bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Policy drift and its reversal: The case of prescription drug coverage in the United States
Authors: Shpaizman Ilana
Published: March 2017

Policy drift occurs when actors block attempts to adjust policies to changing realities, thereby changing policy impact. We know much about the conditions for policy drifting, but lack theorization of the conditions for reversing the drift by updating the policy. This article examines when and how actors favouring drift decide to reverse it. These actors have different characteristics from those favouring policy update. Based on the case of prescription drug coverage in the US, the article argues that actors promote drift reversal when maintaining the current drift becomes politically risky. Even then, they will act only when able to limit the scope of the reversal. In addition, in order to implement the policy update, actors will use blame avoidance strategies to gain the support of their constituency and soften opposition.
A short measure of general policy alienation: Scale development using a 10‐step procedure
Authors: van Engen Nadine A.M.
Published: March 2017

Public administration research is becoming increasingly quantitative. As seen in psychological and managerial research, the result is a growing demand for valid and reliable measures. Given the tradition of contextually embedded research in public administration – where research should cover multiple factors to find useful answers to real‐life problems – survey research should ideally incorporate many measures. This is driving a need for short measures that do not compromise on validity and reliability. In this study, a short measure of general policy alienation is developed and tested, observing stringent criteria. The analyses on three independent datasets (N = 1,183, N = 354, and N = 933) show that the original multidimensional 26‐item measure can be abbreviated to a short five‐item measure with limited compromises on validity and reliability. Practical applications and methodological implications regarding both the developed measure and the 10‐step procedure used are discussed.
Successful management of passenger lymphocyte syndrome in an ABO‐compatible, nonidentical isolated bowel transplant: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Foell Daniel , Glasmeyer Sabina , Senninger Norbert , Wolters Heiner , Palmes Daniel , Bahde Ralf
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS), a subtype of graft‐versus‐host disease, is a rare disorder encountered mainly in ABO‐mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and infrequently in all types of ABO‐mismatched solid organ transplantation. We here report the fifth case of PLS in small bowel transplantation (SBTx) and the first one describing the successful management of PLS in a cadaveric, isolated SBTx.

CASE REPORT

A 60‐year‐old Caucasian female with blood group A D+ suffering from short bowel syndrome received a small bowel transplant from a 32‐year‐old Caucasian female with blood group O D+ (HLA mismatch 2/6). After onset of massive hemolysis on Postoperative Day 9 the positive direct and indirect antiglobulin tests showing antibodies against A1 and A2 red blood cells (RBCs) led to the diagnosis of PLS. This complication was successfully treated by transfusion of blood group O RBC transfusions, increased immunosuppression, and plasmapheresis.

CONCLUSION

In the event of severe hemolysis and anemia after ABO‐mismatched SBTx, PLS should be considered. In our case successful treatment consisted of transfusion of donor‐specific RBCs, increased immunosuppression, and plasmapheresis.
Effectiveness of CO2 laser in an experimental mammary gland adenocarcinoma model
Authors: Paczuska J. , Świtalska M. , Nowak M. , Kiełbowicz Z.
Published: March 2017

Background

The important goal of modern research in the field of surgical oncology is the quest for a tool that could improve the outcomes of tumour excision.

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of the CO2
laser with flexible hollow waveguide and scalpel in mammary tumour excision.

Materials & Methods

A total of 112 female BALB/c mice with implanted orthotopically 4T1‐luc2‐tdTomato tumour cells were included in the research. Tumours were excised in 48 mice using the CO2
laser and in 48 through scalpel surgery. The control group consisted of 16 untreated mice. The evaluation of surgical outcome was obtained by in vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging and post‐mortem histopathological examination.

Results

There were no significant differences between recurrence rates, metastases and survival time in groups excised with the scalpel and CO2
laser.

Conclusion

The CO2 laser has similar efficacy compared with conventional scalpel excision for local recurrence rates, incidence of distant metastases and survival time and can be safely applied in oncological surgery.
Leg vascular and skeletal muscle mitochondrial adaptations to aerobic high‐intensity exercise training are enhanced in the early postmenopausal phase
Authors: Nyberg Michael , Egelund Jon , Mandrup Camilla M. , Andersen Caroline B. , Hansen Karen M. B. E. , Hergel Ida‐Marie F. , Valbak‐Andersen Nicholai , Frikke‐Schmidt Ruth , Stallknecht Bente , Bangsbo Jens , Hellsten Ylva
Published: March 2017

Key points

Exercise training effectively improves vascular and skeletal muscle function; however, these effects of training may be blunted in postmenopausal women as a result of the loss of oestrogens.

Accordingly, the capacity to deliver oxygen to the active muscles may also be impaired in postmenopausal women.

In both premenopausal and recent postmenopausal women, exercise training was shown to improve leg vascular and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Interestingly, these effects were more pronounced in postmenopausal women.

Skeletal muscle oxygen supply and utilization were similar in the two groups of women.

These findings suggest that the early postmenopausal phase is associated with an enhanced capacity of the leg vasculature and skeletal muscle mitochondria to adapt to exercise training and that the ability to deliver oxygen to match the demand of the active muscles is preserved in the early phase following the menopausal transition.

Exercise training leads to favourable adaptations within skeletal muscle; however, this effect of exercise training may be blunted in postmenopausal women as a result of the loss of oestrogens. Furthermore, postmenopausal women may have an impaired vascular response to acute exercise. We examined the haemodynamic response to acute exercise in matched pre‐ and postmenopausal women before and after 12 weeks of aerobic high intensity exercise training. Twenty premenopausal and 16 early postmenopausal (mean ± SEM: 3.1 ± 0.5 years after final menstrual period) women only separated by 4 years of age (mean ± SEM: 50 ± 0 years vs. 54 ± 1 years) were included. Before training, leg blood flow, O2 delivery, O2 uptake and lactate release during knee‐extensor exercise were similar in pre‐ and postmenopausal women. Exercise training reduced (P < 0.05) leg blood flow, O2 delivery, O2 uptake, lactate release, blood pressure and heart rate during the same absolute workloads in postmenopausal women. These effects were not detected in premenopausal women. Quadriceps muscle protein contents of mitochondrial complex II, III and IV; endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS); cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1; COX‐2; and oestrogen‐related receptor α (ERRα) were increased (P < 0.05) with training in postmenopausal women, whereas only the levels of mitochondrial complex V, eNOS and COX‐2 were increased (P < 0.05) in premenopausal women. These findings demonstrate that vascular and skeletal muscle mitochondrial adaptations to aerobic high intensity exercise training are more pronounced in recent post‐ compared to premenopausal women, possibly as an effect of enhanced ERRα signalling. Also, the hyperaemic response to acute exercise appears to be preserved in the early postmenopausal phase.
Comparison of Standard Culture-Based Method to Culture-Independent Method for Evaluation of Hygiene Effects on the Hand Microbiome
Authors: Zapka C. , Leff J. , Henley J. , Tittl J. , De Nardo E. , Butler M. , Griggs R. , Fierer N. , Edmonds-Wilson S.
Published: March 2017

Hands play a critical role in the transmission of microbiota on one’s own body, between individuals, and on environmental surfaces. Effectively measuring the composition of the hand microbiome is important to hand hygiene science, which has implications for human health. Hand hygiene products are evaluated using standard culture-based methods, but standard test methods for culture-independent microbiome characterization are lacking. We sampled the hands of 50 participants using swab-based and glove-based methods prior to and following four hand hygiene treatments (using a nonantimicrobial hand wash, alcohol-based hand sanitizer [ABHS], a 70% ethanol solution, or tap water). We compared results among culture plate counts, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of DNA extracted directly from hands, and sequencing of DNA extracted from culture plates. Glove-based sampling yielded higher numbers of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) but had less diversity in bacterial community composition than swab-based sampling. We detected treatment-induced changes in diversity only by using swab-based samples (
P
< 0.001); we were unable to detect changes with glove-based samples. Bacterial cell counts significantly decreased with use of the ABHS (
P
< 0.05) and ethanol control (
P
< 0.05). Skin hydration at baseline correlated with bacterial abundances, bacterial community composition, pH, and redness across subjects. The importance of the method choice was substantial. These findings are important to ensure improvement of hand hygiene industry methods and for future hand microbiome studies. On the basis of our results and previously published studies, we propose recommendations for best practices in hand microbiome research.

IMPORTANCE
The hand microbiome is a critical area of research for diverse fields, such as public health and forensics. The suitability of culture-independent methods for assessing effects of hygiene products on microbiota has not been demonstrated. This is the first controlled laboratory clinical hand study to have compared traditional hand hygiene test methods with newer culture-independent characterization methods typically used by skin microbiologists. This study resulted in recommendations for hand hygiene product testing, development of methods, and future hand skin microbiome research. It also demonstrated the importance of inclusion of skin physiological metadata in skin microbiome research, which is atypical for skin microbiome studies.
A Genome-Scale Model of
Shewanella piezotolerans
Simulates Mechanisms of Metabolic Diversity and Energy Conservation
Authors: Dufault-Thompson Keith , Jian Huahua , Cheng Ruixue , Li Jiefu , Wang Fengping , Zhang Ying
Published: March 2017

The well-studied nature of the metabolic diversity of
Shewanella
bacteria makes species from this genus a promising platform for investigating the evolution of carbon metabolism and energy conservation. The
Shewanella
phylogeny is diverged into two major branches, referred to as group 1 and group 2. While the genotype-phenotype connections of group 2 species have been extensively studied with metabolic modeling, a genome-scale model has been missing for the group 1 species. The metabolic reconstruction of
Shewanella piezotolerans
strain WP3 represented the first model for
Shewanella
group 1 and the first model among piezotolerant and psychrotolerant deep-sea bacteria. The model brought insights into the mechanisms of energy conservation in WP3 under anaerobic conditions and highlighted its metabolic flexibility in using diverse carbon sources. Overall, the model opens up new opportunities for investigating energy conservation and metabolic adaptation, and it provides a prototype for systems-level modeling of other deep-sea microorganisms.
Adrenocortical carcinoma masquerading as Cushing's disease
Authors: Jarial Kush Dev , Walia Rama , Kumar Santosh , Bhansali Anil
Published: March 2017

Cushing's syndrome (CS) can be classified as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent or ACTH-independent depending on the ACTH levels. However, 30% of the patients with CS have ACTH levels in the ‘grey zone’ (5–20 pg/mL), thereby posing a challenge in establishing the aetiological diagnosis. In a patient with full-blown features of Cushing's syndrome with equivocal ACTH levels, and a pituitary microadenoma on contrast-enhanced MRI sella, can falsely lead to a diagnosis of Cushing's disease. Pituitary microadenoma, if <6 mm in size, may be an incidental finding (incidentaloma) in this scenario and can be present in ∼3–27% of the healthy population. Therefore, in a patient with CS with equivocal ACTH levels and a pituitary microadenoma, multiple samplings for ACTH and adrenal imaging should be performed to exclude ACTH-independent CS and if required, bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling to determine the source of ACTH excess.
Spatial variability of lake trout diets in Lakes Huron and Michigan revealed by stomach content and fatty acid profiles
Authors: Happel Austin , Jonas Jory L. , McKenna Paul R. , Rinchard Jacques , He Ji Xiang , Czesny Sergiusz J.
Published: March 2017

Despite long-term efforts to restore lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations in the Great Lakes, they continue to experience insufficient recruitment and rely on hatchery programs to sustain stocks. As lake trout reproductive success has been linked to diets, spatial heterogeneity in diet compositions is of interest. To assess spatial components of adult lake trout diets, we analyzed stomach contents and fatty acid profiles of dorsal muscle collected throughout Lake Michigan and along Lake Huron’s Michigan shoreline. Lake trout from Lake Huron were generally larger in both length and mass than those from Lake Michigan. However, lake trout from Lake Michigan varied more in size based on depth of capture with smaller fish being caught more in deeper set nets. Fatty acids and stomach contents indicated that alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) were consumed more in western Lake Michigan in contrast with round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) along the eastern shoreline. Conversely, in Lake Huron, lake trout primarily consumed rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). These results indicate that diet compositions of lake trout populations are relatively plastic and offer new insights into within-basin heterogeneity of Great Lakes food webs.
Do models parameterized with observations from the system predict larval yellow perch (Perca flavescens) growth performance better in Lake Erie?
Authors: Marin Jarrin Jose R. , Johnson Timothy B. , Ludsin Stuart A. , Reichert Julie M. , Pangle Kevin L.
Published: March 2017

Growth performance can influence survival during early life. As such, a range of statistical to mechanistic modeling approaches has been used to predict growth performance, with few studies evaluating prediction accuracy. We tested the ability of three models to estimate observed larval yellow perch (Perca flavescens) growth and length in western Lake Erie (United States – Canada). We found that a general linear model developed using yellow perch data from western Lake Erie performed best followed closely by a semimechanistic individual-based model (IBM) specific to Lake Erie yellow perch and worse by a general multispecies IBM. We suspect that the statistical model performed better because, unlike IBMs, it does not require prey availability data, probably poorly represented by zooplankton samples, and because the IBMs are imperfectly parameterized. Our findings indicate that caution should be exercised when using general IBMs given that the models parameterized with observations from the system of interest outperformed the general IBM in providing accurate fish growth and length estimates, pointing to the need for research that can improve existing mechanism-based models of larval growth.
Strong solutions for functional SDEs with singular drift
Authors: Huang Xing
Published: March 2017

By using Zvonkin type transforms, existence and uniqueness are proved for a class of functional stochastic differential equations with singular drifts. The main results extend corresponding ones in [5, 11] for stochastic differential equations driven by Brownian motion and symmetric [Formula: see text]-stable process respectively.
PICs in motoneurons do not scale with the size of the animal: a possible mechanism for faster speed of muscle contraction in smaller species
Authors: Huh Seoan , Siripuram Ramamurthy , Lee Robert H. , Turkin Vladimir V. , O’Neill Derek , Hamm Thomas M. , Heckman Charles J. , Manuel Marin
Published: March 2017

The majority of studies on the electrical properties of neurons are carried out in rodents, and in particular in mice. However, the minute size of this animal compared with humans potentially limits the relevance of the resulting insights. To be able to extrapolate results obtained in a small animal such as a rodent, one needs to have proper knowledge of the rules governing how electrical properties of neurons scale with the size of the animal. Generally speaking, electrical resistances of neurons increase as cell size decreases, and thus maintenance of equal depolarization across cells of different sizes requires the underlying currents to decrease in proportion to the size decrease. Thus it would generally be expected that voltage-sensitive currents are smaller in smaller animals. In this study, we used in vivo preparations to record electrical properties of spinal motoneurons in deeply anesthetized adult mice and cats. We found that PICs do not scale with size, but instead are constant in their amplitudes across these species. This constancy, coupled with the threefold differences in electrical resistances, means that PICs contribute a threefold larger depolarization in the mouse than in the cat. As a consequence, motoneuronal firing rate sharply increases as animal size decreases. These differences in firing rates are likely essential in allowing different species to control muscles with widely different contraction speeds (smaller animals have faster muscle fibers). Thus from our results we have identified a possible new mechanism for how electrical properties are tuned to match mechanical properties within the motor output system.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The small size of the mouse warrants concern over whether the properties of their neurons are a scaled version of those in larger animals or instead have unique features. Comparison of spinal motoneurons in mice to cats showed unique features. Firing rates in the mouse were much higher, in large part due to relatively larger persistent inward currents. These differences likely reflect adaptations for controlling much faster muscle fibers in mouse than cat.
Density of available striatal dopamine receptors predicts trait impulsiveness during performance of an attention-demanding task
Authors: Anderson Brian A. , Kuwabara Hiroto , Wong Dean F. , Courtney Susan M.
Published: March 2017

The density (measured at binding potential) of available striatal D2/D3 receptors has been shown to predict trait impulsiveness. This relationship is highly robust and well replicated. In each case, however, the availability of dopamine receptors was measured at rest. More broadly, the extent to which relationships between dopamine receptor availability and behavioral traits hold when participants perform a cognitive task is unclear. Furthermore, the performance of a cognitive task engages fundamentally different neural networks than are maximally engaged during the resting state. This complicates interpretation of previously observed correlations, which could be influenced by two distinct factors. The first is variation in available receptor density, which reflects a stable trait of the individual. The second is variation in context-specific dopamine release, which differentially displaces some dopamine radiotracers (such as raclopride) across individuals. Using an existing data set, we related trait impulsiveness, as measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), to the density (binding potential) of available striatal D2/D3 receptors as measured using positron emission tomography (PET) with [11C]raclopride. Importantly, the PET scan was completed while participants performed an attention-demanding visual search task. We replicate robust correlations between this measure of receptor availability and trait impulsiveness previously demonstrated during the resting state, extending this relationship to periods of active task engagement. Our results support the idea that this relationship depends on striatal D2/D3 receptor density and not on context-dependent dopamine release.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between the density of available striatal D2/D3 receptors and trait impulsiveness. However, in each case, the availability of dopamine receptors was measured during the resting state. This complicates interpretation of previously observed correlations, which could be influenced by either stable variation in receptor density or context-dependent dopamine release. We present evidence uniquely consistent with the former interpretation, providing clarity to the nature of this brain-behavior relationship.
Afferent motor feedback determines the perceived location of tactile stimuli in the external space presented to the moving arm
Authors: Maij Femke , Wing Alan M. , Medendorp W. Pieter
Published: March 2017

People make systematic errors when localizing a brief tactile stimulus in the external space presented on the index finger while moving the arm. Although these errors likely arise in the spatiotemporal integration of the tactile input and information about arm position, the underlying arm position information used in this process is not known. In this study, we tested the contributions of afferent proprioceptive feedback and predictive arm position signals by comparing localization errors during passive vs. active arm movements. In the active trials, participants were instructed to localize a tactile stimulus in the external space that was presented to the index finger near the time of a self-generated arm movement. In the passive trials, each of the active trials was passively replayed in randomized order, using a robotic device. Our results provide evidence that the localization error patterns of the passive trials are similar to the active trials and, moreover, did not lag but rather led the active trials, which suggests that proprioceptive feedback makes an important contribution to tactile localization. To further test which kinematic property of this afferent feedback signal drives the underlying computations, we examined the localization errors with movements that had differently skewed velocity profiles but overall the same displacement. This revealed a difference in the localization patterns, which we explain by a probabilistic model in which temporal uncertainty about the stimulus is converted into a spatial likelihood, depending on the actual velocity of the arm rather than involving an efferent, preprogrammed movement.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that proprioceptive feedback of arm motion rather than efferent motor signals contributes to tactile localization during an arm movement. Data further show that localization errors depend on arm velocity, not displacement per se, suggesting that instantaneous velocity feedback plays a role in the underlying computations. Model simulation using Bayesian inference suggests that these errors depend not only on spatial but also on temporal uncertainties of sensory and motor signals.
A Smoothed Finite Element‐Based Elasticity Model for Soft Bodies
Authors: Zhang Juan , Zhou Mingquan , Huang Youliang , Ren Pu , Wu Zhongke , Wang Xuesong , Zhao Shi Feng
Published: March 2017

One of the major challenges in mesh‐based deformation simulation in computer graphics is to deal with mesh distortion. In this paper, we present a novel mesh‐insensitive and softer method for simulating deformable solid bodies under the assumptions of linear elastic mechanics. A face‐based strain smoothing method is adopted to alleviate mesh distortion instead of the traditional spatial adaptive smoothing method. Then, we propose a way to combine the strain smoothing method and the corotational method. With this approach, the amplitude and frequency of transient displacements are slightly affected by the distorted mesh. Realistic simulation results are generated under large rotation using a linear elasticity model without adding significant complexity or computational cost to the standard corotational FEM. Meanwhile, softening effect is a by‐product of our method.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promoted Lung Wound Repair through Hox A9 during Endotoxemia-Induced Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Xin Xi , Yan Liu , Guangfa Zhu , Yan Huang , Keng Li , Chunting Wu
Published: March 2017

Objectives. Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical critical disease. Stem cells transplantation is recognized as an effective way to repair injured lung tissues. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on repair of lung and its mechanism. Methods. MSCs carrying GFP were administrated via trachea into wild-type SD rats 4 hours later after LPS administration. The lung histological pathology and the distribution of MSCs were determined by HE staining and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Next, differentially expressed HOX genes were screened by using real-time PCR array and abnormal expression and function of Hox A9 were analyzed in the lung and the cells. Results. MSCs promoted survival rate of ALI animals. The expression levels of multiple HOX genes had obvious changes after MSCs administration and HOX A9 gene increased by 5.94-fold after MSCs administration into ALI animals. HOX A9 was distributed in endothelial cells and epithelial cells in animal models and overexpression of Hox A9 can promote proliferation and inhibit inflammatory adhesion of MSCs. Conclusion. HoxA9 overexpression induced by MSCs may be closely linked with lung repair after endotoxin shock.
Empirical Driven Automatic Detection of Lobulation Imaging Signs in Lung CT
Authors: Han Guanghui , Liu Xiabi , Soomro Nouman Q. , Sun Jia , Zhao Yanfeng , Zhao Xinming , Zhou Chunwu
Published: March 2017

Computer-aided detection (CAD) of lobulation can help radiologists to diagnose/detect lung diseases easily and accurately. Compared to CAD of nodule and other lung lesions, CAD of lobulation remained an unexplored problem due to very complex and varying nature of lobulation. Thus, many state-of-the-art methods could not detect successfully. Hence, we revisited classical methods with the capability of extracting undulated characteristics and designed a sliding window based framework for lobulation detection in this paper. Under the designed framework, we investigated three categories of lobulation classification algorithms: template matching, feature based classifier, and bending energy. The resultant detection algorithms were evaluated through experiments on LISS database. The experimental results show that the algorithm based on combination of global context feature and BOF encoding has best overall performance, resulting inF1score of 0.1009. Furthermore, bending energy method is shown to be appropriate for reducing false positives. We performed bending energy method following the LIOP-LBP mixture feature, the average positive detection per image was reduced from 30 to 22, andF1score increased to 0.0643 from 0.0599. To the best of our knowledge this is the first kind of work for direct lobulation detection and first application of bending energy to any kind of lobulation work.
Do miRNAs Play a Role in Fetal Growth Restriction? A Fresh Look to a Busy Corner
Authors: Chiofalo Benito , Laganà Antonio Simone , Vaiarelli Alberto , La Rosa Valentina Lucia , Rossetti Diego , Palmara Vittorio , Valenti Gaetano , Rapisarda Agnese Maria Chiara , Granese Roberta , Sapia Fabrizio , Triolo Onofrio , Vitale Salvatore Giovanni
Published: March 2017

Placenta is the crucial organ for embryo and fetus development and plays a critical role in the development of fetal growth restriction (FGR). There are increasing evidences on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a variety of pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia and FGR. More than 1880 miRNAs have been reported in humans and most of them are expressed in placenta. In this paper, we aimed to review the current evidence about the topic. According to retrieved data, controversial results about placental expression of miRNAs could be due (at least in part) to the different experimental methods used by different groups. Despite the fact that several authors have demonstrated a relatively easy and feasible detection of some miRNAs in maternal whole peripheral blood, costs of these tests should be reduced in order to increase cohorts and have stronger evidence. In this regard, we take the opportunity to solicit future studies on large cohort and adequate statistical power, in order to identify a panel of biomarkers on maternal peripheral blood for early diagnosis of FGR.
Research on the Matching of Fastener Stiffness Based on Wheel‐Rail Contact Mechanism for Prevention of Rail Corrugation
Authors: Zhao Caiyou , Wang Ping , Xing Mengting
Published: March 2017

Laying shock absorber fasteners is one of the effective countermeasures used to reduce the ground vibration induced from urban rail transit. However, this kind of fasteners could cause severe rail corrugation. Based on the “wheel‐rail dynamic flexibility difference” mechanism, the optimization and further research of fastener stiffness were performed. With the finite element method, the simple beam and board model of the rail system is established to study the vertical and lateral dynamic flexibility characteristics of rails below 1,200 Hz. Within 5–40 kN/mm, a comparison is made between wheel‐rail dynamic flexibility differences corresponding to the vertical stiffness and lateral stiffness of different fasteners. The results show that 20 kN/mm and 10 kN/mm are the least and most suitable vertical stiffness values of fasteners, respectively; 40 kN/mm and 5–10 kN/mm are, respectively, the least and most suitable lateral stiffness values of fasteners. The research and analysis results can be adopted as references for deciding the fastener stiffness of urban track.
Sex Differences in the Effect of Resveratrol on DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice
Authors: Wagnerova Alexandra , Babickova Janka , Liptak Robert , Vlkova Barbora , Celec Peter , Gardlik Roman
Published: March 2017

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol studied for its possible protective properties in inflammatory bowel diseases. Moreover, it has been shown to interact with estrogen receptors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate possible diverse effects of resveratrol on female and male mice in DSS-induced colitis. Thirty-seven C57BL/6 mice (21 female and 16 male) were divided into three groups for each sex. The first group received pure water (CTRL). The other two groups received 1.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis from which one group was treated with resveratrol (DSS + RSV). Intake of 1.5% DSS caused weight loss in all DSS groups compared to control mice. Weight loss, stool consistency, and discomfort did not show any protective effect of resveratrol in males and showed even adverse effects in females. In females, the activity of myeloperoxidase was lower compared to that in males. However, colon length and spleen weight showed no sex differences, which can indicate the induction of only mild colitis in mice. Resveratrol did not have any effect on TNF-alpha levels. Taken together, these results for the first time propose possible diverse effects of resveratrol in DSS-induced colitis model depending on the sex of the animal. However, this conclusion must be confirmed by further analyses.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities ofPogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth.
Authors: Dechayont Bhanuz , Ruamdee Pimnapa , Poonnaimuang Sukrita , Mokmued Khwanchanok , Chunthorng-Orn Jitpisute
Published: March 2017

Pogostemon cablin(Lamiaceae) has been widely used in traditional medicine. In this study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves fromP. cablinextracts were investigated. The water extracts had the highest total phenolic content116.88±0.48 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dry plant extract. Nevertheless, high levels of total flavonoid content were found in ethanolic extracts280.12±2.04 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry plant extract. The highest antioxidant activities were found for the ethanolic extract (IC50=18±0.90,20±0.24 μg/mL) by DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays, respectively. Both extracts showed moderate inhibition of superoxide inhibition (O2∙-) and nitric oxide (NO) production in concentration-dependent manner. Antibacterial activity was calculated by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC). The ethanolic extract had the greatest activity against methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus, methicillin sensitiveS. aureus, andStreptococcus pyogeneswith zone diameters of11.67±1.53,10.33±2.52, and10.33±1.15 mm, respectively. The corresponding MIC and MBCs were 5, 0.625, and 0.039 mg/mL.P. cablinextracts contain antioxidant and antibacterial properties that should be exploited for possible clinical application.
Extract from Periostracum cicadae Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Ultraviolet B Irradiation on HaCaT Keratinocytes
Authors: Chang Tsong-Min , Tsen Jen-Horng , Yen Hsuan , Yang Ting-Ya , Huang Huey-Chun
Published: March 2017

Periostracum cicadae is widely used for the treatment of skin diseases such as eczema, pruritus, and itching. The current study sought to evaluate the effect of P. cicadae extract on ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and identify the mechanisms involved. Photodamage‐protective activity of P. cicadae extracts against oxidative challenge was screened using HaCaT keratinocytes. P. cicadae extracts did not affect cell viability but decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The extract attenuates the expression of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2), and MMP‐9 in UVB‐treated HaCaT cells. Also, P. cicadae abrogated UVB‐induced activation of NF‐κB, p53, and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1). The downmodulation of IL‐6 by P. cicadae was inhibited by the p38 inhibitor (SB203580) or JNK inhibitor (SP600125). Moreover, the extract attenuated the expression of NF‐κB and induced thrombomodulin in keratinocytes and thereby effectively downregulated inflammatory responses in the skin. The nuclear accumulation and expression of NF‐E2‐related factor (Nrf2) were increased by P. cicadae treatment. Furthermore, treatment with P. cicadae remarkably ameliorated the skin’s structural damage induced by irradiation. This study demonstrates that P. cicadae may protect skin cells against oxidative insult by modulating ROS concentration, IL‐6, MMPs generation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and cell signaling pathways.
Identification of Sp1 as a Transcription Activator to Regulate Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Gene Expression
Authors: Chen Shuqin , Li Huating , Zhang Jing , Jiang Shan , Zhang Mingliang , Xu Yilan , Dong Kun , Yang Ying , Fang Qichen , Jia Weiping
Published: March 2017

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic hormone with multiple beneficial effects on lipid and glucose homeostasis. Previous study demonstrated that FGF21 might be one of the Sp1 target genes. However, the transcriptional role of Sp1 on FGF21 in adipose tissue and liver has not been reported. In this study, we found that the proximal promoter of mouse FGF21 is located between −63 and −20 containing two putative Sp1-binding sites. Sp1 is a mammalian transcription factor involved in the regulation of many genes during physiological and pathological processes. Our study showed that overexpression of Sp1 or suppressing Sp1 expression resulted in increased or reduced FGF21 promoter activity, respectively. Mutation analysis demonstrated that the Sp1-binding site located between −46 and −38 plays a primary role in transcription of FGF21. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that Sp1 specifically bound to this region. Furthermore, the binding activity of Sp1 was significantly increased in adipose tissues of HFD-induced obese mouse and liver of DEN-treated mouse. Thus, our results demonstrate that Sp1 positively regulates the basal transcription of FGF21 in the liver and adipose tissue and contributes to the obesity-induced FGF21 upregulation in mouse adipose tissue and hepatic FGF21 upregulation in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Optimum Pipeline for Visual Terrain Classification Using Improved Bag of Visual Words and Fusion Methods
Authors: Wu Hang , Liu Baozhen , Su Weihua , Chen Zihao , Zhang Wenchang , Ren Xudong , Sun Jinggong
Published: March 2017

We propose an optimum pipeline and develop the hybrid representation to produce an effective and efficient visual terrain classification system. The bag of visual words (BOVW) framework has emerged as a promising approach and effective paradigm for visual terrain classification. The method includes four main steps: (1) feature extraction, (2) codebook generation, (3) feature coding, and (4) pooling and normalization. Recent researches have primarily focused on feature extraction in the development of new handcrafted descriptors that are specific to the visual terrain. However, the effects of other steps on visual terrain classification are still unknown. At the same time, fusion methods are often used to boost classification performance by exploring the complementarity of diverse features. We provide a comprehensive study of all steps in the BOVW framework and different fusion methods for visual terrain classification. Then, multiple approaches in each step and their effects are explored on the visual terrain dataset. Finally, the feature preprocessing technique, improved BOVW framework, and fusion method are used to construct an optimum pipeline for visual terrain classification. The hybrid representation developed by the optimum pipeline performs effectively and rapidly for visual terrain classification in the terrain dataset, outperforming those current methods. Furthermore, it is robust to diverse noises and illumination alterations.
New Wavelet Neurovascular Bundle for Bedside Evaluation of Cerebral Autoregulation and Neurovascular Coupling in Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Chalak Lina F. , Zhang Rong
Published: March 2017

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) resulting from birth asphyxia constitutes a major global public health burden for millions of infants every year, and despite therapeutic hypothermia, half of these neonates have poor neurological outcomes. As new neuroprotective interventions are being studied in clinical trials, there is a critical need to establish physiological surrogate markers of therapeutic efficacy, to guide patient selection and/or to modify the therapeutic intervention. The challenge in the field of neonatal brain injury has been the difficulty of clinically discerning NE severity within the short therapeutic window after birth or of analyzing the dynamic aspects of the cerebral circulation in sick NE newborns. To address this roadblock, we have recently developed a new “wavelet neurovascular bundle” analytical system that can measure cerebral autoregulation (CA) and neurovascular coupling (NVC) at multiple time scales under dynamic, nonstationary clinical conditions. This wavelet analysis may allow noninvasive quantification at the bedside of (1) CA (combining metrics of blood pressure and cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy, NIRS) and (2) NVC (combining metrics obtained from NIRS and EEG) in newborns with encephalopathy without mathematical assumptions of linear and stationary systems. In this concept paper, we present case examples of NE using the proposed physiological wavelet metrics of CA and NVC. The new approach, once validated in large NE studies, has the potential to optimize the selection of candidates for therapeutic decision-making, and the prediction of neurocognitive outcomes.
The Effects of miR-136-5p-Mediated Regulation of A20 in Astrocytes from Cultured Spinal Cord Cultured Cells In Vitro
Authors: Peng Xiaoming , Shi Xiongzhi , Zhao Jinmin , He Jichen , Li Keke , Cen Zhongxi , Wu Yunle , Zong Shaohui , Zeng Gaofeng
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims: This study focused on investigating the regulatory mechanism of miR-136-5p in mouse astrocytes stimulated with interleukin-17(IL-17). Methods: C57BL/6 mouse astrocytes were stimulated with IL-17 (100ng/ml) for various periods of time (0-48 hours) and at various doses (0-200 ng), and the expression levels of inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes (IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, MCP-5 and MIP-2) were then detected by real-time PCR. The expression of the A20 gene was measured with real-time PCR in cells that were stimulated with IL-17 (50 ng/ml) for various periods of time (0-48 hours). C57BL/6 mouse astrocytes were transfected with Ctrl-anti-miR-136-5p or LNA -anti-miR-136-5p for 48 h. Thereafter, the cells were stimulated with or without IL-17 (50ng/ml) for 6 h. The level of A20 protein (TNFα-induced protein 3, TNFAIP3) was detected by Western blot analysis. Results: (1) Compared with the DMEM control group, within six hours, IL-17 stimulation significantly increased the expression levels of inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes and clearly decreased the expression level of the A20 protein. (2) Without IL-17 stimulation, the expression level of the miR-136-5p gene was significantly decreased, whereas in the miR-136-5p-inhibition group, the A20 protein expression was elevated. IL-17 stimulation slightly decreased the expression of the A20 protein in the miR-136-5p-inhibition group, but it was still slightly higher than in the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that miR-136-5p affected the expression of A20 in IL-17-stimulated astrocytes.
Long Noncoding RNA MANTIS Facilitates Endothelial Angiogenic Function
Authors: Leisegang Matthias S. , Fork Christian , Josipovic Ivana , Richter Florian Martin , Preussner Jens , Hu Jiong , Miller Matthew J. , Epah Jeremy , Hofmann Patrick , Günther Stefan , Moll Franziska , Valasarajan Chanil , Heidler Juliana , Ponomareva Yuliya , Freiman Thomas M. , Maegdefessel Lars , Plate Karl H. , Mittelbronn Michel , Uchida Shizuka , Künne Carsten , Stellos Konstantinos , Schermuly Ralph T. , Weissmann Norbert , Devraj Kavi , Wittig Ilka , Boon Reinier A. , Dimmeler Stefanie , Pullamsetti Soni Savai , Looso Mario , Miller Francis J. , Brandes Ralf P.
Published: March 2017

Background:

The angiogenic function of endothelial cells is regulated by numerous mechanisms, but the impact of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has hardly been studied. We set out to identify novel and functionally important endothelial lncRNAs.

Methods:

Epigenetically controlled lncRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells were searched by exon-array analysis after knockdown of the histone demethylase JARID1B. Molecular mechanisms were investigated by RNA pulldown and immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, microarray, several knockdown approaches, CRISPR-Cas9, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing, and chromatin immunoprecipitation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Patient samples from lung and tumors were studied for MANTIS expression.

Results:

A search for epigenetically controlled endothelial lncRNAs yielded lncRNA n342419, here termed MANTIS, as the most strongly regulated lncRNA. Controlled by the histone demethylase JARID1B, MANTIS was downregulated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and in rats treated with monocrotaline, whereas it was upregulated in carotid arteries of
Macaca fascicularis
subjected to atherosclerosis regression diet, and in endothelial cells isolated from human glioblastoma patients. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion or silencing of MANTIS with small interfering RNAs or GapmeRs inhibited angiogenic sprouting and alignment of endothelial cells in response to shear stress. Mechanistically, the nuclear-localized MANTIS lncRNA interacted with BRG1, the catalytic subunit of the switch/sucrose nonfermentable chromatin-remodeling complex. This interaction was required for nucleosome remodeling by keeping the ATPase function of BRG1 active. Thereby, the transcription of key endothelial genes such as
SOX18
,
SMAD6
, and
COUP-TFII
was regulated by ensuring efficient RNA polymerase II machinery binding.

Conclusion:

MANTIS is a differentially regulated novel lncRNA facilitating endothelial angiogenic function.
Kingdom Culture?
Authors: Brison Karen J.
Published: March 2017

The Harvest Ministry, an independent Fijian Pentecostal church that sends missionaries to East Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific, sees itself as embedded in a transnational community of Christians sharing a common “kingdom culture.” Transnational Pentecostal networks are often seen by scholars and believers as a vehicle for disembedding individuals from local social groups and promoting individual-centered moral systems. Fijians, Papua New Guineans and East Africans use similar themes and images in sermons. But there are significant differences in meaning leading to tensions between groups indicating that local identities are reinforced. All groups stress the importance of community.
The “Biographical Lives” of Missionary Barend Schuurman
Authors: Busschers Iris
Published: March 2017

This article engages with the genre of missionary biography through the lens of the life of Dutch missionary Barend Schuurman and the biographical commemorations of him. Missionary Barend Schuurman worked in East Java from 1922 until he died as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II. After his death, and during the years of the Indonesian War of Independence, Schuurman rose to prominence as one of the few missionaries who had tried to bring Christianity to the population in East Java from an ‘insider’ perspective. Bringing in questions about the spatial and temporal contexts in Barend Schuurman’s biography, this article seeks, first, to destabilise heroic missionary narratives by drawing attention to the entangled belongings present in Schuurman’s work. Secondly, the article highlights how changing contemporary concerns in Dutch mission influenced Schuurman’s rise to fame within the nationally and transnationally constituted genre of missionary biography.
Entitlement and the Epistemic Status of Cornerstone Beliefs
Authors: Vahid Hamid
Published: March 2017

In a series of papers, Crispin Wright has proposed a number of arguments to show that what makes one’s perceptual experience confer justification on the beliefs it gives rise to includes having independent, non-evidential warrant (entitlement) to believe the kind of presuppositions (or ‘cornerstones’) that the skeptic highlights. It has been objected that such arguments at most show that entitlement has a pragmatic character. While sympathizing with this objection, I will argue in this paper that the kind of considerations that Wright adduces in support of the entitlement thesis can nevertheless bear on the epistemic status of cornerstone beliefs, though not in the way envisaged by Wright himself. To show this, I shall make use of the thesis of pragmatic encroachment arguing that, in addition to its practical stakes, the epistemic stakes of a belief are also relevant to its epistemic status. The consequences of the claim will then be explored for the question of the epistemic status of cornerstone beliefs which seem to show that, pace Wright, such beliefs can, after all, be evidentially warranted.