bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data‐Driven Robust Control of Unknown MIMO Nonlinear System Subject to Input Saturations and Disturbances
Authors: Wang Li , Gong Huajun , Liu Chunsheng
Published: September 2017

This paper presented a new data‐driven robust control scheme for unknown nonlinear systems in the presence of input saturation and external disturbances. According to the input and output data of the nonlinear system, a recurrent neural network (RNN) data‐driven model is established to reconstruct the dynamics of the nonlinear system. An adaptive output‐feedback controller is developed to approximate the unknown disturbances and a novel input saturation compensation method is used to attenuate the effect of the input saturation. Under the proposed adaptive control scheme, the uniformly ultimately bounded convergence of all the signals of the closed‐loop nonlinear system is guaranteed via Lyapunov analysis. The simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed data‐driven robust controller.
β‐Naphthoflavone‐Induced Mitochondrial Respiratory Damage in Cyp1 Knockout Mouse and in Cell Culture Systems: Attenuation by Resveratrol Treatment
Authors: Anandasadagopan Suresh Kumar , Singh Naveen M. , Raza Haider , Bansal Seema , Selvaraj Venkatesh , Singh Shilpee , Chowdhury Anindya Roy , Leu Nicolae Adrian , Avadhani Narayan G.
Published: September 2017

A number of xenobiotic‐inducible cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are now known to be localized in the mitochondrial compartment, though their pharmacological or toxicological roles remain unclear. Here, we show that BNF treatment markedly inhibits liver mitochondrial O2 consumption rate (OCR), ADP‐dependent OCR, and also reserve OCR, in wild‐type mice but not in Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−) double knockout mice. BNF treatment markedly affected mitochondrial complex I and complex IV activities and also attenuated mitochondrial gene expression. Furthermore, under in vitro conditions, BNF treatment induced cellular ROS production, which was inhibited by mitochondria‐targeted antioxidant Mito‐CP and CYP inhibitor proadefin, suggesting that most of the ROS production was intramitochondrial and probably involved the catalytic activity of mitochondrial CYP1 enzymes. Interestingly, our results also show that the AHR antagonist resveratrol, markedly attenuated BNF‐induced liver mitochondrial defects in wild‐type mice, confirming the role of AHR and AHR‐regulated CYP1 genes in eliciting mitochondrial dysfunction. These results are consistent with reduced BNF‐induced mitochondrial toxicity in Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−) mice and elevated ROS production in COS cells stably expressing CYP1A1. We propose that increased mitochondrial ROS production and respiratory dysfunction are part of xenobiotic toxicity. Resveratrol, a chemopreventive agent, renders protection against BNF‐induced toxicity.
Living with Bats: The Case of Ve Golokuati Township in the Volta Region of Ghana
Authors: Ayivor Jesse S. , Ohemeng Fidelia , Tweneboah Lawson Elaine , Waldman Linda , Leach Melissa , Ntiamoa-Baidu Yaa
Published: September 2017

Transmission of zoonotic pathogens from bats to humans through direct and indirect contact with bats raises public apprehension about living close to bats. In the township of Ve Golokuati in Ghana, several “camps” of Epomophorus gambianus roost in fruit trees that provide ecosystems services for residents. This study explored human-bat interaction in the township and the potential risks of disease transmission from bats to humans. Data were derived through questionnaire administration and participatory appraisal approach involving focus group discussions, participatory landscape mapping, and transect walk. The study found that most human activities within the township, such as petty-trading, domestic chores, and children’s outdoor recreation, exposed people to bats. Though there have been no reported cases of disease spillover from bats to humans from the perspective of residents and from medical records, respondents whose activities brought them closer to bats within the township were found to be more likely to experience fevers than those who do not interact with bats frequently. The study recommends education of community members about the potential risks involved in human-bat interactions and makes suggestions for reducing the frequent interactions with and exposure to bats by humans.
Multimodal Imaging for the Detection of Brown Adipose Tissue Activation in Women: A Pilot Study Using NIRS and Infrared Thermography
Authors: Hartwig Valentina , Guiducci Letizia , Marinelli Martina , Pistoia Laura , Tegrimi Tommaso Minutoli , Iervasi Giorgio , Quinones-Galvan Alfredo , L’Abbate Antonio
Published: September 2017

Purpose. A clear link between obesity and brown adipose tissue (BAT) dysfunction has been recently demonstrated. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine if near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) 2D imaging together with infrared thermography (IRT) is capable of identifying thermal and vascular response in the supraclavicular (SCV) areas after the ingestion of an oral glucose load as a thermogenic stimulation. Method. We studied two groups of women (obese versus lean) for discerning their different responses. NIRS and IRT images were acquired on the neck in the left SCV region during a 3 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and immediately after a cold stimulation. Results. We detected a significant thermal response of BAT in SCV fossa in both groups. Both during OGTT and after cold stimulation, skin temperature was persistently higher in lean versus obese. This response was not coupled with changes in oxygen saturation of subcutaneous tissue in that area. Discussion and Conclusion. The results show that NIRS/IRT may be a novel, noninvasive, radiation-free, easy to use, and low-cost method for monitoring, during the standard clinical practice, the diet and pharmacological intervention which aims to stimulate BAT as a potential therapeutic target against obesity and diabetes.
Asphalt Concrete Overlay Optimization Based on Pavement Performance Models
Authors: Mikolaj Jan , Remek Lubos , Macula Marian
Published: September 2017

The life cycle length of pavement with asphalt concrete material (ACM) surfacing is significantly influenced, in addition to transport loading and climatic conditions, by design method and rehabilitation timing. Appropriate overlay thickness calculation and estimation of optimal rehabilitation time are crucial to maximizing life cycle length and, concurrently, reducing road administration costs and road user costs. This article describes a comprehensive method of ACM rehabilitation design. For optimization of life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) based design, mathematical analytical solution in combination with experimental verification of physical, mechanical, and fatigue characteristics is utilized. Pavement performance, that is, functions mathematically describing pavement’s degradation characteristics of operational capability, is represented by longitudinal and transverse unevenness; these are used to describe relations between traffic loading and pavement’s bearing capacity on 1 : 1 scale. Optimizing of rehabilitation plan is carried out by making a cost benefit analysis (CBA) for several rehabilitation scenarios in which different rehabilitation timing produces different capital cost requirements and social benefits. Rehabilitation scenarios differ in technology, the design of which needs to be mathematically optimized, and timing of rehabilitation execution. This article includes a case study for the sake of illustration of practical results and verification of applicability of used methodology.
Genome Structure ofBacillus cereustsu1 and Genes Involved in Cellulose Degradation and Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Synthesis
Authors: Li Hui , Zhou Suping , Johnson Terrance , Vercruysse Koen , Lizhi Ouyang , Ranganathan Parthasarathy , Phambu Nsoki , Ropelewski Alexander J. , Thannhauser Theodore W.
Published: September 2017

In previous work, we reported on the isolation and genome sequence analysis ofBacillus cereusstrain tsu1 NCBI accession number JPYN00000000. The 36 scaffolds in the assembled tsu1 genome were all aligned withB. cereusB4264 genome with variations. Genes encoding for xylanase and cellulase and the cluster of genes in the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis pathway were identified in tsu1 genome. The PHB accumulation inB. cereustsu1 was initially identified using Sudan Black staining and then confirmed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Physical properties of these PHB extracts, when analyzed with Raman spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, were found to be comparable to the standard compound. The five PHB genes in tsu1(phaA,phaB,phaR,phaC,andphaP)were cloned and expressed with TOPO cloning, and the recombinant proteins were validated using peptide mapping of in-gel trypsin digestion followed by mass spectrometry analysis. The recombinantE. coliBL21 (DE3) (over)expressingphaCwas found to accumulate PHB particles. The cellulolytic activity of tsu1 was detected using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) plate Congo red assay and the shift towards low-molecular size forms of CMC revealed by gel permeation chromatography in CMC liquid culture and the identification of a cellulase in the secreted proteome.
A Novel Cooperation-Based Network Coding Scheme for Walking Scenarios in WBANs
Authors: Zhang Hongyun , Safaei Farzad , Tran Le Chung
Published: September 2017

In Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs), the tradeoff between network throughput and energy efficiency remains a key challenge. Most current transmission schemes try to cope with the challenge from the perspective of general Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), which may not take the peculiarities of WBAN channels into account. In this paper, we take advantage of the correlation of on-body channels in walking scenarios to achieve a better tradeoff between throughput and energy consumption. We first analyze the characteristics of on-body channels based on realistic channel gain datasets, which are collected by our customized wireless transceivers in walking scenarios. The analytical results confirm the rationale of our newly proposed transmission scheme A3NC, which explores the combination of the aggregative allocation (AA) mechanism in MAC layer and the Analog Network Coding (ANC) technique in PHY layer. Both theoretical analyses and simulation results show that the A3NC scheme achieves significant improvement in upload throughput and energy efficiency, compared to the conventional approaches.
1-Resilient Boolean Functions on Even Variables with Almost Perfect Algebraic Immunity
Authors: Han Gang , Yu Yu , Li Xiangxue , Zhou Qifeng , Zheng Dong , Li Hui
Published: September 2017

Several factors (e.g., balancedness, good correlation immunity) are considered as important properties of Boolean functions for using in cryptographic primitives. A Boolean function is perfect algebraic immune if it is with perfect immunity against algebraic and fast algebraic attacks. There is an increasing interest in construction of Boolean function that is perfect algebraic immune combined with other characteristics, like resiliency. A resilient function is a balanced correlation-immune function. This paper uses bivariate representation of Boolean function and theory of finite field to construct a generalized and new class of Boolean functions on even variables by extending the Carlet-Feng functions. We show that the functions generated by this construction support cryptographic properties of 1-resiliency and (sub)optimal algebraic immunity and further propose the sufficient condition of achieving optimal algebraic immunity. Compared experimentally with Carlet-Feng functions and the functions constructed by the method of first-order concatenation existing in the literature on even (from 6 to 16) variables, these functions have better immunity against fast algebraic attacks. Implementation results also show that they are almost perfect algebraic immune functions.
Evaluation of Rutting Performance of Asphalt Mixture with Driving Wheel Pavement Analyzer
Authors: Cai Xu , Wang Duanyi , Huang Wenke , Yu Jiangmiao , Wan Cheng
Published: September 2017

Rutting is common pavement distress, which leads to lower riding comfort for road users and high maintenance costs. One of the commonly used tests is the simulation test with wheel tracking devices. Here, a new rutting test system has been developed based on the “Driving Wheel Pavement Analyzer” (DWPA) to evaluate the rutting performance of asphalt mixtures. This study conducted three types of rutting tests to validate feasibility, reliability, and accuracy of DWPA test. The results indicated that the DWPA test provided more information on ruts and enabled us to distinguish the performance of materials. The CDWPA index is better suited to reflect the rutting resistance of the material, which is highly correlated to the APA rutting index and the rutting test index of China according to the grey relational analysis results.
Role of Diet and Nutritional Supplements in Parkinson’s Disease Progression
Authors: Mischley Laurie K. , Lau Richard C. , Bennett Rachel D.
Published: September 2017

Objectives. The goal of this study is to describe modifiable lifestyle variables associated with reduced rate of Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression. Methods. The patient‐reported outcomes in PD (PRO‐PD) were used as the primary outcome measure, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intake. In this cross‐sectional analysis, regression analysis was performed on baseline data to identify the nutritional and pharmacological interventions associated with the rate of PD progression. All analyses were adjusted for age, gender, and years since diagnosis. Results. 1053 individuals with self‐reported idiopathic PD were available for analysis. Foods associated with the reduced rate of PD progression included fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, nonfried fish, olive oil, wine, coconut oil, fresh herbs, and spices (P < 0.05). Foods associated with more rapid PD progression include canned fruits and vegetables, diet and nondiet soda, fried foods, beef, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese (P < 0.05). Nutritional supplements coenzyme Q10 and fish oil were associated with reduced PD progression (P = 0.026 and P = 0.019, resp.), and iron supplementation was associated with faster progression (P = 0.022). Discussion. These are the first data to provide evidence that targeted nutrition is associated with the rate of PD progression.
Antioxidant Treatment Reduces Formation of Structural Cores and Improves Muscle Function in RYR1Y522S/WT Mice
Authors: Michelucci Antonio , De Marco Alessandro , Guarnier Flavia A. , Protasi Feliciano , Boncompagni Simona
Published: September 2017

Central core disease (CCD) is a congenital myopathy linked to mutations in the ryanodine receptor type 1 (RYR1), the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle. CCD is characterized by formation of amorphous cores within muscle fibers, lacking mitochondrial activity. In skeletal muscle of RYR1Y522S/WT knock‐in mice, carrying a human mutation in RYR1 linked to malignant hyperthermia (MH) with cores, oxidative stress is elevated and fibers present severe mitochondrial damage and cores. We treated RYR1Y522S/WT mice with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant provided ad libitum in drinking water for either 2 or 6 months. Our results show that 2 months of NAC treatment starting at 2 months of age, when mitochondrial and fiber damage was still minimal, (i) reduce formation of unstructured and contracture cores, (ii) improve muscle function, and (iii) decrease mitochondrial damage. The beneficial effect of NAC treatment is also evident following 6 months of treatment starting at 4 months of age, when structural damage was at an advanced stage. NAC exerts its protective effect likely by lowering oxidative stress, as supported by the reduction of 3‐NT and SOD2 levels. This work suggests that NAC administration is beneficial to prevent mitochondrial damage and formation of cores and improve muscle function in RYR1Y522S/WT mice.
Fabrication of PLA-PEG Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems for Improved Stability and Controlled Release of Catechin
Authors: Singh Neha Atulkumar , Mandal Abul Kalam Azad , Khan Zaved Ahmed
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop an oral delivery system for the controlled release of catechin and evaluate the antioxidant potential and stability of catechin loaded PLA/PEG nanoparticles (CATNP). Nanoparticles were synthesized using a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The fabricated nanoparticles were relatively small with a hydrodynamic diameter of 300 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 95%. SEM image analysis showed uniform sized and spherically shaped nanoparticles.In vitrorelease profiles indicated a slow and sustained release of catechin from the nanoparticle. Stability of the nanoparticle in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids is maintained due to the PEG coating on the nanoparticles, which effectively protected catechin against gastrointestinal enzyme activity. Enhanced inhibition action of free radicals and metal chelation potential was noted when catechin was encapsulated in these polymeric nanoparticles. The reports obtained from this study would provide an opportunity for designing an oral delivery system aimed at inhibiting oxidative stress in the human body.
Economic Order Quality Model for Determining the Sales Prices of Fresh Goods at Various Points in Time
Authors: Chen Po-Yu
Published: September 2017

Although the safe consumption of goods such as food products, medicine, and vaccines is related to their freshness, consumers frequently understand less than suppliers about the freshness of goods when they purchase them. Because of this lack of information, apart from sales prices, consumers refer only to the manufacturing and expiration dates when deciding whether to purchase and how many of these goods to buy. If dealers could determine the sales price at each point in time and customers’ intention to buy goods of varying freshness, then dealers could set an optimal inventory cycle and allocate a weekly sales price for each point in time, thereby maximizing the profit per unit time. Therefore, in this study, an economic order quality model was established to enable discussion of the optimal control of sales prices. The technique for identifying the optimal solution for the model was determined, the characteristics of the optimal solution were demonstrated, and the implications of the solution’s sensitivity analysis were explained.
Research on Optimized Torque‐Distribution Control Method for Front/Rear Axle Electric Wheel Loader
Authors: Yang Zhiyu , Wang Jixin , Gao Guangzong , Shi Xiangyun
Published: September 2017

Optimized torque‐distribution control method (OTCM) is a critical technology for front/rear axle electric wheel loader (FREWL) to improve the operation performance and energy efficiency. In the paper, a longitudinal dynamics model of FREWL is created. Based on the model, the objective functions are that the weighted sum of variance and mean of tire workload is minimal and the total motor efficiency is maximal. Four nonlinear constraint optimization algorithms, quasi‐newton Lagrangian multiplier method, sequential quadratic programming, adaptive genetic algorithms, and particle swarm optimization with random weighting and natural selection, which have fast convergent rate and quick calculating speed, are used as solving solutions for objective function. The simulation results show that compared to no‐control FREWL, controlled FREWL utilizes the adhesion ability better and slips less. It is obvious that controlled FREWL gains better operation performance and higher energy efficiency. The energy efficiency of FREWL in equipment transferring condition is increased by 13–29%. In addition, this paper discussed the applicability of OTCM and analyzed the reason for different simulation results of four algorithms.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Potentials and α-Amylase Inhibition of Different Fractions of Labiatae Plants Extracts: As a Model of Antidiabetic Compounds Properties
Authors: Moein Soheila , Pimoradloo Elham , Moein Mahmoodreza , Vessal Mahmood
Published: September 2017

In an attempt to identify herbal drugs which may become useful in the prevention of diabetes, antioxidant potentials and α-amylase inhibition by the ethanol extracts of two plants belonging to Lamiaceae family, Otostegia persica and Zataria multiflora, and their different fractions were studied. Also, inhibition of α-amylase by Salvia mirzayanii and its fractions was evaluated. All of the samples exhibited antioxidant activities, among which ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (17.21±0.17 mg GAE/g) was found to contain the highest amounts of phenols and the ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (218 ± 2.76 mg QUE/g) had the most values of flavonoids. Ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (IC50 = 3.05±0.51 μg/ml) was shown to have the most reducing power and the ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (IC50 = 32.17±1.82 μg/ml) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging. The ethyl acetate fraction of Otostegia persica (99.39±0.94%) showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity which was similar to acarbose used as a standard. Mode of α-amylase inhibition of the most samples was uncompetitive except for ZMC, OPP, OPC, and SMP which presented competitive inhibition. The present findings showed that studied samples may have some compounds with antioxidant and antidiabetic effects.
Effect of Neonatal Exposure to Poly(Ethylene Glycol)‐block‐Poly(Lactic Acid) Nanoparticles on Oxidative State in Infantile and Adult Female Rats
Authors: Dvořáková Monika , Rollerová Eva , Scsuková Soňa , Bujňáková Mlynarčíková Alžbeta , Laubertová Lucia , Žitňanová Ingrid
Published: September 2017

Our goal was to evaluate the potential health risk of the polymeric NP, poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(lactic acid) (PEG‐b‐PLA), from the view of redox imbalance of the organism in two different life stages. Female Wistar rats were neonatally administered intraperitoneally with PEG‐b‐PLA NPs [20 mg/kg of b.w. (PEG20) or 40 (PEG40) mg/kg of b.w.] from postnatal day 4 (PND4) to PND7. We measured antioxidant capacity (TEAC), level of protein carbonyls and lipoperoxides in plasma, activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hemolysates of infantile (sacrificed on PND17) and adult (sacrificed after PND176) rats. Compared to controls, neonatal PEG40 exposure induced a significant TEAC reduction in the infantile rats. Protein carbonyls and lipoperoxide levels were not affected after any dose of PEG‐b‐PLA NP administration. In adult rats, PEG20 administration caused a significant decrease of protein carbonyl levels compared to controls. In infantile rats, both doses of PEG‐b‐PLA NP administration increased catalase, Gpx, and SOD activities compared to controls. Surprisingly, in adult rats, the activities of Gpx and SOD decreased significantly after administration of both doses of PEG‐b‐PLA NPs. Obtained data indicate a possible age‐related association between the oxidative status and neonatal PEG‐b‐PLA NP administration in female rats.
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1: A Predictor of Type 2 Diabetes?
Authors: Larsen Matthias Ploug , Torekov Signe Sørensen
Published: September 2017

Background. The incretin effect is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes. Aim. To assess the relation between the incretin hormone GLP-1 and the prediabetic subtypes: impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and the combined IFG/IGT to investigate whether a low GLP-1 response may be a predictor of prediabetes in adults. Method. 298 articles were found using a broad search phrase on the PubMed database and after the assessment of titles and abstracts 19 articles were included. Results and Discussion. Studies assessing i-IFG/IFG and i-IGT/IGT found both increased, unaltered, and reduced GLP-1 levels. Studies assessing IFG/IGT found unaltered or reduced GLP-1 levels. When assessing the five studies with the largest sample size, it clearly suggests a decreased GLP-1 response in IFG/IGT subjects. Several other factors (BMI, glucagon, age, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA)), including medications (metformin), may also influence the secretion of GLP-1. Conclusion. This review suggests that the GLP-1 response is a variable in prediabetes possibly due to a varying GLP-1-secreting profile during the development and progression of type 2 diabetes or difference in the measurement technique. Longitudinal prospective studies are needed to assess whether a reduced GLP-1 response is a predictor of diabetes.
Level of Concordance of Pre-, Intra-, and Postoperative Staging in Cervical Cancers (TREYA Study)
Authors: Toure M. , Bambara A. T. , Kouassi K. K. Y. , Seka E. N. , Dia J. M. , Yao I. , Kimso O. , Adoubi I.
Published: September 2017

Concomitant radiochemotherapy is the therapeutic standard for locally advanced (Ib2 to IVa stage FIGO) cervical cancer. In the absence of a radiotherapy in many of our Sub-Saharan African countries, surgical resection is the only therapeutic method available in hopes of achieving a definite cure. However, criteria for curative surgery are not always met due to preoperative understaging of most of our patients. In addition to socioeconomic factors, the causes for understaging are numerous. These include the lack of personnel or underqualified personnel and the absence of complete workup to assess the resectability of the tumor, but above all the lack of decision-making through multidisciplinary consultation meetings. This study makes a plea in order to provide our hospitals with qualified personnel and adequate technical platform to allow efficient management of our patients with cervical cancer.
Novel Combined Training Approach Improves Sleep Quality but Does Not Change Body Composition in Healthy Elderly Women: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Sousa Thiago Matheus da Silva , Rodrigues Bruno , Uchida Marco Carlos , Ruberti Olivia de Moraes , Schwingel Paulo Adriano , Novais Tânia Maria Gaspar , Oliveira Paula de Lourdes Lauande , Almeida Fabiano de Jesus Furtado , Pulcherio Janaína Oliveira Bentivi , Gambassi Bruno Bavaresco
Published: September 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a novel combined training protocol on sleep quality and body composition of healthy elderly women. The study sample consisted of 8 sedentary elderly individuals with mean (±SD) of 67 (±8) years of age, 96.0 (±7.8) mg/dL fasting blood glucose, 94.4 (±36.1) mg/dL triglycerides, 179.1 (±22.4) mg/dL total cholesterol, 57.2 (±15.7) mg/dL high-density lipoprotein (HDL), 103.1 (±25.2) mg/dL low-density lipoprotein (LDL), 125.3 (±8.4) mmHg systolic blood pressure, and 72.6 (±10.1) mmHg diastolic blood pressure. The training protocol consisted of resistance training exercises (approximately 18-minute duration) combined with aerobic exercises (approximately 26-minute duration), performed interspersed in the same session, for 8 weeks (3 times a week), with a 24-hour interval rest between each session. Continuous variables were expressed as the mean (±standard deviation) and the paired sample t-test compares baseline with final measurement. The results showed a significant improvement (p=0.01) in quality of sleep (4.9 ± 1.5 versus 3.8 ± 1.8 for total PSQI index) without body significant improvements in the fat-free mass (59.9 ± 4.0 versus 60.5 ± 4.4; p=0.20) and fat mass (40.1 ± 4.0 versus 39.5 ± 4.4; p=0.20) in healthy elderly women. In this sense, the novel combined training proposed may be an effective alternative or adjunct to present therapies aimed at improving the sleep quality in this population.
The Role of Nrf2 in Cardiovascular Function and Disease
Authors: Satta Sandro , Mahmoud Ayman M. , Wilkinson Fiona L. , Yvonne Alexander M. , White Stephen J.
Published: September 2017

Free radicals, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), hydrogen sulphide, and hydrogen peroxide play an important role in both intracellular and intercellular signaling; however, their production and quenching need to be closely regulated to prevent cellular damage. An imbalance, due to exogenous sources of free radicals and chronic upregulation of endogenous production, contributes to many pathological conditions including cardiovascular disease and also more general processes involved in aging. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐like 2 (NFE2L2; commonly known as Nrf2) is a transcription factor that plays a major role in the dynamic regulation of a network of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, through binding to and activating expression of promoters containing the antioxidant response element (ARE). Nrf2 activity is regulated by many mechanisms, suggesting that tight control is necessary for normal cell function and both hypoactivation and hyperactivation of Nrf2 are indicated in playing a role in different aspects of cardiovascular disease. Targeted activation of Nrf2 or downstream genes may prove to be a useful avenue in developing therapeutics to reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease. We will review the current status of Nrf2 and related signaling in cardiovascular disease and its relevance to current and potential treatment strategies.
Deformation Measuring Methods Based on Inertial Sensors for Airborne Distributed POS
Authors: Gong Xiaolin , Liu Haojie , Yan Xing-Gang
Published: September 2017

This paper is focused on deformation measuring methods based on inertial sensors, which are used to achieve high accuracy motion parameters and the spatial distribution optimization of multiple slave systems in the airborne distributed Position and Orientation System or other purposes. In practical application, the installation difficulty, cost, and accuracy of measuring equipment are the key factors that need to be considered synthetically. Motivated by these, deformation measuring methods based on gyros and accelerometers are proposed, respectively, and compared with the traditional method based on the inertial measurement unit (IMU). The mathematical models of these proposed methods are built, and the detailed derivations of them are given. Based on the Kalman filtering estimation, simulation and semiphysical simulation based on vehicle experiment show that the method based on gyros can obtain a similar estimation accuracy to the method based on IMU, and the method based on accelerometers has an advantage in y-axis deformation estimation.
A Cold Start Context-Aware Recommender System for Tour Planning Using Artificial Neural Network and Case Based Reasoning
Authors: Bahramian Zahra , Ali Abbaspour Rahim , Claramunt Christophe
Published: September 2017

Nowadays, large amounts of tourism information and services are available over the Web. This makes it difficult for the user to search for some specific information such as selecting a tour in a given city as an ordered set of points of interest. Moreover, the user rarely knows all his needs upfront and his preferences may change during a recommendation process. The user may also have a limited number of initial ratings and most often the recommender system is likely to face the well-known cold start problem. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to introduce a hybrid interactive context-aware tourism recommender system that takes into account user’s feedbacks and additional contextual information. It offers personalized tours to the user based on his preferences thanks to the combination of a case based reasoning framework and an artificial neural network. The proposed method has been tried in the city of Tehran in Iran. The results show that the proposed method outperforms current artificial neural network methods and combinations of case based reasoning withk-nearest neighbor methods in terms of user effort, accuracy, and user satisfaction.
Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 Inhibits the Peroxidase Activity of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin
Authors: Hair Pamela S. , Cunnion Kenji M. , Krishna Neel K.
Published: September 2017

Hemoglobin is the natural carrier of oxygen in red blood cells (RBCs). While intracellular hemoglobin provides life-sustaining oxygen transport, extracellular free hemoglobin displays toxicity due to inherent peroxidase activity generating reactive oxygen species that subsequently react with the hemoglobin molecule to produce toxic heme degradation products resulting in free radicals, oxidative stress damage, and lipid peroxidation. We have recently demonstrated that Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1) inhibits peroxidase activity of the heme-based enzyme myeloperoxidase. To elucidate whether PIC1 could inhibit peroxidase activity of hemoglobin, we evaluated the consequence of PIC1 on RBC lysates, methemoglobin, and myoglobin using tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as an oxidation target. PIC1 reversibly and dose-dependently prevented TMB oxidation to tetramethylbenzidine diimine by RBC lysates, methemoglobin, and myoglobin, having comparable activity to the inhibitor 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide. PIC1 inhibited TMB oxidation of RBC lysates similar to L-cysteine suggesting that the two cysteine residues contained in PIC1 may mediate peroxidase activity. PIC1 also inhibited heme destruction by NaOCl for RBC lysates, hemoglobin, and myoglobin as assayed by preservation of the Soret absorbance peak in the presence of NaOCl and reduction in free iron release. In conclusion, PIC1 inhibits peroxidase activity of hemoglobin and myoglobin likely via an antioxidant mechanism.
Structural Characterization of Natural and Processed Zircons with X-Rays and Nuclear Techniques
Authors: Damonte Laura C. , Rivas Patricia C. , Pasquevich Alberto F. , Andreola Fernanda , Bondioli Federica , Ferrari Anna M. , Tositti Laura , Cinelli Giorgia
Published: September 2017

In ceramic industry, zircon sand is widely used in different applications because zirconia plays a role as common opacifying constituent. In particular, it is used as a basic component of glazes applied to ceramic tiles and sanitary ware as well as an opacifier in unglazed bulk porcelain stoneware. Natural zircon sands are the major source of zirconium minerals for industrial applications. In this paper, long, medium, and short range studies were conducted on zirconium minerals originated from Australia, South Africa, and United States of America using conventional and less conventional techniques (i.e., X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS), and Perturbed Angular Correlations (PAC)) in order to reveal the type and the extension of the regions that constitute the metamict state of zircon sands and the modifications therein produced as a consequence of the industrial milling process and the thermal treatment in the production line. Additionally, HPGe gamma-ray spectroscopy confirms the occurrence of significant levels of natural radioactivity responsible for metamictization in the investigated zircon samples. Results from XRD, PALS, and PAC analysis confirm that the metamict state of zircon is a dispersion of submicron disordered domains in a crystalline matrix of zircon.
Tissue- and Cell Type-Specific Expression of the Long Noncoding RNA Klhl14-AS in Mouse
Authors: Credendino Sara Carmela , Lewin Nicole , de Oliveira Miriane , Basu Swaraj , D’Andrea Barbara , Amendola Elena , Di Guida Luigi , Nardone Antonio , Sanges Remo , De Felice Mario , De Vita Gabriella
Published: September 2017

lncRNAs are acquiring increasing relevance as regulators in a wide spectrum of biological processes. The extreme heterogeneity in the mechanisms of action of these molecules, however, makes them very difficult to study, especially regarding their molecular function. A novel lncRNA has been recently identified as the most enriched transcript in mouse developing thyroid. Due to its genomic localization antisense to the protein-encoding Klhl14 gene, we named it Klhl14-AS. In this paper, we highlight that mouse Klhl14-AS produces at least five splicing variants, some of which have not been previously described. Klhl14-AS is expressed with a peculiar pattern, characterized by diverse relative abundance of its isoforms in different mouse tissues. We examine the whole expression level of Klhl14-AS in a panel of adult mouse tissues, showing that it is expressed in the thyroid, lung, kidney, testis, ovary, brain, and spleen, although at different levels. In situ hybridization analysis reveals that, in the context of each organ, Klhl14-AS shows a cell type-specific expression. Interestingly, databases report a similar expression profile for human Klhl14-AS. Our observations suggest that this lncRNA could play cell type-specific roles in several organs and pave the way for functional characterization of this gene in appropriate biological contexts.
Does the Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination Threshold Change over Time in Focal Dystonia?
Authors: Conte Antonella , Ferrazzano Gina , Belvisi Daniele , Manzo Nicoletta , Suppa Antonio , Fabbrini Giovanni , Berardelli Alfredo
Published: September 2017

Background. The somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) is defined as the shortest interval at which an individual recognizes two stimuli as asynchronous. Some evidence suggests that STDT depends on cortical inhibitory interneurons in the basal ganglia and in primary somatosensory cortex. Several studies have reported that the STDT in patients with dystonia is abnormal. No longitudinal studies have yet investigated whether STDT values in different forms of focal dystonia change during the course of the disease.Methods. We designed a follow-up study on 25 patients with dystonia (15 with blepharospasm and 10 with cervical dystonia) who were tested twice: upon enrolment and 8 years later. STDT values from dystonic patients at the baseline were also compared with those from a group of 30 age-matched healthy subjects.Results. Our findings show that the abnormally high STDT values observed in patients with focal dystonia remained unchanged at the 8-year follow-up assessment whereas disease severity worsened.Conclusions. Our observation that STDT abnormalities in dystonia remain unmodified during the course of the disease suggests that the altered activity of inhibitory interneurons—either at cortical or at subcortical level—responsible for the increased STDT does not deteriorate as the disease progresses.
Cross-Sectional Information on Pore Structure and Element Distribution of Sediment Particles by SEM and EDS
Authors: Chen Minghong , Zhao Huiming , Fang Hongwei , Zhang Yuefeng
Published: September 2017

The interaction between pollutants and sediment particles often occurs on the particle surface, so surface properties directly affect surface reaction. The physical and chemical processes occurring on sediment particle surfaces are microscopic processes and as such need to be studied from a microscopic perspective. In this study, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) were adopted to observe and analyze the pore structure and element distribution of sediment particles. In particular, a special method of sample preparation was used to achieve the corresponding cross-sectional information of sediment particles. Clear images of a particle profile and pore microstructure were obtained by high-resolution SEM, while element distribution maps of sediment particles were obtained by EDS. The results provide an intuitive understanding of the internal microenvironment and external behavior of sediment particles, in addition to revealing a significant role of pore microstructure in the adsorption and desorption of pollutants. Thus, a combination of different experimental instruments and observation methods can provide real images and information on microscopic pore structure and element distribution of sediment particles. These results should help to improve our understanding of sediment dynamics and its environmental effects.
Anti-Jagged Immunotherapy Inhibits MDSCs and Overcomes Tumor-Induced Tolerance
Authors: Sierra Rosa A. , Trillo-Tinoco Jimena , Mohamed Eslam , Yu Lolie , Achyut Bhagelu R. , Arbab Ali , Bradford Jennifer W. , Osborne Barbara A. , Miele Lucio , Rodriguez Paulo C.
Published: September 2017

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a major obstacle to promising forms of cancer immunotherapy, but tools to broadly limit their immunoregulatory effects remain lacking. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic effect of the humanized anti–Jagged1/2-blocking antibody CTX014 on MDSC-mediated T-cell suppression in tumor-bearing mice. CTX014 decreased tumor growth, affected the accumulation and tolerogenic activity of MDSCs in tumors, and inhibited the expression of immunosuppressive factors arginase I and iNOS. Consequently, anti-Jagged therapy overcame tumor-induced T-cell tolerance, increased the infiltration of reactive CD8+ T cells into tumors, and enhanced the efficacy of T-cell–based immunotherapy. Depletion of MDSC-like cells restored tumor growth in mice treated with anti-Jagged, whereas coinjection of MDSC-like cells from anti–Jagged-treated mice with cancer cells delayed tumor growth. Jagged1/2 was induced in MDSCs by tumor-derived factors via NFkB-p65 signaling, and conditional deletion of NFkB-p65 blocked MDSC function. Collectively, our results offer a preclinical proof of concept for the use of anti-Jagged1/2 to reprogram MDSC-mediated T-cell suppression in tumors, with implications to broadly improve the efficacy of cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 77(20); 5628–38. ©2017 AACR.
Optical Coherence Tomography Detects Necrotic Regions and Volumetrically Quantifies Multicellular Tumor Spheroids
Authors: Huang Yongyang , Wang Shunqiang , Guo Qiongyu , Kessel Sarah , Rubinoff Ian , Chan Leo Li-Ying , Li Peter , Liu Yaling , Qiu Jean , Zhou Chao
Published: September 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid models have gained increased recognition as important tools in cancer research and anticancer drug development. However, currently available imaging approaches used in high-throughput screening drug discovery platforms, for example, bright-field, phase contrast, and fluorescence microscopies, are unable to resolve 3D structures deep inside (>50 μm) tumor spheroids. In this study, we established a label-free, noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging platform to characterize 3D morphologic and physiologic information of multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) growing from approximately 250 to 600 μm in height over 21 days. In particular, tumor spheroids of two cell lines, glioblastoma (U-87MG) and colorectal carcinoma (HCT116), exhibited distinctive evolutions in their geometric shapes at late growth stages. Volumes of MCTS were accurately quantified using a voxel-based approach without presumptions of their geometries. In contrast, conventional diameter-based volume calculations assuming perfect spherical shape resulted in large quantification errors. Furthermore, we successfully detected necrotic regions within these tumor spheroids based on increased intrinsic optical attenuation, suggesting a promising alternative of label-free viability tests in tumor spheroids. Therefore, OCT can serve as a promising imaging modality to characterize morphologic and physiologic features of MCTS, showing great potential for high-throughput drug screening. Cancer Res; 77(21); 6011–20. ©2017 AACR.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Green Tea Extract Supplementation and Mammographic Density in Postmenopausal Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer
Authors: Samavat Hamed , Ursin Giske , Emory Tim H. , Lee Eunjung , Wang Renwei , Torkelson Carolyn J. , Dostal Allison M. , Swenson Karen , Le Chap T. , Yang Chung S. , Yu Mimi C. , Yee Douglas , Wu Anna H. , Yuan Jian-Min , Kurzer Mindy S.
Published: September 2017

Epidemiologic and animal studies suggest a protective role of green tea against breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanism is not understood. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial to investigate whether supplementation with green tea extract (GTE) modifies mammographic density (MD), as a potential mechanism, involving 1,075 healthy postmenopausal women. Women assigned to the treatment arm consumed daily 4 decaffeinated GTE capsules containing 1,315 mg total catechins, including 843 mg epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for 12 months. A computer-assisted method (Madena) was used to assess MD in digital mammograms at baseline and month 12 time points in 932 completers (462 in GTE and 470 in placebo). GTE supplementation for 12 months did not significantly change percent MD (PMD) or absolute MD in all women. In younger women (50–55 years), GTE supplementation significantly reduced PMD by 4.40% as compared with the placebo with a 1.02% PMD increase from pre- to postintervention (P = 0.05), but had no effect in older women (Pinteraction = 0.07). GTE supplementation did not induce MD change in other subgroups of women stratified by catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype or level of body mass index. In conclusion, 1-year supplementation with a high dose of EGCG did not have a significant effect on MD measures in all women, but reduced PMD in younger women, an age-dependent effect similar to those of tamoxifen. Further investigation of the potential chemopreventive effect of green tea intake on breast cancer risk in younger women is warranted. Cancer Prev Res; 10(12); 710–8. ©2017 AACR.
Detecting Congenital Central Hypothyroidism by Newborn Screening: Difficulty in Distinguishing from Congenital Thyroxine-Binding Globulin Deficiency
Authors: Connelly Kara J. , Pierce Melinda J. , Hanna Cheryl , LaFranchi Stephen H.
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Congenital central hypothyroidism (CH-C) can be detected on newborn screening (NBS) by programs using thyroxine (T4)-reflex thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test approach. CH-C must be distinguished from T4-binding globulin (TBG) deficiency. We sought to determine whether thyroid function tests reliably separate CH-C from TBG deficiency. Methods: We analyzed NBS and serum free and total T4, T3 resin uptake (T3RU) or TBG, and TSH for infants in the Northwest Regional NBS Program (NWRSP) between the years 2008 and 2015 with either CH-C or TBG deficiency. Results: We discovered a significant overlap in T3RU and TBG levels amongst 21 cases of CH-C and 250 cases of TBG deficiency. Mean serum TBG levels were lower in CH-C cases (20.3 µg/mL, range 14.2–33.3) than what is reported in healthy infants (28.6 µg/mL, range 19.1–44.6). Serum free T4 was lower in CH-C cases than TBG deficiency but did not always differentiate between the two conditions. Conclusion: CH-C benefits from detection on NBS but must be distinguished from TBG deficiency. The diagnosis of CH-C rests solely on subnormal serum free T4, but is supported by the demonstration of other pituitary hormone deficiencies. As an overlap exists, serum TBG (or T3RU) levels do not play a role in the diagnosis of CH-C.