bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased prevalence and rupture status of feeder vessel aneurysms in posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations
Authors: Orning Jennifer , Amin-Hanjani Sepideh , Hamade Youssef , Du Xinjian , Hage Ziad A , Aletich Victor , Charbel Fady , Alaraj Ali
Published: October 2015

Background

Posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are considered to have a higher risk of poor outcome, as are AVMs with associated aneurysms. We postulated that posterior fossa malformations may be more prone to associated feeder vessel aneurysms, and to aneurysmal source of hemorrhage.

Objective

To examine the prevalence and hemorrhagic risk of posterior fossa AVM-associated feeder vessel aneurysms.

Methods

A retrospective review of AVMs was performed with attention paid to location and presence of aneurysms. The hemorrhage status and origin of the hemorrhage was also reviewed.

Results

571 AVMs were analyzed. Of 90 posterior fossa AVMs, 34 (37.8%) had aneurysms (85% feeder vessel, 9% intranidal, 15% with both). Of the 481 supratentorial AVMs, 126 (26.2%) harbored aneurysms (65% feeder vessel, 29% intranidal, 6% both). The overall incidence of feeder aneurysms was higher in posterior fossa AVMs, which were evident in 34.4% of infratentorial AVMs compared to 18.5% of supratentorial malformations (p<0.01). The presence of intranidal aneurysms was similar in both groups (9.2% vs 8.8%). Feeder artery aneurysms were much more likely to be the source of hemorrhage in posterior fossa AVMs than in supratentorial AVMs (30% vs 7.6%, p<0.01).

Conclusions

Posterior fossa AVMs are more prone to developing associated aneurysms, specifically feeder vessel aneurysms. Feeder vessel aneurysms are more likely to be the source of hemorrhage in the posterior fossa. As such, they may be the most appropriate targets for initial and prompt control by embolization or surgery due to their elevated threat.
Fire effects on acorn production are consistent with the stored resource hypothesis for masting behavior
Authors: Funk Kyle A. , Koenig Walter D. , Knops Johannes M.H.
Published: October 2015

Highly variable patterns of seed production (“masting”) have been hypothesized to be driven by internal dynamics of resource storage and depletion. This hypothesis predicts that if seed production is artificially reduced, then the availability of unused stored resources should result in subsequent enhancement of the seed crop. We tested this prediction in two oak species with contrasting patterns of annual seed production (highly variable and relatively constant) by means of controlled burns at various frequencies over a 17-year period. We found that controlled burns reduced acorn production by both species in the year of the burn. In the species with relatively constant productivity, acorn production returned to baseline levels in the year following a burn; however, in the species with highly variable productivity, acorn production significantly increased the year following a burn. These results support a key prediction of the stored resource hypothesis by means of a long-term experimental test in wild tree populations.
Bufalin Inhibits NCI-H460 Human Lung Cancer Cell MetastasisIn Vitroby Inhibiting MAPKs, MMPs, and NF-κB Pathways
Authors: Wu Shin-Hwar , Hsiao Yung-Ting , Kuo Chao-Lin , Yu Fu-Shun , Hsu Shu-Chun , Wu Ping-Ping , Chen Jaw-Chyun , Hsia Te-Chun , Liu Hsin-Chung , Hsu Wu-Huei , Chung Jing-Gung
Published: October 2015

Bufalin, a component of Chan Su (a traditional Chinese medicine), has been known to have antitumor effects for thousands of years. In this study, we investigated its anti-metastasis effects on NCI-H460 lung cancer cells. Under sub-lethal concentrations (from 25 up to 100 nM), bufalin significantly inhibits the invasion and migration nature of NCI-H460 cells that were measured by Matrigel Cell Migration Assay and Invasion System. Bufalin also suppressed the enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, which was examined by gelatin zymography methods. Western blotting revealed that bufalin depressed several key metastasis-related proteins, such as NF-κB, MMP-2, MMP-9, protein kinase C (PKC), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), phosphorylated Akt, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated p38, and phosphorylated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). As evidenced by immunostaining and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), bufalin induced not only a decreased cytoplasmic NF-κB production, but also decreased its nuclear translocation. Several metastasis-related genes, including Rho-associated (Rho A), coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), were down-regulated after bufalin treatment. In conclusion, bufalin is effective in inhibiting the metastatic nature of NCI-H460 cells in low, sub-lethal concentrations. Such an effect involves many mechanisms including MMPs, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB systems. Bufalin has a potential to evolve into an anti-metastasis drug for human lung cancer in the future.
New Solution Method for Electrical Systems Represented by Ordinary Differential Equation
Authors: Bilgehan Bülent , Eminağa Buğçe , Riza Mustafa
Published: October 2015

Electrical circuits based on linear and nonlinear modelling principles have difficulties to meet demands caused by a large amount of data generated and processed. The aim is to examine the existing models from bigeometric calculus point of view to obtain accuracy on the results. This work is an application of bigeometric Runge–Kutta (BRK4) method aiming to solve differential equations with nonzero initial condition. This type of work arises from applications where the systems are defined by ordinary differential equations such as noise, filter, audio, chaotic circuits, etc. Solutions to these types of equations are not always easy. The improvement in this work is obtained by introducing bigeometric calculus in the process of seeking a solution to differential equations. Different classes of input signals are applied as input to the system and processed to determine the accuracy of the output. The applicability is tested against the classical method called Runge–Kutta (RK4). Simulation results confirm the application of BRK4 method in electrical circuit analysis. The new method also provides better results for all types of input signals, i.e., linear, nonlinear, constant or Gaussian.
Lamin A/C deficiency reduces circulating tumor cell resistance to fluid shear stress
Authors: Mitchell Michael J. , Denais Celine , Chan Maxine F. , Wang Zhexiao , Lammerding Jan , King Michael R.
Published: October 2015

Metastasis contributes to over 90% of cancer-related deaths and is initiated when cancer cells detach from the primary tumor, invade the basement membrane, and enter the circulation as circulating tumor cells (CTCs). While metastasis is viewed as an inefficient process with most CTCs dying within the bloodstream, it is evident that some CTCs are capable of resisting hemodynamic shear forces to form secondary tumors in distant tissues. We hypothesized that nuclear lamins A and C (A/C) act as key structural components within CTCs necessary to resist destruction from elevated shear forces of the bloodstream. Herein, we show that, compared with nonmalignant epithelial cells, tumor cells are resistant to elevated fluid shear forces in vitro that mimic those within the bloodstream, as evidenced by significant decreases in cellular apoptosis and necrosis. Knockdown of lamin A/C significantly reduced tumor cell resistance to fluid shear stress, with significantly increased cell death compared with parental tumor cell and nontargeting controls. Interestingly, lamin A/C knockdown increased shear stress-induced tumor cell apoptosis, but did not significantly affect cellular necrosis. These data demonstrate that lamin A/C is an important structural component that enables tumor cell resistance to fluid shear stress-mediated death in the bloodstream, and may thus facilitate survival and hematogenous metastasis of CTCs.
Mechanisms of DRA recycling in intestinal epithelial cells: effect of enteropathogenic E. coli
Authors: Gujral Tarunmeet , Kumar Anoop , Priyamvada Shubha , Saksena Seema , Gill Ravinder K. , Hodges Kim , Alrefai Waddah A. , Hecht Gail A. , Dudeja Pradeep K.
Published: October 2015

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a food-borne pathogen that causes infantile diarrhea worldwide. EPEC decreases the activity and surface expression of the key intestinal Cl−/HCO3− exchanger SLC26A3 [downregulated in adenoma (DRA)], contributing to the pathophysiology of early diarrhea. Little is known about the mechanisms governing membrane recycling of DRA. In the current study, Caco-2 cells were used to investigate DRA trafficking under basal conditions and in response to EPEC. Apical Cl−/HCO3− exchange activity was measured as DIDS-sensitive 125I− uptake. Cell surface biotinylation was performed to assess DRA endocytosis and exocytosis. Inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by chlorpromazine (60 μM) increased apical Cl−/HCO3− exchange activity. Dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, also increased function and surface levels of DRA via decreased endocytosis. Perturbation of microtubules by nocodazole revealed that intact microtubules are essential for basal exocytic (but not endocytic) DRA recycling. Mice treated with colchicine showed a decrease in DRA surface levels as visualized by confocal microscopy. In response to EPEC infection, DRA surface expression was reduced partly via an increase in DRA endocytosis and a decrease in exocytosis. These effects were dependent on the EPEC virulence genes espG1 and espG2. Intriguingly, the EPEC-induced decrease in DRA function was unaltered in the presence of dynasore, suggesting a clathrin-independent internalization of surface DRA. In conclusion, these studies establish the role of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and microtubules in the basal surface expression of DRA and demonstrate that the EPEC-mediated decrease in DRA function and apical expression in Caco-2 cells involves decreased exocytosis.
Increased risk for the development of preeclampsia in obese pregnancies: weighing in on the mechanisms
Authors: Spradley Frank T. , Palei Ana C. , Granger Joey P.
Published: October 2015

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder typically presenting as new-onset hypertension and proteinuria. While numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that obesity increases the risk of PE, the mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Growing evidence from animal and human studies implicate placental ischemia in the etiology of this maternal syndrome. It is thought that placental ischemia is brought about by dysfunctional cytotrophoblast migration and invasion into the uterus and subsequent lack of spiral arteriole widening and placental perfusion. Placental ischemia/hypoxia stimulates the release of soluble placental factors into the maternal circulation where they cause endothelial dysfunction, particularly in the kidney, to elicit the clinical manifestations of PE. The most recognized of these factors are the anti-angiogenic sFlt-1 and pro-inflammatory TNF-α and AT1-AA, which promote endothelial dysfunction by reducing levels of the provasodilator nitric oxide and stimulating production of the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 and reactive oxygen species. We hypothesize that obesity-related metabolic factors increase the risk for developing PE by impacting various stages in the pathogenesis of PE, namely, 1) cytotrophoblast migration and placental ischemia; 2) release of soluble placental factors into the maternal circulation; and 3) maternal endothelial and vascular dysfunction. This review will summarize the current experimental evidence supporting the concept that obesity and metabolic factors like lipids, insulin, glucose, and leptin affect placental function and increase the risk for developing hypertension in pregnancy by reducing placental perfusion; enhancing placental release of soluble factors; and by increasing the sensitivity of the maternal vasculature to placental ischemia-induced soluble factors.
Testing the odds of inherent vs. observed overdispersion in neural spike counts
Authors: Taouali Wahiba , Benvenuti Giacomo , Wallisch Pascal , Chavane Frédéric , Perrinet Laurent U.
Published: October 2015

The repeated presentation of an identical visual stimulus in the receptive field of a neuron may evoke different spiking patterns at each trial. Probabilistic methods are essential to understand the functional role of this variance within the neural activity. In that case, a Poisson process is the most common model of trial-to-trial variability. For a Poisson process, the variance of the spike count is constrained to be equal to the mean, irrespective of the duration of measurements. Numerous studies have shown that this relationship does not generally hold. Specifically, a majority of electrophysiological recordings show an “overdispersion” effect: responses that exhibit more intertrial variability than expected from a Poisson process alone. A model that is particularly well suited to quantify overdispersion is the Negative-Binomial distribution model. This model is well-studied and widely used but has only recently been applied to neuroscience. In this article, we address three main issues. First, we describe how the Negative-Binomial distribution provides a model apt to account for overdispersed spike counts. Second, we quantify the significance of this model for any neurophysiological data by proposing a statistical test, which quantifies the odds that overdispersion could be due to the limited number of repetitions (trials). We apply this test to three neurophysiological data sets along the visual pathway. Finally, we compare the performance of this model to the Poisson model on a population decoding task. We show that the decoding accuracy is improved when accounting for overdispersion, especially under the hypothesis of tuned overdispersion.
Genetically identified spinal interneurons integrating tactile afferents for motor control
Authors: Bui Tuan V. , Stifani Nicolas , Panek Izabela , Farah Carl
Published: October 2015

Our movements are shaped by our perception of the world as communicated by our senses. Perception of sensory information has been largely attributed to cortical activity. However, a prior level of sensory processing occurs in the spinal cord. Indeed, sensory inputs directly project to many spinal circuits, some of which communicate with motor circuits within the spinal cord. Therefore, the processing of sensory information for the purpose of ensuring proper movements is distributed between spinal and supraspinal circuits. The mechanisms underlying the integration of sensory information for motor control at the level of the spinal cord have yet to be fully described. Recent research has led to the characterization of spinal neuron populations that share common molecular identities. Identification of molecular markers that define specific populations of spinal neurons is a prerequisite to the application of genetic techniques devised to both delineate the function of these spinal neurons and their connectivity. This strategy has been used in the study of spinal neurons that receive tactile inputs from sensory neurons innervating the skin. As a result, the circuits that include these spinal neurons have been revealed to play important roles in specific aspects of motor function. We describe these genetically identified spinal neurons that integrate tactile information and the contribution of these studies to our understanding of how tactile information shapes motor output. Furthermore, we describe future opportunities that these circuits present for shedding light on the neural mechanisms of tactile processing.
Insulinoma-Induced Hypoglycemia in a Patient with Insulinoma after Gastrojejunostomy for Prepyloric Ulcer
Authors: Koca Yavuz Savas , Aydın Bünyamin , Koca Tugba , Bülbül Mustafa Tevfik , Tamer Mehmet Numan
Published: October 2015

Hyperinsulinism due to dumping syndrome following gastric surgery is an uncommon condition. It is specified with hypoglycemic attacks. However, linking symptoms to dumping syndrome in each patient to whom gastric surgery was performed leads to inappropriate diagnosis and therapy. Insulinoma and other causes that give rise to hyperinsulinemia should not be ignored and these diagnoses should be excluded. In this paper, 71-year-old male patient who was followed up for 2 years with a false conclusion of dumping syndrome and operated on due to insulinoma diagnosed at endoscopic ultrasonography is presented in the light of the literature.
A Dependent Insurance Risk Model with Surrender and Investment under the Thinning Process
Authors: Yu Wenguang , Huang Yujuan
Published: October 2015

A dependent insurance risk model with surrender and investment under the thinning process is discussed, where the arrival of the policies follows a compound Poisson-Geometric process, and the occurrences of the claim and surrender happen as the p-thinning process and the q-thinning process of the arrival process, respectively. By the martingale theory, the properties of the surplus process, adjustment coefficient equation, the upper bound of ruin probability, and explicit expression of ruin probability are obtained. Moreover, we also get the Laplace transformation, the expectation, and the variance of the time when the surplus reaches a given level for the first time. Finally, various trends of the upper bound of ruin probability and the expectation and the variance of the time when the surplus reaches a given level for the first time are simulated analytically along with changing the investment size, investment interest rates, claim rate, and surrender rate.
On the Complex Dynamics of Continued and Discrete Cauchy’s Method
Authors: Sahari Mohamed Lamine
Published: October 2015

Let p be a complex polynomial of fixed degree n. In this paper we show that Cauchy’s method may fail to find all zeros of p for any initial guess z0 lying in the complex plane and we propose several ways to find all zeros of a given polynomial using scaled Cauchy’s methods.
Effects of Dielectric Environment on Phase Resonance in Compound Grating
Authors: Xiao Y. , Liu Z. M. , Zhou F. Q. , Li H. J.
Published: October 2015

Effects of dielectric environment on phase resonance in compound grating are investigated theoretically and numerically. Transmission characteristics can be effectively tailored by changing the dielectric environment. When the dielectric constants between the two slits are slightly different, the transmission spectra show obvious dips for all modes, and values of the dips are near to zero, and photon forbidden band gaps emerge with larger difference of dielectric environment. The corresponding physical mechanisms are discussed by means of effective refractive index and effective length based on F‐P‐like and phase resonant mechanisms. In addition, the electric field for the peak at the shorter wavelength of the dip is mainly concentrated on the slit filled with smaller dielectric constant, while the electric field located on the slit filled with larger dielectric constant for the peak at the longer wavelength of the dip. By selecting a proper dielectric environment, the channel selecting device can be constructed by using the dielectric compound grating.
Influence of the Surfactant Nature on the Occurrence of Self‐Assembly between Rubber Particles and Thermally Reduced Graphite Oxide during the Preparation of Natural Rubber Nanocomposites
Authors: Aguilar-Bolados Héctor , Yazdani-Pedram Mehrdad , Brasero Justo , Lopez-Manchado Miguel A.
Published: October 2015

The natural rubber (NR) latex consists of polymer particles charged negatively due to the adsorbed phospholipids and proteins molecules. The addition of stable aqueous suspension of thermally reduced graphite oxide (TRGO) stabilized by ionic surfactants to NR latex can favor the occurrence of interaction between the stabilized TRGO and NR particles. Herein, the use of two surfactants of different nature, namely, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), for the preparation of (TRGO)/NR nanocomposites, is reported. Zeta potential and particle size measurements indicated that the use of DTAB as cationic surfactant results in the flocculation of NR particles and promoted the formation of ion‐pair interactions between TRGO and the proteins and/or phospholipids present on the NR surface. This indicates that the use of DTAB can promote a self‐assembly phenomenon between TRGO with adsorbed DTAB molecules and NR particles. The occurrence of self‐assembly phenomenon allows obtaining homogenous dispersion of TRGO particles in the polymer matrix. The TRGO/NR nanocomposites prepared by the use of DTAB exhibited superior mechanical properties and excellent electrical conductivities reaching values of stress at 500% strain of 3.02 MPa and 10−4 S/cm, respectively.
Single-Incision Single-Instrument Adnexal Surgery in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Loux Tara , Falk Gavin A. , Gaffley Michaela , Ortega Stephanie , Ramos Carmen , Malvezzi Leopoldo , Knight Colin G. , Burnweit Cathy
Published: October 2015

Introduction. Pediatric surgeons often practice pediatric gynecology. The single-incision single-instrument (SISI) technique used for appendectomy is applicable in gynecologic surgery.Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients undergoing pelvic surgery from 2008 to 2013. SISI utilized a 12 mm transumbilical trocar and an operating endoscope. The adnexa can be detorsed intracorporeally or extracorporealized via the umbilicus for lesion removal.Results. We performed 271 ovarian or paraovarian surgeries in 258 patients. In 147 (54%), the initial approach was SISI; 75 cases (51%) were completed in patients aged from 1 day to 19.9 years and weighing 4.7 to 117 kg. Conversion to standard laparoscopy was due to contralateral oophoropexy, solid mass, inability to mobilize the adnexa, large mass, bleeding, adhesions, or better visualization. When SISI surgery was converted to Pfannenstiel, the principal reason was a solid mass. SISI surgery was significantly shorter than standard laparoscopy. There were no major complications and the overall cohort had an 11% minor complication rate.Conclusion. SISI adnexal surgery is safe, quick, inexpensive, and effective in pediatric patients. SISI was successful in over half the patients in whom it was attempted and offers a scarless result. If unsuccessful, the majority of cases can be completed with standard multiport laparoscopy.
Effects of Long-Term Statin Therapy in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with or without Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Huang Huiling , Zeng Chunmei , Ma Yuedong , Chen Yili , Chen Cong , Liu Chen , Dong Yugang
Published: October 2015

Introduction.The effect of long-term statin therapy is essential for secondary prevention of adverse clinical outcomes of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. No study has compared the effects of long-term statin treatment in CAD patients with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CKD only patients.Methods.We compared the effects of long-term statin therapy (average follow-up time 5.79 years) in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause death, and cardiac death among 570 CAD patients with or without CKD and 147 CKD only patients.Results.The all-cause death and cardiac death of the patients with CAD and CKD (24.4% and 20.4%) doubled those of CAD only patients (10.7% and 9.1%) (P<0.001). Long-term statin therapy dramatically reduced the rates of both MACE and all-cause death/cardiac death (by 20.5% and 28.6%/27.7%, resp.) in CAD and CKD patients. CKD only patients had no significant adverse clinical outcomes and were not responsive to long-term statin therapy.Conclusion.Chinese CAD patients with CKD had dramatically high rates of adverse clinical outcomes; for them, long-term statin therapies were exceptionally effective in improving morbidity and mortality. CKD patients who had no cardiovascular disease initially can prognose good clinical outcomes and do not require statin treatment.
Statistical Analysis of Haralick Texture Features to Discriminate Lung Abnormalities
Authors: Zayed Nourhan , Elnemr Heba A.
Published: October 2015

The Haralick texture features are a well-known mathematical method to detect the lung abnormalities and give the opportunity to the physician to localize the abnormality tissue type, either lung tumor or pulmonary edema. In this paper, statistical evaluation of the different features will represent the reported performance of the proposed method. Thirty-seven patients CT datasets with either lung tumor or pulmonary edema were included in this study. The CT images are first preprocessed for noise reduction and image enhancement, followed by segmentation techniques to segment the lungs, and finally Haralick texture features to detect the type of the abnormality within the lungs. In spite of the presence of low contrast and high noise in images, the proposed algorithms introduce promising results in detecting the abnormality of lungs in most of the patients in comparison with the normal and suggest that some of the features are significantly recommended than others.
Dynamic Inventory and Pricing Policy in a Periodic-Review Inventory System with Finite Ordering Capacity and Price Adjustment Cost
Authors: Yang Baimei , Gao Chunyan , Liu Na , Xu Liang
Published: October 2015

We consider a dynamic inventory control and pricing optimization problem in a periodic-review inventory system with price adjustment cost. Each order occurs with a fixed ordering cost; the ordering quantity is capacitated. We consider a sequential decision problem, where the firm first chooses the ordering quantity and then the sale price to maximize the expected total discounted profit over the sale horizon. We show that the optimal inventory control is partially characterized by as, s′, ppolicy in four regions, and the optimal pricing policy is dependent on the inventory level after the replenishment decision. We present some numerical examples to explore the effects of various parameters on the optimal pricing and replenishment policy.
Drug-Induced Rhabdomyolysis with Elevated Cardiac Troponin T
Authors: Egholm Gro , Pareek Manan
Published: October 2015

The essential role of cardiac troponin in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction has led to the development of high-sensitivity assays, which are able to detect very small amounts of myocardial necrosis. The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T assay, however, is not entirely specific for myocardial injury. This case report describes a 48-year-old woman, who, two years after cardiac transplantation, presented with rhabdomyolysis. During the course of the disease, her troponin T level was elevated on repeated occasions, but other definitive evidence of myocardial injury was not found. Asymptomatic cardiac troponin T elevations during rhabdomyolysis may be due to either cardiac involvement or false positive results stemming from skeletal muscle injury.
Testosterone Depletion Induces Demethylation of Murine Reelin Promoter CpG Dinucleotides: A Preliminary Study
Authors: da Silva Victor Augusto Moraes , Dantas Marília de Souza , Silva Leonardo Agostinho de Castro , Carneiro Juliana Garcia , Schamber-Reis Bruno Luiz Fonseca
Published: October 2015

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by psychotic events, abnormal social behavior, false beliefs, and auditory hallucinations. Hypermethylation of the promoter region of reelin (RELN), a gene involved in regulation of neuronal positioning during telencephalic development, is strongly associated with low protein expression in several cortical structures and promoter hypermethylation in brain from postmortem SZ subjects. Recent experimental data suggests that testosterone is able to promoteRELNdemethylation, although no direct evidence of hormonal influence on reelin promoter methylation was obtained. We investigated if reduced levels of plasma testosterone in adult male mice lead toRelnpromoter demethylation. Animals were administered with flutamide, an antiandrogenic compound, and reelin promoter methylation was assessed using methylationspecific PCR using bisulfite DNA from cerebellum. We found that flutamide was able to significantly lower plasma testosterone when compared to control mice, and treatment did not influence animal survival and body weight. We also show that low plasma testosterone was associated with demethylation of a cytosine residue located at −860 in reelin promoter region. These preliminary data suggest that androgenic hormones can influence cerebral reelin demethylation. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental approach directly linking testosterone depletion andRELNpromoter methylation.
The Construct and Measurement of Perceived Risk of Nonremunerated Blood Donation: Evidence from the Chinese Public
Authors: Chen Liangyong , Ma Zujun
Published: October 2015

The perceived risk of nonremunerated blood donation (NRBD) is one of the most important factors which hinder the Chinese public from donating blood. To understand deeply and measure scientifically the public’s perceived risk of NRBD, in this paper the qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore the construct of perceived risk of NRBD in Chinese context. Firstly, the preliminary construct of perceived risk of NRBD was developed based on the grounded theory. Then, a measurement scale of perceived risk of NRBD was designed. Finally, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were adopted for testing and verifying the construct. The results show that the construct of perceived risk of NRBD has three core dimensions, namely, trust risk, psychological risk, and health risk, which provides a clear construct and concise scale to better capture the Chinese public’s perceived risk of NRBD. Blood collection agencies can strategically make polices about perceived risk reduction to maximize the public’s NRBD behavior.
Application ofAntrodia camphorataPromotes Rat’s Wound HealingIn Vivoand Facilitates Fibroblast Cell ProliferationIn Vitro
Authors: Amin Zahra A. , Ali Hapipah M. , Alshawsh Mohammed A. , Darvish Pouya H. , Abdulla Mahmood A.
Published: October 2015

Antrodia camphoratais a parasitic fungus from Taiwan, it has been documented to possess a variety of pharmacological and biological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential ofAntrodia camphorataethanol extract to accelerate the rate of wound healing closure and histology of wound area in experimental rats. The safety ofAntrodia camphoratawas determinedin vivoby the acute toxicity test andin vitroby fibroblast cell proliferation assay. The scratch assay was used to evaluate thein vitrowound healing in fibroblast cells and the excision model of wound healing was testedin vivousing four groups of adultSprague Dawleyrats. Our results showed that wound treated withAntrodia camphorataextract and intrasite gel significantly accelerates the rate of wound healing closure than those treated with the vehicle. Wounds dressed withAntrodia camphorataextract showed remarkably less scar width at wound closure and granulation tissue contained less inflammatory cell and more fibroblast compared to wounds treated with the vehicle. Masson’s trichrom stain showed granulation tissue containing more collagen and less inflammatory cell inAntrodia camphoratatreated wounds. In conclusion,Antrodia camphorataextract significantly enhanced the rate of the wound enclosure in rats and promotes thein vitrohealing through fibroblast cell proliferation.
Articulatory Changes in Vowel Production following STN DBS and Levodopa Intake in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Martel Sauvageau Vincent , Roy Johanna-Pascale , Cantin Léo , Prud’Homme Michel , Langlois Mélanie , Macoir Joël
Published: October 2015

Purpose. To investigate the impact of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) and levodopa intake on vowel articulation in dysarthric speakers with Parkinson’s disease (PD).Methods. Vowel articulation was assessed in seven Quebec French speakers diagnosed with idiopathic PD who underwent STN DBS. Assessments were conducted on- and off-medication, first prior to surgery and then 1 year later. All recordings were made on-stimulation. Vowel articulation was measured using acoustic vowel space and formant centralization ratio.Results. Compared to the period before surgery, vowel articulation was reduced after surgery when patients were off-medication, while it was better on-medication. The impact of levodopa intake on vowel articulation changed with STN DBS: before surgery, levodopa impaired articulation, while it no longer had a negative effect after surgery.Conclusions. These results indicate that while STN DBS could lead to a direct deterioration in articulation, it may indirectly improve it by reducing the levodopa dose required to manage motor symptoms. These findings suggest that, with respect to speech production, STN DBS and levodopa intake cannot be investigated separately because the two are intrinsically linked. Along with motor symptoms, speech production should be considered when optimizing therapeutic management of patients with PD.
Ferrocene-Based Bioactive Bimetallic Thiourea Complexes: Synthesis and Spectroscopic Studies
Authors: Ali Shafqat , Yasin Ghulam , Zuhra Zareen , Wu Zhanpeng , Butler Ian S. , Badshah Amin , Din Imtiaz ud
Published: October 2015

Bioactive 1,1′-(4,4′-di-ferrocenyl)di-phenyl thiourea and various metal complexes of this ligand have been successfully synthesized and characterized by using physicoanalytical techniques such as FT-IR and multinuclear (1H and13C) NMR spectroscopy along with melting point and elemental analyses. The interaction of the synthesized compounds with DNA has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetric and viscometric measurements. The intercalation of the complexes into the double helix structure of DNA is presumably occurring. Viscosity measurements of the complexes have shown that there is a change in length and this is regarded as the least ambiguous and the most critical test of the binding model in solution. The relative potential of the complexes as anti-bacterial, antifungal, and inhibition agents against the enzyme, alkaline phosphatase EC 3.1.3.1, has also been assessed and the complexes were found to be active inhibitors.
Transcriptome Analysis of Gelatin Seed Treatment as a Biostimulant of Cucumber Plant Growth
Authors: Wilson H. T. , Xu K. , Taylor A. G.
Published: October 2015

The beneficial effects of gelatin capsule seed treatment on enhanced plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress have been reported in a number of crops, but the molecular mechanisms underlying such effects are poorly understood. Using mRNA sequencing based approach, transcriptomes of one‐ and two‐week‐old cucumber plants from gelatin capsule treated and nontreated seeds were characterized. The gelatin treated plants had greater total leaf area, fresh weight, frozen weight, and nitrogen content. Pairwise comparisons of the RNA‐seq data identified 620 differentially expressed genes between treated and control two‐week‐old plants, consistent with the timing when the growth related measurements also showed the largest differences. Using weighted gene coexpression network analysis, significant coexpression gene network module of 208 of the 620 differentially expressed genes was identified, which included 16 hub genes in the blue module, a NAC transcription factor, a MYB transcription factor, an amino acid transporter, an ammonium transporter, a xenobiotic detoxifier‐glutathione S‐transferase, and others. Based on the putative functions of these genes, the identification of the significant WGCNA module and the hub genes provided important insights into the molecular mechanisms of gelatin seed treatment as a biostimulant to enhance plant growth.
Neuroprotective Effects ofClostridium butyricumagainst Vascular Dementia in Mice via Metabolic Butyrate
Authors: Liu Jiaming , Sun Jing , Wang Fangyan , Yu Xichong , Ling Zongxin , Li Haixiao , Zhang Huiqing , Jin Jiangtao , Chen Wenqian , Pang Mengqi , Yu Junjie , He Yiwen , Xu Jiru
Published: October 2015

Probiotics actively participate in neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the role of gut microbiota in brain disorders and vascular dementia (VaD) remains unclear. We used a mouse model of VaD induced by a permanent right unilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (rUCCAO) to investigate the neuroprotective effects and possible underlying mechanisms ofClostridium butyricum. Following rUCCAO,C. butyricumwas intragastrically administered for 6 successive weeks. Cognitive function was estimated. Morphological examination was performed by electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The BDNF-PI3K/Akt pathway-related proteins were assessed by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The diversity of gut microbiota and the levels of butyrate in the feces and the brains were determined. The results showed thatC. butyricumsignificantly attenuated the cognitive dysfunction and histopathological changes in VaD mice.C. butyricumnot only increased the levels of BDNF and Bcl-2 and decreased level of Bax but also induced Akt phosphorylation (p-Akt) and ultimately reduced neuronal apoptosis. Moreover,C. butyricumcould regulate the gut microbiota and restore the butyrate content in the feces and the brains. These results suggest thatC. butyricummight be effective in the treatment of VaD by regulating the gut-brain axis and that it can be considered a new therapeutic strategy against VaD.
Deformation Behavior of Press Formed Shell by Indentation and Its Numerical Simulation
Authors: Yamashita Minoru , Bin Khalil Zubair
Published: October 2015

Deformation behavior and energy absorbing performance of the press formed aluminum alloy A5052 shells were investigated to obtain the basic information regarding the mutual effect of the shell shape and the indentor. Flat top and hemispherical shells were indented by the flat- or hemispherical-headed indentor. Indentation force in the rising stage was sharper for both shell shapes when the flat indentor was used. Remarkable force increase due to high in-plane compressive stress arisen by the appropriate tool constraint was observed in the early indentation stage, where the hemispherical shell was deformed with the flat-headed indentor. This aspect is preferable for energy absorption performance per unit mass. Less fluctuation in indentation force was achieved in the combination of the hemispherical shell and similar shaped indentor. The consumed energy in the travel length of the indentor equal to the shell height was evaluated. The increase ratio of the energy is prominent when the hemispherical indentor is replaced by a flat-headed one in both shell shapes. Finite element simulation was also conducted. Deformation behaviors were successfully predicted when the kinematic hardening plasticity was introduced in the material model.
Reconstruction of the Magnetic Particle Imaging System Matrix Using Symmetries and Compressed Sensing
Authors: Weber A. , Knopp T.
Published: October 2015

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a tomographic imaging technique that allows the determination of the 3D spatial distribution of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Due to the complex dynamic nature of these nanoparticles, a time-consuming calibration measurement has to be performed prior to image reconstruction. During the calibration a small delta sample filled with the particle suspension is measured at all positions in the field of view where the particle distribution will be reconstructed. Recently, it has been shown that the calibration procedure can be significantly shortened by sampling the field of view only at few randomly chosen positions and applying compressed sensing to reconstruct the full MPI system matrix. The purpose of this work is to reduce the number of necessary calibration scans even further. To this end, we take into account symmetries of the MPI system matrix and combine this knowledge with the compressed sensing method. Experiments on 2D MPI data show that the combination of symmetry and compressed sensing allows reducing the number of calibration scans compared to the pure compressed sensing approach by a factor of about three.
Fellow Eye Macular Edema Improvement after Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Radiation Retinopathy
Authors: Brito Isis A. S. , Zacharias Leandro C. , Pimentel Sérgio Luis G.
Published: October 2015

Radiation retinopathy (RR) is a progressive, chronic condition directly related to the amount of radiation administered to the retina. We report a 37-year-old patient with medulloblastoma that was treated with external beam radiation and presented to us with bilateral cystoid macular edema. He was treated with monthly bevacizumab injections only in his worst seeing eye. There was a significant improvement in his fellow eye, with marked retinal thickness reduction. Therefore, we present clinical evidence of systemic absorption and fellow eye activity of the drug (bevacizumab). One must be aware of distant side effects after intravitreal injections.
Effect of Herbal Prescriptions in Accordance with Pattern Identification in Acute Cerebral Infarction Patients: Based on Fire-Heat Pattern
Authors: Jung WooSang , Park JungMi , Moon SangKwan , Hyun Sangho
Published: October 2015

Objectives.This study was conducted to verify the necessity of corresponding prescription to the diagnosed pattern in acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods.We studied cerebral infarction patients hospitalized within 30 days after the ictus. Forty-four clinical indicators, Motricity Index (MI) score, Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) score, and herbal prescriptions were checked twice, two weeks apart. The probability of each pattern was calculated based on the clinical indicators. Changes in MI score, SSS score, and the probability of fire-heat pattern were compared between the pattern-prescription correspondence group and the noncorrespondence group.Results.Increments of MI score and SSS score in the correspondence group were significantly greater than those of the noncorrespondence group (p=0.003,p=0.001) while the baseline score of the two groups showed no significant difference. Probability of fire-heat pattern decreased significantly in the correspondence group (p=0.013) while the noncorrespondence group showed no significant difference after the treatment.Conclusion.Acute cerebral infarction patients who are diagnosed as fire-heat pattern showed better improvement in dysfunctions caused by the disease when they took the pattern corresponding prescriptions. This study provides evidence for the necessity and usefulness of pattern identification in Traditional Korean Medicine.
New Insights into the Function of the Immunoproteasome in Immune and Nonimmune Cells
Authors: Kimura Hiroaki , Caturegli Patrizio , Takahashi Masafumi , Suzuki Koichi
Published: October 2015

The immunoproteasome is a highly efficient proteolytic machinery derived from the constitutive proteasome and is abundantly expressed in immune cells. The immunoproteasome plays a critical role in the immune system because it degrades intracellular proteins, for example, those of viral origin, into small proteins. They are further digested into short peptides to be presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. In addition, the immunoproteasome influences inflammatory disease pathogenesis through its ability to regulate T cell polarization. The immunoproteasome is also expressed in nonimmune cell types during inflammation or neoplastic transformation, supporting a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and neoplasms. Following the success of inhibitors of the constitutive proteasome, which is now an established treatment modality for multiple myeloma, compounds that selectively inhibit the immunoproteasome are currently under active investigation. This paper will review the functions of the immunoproteasome, highlighting areas where novel pharmacological treatments that regulate immunoproteasome activity could be developed.
Time-Varying Scheme for Noncentralized Model Predictive Control of Large-Scale Systems
Authors: Núñez Alfredo , Ocampo-Martinez Carlos , Maestre José María , De Schutter Bart
Published: October 2015

The noncentralized model predictive control (NC-MPC) framework in this paper refers to any distributed, hierarchical, or decentralized model predictive controller (or a combination of them) the structure of which can change over time and the control actions of which are not obtained based on a centralized computation. Within this framework, we propose suitable online methods to decide which information is shared and how this information is used between the different local predictive controllers operating in a decentralized, distributed, and/or hierarchical way. Evaluating all the possible structures of the NC-MPC controller leads to a combinatorial optimization problem. Therefore, we also propose heuristic reduction methods, to keep the number of NC-MPC problems tractable to be solved. To show the benefits of the proposed framework, a case study of a set of coupled water tanks is presented.
Previous Education, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Nursing Cumulative Grade Point Average as Predictors of Success in Nursing Licensure Examinations
Authors: Amankwaa Isaac , Agyemang-Dankwah Anabella , Boateng Daniel
Published: October 2015

Introduction. Success in the licensure examination is the only legal prerequisite to practice as a nurse in Ghana. However, a large percentage of nursing students who sit fail this examination for the first time. This study sought to unravel whether prior education, sociodemographic characteristics, and nursing Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) could predict performance in the licensure examinations.Methods. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted from November 2014 to April 2015 in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana on 176 past nursing students. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 22. A logistic regression model was fitted to look at the influence of the explanatory variables on the odds of passing the licensure examinations. All statistical significances were tested atpvalue of <0.05.Results. Majority, 56.3%, were females and 86.4% were between the ages of 25 and 31 years. Most of the students (88.6%) entered the nursing training colleges with a WASSCE qualification and 38% read general science. 73.9% passed the licensure examinations and the mean CGPA of the students was 2.89SD=0.37. Sociodemographic characteristics and previous education had no influence on performance in the licensure examinations. CGPA had strong positive relationship with performance in licensure examinations (AOR = 15.27; 95% CI = 6.28, 27.11).Conclusion. Students CGPA could be a good predictor of their performance in the licensure examinations. On the other hand, students’ sociodemographic and previous educational characteristics might not be important factors to consider in admitting students into the nursing training programme.
Effect of Lateral Substitution on the Electronics and Phase Transitions of Stilbazoles, Benzoic Acids, Phenols, and Hydrogen Bonded Mixtures
Authors: Wolf Jeremy R.
Published: October 2015

The preparation and characterization of laterally substituted 4-alkoxy-stilbazoles, 4-alkoxy-benzoic acids, and 4-alkoxy phenols and hydrogen bonded heterodimeric mixtures of these compounds are reported. Lateral substitution has a minimal effect on the ring electronics of 4-alkoxy benzoic acids and 4-alkoxy phenols; however the ring electronics of stilbazole units is extremely sensitive to lateral substitution. While lateral substitution is an effective technique for lowering the melting points of both hydrogen bonded complexes and their individual components, its effect on the electronics of stilbazoles and steric disruption of both intermolecular hydrogen bonding and molecular packing in the solid state disrupts the formation of liquid crystalline phases in both the individual components and hydrogen bonded complexes.