bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Charting the human respiratory tract with airborne nanoparticles: evaluation of the Airspace Dimension Assessment technique
Authors: Jakobsson Jonas , Wollmer Per , Löndahl Jakob
Published: September 2018

Airspace Dimension Assessment (AiDA) is a technique to assess lung morphology by measuring lung deposition of inhaled nanoparticles. Nanoparticles deposit in the lungs predominately by diffusion, and average diffusion distances, corresponding to effective airspace radii ( rAiDA), can be inferred from measurements of particle recovery after varied breath holds. Also, particle recovery after a 0-s breath hold ( R0) may hold information about the small conducting airways. This study investigates rAiDAat different volumetric sample depths in the lungs of healthy subjects. Measurements were performed with 50-nm polystyrene nanospheres on 19 healthy subjects aged 17–67 yr. Volumetric sample depths ranged from 200 to 5,000 ml and breath-hold times from 5 to 20 s. At the examined volumetric sample depths, rAiDAvalues ranged from ~200–600 μm, which correspond to dimensions of the bronchiolar and the gas-exchanging regions of the lungs. R0decreased with volumetric sample depth and showed more intersubject variation than rAiDA. Correlations were found between the AiDA parameters, anthropometry, and lung function tests, but not between rAiDAand R0. For repeated measurements on 3 subjects over an 18-mo period, rAiDAvaried on average within ± 7 μm (± 2.4%). The results indicate that AiDA has potential as an efficient new in vivo technique to assess individual lung properties. The information obtained by such measurements may be of value for lung diagnostics, especially for the distal lungs, which are challenging to examine directly by other means.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to measure effective airspace radii ( rAiDA) at volumetric sample depths 200–5,000 ml in healthy subjects by Airspace Dimension Assessment (AiDA). Observed rAiDAwere 200–600 μm, which corresponds to airspaces for the bronchiolar and the gas-exchanging regions around airway generation 14–17. rAiDAcorrelated with lung function tests and anthropometry. Measurements of rAiDAon 3 subjects over 11–18 mo were within ± 7 μm.
An Ancient Skeleton with Multiple Osteoblastic Bone Lesions Containing a Scapular Sunburst Appearance from a 5th–6th Century Grave Excavated in Oita, Japan
Authors: Tsurumoto Toshiyuki , Wakebe Tetsuaki , Ogami-Takamura Keiko , Okamoto Keishi , Tashiro Kazunori , Saiki Kazunobu
Published: September 2018

A human skeleton of a middle-aged adult male was found in a 5th–6th century Kinoue-Kodo stone coffin excavated from the southwest marginal region of the Oita plains, northeast Kyushu, Japan. The skeleton was buried respectfully in the ancient tomb, and red pigment was applied to his face after death. We report herein findings from computed tomography imaging of the skeleton and discuss the multiple osteoblastic lesions identified in the humerus, scapula, clavicle, vertebra, pelvic bones, and skull of this individual. These lesions comprised cortical bone thickening with periosteal reaction localized to the surface and osteosclerotic changes mainly observed in the trabecular structure of cancellous bone. In particular, a typical sunburst pattern was also noted on the left scapula as another characteristic lesion found in this case. By differential diagnosis, the disease suffered by this individual was most likely to be metastatic bone tumors, especially of prostate cancer. This person may have survived until many bone metastases had developed throughout his whole body.
New Insights into the Role of Trace Elements in IBD
Authors: Gîlcă-Blanariu Georgiana-Emmanuela , Diaconescu Smaranda , Ciocoiu Manuela , Ștefănescu Gabriela
Published: September 2018

Micronutrient deficiencies are common in inflammatory bowel disease and have clinical impact, being both a sign of complicated disease and a cause of morbidity. The involved systemic inflammatory response is responsible for altering the concentration of a wide range of trace elements in the serum, including zinc and selenium. This review summarizes recent advances and evidence-based knowledge regarding the impact of selenium and zinc on oxidative stress and microbiota changes in IBD patients. Getting new insight into the impact of malnutrition, particularly on the micronutrients’ impact on the development, composition, and metabolism of microbiota, as well as the influence of oxidative stress and the mucosal immune response, could help in implementing new management strategies for IBD patients, with focus on a more integrated approach.
Inflammation-Related Mechanisms in Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction, Progression, and Outcome
Authors: Mihai Simona , Codrici Elena , Popescu Ionela Daniela , Enciu Ana-Maria , Albulescu Lucian , Necula Laura Georgiana , Mambet Cristina , Anton Gabriela , Tanase Cristiana
Published: September 2018

Persistent, low-grade inflammation is now considered a hallmark feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), being involved in the development of all-cause mortality of these patients. Although substantial improvements have been made in clinical care, CKD remains a major public health burden, affecting 10–15% of the population, and its prevalence is constantly growing. Due to its insidious nature, CKD is rarely diagnosed in early stages, and once developed, its progression is unfortunately irreversible. There are many factors that contribute to the setting of the inflammatory status in CKD, including increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and acidosis, chronic and recurrent infections, altered metabolism of adipose tissue, and last but not least, gut microbiota dysbiosis, an underestimated source of microinflammation. In this scenario, a huge step forward was made by the increasing progression of omics approaches, specially designed for identification of biomarkers useful for early diagnostic and follow-up. Recent omics advances could provide novel insights in deciphering the disease pathophysiology; thus, identification of circulating biomarker panels using state-of-the-art proteomic technologies could improve CKD early diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostics. This review aims to summarize the recent knowledge regarding the relationship between inflammation and CKD, highlighting the current proteomic approaches, as well as the inflammasomes and gut microbiota dysbiosis involvement in the setting of CKD, culminating with the troubling bidirectional connection between CKD and renal malignancy, raised on the background of an inflammatory condition.
Determination of the Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Leaves and Fruits of SpanishQuercus coccifera
Authors: Molina-García L. , Martínez-Expósito R. , Fernández-de Córdova M. L. , Llorent-Martínez E. J.
Published: September 2018

In this work, we report the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of leaves and fruits (acorns) ofQuercus coccifera(kermes oak). Forty-one compounds were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MSn) with an ion trap mass spectrometer. A high percentage of the detected compounds were gallic acid derivatives, although some saccharides and flavonoids were also present. This phytochemical pattern is typical inQuercusspecies, which are rich in gallotannins. These compounds are partially responsible for the cardioprotective effects observed in different food samples containing them. We evaluated the antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH assays. In both cases, high antioxidant activity was observed, being higher in acorns than in leaves. The high antioxidant potential of the extracts, which is related to the high total phenolic content, indicates the potential benefit of the use of this species as a source of bioactive compounds.
Development of a Gesture-Based Game Applying Participatory Design to Reflect Values of Manual Wheelchair Users
Authors: Szykman Alexandre Greluk , Brandão André Luiz , Gois João Paulo
Published: September 2018

Wheelchair users have been benefited from Natural User Interface (NUI) games because gesture-based applications can help motor disabled people. Previous work showed that considering values and the social context of these users improve game enjoyment. However, the literature lacks on studies that address games as a tool to approach personal values of people with physical disabilities. Participatory design encompasses techniques that allow absorbing and reflecting values of users into technologies. We developed a gesture-based game using participatory design addressing values of wheelchair users. To manage the development of our game, we permitted creativity and flexibility to the designers. Our design is aligned to the Game SCRUM and make use of concepts from the Creative Process. The products of each stage of the design that we applied are both a gesture-based game and its evaluation. We tested the enjoyment (immersion, difficult while playing, etc.) of users for the game that we developed thought game-based quantitative and qualitative analyses. Our results indicate that the game was able to provide a satisfactory entertaining experience to the users.
Redundancy Optimization of an Uncertain Parallel‐Series System with Warm Standby Elements
Authors: Hu Linmin , Huang Wei , Wang Guofang , Tian Ruiling
Published: September 2018

The redundancy optimization problem is formulated for an uncertain parallel‐series system with warm standby elements. The lifetimes and costs of elements are considered uncertain variables, and the weights and volumes of elements are random variables. The uncertain measure optimization model (UMOM), the uncertain optimistic value optimization model (UOVOM), and the uncertain cost optimization model (UCOM) are developed through reliability maximization, lifetime maximization, and cost minimization, respectively. An efficient simulation optimization algorithm is provided to calculate the objective values and optimal solutions of the UMOM, UOVOM, and UCOM. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the rationality of the models and the feasibility of the optimization algorithm.
The Characteristic Improvement of Electromagnetic Proportional Directional Control Valve
Authors: Zhang Hua
Published: September 2018

The electromagnetic proportional directional control valve is widely used in hydraulic control system and its typical faults are not enough electromagnetic force and too high temperature rise to burn out the coil. The magnetic field and coil temperature field distribution of the control valve are modeled and analyzed by using the finite element method. The influence laws of the geometry and parameters on electromagnetic force are analyzed. Furthermore, the influence of coil control current and heat transfer coefficient on the temperature rise of coil is analyzed, which provides a theoretical basis for the reliability optimization design of electromagnetic proportional directional control valve.
Comparative Analysis of Roadway Reinforcement Effects Based on Fluid‐Solid Coupling in the Fractured Zone of Water‐Rich Fault
Authors: Zhang Jihua , Dong Yun , Chen Yadong , Jiang Yang , Sun Huasheng , Fan Yuqing , Wang Chun
Published: September 2018

Water inrush is a common geological disaster during the roadway excavation process in the broken zone of water‐rich faults. In this paper, the 15107 mining roadway built by Yuxing coal mine in such a fault zone was used as a case study to determine the water content of the surrounding rocks and a fault zone using the transient electromagnetic method (TEM). Also, the mechanics characteristics of such rocks in both saturated and unsaturated states were analyzed, a computational model for fluid‐solid coupling in the water‐rich fault fracture zone was established, and the permeability coefficient of the rocks under both shield support and bolt‐grouting support was compared, along with analyzing the changes in pore pressure, fissure water velocity, and characteristics of deformation in the surrounding rocks. The numerical simulation results show that the fault range has an influence of about 20 m, which causes the forms of permeability coefficient to change like a hump. The permeability coefficient in the fractured zone is the largest, and the mutation rate at the fault plane is faster. Bolting not only reduces the permeability coefficient of the surrounding rock that is 1/10 of the beam support but also prevents the roof fissure water inrushing the roadway and the surrounding rock of the floor, while also causing the pore‐water pressure to decrease, even reduce to zero, in front of the working face and floor. The flow velocity of the fissure water can be decreased by bolting, which can effectively control the deformation of the surrounding rock by 38.7%∼65% compared with the shield support. The practice results show that this method can effectively recover the cracks surrounding the mining roadway and stop gushing water. Concurrently, it successfully controls deformation of the surrounding rocks in the fault zone, thus ensuring stability of the roadway and facilitating safer mining production.
Redox Balance, Antioxidant Defense, and Oxidative Damage in the Hypothalamus and Cerebral Cortex of Rats with High Fat Diet‐Induced Insulin Resistance
Authors: Maciejczyk Mateusz , Żebrowska Ewa , Zalewska Anna , Chabowski Adrian
Published: September 2018

Oxidative stress is a key pathogenic factor in both neurogenerative and metabolic diseases. However, its contribution in the brain complications of insulin resistance is still not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was the evaluation of redox homeostasis and oxidative damage in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex of insulin‐resistant and control rats. 16 male Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups (n = 8): the control and high fat diet group (HFD). Prooxidant enzymes (xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase); enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase‐1 (SOD‐1), and uric acid (UA)]; and oxidative damage products [advanced glycation end products (AGE), 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8‐hydroxy‐2 ′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG)] as well as the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and total ferric reducing ability of sample (FRAP) were evaluated in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex as well as serum/plasma of HFD‐fed and control rats. The activity of prooxidant enzymes was significantly increased in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus of HFD‐fed rats vs. control rats. Additionally, we have showed enhanced antioxidant efficiency in the hypothalamus (↑CAT, ↑UA, ↑TAC, and ↑FRAP) and cerebral cortex (↑GPx, ↑CAT, ↑SOD‐1, ↑UA, ↑TAC, and ↑FRAP) of HFD‐fed rats. All of the oxidative damage markers (AGE, 4‐HNE, MDA, 8‐OHdG, and OSI) were significantly increased in the cerebral cortex of insulin‐resistant rats, while only 4‐HNE and MDA were markedly higher in the hypothalamus of the HFD group. Summarizing, the results of our study indicate an adaptive brain response to the increased production of free radicals under insulin resistance conditions. Despite the increase in antioxidative defense systems, this mechanism does not protect both brain structures from oxidative damages. However, the cerebral cortex is more susceptible to oxidative stress caused by HFD.
Intrahepatic Reactive Lymphoid Hyperplasia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Seitter Samantha , Goodman Zachary D. , Friedman Theodore M. , Shaver Timothy R. , Younan George
Published: September 2018

Introduction. Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) is a rare and benign lesion found in organs of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, lung, orbit, and more rarely in the liver. Due to its similar appearance on imaging, it is hard to differentiate from primary liver malignancies. The following is a case report of a patient presenting with a suspicious liver lesion found to be RLH associated with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), after surgical resection. Presentation of Case. A 54-year-old woman presented with nonspecific abdominal pain, and her workup included axial imaging of the abdomen that showed a suspicious lesion in her liver. After an extensive workup, which included a percutaneous biopsy, failed to confirm a diagnosis, a laparoscopic surgical resection was recommended. Discussion. RLH is a rare condition of the liver, presenting in a suspicious fashion and raising concerns for a primary liver malignancy. RLH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of small hepatic lesions in middle-age females in the absence of any significant risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RLH tends to be associated with PBC of the liver. Conclusion. RLH of the liver is a rare, hard to diagnose, benign lesion. When intrahepatic, it cannot be easily differentiated from primary liver tumors and frequently requires surgical resection for pathological diagnostic confirmation.
Correction of Deep Overbite by Using a Modified Nance Appliance in an Adult Class II Division 2 Patient with Dehiscence Defect
Authors: Li Zhujun , Chen Zhengxi , Sun Jian , Yang Li’an , Chen Zhenqi
Published: September 2018

A modified Nance Appliance (MNA) is introduced as a treatment option for an adult class II division 2 malocclusion (CII/2) patient with deep overbite and dehiscence on the facial root surface of retroclined upper incisors through the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Indications for this modified MNA as well as a brief description of fabrication procedure and biomechanical analysis of the treatment effects are shown in detail. Root control and absolute intrusion without enlarging the bony defect were achieved. The treatment results were satisfying and favorable.
Ensemble Learning Based Multiple Kernel Principal Component Analysis for Dimensionality Reduction and Classification of Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Binol Hamidullah
Published: September 2018

Classification is one of the most challenging tasks of remotely sensed data processing, particularly for hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Dimension reduction is widely applied as a preprocessing step for classification; however the reduction of dimension using conventional methods may not always guarantee high classification rate. Principal component analysis (PCA) and its nonlinear version kernel PCA (KPCA) are known as traditional dimension reduction algorithms. In a previous work, a variant of KPCA, denoted as Adaptive KPCA (A-KPCA), is suggested to get robust unsupervised feature representation for HSI. The specified technique employs several KPCAs simultaneously to obtain better feature points from each applied KPCA which includes different candidate kernels. Nevertheless, A-KPCA neglects the influence of subkernels employing an unweighted combination. Furthermore, if there is at least one weak kernel in the set of kernels, the classification performance may be reduced significantly. To address these problems, in this paper we propose an Ensemble Learning (EL) based multiple kernel PCA (M-KPCA) strategy. M-KPCA constructs a weighted combination of kernels with high discriminative ability from a predetermined set of base kernels and then extracts features in an unsupervised fashion. The experiments on two different AVIRIS hyperspectral data sets show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a satisfactory feature extraction performance on real data.
Positive Antithyroid Antibodies and Nonsuppressed TSH Are Associated with Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Krátký Jan , Ježková Jana , Kosák Mikuláš , Vítková Hana , Bartáková Jana , Mráz Miloš , Lukáš Jindřich , Límanová Zdenka , Jiskra Jan
Published: September 2018

The relationship between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and thyroid cancer (TC) is a controversial topic; it remains unclear if HT acts as a risk factor of TC. The aim of our study was to compare the presence of HT and thyroid function in patients with TC and benign nodules. We analyzed 2571 patients after fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodule. Totally, 91 patients with primary TC and 182 sex- and age-matched controls were included. Positive antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies were associated with TC (anti-TPO 44% in TC vs. 27% in controls, P=0.005, anti-TG 35% in TC group vs. 21% in controls, P=0.018), and the TC group had significantly higher TSH (median 1.88 mIU/l vs. 1.21 mIU/l, P<0.001). Using multiple logistic regression, positive anti-TPO was identified as an independent risk factor (OR 2.21, P=0.018), while spontaneously suppressed TSH<0.5 mIU/l was a protective factor (OR 0.3, P=0.01) against TC. In conclusion, nodules in subjects with positive antithyroid antibodies could be considered to have a higher risk of malignancy. However, based on our results, it is not possible to declare that TC is triggered by HT.
Benefits, Harms, and Cost-Effectiveness of Potential Age Extensions to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in Australia
Authors: Lew Jie-Bin , St John D. James B. , Macrae Finlay A. , Emery Jon D. , Ee Hooi C. , Jenkins Mark A. , He Emily , Grogan Paul , Caruana Michael , Greuter Marjolein J.E. , Coupé Veerle M.H. , Canfell Karen
Published: September 2018

Background:

The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) is rolling out 2-yearly immunochemical fecal occult blood test screening in people aged 50 to 74 years. This study aimed to evaluate the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of extending the NBCSP to younger and/or older ages.

Methods:

A comprehensive validated microsimulation model, Policy1-Bowel, was used to simulate the fully rolled-out NBCSP and alternative strategies assuming screening starts at 40 or 45 years and/or ceases at 79 or 84 years given three scenarios: (i) perfect adherence (100%), (ii) high adherence (60%), and (ii) low adherence (40%, as currently achieved).

Results:

The current NBCSP will reduce colorectal cancer incidence (mortality) by 23% to 51% (36% to 74%) compared with no screening (range reflects participation); extending screening to younger or older ages would result in additional reductions of 2 to 6 (2 to 9) or 1 to 3 (3 to 7) percentage points, respectively. With an indicative willingness-to-pay threshold of A$50,000/life-year saved (LYS), only screening from 50 to 74 years [incremental cost-effective ratio (ICER): A$2,984–5,981/LYS) or from 45 to 74 years (ICER: A$17,053–29,512/LYS) remained cost-effective in all participation scenarios. The number-needed-to-colonoscope to prevent a death over the lifetime of a cohort in the current NBCSP is 35 to 49. Starting screening at 45 years would increase colonoscopy demand for program-related colonoscopies by 3% to 14% and be associated with 55 to 170 additional colonoscopies per additional death prevented.

Conclusions:

Starting screening at 45 years could be cost-effective, but it would increase colonoscopy demand and would be associated with a less favorable incremental benefits-to-harms trade-off than screening from 50 to 74 years.

Impact:

The study underpins recently updated Australian colorectal cancer management guidelines that recommend that the NBCSP continues to offer bowel screening from 50 to 74 years.
Interleukin-24 (IL24) Is Suppressed by PAX3-FOXO1 and Is a Novel Therapy for Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Lacey Alexandra , Hedrick Erik , Cheng Yating , Mohankumar Kumaravel , Warren Melanie , Safe Stephen
Published: September 2018

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) patients have a poor prognosis, and this is primarily due to overexpression of the oncogenic fusion protein PAX3-FOXO1. Results of RNA-sequencing studies show that PAX3-FOXO1 represses expression of interleukin-24 (IL24), and these two genes are inversely expressed in patient tumors. PAX3-FOXO1 also regulates histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) in ARMS cells, and results of RNA interference studies confirmed that PAX3-FOXO1–mediated repression of IL24 is HDAC5-dependent. Knockdown of PAX3-FOXO1 decreases ARMS cell proliferation, survival, and migration, and we also observed similar responses in cells after overexpression of IL24, consistent with results reported for this tumor suppressor–like cytokine in other solid tumors. We also observed in double knockdown studies that the inhibition of ARMS cell proliferation, survival, and migration after knockdown of PAX3-FOXO1 was significantly (>75%) reversed by knockdown of IL24. Adenoviral-expressed IL24 was directly injected into ARMS tumors in athymic nude mice, and this resulted in decreased tumor growth and weight. Because adenoviral IL24 has already successfully undergone phase I in clinical trials, this represents an alternative approach (alone and/or combination) for treating ARMS patients who currently undergo cytotoxic drug therapies.
Survival Benefit of Metformin Adjuvant Treatment For Pancreatic Cancer Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wan Guoxing , Sun Xue , Li Fang , Wang Xuanbin , Li Chen , Li Hongliang , Yu Xianjun , Cao Fengjun
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims: Previous studies on the effect of metformin therapy on survival of pancreatic cancer patients obtained inconsistent findings. To reevaluate the prognostic value of metformin adjuvant treatment, a meta-analysis was carried out. Methods: Relevant articles addressing the association between metformin use and pancreatic cancer survival were electronically searched to identify eligible studies. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the association. Results: Totally, seventeen studies involving 36791 participants were included. Overall, metformin use was found to be significantly associated with a favorable OS (HR=0.88, 95% CI=0.80-0.97). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity showed a significantly reduced risk of death for metformin users compared with non-users in Asians (HR=0.74, 95% CI=0.58-0.94) but nonsignificant in Caucasians. When stratified by clinical stage, a remarkable reduction of mortality risk in patients at stage I-II treated with metformin (HR=0.76, 95% CI=0.68-0.86) was found as well as the group at stage I-IV (HR=0.88, 95% CI=0.79-0.99), but not in patients at stage III-IV. In the stratification analyses based on treatment strategy, metformin therapy was found to be associated with a better clinical outcome in patients receiving surgery or comprehensive therapy (HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.62-0.87; HR=0.88, 95% CI=0.79-0.97) but not chemotherapy. However, the overall analysis failed to show a significant association between metformin use and DFS (HR=1.54, 95% CI=0.94 -2.50) with only 2 studies enrolled. Conclusion: The current study has evidenced a significant association of metformin adjuvant treatment with the survival benefit for pancreatic cancer patients, suggesting a potentially available option for the treatment. Further investigation is needed.
Osteopontin Promotes Bone Destruction in Periapical Periodontitis by Activating the NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Dong Ming , Yu Xinxin , Chen Wanfang , Guo Zhenzhen , Sui Linlin , Xu Yuefei , Shang Yuhong , Niu Weidong , Kong Ying
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims: Periapical periodontitis is caused by bacterial infection and results in both one destruction and tooth loss. Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphorylated glycoprotein that participates in bone metabolism. Methods: Thirty-three patients with chronic periapical periodontitis and 10 patients who had undergone the orthodontic removal of healthy tooth tissue (control) at the periodontal ligament were investigated, and an animal model of mouse periapical periodontitis was established for an in vivo analysis. The relationship between OPN and bone destruction during periapical periodontitis was analyzed. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts were cultured in vitro and treated with lipopolysaccharide. An inhibitor of NF-κB was used to pretreat the transfected cells. Results: OPN increased osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, but reduced osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation. OPN activated the NF-κB pathway during periapical periodontitis and accelerated the transfer and phosphorylation of P65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that OPN played important roles in the progression of periapical periodontitis, and a dual role in bone metabolism during periapical periodontitis, linking osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The underlying mechanism may be related to the NF-κB pathway.
miR-338-5p Regulates the Viability, Proliferation, Apoptosis and Migration of Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes by Targeting NFAT5
Authors: Guo Ting , Ding Hao , Jiang Hui , Bao Nirong , Zhou Liwu , Zhao Jianning
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be involved in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis and prognosis. However, little is known about the disease mechanism in RA. Here, we aim to investigate the potential association between miR-338-5p and NFAT5 in RA. Methods: Aberrant expression of miR-338-5p in RA tissues and rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLSs) compared to the normal were determined by RT-qPCR. Cell viability was determined using the CCK-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was analyzed via Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and was detected using flow cytometry. The targeted relationship was determined by TargetScan database and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: Upregulation of miR-338-5p facilitated the proliferation, migration, invasion and induced G0/G1 arrest of RAFLSs while miR-338-5p inhibitor functioned oppositely. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) was confirmed as a downstream target of miR-338-5p which expression was directly suppressed by miR-338-5p. Overexpression of NFAT5 attenuated the proliferation and metastasis of RAFLSs and those changes could be rescued by co-transfection of miR-338-5p. Conclusion: miR-338-5p promotes RAFLS’s viability and proliferation, migration by targeting NFAT5, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for RA.
Hypoxia-Regulated miR-146a Targets Cell Adhesion Molecule 2 to Promote Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Long , Zhao Guangning , Wang Fan , Li Chunchang , Wang Xiangzhong
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims: miR-146a has recently been shown to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in many cancers, but the role of miR-146a in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. Methods: Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to investigate the mRNA expression of miR-146a and CADM2 in ccRCC tissues. The luciferase reporter assay, Western blotting, and ChIP assay were carried out to explore the promoter and the transcription factor of miR-146a. Moreover, the effect of miR-146a and CADM2 on ccRCC cells was explored using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, colony formation, and migration and invasion assays. The luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence assay were carried out to investigate whether CADM2 is directly regulated by miR-146a. A tumor xenograft model and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the carcinogenic effect of miR-146a and CADM2 in vivo. Results: miR-146a has been shown to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Here, we found that miR-146a is highly expressed in ccRCC tissues, whereas CADM2 is down-regulated. Hypoxia can induce the expression of miR-146a by stimulating its promoter. In addition, we demonstrated that miR-146a promoted and CADM2 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells. The 3’ untranslated region (UTR) luciferase reporter assay identified that miR-146a targeted the 3’ UTR of CADM2 and negatively regulated its expression. Ectopic expression of CADM2 counteracted the promoting effect of miR-146a on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process. Conclusion: Together, the finding of down-regulation of CADM2 by miR-146a can provide new insights into ccRCC pathogenesis and might contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The Hippocampus Promotes Effective Saccadic Information Gathering in Humans
Authors: Lucas Heather D. , Duff Melissa C. , Cohen Neal J.
Published: September 2018

It is well established that the hippocampus is critical for memory. Recent evidence suggests that one function of hippocampal memory processing is to optimize how people actively explore the world. Here we demonstrate that the link between the hippocampus and exploration extends even to the moment-to-moment use of eye movements during visuospatial memory encoding. In Experiment 1, we examined relationships between study-phase eye movements in healthy individuals and subsequent performance on a spatial reconstruction test. In addition to quantitative measures of viewing behaviors (e.g., how many fixations or saccades were deployed during study), we used the information–theoretic measure of entropy to assess the amount of randomness or disorganization in participants' scanning behaviors. We found that the use of scanpaths during study that were lower in entropy (e.g., more organized, less random) predicted more accurate spatial reconstruction both within and between participants. Scanpath entropy was a better predictor of reconstruction accuracy than were the quantitative measures of viewing. In Experiment 2, we found that individuals with hippocampal amnesia tended to engage in viewing patterns that were higher in entropy (less organized) relative to healthy comparisons. These findings reveal a critical role of the hippocampus in guiding eye movement exploration to optimize visuospatial relational memory.
Current ‘Light’ and ‘Heavy’ Options for Benefit-sharing in the Context of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Authors: Voigt-Hanssen Gaute
Published: September 2018

An international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) will need to address “Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs), including questions on the sharing of benefits” from areas outside national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Existing international models of benefit-sharing have all evolved in the context of national jurisdiction and cannot readily be put to use in ABNJ. Current use of MGRs from ABNJ is practically non-existent, although any instrument or model would have to both cater for this situation and provide for any potential technological development and increase in use. The aim of this paper is to provide a simplified overview of options for access and benefit-sharing, drawing on existing models from international and national instruments. Existing options could be analysed through separating access from benefit-sharing and assessing them factually in terms of how ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ they are.
Negotiated Health Diplomacy: A Case Study of the EU and Central Asia
Authors: Collins Neil , Bekenova Kristina , Kagarmanova Ainur
Published: September 2018

In the soft-power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits, because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages to the donor and the recipient country equally. The endeavours of individual member states of the European Union (EU) and the input of the EU itself in Central Asia are examined to see the extent to which the initiatives in health-related areas form part of a wider diplomatic strategy and whether their effectiveness is related to the means by which the planned improved health outcomes are achieved. This article seeks to draw lessons from the European experience to increase understanding of the role of health in global diplomacy.
The water striders (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) of Costa Rica: new species, checklist, and new records
Authors: PACHECO-CHAVES BERNALD , CORDEIRO ISABELLE DA ROCHA SILVA , MOREIRA FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO , SPRINGER MONIKA
Published: September 2018

Brachymetra bernaldi Cordeiro, sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from Heredia, Costa Rica, is herein described, illustrated, and compared with congeners. The new species resembles B. albinervus (Amyot & Serville, 1843), but can be separated from it by the weak median carina of the pronotum, male abdominal mediotergite I with weak lateral notches, male abdominal mediotergite VII quadrate, male abdominal segment VIII in natural position almost entirely inserted into the abdominal cavity, and paramere narrow, with acute apex. We also provide the first checklist of the Gerridae of Costa Rica and new records, based on collection material and field sampling. All totaled, 31 species representing 13 genera and six subfamilies are recorded from the country. Five species and the genera Brachymetra Mayr, 1865 and Neogerris Matsumura, 1913 are registered for the first time from Costa Rica, and new provincial records are presented for 15 other species.
ANZUS and the Early Cold War
Authors: Kelly Andrew
Published: September 2018

International developments prompted renewed considerations about a joint security alliance from late 1949 onwards, and in this context, this chapter explores initial discussions about the possibility of concluding the ANZUS Treaty. It details key changes in government officials (such as the appointment of Percy Spender as Australian External Affairs Ministers and John Foster Dulles as the lead negotiator for ANZUS discussions) and contrasts the underlying motivations behind each country’s interest in an alliance. It raises other issues that surfaced, such as joint involvement in the Korean War and difficulties coordinating policy decisions in the United Nations.
ANZUS and the Early Cold War
Authors: Kelly Andrew
Published: September 2018

This chapter explores the development of ANZUS negotiations during 1950 and 1951. While these negotiations are already well documented, it raises often overlooked issues that complicated this negotiation, including the formation of the Middle East Command and US defence objections to the scope of the ANZUS Treaty.
ANZUS and the Early Cold War
Authors: Kelly Andrew
Published: September 2018

This chapter analyses trilateral responses to the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Crisis as well as the conclusion of the South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO). An examination into these developments reveals a similar trend of friction in the ANZUS relationship when US and British policies clashed with respect to defending Western bases in Southeast Asia, specifically in regards to the possibility of united action in the region.
Does Reinke’s Edema Grade Determine Premalignant Potential?
Authors: Tavaluc Raluca , Herman Howard , Lin Juan , Tan Melin
Published: September 2018

Objective:

Reinke’s edema (RE) is a benign disease of the vocal folds with a wide spectrum of clinical severity. We aim to evaluate the clinical impact of RE grade and determine if RE grade correlates with severity of dysplasia and tobacco exposure.

Methods:

Patients with isolated RE who underwent surgical excision between December 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The RE grade was determined from archived laryngeal videostroboscopy exams. Pathologic severity of dysplasia, categorized by squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) classification, and tobacco history were extracted from medical records.

Results:

Of 95 lesions, 3 (3.16%) were RE grade 1, 33 (34.74%) were RE grade 2, 24 (25.26%) were RE grade 3, and 35 (36.84%) were RE grade 4. Fifty-nine lesions (62.11%) had no dysplasia (SIN0), 19 (20.00%) had mild dysplasia (SIN1), 15 (15.79%) had moderate dysplasia (SIN 2), and 2 (2.11%) had severe dysplasia (SIN3). The 2 patients with severe dysplasia had grade 4 lesions. No statistical correlation was identified between RE grade and the severity of dysplasia. Furthermore, no statistical correlation was seen between tobacco exposure and the severity of dysplasia or the RE grade.

Conclusions:

Size of RE lesion does not reflect premalignancy. The majority of RE lesions, regardless of size, have little to no premalignant potential. Severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ may be more likely seen in grade 4 lesions; however, the paucity of severe dysplasia published in RE data and in this cohort preclude any formal inference. Further study of grade 4 lesions is warranted.
Pneumonia-Associated Hospitalizations, New York City, 2001-2014
Authors: Gu Christopher H. , Lucero David E. , Huang Chaorui C. , Daskalakis Demetre , Varma Jay K. , Vora Neil M.
Published: September 2018

Objectives:

Death certificate data indicate that the age-adjusted death rate for pneumonia and influenza is higher in New York City than in the United States. Most pneumonia and influenza deaths are attributed to pneumonia rather than influenza. Because most pneumonia deaths occur in hospitals, we analyzed hospital discharge data to provide insight into the burden of pneumonia in New York City.

Methods:

We analyzed data for New York City residents discharged from New York State hospitals with a principal diagnosis of pneumonia, or a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia if the principal diagnosis was respiratory failure or sepsis, during 2001-2014. We calculated mean annual age-adjusted pneumonia-associated hospitalization rates per 100 000 population and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We examined data on pneumonia-associated hospitalizations by sociodemographic characteristics and colisted conditions.

Results:

During 2001-2014, a total of 495 225 patients residing in New York City were hospitalized for pneumonia, corresponding to a mean annual age-adjusted pneumonia-associated hospitalization rate of 433.8 per 100 000 population (95% CI, 429.3-438.3). The proportion of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations with in-hospital death was 12.0%. The mean annual age-adjusted pneumonia-associated hospitalization rate per 100 000 population increased as area-based poverty level increased, whereas the percentage of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations with in-hospital deaths decreased with increasing area-based poverty level. The proportion of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations that colisted an immunocompromising condition increased from 18.7% in 2001 to 33.1% in 2014.

Conclusion:

Sociodemographic factors and immune status appear to play a role in the epidemiology of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations in New York City. Further study of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations in at-risk populations may lead to targeted interventions.
Development of superhydrophobic textiles via polyvinylidene fluoride phase separation in one-step process
Authors: Kim Ho Bin , Yun Changsang , Park Chung Hee
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop a polyester fabric having superhydrophobicity and piezoelectric properties that could be formed in a one-step process. Using a method of non-solvent induced phase separation and immersion precipitation, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was applied to polyester fabrics, to reduce the surface energy and form hierarchical roughness with micro- and nano-scale structures, and the surface morphology, chemical composition, surface wettability, piezoelectric properties, and breathability of the produced fabric were investigated. When the polyester fabric was coated with only the PVDF solution, a hydrophobic surface with micro-scale roughness was obtained. However, when the fabric was coated with the PVDF solution and subsequently immersed in an n-octyl alcohol bath, nano-scale surface roughness was formed with spherulites of diameter 600 to 870 nm. The specimen coated with 40 mg/ml PVDF solution and subsequently immersed in an n-octyl alcohol bath exhibited a water contact angle of 159.9°, a water shedding angle of 6.3°, and improved water vapor transmission, but did not demonstrate piezoelectric properties. This study is meaningful in that a superhydrophobic and breathable textile, with reduced surface energy and nano-scale surface roughness, was formed in a one-step process by phase separation of PVDF.
Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health Care Access and Self-Assessed Health After 3 Years
Authors: Courtemanche Charles , Marton James , Ukert Benjamin , Yelowitz Aaron , Zapata Daniela
Published: September 2018

Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we examine the causal impact of the Affordable Care Act on health-related outcomes after 3 years. We estimate difference-in-difference-in-differences models that exploit variation in treatment intensity from 2 sources: (1) local area prereform uninsured rates from 2013 and (2) state participation in the Medicaid expansion. Including the third postreform year leads to 2 important insights. First, gains in health insurance coverage and access to care from the policy continued to increase in the third year. Second, an improvement in the probability of reporting excellent health emerged in the third year, with the effect being largely driven by the non-Medicaid expansions components of the policy.
Taxation, Trust, and Government Debt: State-Elite Relations in Sichuan, 1850–1911
Authors: Kaske Elisabeth
Published: September 2018

This article explores the shifting relationship between the state and the rural elites in Sichuan during the last decades of the Qing dynasty through the lens of taxation and public debt by using a creditor-debtor model as a theoretical framework. Sichuan’s unique rewarded land tax surcharge, called the “Contribution” and levied since 1864, established a relationship of symbolic and economic indebtedness of the imperial and local state to the taxpayer. Western-inspired reforms after 1898 directly attacked the symbolic and economic bonds established by the Contribution. The Railway Rent Share tax shifted the creditor-debtor relationship from the state to the public Sichuan-Hankou Railway Company by making individual taxpayers into shareholders. When Beijing eventually banned what it saw as a privatization of taxation and decided to nationalize the railway company, this ignited the Railway Protection Movement, which precipitated the 1911 Revolution in Sichuan.
Effectuation, network-building and internationalisation speed
Authors: Prashantham Shameen , Kumar Kothandaraman , Bhagavatula Suresh , Sarasvathy Saras D
Published: September 2018

We extend research on the speed of new venture internationalisation by distinguishing between effectual and non-effectual (i.e. causal) network-building approaches, and conceptualising their differential effects on the dimensions of initial entry speed, country (i.e. international) scope speed and international commitment speed. Drawing upon the extant literature on internationalisation speed, network building and effectuation theory, we argue that an effectual approach to network-building is positively associated with initial entry speed and international scope speed, but negatively associated with international commitment speed, while a causal approach is negatively associated with initial entry speed and international scope speed, but positively associated with international commitment speed. In addition, we contribute to effectuation scholarship by elaborating on the causal–effectual distinction in network-building and offering internationalisation speed as an important and interesting outcome variable.