bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Structurally Unresolved Head Segment of Defined Length Favors Proper Measles Virus Hemagglutinin Tetramerization and Efficient Membrane Fusion Triggering
Authors: Navaratnarajah Chanakha K. , Rosemarie Quincy , Cattaneo Roberto
Published: October 2015

Paramyxoviruses include several insidious and ubiquitous pathogens of humans and animals, with measles virus (MeV) being a prominent one. The MeV membrane fusion apparatus consists of a receptor binding protein (hemagglutinin [H]) tetramer and a fusion (F) protein trimer. Four globular MeV H heads are connected to a tetrameric stalk through flexible linkers. We sought here to characterize the function of a 17-residue H-head segment proximal to the stalk that was unresolved in all five MeV H-head crystal or cocrystal structures. In particular, we assessed whether its primary sequence and length are critical for proper protein oligomerization and intracellular transport or for membrane fusion triggering. Extensive alanine substitutions had no effect on fusion triggering, suggesting that sequence identity is not critical for this function. Excessive shortening of this segment reduced or completely abrogated fusion trigger function, while length compensation restored it. We then characterized the mechanism of function loss. Mutated H proteins were efficiently transported to the cell surface, but certain alterations enhancing linker flexibility resulted in accumulation of high-molecular-weight H oligomers. Some oligomers had reduced fusion trigger capacity, while others retained this function. Thus, length and rigidity of the unresolved head segment favor proper H tetramerization and counteract interactions between subunits from different tetramers. The structurally unresolved H-head segment, together with the top of the stalk, may act as a leash to provide the right degree of freedom for the heads of individual tetramers to adopt a triggering-permissive conformation while avoiding improper contacts with heads of neighboring tetramers.

IMPORTANCE
Understanding the molecular mechanism of membrane fusion triggering may allow development of new antiviral strategies. The fusion apparatus of paramyxoviruses consists of a receptor binding tetramer and a fusion protein trimer. Structural analyses of the receptor binding hemagglutinin-neuraminidases of certain paramyxoviruses suggest that fusion triggering is preceded by relocation of its head domains, facilitated by flexible linkers. Having noted a structurally unresolved 17-residue segment linking the globular heads to the tetrameric stalk of the measles virus hemagglutinin (H), we asked whether and how it may facilitate membrane fusion triggering. We conclude that, together with the top of the stalk, the flexible linker keeps H heads on a leash long enough to adopt a triggering-permissive conformation but short enough to limit roaming and improper contacts with heads of neighboring tetramers. All morbillivirus H-protein heads appear to be connected to their stalks through a “leash,” suggesting a conserved triggering mechanism.
Effect of teleradiology upon pattern of transfer of head injured patients from a rural general hospital to a neurosurgical referral centre: follow-up study
Authors: Ashkenazi I , Zeina A R , Kessel B , Peleg K , Givon A , Khashan T , Dudkiewicz M , Oren M , Alfici R , Olsha O
Published: October 2015

Introduction

The optimal management strategy for patients with head injury admitted to a non-specialist hospital is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of victims of head injury requiring hospitalisation but initially admitted to a rural level II trauma centre without a neurosurgical facility but with a system for neurosurgical consultation via teleradiology.

Methods

Patients admitted for head injury during 2006–2011 were included. Late transfer of patients initially hospitalised in the level II trauma centre was evaluated for treatment failure, defined as clinical or radiological deterioration.

Results

Five hundred and sixty-two patients were initially hospitalised in the level II trauma centre. Evaluation of late transfers showed that only 23 (4.1%) represented real treatment failures due to clinical or radiological deterioration. The clinical course was altered by primary intent to hospitalise patients in the level II trauma centre in only one patient.

Conclusions

Selected patients with head trauma who have a pathological CT scan may be safely managed in level II trauma centres following neurosurgical consultation using teleradiology. Review of treatment failures is necessary to ensure proper ongoing management of a system in which neurosurgical patients are selectively transferred to trauma centres with neurosurgical capacity.
Botulinum toxin type A as an adjunct in postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing radical mastectomy
Authors: Vilhegas S. , Cassu R. N. , Barbero R. C. , Crociolli G. C. , Rocha T. L. A. , Gomes D. R.
Published: October 2015

The aim of this randomised placebo‐controlled, observer‐blinded study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT‐A) as an adjunct for postoperative pain control in dogs. Sixteen dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy for treatment of mammary tumours were enrolled. Twenty‐four hours before surgery, the subjects were distributed into two groups of eight dogs each: 7 iu/kg BoNT‐A (BoNT‐A) or saline (Control) was administered subcutaneously in each mammary gland. Following sedation with intramuscular 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine and 0.3 mg/kg morphine, anaesthesia was induced intravenously with 4 mg/kg propofol and maintained with isoflurane/O2. Postoperative analgesia was evaluated for 72 hours after extubation using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and modified Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (modified‐GCMPS). Rescue analgesia was provided with intramuscular morphine (0.5 mg/kg). Data were analysed using analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Mann‐Whitney U test and Friedman test (P<0.05). The pain scores were significantly lower in the BoNT‐A than in the Control from 8 hours to 60 hours and from 12 hours to 60 hours after extubation, based on the VAS and modified‐GCMPS, respectively. Rescue analgesia was required by significantly more dogs in the Control (7/8) compared with the BoNT‐A (2/8) (P=0.022). Pre‐emptive BoNT‐A appears to be effective as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy.
Multivariate stability assessment during staged construction
Authors: Müller Rasmus , Larsson Stefan , Spross Johan
Published: October 2015

For staging the construction of embankments on soft clay, an important aspect in deterministic or probabilistic stability analyses is the assessment of the representative average values and associated uncertainties for the undrained shear strength as the height of the embankment is sequentially increased. Assessments made prior to construction can be verified by performing observations during the construction phase. All relevant available information should be incorporated into an analysis to increase the level of confidence and the objectivity of the assessment. To this end, we apply an extended multivariate approach to assess the undrained shear strength using different indirect measurement methods during the staged construction of the Veda embankment (Sweden). This multivariate approach implies that uncertainties associated with the assessments are reduced, and objectively weighted averages are obtained. The resulting implications on the calculated deterministic safety factors and the probabilistically retrieved reliability indices of the embankment are thoroughly discussed in this work.
A cell-based multiple vehicle type dynamic user equilibrium model with physical queues
Authors: Li ShuGuang
Published: October 2015

This paper proposes a cell-based multiple vehicle type dynamic user equilibrium model with physical queues. A single-type traffic flow model is extended to a general case with multiple vehicle types that can be partly solved by the time-space discretization method. Then, a network version of the multiple vehicle type cell transmission model is given. An integrated variational inequality (VI) formulation is presented to capture the complex traveler choice behaviors such as route and departure time choices. Furthermore, a genetic algorithm with a flow-swapping method is adopted to solve the VI problem. Two examples are used to evaluate the properties of this formulation. The results show that the model can reflect dynamic phenomena, such as multiple vehicle type speed consistent under congested conditions, queue formation and dissipation and so on. Moreover, the solutions can approximately follow the multiple vehicle type dynamic route and departure time user equilibrium conditions.
Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) can produce its aggregation pheromone and complete brood development in naïve red pine (Pinus resinosa) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Cale Jonathan A. , Taft Spencer , Najar Ahmed , Klutsch Jennifer G. , Hughes Cory C. , Sweeney Jon D. , Erbilgin Nadir
Published: October 2015

Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins; Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) has killed millions of hectares of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon) forest in western Canada, where it has recently established in the novel host jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and threatens naïve red pine (Pinus resinosa Aiton) forests as the current outbreak expands eastward. It is therefore crucial to understand whether red pine is a suitable host for D. ponderosae. Host suitability was assessed by comparing the ability of beetles to produce pheromones and complete their development in red pine bolts inoculated with mating beetle pairs. We detected two of four primary pheromones, including trans-verbenol and verbenone, but not exo-brevicomin or frontalin. Beetle brood successfully developed in bolts, with reproductive parameters (e.g., female and larval galleries, pupal chamber, and number of broods emerged per mated pair of adults) that were similar to those reported from the beetle’s historical host lodgepole pine and the novel host jack pine. These results provide initial evidence that red pine is a suitable host for D. ponderosae. However, it is unclear how either low concentrations or an absence of exo-brevicomin, frontalin, and the synergistic monoterpene myrcene could affect host colonization and establishment of beetles.
Cardiac-protective effects and the possible mechanisms of alatamine during acute myocardial ischemia
Authors: Zhao Chengguo , Meng Fanxin , Geng Lulu , Zhao Xi , Zhou Hui , Zhang Yao , Qin Shuzhi
Published: October 2015

Alatamine is a constituent in the extract of a traditional herbal medicine Ramulus euonymi widely used for cardiac protection. However, its precise effects remain unclear. In the present study, we found that alatamine was able to reduce acute myocardial ischemia (AMI)-induced cardiac dysfunction in a rat model, as reflected by significantly restored electrocardiograms, M-mode echocardiograms, and left ventricular hemodynamics. Also, Nagar Olsen staining revealed that alatamine markedly reduced AMI-induced cardiac injury and cardiac myocyte apoptosis. TUNEL and caspase-3 activity assay showed that cardiac myocytes underwent significant apoptosis during AMI, and levels of LDH and CK-MB increased in the serum. However, such changes were significantly inhibited by pre-administration of alatamine. Furthermore, such anti-apoptotic effects of alatamine was also confirmed in a cardiac myocyte model of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced damage. Mechanistically, it was also found that alatamine improved the expression and activity of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA), which were inhibited during AMI, promoting contractility and relaxation. Meanwhile, alatamine decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2 expressions both in vivo and in vitro, therefore inhibiting cardiac myocyte apoptosis and preventing cardiac dysfunction caused by AMI at the cellular level. The present study revealed the beneficial role of alatamine in cardiac protection and highlighted it as a potential therapeutic reagent for reduction of AMI-induced cardiac injury.
Origin and genetic structure of a recovering bobcat (Lynxrufus) population
Authors: Anderson C.S. , Prange S. , Gibbs H.L.
Published: October 2015

Genetic analyses can provide important insights into the demographic processes that underlie recovering populations of mammals of conservation concern such as felid species. To better understand the recent and rapid recovery of bobcats (Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)) in Ohio, we analyzed samples from four states in the lower Great Lakes Region using 12 microsatellite DNA loci and a portion of the mtDNA control region. Our results showed that a newly established population of bobcats in the eastern part of Ohio was genetically distinct from a multistate population distributed across Kentucky, southern Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. There was no direct genetic evidence of a bottleneck or inbreeding in this population. A lack of private alleles and only slightly lower levels of allelic richness and heterozygosity compared with its neighbors suggest that the eastern Ohio population likely originated from the migration of relatively large numbers of individuals from a source population rather than re-emerging from an undetected residual population. We recommend that a management plan should define the areas occupied by the two populations in Ohio as separate management units at least for the near future.
Aralia taibaiensis Protects Cardiac Myocytes against High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis
Authors: Duan Jialin , Wei Guo , Guo Chao , Cui Jia , Yan Jiajia , Yin Ying , Guan Yue , Weng Yan , Zhu Yanrong , Wu Xiaoxiao , Wang Yanhua , Xi Miaomiao , Wen Aidong
Published: October 2015

Patients with type 2 diabetes have increased cardiovascular disease risk compared with those without diabetes. Hyperglycemia can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which contributes to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Our previous study has demonstrated that the total saponins of Aralia taibaiensis (sAT), a frequently-used antidiabetic medicine in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can scavenge free radicals in vitro and have good anti-oxidant ability on lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes. This work was designed to investigate whether sAT could protect the heart while it was used in the treatment of diabetes. Oxidative stress was induced in H9c2 cells by high glucose (33 mM) and glucose oxidase (15 mU, G/GO) and the protective effects of sAT were evaluated. Treatment of H9c2 cells with G/GO resulted in an increase in cell death, intracellular ROS level and cell oxidative injury, which were markedly reduced by sAT treatment. Further study revealed that sAT induced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and expression of its downstream targets. Moreover, Nrf2 siRNA markedly abolished the cytoprotective effects of sAT. sAT exerted cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia and the cardioprotective effects of sAT might be through the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Thus, sAT might be a promising candidate for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Cold pasta phase in the extended Thomas–Fermi approximation
Authors: Avancini S. S. , Bertolino B. P.
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we aim to obtain more accurate values for the transition density to the homogenous phase in the nuclear pasta that occurs in the inner crust of neutron stars. To that end, we use the nonlinear Walecka model at zero temperature and an approach based on the extended Thomas–Fermi (ETF) approximation.
The impacts of financial crisis on sovereign credit risk analysis in Asia and Europe
Authors: Zhang Min , Kolkiewicz Adam W. , Wirjanto Tony S. , Li Xindan
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we investigate the nature of sovereign credit risk for selected Asian and European countries based on a set of sovereign CDS data over an eight-year period that includes the episode of the 2007–2008 global financial crisis. Our results indicate that there exists strong commonality in sovereign credit risk among the countries studied in this paper following the crisis. In addition, our results also show that commonality is importantly associated with both local and global financial and economic variables. However, there are markedly different impacts of the sovereign of credit risk in Asian and European countries. Specifically, we find that foreign reserve, global stock market, and volatility risk premium, affect Asian and European sovereign credit risks in the opposite direction. Lastly, we model the arrival rates of credit events as a square-root diffusion process from which a pricing model is constructed and estimated over pre- and post-crisis periods. Then the resulting model is used to decompose credit spreads into risk premium and credit-event components. For most countries in our study, credit-event components appear to weight more than risk-premiums.
Slow recovery of the impaired fatigue resistance in postunloading mouse soleus muscle corresponding to decreased mitochondrial function and a compensatory increase in type I slow fibers
Authors: Feng Han-Zhong , Chen Xuequn , Malek Moh H. , Jin J.-P.
Published: October 2015

Unloading or disuse rapidly results in skeletal muscle atrophy, switching to fast-type fibers, and decreased resistance to fatigue. The recovery process is of major importance in rehabilitation for various clinical conditions. Here we studied mouse soleus muscle during 60 days of reloading after 4 wk of hindlimb suspension. Unloading produced significant atrophy of soleus muscle with decreased contractile force and fatigue resistance, accompanied by switches of myosin isoforms from IIa to IIx and IIb and fast troponin T to more low-molecular-weight splice forms. The total mass, fiber size, and contractile force of soleus muscle recovered to control levels after 15 days of reloading. However, the fatigue resistance showed a trend of worsening during this period with significant infiltration of inflammatory cells at days 3 and 7, indicating reloading injuries that were accompanied by active regeneration with upregulations of filamin-C, αB-crystallin, and desmin. The fatigue resistance partially recovered after 30–60 days of reloading. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α and mitofusin-2 showed changes parallel to that of fatigue resistance after unloading and during reloading, suggesting a causal role of decreased mitochondrial function. Slow fiber contents in the soleus muscle were increased after 30–60 days of reloading to become significantly higher than the normal level, indicating a secondary adaption to compensate for the slow recovery of fatigue resistance.
The emerging roles of Oct4 in tumor-initiating cells
Authors: Wang Ying-Jie , Herlyn Meenhard
Published: October 2015

Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), a homeodomain transcription factor, is well established as a master factor controlling the self-renewal and pluripotency of pluripotent stem cells. Also, a large body of research has documented the detection of Oct4 in tumor cells and tissues and has indicated its enrichment in a subpopulation of undifferentiated tumor-initiating cells (TICs) that critically account for tumor initiation, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer therapies. There is circumstantial evidence for low-level expression of Oct4 in cancer cells and TICs, and the participation of Oct4 in various TIC functions such as its self-renewal and survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis, and drug resistance development is implicated from considerable Oct4 knockdown and overexpression-based studies. In a few studies, efforts have been made to identify Oct4 target genes in TICs of different sources. Based on such information, Oct4 in TICs appears to act via mechanisms quite distinct from those in pluripotent stem cells, and a main challenge for future studies is to unravel the molecular mechanisms of action of Oct4, particularly to address the question on how such low levels of Oct4 may exert its functions in TICs. Acquiring cells from their native microenvironment that are of high enough quantity and purity is the key to reliably analyze Oct4 functions and its target genes in TICs, and the information gained may greatly facilitate targeting and eradicating those cells.
Mechanisms of bradykinin-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor and nephrin in podocytes
Authors: Msallem J. Abou , Chalhoub H. , Al-Hariri M. , Saad L. , Jaffa M. A. , Ziyadeh F. N. , Jaffa A. A.
Published: October 2015

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes and is characterized by mesangial matrix deposition and podocytopathy, including podocyte loss. The risk factors and mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DN are still not completely defined. In the present study, we aimed to understand the cellular mechanisms through which activation of B2kinin receptors contribute to the initiation and progression of DN. Stimulation of cultured rat podocytes with bradykinin (BK) resulted in a significant increase in ROS generation, and this was associated with a significant increase in NADPH oxidase (NOX)1 and NOX4 protein and mRNA levels. BK stimulation also resulted in a signicant increase in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt, and this effect was inhibited in the presence of NOX1 and Nox4 small interfering (si)RNA. Furthermore, podocytes stimulated with BK resulted in a significant increase in protein and mRNA levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and, at the same time, a significant decrease in protein and mRNA levels of nephrin. siRNA targeted against NOX1 and NOX4 significantly inhibited the BK-induced increase in CTGF. Nephrin expression was increased in response to BK in the presence of NOX1 and NOX4 siRNA, thus implicating a role for NOXs in modulating the BK response in podocytes. Moreover, nephrin expression in response to BK was also significantly increased in the presence of siRNA targeted against CTGF. These findings provide novel aspects of BK signal transduction pathways in pathogenesis of DN and identify novel targets for interventional strategies.
Transforming growth factor-β mediates endothelial dysfunction in rats during high salt intake
Authors: Feng Wenguang , Ying Wei-Zhong , Aaron Kristal J. , Sanders Paul W.
Published: October 2015

Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be predictive of subsequent cardiovascular events and death. Through a mechanism that is incompletely understood, increased dietary salt intake promotes endothelial dysfunction in healthy, salt-resistant humans. The present study tested the hypothesis that dietary salt-induced transforming growth factor (TGF)-β promoted endothelial dysfunction and salt-dependent changes in blood pressure (BP). Sprague-Dawley rats that received diets containing 0.3% NaCl [low salt (LS)] or 8.0% NaCl [high salt (HS)] were treated with vehicle or SB-525334, a specific inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I/activin receptor-like kinase 5, beginning on day 5. BP was monitored using radiotelemetry in four groups of rats (LS, LS + SB-525334, HS, and HS + SB-525334) for up to 14 days. By day 14 of the study, mean daytime systolic BP and mean pulse pressure of the HS group treated with vehicle was greater than those in the other three groups; mean daytime systolic BP and pulse pressure of the HS + SB-525334 group did not differ from the LS and LS + SB-525334-treated groups. Whereas mean systolic BP, mean diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure did not differ among the groups on the seventh day of the study, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was impaired specifically in the HS group; treatment with the activin receptor-like kinase 5 inhibitor prevented the dietary HS intake-induced increases in phospho-Smad2 (Ser465/467) and NADPH oxidase-4 in endothelial lysates and normalized endothelial function. These findings suggest that HS-induced endothelial dysfunction and the development of salt-dependent increases in BP were related to endothelial TGF-β signaling.
Developing novel chemical entities for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders: an academic perspective
Authors: Shayman James A.
Published: October 2015

Historically, most Federal Drug Administration-approved drugs were the result of “in-house” efforts within large pharmaceutical companies. Over the last two decades, this paradigm has steadily shifted as the drug industry turned to startups, small biotechnology companies, and academia for the identification of novel drug targets and early drug candidates. This strategic pivot has created new opportunities for groups less traditionally associated with the creation of novel therapeutics, including small academic laboratories, for engagement in the drug discovery process. A recent example of the successful development of a drug that had its origins in academia is eliglustat tartrate, an oral agent for Gaucher disease type 1.
The physiological role of glucagon-like peptide-1 in the regulation of renal function
Authors: Farah Lívia X. S. , Valentini Vanessa , Pessoa Thaissa D. , Malnic Gerhard , McDonough Alicia A. , Girardi Adriana C. C.
Published: October 2015

Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone constantly secreted from the intestine at low basal levels in the fasted state; plasma concentrations rise rapidly after nutrient ingestion. Upon release, GLP-1 exerts insulinotropic effects via a G protein-coupled receptor, stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, and cAMP generation. Although primarily involved in glucose homeostasis, GLP-1 can induce diuresis and natriuresis when administered in pharmacological doses in humans and rodents. However, whether endogenous GLP-1 plays a role in regulating renal function remains an open question. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that blockade of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signaling at baseline influences renal salt and water handling. To this end, the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-9 (100 μg·kg−1·min−1) or vehicle was administered intravenously to overnight-fasted male Wistar rats for 30 min. This treatment reduced urinary cAMP excretion and renal cortical PKA activity, demonstrating blockade of renal GLP-1R signaling. Exendin-9-infused-rats exhibited reduced glomerular filtration rate, lithium clearance, urinary volume flow, and sodium excretion compared with vehicle-infused controls. Exendin-9 infusion also reduced renal cortical Na+/H+exchanger isotope 3 (NHE3) phosphorylation at serine 552 (NHE3pS552), a PKA consensus site that correlates with reduced transport activity. Collectively, these results provide novel evidence that GLP-1 is a physiologically relevant natriuretic factor that contributes to sodium balance, in part via tonic modulation of NHE3 activity in the proximal tubule.
Emergence of dominant initiation sites for interictal spikes in rat neocortex
Authors: Vitantonio Daniel , Xu Weifeng , Geng Xinling , Wolff Brian S. , Takagaki Kentaroh , Motamedi Gholam K. , Wu Jian-young
Published: October 2015

Neuronal populations with unbalanced inhibition can generate interictal spikes (ISs), where each IS starts from a small initiation site and then spreads activation across a larger area. We used in vivo voltage-sensitive dye imaging to map the initiation site of ISs in rat visual cortex disinhibited by epidural application of bicuculline methiodide. Immediately after the application of bicuculline, the IS initiation sites were widely distributed over the entire disinhibited area. After ∼10 min, a small number of sites became “dominant” and initiated the majority of the ISs throughout the course of imaging. Such domination also occurred in cortical slices, which lack long-range connections between the cortex and subcortical structures. This domination of IS initiation sites may allow timing-related plasticity mechanisms to provide a spatial organization where connections projecting outward from the dominant initiation site become strengthened. Understanding the spatiotemporal organization of IS initiation sites may contribute to our understanding of epileptogenesis in its very early stages, because a dominant IS initiation site with strengthened outward connectivity may ultimately develop into a seizure focus.
Integrating multiple sensory systems to modulate neural networks controlling posture
Authors: Lavrov I. , Gerasimenko Y. , Burdick J. , Zhong H. , Roy R. R. , Edgerton V. R.
Published: October 2015

In this study we investigated the ability of sensory input to produce tonic responses in hindlimb muscles to facilitate standing in adult spinal rats and tested two hypotheses: 1) whether the spinal neural networks below a complete spinal cord transection can produce tonic reactions by activating different sensory inputs and 2) whether facilitation of tonic and rhythmic responses via activation of afferents and with spinal cord stimulation could engage similar neuronal mechanisms. We used a dynamically controlled platform to generate vibration during weight bearing, epidural stimulation (at spinal cord level S1), and/or tail pinching to determine the postural control responses that can be generated by the lumbosacral spinal cord. We observed that a combination of platform displacement, epidural stimulation, and tail pinching produces a cumulative effect that progressively enhances tonic responses in the hindlimbs. Tonic responses produced by epidural stimulation alone during standing were represented mainly by monosynaptic responses, whereas the combination of epidural stimulation and tail pinching during standing or epidural stimulation during stepping on a treadmill facilitated bilaterally both monosynaptic and polysynaptic responses. The results demonstrate that tonic muscle activity after complete spinal cord injury can be facilitated by activation of specific combinations of afferent inputs associated with load-bearing proprioception and cutaneous input in the presence of epidural stimulation and indicate that whether activation of tonic or rhythmic responses is generated depends on the specific combinations of sources and types of afferents activated in the hindlimb muscles.
Contrast adaptation in theLimuluslateral eye
Authors: Valtcheva Tchoudomira M. , Passaglia Christopher L.
Published: October 2015

Luminance and contrast adaptation are neuronal mechanisms employed by the visual system to adjust our sensitivity to light. They are mediated by an assortment of cellular and network processes distributed across the retina and visual cortex. Both have been demonstrated in the eyes of many vertebrates, but only luminance adaptation has been shown in invertebrate eyes to date. Since the computational benefits of contrast adaptation should apply to all visual systems, we investigated whether this mechanism operates in horseshoe crab eyes, one of the best-understood neural networks in the animal kingdom. The spike trains of optic nerve fibers were recorded in response to light stimuli modulated randomly in time and delivered to single ommatidia or the whole eye. We found that the retina adapts to both the mean luminance and contrast of a white-noise stimulus, that luminance- and contrast-adaptive processes are largely independent, and that they originate within an ommatidium. Network interactions are not involved. A published computer model that simulates existing knowledge of the horseshoe crab eye did not show contrast adaptation, suggesting that a heretofore unknown mechanism may underlie the phenomenon. This mechanism does not appear to reside in photoreceptors because white-noise analysis of electroretinogram recordings did not show contrast adaptation. The likely site of origin is therefore the spike discharge mechanism of optic nerve fibers. The finding of contrast adaption in a retinal network as simple as the horseshoe crab eye underscores the broader importance of this image processing strategy to vision.
Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced Vinylester/Epoxy Blend Based Nanocomposites: Enhanced Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties
Authors: Praharaj Ankita Pritam , Behera Dibakar , Bastia Tapan Kumar , Rout Arun Kumar
Published: October 2015

This paper presents a study on the mechanical, thermal, and electrical characterization of a new class of low cost multiphase nanocomposites consisting of Vinylester resin/epoxy (VER/EP) blend (40 : 60 w/w) reinforced with amine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs). Five different sets of VER/EP nanocomposites are fabricated with addition of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt.% of f-MWCNTs. A detailed investigation of mechanical properties like tensile strength, impact strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness, thermal properties like thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermal conductivity, electrical properties like dielectric strength, dielectric constant, and electrical conductivity, and corrosive and swelling properties of the nanocomposites has been carried out. Here, we report significant improvement in all the above properties of the fabricated nanocomposites with nanofiller (f-MWCNTs) addition compared to the virgin blend (0 wt. nanofiller loading). The properties are best observed in case of 5 wt.% nanofiller loading with gradual deterioration thereafter which may be due to the nucleating tendency of the nanofiller particles. Thus the above nanocomposites could be a preferable candidate for a wide range of structural, thermal, electrical, and solvent based applications.
Synthesis, Characteristics, and Material Properties Dataset of Bi:DyIG‐Oxide Garnet‐Type Nanocomposites
Authors: Nur-E-Alam M. , Vasiliev Mikhail , Alameh Kamal
Published: October 2015

The fabrication, annealing crystallization processes, and material properties of (Bi,Dy)3(Fe,Ga)5O12:Bi2O3 nanocomposites are investigated and summarized. The stoichiometry of these nanocomposites is optimized for magnetooptic applications using the approach of stoichiometry adjustment (implemented by means of varying RF power densities applied to the sputtering targets used to prepare the nanocomposite thin films). The crystallization processes for all developed batches of as‐deposited films are carried out by annealing runs at different temperatures and process durations. This paper describes the methodologies used to optimize the compositions (by calculating the volumetric fractions of excess bismuth oxide to be mixed with the garnet‐stoichiometry species during cosputtering processes) and to obtain the optical and magnetooptical properties data and presents the materials properties summary of garnet‐bismuth oxide thin film composites as well.
A Novel Algorithm to Scheduling Optimization of Melting-Casting Process in Copper Alloy Strip Production
Authors: Yan Xiaohui , Zhang Zhicong , Guo Jianwen , Li Shuai , Hu Kaishun
Published: October 2015

Melting-casting is the first process in copper alloy strip production. The schedule scheme on this process affects the subsequent processes greatly. In this paper, we build the multiobjective model of melting-casting scheduling problem, which considers minimizing the makespan and total weighted earliness and tardiness penalties comprehensively. A novel algorithm, which we called Multiobjective Artificial Bee Colony/Decomposition (MOABC/D) algorithm, is proposed to solve this model. The algorithm combines the framework of Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm/Decomposition (MOEA/D) and the neighborhood search strategy of Artificial Bee Colony algorithm. The results on instances show that the proposed MOABC/D algorithm outperforms the other two comparison algorithms both on the distributions of the Pareto front and the priority in the optimal selection results.
Are Healthcare Providers Asking about Environmental Exposures? A Community-Based Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Zierold Kristina M. , Sears Clara G.
Published: October 2015

People living near environmental hazards may develop symptoms and health conditions that require specialized monitoring and treatment by healthcare providers. One emerging environmental hazard is coal ash. Coal ash is comprised of small particles containing heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and radioactive elements. The overall purpose of this study was to explore whether healthcare providers ask patients if they live near an environmental hazard like coal ash storage sites and to assess what health conditions prompt a provider inquiry. Focus groups were conducted in 2012 and a cross-sectional survey was administered in 2013. Overall, 61% of survey respondents reported that their healthcare providers never asked if they lived near an environmental hazard. One focus group member stated “No, they don’t ask that. They just always blame stuff on you….” Respondents with asthma and other lung conditions were significantly more likely to be asked by a healthcare provider if they lived near an environmental hazard. Due to the unique exposures from environmental hazards and the low prevalence of patients being asked about environmental hazards, we recommend that healthcare providers take environmental health histories in order to understand patients’ exposures, to monitor symptoms of exposure, and to assist with education about reducing exposure.
Effect of Hydrochloric Acid Concentration on Morphology of Polyaniline Nanofibers Synthesized by Rapid Mixing Polymerization
Authors: Zakaria Zulkhairi , Halim Nurul F. A. , Schleusingen Mubaraq H. V. , Islam A. K. M. Shafiqul , Hashim Uda , Ahmad Mohd N.
Published: October 2015

Polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers with diameters ranging from 60 nm to 190 nm were successfully synthesized by rapid mixing polymerization method at room temperature. The effects of synthesis conditions such as concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl), ammonium persulfate (APS), and aniline monomer (Ani) on the morphology of PANI nanofibers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and UV‐Vis analysis were performed to characterize the PANI nanofibers. The effect of polymerization time and electrical properties of PANI nanofibers was also discussed. A rapid mixing polymerization method is found to be advantageous in producing bulk quantities of nanofibers.
Antiamnesic Effects of a Hydroethanolic Extract of Crinum macowanii on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice
Authors: Mugwagwa Andrew T. , Gadaga Louis L. , Pote William , Tagwireyi Dexter
Published: October 2015

Crinum macowanii has been found to contain alkaloids that have activity against acetylcholinesterase enzyme in vitro. The present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo ability of hydroethanolic crude extract of Crinum macowanii to ameliorate memory impairment induced by scopolamine. Thirty-six male Balb/c mice weighing around 25–35 g were employed in the present investigation. Y-maze and novel object recognition apparatus served as the exteroceptive behavioural models, and scopolamine-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioural model. C. macowanii (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg p.o.) was administered in single doses to the mice. Donepezil (3 mg/kg p.o.) was used as a positive control agent. C. macowanii extract reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine as indicated by a dose-dependent increase in spontaneous alternation performance in the Y-maze task. C. macowanii 40 mg/kg showed significant activity (p<0.05 versus negative control), comparable to that of the positive control. C. macowanii also showed memory-enhancing activity against scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the long-term memory novel object recognition performance as indicated by a dose-dependent increase in the discrimination index. The results indicate that the hydroethanolic extract of C. macowanii may be a useful memory restorative mediator in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
FTC with Dynamic Virtual Actuators: Characterization via Dynamic Output Controllers andH∞Approach
Authors: Krokavec Dušan , Filasová Anna , Serbák Vladimír
Published: October 2015

The paper presents new conditions, adequate in design of dynamic virtual actuators and utilizable in fault-tolerant control structures (FTC) for continuous-time linear systems, which are stabilizable by dynamic output controllers. Taking into account disturbance conditions and changes of variables in FTC after virtual actuator activation and applying the nominal control scheme relating to the biproper dynamic output controller of prescribed order, the design conditions are outlined in terms of the linear matrix inequalities within the enhanced bounded real lemma forms. Using a free tuning parameter in design, and with suitable choice of the controller order, the approach provides the way to obtain acceptable dynamics of the closed-loop system after activation of the dynamic virtual actuator.
Abdominal Sarcoidosis May Mimic Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Authors: Gorkem Umit , Gungor Tayfun , Bas Yılmaz , Togrul Cihan
Published: October 2015

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. It shows a great variety of clinical presentation, organ involvement, and disease progression. Lungs and lymphoid system are the most common sites involved with a frequency of 90% and 30%, respectively. Extrapulmonary involvement of sarcoidosis is reported in 30% of patients and abdomen is the most frequent site. Furthermore, peritoneal involvement is extremely rare in sarcoidosis. The case presented here described peritoneal manifestations of sarcoidosis without involvement of lungs. A 78-year-old woman possessing signs of malignancy on blood test and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging underwent laparatomy with a suspicion of ovarian malignancy. The macroscopic interpretation during surgery was peritoneal carcinomatosis. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal biopsies, total omentectomy, and appendectomy were performed. Final histopathological result revealed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Clinicians must keep in mind that peritoneal sarcoidosis can mimic intra-abdominal malignancies.
Distributed Node-to-Node Consensus of Multiagent Systems with Delayed Nonlinear Dynamics and Intermittent Communications
Authors: Jia Kexin , Li Hongjie , Zheng Wenqiang , Mou Qinyou , Shao Jiajun
Published: October 2015

The paper is concerned with the problem of distributed node-to-node consensus of multiagent systems with delayed nonlinear dynamics and communication constraints. A new kind of consensus protocol based only on the intermittent measurements of neighboring agents is proposed to make each follower track the corresponding leader asymptotically. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory andM-matrix theory, some novel and simple criteria are derived for node-to-node consensus of multiagent systems. It is shown that consensus can be reached if the communication time duration is larger than the corresponding threshold value. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results.
Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Hong Kong: A Review of Practice and Research
Authors: Yu Junhong , Tam Helena M. K. , Lee Tatia M. C.
Published: October 2015

Background. The rising public health concern regarding traumatic brain injury (TBI) implies a growing need for rehabilitation services for patients surviving TBI.Methods. To this end, this paper reviews the practices and research on TBI rehabilitation in Hong Kong so as to inform future developments in this area. This paper begins by introducing the general situation of TBI patients in Hong Kong and the need for rehabilitation. Next, the trauma system in Hong Kong is introduced. Following that is a detailed description of the rehabilitation services for TBI patients in Hong Kong, as exemplified by a rehabilitation hospital in Hong Kong. This paper will also review intervention studies on rehabilitating brain-injured populations in Hong Kong with respect to various rehabilitation goals. Lastly, the implications of culture-related issues will be discussed in relation to TBI.Results/Conclusions. The intervention studies conducted in Hong Kong are generally successful in achieving various rehabilitative outcomes. Additionally, certain cultural-related issues, such as the stigma associated with TBI, may impede the rehabilitative process and lead to various psychosocial problems.
Bayes-Nash Equilibrium of the Generalized First-Price Auction
Authors: Han Xiaohu , Liu Shulin
Published: October 2015

We analyze the generalized first-price auction under incomplete information setting. Without setting a reserve price, the efficient symmetrical Bayes-Nash equilibrium is characterized and found to be increasing as the number of bidders is sufficiently large. Then, the explicit expression for the expected revenue of the search engine is found and the effect of the click rates of all the positions on the expected revenue is obtained. Finally, with setting of the reserve price, we have found the optimal reserve price and examine how the difference of the search engine’s revenues with setting reserve price and without setting reserve price varies with the reserve price.
Erythrocyte Catalase Activity in More Frequent Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia: Beta-Thalassemia Trait and Iron Deficiency Anemia
Authors: Lazarte Sandra Stella , Mónaco María Eugenia , Jimenez Cecilia Laura , Ledesma Achem Miryam Emilse , Terán Magdalena María , Issé Blanca Alicia
Published: October 2015

Most common microcytic hypochromic anemias are iron deficiency anemia (IDA) andβ-thalassemia trait (BTT), in which oxidative stress (OxS) has an essential role. Catalase causes detoxification of H2O2in cells, and it is an indispensable antioxidant enzyme. The study was designed to measure erythrocyte catalase activity (ECAT) in patients with IDA (10) or BTT (21), to relate it with thalassemia mutation type (β0orβ+) and to compare it with normal subjects (67). Ninety-eight individuals were analyzed since September 2013 to June 2014 in Tucumán, Argentina. Total blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH, HbA2, catalase, and iron status were performed.β-thalassemic mutations were determined by real-time PCR. Normal range for ECAT was 70,0–130,0 MU/L. ECAT was increased in 14% (3/21) of BTT subjects and decreased in 40% (4/10) of those with IDA. No significant difference (p=0,245) was shown between normal and BTT groups, while between IDA and normal groups the difference was proved to be significant (p=0,000). Inβ0andβ+groups, no significant difference (p=0,359) was observed. An altered ECAT was detected in IDA and BTT. These results will help to clarify how the catalase activity works in these anemia types.
Cellulose Nanocrystals Obtained from Rice By‐Products and Their Binding Potential to Metallic Ions
Authors: Albernaz Vanessa L. , Joanitti Graziella A. , Lopes Cláudio A. P. , Silva Luciano P.
Published: October 2015

The present study aimed to develop and optimize a method to obtain cellulose nanocrystals from the agricultural by‐products rice husk and straw and to evaluate their electrostructural modifications in the presence of metallic ions. First, different particle formation conditions and routes were tested and analyzed by spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta potential measurements. Then, electrostructural effects of ions Na(I), Cd(II), and Al(III) on the optimized nanoparticles were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrical conductivity (EC) assessments. The produced cellulose nanocrystals adopted a rod‐like shape. AFM height distribution and EC data indicated that the nanocrystals have more affinity in binding with Na(I) > Al(III) > Cd(II). These data suggest that the use of these cellulose nanocrystals in the bioremediation field is promising, both in metal sorption from wastewater and as an alternative for water desalination.