bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of intracellular poroelasticity on freezing-induced deformation of cells in engineered tissues
Authors: Ghosh Soham , Ozcelikkale Altug , Dutton J. Craig , Han Bumsoo
Published: October 2016

Freezing of biomaterials is important in a wide variety of biomedical applications, including cryopreservation and cryosurgeries. For the success of these applications to various biomaterials, biophysical mechanisms, which determine freezing-induced changes in cells and tissues, need to be well understood. Specifically, the significance of the intracellular mechanics during freezing is not well understood. Thus, we hypothesize that cells interact during freezing with the surroundings such as suspension media and the extracellular matrix (ECM) via two distinct but related mechanisms—water transport and cytoskeletal mechanics. The underlying rationale is that the cytoplasm of the cells has poroelastic nature, which can regulate both cellular water transport and cytoskeletal mechanics. A poroelasticity-based cell dehydration model is developed and confirmed to provide insight into the effects of the hydraulic conductivity and stiffness of the cytoplasm on the dehydration of cells in suspension during freezing. We further investigated the effect of the cytoskeletal structures on the cryoresponse of cells embedded in the ECM by measuring the spatio-temporal intracellular deformation with dermal equivalent as a model tissue. The freezing-induced change in cell, nucleus and cytoplasm volume was quantified, and the possible mechanism of the volumetric change was proposed. The results are discussed considering the hierarchical poroelasticity of biological tissues.
Arsenate reductase from
Thermus thermophilus
conjugated to polyethylene glycol-stabilized gold nanospheres allow trace sensing and speciation of arsenic ions
Authors: Politi Jane , Spadavecchia Jolanda , Fiorentino Gabriella , Antonucci Immacolata , De Stefano Luca
Published: October 2016

Water sources pollution by arsenic ions is a serious environmental problem all around the world. Arsenate reductase enzyme (
TtArsC
) from
Thermus thermophilus
extremophile bacterium, naturally binds arsenic ions, As(V) and As (III), in aqueous solutions. In this research,
TtArsC
enzyme adsorption onto hybrid polyethylene glycol-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was studied at different pH values as an innovative nanobiosystem for metal concentration monitoring. Characterizations were performed by UV/Vis and circular dichroism spectroscopies, TEM images and in terms of surface charge changes. The molecular interaction between arsenic ions and the
TtArsC
-AuNPs nanobiosystem was also monitored at all pH values considered by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Tests performed revealed high sensitivities and limits of detection equal to 10 ± 3 M
−12
and 7.7 ± 0.3 M
−12
for As(III) and As(V), respectively.
Neocortex expansion is linked to size variations in gene families with chemotaxis, cell–cell signalling and immune response functions in mammals
Authors: Castillo-Morales Atahualpa , Monzón-Sandoval Jimena , de Sousa Alexandra A. , Urrutia Araxi O. , Gutierrez Humberto
Published: October 2016

Increased brain size is thought to have played an important role in the evolution of mammals and is a highly variable trait across lineages. Variations in brain size are closely linked to corresponding variations in the size of the neocortex, a distinct mammalian evolutionary innovation. The genomic features that explain and/or accompany variations in the relative size of the neocortex remain unknown. By comparing the genomes of 28 mammalian species, we show that neocortical expansion relative to the rest of the brain is associated with variations in gene family size (GFS) of gene families that are significantly enriched in biological functions associated with chemotaxis, cell–cell signalling and immune response. Importantly, we find that previously reported GFS variations associated with increased brain size are largely accounted for by the stronger link between neocortex expansion and variations in the size of gene families. Moreover, genes within these families are more prominently expressed in the human neocortex during early compared with adult development. These results suggest that changes in GFS underlie morphological adaptations during brain evolution in mammalian lineages.
Young relicts and old relicts: a novel palaeoendemic vertebrate from the Australian Central Uplands
Authors: Oliver Paul M. , McDonald Peter J.
Published: October 2016

Climatic change, and in particular aridification, has played a dominant role in shaping Southern Hemisphere biotas since the mid-Neogene. In Australia, ancient and geologically stable ranges within the vast arid zone have functioned as refugia for populations of mesic taxa extirpated from surrounding areas, yet the extent to which relicts may be linked to major aridification events before or after the Pliocene has not been examined in detail. Here we use molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to show that isolated populations of saxicoline geckos in the genus
Oedura
from the Australian Central Uplands, formerly confounded as a single taxon, actually comprise two divergent species with contrasting histories of isolation. The recently resurrected
Oedura cincta
has close relatives occurring elsewhere in the Australian arid biomes with estimated divergence dates concentrated in the early Pliocene. A new taxon (described herein) diverged from all extant
Oedura
much earlier, well before the end of the Miocene. A review of data for Central Uplands endemic vertebrates shows that for most (including
Oedura cincta
), gene flow with other parts of Australia probably occurred until at least the very late Miocene or Pliocene. There are, however, a small number of palaeoendemic taxa—often ecologically specialized forms—that show evidence of having persisted since earlier intensification of aridity in the late Miocene.
Life history factors, personality and the social clustering of sexual experience in adolescents
Authors: van Leeuwen Abram J. , Mace Ruth
Published: October 2016

Adolescent sexual behaviour may show clustering in neighbourhoods, schools and friendship networks. This study aims to assess how experience with sexual intercourse clusters across the social world of adolescents and whether predictors implicated by life history theory or personality traits can account for its between-individual variation and social patterning. Using data on 2877 adolescents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we ran logistic multiple classification models to assess the clustering of sexual experience by approximately 17.5 years in schools, neighbourhoods and friendship networks. We examined how much clustering at particular levels could be accounted for by life history predictors and Big Five personality factors. Sexual experience exhibited substantial clustering in friendship networks, while clustering at the level of schools and neighbourhoods was minimal, suggesting a limited role for socio-ecological influences at those levels. While life history predictors did account for some variation in sexual experience, they did not explain clustering in friendship networks. Personality, especially extraversion, explained about a quarter of friends' similarity. After accounting for life history factors and personality, substantial unexplained similarity among friends remained, which may reflect a tendency to associate with similar individuals or the social transmission of behavioural norms.
Safe basins for a nonlinear oscillator with ramped forcing
Authors: Wright James A.
Published: October 2016

A nonlinear oscillator is studied in the presence of external forcing for which the amplitude initially depends on time. The focus is on the sizes of the basins of attraction which do not lead to unbounded motions, collectively termed the ‘safe basin’. Direct comparisons are drawn between the regime of constant forcing amplitude and that where the forcing amplitude initially depends on time. In the process, questions from previous literature are answered and previously unexplained phenomena are understood. Furthermore, we witness a new phenomenon, not previously observed for the system studied.
Beyond the classical theory of heat conduction: a perspective view of future from entropy
Authors: Tian Xiaowei , Lai Xiang , Zhu Pingan , Wang Liqiu
Published: October 2016

Energy is conserved by the first law of thermodynamics; its quality degrades constantly due to entropy generation, by the second law of thermodynamics. It is thus important to examine the entropy generation regarding the way to reduce its magnitude and the limit of entropy generation as time tends to infinity regarding whether it is bounded or not. This work initiates such an analysis with one-dimensional heat conduction. The work not only offers some fundamental insights of universe and its future, but also builds up the relation between the second law of thermodynamics and mathematical inequalities via developing the latter of either new or classical nature. A concise review of entropy is also included for the interest of performing the analysis in this work and the similar analysis for other processes in the future.
Numerical quadrature over smooth, closed surfaces
Authors: Reeger J. A. , Fornberg B. , Watts M. L.
Published: October 2016

The numerical approximation of definite integrals, or quadrature, often involves the construction of an interpolant of the integrand and its subsequent integration. In the case of one dimension it is natural to rely on polynomial interpolants. However, their extension to two or more dimensions can be costly and unstable. An efficient method for computing surface integrals on the sphere is detailed in the literature (Reeger & Fornberg 2016
Stud. Appl. Math.
137
, 174–188. (
doi:10.1111/sapm.12106
)). The method uses local radial basis function interpolation to reduce computational complexity when generating quadrature weights for any given node set. This article generalizes this method to arbitrary smooth closed surfaces.
Dynamic sinking behaviour in marine phytoplankton: rapid changes in buoyancy may aid in nutrient uptake
Authors: Gemmell Brad J. , Oh Genesok , Buskey Edward J. , Villareal Tracy A.
Published: October 2016

Phytoplankton sinking is an important property that can determine community composition in the photic zone and material loss to the deep ocean. To date, studies of diatom suspension have relied on bulk measurements with assumptions that bulk rates adequately capture the essential characteristics of diatom sinking. However, recent work has illustrated that individual diatom sinking rates vary considerably from the mean bulk rate. In this study, we apply high-resolution optical techniques, individual-based observations of diatom sinking and a recently developed method of flow visualization around freely sinking cells. The results show that in both field samples and laboratory cultures, some large species of centric diatoms are capable of a novel behaviour, whereby cells undergo bursts of rapid sinking that alternate with near-zero sinking rates on the timescales of seconds. We also demonstrate that this behaviour is under direct metabolic control of the cell. We discuss these results in the context of implications for nutrient flux to the cell surface. While nutrient flux in large diatoms increases during fast sinking, current mass transport models cannot incorporate the unsteady sinking behaviour observed in this study. However, large diatoms appear capable of benefiting from the enhanced nutrient flux to their surface during rapid sinking even during brief intervening periods of near-zero sinking rates.
Urban warming reduces aboveground carbon storage
Authors: Meineke Emily , Youngsteadt Elsa , Dunn Robert R. , Frank Steven D.
Published: October 2016

A substantial amount of global carbon is stored in mature trees. However, no experiments to date test how warming affects mature tree carbon storage. Using a unique, citywide, factorial experiment, we investigated how warming and insect herbivory affected physiological function and carbon sequestration (carbon stored per year) of mature trees. Urban warming increased herbivorous arthropod abundance on trees, but these herbivores had negligible effects on tree carbon sequestration. Instead, urban warming was associated with an estimated 12% loss of carbon sequestration, in part because photosynthesis was reduced at hotter sites. Ecosystem service assessments that do not consider urban conditions may overestimate urban tree carbon storage. Because urban and global warming are becoming more intense, our results suggest that urban trees will sequester even less carbon in the future.
Pyrodiversity promotes avian diversity over the decade following forest fire
Authors: Tingley Morgan W. , Ruiz-Gutiérrez Viviana , Wilkerson Robert L. , Howell Christine A. , Siegel Rodney B.
Published: October 2016

An emerging hypothesis in fire ecology is that pyrodiversity increases species diversity. We test whether pyrodiversity—defined as the standard deviation of fire severity—increases avian biodiversity at two spatial scales, and whether and how this relationship may change in the decade following fire. We use a dynamic Bayesian community model applied to a multi-year dataset of bird surveys at 1106 points sampled across 97 fires in montane California. Our results provide strong support for a positive relationship between pyrodiversity and bird diversity. This relationship interacts with time since fire, with pyrodiversity having a greater effect on biodiversity at 10 years post-fire than at 1 year post-fire. Immediately after fires, patches of differing burn severities hold similar bird communities, but over the ensuing decade, bird assemblages within patches of contrasting severities differentiate. When evaluated at the scale of individual fires, fires with a greater heterogeneity of burn severities hold substantially more species. High spatial heterogeneity in severity, sometimes called ‘mixed-severity fire', is a natural part of wildfire regimes in western North America, but may be jeopardized by climate change and a legacy of fire suppression. Forest management that encourages mixed-severity fire may be critical for sustaining biodiversity across fire-prone landscapes.
Blastoderm segmentation inOncopeltus fasciatusand the evolution of insect segmentation mechanisms
Authors: Stahi Reut , Chipman Ariel D.
Published: October 2016

Segments are formed simultaneously in the blastoderm of the flyDrosophila melanogasterthrough a hierarchical cascade of interacting transcription factors. Conversely, in many insects and in all non-insect arthropods most segments are formed sequentially from the posterior. We have looked at segmentation in the milkweed bugOncopeltus fasciatus.Posterior segments are formed sequentially, through what is probably the ancestral arthropod mechanism. Formation of anterior segments bears many similarities to theDrosophilasegmentation mode. These segments appear nearly simultaneously in the blastoderm, via a segmentation cascade that involves orthologues ofDrosophilagap genes working through a functionally similar mechanism. We suggest that simultaneous blastoderm segmentation evolved at or close to the origin of holometabolous insects, and formed the basis for the evolution of the segmentation mode seen inDrosophila. We discuss the changes in segmentation mechanisms throughout insect evolution, and suggest that the appearance of simultaneous segmentation as a novel feature of holometabolous insects may have contributed to the phenomenal success of this group.
Evidence of cryptic incidence in childhood diseases
Authors: Gunning Christian E. , Ferrari Matthew J. , Erhardt Erik , Wearing Helen J.
Published: October 2016

Persistence and extinction are key processes in infectious disease dynamics that, due to incomplete reporting, are seldom directly observable. For fully-immunizing diseases, reporting probabilities can be readily estimated from demographic records and case reports. Yet reporting probabilities are not sufficient to unambiguously reconstruct disease incidence from case reports. Here, we focus on disease presence (i.e., marginal probability of non-zero incidence), which provides an upper bound on the marginal probability of disease extinction. We examine measles and pertussis in pre-vaccine era U.S. cities, and describe a conserved scaling relationship between population size, reporting probability, and observed presence (i.e., non-zero case reports). We use this relationship to estimate disease presence given perfect reporting, and define cryptic presence as the difference between estimated and observed presence. We estimate that, in early 20thcentury U.S. cities, pertussis presence was higher than measles presence across a range of population sizes, and that cryptic presence was common in small cities with imperfect reporting. While the methods employed here are specific to fully-immunizing diseases, our results suggest that cryptic incidence deserves careful attention, particularly in diseases with low case counts, poor reporting, and longer infectious periods.
Commentary: BRAIN NETWORKS. Correlated gene expression supports synchronous activity in brain networks. Science348, 1241-4
Authors: Pantazatos Spiro P. , Li Xinyi
Published: October 2016

A recent report claims that functional brain networks defined with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be recapitulated with correlated gene expression (i.e. high within-network tissue-tissue “strength fraction”, SF) (Richiardi et al., 2015). However, the authors do not adequately control for spatial proximity. We replicated their main analysis, performed a more effective adjustment for spatial proximity, and tested whether “null networks” (i.e. clusters with center coordinates randomly placed throughout cortex) also exhibit high SF. Removing proximal tissue-tissue correlations by Euclidean distance, as opposed to removing correlations within arbitrary tissue labels as in (Richiardi et al., 2015), reduces within-network SF to no greater than null. Moreover, randomly placed clusters also have significantly high SF, indicating that high within-network SF is entirely attributable to proximity and is unrelated to functional brain networks defined by resting-state fMRI. We discuss why additional validations in the original article are invalid and/or misleading and suggest future directions.
School human capital and teacher salary policies
Authors: Hanushek Eric A.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider how the level and structure of teacher salaries affect student outcomes and the possibility of improving student achievement in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis integrates an underlying economic model of the role of salaries in the teacher labor market with existing empirical results.

Findings

– Much of the current policy discussion about teacher salaries is very unclear about how student outcomes will be affected by changing policies. The US is at a “bad equilibrium” where it cannot increase salaries for effective teachers without increasing salaries for ineffective teachers and thus it is stuck with a teaching corps that is harming both students and the future economic performance of the country. Dealing with problems of the productivity of schools must involve altering the structure of the single salary schedule for teachers.

Research limitations/implications

– The discussion focusses exclusively on the US schooling system, although there are obvious parallels to systems in other countries.

Practical implications

– The paper provides an overarching model of how the structure of salaries for teachers has broad implications of school outcomes.

Social implications

– Improved long-run economic outcomes depend crucially on reforms that involve rewarding the most effective teachers but not the least effective.

Originality/value

– The integrated approach to the consideration of teacher salaries provides a way of assessing the discordant policy discussions related to teacher salaries.
Band alignments between SmTiO3, GdTiO3, and SrTiO3
Authors: Bjaalie Lars , Azcatl Angelica , McDonnell Stephen , Freeze Christopher R. , Stemmer Susanne , Wallace Robert M. , Van de Walle Chris G.
Published: October 2016

The generation of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with unprecedented high density at the interface between two complex oxides has spurred interest in the growth and characterization of these materials. Interfaces between SrTiO3 and the rare-earth titanates SmTiO3 and GdTiO3 exhibit 2DEG densities of 3 × 1014 cm−2. Band alignments are key descriptors of these interfaces, and the authors report a joint experimental/computational investigation. Photoemission spectroscopy was used to measure the band alignments at the SmTiO3/GdTiO3 (110)o interface. In parallel, hybrid density functional calculations were performed. The measured and calculated band alignments for both the top of the O 2p band and the Ti 3d lower Hubbard band agree to within 0.13 eV. Our results also shed light on the position of the lower Hubbard band with respect to the O 2p valence band.
Silicon nanostructures with very large negatively tapered profile by inductively coupled plasma-RIE
Authors: Ayari-Kanoun Asma , Aydinoglu Ferhat , Cui Bo , Saffih Faycal
Published: October 2016

Dry etching of silicon has been extensively studied, mostly with a goal of obtaining perfectly vertical sidewalls with high aspect ratio. Yet, sloped sidewall with a negative taper angle (i.e., diameter/width decreases linearly with depth) may find various applications. However, the systematic study on the etching process development to obtain such a profile is rather scarce. In this work, the authors present a controlled and reproducible fabrication process to achieve silicon nanostructures with negatively tapered sidewall profile using inductively coupled plasma-reactive ion etching with C4F8 and SF6 gas. The plasma etching parameters have been thoroughly optimized in order to avoid the undercut or curved reentrant profile due to isotropic etching, so as to achieve a negatively tapered profile. The influence of the plasma etching parameters, especially the radio freguency power and C4F8/SF6 gas flow ratio, on the etching rate and the sidewall taper angle has been analyzed. With an optimal etching recipe, the silicon nanostructures with an unprecedented large 10° negative taper angle were achieved. These results were demonstrated on different structure sizes of 500 nm, 700 nm, and 1.2 μm diameters.
State of the Science—Ultraendurance Sports
Authors: Hoffman Martin D.
Published: October 2016

Participation in ultraendurance sports has been increasing in recent years. This participation growth has been associated with an increase in research focused on such events. While the total amount of research related to these sports remains relatively small compared with other sports, the research growth is encouraging. New sources for research funding for ultraendurance sports should advance the science. In addition to continued opportunities with observational studies, promising areas of investigation remain for experimental studies and research that uses ultraendurance-sport environments as models for studies relevant to wider populations. Insight into the breadth of research opportunities in ultraendurance sports can be gained by reviewing the abstracts published online in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance from the annual Medicine & Science in Ultra-Endurance Sports Conference that took place this year in Chamonix, France.
Single-Task and Dual-Task Gait Among Collegiate Athletes of Different Sport Classifications: Implications for Concussion Management
Authors: Howell David R. , Oldham Jessie R. , DiFabio Melissa , Vallabhajosula Srikant , Hall Eric E. , Ketcham Caroline J. , Meehan William P. , Buckley Thomas A.
Published: October 2016

Gait impairments have been documented following sport-related concussion. Whether preexisting gait pattern differences exist among athletes who participate in different sport classifications, however, remains unclear. Dual-task gait examinations probe the simultaneous performance of everyday tasks (ie, walking and thinking), and can quantify gait performance using inertial sensors. The purpose of this study was to compare the single-task and dual-task gait performance of collision/contact and noncontact athletes. A group of collegiate athletes (n = 265) were tested before their season at 3 institutions (mean age= 19.1 ± 1.1 years). All participants stood still (single-task standing) and walked while simultaneously completing a cognitive test (dual-task gait), and completed walking trials without the cognitive test (single-task gait). Spatial-temporal gait parameters were compared between collision/contact and noncontact athletes using MANCOVAs; cognitive task performance was compared using ANCOVAs. No significant single-task or dual-task gait differences were found between collision/contact and noncontact athletes. Noncontact athletes demonstrated higher cognitive task accuracy during single-task standing (P = .001) and dual-task gait conditions (P = .02) than collision/contact athletes. These data demonstrate the utility of a dual-task gait assessment outside of a laboratory and suggest that preinjury cognitive task performance during dual-tasks may differ between athletes of different sport classifications.
Effective Propulsion in Swimming: Grasping the Hydrodynamics of Hand and Arm Movements
Authors: van Houwelingen Josje , Schreven Sander , Smeets Jeroen B.J. , Clercx Herman J.H. , Beek Peter J.
Published: October 2016

In this paper, a literature review is presented regarding the hydrodynamic effects of different hand and arm movements during swimming with the aim to identify lacunae in current methods and knowledge, and to distil practical guidelines for coaches and swimmers seeking to increase swimming speed. Experimental and numerical studies are discussed, examining the effects of hand orientation, thumb position, finger spread, sculling movements, and hand accelerations during swimming, as well as unsteady properties of vortices due to changes in hand orientation. Collectively, the findings indicate that swimming speed may be increased by avoiding excessive sculling movements and by spreading the fingers slightly. In addition, it appears that accelerating the hands rather than moving them at constant speed may be beneficial, and that (in front crawl swimming) the thumb should be abducted during entry, catch, and upsweep, and adducted during the pull phase. Further experimental and numerical research is required to confirm these suggestions and to elucidate their hydrodynamic underpinnings and identify optimal propulsion techniques. To this end, it is necessary that the dynamical motion and resulting unsteady effects are accounted for, and that flow visualization techniques, force measurements, and simulations are combined in studying those effects.
The Adolescent Athlete: A Developmental Approach to Injury Risk
Authors: McKay Damien , Broderick Carolyn , Steinbeck Katharine
Published: October 2016

With the advent of long-term athlete development programs and early sport specialization, the training of elite athletes now spans the period of adolescence. Adolescence represents a period of physical, psychosocial and cognitive development, but also a time of physical and psychological vulnerability. Changes in skeletal and physiological attributes coincide with an increased risk of sport related injury. A window of vulnerability is shaped by the properties of the musculoskeletal system, the influence of pubertal hormones and the lag time between physical and cognitive development. This article aims to challenge the assumption of adolescence as a time of increased vigor alone, by highlighting the presence of specific vulnerabilities, and proposing that the hormonal, musculoskeletal, and neurocognitive changes of adolescence may represent intrinsic risk factors for sport related injury.
The genetics of happiness
Authors: Etkin Amit
Published: October 2016

A genome-wide association study of positive emotion identifies a genetic variant and a role for microRNAs.
A rare case of absent left common carotid artery with bovine origin of the left external carotid artery
Authors: Goyal Sumit , Sinha Ajit Kumar
Published: October 2016

A 22-year-old man had cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and his angiogram incidentally revealed an absent left common carotid artery with bovine origin of the left external carotid artery. There was also an associated low bifurcation of the right common carotid artery and basilar artery fenestration. The absence of a common carotid artery is a very rare angiographic finding, and an association with a bovine origin of the left external carotid artery has not been reported previously in the literature. Here we provide a description of the case along with a review of the literature and embryology.
Management of non-syndromic dens evaginatus affecting permanent maxillary central incisors: a systematic review
Authors: Smail-Faugeron Violaine , Picou Rollin Julie , Muller Bolla Michèle , Courson Frederic
Published: October 2016

To assess management of non-syndromic dens evaginatus affecting permanent maxillary central incisor, we performed a systematic review and also present a case report. We searched PubMed via MEDLINE and the reference lists of included reports. Eligible studies were any type of clinical studies describing the management of non-syndromic dens evaginatus affecting the crown of a permanent maxillary central incisor. We included 31 studies corresponding to 34 relevant case reports. Therapeutic options were complete reduction of the talon cusp in a single appointment (56%), periodic and gradual reduction of the cusp (26%), abstention (13%) or extraction (5%). We report an 8-year-old girl with unusual two-talon cusp, labial and lingual, on a right maxillary double central incisor. A multidisciplinary approach is key to management of permanent maxillary central incisors affected by coronary anomalies.
INPUT–OUTPUT-BASED GENUINE VALUE ADDED AND GENUINE PRODUCTIVITY IN CHINA’S INDUSTRIAL SECTORS (1995–2010)
Authors: GAO YUNING , ZHENG YUNFENG , HU ANGANG
Published: October 2016

This paper recalculates value added, capital formation, capital stock and related multifactor productivity in China’s industrial sectors by further developing the genuine savings method of the World Bank. The sector-level natural capital loss was calculated using China’s official input–output table and their extensions for tracing final consumers. The capital output elasticity in the productivity estimation was adjusted based on these tables. The results show that although the loss of natural capital in China’s industrial sectors in terms of value added has slowed, the impacts on their productivity during the past decades is still quite clear.
CULINARY TOURISM IN GREECE: CAN THE PAST DEFINE THE FUTURE? DIMENSIONS OF INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Authors: METAXAS THEODORE , KARAGIANNIS DIMITRIS
Published: October 2016

This paper examines the possibility that gastronomy, based on ancient Greek values, could be part of the answer for economic prosperity through the development of food tourism in a country with a harsh economic environment such as Greece. We examine if local food, culture and tourism could become fields of new entrepreneurial and regional development when paired with knowledge, innovation and quality. The paper uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) from real examples of innovative entrepreneurship related to gastronomy that are presented as case studies.
CLOCK regulates mammary epithelial cell growth and differentiation
Authors: Casey Theresa , Crodian Jennifer , Suárez-Trujillo Aridany , Erickson Emily , Weldon Bethany , Crow Kristi , Cummings Shelby , Chen Yulu , Shamay Avi , Mabjeesh Sameer J. , Plaut Karen
Published: October 2016

Circadian clocks influence virtually all physiological processes, including lactation. Here, we investigate the role of the CLOCK gene in regulation of mammary epithelial cell growth and differentiation. Comparison of mammary morphology in late-pregnant wild-type and ClockΔ19 mice, showed that gland development was negatively impacted by genetic loss of a functional timing system. To understand whether these effects were due, in part, to loss of CLOCK function in the gland, the mouse mammary epithelial cell line, HC11, was transfected with short hairpin RNA that targeted Clock (shClock). Cells transfected with shClock expressed 70% less Clock mRNA than wild-type (WT) HC11 cultures, which resulted in significantly depressed levels of CLOCK protein ( P < 0.05). HC11 lines carrying shClock had four-fold higher growth rates ( P < 0.05), and the percentage of cells in G1 phase was significantly higher (90.1 ± 1.1% of shClock vs. 71.3 ± 3.6% of WT-HC11) following serum starvation. Quantitative-PCR (qPCR) analysis showed shClock had significant effects ( P < 0.0001) on relative expression levels of Ccnd1, Wee1, and Tp63. qPCR analysis of the effect of shClock on Fasn and Cdh1 expression in undifferentiated cultures and cultures treated 96 h with dexamethasone, insulin, and prolactin (differentiated) found levels were reduced by twofold and threefold, respectively ( P < 0.05), in sh Clock line relative to WT cultures. Abundance of CDH1 and TP63 proteins were significantly reduced in cultures transfected with sh Clock. These data support how CLOCK plays a role in regulation of epithelial cell growth and differentiation in the mammary gland.
Acute hot water immersion is protective against impaired vascular function following forearm ischemia-reperfusion in young healthy humans
Authors: Brunt Vienna E. , Jeckell Andrew T. , Ely Brett R. , Howard Matthew J. , Thijssen Dick H. J. , Minson Christopher T.
Published: October 2016

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a primary cause of poor outcomes following ischemic cardiovascular events. We tested whether acute hot water immersion protects against forearm vascular I/R. Ten (5 male, 5 female) young (23 ± 2 yr), healthy subjects participated in two trials in random order 7–21 days apart, involving: 1) 60 min of seated rest (control), or 2) 60 min of immersion in 40.5°C water (peak rectal temperature: 38.9 ± 0.2°C). I/R was achieved 70 min following each intervention by inflating an upper arm cuff to 250 mmHg for 20 min followed by 20 min of reperfusion. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and forearm postocclusive reactive hyperemia (RH) were measured as markers of macrovascular and microvascular function at three time points: 1) preintervention, 2) 60 min postintervention, and 3) post-I/R. Neither time control nor hot water immersion alone affected FMD (both, P > 0.99). I/R reduced FMD from 7.4 ± 0.7 to 5.4 ± 0.6% ( P = 0.03), and this reduction was prevented following hot water immersion (7.0 ± 0.7 to 7.7 ± 1.0%; P > 0.99). I/R also impaired RH (peak vascular conductance: 2.6 ± 0.5 to 2.0 ± 0.4 ml·min−1·mmHg−1, P = 0.003), resulting in a reduced shear stimulus (SRAUC·10−3: 22.5 ± 2.4 to 16.9 ± 2.4, P = 0.04). The post-I/R reduction in peak RH was prevented by hot water immersion (2.5 ± 0.4 to 2.3 ± 0.4 ml·min−1·mmHg−1; P = 0.33). We observed a decline in brachial artery dilator function post-I/R, which may be (partly) related to damage incurred downstream in the microvasculature, as indicated by impaired RH and shear stimulus. Hot water immersion was protective against reductions in FMD and RH post-I/R, suggesting heat stress induces vascular changes consistent with reducing I/R injury following ischemic events.
GSG1L regulates the strength of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission but not AMPA receptor kinetics in hippocampal dentate granule neurons
Authors: Mao Xia , Gu Xinglong , Lu Wei
Published: October 2016

GSG1L is an AMPA receptor (AMPAR) auxiliary subunit that regulates AMPAR trafficking and function in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. However, its physiological roles in other types of neurons remain to be characterized. Here, we investigated the role of GSG1L in hippocampal dentate granule cells and found that GSG1L is important for the regulation of synaptic strength but is not critical for the modulation of AMPAR deactivation and desensitization kinetics. These data demonstrate a neuronal type-specific role of GSG1L and suggest that physiological function of AMPAR auxiliary subunits may vary in different types of neurons.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY GSG1L is a newly identified AMPA receptor (AMPAR) auxiliary subunit and plays a unique role in the regulation of AMPAR trafficking and function in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. However, its role in the regulation of AMPARs in hippocampal dentate granule cells remains to be characterized. The current work reveals that GSG1L regulates strength of AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission but not the receptor kinetic properties in hippocampal dentate granule neurons.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived Extracellular Vesicles Ameliorate Acute Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission through miR‐30
Authors: Gu Di , Zou Xiangyu , Ju Guanqun , Zhang Guangyuan , Bao Erdun , Zhu Yingjian
Published: October 2016

Background. The immoderation of mitochondrial fission is one of the main contributors in ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived extracellular vesicles have been regarded as a potential therapy method. Here, we hypothesized that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJMSCs) ameliorate acute renal IRI by inhibiting mitochondrial fission through miR‐30b/c/d. Methods. EVs isolated from the condition medium of MCS were injected intravenously in rats immediately after monolateral nephrectomy and renal pedicle occlusion for 45 minutes. Animals were sacrificed at 24 h after reperfusion and samples were collected. MitoTracker Red staining was used to see the morphology of the mitochondria. The expression of DRP1 was measured by western blot. miR‐30 in EVs and rat tubular epithelial cells was assessed by qRT‐PCR. Apoptosis pathway was identified by immunostaining. Results. We found that the expression of miR‐30 in injured kidney tissues was declined and mitochondrial dynamics turned to fission. But they were both restored in EVs group in parallel with reduced cell apoptosis. What is more, when the miR‐30 antagomirs were used to reduce the miRNA levels, all the related effects of EVs reduced remarkably. Conclusion. A single administration of hWJMSC‐EVs could protect the kidney from IRI by inhibition of mitochondrial fission via miR‐30.
Energy Cost Minimization in Heterogeneous Cellular Networks with Hybrid Energy Supplies
Authors: Wang Bang , Kong Qiao , Yang Qiang
Published: October 2016

The ever increasing data demand has led to the significant increase of energy consumption in cellular mobile networks. Recent advancements in heterogeneous cellular networks and green energy supplied base stations provide promising solutions for cellular communications industry. In this article, we first review the motivations and challenges as well as approaches to address the energy cost minimization problem for such green heterogeneous networks. Owing to the diversities of mobile traffic and renewable energy, the energy cost minimization problem involves both temporal and spatial optimization of resource allocation. We next present a new solution to illustrate how to combine the optimization of the temporal green energy allocation and spatial mobile traffic distribution. The whole optimization problem is decomposed into four subproblems, and correspondingly our proposed solution is divided into four parts: energy consumption estimation, green energy allocation, user association, and green energy reallocation. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm can significantly reduce the total energy cost.
Multivalued Fixed Point Theorems for Generalized Contractions and Their Applications
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Sarwar Muhammad
Published: October 2016

We give common hybrid fixed point results for generalized(ψ,ϕ)weak contraction satisfyingowcandCLRproperties in the framework of metric spaces. An application to functional equations is also discussed.
Bimaxillary Aneurismal Bone Cyst in Patient with End Stage Renal Disease and Hyperparathyroidism: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bakhtiari Sedigheh , Bakhshi Mahin , Mashhadiabbas Fatemeh , Mir Mohammad Sadeghi Hasan , Elmi Rankohi Zahra , Rahmani Somayeh
Published: October 2016

Aneurismal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare bony lesion occurring predominantly in long bones. Its jaws’ involvement is uncommon and the simultaneous involvement of both jaws is very rare. This report is about a 27-year-old female experiencing renal failure with ABC involving her maxilla and mandible. The progressive lesion was treated surgically and there was no recurrence after 18 months of follow-up.
Attenuation of Thrombosis by Crude Rice (Oryza sativa) Bran Policosanol Extract: Ex Vivo Platelet Aggregation and Serum Levels of Arachidonic Acid Metabolites
Authors: Wong Wai-Teng , Ismail Maznah , Tohit Eusni Rahayu Mohd , Abdullah Rasedee , Zhang Yi-Da
Published: October 2016

Background. Vascular occlusion or thrombosis was often attributed to uncontrolled platelet activation. Influence of sugarcane policosanol extract on platelet was reported but little was known of rice bran policosanol, particularly its mechanisms of actions on platelet activities. Objective. Antiplatelet mechanisms of rice bran policosanol extract (RBE) were studied using hyperlipidemic Sprague Dawley rats. Ex vivo platelet aggregation, platelet count (PC), bleeding time (BT), and coagulation time were assayed. Serum eicosanoids and other aggregation‐related metabolites levels were quantified. Design. Rats were divided into 6 groups for comparisons (vehicle control Tween 20/H2O, high dose policosanol 500 mg/kg, middle dose policosanol 250 mg/kg, low dose policosanol 100 mg/kg, and positive control aspirin 30 mg/kg). Results. Low dose 100 mg/kg of RBE inhibited aggregation by 42.32 ± 4.31% and this was comparable with the effect of 30 mg/kg aspirin, 43.91 ± 5.27%. Results showed that there were no significant differences in PC, BT, and coagulation time among various groups after RBE treatment. Serum thromboxane A2 was attenuated while prostacyclin level increased upon RBE treatment. Conclusions. RBE reduced ex vivo ADP‐induced platelet aggregation without giving adverse effects. No changes in full blood count suggested that rice bran policosanol did not disturb biological blood cell production and destruction yet it reduced aggregation through different mechanisms.
An Effective Gear Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Singular Value Decomposition and Frequency Slice Wavelet Transform
Authors: Zhou Fu-Cheng , Tang Gui-Ji , He Yu-Ling
Published: October 2016

The ability of the frequency slice wavelet transform (FSWT) to distinguish the fault feature is weak under the condition of strong background noise; in order to solve this problem, a fault feature extraction method combining the singular value decomposition (SVD) and FSWT was proposed. Firstly, the Hankel matrix was constructed using SVD, based on which the SVD order was determined according to the principle of the single side maximum value. Then, the denoised signal was further processed by the FSWT to obtain the time-frequency spectrum of the passband. Finally, the detailed analysis was carried out in the time-frequency area with concentrated energy, and the signal was reconstructed by the inverse-FSWT. The processing effect for the pitting corrosion and the tooth broken faults of the gears shows that the faulty feature can be extracted effectively from the envelope spectrum of the reconstructed signal, which means the proposed method is able to help obtain a qualified result and has the potential to be carried out for the practical engineering application.
The Effect of Repeated Electroacupuncture Analgesia on Neurotrophic and Cytokine Factors in Neuropathic Pain Rats
Authors: Wang Junying , Gao Yonghui , Chen Shuping , Duanmu Chenlin , Zhang Jianliang , Feng Xiumei , Yan Yaxia , Liu Junling , Litscher Gerhard
Published: October 2016

Chronic pain is a common disability influencing quality of life. Results of previous studies showed that acupuncture has a cumulative analgesic effect, but the relationship with spinal cytokines neurotrophic factors released by astrocytes remains unknown. The present study was designed to observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on spinal cytokines neurotrophic factors in chronic neuropathic pain rats. The chronic neuropathic pain was established by chronic constrictive injury (CCI). EA treatment was applied at Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) (both bilateral) once a day, for 30 min. IL‐1β mRNA, TNF‐α mRNA, and IL‐1 mRNA were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR, and the proteins of BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of cytokines such as IL‐1β mRNA, TNF‐α mRNA, IL‐6 mRNA, and neurotrophic factors such as BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 in the spinal cord were increased significantly after CCI. The astrocytes released more IL‐1β and BDNF after CCI. Repeated EA treatment could suppress the elevated expression of IL‐1β mRNA, TNFα mRNA, and BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 but had no effect on IL‐6 mRNA. It is suggested that cytokines and neurotrophic factors which may be closely associated with astrocytes participated in the process of EA relieving chronic pain.
Arthroscopic Treatment for Primary Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Adults
Authors: Schröder Jörg Hartmut , Krüger David , Perka Carsten , Hufeland Martin
Published: October 2016

Purpose.Primary septic arthritis is a rare differential diagnosis of acute hip pain in adults. Inspired by the success of all-arthroscopic treatment in pediatric patients, we developed a diagnostic and surgical pathway for our adult patients.Methods.Seven patients, average age44±13.7years with acute hip pain since4.4±2.9days in the average, were included. Septic arthritis was confirmed by joint aspiration and dissemination was excluded by MRI and standard radiographs. Surgical treatment consisted of immediate arthroscopic lavage using 4 portals for debridement, high-volume irrigation, partial synovectomy, and drainage.Results.Patients were treated in hospital for12.4±3.1days (range 7–16 days). WBC and CRP returned to physiological levels. During the mean follow-up of26.4±19.4months (range 13–66 months) no patient showed recurrence of infection. The 5 patients with an unimpaired hip joint prior to the infection had a mean modified Harris Hip Score of94±5.6points (range 91–100) at final follow-up.Conclusions.Arthroscopic therapy using a minimally invasive approach with low perioperative morbidity for the treatment of primary septic arthritis of the adult hip is able to restore normal hip function in acute cases without dissemination of the infection.Level of Evidence.IV.