water insoluble, whereas iodixanol and diatrizoic acid are water‐soluble iodine‐based agents. The detrimental effect of these agents on the lungs has not been systematically evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of aspirated barium, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on pulmonary injury in a lagomorph model.

Study Design

Animal model.

Methods

Twenty adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into four groups (n = 5). Group 1 received 3 mL of barium sulfate injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 2 received 3 mL of iodixanol injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 3 received 3 mL of diatrizoic acid injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. A control group received 3 mL of air injected into the trachea under an identical protocol. All animals were euthanized on day 4, and the lung and trachea were harvested for blinded histopathologic analysis. The primary outcome measure was survival. The secondary endpoint was a blinded, histologic grading system of lung injury.

Results

Two animals in the barium group, one in the diatrizoic acid group, and 0 animals in the iodixanol and control groups died. The overall lung injury score for the barium (60.60 ± 6.34) and iodixanol groups (52.30 ± 3.11) were significantly higher (worse) than the diatrizoic acid (49.60 ± 7.64) and control groups (37.80 ± 3.56) (P < .05). Diatrizoic acid produced the least amount of lung injury.

Conclusions

The data suggest that 3 mL of aspirated barium sulfate (E‐Z Paque) over 3 consecutive days causes more severe lung injury in a lagomorph model than 3 mL of aspirated iodixanol (Visipaque) and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Diatrizoic acid caused the least histologic evidence of lung injury.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 127:E148–E152, 2017
High fat diet and associated changes in the expression of micro‐RNAsin tissue: Lessons learned from animal studies
Authors: Wilson Robin A. , Deasy William , Hayes Alan , Cooke Matthew B.
Published: February 2017

Environment and genetic factors play an important role in the development of obesity, and diet is one of the main contributing factors to this disease. High fat intake is associated with body weight gain, leading to obesity and other metabolic diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small, noncoding RNAs that are important regulators of gene expression at posttranscriptional level. Studies have shown that high fat intake, independent of body weight status, can significantly impact both negatively and positively the expression of miRNAs and thus the biological function of tissues such as adipose, skeletal, and cardiac muscle, liver, neuronal, and endothelial. This review will summarize the effects of high calorie diet in the form of high fat intake on miRNA expression in various tissues of animal models and of high fat fed offspring. We will also briefly review the impact of different dietary lipids on miRNA expression. Given changes in miRNA expression have been associated with the development of many diseases including obesity, understanding their biological role could have important clinical implications and offer tangible therapeutic targets for the prevention, management, and/or treatment of obesity and other lifestyle‐related disorders.
Reduction of energy intake using just‐in‐time feedback from a wearable sensor system
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , McCrory Megan A. , Sazonov Edward
Published: February 2017

Objective

This work explored the potential use of a wearable sensor system for providing just‐in‐time (JIT) feedback on the progression of a meal and tested its ability to reduce the total food mass intake.

Methods

Eighteen participants consumed three meals each in a lab while monitored by a wearable sensor system capable of accurately tracking chew counts. The baseline visit was used to establish the self‐determined ingested mass and the associated chew counts. Real‐time feedback on chew counts was provided in the next two visits, during which the target chew count was either the same as that at baseline or the baseline chew count reduced by 25% (in randomized order). The target was concealed from the participant and from the experimenter. Nonparametric repeated‐measures ANOVAs were performed to compare mass of intake, meal duration, and ratings of hunger, appetite, and thirst across three meals.

Results

JIT feedback targeting a 25% reduction in chew counts resulted in a reduction in mass and energy intake without affecting perceived hunger or fullness.

Conclusions

JIT feedback on chewing behavior may reduce intake within a meal. This system can be further used to help develop individualized strategies to provide JIT adaptive interventions for reducing energy intake.
Stable, High‐Molecular‐Weight Poly(phthalaldehyde)
Authors: Schwartz Jared M. , Phillips Oluwadamilola , Engler Anthony , Sutlief Alexandra , Lee Jihyun , Kohl Paul A.
Published: February 2017

Low ceiling temperature, thermodynamically unstable polymers have been troublesome to synthesize and keep stable during storage. In this study, stable poly(phthalaldehyde) has been synthesized with BF3‐OEt2 catalyst. The role of BF3 in the polymerization is described. The interaction of BF3 with the monomer is described and used to maximize the yield and molecular weight of poly(phthalaldehyde). Various Lewis acids were used to investigate the effect of catalyst acidity on poly(phthalaldehyde) chain growth. In situ nuclear magnetic resonance was used to identify possible interactions formed between BF3 and phthalaldehyde monomer and polymer. The molecular weight of the polymer tracks with polymerization yield. The ambient temperature stability of poly(phthalaldehyde) was investigated and the storage life of the polymer has been improved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 55, 1166–1172
Silver – Copper Bimetallic Flexible Electrodes Prepared Using a Galvanic Replacement Reaction and Their Applications
Authors: Thota Raju , Sundari S. , Berchmans Sheela , Ganesh V.
Published: February 2017

In this work we have demonstrated a simple method for the preparation of bimetallic silver – copper (Ag/Cu) coated strips using a flexible, transparent, light weight and non‐conductive polymer based overhead projector (OHP) sheet. This is carried out by using a simple two‐step process viz., (i) electroless deposition of copper onto chemically modified polyaniline (PANI) coated OHP strips (Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP) and (ii) galvanic replacement reaction of silver on Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP strip (Ag/Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP). Structure, morphology, composition and chemical properties of these strips are analyzed by using spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical techniques. These bimetallic flexible strips exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at lower onset potential value when compared to pure Cu coated strips due to the strong synergetic effect of Ag/Cu bimetallic heterostructures. Further the antibacterial activity studies carried out using these flexible strips against Escherichia coli suggest that Ag/Cu bimetallic strip possesses a higher antibacterial activity in comparison to pure Cu strips.
Bonding of Aqueous Citrate with Zn2+ and ZnO Nanoclusters: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Sutton Catherine C. R. , da Silva Gabriel , Franks George V.
Published: February 2017

To gain insight into how citrate bonds to ZnO, we have studied how aqueous citrate bonds to zinc cations (Zn2+) as well as zinc oxide nanoclusters [(ZnO)n, n=8 to 12] through density functional theory modelling. The infrared (IR) spectra of each complex in water has been calculated at the M05‐2X/cc‐pVTZ level of theory with the SMD solvent model and is presented over the region of 1700 cm−1 to 1250 cm−1; this region corresponds to the stretching modes of the carboxylate group, which change when bonding occurs. Citrate forms bidentate chelating and monodentate bonds with Zn2+; bidentate bonds result in antisymmetric stretching modes of lower wavenumber, while monodentate bonds result in higher wavenumber modes. The most stable structures involve bonds between multiple carboxylate groups and the Zn2+ and sometimes involve the hydroxyl group. Carboxylate groups not involved in bonding generally do not exhibit shifts in their infrared spectra. Similar trends are also observed in complexes of (Zn)2‐citrate, (Zn)3‐citrate and (Zn)‐citrate2. Citrate bonds weakly with the nanoclusters, forming one or two monodentate bonds to different zinc atoms; the IR spectra are not as strongly affected as when bonding occurs with Zn2+.
Surface ‐Area Enhanced Dealuminated Layered Double Hydroxides for Adsorption of Organic Compounds
Authors: Hullukere  , Prakruthi R. , Bellundagere  , Chandrashekara M. , Bangalore  , Prakash S. Jai , Bhat Yajnavalkya S.
Published: February 2017

Removal of isomorphously substituted Al from the layer of Zn−Al LDHs by treating with organic acids like para‐toluenesulfonic acid, phenoldisulfonic acid followed by Ammonium hexafluro silicate under microwave irradiation result in increased surface area, generating materials which are highly mesoporous. The dealuminated Zn−Al LDHs were characterized by BET surface area, XRDand 27Al– NMR. Adsorption data of as‐synthesized and dealuminated Zn−Al LDHs for various polar and nonpolar organic compounds at different time intervals were evaluated. Adsorption data were fitted with the models such as fractional power, pseudo‐first order and Elovich models. The Elovich model provided high degree of correlation. Modified Zn‐Al LDH adsorbent showed increased adsorption of organic compounds compared to as‐synthesized Zn−Al LDH because of high surface area. Reusability of used adsorbent showed almost same adsorption capacity as the fresh adsorbent.
Heteroleptic Iminophosphonamide In(III) Complexes: Source of Mild Lewis Acid Indium Centers
Authors: Prashanth Billa , Bawari Deependra , Singh Sanjay
Published: February 2017

New In(III) complexes with iminophosphonamide ligand are reported for the first time. Reaction of the lithium iminophosphonamide, LLi⋅2OEt2 with InCl3 afforded the heterobimetallic compound, LInCl(μ‐Cl)2Li⋅2OEt2 (1) (L=(2,6‐iPr2C6H3N)P(Ph2)(NtBu)). To prevent the formation of LiCl adduct in 1, and to obtain the targeted LInCl2 molecule, potassium salt of the ligand LK was reacted with InCl3 that gave the adduct LInCl2(THF) (2). Formation of compounds 1 and 2 can be considered an outcome of the In(III) centers to exhibit Lewis acidity. Reaction of LK with InCl3 in non coordinating solvent toluene gave the dimer [LInCl(μ‐Cl)]2 (3) and its further treatment with Ph2P(=O)NHtBu afforded the adduct, LInCl2⋅(O=P(Ph2)NHtBu) (4). Formation of the dimer 3 or the adduct 4 are again the reminiscent of the Lewis acid tendency of In(III) centers. Complexes 1–4 have been characterized using multinuclear NMR and HRMS. The single crystal X‐ray structures of 1, 3 and 4 have also been elucidated.
Naplus: a software distributed shared memory for virtual clusters in the cloud
Authors: Zeng Lingfang , Wang Yang , Kent Kenneth B. , Xiao Ziliang
Published: February 2017

Virtual clusters (VCs) have exhibited various advantages over traditional cluster computing platforms by virtue of their extensibility, reconfigurability, and maintainability. As such, they have become a major execution environment for cloud‐based cluster applications. However, compared with traditional clusters, their distributed‐memory programming paradigm still remains largely unchanged, which implies that cluster applications cannot be efficiently deployed in VCs, especially when virtual machines (VMs) are running in different physical hosts. Recently, some efforts have been made to improve inter‐VM communication, resulting in many studies on how cluster applications could take advantages of VCs. However, most of them mainly focus on the situation that the VMs are all coresident on the same physical machine where the message passing mechanism is usually optimized away by exploiting the host's shared memory. In this paper, we present a design and implementation of Naplus, a kernel‐based virtual machine approach to the inter‐VM communications that are across different physical hosts. Naplus is based on Nahanni, a mechanism for shared‐memory communication in virtual environments. As such, it not only inherits the major merits of Nahanni with respect to flexible data structures and efficient synchronization but also achieves a shared‐memory paradigm among VMs. With Naplus, we enable the size of shared space to be maximized as large as the sum of each machine's local memory to accommodate cluster applications with large memory footprints. We prototype Naplus in a dual‐host system where an empirical study is conducted to show the effectiveness of the Naplus approach in achieving distributed shared memory for VCs in data centers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcriptional Networks in Single Perivascular Cells Sorted from Human Adipose Tissue Reveal a Hierarchy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Hardy W. Reef , Moldovan Nicanor I. , Moldovan Leni , Livak Kenneth J. , Datta Krishna , Goswami Chirayu , Corselli Mirko , Traktuev Dmitry O. , Murray Iain R. , Péault Bruno , March Keith
Published: February 2017

Adipose tissue is a rich source of multipotent mesenchymal stem-like cells, located in the perivascular niche. Based on their surface markers, these have been assigned to two main categories: CD31−/CD45−/CD34+/CD146− cells (adventitial stromal/stem cells [ASCs]) and CD31−/CD45−/CD34−/CD146+ cells (pericytes [PCs]). These populations display heterogeneity of unknown significance. We hypothesized that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, a functional marker of primitivity, could help to better define ASC and PC subclasses. To this end, the stromal vascular fraction from a human lipoaspirate was simultaneously stained with fluorescent antibodies to CD31, CD45, CD34, and CD146 antigens and the ALDH substrate Aldefluor, then sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Individual ASCs (n = 67) and PCs (n = 73) selected from the extremities of the ALDH-staining spectrum were transcriptionally profiled by Fluidigm single-cell quantitative polymerase chain reaction for a predefined set (n = 429) of marker genes. To these single-cell data, we applied differential expression and principal component and clustering analysis, as well as an original gene coexpression network reconstruction algorithm. Despite the stochasticity at the single-cell level, covariation of gene expression analysis yielded multiple network connectivity parameters suggesting that these perivascular progenitor cell subclasses possess the following order of maturity: (a) ALDHbrASC (most primitive); (b) ALDHdimASC; (c) ALDHbrPC; (d) ALDHdimPC (least primitive). This order was independently supported by specific combinations of class-specific expressed genes and further confirmed by the analysis of associated signaling pathways. In conclusion, single-cell transcriptional analysis of four populations isolated from fat by surface markers and enzyme activity suggests a developmental hierarchy among perivascular mesenchymal stem cells supported by markers and coexpression networks.
Prostaglandin E2 Indicates Therapeutic Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kota Daniel J. , Prabhakara Karthik S. , Toledano-Furman Naama , Bhattarai Deepa , Chen Qingzheng , DiCarlo Bryan , Smith Philippa , Triolo Fabio , Wenzel Pamela L. , Cox Charles S. , Olson Scott D.
Published: February 2017

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is soon predicted to become the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. After the primary injury, a complex set of secondary injuries develops hours and days later with prolonged neuroinflammation playing a key role. TBI and other inflammatory conditions are currently being treated in preclinical and clinical trials by a number of cellular therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are of great interest due to their widespread usage, safety, and relative ease to isolate and culture. However, there has been a wide range in efficacy reported using MSC clinically and in preclinical models, likely due to differences in cell preparations and a significant amount of donor variability. In this study, we seek to find a correlation between in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy. We designed assays to explore the responsiveness of MSC to immunological cues to address the immunomodulatory properties of MSC, one of their primary modes of therapeutic activity in TBI. Our results showed intrinsic differences in the immunomodulatory capacity of MSC preparations from different bone marrow and amniotic fluid donors. This difference mirrored the therapeutic capacity of the MSC in an experimental model of TBI, an effect confirmed using siRNA knockdown of COX2 followed by overexpressing COX2. Among the immunomodulatory factors assessed, the therapeutic benefit correlated with the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by MSC prior to treatment, suggesting that measurement of PGE2 could be a very useful potency marker to create an index of predicted efficacy for preparations of MSC to treat TBI.
The Effect of Aerobic Exercises on the Ocular Parameters and the Psychic State of Glaucoma Patients
Authors: Lipkova Janka , Gregor T. , Kyselovicova O. , Skodova M.
Published: February 2017

Aim of the study was to assess the role of the physical activity in therapy of glaucoma — to find out the effect of aerobic exercise on visual field, intraocular pressure and the psychical state.

The study group consisted of fifteen glaucoma patients — women, mean age 49 years. Eight of them were enrolled in an aerobic exercise program of duration of 3 months. Seven patients — women, matched in age without any organized physical activity serve as control.

The Octopus glaucoma program was used for quantification of the visual field defects. Intraocular pressure was measured by using Goldmann’s and Schiotz’s tonometer.

EPI (Eysenck Personality Inventory) and STAI (State and Trait Anxiety inventory) were used in evaluating the psychical state.

The values of IOP before and after single exercise session were in normal range.

There were no significant differences between the input and output values of the parameters of visual field.

Intraocular pressure in course of the exercise program period was stable, in normal ranges in experimental and in control group as well.

The values of examined persons were in the center of the scale stability-lability and extraversion-introversion.

The values of anxiety (as a trait) were in norm, and they did not changed in course the period. The anxiety (as a state) significantly decreased (p<0, 05) in experimental group.

The glaucoma ocular parameters were kept in normal range during the exercise program period. The exercise did not cause the worsening of the ocular parameters after the single (individual) session. A positive effect of exercise program on the anxiety was ascertained.
Dissociation, Chaos and Transcendent Function
Authors: Bob Petr
Published: February 2017

Psychological findings described in original Janet’s formulation of dissociation, Jung’s complex theory, Putnam’s theory of discrete behavioral states and nonlinear dynamic principles of brain and cognitive processes suggest interesting principles for understanding dissociative processes on levels of competitive neural assemblies and their mental representations. In this context, Jung’s term transcendent function that enables integration of dissociated states might be related to nonlinear chaotic processes that could represent its neurophysiological correlate. In these self-organizing systems “linear causality” is replaced by “circular causality” that represents a concept useful for describing multilevel interactions on the level of neurons as well as on the level of consciousness related to archetypal intentional action and images in the mind during process of formatting complexes from the pre-existing archetypes as ordering factors of chaotic fluctuations. From the point of Jungian theory these selforganizing psychophysiological processes may be understood as a source of mental images of psychological wholeness mainly as images of circles and symmetric arrangements that could underly brain functions as well as rules of the human psyche that are connected to experienced union of psychological opposites that integrate dissociated states.
The Production of Consciousness Out of States of Consciousness
Authors: Murphy Todd
Published: February 2017

It has been found that there are five million magnetite crystals per gram in the human brain. Interestingly, the meninges, has twenty times that number. These ‘biomagnetite’ crystals demonstrate two interesting features. The first is that their shapes do not occur in nature, suggesting that they were formed in the tissue, rather than being absorbed from outside. The other is that these crystals appear to be oriented so as to maximize their magnetic moment, which tends to give groups of these crystals the capacity to act as a system. We hypothesize that the entire set of modalities, cognitive and sensory, may be heuristically compared to a sound mixing board. In this metaphor, all the various modalities are represented as vertical rheostats with enhanced functioning increasing towards the top, and suppressed function increasing towards the bottom. Further, the act of becoming conscious of phenomena in any given modality involves the adjustment of that modality’s ‘rheostat’.
Identifying memory impairment and early dementia in primary care
Authors: Grober Ellen , Wakefield Dorothy , Ehrlich Amy R. , Mabie Peter , Lipton Richard B.
Published: February 2017

Introduction

This study examined the operating characteristics of two‐stage case finding to identify memory impairment and very mild dementia.

Methods

Primary care patients underwent two‐stage testing and a subsequent diagnostic assessment to assess outcomes. Patients who screen positive for subjective cognitive decline on the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly undergo memory testing with the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test with Immediate Recall. Outcomes were determined without access to these data. A split‐half design with discovery and confirmatory samples was used.

Results

One hundred seventeen of 563 (21%) patients had dementia and 68 (12%) had memory impairment but not dementia. Operating characteristics were similar in the discovery and confirmatory samples. In the pooled sample, combined, patients with memory impairment or dementia were identified with good sensitivity (72%) and high specificity (90%). Differences in ethnicity, educational level, or age (≤75, >75) did not affect classification accuracy.

Discussion

Two‐stage screening facilitates the efficient identification of older adults with memory impairment or dementia.
Mortality and risk of dementia in normal‐pressure hydrocephalus: A population study
Authors: Jaraj Daniel , Wikkelsø Carsten , Rabiei Katrin , Marlow Thomas , Jensen Christer , Östling Svante , Skoog Ingmar
Published: February 2017

Introduction

We examined mortality, dementia, and progression of hydrocephalic symptoms among untreated individuals with idiopathic normal‐pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in a population‐based sample.

Methods

A total of 1235 persons were examined between 1986 and 2012. Shunted individuals were excluded. We examined 53 persons with hydrocephalic ventricular enlargement (probable iNPH: n = 24, asymptomatic or possible iNPH: n = 29). Comparisons were made with individuals without hydrocephalic ventricular enlargement.

Results

The 5‐year mortality was 87.5% among those with probable iNPH. The hazard ratio (HR) for death was 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5–6.0) for probable iNPH. Those with possible iNPH and asymptomatic hydrocephalic ventricular enlargement had increased risk of developing dementia, HR 2.8 (95% CI: 1.5–5.2). Only two individuals with hydrocephalic ventricular enlargement remained asymptomatic.

Discussion

In the present sample, persons with clinical and imaging signs of iNPH had excess mortality and an increased risk of dementia. The data also suggest that radiological signs of iNPH might be more important than previously supposed.
Bounded approximants to monotone operators on Banach spaces
Authors: Fitzpatrick S. , Phelps R.R.
Published: February 2017

It is shown that for any maximal monotone set-valued operator

T

on a real Banach space

E

, there is a sequence

\{T_n\}

of bounded maximal monotone operators which have nonempty values at each point and which converge to

T

in a reasonable sense. Better convergence properties are shown to hold when

T

is in a new proper subclass of maximal monotone operators (the “locally” maximal monotone operators), a subclass which coincides with the entire class in reflexive spaces. The approximation method is patterned on the one which results when the (maximal monotone) subdifferential

∂f

of a proper lower semicontinuous convex function

f

is approximated by a sequence of bounded subdifferentials

\{∂f_n\}

, where each

f_n

is the (continuous and convex) inf-convolution of

f

with the function

n ‖ · ‖

. The main advantage of this approximation scheme over the classical Moreau–Yosida approximation method is that it exists in non-reflexive Banach spaces.

On montre que, pour chaque opérateur maximal monotone

T

sur un espace de Banach

E

, il existe une suite

\{T_n\}

d’opérateurs maximaux monotones bornés et non vides en chaque point, tel que

T_n → T

dans un sens raisonnable. De meilleures propriétés de convergence sont obtenues quand

T

est « localement maximal monotone », une sous-classe nouvelle de celle des opérateurs maximaux monotones et qui coïncide avec celle-ci dans les espaces réflexifs. La méthode d’approximation procède selon l’exemple de l’approximation d’une sous-différentielle

∂f

(où

f

est propre, convexe, et semi-continue inférieur) au moyen d’une suite

\{∂f_n\}

de sous-différentielles, où chaque

f_n

est la inf-convolution (continue et convexe) de

f

avec la fonction

n ‖ · ‖

. L’avantage principal de cette méthode sur la méthode classique de Moreau–Yosida est de rester applicable dans les espaces de Banach non réflexifs.
Generalized characteristics uniqueness and regularity of solutions in a hyperbolic system of conservation laws
Authors: Dafermos C.M. , Geng X.
Published: February 2017

Using the method of generalized characteristics, the authors investigate uniqueness and regularity of solutions of the Cauchy problem for a special system of hyperbolic conservation laws, with coinciding shock and rarefaction wave curves, arising in the theory of isotachophoresis.

En utilisant la méthode des caractéristiques généralisées, on montre l’unicité et la régularité des solutions du problème de Cauchy pour un système hyperbolique de lois de conservation provenant de la théorie de l’électrophorèse.