bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antagonistic effect of N‐ethylmaleimide on arsenic‐mediated oxidative stress‐induced poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation and cytotoxicity
Authors: Wang Alexander Sheng‐Shin , Chou Yu‐Ting , Pu Yeong‐Shiau
Published: November 2016

Abstract

Long‐term exposure to arsenic has been known to induce neoplastic initiation and progression in several organs; however, the role of arsenic (As2O3) in oxidative stress‐mediated DNA damage remains elusive. One of the immediate cellular responses to DNA damage is poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation (PARylation), which mediates DNA repair and enhances cell survival. In this study, we found that oxidative stress (H2O2)‐induced PARylation was suppressed by As2O3 exposure in different human cancer cells. Moreover, As2O3 treatment promoted H2O2‐induced DNA damage and apoptosis, leading to increased cell death. We found that N‐ethylmaleimide (NEM), an organic compound derived from maleic acid, could reverse As2O3‐mediated effects, thus enhancing PARylation with attenuated cell death and increased cell survival. Pharmacologic inhibition of glutathione with l‐buthionine‐sulfoximine blocked the antagonistic effect of NEM on As2O3, thereby continuing As2O3‐mediated suppression of PARylation and causing DNA damage. Our findings identify NEM as a potential antidote against As2O3‐mediated DNA damage in a glutathione‐dependent manner. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fructose dehydration to 5‐HMF over three sulfonated carbons: effect of different pore structures
Authors: Wang Jiangang , Zhu Liwei , Wang Yong , Cui Hongyou , Zhang Yunyun , Zhang Yuan
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUND

To invesigate the effect of pore structure on catalysis behavior, three sulfonated carbons with hierarchically ordered pores (SCHOP), mesopores (SMC), or micropores (SAC) were compared in conversion of fructose with 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural (5‐HMF). Fructose and 5‐HMF adsorption by three carbons with different pore structures were also measured. Kinetic modeling was employed to correlate the reaction and the adsorption data.

RESULTS

SEM characterization showed that SCHOP has hierarchical ordered macropores (about 220 nm in pore diameter) and mesopores (4.81 nm), whereas N2 adsorption desorption, EDS and –SO3H group determination suggested both its specific surface area and –SO3H group content were close to those of SMC but quite distinct in comparison with SAC. The fitted active energies of fructose dehydration over SCHOP, SMC and SAC by a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model were 84.54, 62.88, and 61.42 kJ mol−1, respectively.

CONCLUSION

It was found that pore structure has a significant effect on catalytic activity and 5‐HMF selectivity. SCHOP was a highly efficient catalyst for fructose dehydration to 5‐HMF. Adsorption capacity measurement confirmed SCHOP favored the internal diffusion of both fructose and 5‐HMF due to its hierarchical ordered porous structure, and possessed more effective specific area for fructose but less for 5‐HMF. In the presence of SCHOP the rate‐determining step was chemical reaction, whereas in the case of SMC or SAC the effects of molecular internal diffusion were not negligible. As a result, SCHOP was superior to both SMC and SAC for fructose conversion and 5‐HMF selectivity. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
A novel “shrug technique” for totally implantable venous access devices via the external jugular vein: A consecutive series of 254 patients
Authors: Kagawa Tetsuya , Ueyama Satoshi , Kobayashi Tatsunori , Okabayashi Hiroki , Kuroda Shinji , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: November 2016

Background

The external jugular vein (EJV) approach for totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) is safe. However, the success rate is unsatisfactory because of the difficulty in catheterization due to the acute angle between the EJV and the subclavian vein (SCV). A novel “shrug technique” to overcome this difficulty was developed, and its efficacy was assessed in a consecutive case series.

Methods

TIVAD placement was performed via the EJV cut‐down approach. “Shrug technique,” a simple way to straighten the EJV–SVC angle by shrugging the patient's shoulder, was applied to facilitate the passage of the guidewire and sheath‐introducer when there was acute angulation between the EJV and SCV.

Results

A total of 254 patients underwent TIVAD implantation by the EJV cut‐down approach. The “shrug technique” was applied in 51 cases (20%), and catheterization was successful in all cases. Thus, TIVAD implantation was successfully completed in all 254 cases (100%) in a single operative setting. The median operating time was 38 [IQR 30–45] min. Eleven complications (4%) were observed, but none of them were EJV‐specific.

Conclusion

The “shrug technique” is simple but very useful to achieve a higher success rate and safer insertion of TIVADs from the EJV. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:291–295. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metabolic mapping of Schisandra sphenanthera extract and its active lignans using a metabolomic approach based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography with high‐resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Huizhen , Jiang Yiming , Wu Jingjing , Zheng Chuanqi , Ran Xiaorong , Li Dongshun , Huang Min , Bi Huichang
Published: November 2016

Schisandra sphenanthera, the dried ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils, is widely used as a restorative, tonic and nutrition in many countries. Wuzhi tablet, an ethanol extract preparation of Schisandra sphenanthera, is a well‐known herbal medicine widely used in China. Our previous studies show that Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans significantly protect liver injury. However, its metabolic profile remains unknown in vivo and in vitro. In this study, ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry based metabolomics was employed to decipher the metabolic map of Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans. Serum (2 h) and urine (24 h) samples after a 700 mg/kg single oral dose of Wuzhi tablet, and mice liver microsome samples after incubation with its active lignans were collected and analyzed. The data were further analyzed using metabolomics and metabolite identification software. In total, 33 metabolites in vivo and 34 metabolites in vitro were identified, and six among them were new metabolites. The major metabolic reactions encompassed demethylation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and epoxidation. Taken together, in vitro and in vivo studies revealed the metabolic profile of Wuzhi tablet and its active lignans and demethylation and hydroxylation were their major metabolic pathways.
Tracing Sediment Sources in a Subtropical Agricultural Catchment of Southern Brazil Cultivated With Conventional and Conservation Farming Practices
Authors: Le Gall Marion , Evrard Olivier , Dapoigny Arnaud , Tiecher Tales , Zafar Mohsin , Minella Jean Paolo Gomes , Laceby J. Patrick , Ayrault Sophie
Published: November 2016

In Brazil, agricultural expansion has increased soil erosion and sediment supply to waterways. As elevated sediment loads often degrade freshwater environments, sediment fingerprinting techniques are increasingly used to identify the sources supplying sediment to riverine and lacustrine environments. In this study, the contribution of various soil types to sediment was investigated in the Guaporé catchment (2,032 km2) in southern Brazil. Soil samples (n = 75) were collected to characterise five soil types: Ferralsols (n = 26), Nitisols (n = 13), Acrisols (n = 8), Leptosols (n = 6) and Luvisols (n = 22). Sediment samples (n = 7) were collected in a trap installed at the catchment outlet. Sediment source contributions were modelled according to soil types with elemental geochemistry and 87Sr/86Sr ratios. 87Sr/86Sr ratios, K, Ti, Co, As, Ba and Pb were selected as the optimal suite of properties discriminating between soil types. Sediment samples were modelled to mainly originate from downstream Acrisols [mean 41%, standard deviation (SD) 2%], Leptosols (mean 34%, SD 4%) and Luvisols (mean 17%, SD 4%). In contrast, contributions of upstream Ferralsols (mean 4%, SD 2%) and Nitisols (mean 4%, SD 6%) were low. These results suggest that soils found in lower parts of the catchment, cultivated with conventional agriculture on steep slopes, were the main source of sediment to the river network. In contrast, soils found in upper parts of the catchment, cultivated with soybean under direct sowing, were less eroded or deposited before reaching the sediment sampling location at the outlet. These findings demonstrate that the management of local and degraded soil sources is important for reducing sediment loads. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid Encapsulation of Cell and Polymer Solutions with Bubble‐Triggered Droplet Generation
Authors: Yan Zihao , Clark Iain C. , Abate Adam R.
Published: November 2016

The generation of monodisperse droplets with microfluidics is valuable for applications ranging from material science to single cell analysis. However, conventional methods for forming droplets are limited in throughput, particularly when the fluids have low interfacial tension or high viscosity, like biological or polymer fluids. Rapid emulsification of biological and polymer fluids using bubble‐triggered droplet generation is demonstrated. In addition to making droplets over tenfold faster than conventional drop makers with equivalent monodispersity, bubble‐triggering can form droplets smaller than the nozzle, allowing droplets of the desired size to be generated in large channels that are robust against clogging.

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Real time band selective F1‐decoupled proton NMR for the demixing of overlay spectra of chiral molecules
Authors: Nath Nilamoni , Verma Ajay , Baishya Bikash , Khetrapal Chunni Lal
Published: November 2016

The small chemical shift dispersion and complex multiplicity pattern in proton NMR limit quantifications, for instance the determination of enantiomeric excess (ee) for an enantiomeric mixture. Herein, we present a simple proton–proton correlation experiment with band selective homonuclear (BASH) decoupling in both F1 and F2 dimensions, for the removal of scalar and residual dipolar couplings to provide collapsed singlet for each chemical site. The method has been demonstrated to separate the severely overlapped spectra of enantiomers using both chiral isotropic and anisotropic phases as well as a small biomolecule, particularly for the diastereotopic protons and also for the determination of ee. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Levator ani muscle innervation: Anatomical study in human fetus
Authors: Nyangoh Timoh Krystel , Bessede Thomas , Lebacle Cedric , Zaitouna Mazen , Martinovic Jelena , Diallo Djibril , Creze Maud , Chevallier Jean‐Marc , Darai Emile , Benoît Gérard , Moszkowicz David
Published: November 2016

Aims

To characterize the nature and function of the levator ani muscle innervation pathways and to perform a comprehensive three‐dimensional reconstruction of female pelvic innervation.

Methods

A computer‐assisted anatomical dissection protocol was applied to seven female human fetuses, after approval from the national biomedicine agency. Specimens were serially sectioned and immunostained for overall (antibody against protein S100), somatic (antibody against peripheral myelin protein 22), adrenergic (antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase), cholinergic (antibody against vesicular acetylcholine transferase), and nitrergic (antibody against the neural isoform of nitric oxide synthase) nerve fibers. Slides were digitized for three‐dimensional reconstructions using WinSurf®.

Results

Three main nerve pathways to the levator ani muscle were observed: the levator ani nerve, the pudendal nerve, and the inferior hypogastric plexus. The pudendal nerve was both somatic and autonomic, located below the levator ani muscle (infralevator pathway), supplying innervation to the inferior aspect of the levator ani muscle. The levator ani nerve was solely somatic, located above the levator ani muscle (supralevator pathway), supplying innervation to the superior aspect of the levator ani muscle. The inferior hypogastric plexus nerve fibers were solely autonomic, located in between the levator ani muscle and pelvic organs (endolevator pathway), supplying innervation to the medial portion of the levator ani muscle.

Conclusions

Our study provides a new representation of levator ani muscle innervation with three nerve pathways, and the levator ani muscle itself as an anatomical landmark.
Renal deterioration after spinal cord injury is associated with length of detrusor contractions during cystometry—A study with a median of 41 years follow‐up
Authors: Elmelund Marlene , Klarskov Niels , Bagi Per , Oturai Peter S. , Biering‐Sørensen Fin
Published: November 2016

Aims

To investigate which urodynamic parameters are associated with renal deterioration over a median of 41 years follow‐up after traumatic spinal cord injury.

Methods

Medical records of patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury sustained 1944‐1975 were reviewed from time of injury until 2012. Patients who attended regular renography and/or renal clearance examinations and had minimum one cystometry and pressure‐flow study were included. Renal deterioration was diagnosed as split renal function ≤30% in one kidney or relative glomerular filtration rate ≤51% of expected according to age and gender. Detrusor function, presence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, maximum detrusor pressure, post‐void residual volume, and cystometric bladder capacity were obtained. In patients with detrusor overactivity, a detrusor overactivity/cystometry ratio was calculated using duration of detrusor contraction(s) during filling cystometry divided by total duration of filling cystometry.

Results

A total of 73 patients were included in the study, and the median follow‐up time was 41 years after injury (range 24‐56). Sixty‐four patients (88%) used reflex triggering or bladder expression as bladder emptying method for the longest period after injury. During follow‐up 60% changed to clean intermittent catheterization. The majority of the patients (68%) had neurogenic detrusor overactivity. In 35 patients, a detrusor‐overactivity/cystometry ratio could be calculated and a detrusor overactivity/cystometry ratio > 0.33 was significantly associated with renal deterioration (P < 0.02). No significant association was found between maximum detrusor pressure or other urodynamic parameters and renal deterioration.

Conclusions

Duration of detrusor overactivity longer than one third of the duration of cystometry is associated with renal deterioration after spinal cord injury.
Simple method to introduce an ester infrared probe into proteins
Authors: Ahmed Ismail A. , Gai Feng
Published: November 2016

The ester carbonyl stretching vibration has recently been shown to be a sensitive and convenient infrared (IR) probe of protein electrostatics due to the linear dependence of its frequency on local electric field. While an ester moiety can be easily incorporated into peptides via solid‐phase synthesis, currently there is no method available to site‐specifically incorporate it into a large protein. Herein, we show that it is possible to use a cysteine alkylation reaction to achieve this goal and demonstrate the feasibility of this simple method by successfully incorporating a methyl ester group (CH2COOCH3) into a model peptide (YGGCGG), two amyloid‐forming peptides derived from the insulin B chain and Aβ, and bovine serum albumin (BSA). IR results obtained with those peptide and protein systems further confirm the utility of this vibrational probe in monitoring, for example, the structural integrity of amyloid fibrils and ligand binding‐induced changes in protein local hydration status.
Understanding the Role of Phenanthroline as Interlayer in Bulk Heterojunction Organic Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Farinhas Joana , Ferraria Ana M. , do Rego Ana M. B. , Morgado Jorge , Charas Ana
Published: November 2016

We report on significant efficiency enhancement of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells based on blends of poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐bithiophene), F8T2, or poly[[4,8‐bis[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl][3‐fluoro‐2‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4‐b]thiophenediyl], PTB7, with [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester, PC61BM, upon thermally depositing a layer of a phenanthroline derivative, 4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, BPhen, or 2,9‐dimethyl‐4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, BCP, and LiF. We found that both phenanthroline derivatives form nanostructured layers and that the introduction of the LiF layer is crucial for the cells performance improvement. The interface between BPhen and LiF was investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This analysis suggested that charge‐transfer doping of BPhen by fluoride is at the origin of improved electron transport throughout the BPhen layer. The best performing cells display power conversion efficiencies of 2.89 % and 5.89 %, for the blend with F8T2 and PTB7, respectively.
Additive Tendency of Substituent Effects onto Rate Constant of Acidic Hydrolysis of Methyl 4‐O‐Methyl‐β‐d‐Glucopyranoside
Authors: Yoneda Yuko , Hettegger Hubert , Rosenau Thomas , Kawada Toshinari
Published: November 2016

All eight types of differently methyl‐substituted methyl 4‐O‐methyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosides were chemically synthesized, analytically characterized including 13C NMR analysis, and subjected to acid‐catalyzed hydrolytic cleavage of the glucosides. The 13C NMR resonances of the ring‐carbons shift apprx. 10 ppm down‐field by methyl substitution. Acid hydrolysis (3 mol⋅L−1 DCl/D2O) was followed by 1H NMR to determine the rate constants (k) which all were of first order. Methyl substitution at any position (2‐O, 3‐O and 6‐O) was found to have a simple additive effect on the reaction rate. This was also shown as a linear free energy relationship (LFER). The substituent effects upon mono‐substitution depend on the substitution position: 2‐O‐methyl or 6‐O‐methyl substitution decreased the reaction rate, while 3‐O‐methyl substitution accelerated the hydrolysis. In cases of di‐ or tri‐substitutions these effects were additive.
In Situ Observation of Enhanced Photoinduced Charge Separation in a Gold Nanoparticle Assembly Immobilized on TiO2
Authors: Harada Hirofumi , Onoda Akira , Moriguchi Shiho , Hayashi Takashi
Published: November 2016

Photoinduced charge separation on a hybrid titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface with a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assembly immobilized via a biotin‐streptavidin interaction was visualized by Kelvin force microscopy (KFM). Biotinylated AuNP (Biot‐AuNP) with a diameter of ca. 15 nm was assembled using streptavidin (STV) and the AuNP assembly was immobilized on a TiO2 surface modified with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)silatrane. KFM reveals that the local contact potential difference (CPD) of dispersed AuNP, which is −17 ± 4.2 mV in the dark, undergoes a negative shift of −46 ± 3.0 mV upon UV‐irradiation (λ=240‐300 nm). In contrast, the AuNP assembly on the TiO2 surface exhibits a greater negative shift of −58 ± 6.0 mV of the CPD, although the CPD value of −16 ± 5.8 mV in the dark is similar to that of the dispersed AuNP. KFM visualization demonstrates that assembly of the AuNP on the TiO2 surface contributes to efficient storage of the negative charge generated by excited electrons in TiO2 during photoinduced charge separation.
Zur Abminderung der Knotentragfähigkeit von Hohlprofilknoten aus hochfesten Kreishohlprofilen
Authors: Bucak Ömer , Ehard Heinrich , Herion Stefan , Fleischer Oliver
Published: November 2016

Unserem Freund und Kollegen Herrn Prof. Dr. Eur.‐Ing. Ram Puthli gewidmet

Die Verwendung von Stählen mit Streckgrenzen bis zu fy = 690 N/mm2 (S690) für geschweißte Hohlprofilknoten wird derzeit aufgrund des Fehlens ausreichend abgesicherter Bemessungsregelungen behindert. Die Bemessungsempfehlungen der DIN EN 1993‐1‐8 basieren auf experimentellen und numerischen Untersuchungen unter Verwendung der allgemeinen Baustähle S235H und S355H. Auf Grundlage weniger detaillierter Untersuchungen über das Tragverhalten von Hohlprofilknoten aus hochfesten Stählen ist für Knoten aus Querschnitten mit einer Streckgrenze zwischen 355 N/mm2 < fy ≤ 460 N/mm2 eine Abminderung auf 90 % des Bemessungswerts des Knotenwiderstands in der DIN EN 1993‐1‐8 enthalten. In der DIN EN 1993‐1‐12 wird die Abminderung für Knoten aus Querschnitten mit noch höherfesten Stahlsorten mit Streckgrenzen zwischen 460 N/mm2 < fy ≤ 700 N/mm2 sogar auf 80 % reduziert. Für Knoten aus derart hochfesten Querschnitten sind jedoch keine systematischen Untersuchungen bekannt. Beide Abminderungsbeiwerte sind von der Geometrie der Knoten und von der Beanspruchungsart unabhängig.

Im Rahmen des von der Forschungsvereinigung Stahlanwendung e.V. (FOSTA) geförderten Projekts P715 und des dem Comité International pour le Développement et l'Etude de la Construction Tubulaire (CIDECT) geförderten Projekts 5BT wurden erforderliche Abminderungen ermittelt und auf Einflüsse der Streckgrenze und der Knotengeometrie hin überprüft.

About the reduction of the joint bearing capacity of high strength circular hollow section. The use of high strength steels with yield strengths up to fy = 690 N/mm2 (S690) for welded hollow section joints is hampered due to the lack of adequate provisions in design standards. The design recommendations of DIN EN 1993‐1‐8 are based on experimental and numerical investigations using steel grades S235H or S355H. Based upon the few detailed experimental investigations available dealing with the load carrying behavior of connections made of high strength steels DIN EN 1993‐1‐8 gives a reduction factor of α = 0.9 to the design formulae for joints made of steels with yield strengths 355 N/mm2 < fy ≤ 460 N/mm2. In DIN EN 1993‐1‐12 this reduction factor is further reduced to α = 0.8 for joints with yield strengths 460 N/mm2 < fy ≤ 700 N/mm2 without any testing results. Both reduction factors are independent of the geometry and type of loading of the joints. In the framework of two research projects funded by the Forschungsvereinigung Stahlanwendung e.V. (FOSTA) and the Comité International pour le Développement et l'Etude de la Construction Tubulaire (CIDECT) the necessary reduction factors are verified.
Cuckoo: flexible compute‐intensive task offloading in mobile cloud computing
Authors: Zhou Zhigang , Zhang Hongli , Ye Lin , Du Xiaojiang
Published: November 2016

Mobile cloud computing (MCC) is an emerging technology to facilitate complex application execution on mobile devices. Mobile users are motivated to implement various tasks using their mobile devices for great flexibility and portability. However, such advantages are challenged by the limited battery life of mobile devices. This paper presents Cuckoo, a scheme of flexible compute‐intensive task offloading in MCC for energy saving. Cuckoo seeks to balance the key design goals: maximize energy saving (technical feasibility) and minimize the impact on user experience with limited cost for offloading (realistic feasibility). Specifically, using a combination of static analysis and dynamic profiling, compute‐intensive tasks are fine‐grained marked from mobile application codes offline. According to the network transmission technologies supported in mobile devices and the runtime network conditions, adopting “task‐bundled” strategy online offloads these tasks to MCC. In the task‐hosted stage, we propose a skyline‐based online resource scheduling strategy to satisfy the realistic feasibility of MCC. In addition, we adopt resource reservation to reduce the extra energy consumption caused by the task multi‐offloading phenomenon. Further, we evaluate the performance of Cuckoo using real‐life data sets on our MCC testbed. Our extensive experiments demonstrate that Cuckoo is able to balance energy consumption and execution performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tumor‐targeted nanotherapeutics: overcoming treatment barriers for glioblastoma
Authors: Wadajkar Aniket S. , Dancy Jimena G. , Hersh David S. , Anastasiadis Pavlos , Tran Nhan L. , Woodworth Graeme F. , Winkles Jeffrey A. , Kim Anthony J.
Published: November 2016

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and lethal form of primary brain cancer. Numerous barriers exist to the effective treatment of GBM including the tightly controlled interface between the bloodstream and central nervous system termed the ‘neurovascular unit,’ a narrow and tortuous tumor extracellular space containing a dense meshwork of proteins and glycosaminoglycans, and genomic heterogeneity and instability. A major goal of GBM therapy is achieving sustained drug delivery to glioma cells while minimizing toxicity to adjacent neurons and glia. Targeted nanotherapeutics have emerged as promising drug delivery systems with the potential to improve pharmacokinetic profiles and therapeutic efficacy. Some of the key cell surface molecules that have been identified as GBM targets include the transferrin receptor, low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein, αvβ3 integrin, glucose transporter(s), glial fibrillary acidic protein, connexin 43, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFR variant III, interleukin‐13 receptor α chain variant 2, and fibroblast growth factor‐inducible factor 14. However, most targeted therapeutic formulations have yet to demonstrate improved efficacy related to disease progression or survival. Potential limitations to current targeted nanotherapeutics include: (1) adhesive interactions with nontarget structures, (2) low density or prevalence of the target, (3) lack of target specificity, and (4) genetic instability resulting in alterations of either the target itself or its expression level in response to treatment. In this review, we address these potential limitations in the context of the key GBM targets with the goal of advancing the understanding and development of targeted nanotherapeutics for GBM. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1439. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1439

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Fetal Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage: Prenatal Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Gowda Mamatha , Mondal Nivedita , Ramkumar G.
Published: November 2016

We report a case of germinal matrix intraventricular hemorrhage (GMIVH) diagnosed antenatally at 30 weeks of gestation. The pregnancy was continued with close monitoring up to 37 weeks of gestation. A healthy baby was delivered and had normal neurological development after 8 months of postnatal follow-up. GMIVH, though common in premature neonates, is rarely seen in fetal life. Diagnosis is possible by prenatal ultrasound usually in the third trimester. Tomographic ultrasound imaging is a useful alternative to fetal MRI in assessing the extent of parenchymal involvement. The findings on imaging studies can elude the correct diagnosis if the lesion is not observed over a period of time and can often be misdiagnosed as choroid plexus tumors. Severe hemorrhage with gross hydrocephalus can impair the neurological development of the child. However, if the hemorrhage is confined to the ventricles and there is no serious underlying etiology, it is likely to resolve spontaneously leaving no significant neurological sequelae. Counseling the parents is of utmost importance to avoid any medico-legal issues.
Shifting Trend of Transient Ischemic Attack Admission and Prognosis in Canada
Authors: Yu Amy Y. X. , Lindsay M. Patrice , Kamal Noreen , Fang Jiming , Coutts Shelagh B. , Hill Michael D.
Published: November 2016

Background: Stroke is often preceded by transient symptoms. Although global stroke rates have been shown to be declining, previous studies have reported inconsistent temporal trends of transient ischemic attacks (TIA). The objective of the current study is to report the temporal trends of TIA admissions and outcomes in Canada over the last 11 years. Methods: We conducted a complete population cohort study using a national administrative database to study the temporal trend of age- and sex-adjusted TIA admission rates in Canada from 2003 to 2013. We also determined the rates of TIA and stroke diagnoses in the emergency department in the province of Ontario during the same period. We used multivariable analyses to study discharge location after acute hospitalization as well as 90-day stroke and/or TIA readmission rates. Results: Of 425,799 admissions to an acute care hospital for all stroke and TIA, 71,443 (16.8%) were TIA. The age- and sex-standardized rates of TIA admission decreased significantly during the study period from 30.0 to 20.6 per 100,000 (p<0.0001). In Ontario, decreasing TIA admissions is mirrored by decreasing rates of TIA directly discharged from the emergency department (55.1 to 46.8 per 100,000, p = 0.002). The odds of 90-day readmission rates for stroke or TIA are also decreasing (adjusted odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99). Conclusions: We show that TIA admission rates have declined in the past 11 years in Canada, reflecting improved vascular risk reduction and stroke care. Future studies to confirm our findings on improved stroke or TIA recurrence rates are necessary.
What Are the Pathways Linking the Disclosure of a Degenerative Eye Condition in the Workplace and Wellbeing? A Mixed Methods Approach
Authors: Spiegel Tali , Wittek Rafael , Steverink Nardi
Published: November 2016

While much is known about the pathways linking workplace disclosure of a stigmatised identity and negative wellbeing outcomes, little is known about the pathways to positive wellbeing outcomes. Using survey and interview data three pathways were investigated among the population of individuals with degenerative eye conditions: the alleviation of inhibition (psychological), social support (social), and the use of assistive technology (physical). The findings suggest that the psychological pathway is most prominent. The alternative pathways are only partially exhibited in the interview data. These findings can assist policymakers nuance policy aimed at enhancing labour market participation of individuals with disabilities.
ON WOLVES AND KINGS. TWO TABLETS WITH AKKADIAN WISDOM TEXTS FROM THE SECOND MILLENNIUM B.C.
Authors: Streck Michael P. , Wasserman Nathan
Published: November 2016

The lair of the wolf is his refuge,and where he has made him his home,Not even the head wolf may enter,not even the council may come.Rudyard Kipling,The Law of the JungleIn this paper two Akkadian wisdom texts are edited and discussed. BM 13928 is an unpublished Old Babylonian list of proverbial sayings and admonitions concerning a wolf and a king. CBS 14235 is a Middle Babylonian tablet which describes the royal life and contrasts it to the behavior of wild animals. The two texts add to the growing corpus of Akkadian wisdom literature of the second millenniumb.c.and offer a new angle to our understanding of royal ideology of the period.
IMAGES OF ROUND BAGHDAD: AN ANALYSIS OF RECONSTRUCTIONS BY ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS
Authors: Al-Ali Saba Sami , Al-Ali Nawar Sami
Published: November 2016

This paper examines the architectural renderings of the round city of Baghdad built by the Abbasid caliph Abu Jaʻfar al-Mansur as visualized by archaeologists and historians. Although nothing of the historic city has survived, descriptions by Arab and Persian authors have provided a guide to its appearance. From an architectural perspective, the work of Ernst Herzfeld and K.A.C. Creswell may be considered the most significant. A study of the details of their architectural drawings reveals inconsistencies with the written descriptions. Reconstructions by other scholars are also examined with special reference to the work of Jacob Lassner. The focus is on the first faṣīl (intervallum) and raḥba (entrance courtyard), the majālis (audience halls) over the four city gates, the maṣʻad (gangway) to the audience halls, the ṭaqāt (arcades) and finally the caliph's palace and the congregational mosque, to suggest a revised reconstruction of al-Mansurʼs Baghdad.
Approach and separation of quantised vortices with balanced cores
Authors: Rorai C. , Skipper J. , Kerr R. M. , Sreenivasan K. R.
Published: November 2016

The scaling laws for the reconnection of isolated pairs of quantised vortices are characterised by numerically integrating the three-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii equations, the simplest mean-field equations for a quantum fluid. The primary result is the identification of distinctly different temporal power laws for the pre- and post-reconnection separation distances $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}(t)$ for two configurations. For the initially anti-parallel case, the scaling laws before and after the reconnection time $t_{r}$ obey the dimensional $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}\sim |t_{r}-t|^{1/2}$ prediction with temporal symmetry about $t_{r}$ and physical space symmetry about the mid-point between the vortices $x_{r}$. The extensions of the vortex lines close to reconnection form the edges of an equilateral pyramid. For all of the initially orthogonal cases, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}\sim |t_{r}-t|^{1/3}$ before reconnection and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}\sim |t-t_{r}|^{2/3}$ after reconnection are respectively slower and faster than the dimensional prediction. For both configurations, smooth scaling laws are generated due to two innovations. The first innovation is to use an initial low-energy vortex-core density profile that suppresses unwanted density fluctuations as the vortices evolve in time. The other innovation is the accurate identification of the position of the vortex cores from a pseudo-vorticity constructed on the three-dimensional grid from the gradients of the wave function. These trajectories allow us to calculate the Frenet–Serret frames and the curvature of the vortex lines, secondary results that might hold clues for the origin of the differences between the scaling laws of the two configurations. Reconnection takes place in a reconnection plane defined by the average tangents $\boldsymbol{T}_{av}$ and curvature normal $\boldsymbol{N}_{av}$ directions of the pseudo-vorticity curves at the points of closest approach, at time $t\approx t_{r}$. To characterise the structure further, lines are drawn that connect the four arms that extend from the reconnection plane, from which four angles $\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{i}$ between the lines are defined. Their sum is convex or hyperbolic, that is $\sum _{i=1,4}\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{i}>360^{\circ }$, for the orthogonal cases, as opposed to the acute angles of the pyramid found for the anti-parallel initial conditions.
Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian) linguliform and craniiform brachiopods from the Precordillera (Cuyania Terrane) of west-central Argentina
Authors: Lavié Fernando J. , Benedetto Juan L.
Published: November 2016

Middle Ordovician lingulacean, trematid, and craniid brachiopods are described and illustrated for the first time from the uppermost part of San Juan Formation limestones of the Precordillera Basin, west-central Argentina. Sampled beds fall within theAhtiella argentinabrachiopod Zone, which, according to associated conodonts, is of early-mid Darriwilian age. The fauna consists of the linguloideansGlossella cuyanican. sp. andLingulasma? sp., the discinoideanTrematissp., the siphonotretidChilcatreta tubulatan. gen. n. sp., and a conical shell that is referred provisionally to the order Craniida. The linguliforms from the Cuyania (Precordillera) terrane, although still poorly known, display close similarities to those inhabiting low-to-intermediate latitude palaeocontinents, particularly Laurentia and Baltica, in accordance with evidence from rhynchonelliform brachiopods.
Actinocrinitidae from the Lower Mississippian Fort Payne Formation of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama (Crinoidea, Viséan)
Authors: Rhenberg Elizabeth C. , Ausich William I. , Meyer David L.
Published: November 2016

The Actinocrinitidae were among the most abundant crinoids worldwide during the Lower Mississippian. Recent systematic revisions of the family allow a revised genus- and species-level understanding of these crinoids globally and a more precise means by which to understand the temporal and facies distribution of genera and species in this important Mississippian family. Two genera with a total of five species of Actinocrinitidae (and five additional forms left in open nomenclature) are recognized from the Fort Payne Formation, includingActinocrinites jugosus(Hall, 1859),Actinocrinitesspp. indeterminate,Thinocrinus gibsoni(Miller and Gurley, 1893),Thinocrinus lowei(Hall, 1858),Thinocrinus probolos(Ausich and Kammer, 1991),Thinocrinus akanthosnew species,Thinocrinussp. aff.T.gibsoni,Thinocrinusspp. indeterminate, and two taxa recognized as only Actinocrinitidae genus and species indeterminate.Actinocrinites tripusEhlers and Kesling, 1963 is recognized as a junior synonym ofThinocrinus gibsoni.Thinocrinus, rather thanActinocrinitesas previously thought, is the dominant Fort Payne Formation actinocrinitid. Fort Payne Formation carbonate buildup facies (wackestone buildups and crinoidal packstone buildups) each have characteristic species ofThinocrinus.Actinocrinitesis relatively rare in the Fort Payne Formation, but occurs preferentially in crinoidal packstone buildups.
SEMISTABLE SHEAVES WITH SYMMETRIC ON A QUADRIC SURFACE
Authors: ABE TAKESHI
Published: November 2016

For moduli spaces of sheaves with symmetric $c_{1}$ on a quadric surface, we pursue analogy to some results known for moduli spaces of sheaves on a projective plane. We define an invariant height, introduced by Drezet in the projective plane case, for moduli spaces of sheaves with symmetric $c_{1}$ on a quadric surface and describe the structure of moduli spaces of height zero. Then we study rational maps of moduli spaces of positive height to moduli spaces of representation of quivers, effective cones of moduli spaces, and strange duality for height-zero moduli spaces.
HARDY AND MIYACHI THEOREMS FOR HEISENBERG MOTION GROUPS
Authors: BAKLOUTI ALI , THANGAVELU SUNDARAM
Published: November 2016

Let $G=\mathbb{H}^{n}\rtimes K$ be the Heisenberg motion group, where $K=U(n)$ acts on the Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}^{n}=\mathbb{C}^{n}\times \mathbb{R}$ by automorphisms. We formulate and prove two analogues of Hardy’s theorem on $G$. An analogue of Miyachi’s theorem for $G$ is also formulated and proved. This allows us to generalize and prove an analogue of the Cowling–Price uncertainty principle and prove the sharpness of the constant $1/4$ in all the settings.
Reform and Representation: A New Method Applied to Recent Electoral Changes
Authors: Kousser Thad , Phillips Justin , Shor Boris
Published: November 2016

Can electoral reforms such as an independent redistricting commission and the top-two primary create conditions that lead to better legislative representation? We explore this question by presenting a new method for measuring a key indicator of representation—the congruence between a legislator’s ideological position and the average position of her district’s voters. Our novel approach combines two methods: the joint classification of voters and political candidates on the same ideological scale, along with multilevel regression and post-stratification to estimate the position of the average voter across many districts in multiple elections. After validating our approach, we use it to study the recent impact of reforms in California, showing that they did not bring their hoped-for effects.
A method for measuring the attachment strength of the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta to the rat intestine
Authors: Xie W. , Racz G.R. , Terry B.S. , Gardner S.L.
Published: November 2016

A unique adaptation of many internal parasites of mammals is their ability to stay in the intestine for extended periods of time and resist the normal peristaltic movements and forces that push and expel material. To better understand parasite adhesion behaviour and replicate their attachment method in medical devices, an experiment was designed and performed using the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. The experiment employed a tensile test machine and a digital scale and was designed to calculate the attachment strength of the scolex to the mucosa through the change of the value of the digital scale during the tensile test. The attachment force of H. diminuta is 0.021 ± 0.011 g. This method could be applied in studies of parasite biomechanics and the results may help medical device researchers to better mimic the unique functional morphology of this species of parasite.
Comment on Weakly dissipative dust-ion acoustic wave modulation (J. Plasma Phys.82, 905820104, 2016)
Authors: Kourakis I. , Elkamash I. S.
Published: November 2016

In a recent article (J. Plasma Phys., vol. 82, 2009, 905820104), weakly dissipative dust-ion acoustic wave modulation in dusty plasmas was considered. It is shown in this Comment that the analysis therein involved severe fallacies, and is in fact based on an erroneous plasma fluid model, which fails to satisfy an equilibrium condition, among other shortcomings. The subsequent analysis therefore is dubious and of limited scientific value.
A first approach to stock assessment of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) in Cantabria (Bay of Biscay)
Authors: Guinda Xabier , Bidegain Gorka , Puente Araceli , Juanes José Antonio
Published: November 2016

The purple sea urchin P. lividus is a marine resource greatly valued for its highly nutritious roe. The objective of this work is to analyse the spatial distribution pattern and population structure of this species in the region of Cantabria (Bay of Biscay) in order to identify the most appropriate zones for sustainable harvesting and for the establishment of adequate management strategies. Two depth ranges were studied (<5 and 5–10 m) in five coastal areas. The available stock of commercial individuals (size >55 mm) was estimated based on the density of individuals and biometric parameters. Significant differences were found among areas but not among depth ranges. Three areas showed low densities with large individuals, whereas two areas showed high densities with small individuals. Despite the average smaller size of the individuals, these high-density areas accumulated 76% of the commercial stock, making these the most suitable zones for the sustainable harvesting of P. lividus in the region. The high variability of the observed density values resulted in elevated uncertainty in the estimation of stocks. However, the high sea urchin densities together with the high percentages of commercial individuals suggest that the resource is currently underexploited. Further studies should be carried out, and precautionary measures should be adopted before opening the fishery. The suitability of many of these measures is discussed in the present work, as a necessary step in the management of the P. lividus fishery in Cantabria.
The hows and whys of “we” (and “I”) in groups
Authors: Barnier Amanda J. , Harris Celia B. , Sutton John
Published: November 2016

Informed by our interdisciplinary research program on collaborative recall, we argue that Baumeister et al. should consider: (1) group success as a balance between differentiation and integration (not differentiation alone); (2) variation in constellations of people and processes within and across groups; and (3) nuanced measurement of what people bring to, do in, and get out of groups.
Social, not individual, identification is the key to understanding group phenomena
Authors: Brown Rupert
Published: November 2016

Baumeister and colleagues argue for the indispensability of groups in human life. Yet, in positing individual differentiation as the key to effective group functioning, they adopt a Western-centric view of the relationship of the individual to the group and overlook an alternativesocialidentity account in which depersonalisation, not individuation, is central to understanding many group phenomena.
The subtle effects of incentives and competition on group performance
Authors: Budescu David , Maciejovsky Boris
Published: November 2016

We show that, under some circumstances, identification and differentiation in the form of competition and individual rewards may undermine, rather than improve, group performance. The key factor for successful group performance seems to be whether or not group members share common goals and whether or not they have aligned incentives.
Considering the role of ecology on individual
differentiation
Authors: de Baca Tomás Cabeza , Garcia Rafael Antonio , Woodley of Menie Michael Anthony , Figueredo Aurelio José
Published: November 2016

Our commentary articulates some of the commonalities between Baumeister et
al.'s theory of socially differentiated roles and Strategic
Differentiation-Integration Effort. We expand upon the target article's
position by arguing that differentiating social roles is contextual and driven
by varying ecological pressures, producing character displacement not only among
individuals within complex societies, but also across social systems and
multiple levels of organization.
Dirichlet problems for fully anisotropic elliptic equations
Authors: Barletta Giuseppina , Cianchi Andrea
Published: November 2016

The existence of a non-trivial bounded solution to the Dirichlet problem is established for a class of nonlinear elliptic equations involving a fully anisotropic partial differential operator. The relevant operator depends on the gradient of the unknown through the differential of a general convex function. This function need not be radial, nor have a polynomial-type growth. Besides providing genuinely new conclusions, our result recovers and embraces, in a unified framework, several contributions in the existing literature, and augments them in various special instances.
Deletion of p75NTR enhances the cholinergic innervation pattern of the visual cortex
Authors: VON BOHLEN UND HALBACH VIOLA , VON BOHLEN UND HALBACH OLIVER
Published: November 2016

The cholinergic system is involved in cortical plasticity, attention, and learning. Within the visual cortex the cholinergic system seems to play a role in visual perception. The cholinergic neurons which project into the visual cortex are located in the basal forebrain. It has been shown that mice deficient for the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor p75NTR display increased numbers of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and a denser cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus. This prompted us to analyze whether the cholinergic system is altered in adult p75NTR deficient mice. By analyzing the densities of cholinergic fibers within layer IV as well as within layer V of the visual cortex, we found that adult p75NTR deficient mice display increased cholinergic fiber densities. However, this increase was not accompanied by an increase in the density of local cholinergic neurons within the visual cortex. This indicates that the enhanced cholinergic innervation of the visual cortex is due to alteration of the cholinergic neurons located in the basal forebrain, projecting to the visual cortex. The increased cholinergic innervation of the visual cortex makes the p75NTR deficient mice an attractive model to study the necessity of the cholinergic system for the visual cortex.
DANIEL DERONDA, PROFESSOR OF SPINOZA
Authors: Arnett James
Published: November 2016

For almost a decade, George Eliot labored at a translation of seventeenth-century Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza'sTractatus Theologico-PoliticusandEthics, and although completed, it never saw the light of day; it was the subject of a petty fight between the proposed publisher, Henry Bohn, and her partner, George Henry Lewes. The result was that for more than a century it was tucked away, first, presumably, in a drawer, and eventually, in the Beinecke Library at Yale University. Although critics and scholars have long known that she had completed this work – references abound in letters and journal entries – it wasn't published until 1981, and even then, in an obscure imprint of the Salzburg University press. Copies of this published edition, which is limited to theEthicsand capably annotated by Thomas Deegan, are quite rare and difficult to get ahold of.