bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bir Hospital of Yore and Now
Authors: Dixit Hemang
Published: September 2015

The setting up of the Bir Hospital about 125 years ago and its development over the years as a service and teaching institute is described. Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 3, No. 4, Oct.-Dec., 2014Page: 177-180
Hor - a sedentarisation success for Tibetan pastoralists in Qinghai?
Authors: Ptackova Jarmila
Published: September 2015

Most outside observers of current development in grassland areas of China see sedentarisation policies rather sceptically. Among other issues, the accelerated planning and implementation period, the poor quality of housing and facilities at the settlement sites, the lack of alternative livelihood opportunities and the loss of nomad culture are commonly mentioned in critiques of the rapid sedentarisation that has taken place in China in the past decade. Reports in the Chinese media tend to tell a different story, celebrating sedentarisation as a welcome step towards modernity among the grassland population. This paper examines one new settlement, Hor, where in 2009 locals confirmed the positive rhetoric of the government and averred that the advantages brought by sedentarisation outweighed its negatives. More recent research shows that the situation in Hor is, in fact, more complex and the touted successes of the sedentarisation policy may not be long-lasting.
Housing projects in the nomadic areas of China's eastern Tibetan plateau: representation, market logic, and governmentality
Authors: (Kabzung) Gaerrang
Published: September 2015

This paper explores the Chinese government's efforts to develop housing projects in Sichuan Province, and to encourage Tibetan herders to settle and enter the market economy. The paper uses primary sources to analyse how media and government reports provide a constructed image of Tibetan herders and their cultural landscape. These reports depict Tibetan traditions, including Buddhism, as impediments to modernisation, secularisation, market-oriented logic, materialism, and governmentality. Finally, the reports are contextualised in a larger governmental effort to continue with housing and economic projects in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau.
Pha Yul: an analysis of grassland management policies in Amdo-Qinghai
Authors: Cencetti Elisa
Published: September 2015

This article does not aim to reconstruct the semantic evolution of
pha yul
. Rather, it seeks to retrace the evolution of the land management policies implemented by the Chinese government, through the study of the current polysemy of this concept. I will study the word pha yul analysing its multiple meanings, the different ways in which it is used and the articulation of these different meanings in light of recent political transformations and grassland management policies. This paper is based on data collected during ethnographic fieldwork between 2009 and 2010. I base the analysis on the example of two families of Tibetan herders relocated in a new settlement in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of mTsho lho (Chinese: Hainan) in Qinghai province. In the first part of the article, their life trajectories and survival strategies since the 1980s are discussed in relation to an analysis of transformations in land management policies and the concept of phayul. In the last part of the article, I will retrace the history of a number of heterogeneous land management policies - ranging from environmental protection to economic development - which have been implemented since the 1980s. Their succession and overlapping has deeply influenced herders' pastoral activities and their ways of exploiting regional resources. To a certain degree, these policies started social and economic transformations which actually met (and continue to meet) political, as well as environmental and economic aims of the Chinese government. Certain current uses of the word
pha yul
underline this trend. Nevertheless, others uses of this word highlight another kind of transformation, briefly analysed in the last part of the article: the rhetoric of Tibetan nationalism also uses the word
pha yul
to indicate the 'fatherland' of all Tibetans, claiming that it is big as or even greater than the entire Tibetan Plateau.
Infrastructure development and urbanisation in pastoralist Amdo (a research report)
Authors: Iselin Lilian
Published: September 2015

The past two decades have seen massive investments in infrastructure development in China's western regions. Formerly hard to access, the remote grasslands of the Amdo region in Sichuan Province are today incorporated into an ever-growing road network, which connects dispersed summer and winter pastures with township centres and outlying townships with county towns, prefecture towns and, by extension, with provincial capitals and the national transportation system. Infrastructural development impacts on economic development not only in terms of access to markets, but also the basic mobility patterns of pastoralists. This paper elucidates the interrelationships between transportation infrastructure development, motorisation and urbanisation. I argue that motorisation plays an important role in the incorporation of nomads into the newly constructed settlements and the urban spaces of Amdo. The motorisation of pastoralist households, which developed alongside road construction, has produced new mobility patterns and facilitated novel types of movement. Pastoralists use motorised vehicles to maintain communication with townspeople and to access public spaces in urban centres. Accounts of urbanisation processes in pastoral regions cannot ignore the pastoralists who still live outside urban centres, but for whom motorisation and construction of roads has facilitated a wholly different level of access to urban areas that are, in multiple ways, inscribing urban forms onto the nomads' lands.
Cancer statistics for Hispanics/Latinos, 2015
Authors: Siegel Rebecca L. , Fedewa Stacey A. , Miller Kimberly D. , Goding‐Sauer Ann , Pinheiro Paulo S. , Martinez‐Tyson Dinorah , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: September 2015

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos, who represent the largest racial/ethnic minority group in the United States, accounting for 17.4% (55.4 million/318 million) of the total US population in 2014. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society reports on cancer statistics for Hispanics based on incidence data from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Among Hispanics in 2015, there will be an estimated 125,900 new cancer cases diagnosed and 37,800 cancer deaths. For all cancers combined, Hispanics have 20% lower incidence rates and 30% lower death rates compared with non‐Hispanic whites (NHWs); however, death rates are slightly higher among Hispanics during adolescence (aged 15‐19 years). Hispanic cancer rates vary by country of origin and are generally lowest in Mexicans, with the exception of infection‐associated cancers. Liver cancer incidence rates in Hispanic men, which are twice those in NHW men, doubled from 1992 to 2012; however, rates in men aged younger than 50 years declined by 43% since 2003, perhaps a bellwether of future trends for this highly fatal cancer. Variations in cancer risk between Hispanics and NHWs, as well as between subpopulations, are driven by differences in exposure to cancer‐causing infectious agents, rates of screening, and lifestyle patterns. Strategies for reducing cancer risk in Hispanic populations include increasing the uptake of preventive services (eg, screening and vaccination) and targeted interventions to reduce obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. CA Cancer J Clin 2015;65:457–480. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Postharvest behavior and keeping quality of potted poinsettia: a review
Authors: Islam M Ashraful , Joyce Daryl C
Published: September 2015

Poinsettia is one of the most important potted plants in the ornamentals industry. The most attractive parts of the poinsettia are its bracts and cyathia. Stem breakage, bract fading, bract edge burn (BEB), bract bruising and bract discoloration reduce its ornamental value. The ornamental value of poinsettia is affected by both pre- and postharvest factors. During cultivation as well as after harvest, sub-optimal or improper supply and / or management of temperature, light, relative humidity, nutrition and hygiene affect the quality of potted poinsettia. A low K : Ca ratio can reduce the incidence of bract necrosis and stem breakage. These disorders are negatively affected by high K and NH4-N fertilizer due to an antagonistic relationship with Ca. Spraying either CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2 (400mg/l of Ca per week) or a silicon spray (7.12 mM Na2SiO3) and increasing the transpiration rate by reducing the relative humidity can reduce the incidence and severity of bract necrosis. Appropriate variety selection can lessen the risks of leaf drop and BEB. Propagating with thick stemmed cuttings (> 7.5 mm diameter) and carefully watering of plants can also help to prevent stem breakage. The optimum temperature range to achieve expected bract color, size and bud formation during the growth period is 16 to 22oC. Inappropriate light intensity and quality can delay flowering and promote cyathia abscission by decreasing plant carbohydrate status. Ethylene is central to the leaf and cyathia abscission. 1-MCP treatment can be used during short time (2-3 day) transportation to prevent ethylene responses by blocking ethylene receptors. Avoiding rough handling and shortening transportation play an important role in maintaining the quality of harvested poinsettia. The most important pathological problem is Botrytis infection. Low temperatures of 20 to 21oC during cultivation and 10 to 13oC during transport combined with low relative humidity of 60 to 70% RH can reduce infection by Botrytis cinera.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 185-196, August 2015
Yield of three newly developed mustard varieties as affected by irrigation at different growth stages
Authors: Khatun Monira , Biswas Partha , Hasan Md Moudud , Karim Nazmun Nahar , Amin MG Mostofa
Published: September 2015

Efficient use of water is essential for sustainable crop production and achieving food security especially where water is a scarce resource. A study was conducted at a farmers field near Rahmatpur, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during November 2012 February 2013 to study the effect of irrigation on the yield and yield attributes of three newly developed mustard varieties, namely Binasarisha-7 (Brassica juncea L), Binasarisha-8 (Brassica juncea L), and Binasarisha-4 (Brassica napus L). The experimental soil was silty clay with a bulk density of 1.43 g cm-3. There were four irrigation treatments (T1: no irrigation; T2: irrigation at vegetative stage; T3: irrigation at flowering stage; T4: irrigation at vegetative and flowering stage), each replicated three times in a split plot design. Irrigation showed significant effect on the yield attributes of the mustard varieties. The highest yield of 1.43 t ha-1 (46% higher over control) was obtained in treatment T4 of variety Binasarisha-7. The lowest yield of 0.63 t ha-1 was obtained in treatment T1 (control) of variety Binasarisha-4. For producing seed yield Binasarisha-4 was the most responsive to the irrigation treatments (T2T4). In contrast, the yield differences among the stage-wise irrigation treatments (T2T4) were not statistically significant for Binasarisha-8. The highest water use efficiency of 0.48 t ha-1 cm-1 was obtained in treatment T1 and the lowest of 0.28 t ha-1 cm-1 was in treatment T4. For cultivation of the mustard varieties Binasarisha-4, Binasarisha-7 and Binasarisha-8 in this type of climate, irrigation at vegetative and flowering stage may be recommended to produce higher yield.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 197-206, August 2015
A study on fish feed manufacture with its nutritional quality and impacts on fish production
Authors: Sarker Baadruzzoha , Rahman Md Mamunur , Alam Mohammad Nurul
Published: September 2015

This study was conducted to assess the procedure of fish feed production, analysis of nutritive value of feeds and its effect on growth of fish in selected fish farms. Five fish feed mills and fifteen fish farmers were randomly selected from Mymensingh district. Fish feeds were used by fifteen farmers among every three farmers used the feed of each mill. These feed Mills collect their Saudi Bangla and ACME fish feed are more preferable to the farmer due to higher protein and lipid content resulting more fish production. In this experiment, Saudi-Bangla fish feed mill (3843 Kg/ha/yr), Sunny fish feed mill (3761 Kg/ha/yr), Shushama fish feed mill (3581 Kg/ha/yr), Al-momen fish feed mill (3669 Kg/ha/yr), ACME fish feed mill (3796 Kg/ha/yr) was produce fish. Capital cost, operating cost, depreciation cost, total cost, revenue income and net profit were calculated and evaluated during the experimental period. In this study, those feed mills production capacity was 45000 ton/yr Saudi-Bangla fish feed mill, 45000 ton/yr Sunny fish feed mill, 35000 ton/yr Shushomo fish feed mill, 35000 ton/yr Al-momen fish feed mill,15000 ton/yr ACME fish feed mill. The fish production mainly carps and pangus were highly occurs chronologically Saudi-Bangla, ACME fish feed, Sunny fish feed, Al-momen fish feed, Shushama fish feed mill, respectively. Among those the nutritive value of Saudi-Bangla fish feed was the best than other fish feed.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 353-362, August 2015
Socio-economic status of Kuchia catchers at Purbadhala upazila under Netrokona district
Authors: Rahmatullah Rabeya , Sarker Plabon , Rahmatullah Shah Mohammad
Published: September 2015

A study was carried out to observe the present socio-economic status of kuchia catchers at Purbadhala upazila under Netrokona district. Data were collected over a period of five months from May to September 2014 by interviewing kuchia catchers. The study showed that the highest percentage (42.5%) of kuchia catchers belonged to the age group of 21- 25 years and 75% of them were ethnic people. Family consisting of 4-5 members was the highest (47.5%). 48% of the kuchia catchers of the study area were educated up to primary school. Among the selected kuchia catchers, 82.5% depended on village doctors during their health problems and 62% of them were deprived of sanitation facilities. Kuchia catching was the main source of income of the catchers that were interviewed. The highest percentages (70%) of kuchia catchers had monthly income between 10200- 11000 Taka.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 363-368, August 2015
Efficacy of Chicken Litter and Wood Biochars and Their Activated Counterparts in Heavy Metal Clean up from Wastewater
Authors: Lima Isabel , Ro Kyoung , Reddy G. , Boykin Debbie , Klasson Kjell
Published: September 2015

It is known that properties of activated biochars are tightly associated with those of the original feedstock as well as pyrolysis and activation conditions. This study examined two feedstock types, pine wood shavings and chicken litter, to produce biochars at two different pyrolysis temperatures and subsequently activated by steam, acid or base. In order to measure activation efficiency, all materials were characterized for their properties and ability to remediate two well-known heavy metals of concern: copper and arsenic. Base activated biochars were superior in arsenic adsorption, to acid or steam activated samples, but increase in adsorption was not significant to warrant use. For wood biochars, significant increases of surface functionality as related to oxygen bearing groups and surface charge were observed upon acid activation which led to increased copper ion adsorption. However, oxygen bearing functionalities were not sufficient to explain why chicken litter biochars and steam activated biochars appeared to be significantly superior to wood shavings in positively charged metal ion adsorption. For chicken litter, functionality of respective biochars could be related to phosphate containing groups inherited from feedstock composition, favorably positioning this feedstock in metal ion remediation applications.
A Method for Deriving the Boundary Layer Mixing Height from MODIS Atmospheric Profile Data
Authors: Feng Xueliang , Wu Bingfang , Yan Nana
Published: September 2015

The planetary boundary layer is the medium of energy, moisture, momentum and pollutant exchange between the surface and the atmosphere. In this paper, a method to derive the boundary layer mixing height (MH) was introduced and applied over the Heihe river basin. Atmospheric profiles from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Sepctroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard the NASA-Aqua satellite were used for the high spatial resolution of this method. A gap-filling method was used to replace missing MODIS data. In situ MH data were also calculated from HIWATER (Heihe Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research) and WATER (Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research) observational radiosonde sounding data from 2008 and 2012 using the Richardson number method combined with a subjective method. The MH occurs where there is an abrupt decrease in the MR (water vapor mixing ratio). The minimum vertical gradient of the MR is used to determine the MH. The method has an average RMSE of 370 m under clear skies and convective conditions. The seasonal variation in the MH at the Gaoya radiosonde station is also presented. The study demonstrates that remote sensing methodologies can successfully estimate the MH without the help of field measurements.
Assessing the Influence of the Multisensory Atmosphere on the Taste of Vodka
Authors: Wang Qian , Spence Charles
Published: September 2015

A preliminary study designed to assess the impact of the multisensory atmosphere (involving variations in lighting and music) on people’s rating of unflavoured and flavoured (citron and raspberry) vodkas is reported. The auditory and visual attributes of the environment were changed as people tasted, and then rated, four unlabelled glasses of vodka (two unflavoured samples, one sample of citron-flavoured and one sample of raspberry-flavoured vodka). Due to the public nature of the event, all participants experienced the same order of auditory and visual changes at the same time. For flavoured vodkas, we saw significant correlations between atmosphere-vodka matching and both liking and fruitiness, and this was reinforced by results showing that those participants who tasted the vodkas in congruent atmospheric conditions (raspberry vodka in red lighting and sweet music, citron vodka in green lighting and sour music) gave significantly higher ratings of liking and fruitiness than did those participants who tasted the vodkas in atmospheric conditions that were incongruent. Specifically, the participants liked the raspberry-flavoured vodka significantly more, and rated it as tasting significantly fruitier, under red lighting while listening to sweet music as compared to under green lighting and listening to sour music. Meanwhile, the unflavoured vodka was liked less under green lighting while listening to the putatively sour music than under white lighting and no music. These results demonstrate how the multisensory attributes of the environment impact on people’s experience of both unflavoured and flavoured vodkas, even when they are not given any information about what they are tasting. Some of the real-world implications for bars (i.e., the “on trade”), experiential events, and other beverage businesses are discussed.
cAMP-Inhibits Cytoplasmic Phospholipase A2 and Protects Neurons against Amyloid-β-Induced Synapse Damage
Authors: Bate Clive , Williams Alun
Published: September 2015

A key event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the production of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and the loss of synapses. In cultured neurons Aβ triggered synapse damage as measured by the loss of synaptic proteins. α-synuclein (αSN), aggregates of which accumulate in Parkinson’s disease, also caused synapse damage. Synapse damage was associated with activation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), an enzyme that regulates synapse function and structure, and the production of prostaglandin (PG) E2. In synaptosomes PGE2 increased concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which suppressed the activation of cPLA2 demonstrating an inhibitory feedback system. Thus, Aβ/αSN-induced activated cPLA2 produces PGE2 which increases cAMP which in turn suppresses cPLA2 and, hence, its own production. Neurons pre-treated with pentoxifylline and caffeine (broad spectrum phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors) or the PDE4 specific inhibitor rolipram significantly increased the Aβ/αSN-induced increase in cAMP and consequently protected neurons against synapse damage. The addition of cAMP analogues also inhibited cPLA2 and protected neurons against synapse damage. These results suggest that drugs that inhibit Aβ-induced activation of cPLA2 and cross the blood–brain barrier may reduce synapse damage in AD.
Reducing Carbon Emissions from Shopping Trips: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Pingyu , Lo Kevin , Guo Meng , Wang Mark
Published: September 2015

With rising income and the emergence of modern shopping centers in urban China, shopping trips by private car becomes more and more common, leading to higher carbon emissions in the transport sector. Encouraging car owners to shift transport mode from private car to public transport could achieve significant emissions reductions. This study estimate carbon emissions savings by shifting from private cars to public transport for shopping trips in urban China, using Shenyang, one of the largest cities in China, as a case study. Our results show that the average carbon emissions per shopper is 426.9 g, and the carbon emissions on weekends is 13% higher than weekdays. Moreover, shoppers travelling by private car emitted five times more carbon emission than those by public transport. We also found that car ownership gradually increased as accessibility to public transport decreased, and that more car owners chose to travel by private cars than public transport in areas with limited access. This study, thus, highlights the potential for high-quality public transport to reduce the transport sector’s carbon emissions in urban China.
Online Energy Management of City Cars with Multi-Objective Linear Parameter-Varying L2-Gain Control
Authors: Hong Boe-Shong , Wu Mei-Hung
Published: September 2015

This work aims at online regulating transient current out of the batteries of small-sized electric cars that transport people and goods around cities. In a city with heavy traffic, transient current dominates the energy economy and propulsion capability, which are in opposition to each other. In order to manage the trade-off between energy consumption per distance and propulsion capability in transience, the authors improve on previous work on multi-objective linear parameter-varying (LPV) L2-gain control. The observer embedded into this multi-objective controller no longer assumes Kalman-filtering structure, and structural conservatism is thus removed. A full-spectrum set of experiments is performed. The results reveal that the feedback design significantly improves energy-motion management.
The Continuing and Growing Epidemic of Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Gatchel Robert
Published: September 2015

Because of the great prevalence of chronic pain, it is not surprising that there have been a number of influential reports by the Institute of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization that have documented the medical, social and economic problems caused by it, and the need for better pain-management programs. The present article briefly reviews these reports, and then focuses on three important areas that need to be considered when addressing the continuing and growing epidemic of one of the most prevalent types of chronic pain [chronic low back pain (CLBP)]: the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain; the paradigm shift in medicine from a disease model to an illness model of CLBP; and a review of the treatment- and cost-effectiveness of interdisciplinary chronic pain management programs. This overview will serve as an important prelude to other topics related to low back pain included in this Special Issue of Healthcare. Topics covered will range from assessment and treatment approaches, to important psychosocial mediators/moderators such as coping and pain beliefs.
RETRACTED: An Epidemiological Study of Risk Factors of Thyroid Nodule and Goiter in Chinese Women
Authors: Zheng Lei , Yan Wenhua , Kong Yue , Liang Ping , Mu Yiming
Published: September 2015

Thyroid nodule (TN) and goiter are two common disorders of the thyroid. Despite their benign nature, both conditions can be associated with multiple pathologic conditions including thyroid cancer. In this study, we conducted a large-scale epidemiological study in Chinese women to identify the risk factors implicated in the occurrence of TN and goiter. We analyzed demographic data, lifestyle, medical history, body height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum glucose and lipids. In addition, thyroid ultrasonography was performed for all subjects. Our results showed that age, menopause, waist circumference, BMI, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia were associated with both TN and goiter. Furthermore, we found that the prevalence of TN was significantly affected by the medical management of hypertension. Our study suggests that postmenopausal Chinese women with advanced age, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension have an increased awareness of thyroid examination in the annual physical check. Conversely, patients with TN and goiter of the same population may have a higher incidence of age- and obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Spatial Analysis as a Transformative Technology for Decision-Making in Environmental Domains
Authors: See Linda
Published: September 2015

Mankind is faced with many ongoing environmental challenges including climate change, losses in biodiversity, deforestation, increased soil erosion, and air and water pollution, to name but a few. [...]
Physcomitrella patens Activates Defense Responses against the Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Authors: Reboledo Guillermo , Del Campo Raquel , Alvarez Alfonso , Montesano Marcos , Mara Héctor , Ponce de León Inés
Published: September 2015

The moss Physcomitrella patens is a suitable model plant to analyze the activation of defense mechanisms after pathogen assault. In this study, we show that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolated from symptomatic citrus fruit infects P. patens and cause disease symptoms evidenced by browning and maceration of tissues. After C. gloeosporioides infection, P. patens reinforces the cell wall by the incorporation of phenolic compounds and induces the expression of a Dirigent-protein-like encoding gene that could lead to the formation of lignin-like polymers. C. gloeosporioides-inoculated protonemal cells show cytoplasmic collapse, browning of chloroplasts and modifications of the cell wall. Chloroplasts relocate in cells of infected tissues toward the initially infected C. gloeosporioides cells. P. patens also induces the expression of the defense genes PAL and CHS after fungal colonization. P. patens reporter lines harboring the auxin-inducible promoter from soybean (GmGH3) fused to β-glucuronidase revealed an auxin response in protonemal tissues, cauloids and leaves of C. gloeosporioides-infected moss tissues, indicating the activation of auxin signaling. Thus, P. patens is an interesting plant to gain insight into defense mechanisms that have evolved in primitive land plants to cope with microbial pathogens.
Association of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) Gene Polymorphisms and of Serum NAMPT Levels with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Chinese Population
Authors: Dou Qingyu , Peng Ying , Zhou Bin , Zhang Kui , Lin Jing , Dai Xiaohui , Zhang Lin , Rao Li
Published: September 2015

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has crucial roles for myocardial development, cardiomyocyte energy metabolism and cell death/survival by regulating NAD+-dependent sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) deacetylase. This study aimed to determine if the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NAMPT gene may affect the susceptibility and prognosis for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to describe the association of serum NAMPT levels with clinical features of DCM. Three SNPs (rs61330082, rs2505568, and rs9034) were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in a case-control study of 394 DCM patients and 395 controls from China. Serum NAMPT levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The homozygote for the minor allele at rs2505568 and rs9034 could not be detected in this study. Rs9034 T allele and CT genotype were associated with increased DCM risk (OR: 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16–2.27, p = 0.005 and OR: 1.72, 95% CI = 1.20–2.50, p = 0.0027, respectively). Nominally significant decreased DCM risk was found to be associated with the A allele and AT genotype of rs2505568 (OR: 0.48, 95% CI = 0.35–0.67, p < 0.0001 and OR: 0.44, 95% CI = 0.31–0.62, p < 0.0001, respectively), but it should be interpreted with caution because of Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in the control group. Of five haplotypes constructed, TAC (rs61330082-rs2505568-rs9034) was a protective haplotype to DCM (OR: 0.22, 95% CI = 0.13–0.39, p = 1.84 × 10−8). The Cox multivariate survival analysis indicated that the rs9034 CT genotype (hazard ratio (HR): 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37–0.96, p = 0.03) was an independently multivariate predictor for longer overall survival in DCM patients. Serum NAMPT levels were significantly higher in the DCM group than controls (p < 0.0001) and gradually increased with the increase of New York Heart Association grade in DCM patients. However, there was a lack of association of the three SNPs with serum NAMPT levels. Spearman correlation test revealed that the NAMPT level was positively associated with brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.56, p = 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.293, p = 0.011) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = 0.294, p = 0.011). Our study suggested that NAMPT may play an important role in the development of DCM.
Digital Microfluidics for Manipulation and Analysis of a Single Cell
Authors: He Jie-Long , Chen An-Te , Lee Jyong-Huei , Fan Shih-Kang
Published: September 2015

The basic structural and functional unit of a living organism is a single cell. To understand the variability and to improve the biomedical requirement of a single cell, its analysis has become a key technique in biological and biomedical research. With a physical boundary of microchannels and microstructures, single cells are efficiently captured and analyzed, whereas electric forces sort and position single cells. Various microfluidic techniques have been exploited to manipulate single cells through hydrodynamic and electric forces. Digital microfluidics (DMF), the manipulation of individual droplets holding minute reagents and cells of interest by electric forces, has received more attention recently. Because of ease of fabrication, compactness and prospective automation, DMF has become a powerful approach for biological application. We review recent developments of various microfluidic chips for analysis of a single cell and for efficient genetic screening. In addition, perspectives to develop analysis of single cells based on DMF and emerging functionality with high throughput are discussed.
Gardenamide A Protects RGC-5 Cells from H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Insults by Activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Rikang , Peng Lizhi , Zhao Jiaqiang , Zhang Laitao , Guo Cuiping , Zheng Wenhua , Chen Heru
Published: September 2015

Gardenamide A (GA) protects the rat retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells against cell apoptosis induced by H2O2. The protective effect of GA was completely abrogated by the specific phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, and the specific protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor Akt VIII respectively, indicating that the protective mechanism of GA is mediated by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The specific extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 could not block the neuroprotection of GA. GA attenuated the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by H2O2. Western blotting showed that GA promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), respectively, and effectively reversed the H2O2-inhibited phosphorylation of these three proteins. LY294002 completely inhibited the GA-activated phosphorylation of Akt, while only partially inhibiting eNOS. This evidence implies that eNOS may be activated directly by GA. PD98059 attenuated only partially the GA-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 with/without the presence of H2O2, indicating that GA may activate ERK1/2 directly. All these results put together confirm that GA protects RGC-5 cells from H2O2 insults via the activation of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway. Whether the ERK1/2 signaling pathway is involved requires further investigations.
Neuroprotective Strategies after Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Dixon Brandon , Reis Cesar , Ho Wing , Tang Jiping , Zhang John
Published: September 2015

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating disease that primarily causes neuronal and white matter injury and is among the leading cause of death among infants. Currently there are no well-established treatments; thus, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and elucidate complications that are creating a gap between basic science and clinical translation. In the development of neuroprotective strategies and translation of experimental results in HIE, there are many limitations and challenges to master based on an appropriate study design, drug delivery properties, dosage, and use in neonates. We will identify understudied targets after HIE, as well as neuroprotective molecules that bring hope to future treatments such as melatonin, topiramate, xenon, interferon-beta, stem cell transplantation. This review will also discuss some of the most recent trials being conducted in the clinical setting and evaluate what directions are needed in the future.
K88 Fimbrial Adhesin Targeting of Microspheres Containing Gentamicin Made with Albumin Glycated with Lactose
Authors: Sarabia-Sainz Andre-i , Sarabia-Sainz Hector , Montfort Gabriela , Mata-Haro Veronica , Guzman-Partida Ana , Guzman Roberto , Garcia-Soto Mariano , Vazquez-Moreno Luz
Published: September 2015

The formulation and characterization of gentamicin-loaded microspheres as a delivery system targeting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88) was investigated. Glycated albumin with lactose (BSA-glucose-β (4-1) galactose) was used as the microsphere matrix (MS-Lac) and gentamicin included as the transported antibiotic. The proposed target strategy was that exposed galactoses of MS-Lac could be specifically recognized by E. coli K88 adhesins, and the delivery of gentamicin would inhibit bacterial growth. Lactosylated microspheres (MS-Lac1, MS-Lac2 and MS-Lac3) were obtained using a water-in-oil emulsion, containing gentamicin, followed by crosslinking with different concentrations of glutaraldehyde. Electron microscopy displayed spherical particles with a mean size of 10–17 µm. In vitro release of gentamicin from MS-Lac was best fitted to a first order model, and the antibacterial activity of encapsulated and free gentamicin was comparable. MS-Lac treatments were recognized by plant galactose-specific lectins from Ricinus communis and Sophora japonica and by E. coli K88 adhesins. Results indicate MS-Lac1, produced with 4.2 mg/mL of crosslinker, as the best treatment and that lactosylated microsphere are promising platforms to obtain an active, targeted system against E. coli K88 infections.
Analysis of MicroRNA Expression Profiles in Weaned Pig Skeletal Muscle after Lipopolysaccharide Challenge
Authors: Zhang Jing , Fu Shu-Lin , Liu Yan , Liu Yu-Lan , Wang Wen-Jun
Published: September 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a class of non-coding RNAs that play a crucial regulatory role in skeletal muscle development and disease. Several acute inflammation conditions including sepsis and cancer are characterized by a loss of skeletal muscle due primarily to excessive muscle catabolism. As a well-known inducer of acute inflammation, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge can cause serious skeletal muscle wasting. However, knowledge of the role of miRNAs in the course of inflammatory muscle catabolism is still very limited. In this study, RNA extracted from the skeletal muscle of pigs injected with LPS or saline was subjected to small RNA deep sequencing. We identified 304 conserved and 114 novel candidate miRNAs in the pig. Of these, four were significantly increased in the LPS-challenged samples and five were decreased. The expression of five miRNAs (ssc-miR-146a-5p, ssc-miR-221-5p, ssc-miR-148b-3p, ssc-miR-215 and ssc-miR-192) were selected for validation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which found that ssc-miR-146a-5p and ssc-miR-221-5p were significantly upregulated in LPS-challenged pig skeletal muscle. Moreover, we treated mouse C2C12 myotubes with 1000 ng/mL LPS as an acute inflammation cell model. Expression of TNF-α, IL-6, muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) and muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) mRNA was strongly induced by LPS. Importantly, miR-146a-5p and miR-221-5p also showed markedly increased expression in LPS-treated C2C12 myotubes, suggesting the two miRNAs may be involved in muscle catabolism systems in response to acute inflammation caused by a LPS challenge. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine miRNA expression profiles in weaned pig skeletal muscle challenged with LPS, and furthers our understanding of miRNA function in the regulation of inflammatory muscle catabolism.
Isolation of Endogenously Assembled RNA-Protein Complexes Using Affinity Purification Based on Streptavidin Aptamer S1
Authors: Dong Yangchao , Yang Jing , Ye Wei , Wang Yuan , Ye Chuantao , Weng Daihui , Gao Huan , Zhang Fanglin , Xu Zhikai , Lei Yingfeng
Published: September 2015

Efficient isolation of endogenously assembled viral RNA-protein complexes is essential for understanding virus replication mechanisms. We have developed an affinity purification strategy based on an RNA affinity tag that allows large-scale preparation of native viral RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The streptavidin-binding aptamer S1 sequence was inserted into the 3′ end of dengue virus (DENV) 5′–3′ UTR RNA, and the DENV RNA UTR fused to the S1 RNA aptamer was expressed in living mammalian cells. This allowed endogenous viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assembly and isolation of RNPs from whole cell extract, through binding the S1 aptamer to streptavidin magnetic beads. Several novel host DENV RBPs were subsequently identified by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), including RPS8, which we further implicate in DENV replication. We proposed efficient S1 aptamer-based isolation of viral assembled RNPs from living mammalian cells will be generally applicable to the purification of high- and low-affinity RBPs and RNPs under endogenous conditions.
Coupled Wave Energy and Erosion Dynamics along a Salt Marsh Boundary, Hog Island Bay, Virginia, USA
Authors: Priestas Anthony , Mariotti Giulio , Leonardi Nicoletta , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: September 2015

The relationship between lateral erosion of salt marshes and wind waves is studied in Hog Island Bay, Virginia USA, with high-resolution field measurements and aerial photographs. Marsh retreat is compared to wave climate calculated in the bay using the spectral wave-model Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN). We confirm the existence of a linear relationship between long-term salt marsh erosion and wave energy, and show that wave power can serve as a good proxy for average salt-marsh erosion rates. At each site, erosion rates are consistent across several temporal scales, ranging from months to decades, and are strongly related to wave power. On the contrary, erosion rates vary in space and weakly depend on the spatial distribution of wave energy. We ascribe this variability to spatial variations in geotechnical, biological, and morphological marsh attributes. Our detailed field measurements indicate that at a small spatial scale (tens of meters), a positive feedback between salt marsh geometry and wave action causes erosion rates to increase with boundary sinuosity. However, at the scale of the entire marsh boundary (hundreds of meters), this relationship is reversed: those sites that are more rapidly eroding have a marsh boundary which is significantly smoother than the marsh boundary of sheltered and slowly eroding marshes.
Polysaccharide Constituents of Three Types of Sea Urchin Shells and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities
Authors: Jiao Heng , Shang Xiaohui , Dong Qi , Wang Shuang , Liu Xiaoyu , Zheng Heng , Lu Xiaoling
Published: September 2015

As a source of potent anti-inflammatory traditional medicines, the quantitative chromatographic fingerprints of sea urchin shell polysaccharides were well established via pre-column derivatization high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Based on the quantitative results, the content of fucose and glucose could be used as preliminary distinguishing indicators among three sea urchin shell species. Besides, the anti-inflammatory activities of the polysaccharides from sea urchin shells and their gonads were also determined. The gonad polysaccharide of Anthocidaris crassispina showed the most potent anti-inflammatory activity among all samples tested.
Physical Stability Studies of Semi-Solid Formulations from Natural Compounds Loaded with Chitosan Microspheres
Authors: Acosta Niuris , Sánchez Elisa , Calderón Laura , Cordoba-Diaz Manuel , Cordoba-Diaz Damián , Dom Senne , Heras Ángeles
Published: September 2015

A chitosan-based hydrophilic system containing an olive leaf extract was designed and its antioxidant capacity was evaluated. Encapsulation of olive leaf extract in chitosan microspheres was carried out by a spray-drying process. The particles obtained with this technique were found to be spherical and had a positive surface charge, which is an indicator of mucoadhesiveness. FTIR and X-ray diffraction results showed that there are not specific interactions of polyphenolic compounds in olive leaf extract with the chitosan matrix. Stability and release studies of chitosan microspheres loaded with olive leaf extract before and after the incorporation into a moisturizer base were performed. The resulting data showed that the developed formulations were stable up to three months. The encapsulation efficiency was around 44% and the release properties of polyphenols from the microspheres were found to be pH dependent. At pH 7.4, polyphenols release was complete after 6 h; whereas the amount of polyphenols released was 40% after the same time at pH 5.5.
Effect of Post Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Microhardness of Friction Stir Processed NiAl Bronze (NAB) Alloy
Authors: Lv Yuting , Wang Liqiang , Xu Xiaoyan , Lu Weijie
Published: September 2015

NiAl bronze (NAB) alloy is prepared by using friction stir processing (FSP) technique at a tool rotation rate of 1200 rpm and a traverse speed of 150 mm/min. A post heat treatment is performed at the temperature of 675 °C. The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and microhardness is studied. The results show that the microstructure of the FSP NAB alloy consists of high density dislocations, retained β phase (β′ phase) and recrystallized grains. When annealed at 675 °C, discontinuous static recrystallization (DSRX) takes place. The content of β′ phase gradually decreases and fine κ phase is precipitated. After annealing for 2 h, both the microhardness of the FSP sample in the stir zone (SZ) and the difference in hardness between the SZ and base metal decrease due to the reduction of the dislocation density and β′ phase, accompanying recrystallized grain coarsening. With further increasing of the annealing time to 4 h, the aforementioned difference in hardness nearly disappears.
Optimized Extraction of Polysaccharides from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada and Biological Activities
Authors: Ye Danyan , Jiang Zebin , Zheng Fuchun , Wang Hongmei , Zhang Yanmei , Gao Fenfei , Chen Peihong , Chen Yicun , Shi Ganggang
Published: September 2015

Polysaccharides from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada (GL) were extracted by a heating circumfluence method. Single-factor experiments were performed for the three parameters: extraction time (X1), extraction temperature (X2) and the ratio of water to raw material (X3) and their test range. From preliminary experimental results, one type of the response surface methodology, the Box-Behnken design was applied for the optimizing polysaccharide extraction conditions. The experimental data obtained were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation. The optimal conditions were extraction time 5 h, extraction temperature 100 °C and ratio of water to raw material 70 mL/g. Under these conditions, the experimental yield was 39.22% ± 0.09%, which well matched the predicted value (39.25%), with 0.9774 coefficient of determination (R2). GL polysaccharides had scavenging activities for DPPH and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. The scavenging rates for both radicals peaked at 20 mg/mL GL concentration. However, the positive standard, VC (ascorbic acid), possessed stronger antioxidant activities than GL polysaccharides. Furthermore, the anticancer activity of GL polysaccharides on HepG2 cell proliferation increased dose- and time-dependently, but the positive standard, 5-fluorouracil (5-fu) showed more significant anticancer activity in this study. Overall, GL polysaccharides may have potential applications in the medical and food industries.
Isolation and Functional Characterization of a Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene (SsPAL1) from Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd)
Authors: Zhu Qinlong , Xie Xianrong , Lin Haoxiang , Sui Shunzhao , Shen Rongxin , Yang Zhongfang , Lu Kun , Li Mingyang , Liu Yao-Guang
Published: September 2015

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway and plays important roles in the secondary metabolisms, development and defense of plants. To study the molecular function of PAL in anthocyanin synthesis of Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd), a Coleus PAL gene designated as SsPAL1 was cloned and characterized using a degenerate oligonucleotide primer PCR and RACE method. The full-length SsPAL1 was 2450 bp in size and consisted of one intron and two exons encoding a polypeptide of 711 amino acids. The deduced SsPAL1 protein showed high identities and structural similarities with other functional plant PAL proteins. A series of putative cis-acting elements involved in transcriptional regulation, light and stress responsiveness were found in the upstream regulatory sequence of SsPAL1. Transcription pattern analysis indicated that SsPAL1 was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined and was enhanced by light and different abiotic factors. The recombinant SsPAL1 protein exhibited high PAL activity, at optimal conditions of 60 °C and pH 8.2. Although the levels of total PAL activity and total anthocyanin concentration have a similar variation trend in different Coleus cultivars, there was no significant correlation between them (r = 0.7529, p > 0.1), suggesting that PAL was not the rate-limiting enzyme for the downstream anthocyanin biosynthetic branch in Coleus. This study enables us to further understand the role of SsPAL1 in the phenylpropanoid (flavonoids, anthocyanins) biosynthesis in Coleus at the molecular level.