bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurofascin-155 IgM autoantibodies in patients with inflammatory neuropathies
Authors: Doppler Kathrin , Stengel Helena , Appeltshauser Luise , Grosskreutz Julian , Man Ng Judy King , Meinl Edgar , Sommer Claudia
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Recently, IgG autoantibodies against different paranodal proteins have been detected and this has led to important advances in the management of inflammatory neuropathies. In contrast, not much is known on IgM autoantibodies against paranodal proteins.

Methods

In the present study, we screened a large cohort of patients (n=140) with inflammatory neuropathies for IgM autoantibodies against neurofascin-155, neurofascin-186 or contactin-1.

Results

IgM autoantibodies against neurofascin-155 were detected by ELISA in five patients, four with inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and one with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and were confirmed by ELISA-based preabsorption experiments and Western blot. Titres ranged from 1:100 to 1:400. We did not detect IgM anti-neurofascin-186 or anti-contactin-1 antibodies in this cohort. All patients presented with distally accentuated tetraparesis and hypesthesia. Remarkably, tremor was present in three of the patients with CIDP and occurred in the patients with GBS after the acute phase of disease. Nerve conduction studies revealed prolonged distal motor latencies and F wave latencies. Nerve biopsies showed signs of secondary axonal damage in three of the patients, demyelinating features in one patient. Teased fibre preparations did not demonstrate paranodal damage.

Conclusion

In summary, IgM neurofascin-155 autoantibodies may be worth testing in patients with inflammatory neuropathies. Their pathogenic role needs to be determined in future experiments.
Assessment of transport stress on cattle travelling a long distance (≈648 km), from Jessore (Indian border) to Chittagong, Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Mahabub , Hasanuzzaman Md , Hassan Mohammad Mahmudul , Rakib Tofazzal Md , Hossain Md Emran , Rashid Md Harun , Sayeed Md Abu , Philips Lindsay B , Hoque Md Ahasanul
Published: June 2018

The effect of long‐distance transport on cattle health has not frequently been studied in Bangladesh. The current study investigated the health conditions, and the extent and pattern of cattle injuries, along with haemato‐biochemical and hormonal changes, before and after long‐distance transportation (≈648 km) from the market of origin to the market of destination. A total of 100 adult cattle were selected at the Benapole live cattle market, Bangladesh, for physical examination before and after transportation. Fifty of these cattle were randomly selected for additional haemato‐biochemical evaluation just before the start of transportation (0 hour), immediately after arrival at the destination market (13.8±0.9 hours after the start of transportation) and 24 hours after arrival at the destination market. The external health conditions and injuries were assessed. Animals were fasting in the vehicle during transportation and provided only with paddy straw and water before sale at the destination market. Before and after transportation, the overall frequency of cattle injuries varied significantly (26 per cent before v 47 per cent after transportation; P<0.001). Cattle health conditions diverged significantly (such as nasal discharge: 15 per cent v 28 per cent; P=0.03). The values of haemoglobin (P=0.01), total erythrocyte count (P=0.001), total leucocyte count (P<0.001), lymphocyte (P=0.005), neutrophil (P=0.01) and eosinophil (P=0.01) varied significantly. The values of serum total protein (P=0.006), creatine kinase (P<0.001), triglyceride (P=0.04), calcium (P=0.003), phosphorus (P<0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (P=0.04) significantly differed. The overall findings indicate a high degree of transport stress and poor animal welfare.
Manifestly covariant canonical quantization of the scalar field and particle localization
Authors: Pavšič Matej
Published: June 2018

Particle localization within quantum field theory is revisited. Canonical quantization of a free scalar field theory is performed in a manifestly Lorentz covariant way with respect to an arbitrary 3-surface [Formula: see text], which is the simultaneity surface associated with the observer, whose proper time direction is orthogonal to [Formula: see text]. Position on [Formula: see text] is determined by a 4-vector [Formula: see text]. The corresponding quantum position operator, formed in terms of the operators [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], that create/annihilate particles on [Formula: see text], has thus well-behaved properties under Lorentz transformations. A generic state is a superposition of the states, created with [Formula: see text], the superposition coefficients forming multiparticle wave packet profiles — wave functions, including a single-particle wave function that satisfies the covariant generalization of the Foldy equation. The covariant center-of-mass operator is introduced and its expectation values in a generic multiparticle state calculated.
Thermal corrections to the Casimir energy in a Lorentz-breaking scalar field theory
Authors: Cruz M. B. , Bezerra de Mello E. R. , Petrov A. Yu.
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we investigate the thermal effect on the Casimir energy associated with a massive scalar quantum field confined between two large parallel plates in a CPT-even, aether-like Lorentz-breaking scalar field theory. In order to do that, we consider a nonzero chemical potential for the scalar field assumed to be in thermal equilibrium at some finite temperature. The calculations of the energies are developed by using the Abel–Plana summation formula, and the corresponding results are analyzed in several asymptotic regimes of the parameters of the system, like mass, separations between the plates and temperature.
Complexity of term representations of finitary functions
Authors: Aichinger Erhard , Mudrinski Nebojša , Opršal Jakub
Published: June 2018

The clone of term operations of an algebraic structure consists of all operations that can be expressed by a term in the language of the structure. We consider bounds for the length and the height of the terms expressing these functions, and we show that these bounds are often robust against the change of the basic operations of the structure.
The nilpotence degree of quantum Lie nilpotent algebras
Authors: Kireeva Elena , Shchigolev Vladimir
Published: June 2018

We consider the quantum analog of the Lie commutator [Formula: see text] for an invertible element [Formula: see text] of the ground field and prove lower and upper bounds for the nilpotence degree of an associative algebra satisfying an identity of the form [Formula: see text].
SHORTFALL RISK MINIMIZATION UNDER FIXED TRANSACTION COSTS
Authors: NAYMAN NIV
Published: June 2018

In this work, we deal with market frictions which are given by fixed transaction costs independent of the volume of the trade. The main question that we study is the minimization of shortfall risk in the Black–Scholes (BS) model under constraints on the initial capital. This problem does not have an analytical solution and so numerical schemes come into the picture. The Cox–Ross–Rubinstein (CRR) binomial models are an efficient tool for approximating the BS model. In this paper, we study in detail the CRR models with fixed transaction costs. In particular, we construct an augmented state-action space forming a Markov decision process (MDP) and provide a proof for the existence of optimal control/policy. We further suggest a dynamic programming algorithm for calculating the optimal hedging strategy and its corresponding shortfall risk. In the absence of transaction costs, there is an analytical solution in both CRR and BS models, and so we use them for testing our algorithm and its convergence. Moreover, we point out various insights provided by our numerical results, for example, regarding the change in the investor’s activity in the presence of friction.
Integral circulant graphs with four distinct eigenvalues
Authors: Tamizh Chelvam T. , Raja S.
Published: June 2018

Let [Formula: see text], the finite cyclic group of order [Formula: see text]. Assume that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The circulant graph [Formula: see text] is the undirected graph having the vertex set [Formula: see text] and edge set [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a set of positive, proper divisors of the integer [Formula: see text]. In this paper, by using [Formula: see text] we characterize certain connected integral circulant graphs with four distinct eigenvalues.
The Kth TSP is pseudopolynomial when TSP is polynomial
Authors: Chaourar Brahim
Published: June 2018

Given an undirected graph [Formula: see text] with a weight function [Formula: see text], and a positive integer [Formula: see text], the Kth Traveling Salesman Problem (Kth TSP) is to find [Formula: see text] Hamilton cycles [Formula: see text] such that, for any Hamilton cycle [Formula: see text], we have [Formula: see text]. This problem is NP-hard even for [Formula: see text] fixed. We prove that Kth TSP is pseudopolynomial when TSP is polynomial.
Interface networks in models of competing species
Authors: Pereira T. A. , Menezes J. , Losano L.
Published: June 2018

We study a subclass of the May–Leonard stochastic model with an arbitrary, even number of species, leading to the rise of two competing partnerships where individuals are indistinguishable. By carrying out a series of accurate numerical stochastic simulations, we show that alliances compete each other forming spatial domains bounded by interfaces of empty sites. We solve numerically the mean field equations associated with the stochastic model in one and two spatial dimensions. We demonstrate that the stationary interface profile presents topological properties which are related to the asymptotic spatial distribution of species of enemy alliances far away from the interface core. Finally, we introduce a theoretical approach to model the formation of stable interfaces using spontaneous breaking of a discrete symmetry. We show that all the results provided by the soliton topological model, presented here for the very first time, are in agreement with the stochastic simulations and may be used as a tool for understanding the complex biodiversity in nature.
Probabilistic approach to measuring early-warning signals of systemic contagion risk
Authors: Hui Cho-Hoi , Lo Chi-Fai , Zheng Xiao-Fen , Fong Tom
Published: June 2018

This paper proposes a model based on probability density functions associated with dynamics of underlying asset prices to measure contagion-induced systemic risk in the market. The two new risk measures with closed-form formulas derived from the model are (1) the rate of change of the probability of triggering a shock determined by the joint dynamics of prices of systemically important assets/entities and less important ones and (2) the distress correlation between the two types of assets/entities, which can provide forward-looking signals of such risk. The model is applied to the euro-area sovereign debt crisis and demonstrates how systemic liquidity shocks can build up in the sovereign debt market due to contagion between sovereign risk of small countries (i.e., Portugal) and systemically important countries (i.e., Italy and Spain). A signal of the rate of change of the joint probability appeared in April 2011 before the systemic liquidity shock occurred in November 2011. There exist endogenous critical levels of sovereign spreads, above which the signal materializes.
Financial management and forecasting using business intelligence and big data analytic tools
Authors: Mishra Shrutika
Published: June 2018

This paper discusses about the latest and efficient financial tools and techniques which optimize the financial cost of the organization and predict the financial situation of the organization to flourish the business in the efficient way. Financial management basically means to accumulate funding for the enterprise at a low cost and to expend this collected funding for earning extreme profits. Thus, financial management means to plan and control the finance of the company. Financial management is usually concerned with the flow and control of money within an organization and be it either reserved or open sector. So, these tools if functional in the better way then business will reach in the utmost altitude. Recently some computational tools have been developed by the computer scientist for the efficient management and prediction for the business which is very useful for forecast and prediction in the era of digital world. The intention of this paper is to review and discuss the most significant applications of Business Intelligence in financial management and forecasting and prediction domain as well as point to new technology trends that will affect financial development.
Optimal leverage ratio estimate of various models for leveraged ETFs to exceed a target: Probability estimates of large deviations
Authors: Yao Nian
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we study the deviation probability estimate for a leveraged exchanged-traded fund (LETF). By large deviation principle, we derive explicitly the logarithmic limit of the tail probability when the price of a LETF exceeds a given reference asset, which allows us to compute the underlying leverage ratio. Then we apply our results to various existing models, including the geometric Brownian motion (GBM) model, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, inverse GARCH model, extended Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) model, 3/2 model, as well as the Heston and 3/2 stochastic volatility models, and to present their corresponding optimal leverage ratios, respectively.
The trace fossil
Zoophycos
Massalongo in the Carboniferous (Mississippian) of Alnmouth, Northumberland
Authors: Donovan Stephen K.
Published: June 2018

The Mississippian strata of England and Wales, mainly limestones, are rich in body fossils, but deficient in trace fossils. Herein, a coastal locality rich in the spiral burrow
Zoophycos
isp. is described from Alnmouth, Northumberland. Although originally reported in 1930, this site and its trace fossils are only illustrated and described in detail for the first time herein. The locality is in the Lower Foxton Limestone, Stainmore Formation, Yoredale Group; Arnsbergian substage, Namurian stage, Mississippian.
Zoophycos
isp. are common on two bedding planes, the lower of which exposes
c
. 460 m
2
. Traces are flat, plume-like and preserved in negative epirelief. Spreiten are fine to coarse and outline of the burrow varies from circular to more rectangular. Specimens are numerous, but water-worn and poorly preserved. The Lower Foxton Limestone was likely deposited in a shallow water setting. Trace fossils in Mississippian limestones remain problematic, but this is most probably due to a combination of taphonomic, palaeoenvironmental and collector bias, or a mixture of all three. That is, what is difficult to collect fails to find its way into collections, survey, university, museum or private, and, ultimately, into print. They are there, but they offer many problems for the collector.
Circulating extracellular vesicles are associated with lipid and insulin metabolism
Authors: Kobayashi Yoshinao , Eguchi Akiko , Tempaku Mina , Honda Tatsuro , Togashi Kenji , Iwasa Motoh , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Takei Yoshiyuki , Sumida Yasuhiro , Taguchi Osamu
Published: June 2018

We have reported that hypertrophic adipocytes release extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the number of circulating adipocyte-derived EVs correlated with insulin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in a pilot study using obese patients. Here, we explored the association between circulating EV level and various metabolic parameters, including obesity and lipid and glucose metabolisms, among 203 subjects (76 men and 127 women; median age, 54 yr) with or without risk factor for metabolic diseases, who received a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Circulating EV number was significantly higher in men than in women ( P < 0.001). Circulating EV number in individuals with impaired OGTT pattern was significantly higher compared with those with normal OGTT patterns ( P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that circulating EV number correlated most strongly and significantly with elevated triglyceride (TG; t = 8.55, P < 0.001). Additionally, circulating EV number correlated significantly with homeostasis model assessment-β-cell function (HOMA-β; t = 2.38, P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that the cutoff value of EV numbers in individuals with elevated serum TG levels (≧150 mg/dl) was identified (136,738 EVs/μl of plasma, P < 0.001, sensitivity 0.842, false-positive rate of 0.257). Perilipin and asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 were detected on a part of isolated circulating EVs, indicating EV release from adipocytes and hepatocytes, which were related to lipid and glucose metabolism. Circulating EVs represent a promising metabolic biomarker for lipid and glucose metabolism and have potential for monitoring metabolic status in humans, including individuals without metabolic risk factors.
ErbB4 deletion predisposes to development of metabolic syndrome in mice
Authors: Zeng Fenghua , Wang Yinqiu , Kloepfer Lance A. , Wang Suwan , Harris Raymond C.
Published: June 2018

ErbB4, a member of the EGF receptor family, plays a variety of roles in physiological and pathological states. Genetic studies have indicated a link between ErbB4 and type 2 diabetes and obesity, but its role in metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been reported. In the current study we found that mice with ErbB4 deletion developed MetS after 24 wk on a medium-fat diet (MFD), as indicated by development of obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance, compared with wild-type mice. ErbB4 deletion mice also exhibited increased amounts of subcutaneous and visceral fat, with increased serum leptin levels, compared with wild-type mice, whereas levels of adiponectin were not significantly different. Histologically, severe inflammation, indicated by F4/80 immunostaining and M1 macrophage polarization, was detected in inguinal and epididymal white adipose tissue in ErbB4 deletion mice. ErbB4 expression decreased during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Administration of neuroregulin 4, a specific ligand for ErbB4, to 3T3-L1 adipocytes had no effect on adipogenesis and lipolysis but significantly inhibited lipogenesis, promoted browning, induced GLUT4 redistribution to the cell membrane, and increased glucose uptake. Neuroregulin 4 also significantly increased glucose uptake in adipocytes isolated from wild-type mice, while these effects were significantly decreased in adipocytes isolated from ErbB4 deletion mice. In conclusion, our results indicate that ErbB4 may play an important role in glucose homeostasis and lipogenesis. ErbB4 deficiency-related obesity and adipose tissue inflammation may contribute to the development of MetS.
Oxytocin response to controlled dietary sodium and angiotensin II among healthy individuals
Authors: Srinivasa Suman , Aulinas Anna , O’Malley Timothy , Maehler Patrick , Adler Gail K. , Grinspoon Steven K. , Lawson Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2018

Oxytocin, while classically known for its role in parturition, lactation, and social behavior, also has been implicated in the control of sodium homeostasis in animal models. To improve our understanding of oxytocin physiology in humans, we measured basal oxytocin levels under low- and liberal-dietary-sodium conditions and following a peripheral angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion. Ten healthy individuals underwent a 6-day standardized low-sodium diet and a 6-day liberal-sodium diet. Each diet was followed by a graded ANG II infusion for 30-min sequential intervals at doses of 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 ng·kg−1·min−1. Fasting serum oxytocin was assessed before and after ANG II infusion. Basal oxytocin levels (1,498.5 ± 94.7 vs. 1,663.3 ± 213.9 pg/ml, P = 0.51) did not differ after the low- and liberal-sodium diets. Following the ANG II infusion, ANG II levels and mean arterial pressure significantly increased as expected. In contrast, the ANG II infusion significantly lowered oxytocin levels from 1,498.5 ± 94.7 vs. 1,151.7 ± 118.1 pg/ml ( P < 0.001) on the low-sodium diet and from 1,663.3 ± 213.9 vs. 1,095.2 ± 87.4 pg/ml ( P = 0.03) on the liberal-sodium diet. The percent change in oxytocin following the ANG II infusion did not differ by sodium diet (−25 ± 5% vs. −28 ± 7% low- vs. liberal-sodium conditions, P > 0.99). Dietary sodium intake did not affect circulating oxytocin levels among healthy individuals. Systemic oxytocin levels were significantly suppressed following a peripheral ANG II infusion independent of dietary sodium conditions.
Lightweight Cryptographic Techniques for Automotive Cybersecurity
Authors: Jadoon Ahmer Khan , Wang Licheng , Li Tong , Zia Muhammad Azam
Published: June 2018

A new integration of wireless communication technologies into the automobile industry has instigated a momentous research interest in the field of Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) security. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are set up, aiming to offer promising applications for efficient and safe communication for future automotive technology. Vehicular networks are unique in terms of characteristics, challenges, architecture, and applications. Consequently, security requirements related to vehicular networks are more complex as compared to mobile networks and conventional wireless networks. This article presents a survey about developments in vehicular networks from the perspective of lightweight cryptographic protocols and privacy preserving algorithms. Unique characteristics of vehicular networks are presented which make the embedded security applications computationally hard as well as memory constrained. The current study also deals with the fundamental security requirements, essential for vehicular communication. Furthermore, awareness of security threats and their cryptographic solutions in terms of future automotive industry are discussed. In addition, asymmetric, symmetric, and lightweight cryptographic solutions are summarized. These strategies can be enhanced or incorporated all in all to meet the security perquisites of future cars security.
Feature Extraction of EEG Signal upon BCI Systems Based on Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials Using the Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Fernandez-Fraga S. M. , Aceves-Fernandez M. A. , Pedraza-Ortega J. C. , Tovar-Arriaga S.
Published: June 2018

This work presents the use of swarm intelligence algorithms as a reliable method for the optimization of electroencephalogram signals for the improvement of the performance of the brain interfaces based on stable states visual events. The preprocessing of brain signals for the extraction of characteristics and the detection of events is of paramount importance for the improvement of brain interfaces. The proposed ant colony optimization algorithm presents an improvement in obtaining the key features of the signals and the detection of events based on visual stimuli. As a reference model, we used the Independent Component Analysis method, which has been used in recent research for the removal of nonrelevant and detection of relevant data from the brain’s electrical signals and also allows the collection of information in response to a stimulus and separates the signals that were generated independently in certain zones of the brain.
Comparative Screening Analytic Methods for Elderly of Blood Methylmercury Concentration between Two Analytical Institutions
Authors: Kim Byoung-Gwon , Hong Young-Seoub , Haraguchi Koichi , Sakomoto Mineshi , Lim Hyoun-Ju , Seo Jeong-Wook , Kim Yu-Mi
Published: June 2018

Methylmercury is widely known to be a toxic substance in the human, especially a nervous system. However, it is difficult to accurately measure the amount of methylmercury in blood, and the form of methylmercury is variously presented. The purpose of study was to compare the total mercury and methylmercury measurements techniques and detection levels between analytical institutions in two countries using the same elderly human blood samples. Total mercury using gold amalgamation direct mercury analysis method (both) and methylmercury using the dithizone extraction and gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) method (N Lab in Japan) and the cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer (CVAFS) method (D Lab in Korea) were measured in 47 subjects who agreed to participate in this study. Total mercury concentrations in both analytical laboratories were observed at similar levels (9.4 versus 9.5 ug/kg, p=0.898) and the distribution was highly correlated. However, the concentration of methylmercury showed some difference between two laboratories (9.1 versus 8.6 ug/kg, p<0.001). Due to different recovery rates by different analytical methods, it is assumed that the methyl/total mercury ratio in N lab in Japan was higher than D lab in Korea (96.8 versus 90.4%, p<0.001). The GC-ECD was more sensitive method than CVAFS in methylmercury analytic techniques.
Adaptive Robust Method for Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch Incorporating Renewable Energy and Energy Storage
Authors: Cheng Tingli , Chen Minyou , Wang Yingxiang , Li Bo , Hassan Muhammad Arshad Shehzad , Chen Tao , Xu Ruilin
Published: June 2018

In association with the development of intermittent renewable energy generation (REG), dynamic multiobjective dispatch faces more challenges for power system operation due to significant REG uncertainty. To tackle the problems, a day‐ahead, optimal dispatch problem incorporating energy storage (ES) is formulated and solved based on a robust multiobjective optimization method. In the proposed model, dynamic multistage ES and generator dispatch patterns are optimized to reduce the cost and emissions. Specifically, strong constraints of the charging/discharging behaviors of the ES in the space‐time domain are considered to prolong its lifetime. Additionally, an adaptive robust model based on minimax multiobjective optimization is formulated to find optimal dispatch solutions adapted to uncertain REG changes. Moreover, an effective optimization algorithm, namely, the hybrid multiobjective Particle Swarm Optimization and Teaching Learning Based Optimization (PSO‐TLBO), is employed to seek an optimal Pareto front of the proposed dispatch model. This approach has been tested on power system integrated with wind power and ES. Numerical results reveal that the robust multiobjective dispatch model successfully meets the demands of obtaining solutions when wind power uncertainty is considered. Meanwhile, the comparison results demonstrate the competitive performance of the PSO‐TLBO method in solving the proposed dispatch problems.
Mitofusin2 Induces Cell Autophagy of Pancreatic Cancer through Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xue Ran , Meng Qinghua , Lu Di , Liu Xinjuan , Wang Yanbin , Hao Jianyu
Published: June 2018

Aim. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most quickly fatal cancers around the world. Burgeoning researches have begun to prove that mitochondria play a crucial role in cancer treatment. Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) plays an indispensable role in mitochondrial fusion and adjusting function. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of Mfn2 on cell autophagy of pancreatic cancer is still unclear. Our aim was to explore the effect of Mfn2 on multiple biological functions involving cell autophagy in pancreatic cancer. Methods. Pancreatic cancer cell line, Aspc‐1, was treated with Ad‐Mfn2 overexpression. Western blotting, caspase‐3 activity measurement, and CCK‐8 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay were used to examine the effects of Mfn2 on pancreatic cancer autophagy, apoptosis, cell proliferation, oxidative stress, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. The expression of tissue Mfn2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Survival analysis of Mfn2 was evaluated by OncoLnc. Results. Mfn2 improved the expression of LC3‐II and Bax and downregulated the expression of P62 and Bcl‐2 in pancreatic cancer cells. Meanwhile, Mfn2 also significantly inhibited the expression of p‐PI3K, p‐Akt, and p‐mTOR proteins in pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, Mfn2 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and ROS production. Assessment of Kaplan‐Meier curves showed that Mfn2− pancreatic cancer has a worse prognosis than Mfn2+ pancreatic cancer has. Conclusions. Our finding suggests that Mfn2 induces cell autophagy of pancreatic cancer through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Meanwhile, Mfn2 also influences multiple biological functions of pancreatic cancer cells. Mfn2 may act as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer treatment.
[Retracted] The Protective Role of Brain CYP2J in Parkinson’s Disease Models
Authors: Li Yueran , Wu Jinhua , Yu Xuming , Na Shufang , Li Ke , Yang Zheqiong , Xie Xianfei , Yang Jing , Yue Jiang
Published: June 2018

CYP2J proteins are present in the neural cells of human and rodent brain regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of brain CYP2J in Parkinson’s disease. Rats received right unilateral injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) in the substantia nigra following transfection with or without the CYP2J3 expression vector. Compared with LPS‐treated rats, CYP2J3 transfection significantly decreased apomorphine‐induced rotation by 57.3% at day 12 and 47.0% at day 21 after LPS treatment; moreover, CYP2J3 transfection attenuated the accumulation of α‐synuclein. Compared with the 6‐OHDA group, the number of rotations by rats transfected with CYP2J3 decreased by 59.6% at day 12 and 43.5% at day 21 after 6‐OHDA treatment. The loss of dopaminergic neurons and the inhibition of the antioxidative system induced by LPS or 6‐OHDA were attenuated following CYP2J3 transfection. The TLR4‐MyD88 signaling pathway was involved in the downregulation of brain CYP2J induced by LPS, and CYP2J transfection upregulated the expression of Nrf2 via the inhibition of miR‐340 in U251 cells. The data suggest that increased levels of CYP2J in the brain can delay the pathological progression of PD initiated by inflammation or neurotoxins. The alteration of the metabolism of the endogenous substrates (e.g., AA) could affect the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
Traffic Intensity Estimation in Finite Markovian Queueing Systems
Authors: Cruz Frederico R. B. , Almeida Márcio A. C. , D’Angelo Marcos F. S. V. , van Woensel Tom
Published: June 2018

In many everyday situations in which a queue is formed, queueing models may play a key role. By using such models, which are idealizations of reality, accurate performance measures can be determined, such as traffic intensity (ρ), which is defined as the ratio between the arrival rate and the service rate. An intermediate step in the process includes the statistical estimation of the parameters of the proper model. In this study, we are interested in investigating the finite-sample behavior of some well-known methods for the estimation of ρ for single-server finite Markovian queues or, in Kendall notation, M/M/1/K queues, namely, the maximum likelihood estimator, Bayesian methods, and bootstrap corrections. We performed extensive simulations to verify the quality of the estimators for samples up to 200. The computational results show that accurate estimates in terms of the lowest mean squared errors can be obtained for a broad range of values in the parametric space by using the Jeffreys’ prior. A numerical example is analyzed in detail, the limitations of the results are discussed, and notable topics to be further developed in this research area are presented.
Pro‐BDNF Contributes to Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury in Myocardial Microvascular Endothelial Cells: Roles of Receptors p75NTR and Sortilin and Activation of JNK and Caspase 3
Authors: Yu Fei , Liu Yuezhu , Xu Junmei
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to identify the role of the precursor of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (pro‐BDNF) in myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury (H/R) and to address the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, myocardial microvascular endothelial cells (MMECs) exposed to a high concentration of glucose (30 mM) for 48 h were subjected to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) staining and flow‐cytometric analysis were performed to detect apoptosis. Cell scratch and capillary‐like‐structure formation assays were employed to evaluate cell function. The levels of apoptosis‐related proteins were evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Our results showed that H/R resulted in MMEC injury, as indicated by significant increases in TUNEL‐positive cell numbers and a reduction in MMEC migration and in capillary‐like‐structure formation coupled with increased pro‐BDNF protein expression. In addition, overexpression of pro‐BDNF in MMECs via a viral vector led to increased pro‐BDNF expression, and this upregulation induced apoptosis. Mechanistic experiments revealed that H/R did not influence BDNF, JNK, and caspase 3 expression, but upregulated pro‐BDNF, p75NTR, sortilin, phospho‐JNK, and cleaved caspase 3 protein levels. In contrast, neutralization of endogenous pro‐BDNF with an antibody significantly attenuated H/R‐induced upregulation of pro‐BDNF, p75NTR, sortilin, p‐JNK, and cleaved caspase 3 protein levels, indicating that p75NTR‐sortilin signaling and activation of JNK and caspase 3 may be involved in these effects. In conclusion, H/R‐induced injury may be mediated by pro‐BDNF, at least in part through the regulation of p75NTR‐sortilin signaling and activation of JNK and caspase 3.
Polyelectrolyte Complexation versus Ionotropic Gelation for Chitosan-Based Hydrogels with Carboxymethylcellulose, Carboxymethyl Starch, and Alginic Acid
Authors: Henao Elizabeth , Delgado Ezequiel , Contreras Héctor , Quintana Germán
Published: June 2018

The preparation of gels by charge interaction methods has been extensively studied, but it is not yet clear how these methods influence gel characteristics. The objective of this work was to study differences in morphology and surface charge of hydrogels prepared by ionotropic gelation, polyelectrolyte complexation, and a combination of both methods. Thus, the anionic charge was provided by carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), carboxymethylated starch (CMS), and alginic acid (AA); calcium chloride (CaCl2) and chitosan (CS) were used for the ionotropic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation, respectively. Those materials are commercially available, have low toxicity, and are widely used in the area. These compounds interact through physical crosslinks, which are affected by physical changes of the medium. Our results showed that these two methods produced changes in the morphology of the hydrogels. CMC gels exhibited larger pores in the presence of CaCl2. In polyelectrolyte complexation, CMS produced an increased agglomeration of particles, while the addition of CaCl2to AA generated dispersed particles of size in the order of millimeters. Mixing both ionotropic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation methods yielded gels of varied charge (568 mV for CMC, 502 mV for CMS, and 1713 mV for AA). FTIR spectra of the hydrogels showed interactions between the different polymeric compounds, being the greatest changes between 1250 and 1600 cm−1, due possibly to the replacement of Na by Ca at crosslinking points. Therefore, the method of gel preparation employed had a major influence on the size and pore distribution, parameters which in turn influence encapsulation and drug delivery in these systems.
Adult Bilateral Ureteroceles Presenting with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Acute Urinary Retention
Authors: Rompré-Brodeur Alexis , Andonian Sero
Published: June 2018

Ureterocele is a well-known pathologic entity in the pediatric urology population but remains a diagnostic and treatment challenge in the adult population. Adult ureteroceles remain a diagnostic challenge for the adult urologist. Its prevalence is estimated between 1/500 and 1/4000 patients with a wide variety of clinical presentations. We present the case of a 30-year-old female patient who presented with severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention secondary to prolapsing bilateral single-system orthotopic ureteroceles. She was successfully treated with transurethral unroofing of her bilateral ureteroceles and she is currently asymptomatic. This case represents the first reported case of bilateral ureteroceles presenting with severe LUTS and subsequent urinary retention from the prolapse of one of the ureteroceles. We provide a review of the most recent case series of adult ureteroceles and their outcomes. Transurethral unroofing of the ureterocele is a safe and minimally invasive approach for this disease.
Zinc, Copper, and Iron in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sachdev Prageet K. , Freeland-Graves Jeanne , Beretvas S. Natasha , Sanjeevi Namrata
Published: June 2018

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant disorder which causes fibrosis and inflammation of the oral mucosa. Studies have reported altered levels of trace elements in oral submucous fibrosis subjects, but findings have been inconsistent. The objective of this research is to perform a meta-analysis to summarize studies that report zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in patients, with and without OSF. A literature search of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted for studies up to January 2017. A total of 34 reports met the inclusion criteria. The standardized mean difference was utilized as the effect size. The robust variance estimation method was chosen to handle dependency of multiple related outcomes in meta-analysis. There was a significant increase in the levels of Cu (effect size = 1.17,pvalue < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.164–2.171) and a significant decrease in levels of Zn (effect size = −1.95,pvalue < 0.05, 95% CI: −3.524 to −0.367) and Fe (effect size = −2.77,pvalue < 0.01, 95% CI: −4.126 to −1.406) in OSF patients. The estimation of Zn, Cu, and Fe levels may serve as additional biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of OSF along with the clinical features.
A Meta-Analysis Characterizing Stem-Like Gene Expression in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus and Its Circadian Clock
Authors: Beligala Dilshan Harshajith , De Arpan , Geusz Michael Eric
Published: June 2018

Cells expressing proteins characteristic of stem cells and progenitor cells are present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the adult mammalian hypothalamus. Any relationship between this distinctive feature and the master circadian clock of the SCN is unclear. Considering the lack of obvious neurogenesis in the adult SCN relative to the hippocampus and other structures that provide neurons and glia, it is possible that the SCN has partially differentiated cells that can provide neural circuit plasticity rather than ongoing neurogenesis. To test this possibility, available databases and publications were explored to identify highly expressed genes in the mouse SCN that also have known or suspected roles in cell differentiation, maintenance of stem-like states, or cell-cell interactions found in adult and embryonic stem cells and cancer stem cells. The SCN was found to have numerous genes associated with stem cell maintenance and increased motility from which we selected 25 of the most relevant genes. Over ninety percent of these stem-like genes were expressed at higher levels in the SCN than in other brain areas. Further analysis of this gene set could provide a greater understanding of how adjustments in cell contacts alter period and phase relationships of circadian rhythms. Circadian timing and its role in cancer, sleep, and metabolic disorders are likely influenced by genes selected in this study.
Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Properties of SAC0307 Lead‐Free Solder Paste
Authors: Kanlayasiri Kannachai , Meesathien Nadee
Published: June 2018

This research investigates the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles of varying concentrations 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 wt.% on the melting temperatures, wettability, printability, slump, and interfacial microstructure of the ZnO‐doped Sn‐0.3Ag‐0.7Cu lead‐free solder pastes on the copper substrate. The results revealed that the introduction of the ZnO particles had no effect on the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the solders. The maximum wettability was achieved with 0.25 wt.% ZnO nanoparticles, while the printability was inversely correlated with the nano‐ZnO concentrations. The findings also indicated that, at room temperature, the slumping and the nano‐ZnO concentrations were positively correlated and that, under the 150°C thermal condition, the maximum slumping was achieved with 0.25 wt.% ZnO. The slumping mechanism of the SAC0307‐xZnO solder pastes is also provided herein. Moreover, the experiments showed that Cu6Sn5 was the single intermetallic compound present in the interfacial layer between the solders and the copper substrate, with the maximum intermetallic layer thickness realized at the 0.25 wt.% ZnO concentration.
Insulinotropic Activity of Standardized Methanolic Extracts of Ficus deltoidea from Seven Varieties
Authors: Yahaya Nurshieren , Mohd Dom Nur Sumirah , Adam Zainah , Hamid Muhajir
Published: June 2018

Ficus deltoidea is a traditional medicinal plant that has been proven to show antidiabetic effects. This study focus is to assess the insulin secretion activity of Ficus deltoidea standardized methanolic extracts from seven independent varieties and mechanisms that underlie the insulin secretion action of the extracts. The cytotoxicity of Ficus deltoidea extracts was tested using viability assay. The insulin secretion assay was carried out by treating clonal BRIN BD11 cell line with standardized methanolic Ficus deltoidea extracts or glybenclamide. The clonal BRIN BD11 cell was also treated with insulin agonist and antagonist to elucidate the insulin secretion mechanism. Only the viability percentage for Ficus deltoidea var. kunstleri and intermedia was identified to be toxic at 500 and 1000 μg/ml (P<0.001). The insulin secretion for Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea, angustifolia, and motleyana was dose‐dependent; further evaluation suggested that Ficus deltoidea var. trengganuensis was involved in KATP‐independent pathway. This study suggests that standardized methanolic extracts of Ficus deltoidea varieties have an insulinotropic effect on clonal BRIN BD11 cell line and can be utilized as a modern candidate of antidiabetic agents targeting the escalation for insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.
Evaluation of Blood Titanium Levels and Total Bone Contact Area of Dental Implants
Authors: Temiz Mustafa , Dayi Ertunc , Saruhan Nesrin
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of total implant-bone surface contact area of dental implants applied on partial or total edentulous patients on the increase in the level of blood titanium level. Changes of the blood titanium levels were evaluated after placement of the dental implants in 30 patients including 15 females and 15 males. Patients were divided into 3 groups as dental implants were applied on only maxilla, only mandible, or both of them. Taking into the consideration anatomic formation and prosthetic indication, dental implant-bone total contact area was calculated and saved for each patient after dental implants placement. Blood samples of the patients taken preoperatively and postoperatively at 12 weeks were analyzed by ICP-MS device. Blood titanium levels of preoperative and postoperative blood samples were analyzed for each patient and results were evaluated statistically. In the evaluation after analyzing blood titanium level changes, while a statistically significant decrease was observed in Group 1 patients, a statistically significant increase was observed in Group 2 and Group 3 patients to blood titanium level. A statistically significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 and between Group 1 and Group 3 patients of blood titanium levels. The change of the blood titanium level was not related to total implant-bone surface area, number of the implants, and gender. In our study, no correlation was found between change of blood titanium level and total contact area with bone of dental implants. We believe that more accurate results can be obtained with biopsy of tissues and organs on animal studies.
Analysis of Exercise-Induced Periodic Breathing Using an Autoregressive Model and the Hilbert-Huang Transform
Authors: Fu Tieh-Cheng , Chen Chaur-Chin , Chang Ching-Mao , Chang Hen-Hong , Chu Hsueh-Ting
Published: June 2018

Evaluation of exercise-induced periodic breathing (PB) in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is one of important diagnostic evidences to judge the prognosis of chronic heart failure cases. In this study, we propose a method for the quantitative analysis of measured ventilation signals from an exercise test. We used an autoregressive (AR) model to filter the breath-by-breath measurements of ventilation from exercise tests. Then, the signals before reaching the most ventilation were decomposed into intrinsic mode functions (IMF) by using the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). An IMF represents a simple oscillatory pattern which catches a part of original ventilation signal in different frequency band. For each component of IMF, we computed the number of peaks as the feature of its oscillatory pattern denoted by Δi. In our experiment, 61 chronic heart failure patients with or without PB pattern were studied. The computed peaks of the third and fourth IMF components, Δ3 and Δ4, were statistically significant for the two groups (both p values < 0.02). In summary, our study shows a close link between the HHT analysis and level of intrinsic energy for pulmonary ventilation. The third and fourth IMF components are highly potential to indicate the prognosis of chronic heart failure.
Precocious Puberty and the Lin28/Let7 Pathway: The Therapeutic Effect of the Nourishing “Yin” and Purging “Fire” Traditional Chinese Medicine Mixture in a Rat Model
Authors: He Yuanyuan , Han Xinghui , Sun Wen , Yu Jian , Tamadon Amin
Published: June 2018

The present study aims to investigate the effects of the nourishing “Yin” and purging “Fire” Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb mixture on precocious puberty and TCM may act through hypothalamic Lin28/let7 pathway expression in the precocious puberty model rats. Meanwhile, to confirm the relationship between Lin28/let7 pathway and puberty by overexpression Lin28a, in the first part of this study, female rats were randomly allocated into untreated controls, the precocious puberty (PP) model group, the PP control group, and the PP + TCM group. Rats on postnatal day 5 were injected danazol to establish the PP model. From days 15 to 35, the rats in the TCM group were given the TCM twice daily. Vaginal opening, sex‐related hormones, and body and reproductive organ weights were measured, and the expressions of hypothalamic Lin28a and Lin28b mRNA and let7a and let7b miRNA were detected. In addition, in the second part, the effects of overexpression of Lin28a on the vaginal opening time were evaluated. In the two parts of the study, we found that, at the onset of puberty, a decrease in ovary weight, an increase in the serum levels of luteinizing hormone and progesterone, and increased expression levels of hypothalamic Lin28b mRNA were observed in the PP + TCM group compared to the PP model group. The vaginal opening time was significantly delayed upon overexpression of Lin28a. Above all, the mechanism by which the TCM treats precocious puberty is thus likely to be associated with inhibition of the hypothalamic Lin28/let7 signaling pathway and our findings provide in‐depth insight into the relationship between the overexpression of Lin28a gene in the hypothalamus and the onset of puberty.