bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Light-load resistance exercise increases muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophy signaling in elderly men
Authors: Agergaard Jakob , Bülow Jacob , Jensen Jacob K. , Reitelseder Søren , Drummond Micah J. , Schjerling Peter , Scheike Thomas , Serena Anja , Holm Lars
Published: October 2016

The present study investigated whether well-tolerated light-load resistance exercise (LL-RE) affects skeletal muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR) and anabolic intracellular signaling as a way to counteract age-related loss of muscle mass. Untrained healthy elderly (>65-yr-old) men were subjected to 13 h of supine rest. After 2.5 h of rest, unilateral LL-RE, consisting of leg extensions (10 sets, 36 repetitions) at 16% of 1 repetition maximum (RM), was conducted. Subsequently, the subjects were randomized to oral intake of 4 g of whey protein per hour (PULSE, n = 10), 28 g of whey protein at 0 h and 12 g of whey protein at 7 h postexercise (BOLUS, n = 10), or 4 g of maltodextrin per hour (placebo, n = 10). Quadriceps muscle biopsies were taken at 0, 3, 7, and 10 h postexercise from the resting and the exercised leg of each subject. Myofibrillar FSR and activity of select targets from the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1-signaling cascade were analyzed from the biopsies. LL-RE increased myofibrillar FSR compared with the resting leg throughout the 10-h postexercise period. Phosphorylated (T308) AKT expression increased in the exercised leg immediately after exercise. This increase persisted in the placebo group only. Levels of phosphorylated (T37/46) eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 increased throughout the postexercise period in the exercised leg in the placebo and BOLUS groups and peaked at 7 h. In all three groups, phosphorylated (T56) eukaryotic elongation factor 2 decreased in response to LL-RE. We conclude that resistance exercise at only 16% of 1 RM increased myofibrillar FSR, irrespective of nutrient type and feeding pattern, which indicates an anabolic effect of LL-RE in elderly individuals. This finding was supported by increased signaling for translation initiation and translation elongation in response to LL-RE.
Activation of β3-adrenoceptors increases in vivo free fatty acid uptake and utilization in brown but not white fat depots in high-fat-fed rats
Authors: Warner Amy , Kjellstedt Ann , Carreras Alba , Böttcher Gerhard , Peng Xiao-Rong , Seale Patrick , Oakes Nicholas , Lindén Daniel
Published: October 2016

Activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) present potential new therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Here, we examined the effects of β3-adrenergic stimulation on tissue-specific uptake and storage of free fatty acids (FFA) and its implications for whole body FFA metabolism in diet-induced obese rats using a multi-radiotracer technique. Male Wistar rats were high fat-fed for 12 wk and administered β3-agonist CL316,243 (CL, 1 mg·kg−1·day−1) or saline via osmotic minipumps during the last 3 wk. The rats were then fasted and acutely infused with a tracer mixture ([14C]palmitate and the partially metabolized R-[3H]bromopalmitate) under anesthesia. CL infusion decreased body weight gain and fasting plasma glucose levels. While core body temperature was unaffected, infrared thermography showed an increase in tail heat dissipation following CL infusion. Interestingly, CL markedly increased both FFA storage and utilization in interscapular and perirenal BAT, whereas the flux of FFA to skeletal muscle was decreased. In this rat model of obesity, only sporadic populations of beige adipocytes were detected in the epididymal WAT depot of CL-infused rats, and there was no change in FFA uptake or utilization in WAT following CL infusion. In summary, β3-agonism robustly increased FFA flux to BAT coupled with enhanced utilization. Increased BAT activation most likely drove the increased tail heat dissipation to maintain thermostasis. Our results emphasize the quantitative role of brown fat as the functional target of β3-agonism in obesity.
Reduced uterine perfusion pressure T-helper 17 cells cause pathophysiology associated with preeclampsia during pregnancy
Authors: Cornelius Denise C. , Amaral Lorena M. , Wallace Kedra , Campbell Nathan , Thomas Alexia J. , Scott Jeremy , Herse Florian , Wallukat Gerd , Dechend Ralf , LaMarca Babbette
Published: October 2016

Preeclampsia is associated with chronic inflammation and an imbalance among T-helper cell subtypes with an increase in T-helper 17 (TH17) cells. The objective of this study was to determine a role for TH17s, from the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of preeclampsia, in the etiology of hypertension and chronic inflammation during pregnancy. CD4+/CD25− T cells were isolated from rat spleens, cultured in TH17 media, and were verified as TH17s via flow cytometry. On day 12 of gestation, 1×106 TH17 cells from RUPP rats were adoptively transferred into NP rats, carotid catheters were inserted on day 18, and on day 19, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded, serum and plasma were collected, and oxidative stress and production of agonistic autoantibodies to the ANG II type I receptor (AT1-AA) were analyzed. MAP increased from 100.3 ± 1.7 mmHg in normal pregnant (NP; n = 17) to 124.8 ± 2.1 mmHg in RUPP ( n = 22; P < 0.0001) and to 110.8 ± 2.8 mmHg in NP+RUPP TH17 ( n = 11). Pup weights in NP+RUPP TH17s were decreased to 1.92 ± 0.09 g from 2.39 ± 0.14 in NP rats ( P < 0.01). AT1-AA significantly increased from 0.1 ± 0.2 beats/min in NP to 15.6 ± 0.7 beats/min in NP+RUPP TH17s. IL-6 was 22.3 ± 5.7 pg/ml in NP and increased to 60.45 ± 13.8 pg/ml in RUPP ( P < 0.05) and 75.9 ± 6.8 pg/ml in NP+RUPP TH17 rats ( P < 0.01). Placental and renal oxidative stress were 238 ± 27.5 and 411 ± 129.9 relative light units·min−1·mg−1 in NP and 339 ± 104.6 and 833 ± 331.1 relative light units·min−1·mg−1 in NP+RUPP TH17, respectively. In conclusion, RUPP TH17 cells induced intrauterine growth restriction and increased blood pressure, AT1-AA, IL-6, and tissue oxidative stress when transferred to NP rats, indicating a role for autoimmune associated TH17 cells, to cause much of the pathophysiology associated with preeclampsia.
High-intensity interval training, but not continuous training, reverses right ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Brown Mary Beth , Neves Evandro , Long Gary , Graber Jeremy , Gladish Brett , Wiseman Andrew , Owens Matthew , Fisher Amanda J. , Presson Robert G. , Petrache Irina , Kline Jeffrey , Lahm Tim
Published: October 2016

Exercise is beneficial in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), although studies to date indicate little effect on the elevated pulmonary pressures or maladaptive right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy associated with the disease. For chronic left ventricle failure, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) promotes greater endothelial stimulation and superior benefit than customary continuous exercise training (CExT); however, HIIT has not been tested for PAH. Therefore, here we investigated acute and chronic responses to HIIT vs. CExT in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced mild PAH. Six weeks of treadmill training (5 times/wk) were performed, as either 30 min HIIT or 60 min low-intensity CExT. To characterize acute hemodynamic responses to the two approaches, novel recordings of simultaneous pulmonary and systemic pressures during running were obtained at pre- and 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk post-MCT using long-term implantable telemetry. MCT-induced decrement in maximal aerobic capacity was ameliorated by both HIIT and CExT, with less pronounced pulmonary vascular remodeling and no increase in RV inflammation or apoptosis observed. Most importantly, only HIIT lowered RV systolic pressure, RV hypertrophy, and total pulmonary resistance, and prompted higher cardiac index that was complemented by a RV increase in the positive inotrope apelin and reduced fibrosis. HIIT prompted a markedly pulsatile pulmonary pressure during running and was associated with greater lung endothelial nitric oxide synthase after 6 wk. We conclude that HIIT may be superior to CExT for improving hemodynamics and maladaptive RV hypertrophy in PAH. HIIT’s superior outcomes may be explained by more favorable pulmonary vascular endothelial adaptation to the pulsatile HIIT stimulus.
A kidney-selective biopolymer for targeted drug delivery
Authors: Bidwell Gene L. , Mahdi Fakhri , Shao Qingmei , Logue Omar C. , Waller Jamarius P. , Reese Caleb , Chade Alejandro R.
Published: October 2016

Improving drug delivery to the kidney using renal-targeted therapeutics is a promising but underdeveloped area. We aimed to develop a kidney-targeting construct for renal-specific drug delivery. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are nonimmunogenic protein-based carriers that can stabilize attached small-molecule and peptide therapeutics. We modified ELP at its NH2-terminus with a cyclic, seven-amino acid kidney-targeting peptide (KTP) and at its COOH-terminus with a cysteine residue for tracer conjugation. Comparative in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in rat and swine models and in vitro cell binding studies using human renal cells were performed. KTP-ELP had a longer plasma half-life than ELP in both animal models and was similarly accumulated in kidneys at levels fivefold higher than untargeted ELP, showing renal levels 15- to over 150-fold higher than in other major organs. Renal fluorescence histology demonstrated high accumulation of KTP-ELP in proximal tubules and vascular endothelium. Furthermore, a 14-day infusion of a high dose of ELP or KTP-ELP did not affect body weight, glomerular filtration rate, or albuminuria, or induce renal tissue damage compared with saline-treated controls. In vitro experiments showed higher binding of KTP-ELP to human podocytes, proximal tubule epithelial, and glomerular microvascular endothelial cells than untargeted ELP. These results show the high renal selectivity of KTP-ELP, support the notion that the construct is not species specific, and demonstrate that it does not induce acute renal toxicity. The plasticity of ELP for attachment of any class of therapeutics unlocks the possibility of applying ELP technology for targeted treatment of renal disease in future studies.
Consolidation of visuomotor adaptation memory with consistent and noisy environments
Authors: Maeda Rodrigo S. , McGee Steven E. , Marigold Daniel S.
Published: October 2016

Our understanding of how we learn and retain motor behaviors is still limited. For instance, there is conflicting evidence as to whether the memory of a learned visuomotor perturbation consolidates; i.e., the motor memory becomes resistant to interference from learning a competing perturbation over time. Here, we sought to determine the factors that influence consolidation during visually guided walking. Subjects learned a novel mapping relationship, created by prism lenses, between the perceived location of two targets and the motor commands necessary to direct the feet to their positions. Subjects relearned this mapping 1 wk later. Different groups experienced protocols with or without a competing mapping (and with and without washout trials), presented either on the same day as initial learning or before relearning on day 2. We tested identical protocols under constant and noisy mapping structures. In the latter, we varied, on a trial-by-trial basis, the strength of prism lenses around a non-zero mean. We found that a novel visuomotor mapping is retained at least 1 wk after initial learning. We also found reduced foot-placement error with relearning in constant and noisy mapping groups, despite learning a competing mapping beforehand, and with the exception of one protocol, with and without washout trials. Exposure to noisy mappings led to similar performance on relearning compared with the equivalent constant mapping groups for most protocols. Overall, our results support the idea of motor memory consolidation during visually guided walking and suggest that constant and noisy practices are effective for motor learning.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The adaptation of movement is essential for many daily activities. To interact with targets, this often requires learning the mapping to produce appropriate motor commands based on visual input. Here, we show that a novel visuomotor mapping is retained 1 wk after initial learning in a visually guided walking task. Furthermore, we find that this motor memory consolidates (i.e., becomes more resistant to interference from learning a competing mapping) when learning in constant and noisy mapping environments.
Short-latency allocentric control of saccadic eye movements
Authors: Chakrabarty Mrinmoy , Nakano Tamami , Kitazawa Shigeru
Published: October 2016

It is generally accepted that the neural circuits that are implicated in saccade control use retinotopically coded target locations. However, several studies have revealed that nonretinotopic representation is also used. This idea raises a question about whether nonretinotopic coding is egocentric (head or body centered) or allocentric (environment centered). In the current study, we hypothesized that allocentric coding may play a crucial role in immediate saccade control. To test this hypothesis, we used an immediate double-step saccade task toward two sequentially flashed targets with a frame in the background, and we examined whether the end point of the second saccade was affected by a transient shift of the background that participants were told to ignore. When the background was shifted transiently upward (or downward) during the flash of the second target, the second saccade generally erred the target downward (or upward), which was in the direction opposite to the shift of the background. The effect on the second saccade became significant within 150 ms after the frame was presented for decoding and was built up for 200 ms thereafter. When the second saccade was not adjusted, a small, corrective saccade followed within 300 ms. The effect scaled linearly with the shift size up to 3° for a noncorrective second saccade and up to 6° for a corrective saccade. The present results show that an allocentric location of a target is rapidly represented by the brain and used for controlling saccades.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that the saccade end point was shifted from the actual target position toward the direction expected from allocentric coding when a large frame in the background was transiently shifted during the period of target presentation. The effect occurred within 150 ms. The present study provides direct evidence that the brain rapidly uses allocentric coding of a target to control immediate saccades.
Stimulus context alters neural representations of faces in inferotemporal cortex
Authors: Noudoost Behrad , Nategh Neda , Clark Kelsey , Esteky Hossein
Published: October 2016

One goal of our nervous system is to form predictions about the world around us to facilitate our responses to upcoming events. One basis for such predictions could be the recently encountered visual stimuli, or the recent statistics of the visual environment. We examined the effect of recently experienced stimulus statistics on the visual representation of face stimuli by recording the responses of face-responsive neurons in the final stage of visual object recognition, the inferotemporal (IT) cortex, during blocks in which the probability of seeing a particular face was either 100% or only 12%. During the block with only face images, ∼30% of IT neurons exhibit enhanced anticipatory activity before the evoked visual response. This anticipatory modulation is followed by greater activity, broader view tuning, more distributed processing, and more reliable responses of IT neurons to the face stimuli. These changes in the visual response were sufficient to improve the ability of IT neurons to represent a variable property of the predictable face images (viewing angle), as measured by the performance of a simple linear classifier. These results demonstrate that the recent statistics of the visual environment can facilitate processing of stimulus information in the population neuronal representation.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Neurons in inferotemporal (IT) cortex anticipate the arrival of a predictable stimulus, and visual responses to an expected stimulus are more distributed throughout the population of IT neurons, providing an enhanced representation of second-order stimulus information (in this case, viewing angle). The findings reveal a potential neural basis for the behavioral benefits of contextual expectation.
The role of adenosine in the maturation of sleep homeostasis in rats
Authors: Gvilia Irma , Suntsova Natalia , Kostin Andrey , Kalinchuk Anna , McGinty Dennis , Basheer Radhika , Szymusiak Ronald
Published: October 2016

Sleep homeostasis in rats undergoes significant maturational changes during postweaning development, but the underlying mechanisms of this process are unknown. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the maturation of sleep is related to the functional emergence of adenosine (AD) signaling in the brain. We assessed postweaning changes in 1) wake-related elevation of extracellular AD in the basal forebrain (BF) and adjacent lateral preoptic area (LPO), and 2) the responsiveness of median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) sleep-active cells to increasing homeostatic sleep drive. We tested the ability of exogenous AD to augment homeostatic responses to sleep deprivation (SD) in newly weaned rats. In groups of postnatal day (P)22 and P30 rats, we collected dialysate from the BF/LPO during baseline (BSL) wake-sleep, SD, and recovery sleep (RS). HPLC analysis of microdialysis samples revealed that SD in P30 rats results in significant increases in AD levels compared with BSL. P22 rats do not exhibit changes in AD levels in response to SD. We recorded neuronal activity in the MnPO during BSL, SD, and RS at P22/P30. MnPO neurons exhibited adult-like increases in waking neuronal discharge across SD on both P22 and P30, but discharge rates during enforced wake were higher on P30 vs. P22. Central administration of AD (1 nmol) during SD on P22 resulted in increased sleep time and EEG slow-wave activity during RS compared with saline control. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that functional reorganization of an adenosinergic mechanism of sleep regulation contributes to the maturation of sleep homeostasis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Brain mechanisms that regulate the maturation of sleep are understudied. The present study generated first evidence about a potential mechanistic role for adenosine in the maturation of sleep homeostasis. Specifically, we demonstrate that early postweaning development in rats, when homeostatic response to sleep loss become adult like, is characterized by maturational changes in wake-related production/release of adenosine in the brain. Pharmacologically increased adenosine signaling in developing brain facilitates homeostatic responses to sleep deprivation.
Innocuous warming enhances peripheral serotonergic itch signaling and evokes enhanced responses in serotonin-responsive dorsal horn neurons in the mouse
Authors: Akiyama T. , Nagamine M. , Davoodi A. , Ivanov M. , Carstens M. Iodi , Carstens E.
Published: October 2016

Itch is often triggered by warming the skin in patients with itchy dermatitis, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. We presently investigated if warming the skin enhances histamine- or serotonin (5-HT)-evoked itch behavior or responses of sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, and if responses of superficial dorsal horn neurons to innocuous warming are enhanced by these pruritogens. In a temperature-controlled environmental chamber, mice exhibited greater scratching following intradermal injection of 5-HT, but not histamine, SLIGRL, or BAM8-22, when the skin surface temperature was above 36°C. Calcium imaging of DRG cells in a temperature-controlled bath revealed that responses to 5-HT, but not histamine, were significantly greater at a bath temperature of 35°C vs. lower temperatures. Single-unit recordings revealed a subpopulation of superficial dorsal horn neurons responsive to intradermal injection of 5-HT. Of these, 58% responded to innocuous skin warming (37°C) prior to intradermal injection of 5-HT, while 100% responded to warming following intradermal injection of 5-HT. Warming-evoked responses were superimposed on the 5-HT-evoked elevation in firing and were significantly larger compared with responses pre-5-HT, as long as 30 min after the intradermal injection of 5-HT. Five-HT-insensitive units, and units that either did or did not respond to intradermal histamine, did not exhibit any increase in the incidence of warmth sensitivity or in the mean response to warming following intradermal injection of the pruritogen. The results suggest that 5-HT-evoked responses of pruriceptors are enhanced during skin warming, leading to increased firing of 5-HT-sensitive dorsal horn neurons that signal nonhistaminergic itch.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Skin warming often exacerbates itch in patients with itchy dermatitis. We demonstrate that warming the skin enhanced serotonin-evoked, but not histamine-evoked, itch behavior and responses of sensory dorsal root ganglion cells. Moreover, serotonin, but not histamine, enhanced responses of superficial dorsal horn neurons to innocuous warming. The results suggest that skin warming selectively enhances the responses of serotonin-sensitive pruriceptors, leading to increased firing of serotonin-sensitive dorsal horn neurons that signal nonhistaminergic itch.
Double Laplace Transform Method for Solving Space and Time Fractional Telegraph Equations
Authors: Dhunde Ranjit R. , Waghmare G. L.
Published: October 2016

Double Laplace transform method is applied to find exact solutions of linear/nonlinear space-time fractional telegraph equations in terms of Mittag-Leffler functions subject to initial and boundary conditions. Furthermore, we give illustrative examples to demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
Adult Onset Still’s Disease Associated withMycoplasma pneumoniaeInfection and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Agnihotri Abhishek , Ruff Allison , Gotterer Lauren , Walker Addie , McKenney Amy H. , Brateanu Andrei
Published: October 2016

Adult Onset Still’s Disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that can be associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare but potentially fatal disease of overactive histiocytes and lymphocytes. We present a unique case of AOSD complicated byMycoplasma pneumoniainfection and HLH. A 28-year-old female developed joint pains followed by a diffuse, erythematous, pruritic skin rash that quickly spread throughout the body. The patient deteriorated and developed fever, chills, cough, and dyspnea and had to be intubated. She had hypoalbuminemia, elevated liver enzymes, a very high serum ferritin level, positive anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniaIgG and IgM antibodies, and normal rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies. The chest X-ray showed diffuse bilateral infiltrates. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hemophagocytosis. The patient was treated with azithromycin, methylprednisolone, and anakinra and was discharged home on cyclosporine and prednisone. This case highlights that patients can develop features of both AOSD and HLH at the beginning of the disease and early diagnosis and treatment increase the likelihood of recovery.
A Comparative Study of Ground and Underground Vibrations Induced by Bench Blasting
Authors: Shi Xiuzhi , Qiu Xianyang , Zhou Jian , Huang Dan , Chen Xin , Gou Yonggang
Published: October 2016

Ground vibrations originating from bench blasting may cause damage to slopes, structures, and underground workings in close proximity to an operating open-pit mine. It is important to monitor and predict ground vibration levels induced by blasting and to take measures to reduce their hazardous effects. The aims of this paper are to determine the weaker protection objects by comparatively studying bench blasting induced vibrations obtained at surface and in an underground tunnel in an open-pit mine and thus to seek vibration control methods to protect engineering objects at the site. Vibrations arising from measurement devices at surface and in an underground tunnel at the Zijinshan Open-Pit Mine were obtained. Comparative analysis of the peak particle velocities shows that, in the greatest majority of cases, surface values are higher than underground values for the same vibration distance. The transmission laws of surface and underground vibrations were established depending on the type of rock mass, the explosive charge, and the distance. Compared with the Chinese Safety Regulations for Blasting (GB6722-2014), the bench blasting induced vibrations would not currently cause damage to the underground tunnel. According to the maximum allowable peak particle velocities for different objects, the permitted maximum charges per delay are obtained to reduce damage to these objects at different distances.
PLA and PP Composite Nonwoven with Antimicrobial Activity for Filtration Applications
Authors: Łatwińska Marta , Sójka-Ledakowicz Jadwiga , Chruściel Jerzy , Piórkowski Maciej
Published: October 2016

The PLA (50% wt.)/PP (50% wt.), PLA (47.5% wt.)/PP (47.5% wt.)/paraffin (5% wt.), and PLA (47.25% wt.)/PP (47.25% wt.)/paraffin (5% wt.)/CuO·SiO2(0.5% wt.) composite nonwovens were obtained in one-step process by using the melt-blown technique. Thermal properties (by the DSC method), physicomechanical parameters, specific surface area, the structure (by the SEM method), the elemental analysis (by the EDS method), and susceptibility to hydrolytic degradation (in alkaline and neutral media) were studied for all the obtained nonwovens. The antimicrobial properties of the composite nonwovens were determined by using dynamic contact conditions method, with three kinds of microorganisms applied. The DSC analysis of nonwovens revealed that the mixing of PLA and PP caused the decrease in homogeneity of both polymers, as well as a considerable increase in the PLA crystallization enthalpy. The paraffin and CuO·SiO2addition to PLA/PP nonwoven generally improved the filtration properties and downgraded tensile strength. Among all the tested composite nonwovens, the PLA/PP/paraffin/CuO·SiO2was the most and the PLA/PP/paraffin was the least susceptible to hydrolytic degradation in both media used in the study. The PLA/PP/paraffin/CuO·SiO2composite nonwoven revealed strong antibacterial activity and slight activity against the yeast.
Direct Acting Antivirals in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Down Syndrome
Authors: Yoo Eric R. , Perumpail Ryan B. , Cholankeril George , Ahmed Aijaz
Published: October 2016

Patients with Down syndrome who received blood transfusions, likely in conjunction with cardiothoracic surgery for congenital heart disease and prior to the implementation of blood-donor screening for hepatitis C virus infection, face a substantial risk of acquiring the infection. In the past, interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with Down syndrome was noted to have lower efficacy and potentially higher risk of adverse effects. Recently, the treatment for chronic hepatitis C has been revolutionized with the introduction of interferon-free direct acting antivirals with favorable safety, tolerability, and efficacy profile. Based on our experiences, the newly approved sofosbuvir-based direct acting antiviral therapy is well tolerated and highly efficacious in this subpopulation of hepatitis C virus infected patients with Down syndrome.
Determination of the Transport Properties of Structural Concrete Using AC Impedance Spectroscopy Techniques
Authors: Wu Lipeng , Dai Peng , Li Yong
Published: October 2016

All over the world, particularly in severe environmental conditions, there are reinforced concrete structures that develop nonnegligible phenomena of durability problems. Most of the durability problems are related to hazardous substances invasion. Both engineering practice and scientific studies have revealed that the transport property of near-surface concrete is a main factor in the durability of concrete structures. Among many transport parameters, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient is the most important one, which provides important information on material design and service life prediction. In this paper, AC impedance spectroscopy technology was employed in the measurement of chloride ion diffusion coefficient. The relationship between mesostructure parameters and chloride ion diffusion coefficient was deduced by introducing a reasonable equivalent circuit model. Taking into account the conductivity difference caused by various cementitious material systems, the diffusion coefficient can be corrected, and a diffusion coefficient determination method based on AC impedance spectroscopy technique was established. For the convenience of application, a relationship between the newly proposed method and a widely recognized standard method was obtained. The proposed method can be applied to laboratory testing and establishes the theoretical basis for field tests.
Energy Efficiency Maximization of Full-Duplex and Half-Duplex D2D Communications Underlaying Cellular Networks
Authors: Chang Yiliang , Chen Hongbin , Zhao Feng
Published: October 2016

Earlier works have studied the energy efficiency (EE) of half-duplex Device-to-Device (D2D) communications. However, the EE of full-duplex D2D communications underlaying cellular networks which undergoes residual self-interference (SI) has not been investigated. In this paper, we focus on the EE of full-duplex D2D communications with uplink channel reuse and compare it with the half-duplex counterpart, aiming to show which mode is more energy-efficient. Our goal is to find the optimal transmission powers to maximize the system EE while guaranteeing required signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINRs) and transmission power constraints. The optimal power allocation problem is modeled as a noncooperative game, in which each user equipment (UE) is self-interested and wants to maximize its own EE. An optimal iterative bisection-alternate optimization method is proposed to solve the optimization problem from the noncooperative game-theoretic perspective. Simulation results show that the proposed method can achieve EE close to that obtained by an existing method but with lower complexity in half-duplex D2D communications underlaying cellular networks. Moreover, the full-duplex D2D communications underlaying cellular networks outperform the half-duplex D2D communications underlaying cellular networks in terms of EE when effective SI mitigation techniques are applied.
Error-Correcting Output Codes in Classification of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Colony Images
Authors: Joutsijoki Henry , Haponen Markus , Rasku Jyrki , Aalto-Setälä Katriina , Juhola Martti
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this paper is to examine how well the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) colony images can be classified using error-correcting output codes (ECOC). Our image dataset includes hiPSC colony images from three classes (bad, semigood, and good) which makes our classification task a multiclass problem. ECOC is a general framework to model multiclass classification problems. We focus on four different coding designs of ECOC and apply to each one of themk-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) searching, naïve Bayes, classification tree, and discriminant analysis variants classifiers. We use Scaled Invariant Feature Transformation (SIFT) based features in classification. The best accuracy (62.4%) is obtained with ternary complete ECOC coding design andk-NN classifier (standardized Euclidean distance measure and inverse weighting). The best result is comparable with our earlier research. The quality identification of hiPSC colony images is an essential problem to be solved before hiPSCs can be used in practice in large-scale. ECOC methods examined are promising techniques for solving this challenging problem.
Thermal Conductivity of Composite Materials Containing Copper Nanowires
Authors: Zhu Dahai , Yu Wei , Du Haixu , Chen Lifei , Li Yang , Xie Huaqing
Published: October 2016

The development of thermal conductive polymer composite is necessary for the application in thermal management. In this paper, the experimental and theoretical investigations have been conducted to determine the effect of copper nanowires (CuNWs) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) on the thermal conductivity of dimethicone nanocomposites. The CuNWs and CuNPs were prepared by using a liquid phase reduction method, and they were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental data show that the thermal conductivity of composites increases with the increase of filler. With the addition of 10 vol.% CuNWs, the thermal conductivity of the composite is 0.41 W/m/K. The normalized thermal conductivity enhancement factor is 2.73, much higher than that of the analogue containing CuNPs (1.67). These experimental data are in agreement with Nan’s model prediction. Due to the high aspect ratio of 1D CuNWs, they can construct thermal networks more effectively than CuNPs in the composite, resulting in higher thermal conductivity.
Inverse Task of Vibration Active Reduction of Mechanical Systems
Authors: Dymarek Andrzej , Dzitkowski Tomasz
Published: October 2016

The paper presents the problem of discrete vibration reduction in mechanical systems depending on the desired dynamic properties. The conditions for physical feasibility of dynamic characteristics have been defined, in the form of impedance and mobility, for passive and active vibration reduction. The authors have presented a graphic method for determining the free vibration drop coefficient, based on the desired value of the reduced resonance frequency amplitude.
Progress towards Sustainable Utilisation and Management of Food Wastes in the Global Economy
Authors: Ghosh Purabi R. , Fawcett Derek , Sharma Shashi B. , Poinern Gerrard Eddy Jai
Published: October 2016

In recent years, the problem of food waste has attracted considerable interest from food producers, processors, retailers, and consumers alike. Food waste is considered not only a sustainability problem related to food security, but also an economic problem since it directly impacts the profitability of the whole food supply chain. In developed countries, consumers are one of the main contributors to food waste and ultimately pay for all wastes produced throughout the food supply chain. To secure food and reduce food waste, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the various sources of food wastes throughout the food supply chain. The present review examines various reports currently in the literature and quantifies waste levels and examines the trends in wastage for various food sectors such as fruit and vegetable, fisheries, meat and poultry, grain, milk, and dairy. Factors contributing to food waste, effective cost/benefit food waste utilisation methods, sustainability and environment considerations, and public acceptance are identified as hurdles in preventing large-scale food waste processing. Thus, we highlight the need for further research to identify and report food waste so that government regulators and food supply chain stakeholders can actively develop effective waste utilisation practices.
Jet Ventilation during Rigid Bronchoscopy in Adults: A Focused Review
Authors: Putz Laurie , Mayné Alain , Dincq Anne-Sophie
Published: October 2016

The indications for rigid bronchoscopy for interventional pulmonology have increased and include stent placements and transbronchial cryobiopsy procedures. The shared airway between anesthesiologist and pulmonologist and the open airway system, requiring specific ventilation techniques such as jet ventilation, need a good understanding of the procedure to reduce potentially harmful complications. Appropriate adjustment of the ventilator settings including pause pressure and peak inspiratory pressure reduces the risk of barotrauma. High frequency jet ventilation allows adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal even in cases of tracheal stenosis up to frequencies of around 150 min−1; however, in an in vivo animal model, high frequency jet ventilation along with normal frequency jet ventilation (superimposed high frequency jet ventilation) has been shown to improve oxygenation by increasing lung volume and carbon dioxide removal by increasing tidal volume across a large spectrum of frequencies without increasing barotrauma. General anesthesia with a continuous, intravenous, short-acting agent is safe and effective during rigid bronchoscopy procedures.
Economic Contribution to Local Livelihoods and Households Dependency on Dry Land Forest Products in Hammer District, Southeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Fikir Dagm , Tadesse Wubalem , Gure Abdella
Published: October 2016

The study was conducted in Hammer district, Southern Ethiopia, to provide empirical evidence on economic contribution to local livelihoods and households dependency on dry forest products. One agropastoral and two pastoral kebeles were purposively selected, and data was collected through household survey, group discussions, market assessments, and field observation. A total of 164 households, selected based on a random sampling procedure, were interviewed using structured questionnaire. The study found that income from forest products contributes 21.4% of the total annual household income. The major dry forest products include honey, fuel wood, gum and resin, and crafts and construction materials, contributing 49%, 39%, 6%, and 6% of the forest income, respectively. Households of the pastoral site earned more forest income and were relatively more dependent on forest products income than those in the agropastoral study site. Significant variation was also found among income groups: households with higher total annual income obtain more forest income than those with lower income, but they are relatively less dependent on forest products than the lower counterpart. Besides, various socioeconomic and contextual factors were found to influence forest income and dependency. The findings of the study provide valuable information up on which important implications for dry land forest development and management strategies can be drawn.
Response of the Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivar Gregory to Interactions of Digging Date and Disease Management
Authors: Jordan David L. , Shew Barbara B. , Johnson P. Dewayne
Published: October 2016

Digging date can have a major impact on pod yield, market grade characteristics, and economic return of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and can be influenced by environmental conditions and disease management. In 17 experiments from 2003 to 2012, economic return of peanut was determined over 5 digging dates spaced 1 week apart beginning in early to mid-September through mid-October. Linear, quadratic, and cubic relationships for economic return versus days after peanut emergence were observed in 3, 6, and 4 experiments, respectively, with no response to digging date observed in 4 experiments. In a second experiment from 2005 to 2012, relationships among canopy defoliation and economic return for peanut at 3 digging dates with 3 fungicide regimes were variable, although increasing the number of fungicide sprays decreased canopy defoliation and increased economic return for later digging dates. Applying a single late-season spray of fungicide as a rescue treatment reduced canopy defoliation in 4 of 8 years and affected economic value in 2 of 8 years.
Aqueous Leaf Extract ofJatropha mollissima(Pohl) Bail Decreases Local Effects Induced by Bothropic Venom
Authors: Gomes Jacyra Antunes dos Santos , Félix-Silva Juliana , Morais Fernandes Júlia , Geraldo Amaral Juliano , Lopes Norberto Peporine , Tabosa do Egito Eryvaldo Sócrates , da Silva-Júnior Arnóbio Antônio , Maria Zucolotto Silvana , Fernandes-Pedrosa Matheus de Freitas
Published: October 2016

Snakebites are a serious worldwide public health problem. In Brazil, about 90% of accidents are attributed to snakes from theBothropsgenus. The specific treatment consists of antivenom serum therapy, which has some limitations such as inability to neutralize local effects, difficult access in some regions, risk of immunological reactions, and high cost. Thus, the search for alternative therapies to treat snakebites is relevant.Jatropha mollissima(Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly used in folk medicine as an antiophidic remedy. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of the aqueous leaf extract fromJ. mollissimaon local effects induced byBothropsvenoms. High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection analysis and Mass Spectrometry analysis of aqueous leaf extract confirmed the presence of the flavonoids isoschaftoside, schaftoside, isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, and isovitexin. This extract, at 50–200 mg/kg doses administered by intraperitoneal route, showed significant inhibitory potential against local effects induced byBothrops erythromelasandBothrops jararacasnake venoms. Local skin hemorrhage, local edema, leukocyte migration, and myotoxicity were significantly inhibited by the extract. These results demonstrate thatJ. mollissimaextract possesses inhibitory potential, especially against bothropic venoms, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant in treatment of snakebites.
Schisandrin B: A Double‐Edged Sword in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Leong Pou Kuan , Ko Kam Ming
Published: October 2016

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver lesions ranging from hepatic steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The high global prevalence of NAFLD has underlined the important public health implications of this disease. The pathogenesis of NAFLD involves the abnormal accumulation of free fatty acids, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and a proinflammatory state in the liver. Schisandrin B (Sch B), an active dibenzooctadiene lignan isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (a traditional Chinese herb), was found to possess antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti‐ER stress, and anti‐inflammatory activities in cultured hepatocytes in vitro and in rodent livers in vivo. Whereas a long‐term, low dose regimen of Sch B induces an antihyperlipidemic response in obese mice fed a high fat diet, a single bolus high dose of Sch B increases serum/hepatic lipid levels in mice. This differential action of Sch B is likely related to a dose/time‐dependent biphasic response on lipid metabolism in mice. The hepatoprotection afforded by Sch B against oxidative stress, ER stress, and inflammation has been widely reported. The ensemble of results suggests that Sch B may offer potential as a therapeutic agent for NAFLD. The optimal dose and duration of Sch B treatment need to be established in order to ensure maximal efficacy and safety when used in humans.
Determination of Knitted Fabric Porosity Using Digital Imaging Techniques
Authors: Imrith Manoj Kumar , Unmar Roshan , Rosunee Satyadev
Published: October 2016

This paper has investigated the porosity of knitted fabrics using digital imaging techniques. A number of different methods have been proposed to determine the porosity of knitted fabrics, which include digital imaging, geometrical modeling, and air permeability. Digital imaging is an adequate technique to determine the porosity of high-porosity fabrics. In this work, eight types of knitted structures with eight different stitch lengths were produced on a flat-bed knitting machine. Porosity was determined using digital imaging techniques based on the method of threshold and pixel count, using a computer program developed for this work. The study consisted also of validating the results by including the data from two tested samples—from each set of knits throughout the use of regression equations which demonstrated that there is good correlation between the black mask and white mask images.
Differential Expression of NADPH Oxidases Depends on Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type in Rats
Authors: Loureiro Adriano César Carneiro , Rêgo-Monteiro Igor Coutinho do , Louzada Ruy A. , Ortenzi Victor Hugo , Aguiar Angélica Ponte de , Abreu Ewerton Sousa de , Cavalcanti-de-Albuquerque João Paulo Albuquerque , Hecht Fabio , Oliveira Ariclécio Cunha de , Ceccatto Vânia Marilande , Fortunato Rodrigo S. , Carvalho Denise P.
Published: October 2016

NADPH oxidases (NOX) are important sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle, being involved in excitation‐contraction coupling. Thus, we aimed to investigate if NOX activity and expression in skeletal muscle are fiber type specific and the possible contribution of this difference to cellular oxidative stress. Oxygen consumption rate, NOX activity and mRNA levels, and the activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the reactive protein thiol levels, were measured in the soleus (SOL), red gastrocnemius (RG), and white gastrocnemius (WG) muscles of rats. RG showed higher oxygen consumption flow than SOL and WG, while SOL had higher oxygen consumption than WG. SOL showed higher NOX activity, as well as NOX2 and NOX4 mRNA levels, antioxidant enzymatic activities, and reactive protein thiol contents when compared to WG and RG. NOX activity and NOX4 mRNA levels as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities were higher in RG than in WG. Physical exercise increased NOX activity in SOL and RG, specifically NOX2 mRNA levels in RG and NOX4 mRNA levels in SOL. In conclusion, we demonstrated that NOX activity and expression differ according to the skeletal muscle fiber type, as well as antioxidant defense.
Interferon Induced Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Kayar Yusuf , Bayram Kayar Nuket , Alpay Nadir , Hamdard Jamshid , Ekinci Iskender , Emegil Sebnem , Bag Soydas Rabia , Baysal Birol
Published: October 2016

Behçet’s disease is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which involves recurring oral and genital aphthous ulcers and ocular lesions as well as articular, vascular, and nervous system involvement. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is usually seen in viral infections, immune deficiency syndrome, sickle cell anemia, and hyperfiltration and secondary to interferon therapy. Here, we present a case of FSGS identified with kidney biopsy in a patient who had been diagnosed with Behçet’s disease and received interferon-alpha treatment for uveitis and presented with acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome associated with interferon.
Temperature-Dependent Generalized Planar Fault Energy and Twinnability of Mg Microalloyed with Er, Ho, Dy, Tb, and Gd: First-Principles Study
Authors: Liu Lili , He Yelu , Liu Dingxing , Wu Xiaozhi , Wang Rui
Published: October 2016

The generalized planar fault energies, Rice criterion ductility, and twinnability of pure Mg and Mg-RE (RE = Er, Ho, Dy, Tb, and Gd) alloys at different temperature have been investigated using density functional theory. It is shown that all the fault energies and twinnability in the same materials decrease with increasing temperature. However, the ductility has the opposite change trend. On the other hand, alloying rare earth elements will generally decrease the fault energies and increase the ductility and twinnability of Mg at different temperature. It is interesting to note that alloying larger atomic radius will enhance the ductility of Mg more easily and alloying smaller radius will make twinning tendency of Mg more easily. Finally, the electron structure further reveals the underlying mechanisms for the reduction of fault energies with the addition of rare earth elements.