bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ontological Concepts and Taxonomies for Nano World
Authors: Erkimbaev Adilbek O. , Zitserman Vladimir Yu. , Kobzev Georgii A. , Kosinov Andrey V.
Published: May 2019

The purpose of the paper is to provide a detailed overview of the methods of indexing and categorizing data generated to solve problems in a complex and multifaceted field of knowledge related to the application of nanotechnology. Analysis of the capabilities and restrictions of various categorization methods are applied to the issues of the subject field, starting with simple classification schemes and up to high level ontologies. The content of integrating methods and approaches developed in many natural sciences is considered: life science, chemistry, material science, etc. The main restriction of the currently applicable ontologies and vocabularies has been identified — a primary focus on the tasks of bio- and medical informatics. It is shown that the way to overcome them includes the adoption of a new system for describing nanomaterials proposed in the CODATA-VAMAS international project. The overview shows how the extreme broadness and continuous evolution of the subject field are reflected in the means of data categorization. It is shown that the most developed of them can serve as a basis for building a knowledge base. The prospective tasks of nanoinformatics are stated required to be solved to cover fundamentally unlimited classes of materials, their properties and fields of application.
Efficient Checkpointing with Recompute Scheme for Non-volatile Main Memory
Authors: Alshboul Mohammad , Elnawawy Hussein , Elkhouly Reem , Kimura Keiji , Tuck James , Solihin Yan
Published: May 2019

Future main memory will likely include Non-Volatile Memory. Non-Volatile Main Memory (NVMM) provides an opportunity to rethink checkpointing strategies for providing failure safety to applications. While there are many checkpointing and logging schemes in the literature, their use must be revisited as they incur high execution time overheads as well as a large number of additional writes to NVMM, which may significantly impact write endurance.

In this article, we propose a novel recompute-based failure safety approach and demonstrate its applicability to loop-based code. Rather than keeping a fully consistent logging state, we only log enough state to enable recomputation. Upon a failure, our approach recovers to a consistent state by determining which parts of the computation were not completed and recomputing them. Effectively, our approach removes the need to keep checkpoints or logs, thus reducing execution time overheads and improving NVMM write endurance at the expense of more complex recovery. We compare our new approach against logging and checkpointing on five scientific workloads, including tiled matrix multiplication, on a computer system model that was built on gem5 and supports Intel PMEM instruction extensions. For tiled matrix multiplication, our recompute approach incurs an execution time overhead of only 5%, in contrast to 8% overhead with logging and 207% overhead with checkpointing. Furthermore, recompute only adds 7% additional NVMM writes, compared to 111% with logging and 330% with checkpointing. We also conduct experiments on real hardware, allowing us to run our workloads to completion while varying the number of threads used for computation. These experiments substantiate our simulation-based observations and provide a sensitivity study and performance comparison between the Recompute Scheme and Naive Checkpointing.
Layout Resynthesis by Applying Design-for-manufacturability Guidelines to Avoid Low-coverage Areas of a Cell-based Design
Authors: Wang Naixing , Pomeranz Irith , Reddy Sudhakar M. , Sinha Arani , Venkataraman Srikanth
Published: May 2019

Design-for-manufacturability (DFM) guidelines are recommended layout design practices intended to capture layout features that are difficult to manufacture correctly. Avoiding such features prevents the occurrence of potential systematic defects. Layout features that result in DFM guideline violations may not be avoided completely due to the design constraints of chip area, performance, and power consumption. A framework for translating DFM guideline violations into potential systematic defects, and faults, was described earlier. In a cell-based design, the translated faults may be internal or external to cells. In this article, we focus on undetectable faults that are external to cells. Using a resynthesis procedure that makes fine changes to the layout while maintaining the design constraints, we target areas of the design where large numbers of external faults related to DFM guideline violations are undetectable. By eliminating the corresponding DFM guideline violations, we ensure that the circuit does not suffer from low-coverage areas that may result in detectable systematic defects escaping detection, but failing the circuit in the field. The layout resynthesis procedure is applied to benchmark circuits and logic blocks of the OpenSPARC T1 microprocessor. Experimental results indicate that the improvement in the coverage of potential systematic defects is significant.
Impaired diaphragm resistance vessel vasodilation with prolonged mechanical ventilation
Authors: Horn Andrew G. , Davis Robert T. , Baumfalk Dryden R. , Kunkel Olivia N. , Bruells Christian S. , McCullough Danielle J. , Opoku-Acheampong Alexander B. , Poole David C. , Behnke Bradley J.
Published: May 2019

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life-saving intervention, yet with prolonged MV (i.e., ≥6 h) there are time-dependent reductions in diaphragm blood flow and an impaired hyperemic response of unknown origin. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (4–8 mo, n = 118) were randomized into two groups; spontaneous breathing (SB) and 6-h (prolonged) MV. After MV or SB, vasodilation (flow-induced, endothelium-dependent and -independent agonists) and constriction (myogenic and α-adrenergic) responses were measured in first-order (1A) diaphragm resistance arterioles in vitro, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was quantified. Following prolonged MV, there was a significant reduction in diaphragm arteriolar flow-induced (SB, 34.7 ± 3.8% vs. MV, 22.6 ± 2.0%; P ≤ 0.05), endothelium-dependent (via acetylcholine; SB, 64.3  ± 2.1% vs. MV, 36.4 ± 2.3%; P ≤ 0.05) and -independent (via sodium nitroprusside; SB, 65.0 ± 3.1% vs. MV, 46.0 ± 4.6%; P ≤ 0.05) vasodilation. Compared with SB, there was reduced eNOS mRNA expression ( P ≤ 0.05). Prolonged MV diminished phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction (SB, 37.3 ± 6.7% vs. MV, 19.0 ± 1.9%; P ≤ 0.05) but did not alter myogenic or passive pressure responses. The severe reductions in diaphragmatic blood flow at rest and during contractions, with prolonged MV, are associated with diaphragm vascular dysfunction which occurs through both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Following prolonged mechanical ventilation, vascular alterations occur through both endothelium-dependent and -independent pathways. This is the first study, to our knowledge, demonstrating that diaphragm arteriolar dysfunction occurs consequent to prolonged mechanical ventilation and likely contributes to the severe reductions in diaphragmatic blood flow and weaning difficulties.
The effect of a physiological increase in temperature on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in rat myofibers
Authors: Tardo-Dino Pierre-Emmanuel , Touron Julianne , Baugé Stéphane , Bourdon Stéphanie , Koulmann Nathalie , Malgoyre Alexandra
Published: May 2019

We investigated the effect of temperature increase on mitochondrial fatty acid (FA) and carbohydrate oxidation in the slow-oxidative skeletal muscles (soleus) of rats. We measured mitochondrial respiration at 35°C and 40°C with the physiological substrates pyruvate + 4 mM malate (Pyr) and palmitoyl-CoA (PCoA) + 0.5 mM malate + 2 mM carnitine in permeabilized myofibers under nonphosphorylating ([Formula: see text]) or phosphorylating ([Formula: see text]) conditions. Mitochondrial efficiency was calculated by the respiratory control ratio (RCR = [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]). We used guanosine triphosphate (GTP), an inhibitor of uncoupling protein (UCP), to study the mechanisms responsible for alterations of mitochondrial efficiency. We measured hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production under nonphosphorylating and phosphorylating conditions at both temperatures and substrates. We studied citrate synthase (CS) and 3-hydroxyl acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (3-HAD) activities at both temperatures. Elevating the temperature from 35°C to 40°C increased PCoA-[Formula: see text] and decreased PCoA-RCR, corresponding to the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). GTP blocked the heat-induced increase of PCoA-[Formula: see text]. Rising temperature moved toward a Pyr-[Formula: see text] increase, without significance. Heat did not alter H2O2 production, resulting from either PCoA or Pyr oxidation. Heat induced an increase in 3-HAD but not in CS activities. In conclusion, heat induced OXPHOS uncoupling for PCoA oxidation, which was at least partially mediated by UCP and independent of oxidative stress. The classically described heat-induced glucose shift may actually be mostly due to a less efficient FA oxidation. These findings raise questions concerning the consequences of heat-induced alterations in mitochondrial efficiency of FA metabolism on thermoregulation.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ex vivo exposure of skeletal myofibers to heat uncouples substrate oxidation from ADP phosphorylation, decreasing the efficiency of mitochondria to produce ATP. This heat effect alters fatty acids (FAs) more than carbohydrate oxidation. Alteration of FA oxidation involves uncoupling proteins without inducing oxidative stress. This alteration in lipid metabolism may underlie the preferential use of carbohydrates in the heat and could decrease aerobic endurance.
Augmentation index is not a proxy for wave reflection magnitude: mechanistic analysis using a computational model
Authors: Heusinkveld Maarten H. G. , Delhaas Tammo , Lumens Joost , Huberts Wouter , Spronck Bart , Hughes Alun D. , Reesink Koen D.
Published: May 2019

The augmentation index (AIx) is deemed to capture the deleterious effect on left ventricular (LV) work of increased wave reflection associated with stiffer arteries. However, its validity as a proxy for wave reflection magnitude has been questioned. We hypothesized that, in addition to increased wave reflection due to increased pulse wave velocity, LV myocardial shortening velocity influences AIx. Using a computational model of the circulation, we investigated the isolated and combined influences of myocardial shortening velocity vs,LV and arterial stiffness on AIx. Aortic blood pressure waveforms were characterized using AIx and the reflected wave pressure amplitude ([Formula: see text], obtained using wave separation analysis). Our reference simulation (normal vs,LV and arterial stiffness) was characterized by an AIx of 21%. A realistic reduction in vs,LV caused AIx to increase from 21 to 42%. An arterial stiffness increase, characterized by a relevant 1.0 m/s increase in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, caused AIx to increase from 21 to 41%. Combining the reduced vs,LV and increased arterial stiffness resulted in an AIx of 54%. In a multistep parametric analysis, both vs,LV and arterial stiffness were about equal determinants of AIx, whereas [Formula: see text] was only determined by arterial stiffness. Furthermore, the relation between increased AIx and LV stroke work was only ≈50% explained by an increase in arterial stiffness, the other factor being vs,LV. The [Formula: see text], on the other hand, related less ambiguously to LV stroke work. We conclude that the AIx reflects both cardiac and vascular properties and should not be considered an exclusively vascular parameter.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used a state-of-the-art computational model to mechanistically investigate the validity of the augmentation index (AIx) as a proxy for (changes in) wave reflection. In contrary to current belief, we found that LV contraction velocity influences AIx as much as increased arterial stiffness, and increased AIx does not necessarily relate to an increase in LV stroke work. Wave reflection magnitude derived from considering pressure, as well as flow, does qualify as a determinant of LV stroke work.
Enhancement of the Antibacterial Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria Using Blue Laser Light
Authors: Al-Sharqi Anes , Apun Kasing , Vincent Micky , Kanakaraju Devagi , Bilung Lesley Maurice
Published: May 2019

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) possess excellent antibacterial properties and are considered to be an alternative material for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The present study was aimed at enhancing the antibacterial efficiency of Ag-NPs using visible laser light against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. Four concentrations of Ag-NPs (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml), synthesized by the chemical reduction method, were utilized to conduct the antibacterial activity of prepared Ag-NPs. The antibacterial efficiencies of photoactivated Ag-NPs against both bacteria were determined by survival assay after exposure to laser irradiation. The mechanism of interactions between Ag-NPs and the bacterial cell membranes was then evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and reactive oxygen species analysis to study the cytotoxic action of photoactivated Ag-NPs against both bacterial species. Results showed that the laser-activated Ag-NP treatment reduced the surviving population to 14% of the control in the E. coli population, while the survival in the S. aureus population was reduced to 28% of the control upon 10 min exposure time at the concentration of 50 μg/ml. However, S. aureus showed lower sensitivity after photoactivation compared to E. coli. Moreover, the effects depended on the concentration of Ag-NPs and exposure time to laser light. SEM images of treated bacterial cells indicated that substantial morphological changes occurred in cell membranes after treatment. The results suggested that Ag-NPs in the presence of visible light exhibit strong antibacterial activity which could be used to inactivate harmful and pathogenic microorganisms.
Modeling and Control of a Shear‐Valve Mode MR Damper for Semiactive Vehicle Suspension
Authors: Meng Fanxu , Zhou Jin
Published: May 2019

Aiming at demonstrating the feasibility and capability of applying magnetorheological (MR) dampers to the vehicle vibration control, the hyperbolic tangent model is established to characterize the performance of a shear‐valve mode MR damper that was developed for a vehicle suspension system in this study. An experimentally derived differential evolution (DE) algorithm is used to find the optimal parameters of the model. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the MR damper for semiactive suspension systems, a model was constructed of a quarter‐car suspension system with the damper. A fuzzy control algorithm with a correction factor was adopted to control the output force of the damper and obtain better overall control of the performance of the suspension system. Simulation results indicate that the improved fuzzy control algorithm provides a better ride comfort than normal fuzzy control and passive control. Furthermore, the semiactive suspension system displayed effectively vibration suppression thanks to the MR damper combined with corresponding control algorithms.
Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Effects of a Methanol Extract of Aspongopus chinensis Dallas
Authors: Tan Jun , Tian Ying , Cai Renlian , Luo Rui , Guo Jianjun
Published: May 2019

Natural products from insects can be potent sources for developing a variety of pharmaceutical products. Aspongopus chinensis Dallas has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine and there are several clinical evidences to support its anticancer activity. However, the anticancer active ingredients present in A. chinensis remain unidentified. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of a methanol extract of A. chinensis (AME). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of AME. The cell viability of MDA-MB-453 and HCC-1937 cells treated with different concentrations of AME was detected by MTT assay and the ratio of cells in different cell cycle phases was analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of genes associated with cell cycle was analysed by real-time PCR assay. The results showed that oleic acid (25.39%) and palmitic acid (21.798%) are the main anticancer compounds present in AME. There was a concentration-dependent decrease in the proliferation of MDA-MB-453 and HCC-1937 cells. Moreover, treatment with AME induced a S-phase arrest in the cells. Real-time PCR assay demonstrated that AME could significantly downregulate the expression of CDC20, AURKB, PLK1, CCNB2, and TOP2A mRNAs and upregulate the expression of GADD45A mRNA. We demonstrate that the methanol extract of A. chinensis could be a potential natural alternative or complementary therapy for breast cancer.
Necrotizing Sarcoid Granulomatosis with Pneumothorax
Authors: Pourabdollah Mihan , Saghebi Seyed Reza , Abdolahi Mitra , Rezaei Mitra Sadat
Published: May 2019

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare granulomatous pneumonitis which is composed of a background of sarcoidosis-like granulomas, granulomatous vasculitis, and variable amount of necrosis. We reported a case of a 38-year-old nonsmoking woman presented with left-sided chest pain and dyspnea for three days. Chest CT scan exhibited collapse consolidation of the left lower lobe with the presence of two separated small-sized cystic lesions within the collapsed segment. Lung lesion resection was performed, and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis by excluding other causes of granulomatous diseases. The prognosis of NSG is favorable, and medical treatment is usually not necessary, as well as in our case. NSG is a rare disease with nonspecific symptoms and good prognosis which is frequently confused with Wegener’s granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, and Churg–Strauss syndrome. This entity should also be considered as differential diagnosis of necrotizing granulomatous diseases.
Volumetric and End-Tidal Capnography for the Detection of Cardiac Output Changes in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Early after Open Heart Surgery
Authors: Hoff Ingrid Elise , Høiseth Lars Øivind , Kirkebøen Knut Arvid , Landsverk Svein Aslak
Published: May 2019

Background. Exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) reflects cardiac output (CO) provided stable ventilation and metabolism. Detecting CO changes may help distinguish hypovolemia or cardiac dysfunction from other causes of haemodynamic instability. We investigated whether CO2 measured as end-tidal concentration (EtCO2) and eliminated volume per breath (VtCO2) reflect sudden changes in cardiac output (CO). Methods. We measured changes in CO, VtCO2, and EtCO2 during right ventricular pacing and passive leg raise in 33 ventilated patients after open heart surgery. CO was measured with oesophageal Doppler. Results. During right ventricular pacing, CO was reduced by 21% (CI 18–24; p<0.001), VtCO2 by 11% (CI 7.9–13; p<0.001), and EtCO2 by 4.9% (CI 3.6–6.1; p<0.001). During passive leg raise, CO increased by 21% (CI 17–24; p<0.001), VtCO2 by 10% (CI 7.8–12; p<0.001), and EtCO2 by 4.2% (CI 3.2–5.1; p<0.001). Changes in VtCO2 were significantly larger than changes in EtCO2 (ventricular pacing: 11% vs. 4.9% (p<0.001); passive leg raise: 10% vs. 4.2% (p<0.001)). Relative changes in CO correlated with changes in VtCO2 (ρ=0.53; p=0.002) and EtCO2 (ρ=0.47; p=0.006) only during reductions in CO. When dichotomising CO changes at 15%, only EtCO2 detected a CO change as judged by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Conclusion. VtCO2 and EtCO2 reflected reductions in cardiac output, although correlations were modest. The changes in VtCO2 were larger than the changes in EtCO2, but only EtCO2 detected CO reduction as judged by receiver operating characteristic curves. The predictive ability of EtCO2 in this setting was fair. This trial is registered with NCT02070861.
Salvia miltiorrhizaandCarthamus tinctoriusExtract Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis and Dysfunction after Myocardial Infarction by Epigenetically Inhibiting Smad3 Expression
Authors: Yang Jing , Wang Bo , Li Na , Zhou Qingqing , Zhou Wenhui , Zhan Zhenzhen
Published: May 2019

The incidence of cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) continues to increase despite advances in treatment. Excessive myocardial fibrosis plays a vital role in the development of adverse cardiac remodeling and deterioration of cardiac function. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanism of the fibrosis process and developing effective therapeutics are of great importance.Salvia miltiorrhizaandCarthamus tinctoriusextract (SCE) is indicated for angina pectoris and other ischemic cardiovascular diseases in China. SCE has been shown to inhibit the platelet activation and aggregation, ameliorate ROS-induced myocardial necrosis by inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, and promote angiogenesis by upregulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, whether SCE has effect on cardiac fibrosis after MI is not fully clear. Here, a mouse model of MI was established to observe the effect of SCE upon survival, cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, and inflammation. Quantitative PCR and western blot assays were used to determine the expression of genes related to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) cascade and inflammatory responsesin vivo. Additionally, the effects of SCE upon the collagen production, TGF-β/Smad3 (SMAD family member 3) signaling, and the levels of histone methylation in primary cardiac fibroblasts were detected. We found that SCE treatment significantly improved survival and left ventricular function in mice after MI. Inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis, as well as decreased expression of Smad3, was observed with SCE treatment. In TGF-β-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts, SCE significantly decreased the expression of collagen,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Smad3. Furthermore, SCE treatment downregulated the levels of H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and H3K36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) at theSmad3promoter region of cardiac fibroblasts, leading to inhibition ofSmad3transcription. Our findings suggested that SCE prevents myocardial fibrosis and adverse remodeling after MI with a novel mechanism of suppressing histone methylation of theSmad3promoter and its transcription.
Herbs-Partitioned Moxibustion Combined with Acupuncture Inhibits TGF-β1-Smad-Snail-Induced Intestinal Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Crohn’s Disease Model Rats
Authors: Shi Yin , Li Tao , Zhou Jing , Li Yuwei , Chen Liu , Shang Haixia , Guo Yajing , Sun Yi , Zhao Jimeng , Bao Chunhui , Wu Huangan
Published: May 2019

Crohn’s disease may cause excessive damage and repair in the intestinal epithelium due to its chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. These factors may initiate the TGF-β 1-Smad pathway to activate the transcription factor of Snail, and the Snail-mediated pathway promotes the transformation of intestinal epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells, leading to intestinal fibrosis. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been demonstrated to prevent intestinal fibrosis in Crohn’s disease. However, it is not clear whether acupuncture and moxibustion can inhibit intestinal epithelial mesenchymal transformation in Crohn’s disease by affecting the TGF-β 1-Smad-Snail pathway. This study indicated that abnormal increased expressions of TGFβ1, TβR2, Smad3, and Snail were significantly downregulated by herbs-partitioned moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Qihai (RN6) and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37). In addition, protein and mRNA levels of E-cadherin, the epithelial cell marker, were significantly increased. Protein and mRNA levels of fibronectin, the mesenchymal cell marker, were decreased in the intestinal tissue. Moreover, the number of mesenchymal cells in the intestinal mucosa can be reversely transformed to intestinal epithelial cells. Therefore, herbs-partitioned moxibustion combined with acupuncture can prevent intestinal epithelial mesenchymal transition by inhibiting abnormal expression of TGFβ1, TβR2, Smad3, and Snail in the TGF-β1-Smad-Snail pathway in Crohn’s disease.
A Mathematical Model to Evaluate the Impact of the Maintenance Strategy on the Service Life of Flexible Pavements
Authors: Ruiz Manuel , Ramírez Luis , Navarrina Fermín , Aymerich Mario , López-Navarrete David
Published: May 2019

The structural failure of a flexible pavement occurs when the accumulated fatigue damage produced by all the vehicles that have passed over each section exceeds a certain threshold. For this reason, the service life of pavement can be predicted in terms of the damage caused by the passage of a single standard axle and the expected evolution of traffic intensity (measured in equivalent standard axles) over time. In turn, the damage caused by the passage of an axle depends on the vertical load exerted by the wheels on the pavement surface, as given by the technical standard in application, and the depths and mechanical characteristics of the layers that compose the pavement section. In all standards currently in application, the unevenness of the road surface is disregarded. Therefore, no dynamic effects are taken into consideration and the vertical load is simply given in terms of the static weight carried by the standard axle. However, it is obvious that the road profile deteriorates over time, and it has been shown that the increase in the pavement roughness, when considered, gives rise to important dynamic effects that may lead to a dramatic fall in the expected structural service life. In this paper, we present a mathematical formulation for the fatigue analysis of flexible pavements that includes the effects of dynamic axle loading. A pavement deterioration model simulates the sustained growth of the IRI (International Roughness Index) over time. Time is discretized in successive time steps. For each time step, a road surface generation model provides a profile that renders the adequate value of the IRI. A QHV (Quarter Heavy Vehicle) model provides the dynamic amplification function for the loads exerted on the road surface along a virtual ride. This function is conveniently averaged, what gives the value of the so‐called effective dynamic load amplification factor (DLA); this is the ratio between the effective dynamic loading and the static loading at each time step. Finally, the damage caused by the passage of the standard axle can be evaluated in terms of the dynamic loading. The product of this damage times the number of equivalent standard axles gives the total fatigue damage produced in the time step. The accumulated fatigue damage at each moment is easily computed by just adding up the damage produced in all the previous time steps. The formulation has been implemented in the software DMSA (Dynamic & Maintenance Simulation App). This tool has been specifically developed for the evaluation of projects in applications for financing submitted to the European Investment Bank (EIB). DMSA allows for quantifying the expected structural service life of the pavement taking into account both the rise of the dynamic axle loads exerted by the traffic as the road profile deteriorates over time and the different preventive maintenance strategies to be taken into consideration.
Antimetastasis Effect of Astragalus membranaceus-Curcuma zedoaria via β-Catenin Mediated CXCR4 and EMT Signaling Pathway in HCT116
Authors: Tan Xiying , Xu Mengting , Liu Fuyan , Xu Ming , Yao Yi , Tang Decai
Published: May 2019

Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria, two traditional Chinese medicines, are widely used together in colorectal cancer adjuvant treatment. Many different mechanisms should be involved in the benefit effect of Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria. In this study, we established that the combined extract from Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria (HQEZ) decreased the metastasis ability in colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, a cell line of colorectal carcinoma established from Homo sapiens) in vitro, and the treatment induced the downregulation of EMT signal and decreased CXCR4 expression and the level of β-catenin. Overexpression of CXCR4 and the administration of the agonist and inhibitor to β-catenin signal pathway were used to explore the mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer treatment. The data demonstrated that HQEZ increased the phosphorylation of β-catenin which related to the degradation of β-catenin, and it induced the downregulation of EMT signal and CXCR4. It meant that the influence of β-catenin should be a key event in the antimetastasis effects of Astragalus membranaceus-Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer model. These findings revealed the potential effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus-Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer treatment and provided insight for optimization of the usage.
The Immune Contexture Associates with the Genomic Landscape in Lung Adenomatous Premalignancy
Authors: Krysan Kostyantyn , Tran Linh M. , Grimes Brandon S. , Fishbein Gregory A. , Seki Atsuko , Gardner Brian K. , Walser Tonya C. , Salehi-Rad Ramin , Yanagawa Jane , Lee Jay M. , Sharma Sherven , Aberle Denise R. , Spira Arum E. , Elashoff David A. , Wallace William D. , Fishbein Michael C. , Dubinett Steven M.
Published: May 2019

Epithelial cells in the field of lung injury can give rise to distinct premalignant lesions that may bear unique genetic aberrations. A subset of these lesions may escape immune surveillance and progress to invasive cancer; however, the mutational landscape that may predict progression has not been determined. Knowledge of premalignant lesion composition and the associated microenvironment is critical for understanding tumorigenesis and the development of effective preventive and interception strategies. To identify somatic mutations and the extent of immune cell infiltration in adenomatous premalignancy and associated lung adenocarcinomas, we sequenced exomes from 41 lung cancer resection specimens, including 89 premalignant atypical adenomatous hyperplasia lesions, 15 adenocarcinomas in situ, and 55 invasive adenocarcinomas and their adjacent normal lung tissues. We defined nonsynonymous somatic mutations occurring in both premalignancy and the associated tumor as progression-associated mutations whose predicted neoantigens were highly correlated with infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells as well as upregulation of PD-L1 in premalignant lesions, suggesting the presence of an adaptive immune response to these neoantigens. Each patient had a unique repertoire of somatic mutations and associated neoantigens. Collectively, these results provide evidence for mutational heterogeneity, pathway dysregulation, and immune recognition in pulmonary premalignancy.

Significance: These findings identify progression-associated somatic mutations, oncogenic pathways, and association between the mutational landscape and adaptive immune responses in adenomatous premalignancy.

See related commentary by Merrick, p. 4811
A afinação “pelas três” da viola fandangueira de Morretes no estado do Paraná
Authors: Pedrosa Frederico Gonçalves
Published: May 2019

O presente artigo trata de um estudo sobre o fandango do município de Morretes, no Estado do Paraná (PR), tendo como marco teórico da pesquisa a obra A arte de pontear viola (2002), do Professor Doutor Roberto Nunes Corrêa. A esta pesquisa soma-se um estudo descritivo do processo de autoaprendizagem, desenvolvido pelo próprio pesquisador, a respeito da afinação “pelas três” da viola fandangueira do povo do Nhundiaquara. O fandango de Morretes se diferencia dos demais fandangos caiçaras por constituir formas de improviso, afinação das violas e formas diferentes de bater o tamanco na dança tradicional da cultura. Foram encontradas informações divergentes descritas na literatura de referências históricas e respeitadas, como o Professor Roberto Corrêa, autoridade que trouxe para o cenário brasileiro o registro das afinações da viola fandangueira. A principal ocorrência da contradição que será apontada ao longo do texto, é a forma com que o autor relata em seu livro (pág. 38) a afinação utilizada pelo violeiro Waldemar Cordeiro, sendo que a afinação apresentada como a “pelas três” no livro do autor é a afinação “pelo meio”, tradicional afinação conhecida na Ilha dos Valadares, Paranaguá (PR). As informações que contrapõe os relatos do autor são oriundas do Dossiê de Registro do Fandango Caiçara: Expressões de um Sistema Cultural, publicado, em dezembro de 2011, pelo Instituto de Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN). O presente artigo tem como intenção registrar, com respeito às obras anteriormente publicadas, a afinação chamada “pelas três” de maior incidência no fandango morretense, corrigindo um equívoco na importante literatura apresentada, a fim de cooperar com o reconhecimento cultural e disseminação do conhecimento tradicional do fandango caiçara brasileiro. Por fim, aponta-se para necessidade de pesquisas futuras no sentido de entender quais são as técnicas de execução que diferenciam a viola no sistema “pelas três” dos demais.
Multifaceted Mechanisms of Vascular Calcification in Aging
Authors: Pescatore Luciana A. , Gamarra Lionel F. , Liberman Marcel
Published: May 2019

Approximately 20% of the world’s population will be around or above 65 years of age by the next decade. Out of these, 40% are suspected to have cardiovascular diseases as a cause of mortality. Arteriosclerosis, characterized by increased vascular calcification, impairing Windkessel effect and tissue perfusion, and determining end-organ damage, is a hallmark of vascular pathology in the elderly population. Risk factors accumulated during aging affect the normal physiological and vascular aging process, which contributes to the progression of arteriosclerosis. Traditional risk factors, age-associated diseases, and respective regulating mechanisms influencing vascular calcification and vascular stiffness have been extensively studied for many years. Despite the well-known fact that aging alone can induce vascular damage, specific mechanisms that implicate physiological aging in vascular calcification, contributing to vascular stiffness, are poorly understood. This review focuses on mechanisms activated during normal aging, for example, cellular senescence, autophagy, extracellular vesicles secretion, and oxidative stress, along with the convergence of premature aging models’ pathophysiology, such as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (prelamin accumulation) and Klotho deficiency, to understand vascular calcification in aging. Understanding the mechanisms of vascular damage in aging that intersect with age-associated diseases and risk factors is crucial to foster innovative therapeutic targets to mitigate cardiovascular disease.

Visual Overview—

An online visual overview is available for this article.
Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Calcification in Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Petsophonsakul Ploingarm , Furmanik Malgorzata , Forsythe Rachael , Dweck Marc , Schurink Geert Willem , Natour Ehsan , Reutelingsperger Chris , Jacobs Michael , Mees Barend , Schurgers Leon
Published: May 2019

Aortic aneurysm is a vascular disease whereby the ECM (extracellular matrix) of a blood vessel degenerates, leading to dilation and eventually vessel wall rupture. Recently, it was shown that calcification of the vessel wall is involved in both the initiation and progression of aneurysms. Changes in aortic wall structure that lead to aneurysm formation and vascular calcification are actively mediated by vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells in a healthy vessel wall are termed contractile as they maintain vascular tone and remain quiescent. However, in pathological conditions they can dedifferentiate into a synthetic phenotype, whereby they secrete extracellular vesicles, proliferate, and migrate to repair injury. This process is called phenotypic switching and is often the first step in vascular pathology. Additionally, healthy vascular smooth muscle cells synthesize VKDPs (vitamin K-dependent proteins), which are involved in inhibition of vascular calcification. The metabolism of these proteins is known to be disrupted in vascular pathologies. In this review, we summarize the current literature on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and vascular calcification in relation to aneurysm. Moreover, we address the role of vitamin K and VKDPs that are involved in vascular calcification and aneurysm.

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A new species of Astropecten (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Paxillosida: Astropectinidae) and a comparison of the Astropecten species from the Gulf of Mexico and the East Florida Shelf
Authors: COBB JANESSA C. , LAWRENCE JOHN M. , HERRERA JOAN C. , JANIES DANIEL
Published: May 2019

A new species of Astropecten is described, supported by morphological and molecular evidence, from the Gulf of Mexico and the East Florida Shelf with most specimens from 30–60 m in depth. The new species, A. mcedwardi n. sp., is small, with a maximum major radius < 30 mm. Specimens of A. mcedwardi n. sp. have been found in five museums as an undescribed species or misidentified under several names. The spination of the oral surface most closely resembles that of Astropecten antillensis Lütken, 1859 from the Caribbean, but the body form is similar to that of Astropecten duplicatus Gray, 1840, which is found in the same geographic range. Examination of specimens from different collections indicates that the new species may overlap in distribution with A. antillensis along the East Florida Shelf.  Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of two mitochondrial genes reveal that A. mcedwardi is closely related to A. antillensis but that its phylogenetic lineage is distinct from that of A. antillensis.
New records of eumenine wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Russia with description of a new species of Leptochilus de Saussure, 1853
Authors: FATERYGA ALEXANDER V. , MOKROUSOV MIKHAIL V.
Published: May 2019

New additions to the knowledge of the subfamily Eumeninae in Russia are provided. Leptochilus (Lionotulus) leleji Fateryga, sp. nov. is described from Altai Republic. Males of Ancistrocerus hangaicus Kurzenko, 1977 and Jucancistrocerus (Eremodynerus) minutepunctatus Giordani Soika, 1970 are described for the first time; the latter species is transferred from the nominotypical subgenus to the subgenus Eremodynerus Blüthgen, 1939. The genus Tachyancistrocerus Giordani Soika, 1952 and six species of eumenine wasps are reported from Russia for the first time: Discoelius pictus Kostylev, 1940a, Euodynerus (Euodynerus) curictensis Blüthgen, 1940, E. (E.) hellenicus Blüthgen, 1942, E. (E.) rufinus Blüthgen, 1942, Eustenancistrocerus (Eustenancistrocerus) jerichoensis (von Schulthess, 1928), and Tachyancistrocerus schmidti (Kokujev, 1913); E. hellenicus is also reported from Georgia and Azerbaijan. New regional records for nine species are reported. Three species are excluded from the fauna of Russia: Eustenancistrocerus (Eustenancistrocerus) tegularis (Morawitz, 1885), Odynerus (Odynerus) tristis (Blüthgen, 1939), and Stenodynerus aequisculptus (Kostylev, 1940b). The known fauna of Russia now numbers 34 genera and 162 species of eumenine wasps.
Two new spider species of the genus Conculus (Araneae, Anapidae) from Southeast Asia
Authors: ZHANG QIQI , LIN YUCHENG
Published: May 2019

Two new species the spider family Anapidae are described from Southeast Asia: Conculus sagadaensis n. sp. from Philippines and Conculus yaoi n. sp. from Indonesia, both described after male specimens. Conculus is reported from Southeast Asia for the first time. Diagnoses and illustrations are provided for two new species. The types are deposited in the Natural History Museum of Sichuan University (NHMSU) in Chengdu, China.
100 Years of Progress in Applied Meteorology. Part II: Applications that Address Growing Populations
Authors: Haupt Sue Ellen , Hanna Steven , Askelson Mark , Shepherd Marshall , Fragomeni Mariana A. , Debbage Neil , Johnson Bradford
Published: May 2019

The human population on Earth has increased by a factor of 4.6 in the last 100 years and has become more centered in urban environments. This expansion and migration pattern has resulted in stresses on the environment. Meteorological applications have helped to understand and mitigate those stresses. This chapter describes several applications that enable the population to interact with the environment in more sustainable ways. The first topic treated is urbanization itself and the types of stresses exerted by population growth and its attendant growth in urban landscapes—buildings and pavement—and how they modify airflow and create a local climate. We describe environmental impacts of these changes and implications for the future. The growing population uses increasing amounts of energy. Traditional sources of energy have taxed the environment, but the increase in renewable energy has used the atmosphere and hydrosphere as its fuel. Utilizing these variable renewable resources requires meteorological information to operate electric systems efficiently and economically while providing reliable power and minimizing environmental impacts. The growing human population also pollutes the environment. Thus, understanding and modeling the transport and dispersion of atmospheric contaminants are important steps toward regulating the pollution and mitigating impacts. This chapter describes how weather information can help to make surface transportation more safe and efficient. It is explained how these applications naturally require transdisciplinary collaboration to address these challenges caused by the expanding population.
Structures and Mechanisms of 20–60-Day Intraseasonal Oscillation of the Observed Rainfall in Vietnam
Authors: Truong Nguyen Minh , Tuan Bui Minh
Published: May 2019

The present study explores the characteristics of the 20–60-day intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in the 29-yr observed rainfall in north Vietnam (NVN), central Vietnam (CVN), and south Vietnam (SVN) in rainy seasons. Composite analyses reveal that the 20–60-day ISO in NVN accompanies dual vortices straddling Taiwan, which alternately favor and suppress convection extending from the northern Philippines to NVN. The wet phase in CVN coincides with convergence of northerly and easterly winds over the region. The large-scale pattern governing the 20–60-day ISO in SVN resembles the characteristics of the boreal summer ISO (BSISO). Conditionally unstable anomalies are observed within anomalous anticyclones where the moisture flux diverges out during the dry phase in NVN and SVN, and vice versa. Such anomalies prevent the existence of the anticyclones and finally replace them with anomalous cyclones to start the wet phase. The unstable anomalies could result from descending motion that increases the boundary layer temperature due to adiabatic compression of air. Conversely, boundary layer cooling due to evaporation of rain and interception of solar radiation by clouds produces stable anomalies. The unstable anomalies, moisture flux convergence, and vertical motions shift northward from the convection maximum, leading to the northward propagation of the BSISO convection. The 20–60-day ISO in CVN is not governed by local instability. Vertical cross sections indicate that the ISO in SVN possesses a westward-tilting structure, which is not observed in the NVN and CVN case.
Motor Vehicle CO2 Emissions in the United States: Potential Behavioral Feedback and Global Warming
Authors: Robertson Leon S.
Published: May 2019

The previously found correlation of average annual temperature and motor vehicle travel among U.S. states suggests amplifying feedback of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and warming. This study employed a regression model relating average annual temperature to motor vehicle CO2 emissions among the 48 contiguous states, controlling for other factors that affect travel. Increased emissions were associated with higher temperatures during 2000–14. Application of the model to 2015–16 data indicated that 27 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2015 and 38 million metric tons in 2016 would have not occurred if the average annual temperatures among U.S. states in those years had remained at 2014 levels. A 2018 proposal by the U.S. government to reduce future vehicle fuel economy standards ignored the potential effect of warming on vehicle travel and contained erroneous analyses of the relation of vehicle weight to fatality risk, vehicle scrappage rate to new vehicle sales, and the relation of new vehicle costs to fuel economy. Huge improvement in fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions based on required hybrid technology are possible at reasonable cost.
Carrying the Weight: Athletics and Obesity in High School Football Players
Authors: Berkowitz Joshua N. , Skinner Asheley Cockrell , Lohr Jacob A.
Published: May 2019

This article determines the prevalence of obesity among high school football players nationwide and compares obesity between position groups of football players and across team sports. We calculate body mass index (BMI) for 391 212 males participating in baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and soccer, then stratify BMI into commonly accepted categories and subdivide football players by position played, comparing BMI across position groups and sports. A total of 47.4% of high school football players are healthy weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 18.0% have obesity (BMI = 30-34.9 kg/m2: 12.4%) or class 2 obesity (BMI >34.9 kg/m2: 5.6%). Among linemen, 14.8% are healthy weight, 14.6% have class 2 obesity, and another 29.3% have obesity. Among non-linemen, the combined prevalence of obesity and class 2 obesity is 2.7%, comparable to other team sports. Obesity is common among high school football players, more so than among other high school athletes. Obesity and class 2 obesity are only common among linemen.
Dielectric analysis as a low-complexity methodology for tracking prepreg out-time and its effects on the curing cycle
Authors: Raponi Olivia de Andrade , Souza Bárbara Righetti de , Baldo Junior José Everardo , Ancelotti Junior Antonio Carlos , Guimarães Alessandro
Published: May 2019

The final properties of advanced composite parts manufactured from prepregs are strongly dependent on the combination of raw materials' properties and manufacturing parameters. Therefore, monitoring techniques that can characterize the prepreg cure advancement and the effects of this advancement on the curing process are of great interest to composite industries. In the present work, dielectric analyses were performed using a previously developed simple and low-cost device, as a successful alternative to track prepreg out-time and the specificities of aged prepregs curing process. The findings point out that, despite the temperature and humidity influence in the measurements, models for estimating prepreg out-times can be developed based on dielectric analyses results. Also, the dielectric properties can signalize the necessity of cure parameters adjustments, which might lead to the extension of prepreg out-time limits without significant detriment to the performance of the final part.