bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SYNTHESIS OF Bi2WO6 MICROSPHERES WITH VISIBLE-LIGHT-DRIVEN PHOTOCATALYTIC PROPERTIES
Authors: WAN GENGPING , WANG GUIZHEN
Published: November 2013

Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres constructed from nanosheets have been synthesized by a controllable solvothermal route in a large scale. The structure characterizations of the microspheres were investigated in detail by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). On the basis of XRD analysis and SEM observation of the products at different reaction time periods, a growth mechanism of Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres was proposed. UV-Visible diffuse reflectance (DR) spectrum of the prepared Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres demonstrates that they have absorption in the visible light region. The photocatalytic activity of Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres toward Rhodamine-B ( RhB ) degradation was investigated and the as-prepared products exhibited good photocatalytic activity in degradation of RhB under 300 W Xe lamp light irradiation.
Interactions in the dark sector of the Universe
Authors: Zimdahl Winfried
Published: November 2013

Interactions inside the cosmological dark sector influence the cosmological dynamics. As a consequence, the future evolution of the Universe may be different from that predicted by the ΛCDM model. We review main features of several recently studied models with nongravitational couplings between dark matter and dark energy.
BIOCONVECTION IN A NON-DARCY POROUS MEDIUM SATURATED WITH A NANOFLUID AND OXYTACTIC MICRO-ORGANISMS
Authors: SHAW S. , KAMESWARAN P. K. , NARAYANA M. , SIBANDA P.
Published: November 2013

The aim of this paper is to present a continuum model for bioconvection of oxytactic micro-organisms in a non-Darcy porous medium and to investigate the effects of bioconvection and mixed convection on the steady boundary layer flow past a horizontal plate embedded in a porous medium filled with a water-based nanofluid. The governing partial differential equations for momentum, heat, oxygen and micro-organism conservation are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations that are numerically solved using a built-in MATLAB ODE solver. The effects of the bioconvection parameters on the nanofluid fluid properties, nanoparticle concentration and the density of the micro-organism are analyzed. A comparative analysis of our results with those previously reported in the literature is given. Among the significant findings in this study is that bioconvection parameters highly influence heat, mass and motile micro-organism transfer rates.
TWO PARTICULAR EVENTUALLY REGULAR SEMIGROUPS WITH 0-MODULAR OR 0-DISTRIBUTIVE SUBSEMIGROUP LATTICES
Authors: Wang Yu , Yin Zhixiang
Published: November 2013

The structure of a completely π-regular semigroup with 0-modular or 0-distributive subsemigroup lattice is given. Furthermore, it is shown that an eventually inverse semigroup to have 0-modular or 0-distributive subsemigroup lattice is a completely π-regular semigroup which is a semilattice of completely archimedean semigroups. Thus the structure of an eventually inverse semigroup whose subsemigroup lattice is 0-modular or 0-distributive is characterized as well.
ANALYSIS OF DESICCANT WHEEL WITH PURGE SECTOR FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE USING A MATHEMATICAL MODEL
Authors: YADAV AVADHESH
Published: November 2013

A mathematical model for predicting the performance of a desiccant wheel with purge sector has been used and heat and mass transfer for both moist air and the desiccant material have been considered. The model shows a good agreement with experimental results. Several studies have been done on using of purge sector in desiccant wheel. This paper also analyses the effect of purge sector by utilizing the output of purge air in regeneration and conduct a comparative performance analysis in both the directions of rotation (clockwise and anticlockwise) of desiccant wheel. It was found that for all the cases considered in this study like rotation of wheel, regeneration temperature, velocity and ambient moisture, the performance parameter results better in anticlockwise direction as compared to clockwise direction of rotation of the desiccant wheel. Mainly at low rph and low regeneration temperature effect of direction on the performance is more but at low ambient moisture and low velocity effect is less.
The Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment (HuBLE): insights into Precambrian plate tectonics and the development of mantle keels
Authors: Bastow I. D. , Eaton D. W. , Kendall J.-M. , Helffrich G. , Snyder D. B. , Thompson D. A. , Wookey J. , Darbyshire F. A. , Pawlak A. E.
Published: November 2013

Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment (HuBLE) was designed to understand the processes that formed Laurentia and the Hudson Bay basin within it. Receiver function analysis shows that Archaean terranes display structurally simple, uniform thickness, felsic crust. Beneath the Palaeoproterozoic Trans-Hudson Orogen (THO), thicker, more complex crust is interpreted as evidence for a secular evolution in crustal formation from non-plate-tectonic in the Palaeoarchaean to fully developed plate tectonics by the Palaeoproterozoic. Corroborating this hypothesis, anisotropy studies reveal 1.8 Ga plate-scale THO-age fabrics. Seismic tomography shows that the Proterozoic mantle has lower wavespeeds than surrounding Archaean blocks; the Laurentian keel thus formed partly in post-Archaean times. A mantle transition zone study indicates ‘normal’ temperatures beneath the Laurentian keel, so any cold mantle down-welling associated with the regional free-air gravity anomaly is probably confined to the upper mantle. Focal mechanisms from earthquakes indicate that present-day crustal stresses are influenced by glacial rebound and pre-existing faults. Ambient-noise tomography reveals a low-velocity anomaly, coincident with a previously inferred zone of crustal stretching, eliminating eclogitization of lower crustal rocks as a basin formation mechanism. Hudson Bay is an ephemeral feature, caused principally by incomplete glacial rebound. Plate stretching is the primary mechanism responsible for the formation of the basin itself.
p53 is necessary for the adaptive changes in cellular milieu subsequent to an acute bout of endurance exercise
Authors: Saleem Ayesha , Carter Heather N. , Hood David A.
Published: November 2013

An acute bout of exercise activates downstream signaling cascades that ultimately result in mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition to inducing mitochondrial synthesis, exercise triggers the removal of damaged cellular material via autophagy and of dysfunctional mitochondria through mitophagy. Here, we investigated the necessity of p53 to the changes that transpire within the muscle upon an imposed metabolic and physiological challenge, such as a bout of endurance exercise. We randomly assigned wild-type (WT) and p53 knockout (KO) mice to control, acute exercise (AE; 90 min at 15 m/min), and AE + 3 h recovery (AER) groups and measured downstream alterations in markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, and mitophagy. In the absence of p53, activation of p38 MAPK upon exercise was abolished, whereas CaMKII and AMP-activated protein kinase only displayed an attenuated enhancement in the AER group compared with WT mice. The translocation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 α to the nucleus was diminished and only observed in the AER group, and the subsequent increase in messenger RNA transcripts related to mitochondrial biogenesis with exercise and recovery was absent in the p53 KO animals. Whole-muscle autophagic and lysosomal markers did not respond to exercise, irrespective of the genotype of the exercised mice, with the exception of increased ubiquitination observed in KO mice with exercise. Markers of mitophagy were elevated in response to AE and AER conditions in both WT and p53 KO runners. The data suggest that p53 is important for the exercise-induced activation of mitochondrial synthesis and is integral in regulating autophagy during control conditions but not in response to exercise.
BMP4 and BMP7 induce the white-to-brown transition of primary human adipose stem cells
Authors: Elsen Manuela , Raschke Silja , Tennagels Norbert , Schwahn Uwe , Jelenik Tomas , Roden Michael , Romacho Tania , Eckel Jürgen
Published: November 2013

While white adipose tissue (AT) is an energy storage depot, brown AT is specialized in energy dissipation. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-expressing adipocytes with a different origin than classical brown adipocytes have been found in white AT. These “brite” (brown-in-white) adipocytes may represent a therapeutic target to counteract obesity. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a role in the regulation of adipogenesis. Based on studies with murine cells, BMP4 is assumed to induce stem cell commitment to the white adipocyte lineage, whereas BMP7 promotes brown adipogenesis. There is evidence for discrepancies between mouse and human AT. Therefore, we compared the effect of BMP4 and BMP7 on white-to-brown transition in primary human adipose stem cells (hASCs) from subcutaneous AT. Long-term exposure of hASCs to recombinant BMP4 or BMP7 during differentiation increased adipogenesis, as determined by lipid accumulation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) expression. Not only BMP7, but also BMP4, increased UCP1 expression in hASCs and decreased expression of the white-specific marker TCF21. The ability of hASCs to induce UCP1 in response to BMP4 and BMP7 markedly differed between donors and could be related to the expression of the brite marker CD137. However, mitochondrial content and oxygen consumption were not increased in hASCs challenged with BMP4 and BMP7. In conclusion, we showed for the first time that BMP4 has similar effects on white-to-brown transition as BMP7 in our human cell model. Thus the roles of BMP4 and BMP7 in adipogenesis cannot always be extrapolated from murine to human cell models.
Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 is associated with angiogenesis and VEGF production via upregulation of COX-2 expression in esophageal cancer tissues
Authors: Nagoya Hiroyuki , Futagami Seiji , Shimpuku Mayumi , Tatsuguchi Atsushi , Wakabayashi Taiga , Yamawaki Hiroshi , Kodaka Yasuhiro , Kawagoe Tetsuro , Watarai Yasuhiko , Makino Hiroshi , Miyashita Masao , Tsuchiya Shinichi , Crowe Sheila E. , Sakamoto Choitsu
Published: November 2013

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APE-1) is a key enzyme responsible for DNA base excision repair and is also a multifunctional protein such as redox effector for several transcriptional factors. Our study was designed to investigate APE-1 expression and to study its interaction with cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and VEGF production in the esophageal cancer. The expression of APE-1, COX-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, CC-chemokine receptor (CCR)2, and VEGF were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 65 human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect mRNA and protein expression of APE-1 and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression in MCP-1-stimulated ESCC cell lines (KYSE 220 and EC-GI-10). siRNA for APE-1 was treated to determine the role of APE-1 in the regulation of COX-2 expression, VEGF production, and antiapoptotic effect against cisplatin. In human ESCC tissues, nuclear localization of APE-1 was observed in 92.3% (60/65) of all tissues. There was a significant relationship ( P = 0.029, R = 0.49) between nuclear APE-1 and cytoplasmic COX-2 expression levels in the esophageal cancer tissues. In KYSE 220 and EC-GI-10 cells, MCP-1 stimulation significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of APE-1. Treatment with siRNA for APE-1 significantly inhibited p-STAT3 expression levels in MCP-1-stimulated cells. Furthermore, treatment of siRNA for APE-1 significantly reduced COX-2 expression and VEGF production in MCP-1-stimulated esophageal cancer cell lines. Treatment with APE-1 siRNA significantly increased apoptotic levels in cisplatin-incubated KYSE 220 and EC-GI-10 cells. We concluded that APE-1 is overexpressed and associated with COX-2 expression and VEGF production in esophageal cancer tissues.
Precision-cut liver slices from diet-induced obese rats exposed to ethanol are susceptible to oxidative stress and increased fatty acid synthesis
Authors: Duryee Michael J. , Willis Monte S. , Schaffert Courtney S. , Reidelberger Roger D. , Dusad Anand , Anderson Daniel R. , Klassen Lynell W. , Thiele Geoffrey M.
Published: November 2013

Oxidative stress from fat accumulation in the liver has many deleterious effects. Many believe that there is a second hit that causes relatively benign fat accumulation to transform into liver failure. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of ethanol on ex vivo precision-cut liver slice cultures (PCLS) from rats fed a high-fat diet resulting in fatty liver. Age-matched male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either high-fat (obese) (45% calories from fat, 4.73 kcal/g) or control diet for 13 mo. PCLS were prepared, incubated with 25 mM ethanol for 24, 48, and 72 h, harvested, and evaluated for ethanol metabolism, triglyceride production, oxidative stress, and cytokine expression. Ethanol metabolism and acetaldehyde production decreased in PCLS from obese rats compared with age-matched controls (AMC). Increased triglyceride and smooth muscle actin production was observed in PCLS from obese rats compared with AMC, which further increased following ethanol incubation. Lipid peroxidation, measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay, increased in response to ethanol, whereas GSH and heme oxygenase I levels were decreased. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were increased in the PCLS from obese rats and increased further with ethanol incubation. Diet-induced fatty liver increases the susceptibility of the liver to toxins such as ethanol, possibly by the increased oxidative stress and cytokine production. These findings support the concept that the development of fatty liver sensitizes the liver to the effects of ethanol and leads to the start of liver failure, necrosis, and eventually cirrhosis.
Microbiota transplantation restores normal fecal bile acid composition in recurrentClostridium difficileinfection
Authors: Weingarden Alexa R. , Chen Chi , Bobr Aleh , Yao Dan , Lu Yuwei , Nelson Valerie M. , Sadowsky Michael J. , Khoruts Alexander
Published: November 2013

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a highly effective therapy for refractory, recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which develops following antibiotic treatments. Intestinal microbiota play a critical role in the metabolism of bile acids in the colon, which in turn have major effects on the lifecycle of C. difficile bacteria. We hypothesized that fecal bile acid composition is altered in patients with recurrent CDI and that FMT results in its normalization. General metabolomics and targeted bile acid analyses were performed on fecal extracts from patients with recurrent CDI treated with FMT and their donors. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine the bacterial composition of pre- and post-FMT fecal samples. Taxonomic bacterial composition of fecal samples from FMT recipients showed rapid change and became similar to the donor after the procedure. Pre-FMT fecal samples contained high concentrations of primary bile acids and bile salts, while secondary bile acids were nearly undetectable. In contrast, post-FMT fecal samples contained mostly secondary bile acids, as did non-CDI donor samples. Therefore, our analysis showed that FMT resulted in normalization of fecal bacterial community structure and metabolic composition. Importantly, metabolism of bile salts and primary bile acids to secondary bile acids is disrupted in patients with recurrent CDI, and FMT corrects this abnormality. Since individual bile salts and bile acids have pro-germinant and inhibitory activities, the changes suggest that correction of bile acid metabolism is likely a major mechanism by which FMT results in a cure and prevents recurrence of CDI.
New paradigms in inflammatory signaling in vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Xiao Lei , Liu Yahan , Wang Nanping
Published: November 2013

Inflammation is a basic cellular process in innate and adaptive immunity. Vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the initiation, amplification, and resolution of the inflammatory response. Deregulated inflammatory response is implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Recent studies have made significant progresses in the understanding of the complex molecular pathways that mediate the pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling in endothelial cells (ECs). Specifically, a number of macromolecular complexes termed as signalosomes have been identified to integrate the proinflammatory signaling from the membrane receptors to key transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Inflammasomes are associated with the pattern-recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide-binding oligomerization-domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) to mediate innate immunity responses. Emerging evidence has also revealed that noncoding microRNAs constitute a new class of intra- and intercellular signaling molecules to modulate inflammation in ECs. Thus this article will briefly summarize these new mechanisms with a special emphasis in the context of cardiovascular diseases.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate protects endothelial glycocalyx by inhibiting syndecan-1 shedding
Authors: Zeng Ye , Adamson Roger H. , Curry Fitz-Roy E. , Tarbell John M.
Published: November 2013

Endothelial cells (ECs) are covered by a surface glycocalyx layer that forms part of the barrier and mechanosensing functions of the blood-tissue interface. Removal of albumin in bathing media induces collapse or shedding of the glycocalyx. The electrostatic interaction between arginine residues on albumin, and negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the glycocalyx have been hypothesized to stabilize the glycocalyx structure. Because albumin is one of the primary carriers of the phospholipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), we evaluated the alternate hypothesis that S1P, acting via S1P1receptors, plays the primary role in stabilizing the endothelial glycocalyx. Using confocal microscopy on rat fat-pad ECs, we demonstrated that heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and ectodomain of syndecan-1 were shed from the endothelial cell surface after removal of plasma protein but were retained in the presence of S1P at concentrations of >100 nM. S1P1receptor antagonism abolished the protection of the glycocalyx by S1P and plasma proteins. S1P reduced GAGs released after removal of plasma protein. The mechanism of protection from loss of glycocalyx components by S1P-dependent pathways was shown to be suppression of metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. General inhibition of MMPs protected against loss of CS and syndecan-1. Specific inhibition of MMP-9 and MMP-13 protected against CS loss. We conclude that S1P plays a critical role in protecting the glycocalyx via S1P1and inhibits the protease activity-dependent shedding of CS, HS, and the syndecan-1 ectodomain. Our results provide new insight into the role for S1P in protecting the glycocalyx and maintaining vascular homeostasis.
Antigen-induced mast cell expansion and bronchoconstriction in a mouse model of asthma
Authors: Li Shannon , Aliyeva Minara , Daphtary Nirav , Martin Rebecca A. , Poynter Matthew E. , Kostin Shannon F. , van der Velden Jos L. , Hyman Alexandra M. , Stevenson Christopher S. , Phillips Jonathan E. , Lundblad Lennart K. A.
Published: November 2013

Lung mastocytosis and antigen-induced bronchoconstriction are common features in allergic asthmatics. It is therefore important that animal models of asthma show similar features of mast cell inflammation and reactivity to inhaled allergen. We hypothesized that house dust mite (HDM) would induce mastocytosis in the lung and that inhalation of HDM would trigger bronchoconstriction. Mice were sensitized with intranasal HDM extract, and the acute response to nebulized HDM or the mast cell degranulating compound 48/80 was measured with respiratory input impedance. Using the constant-phase model we calculated Newtonian resistance ( R n) reflecting the conducting airways, tissue dampening ( G), and lung elastance ( H). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was analyzed for mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1). Lung tissue was analyzed for cytokines, histamine, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and histological slides were stained for mast cells. HDM significantly increased R n but H and G remained unchanged. HDM significantly expanded mast cells compared with control mice; at the same time mMCP-1, α-SMA, Th2 cytokines, and histamine were significantly increased. Compound 48/80 inhalation caused bronchoconstriction and mMCP-1 elevation similarly to HDM inhalation. Bronchoconstriction was eliminated in mast cell-deficient mice. We found that antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction has a distinct phenotype in mice. HDM sensitization caused lung mastocytosis, and we conclude that inhalation of HDM caused degranulation of mast cells leading to an acute bronchoconstriction without affecting the lung periphery and that mast cell-derived mediators are responsible for the development of the HDM-induced bronchoconstriction in this model.
Rikkunshito ameliorates bleomycin-induced acute lung injury in a ghrelin-independent manner
Authors: Tsubouchi Hironobu , Yanagi Shigehisa , Miura Ayako , Iizuka Seiichi , Mogami Sachiko , Yamada Chihiro , Hattori Tomohisa , Nakazato Masamitsu
Published: November 2013

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical syndrome consisting of acute respiratory failure associated with extensive pulmonary infiltrates. The pathological characterization of ALI includes injuries of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), alveolar neutrophilic infiltration, and increases in proinflammatory cytokines, which cause destruction of the alveolar capillary barrier and subsequent devastating lung fibrosis. Rikkunshito (RKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is widely used for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and is known to stimulate ghrelin secretion. The therapeutic effects of RKT on organ inflammation and fibrosis remain unknown. We investigated the pharmacological potential of RKT in the treatment of ALI by using a bleomycin-induced ALI model in mice. RKT or distilled water (DW) was given to mice daily starting 12 h after bleomycin administration. The RKT-treated mice showed a definitively higher survival rate than the DW-treated mice after injury. They also had smaller reductions in body weight and food intake. The amelioration of neutrophil alveolar infiltration, pulmonary vascular permeability, induction of proinflammatory cytokines, activation of the NF-κB pathway, apoptosis of AECs, and subsequent lung fibrosis were notable in the RKT-treated mice. RKT administration increased the plasma ghrelin levels in wild-type mice, and it also mitigated the ALI response in both ghrelin-deficient mice and growth hormone secretagogue receptor-deficient mice after lung injury. Our results indicate that RKT administration exerts protective effects against ALI by protecting the AECs and regulating lung inflammation independently of the ghrelin system, and they highlight RKT as a promising therapeutic agent for the management of this intractable disease.
Basic fibroblast growth factor reduces functional and structural damage in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Villanueva Sandra , Contreras Felipe , Tapia Andrés , Carreño Juan E. , Vergara Cesar , Ewertz Ernesto , Cespedes Carlos , Irarrazabal Carlos , Sandoval Mauricio , Velarde Victoria , Vio Carlos P.
Published: November 2013

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by loss of renal function. The pathological processes involved in the progression of this condition are already known, but the molecular mechanisms have not been completely explained. Recent reports have shown the intrinsic capacity of the kidney to undergo repair after acute injury through the reexpression of repairing proteins (Villanueva S, Cespedes C, Vio CP. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 290: R861–R870, 2006). Stimulation with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) could accelerate this process. However, it is not known whether bFGF can induce this phenomenon in kidney cells affected by CKD. Our aim was to study the evolution of renal damage in animals with CKD treated with bFGF and to relate the amount of repairing proteins with renal damage progression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to ⅚ nephrectomy (NPX) and treated with bFGF (30 μg/kg, NPX+bFGF); a control NPX group was treated with saline (NPX+S). Animals were euthanized 35 days after bFGF administration. Functional effects were assessed based on serum creatinine levels; morphological damage was assessed by the presence of macrophages (ED-1), interstitial α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and interstitial collagen through Sirius red staining. The angiogenic factors VEGF and Tie-2 and the epithelial/tubular factors Ncam, bFGF, Pax-2, bone morphogenic protein-7, Noggin, Lim-1, Wnt-4, and Smads were analyzed. Renal stem cells were evaluated by Oct-4. We observed a significant reduction in serum creatinine levels, ED-1, α-SMA, and Sirius red as well as an important induction of Oct-4, angiogenic factors, and repairing proteins in NPX+bFGF animals compared with NPX+S animals. These results open new perspectives toward reducing damage progression in CKD.
Effects of oral glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced gastrointestinal permeability and tight junction protein expression
Authors: Zuhl Micah N. , Lanphere Kathryn R. , Kravitz Len , Mermier Christine M. , Schneider Suzanne , Dokladny Karol , Moseley Pope L.
Published: November 2013

The objectives of this study are threefold: 1) to assess whether 7 days of oral glutamine (GLN) supplementation reduces exercise-induced intestinal permeability; 2) whether supplementation prevents the proinflammatory response; and 3) whether these changes are associated with upregulation of the heat shock response. On separate occasions, eight human subjects participated in baseline testing and in GLN and placebo (PLA) supplementation trials, followed by a 60-min treadmill run. Intestinal permeability was higher in the PLA trial compared with baseline and GLN trials (0.0604 ± 0.047 vs. 0.0218 ± 0.008 and 0.0272 ± 0.007, respectively; P < 0.05). IκBα expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher 240 min after exercise in the GLN trial compared with the PLA trial (1.411 ± 0.523 vs. 0.9839 ± 0.343, respectively; P < 0.05). In vitro using the intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2, we measured effects of GLN supplementation (0, 4, and 6 mM) on heat-induced (37° or 41.8°C) heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1), and occludin expression. HSF-1 and HSP70 levels increased in 6 mM supplementation at 41°C compared with 0 mM at 41°C (1.785 ± 0.495 vs. 0.6681 ± 0.290, and 1.973 ± 0.325 vs. 1.133 ± 0.129, respectively; P < 0.05). Occludin levels increased after 4 mM supplementation at 41°C and 6 mM at 41°C compared with 0 mM at 41°C (1.236 ± 0.219 and 1.849 ± 0.564 vs. 0.7434 ± 0.027, respectively; P < 0.001). GLN supplementation prevented exercise-induced permeability, possibly through HSF-1 activation.
Muscle carnosine loading by beta-alanine supplementation is more pronounced in trained vs. untrained muscles
Authors: Bex T. , Chung W. , Baguet A. , Stegen S. , Stautemas J. , Achten E. , Derave W.
Published: November 2013

Carnosine occurs in high concentrations in human skeletal muscle and assists working capacity during high-intensity exercise. Chronic beta-alanine (BA) supplementation has consistently been shown to augment muscle carnosine concentration, but the effect of training on the carnosine loading efficiency is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to compare muscle carnosine loading between trained and untrained arm and leg muscles. In a first study ( n = 17), reliability of carnosine quantification by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was evaluated in deltoid and triceps brachii muscles. In a second study, participants ( n = 35; 10 nonathletes, 10 cyclists, 10 swimmers, and 5 kayakers) were supplemented with 6.4 g/day of slow-release BA for 23 days. Carnosine content was evaluated in soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, and deltoid muscles by 1H-MRS. All the results are reported as arbitrary units. In the nonathletes, BA supplementation increased carnosine content by 47% in the arm and 33% in the leg muscles (not significant). In kayakers, the increase was more pronounced in arm (deltoid) vs. leg (soleus + gastrocnemius) muscles (0.089 vs. 0.049), whereas the reverse pattern was observed in cyclists (0.065 vs. 0.084). Swimmers had significantly higher increase in carnosine in both deltoid (0.107 vs. 0.065) and gastrocnemius muscle (0.082 vs. 0.051) compared with nonathletes. We showed that 1) carnosine content can be reliably measured by 1H-MRS in deltoid muscle, 2) carnosine loading is equally effective in arm vs. leg muscles of nonathletes, and 3) carnosine loading is more pronounced in trained vs. untrained muscles.
Anesthetic regimes modulate the temporal dynamics of local field potential in the mouse olfactory bulb
Authors: Chery Romain , Gurden Hirac , Martin Claire
Published: November 2013

Anesthetized preparations have been widely used to study odor-induced temporal dynamics in the olfactory bulb. Although numerous recent data of single-cell recording or imaging in the olfactory bulb have employed ketamine cocktails, their effects on networks activities are still poorly understood, and odor-induced oscillations of the local field potential have not been characterized under these anesthetics. Our study aimed at describing the impact of two ketamine cocktails on oscillations and comparing them to awake condition. Anesthesia was induced by injection of a cocktail of ketamine, an antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, combined with one agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors, xylazine (low affinity) or medetomidine (high affinity). Spontaneous and odor-induced activities were examined in anesthetized and awake conditions, in the same mice chronically implanted with an electrode in the main olfactory bulb. The overall dynamic pattern of oscillations under the two ketamine cocktails resembles that of the awake state. Ongoing activity is characterized by gamma bursts (>60 Hz) locked on respiration and beta (15–40 Hz) power increases during odor stimulation. However, anesthesia decreases local field potential power and leads to a strong frequency shift of gamma oscillations from 60–90 Hz to 100–130 Hz. We conclude that similarities between oscillations in anesthetized and awake states make cocktails of ketamine with one α2-agonist suitable for the recordings of local field potential to study processing in the early stages of the olfactory system.
Temporal properties of responses to sound in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus
Authors: Recio-Spinoso Alberto , Joris Philip X.
Published: November 2013

Besides the rapid fluctuations in pressure that constitute the “fine structure” of a sound stimulus, slower fluctuations in the sound's envelope represent an important temporal feature. At various stages in the auditory system, neurons exhibit tuning to envelope frequency and have been described as modulation filters. We examine such tuning in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (VNLL) of the pentobarbital-anesthetized cat. The VNLL is a large but poorly accessible auditory structure that provides a massive inhibitory input to the inferior colliculus. We test whether envelope filtering effectively applies to the envelope spectrum when multiple envelope components are simultaneously present. We find two broad classes of response with often complementary properties. The firing rate of onset neurons is tuned to a band of modulation frequencies, over which they also synchronize strongly to the envelope waveform. Although most sustained neurons show little firing rate dependence on modulation frequency, some of them are weakly tuned. The latter neurons are usually band-pass or low-pass tuned in synchronization, and a reverse-correlation approach demonstrates that their modulation tuning is preserved to nonperiodic, noisy envelope modulations of a tonal carrier. Modulation tuning to this type of stimulus is weaker for onset neurons. In response to broadband noise, sustained and onset neurons tend to filter out envelope components over a frequency range consistent with their modulation tuning to periodically modulated tones. The results support a role for VNLL in providing temporal reference signals to the auditory midbrain.
Asymptotic Solution for a Water Quality Model in a Uniform Stream
Authors: Mabood Fazle , Pochai Nopparat
Published: November 2013

We employ approximate analytical method, namely, Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM), to investigate a one-dimensional steady advection-diffusion-reaction equation with variable inputs arises in the mathematical modeling of dispersion of pollutants in water is proposed. Numerical values are obtained via Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg fourth-fifth order method for comparison purpose. It was found that OHAM solution agrees well with the numerical solution. An example is included to demonstrate the efficiency, accuracy, and simplicity of the proposed method.
Kisspeptin‐10 Modulates the Proliferation and Differentiation of the Rhesus Monkey Derived Stem Cell Line: R366.4
Authors: Huma Tanzeel , Wang Zhengbo , Rizak Joshua , Ahmad Fiaz , Shahab Muhammad , Ma YuanYe , Yang Shangchuan , Hu Xintian
Published: November 2013

The rhesus monkey embryonic stem cell line R366.4 has been identified to differentiate into a number of cell types. However, it has not been well characterized for its response to drugs affecting reproductive endocrinology. Kisspeptins (KPs) are ligands for the GPR‐54, which is known to modulate reproductive function. The current study was designed to determine the effect of the KP‐10 peptide on R366.4 cells and to investigate the role of KP‐GPR54 in the cell proliferation process. Four different doses (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nM) of KP‐10 and control were selected to evaluate cell growth parameters and cellular morphological changes over a 72 hr period. The cells were treated with kisspeptin‐10 during the early rosette stage. Proliferation rates, analyzed by flow cytometry and cell count methods, were found to be decreased after treatment. Moreover, the number of rosettes was found to decrease following KP‐10 treatments. Morphological changes consisting of neuronal projections were also witnessed. This suggested that KP‐10 had an antiproliferative effect on R366.4 cells leading to a differentiation state and morphological changes consistent with neuronal stem cell development. The R366.4 stem cell line differentiates based on kisspeptin signaling and may be used to investigate reproductive cell endocrinology in vitro.
Reinforced AdaBoost Learning for Object Detection with Local Pattern Representations
Authors: Lee Younghyun , Han David K. , Ko Hanseok
Published: November 2013

A reinforced AdaBoost learning algorithm is proposed for object detection with local pattern representations. In implementing Adaboost learning, the proposed algorithm employs an exponential criterion as a cost function and Newton’s method for its optimization. In particular, we introduce an optimal selection of weak classifiers minimizing the cost function and derive the reinforced predictions based on a judicial confidence estimate to determine the classification results. The weak classifier of the proposed method produces real‐valued predictions while that of the conventional Adaboost method produces integer valued predictions of +1 or −1. Hence, in the conventional learning algorithms, the entire sample weights are updated by the same rate. On the contrary, the proposed learning algorithm allows the sample weights to be updated individually depending on the confidence level of each weak classifier prediction, thereby reducing the number of weak classifier iterations for convergence. Experimental classification performance on human face and license plate images confirm that the proposed method requires smaller number of weak classifiers than the conventional learning algorithm, resulting in higher learning and faster classification rates. An object detector implemented based on the proposed learning algorithm yields better performance in field tests in terms of higher detection rate with lower false positives than that of the conventional learning algorithm.
TNF-αRegulates Natriuretic Peptides and Aquaporins in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells BEAS-2B
Authors: Mezzasoma Letizia , Cagini Lucio , Antognelli Cinzia , Puma Francesco , Pacifico Eugenio , Talesa Vincenzo Nicola
Published: November 2013

Postoperative-fluid retention is a severe complication frequently reported in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. The complex network of molecules involved in such a severe surgery-induced condition remains poorly understood. Inflammation has been proposed among the various causes of fluid retention. Since TNF-αis one of the main proinflammatory cytokine initially released after major surgery, it is reasonable to assume its involvement in fluid overload. Here, we showed that TNF-αselectively regulates key molecules involved in fluids balance, such as natriuretic peptides (NPs) and aquaporins, in human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B. In particular, we found that TNF-αinduced a decrease of arial natriuretic peptide, natriuretic peptide receptor-1, aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 and an increase of brain natriuretic peptide with a different involvement of nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway activation. Moreover, the observed changes in NPs expression, demonstrate inflammation as an additional cause of brain natriuretic peptide elevation, adding an important piece of information in the novel area of study regarding NPs and inflammation. Finally, we suggest that inflammation is one of the mechanisms of Aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-5 expression regulation. Therefore, in this exploratory study, we speculate that TNF-αmight be involved in postoperative-fluid retention related to major surgery.
Radiofrequency Ablation of a Left Atrial Appendage Tachycardia on ECMO Support
Authors: Khan Mohsin , Gauri Andre , Grifka Ronald , Elmouchi Darryl
Published: November 2013

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been utilized in the pediatric population for cardiogenic shock secondary to medically intractable arrhythmias. There is limited experience with cardiac radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on these patients while on ECMO. A 7-year-old girl presented with a tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy secondary to a left atrial appendage tachycardia. She suffered a cardiac arrest due to pulseless electrical activity and was placed on ECMO. Due to elevated left atrial pressures and the refractoriness of her arrhythmia to cardioversion and antiarrhythmic therapy, while on ECMO, blade atrial septostomy and radiofrequency ablation were performed. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was successfully decannulated. Her cardiac function normalized within four weeks of the ablation procedure. Twelve months after the procedure, she remains completely well, with no symptoms or tachycardia.
An Efficient Variational Method for Image Restoration
Authors: Liu Jun , Huang Ting-Zhu , Lv Xiao-Guang , Wang Si
Published: November 2013

Image restoration is one of the most fundamental issues in imaging science. Total variation regularization is widely used in image restoration problems for its capability to preserve edges. In this paper, we consider a constrained minimization problem with double total variation regularization terms. To solve this problem, we employ the split Bregman iteration method and the Chambolle’s algorithm. The convergence property of the algorithm is established. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and the structure similarity index (SSIM).
Mechanism of Water Infiltration and Defiltration through ZSM‐5 Zeolite: Heating and Sodium Chloride Concentration Effect
Authors: Sun Yueting , Xu Jun , Li Yibing , Xu Xiaoqing , Liu Cheng , Chen Xi
Published: November 2013

Hydrophobic nanoporous material and wetting liquid together comprise a system with promising energy related applications. The mechanism of the interaction between liquid and solid phase is not fully explored. In this paper, based on the quasistatic compression experiments on investigating the mechanical behavior of ZSM‐5 zeolite/NaCl solution system, the effects of two key parameters, that is, the pretreatment temperature of ZSM‐5 zeolite and NaCl concentration, are parametrically and quantitatively investigated based on Laplace‐Washburn equation. Results show that both pretreatment temperature and NaCl concentration raise the infiltration pressure and NaCl can also promote defiltration. The advancing contact and receding contact angle of zeolite‐NaCl‐air system increase with both pretreatment temperature and NaCl concentration, and the contact angle hysteresis decreases with NaCl concentration. Results may provide fundamental explanation to the nanoconfined liquid behavior and liquid‐solid interaction, thus, to smartly control the mechanical properties of the liquid spring and bumpers for energy dissipation function.
Screw-System-Based Mobility Analysis of a Family of Fully Translational Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Rodriguez-Leal Ernesto , Dai Jian S. , Pennock Gordon R.
Published: November 2013

This paper investigates the mobility of a family of fully translational parallel manipulators based on screw system analysis by identifying the common constraint and redundant constraints, providing a case study of this approach. The paper presents the branch motion-screws for the 3-RP̲C-Y parallel manipulator, the 3-RCC-Y (or 3-RP̲RC-Y) parallel manipulator, and a newly proposed 3-RP̲C-T parallel manipulator. Then the paper determines the sets of platform constraint-screws for each of these three manipulators. The constraints exerted on the platforms of the 3-RP̲Carchitectures and the 3-RCC-Y manipulators are analyzed using the screw system approach and have been identified as couples. A similarity has been identified with the axes of couples: they are perpendicular to theRjoint axes, but in the former the axes are coplanar with the base and in the latter the axes are perpendicular to the limb. The remaining couples act about the axis that is normal to the base. The motion-screw system and constraint-screw system analysis leads to the insightful understanding of the mobility of the platform that is then obtained by determining the reciprocal screws to the platform constraint screw sets, resulting in three independent instantaneous translational degrees-of-freedom. To validate the mobility analysis of the three parallel manipulators, the paper includes motion simulations which use a commercially available kinematics software.
A Thirty‐Year Follow‐Up Surveillance Study for Neoplasia of a Dutch Ulcerative Colitis Cohort
Authors: Stolwijk J. A. M. , Langers A. M. J. , Hardwick J. C. , Veenendaal R. A. , Verspaget H. W. , van Hogezand R. A. , Vasen H. F. , van der Meulen-de Jong A. E.
Published: November 2013

Background. Patients with ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study is to assess the yield of surveillance colonoscopies in a tertiary referral cohort of ulcerative colitis patients and to identify different risk groups for dysplasia. Methods. A cohort of 293 patients (148 males, mean age 33.8 years at diagnosis) was built up at our center and started the surveillance program 8–12 years after start of symptoms. They underwent colonoscopies every one to three years. Endpoints were dysplasia or a (sub)total colectomy. Results. After a follow‐up period of 10 years, the cumulative incidence of any dysplasia was 23.5%, and of CRC 4.0%. After 15 years these percentages were 33.3% and 6.8%. Patients with pancolitis (n = 178) had a significantly higher cumulative risk of dysplasia than patients with distal disease, HR 1.9 (95%CI 1.1–3.3). Patients who started surveillance at an older age are at increased risk for any dysplasia, HR 1.03 (95%CI 1.01–1.05). Conclusions. This prospective surveillance study shows a high yield of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis patients. We recommend developing separate surveillance programs for different risk groups. In our opinion patients with distal colitis can follow the general population surveillance program.
Imaging Manifestations of Mediastinal Fat Necrosis
Authors: Bhatt Malay Y. , Martínez-Jiménez Santiago , Rosado-de-Christenson Melissa L. , Watson Kenneth R. , Walker Christopher M. , Kunin Jeffrey R.
Published: November 2013

Mediastinal fat necrosis (MFN) or epipericardial fat necrosis, as it is commonly referred to in the literature, is a rare self-limiting cause of chest pain of unclear etiology. MFN affects previously healthy individuals who present with acute pleuritic chest pain. Characteristic computed tomography (CT) findings include a fat attenuation lesion with intrinsic and surrounding increased attenuation stranding. There is often associated thickening of the adjacent pericardium and/or pleural effusions. We present two cases of MFN manifesting as ovoid fat attenuation lesions demarcated by a soft tissue attenuation rim with intrinsic and surrounding soft tissue attenuation stranding and review the clinical and pathologic features of these lesions. Knowledge of the clinical presentation of patients with MFN and familiarity with the characteristic imaging findings of these lesions should allow radiologists to prospectively establish the correct diagnosis and suggest conservative management and follow-up.
Extraction Optimization of Tinospora cordifolia and Assessment of the Anticancer Activity of Its Alkaloid Palmatine
Authors: Ali Huma , Dixit Savita
Published: November 2013

Objective. To optimize the conditions for the extraction of alkaloid palmatine from Tinospora cordifolia by using response surface methodology (RSM) and study its anticancerous property against 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. Methods. The effect of three independent variables, namely, extraction temperature, time, and cycles was investigated by using central composite design. A single topical application of DMBA (100 μg/100 μL of acetone), followed 2 weeks later by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone three times a week) for 16 weeks, exhibited 100 percent tumor incidence (Group 2). Results. The highest yield of alkaloid from Tinospora cordifolia could be achieved at 16 hours of extraction time under 40°C with 4 extraction cycles. Alkaloid administration significantly decreases tumor size, number, and the activity of serum enzyme when compared with the control (Group 2). In addition, depleted levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase and increased DNA damage were restored in palmatine treated groups. Conclusion. The data of the present study clearly indicate the anticancer potential of palmatine alkaloid in DMBA induced skin cancer model in mice.