bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Net nitrogen mineralization in boreal fens: a potential performance indicator for peatland reclamation
Authors: Hartsock Jeremy A. , House Melissa , Vitt Dale H.
Published: June 2016

The Sandhill Fen reclamation watershed, commissioned by Syncrude Canada Ltd., is the first attempt to reclaim a self-sustaining peat-forming wetland on a previously mined area. Here, we quantified net nitrogen mineralization rates at Sandhill Fen in the first and second years since initiation (2013–2014). Our main objective was to determine whether nitrogen production potentials at Sandhill Fen were similar to six regional fens sampled across an ombrotrophic–minerotrophic peatland gradient. In the second year, net nitrogen mineralization rates across Sandhill Fen (2014 mean = 20.2 mg N·m−2·day−1; 0.9 mg N·kg−1·day−1) were quite comparable with the benchmark fen sites (2013–2014 pooled means = 20.6 mg N·m−2·day−1; 5.9 mg N·kg−1·day−1). However, in areas exhibiting low gravimetric soil moisture content at Sandhill Fen, net nitrification contributed more than 50% to the net N mineralization total, an uncommon observation in natural fen type wetlands. These findings highlight the importance of managing soil moisture levels during the early stages of reclamation to (1) maintain relatively anaerobic soil conditions, and (2) facilitate microbial-mediated processes to fall within an acceptable range of variation comparable to undisturbed Albertan fens.
Temporal variability of larval drift of tropical amphidromous gobies along a watershed in Réunion Island
Authors: Lagarde Raphaël , Teichert Nils , Grondin Henri , Magalon Hélène , Pirog Agathe , Ponton Dominique
Published: June 2016

Freshwater gobies of tropical islands are amphidromous: adults reproduce in rivers and larvae passively drift down to the sea immediately after hatching. Describing the phenology of this larval drift is essential to understanding the population dynamics of amphidromous gobies and to developing ecologically based recommendations for managing the watersheds. The larval drift patterns of two amphidromous gobies of Réunion Island, Sicyopterus lagocephalus and Cotylopus acutipinnis, were studied on a monthly basis for 1 year using plankton nets at two sites on the Mât River, located 20 km and 7 km from the river mouth. Genetic analyses showed that larval assemblages were dominated at 90% by S. lagocephalus, although the proportion of C. acutipinnis increased during early summer. Our findings highlighted a marked larval drift peak in full austral summer. The diel larval drift dynamic was described using periodic linear models. A diel pattern was only observed downstream, peaking a few hours after sunset. Finally, this study presents a new approach that improves standard methods for sampling and analyzing larval drift of amphidromous species.
The enhancement of supersymmetry in M-strings
Authors: Sugimoto Yuji
Published: June 2016

We study two M5-branes on [Formula: see text] ALE space. We introduce some M2-branes suspended between the M5-branes. Then, the boundaries of M2-branes look like strings. We call them “M-strings.” The M-strings have [Formula: see text] supersymmetry by considering the brane configuration on [Formula: see text] ALE space. We calculate the partition function of M-strings by using the refined topological vertex formalism. We find that the supersymmetry of M-strings gets enhanced to [Formula: see text] by tuning some Kähler parameters. Furthermore, we discuss another possibility of the enhancement of supersymmetry which is different from the above one.
K-shell photoionization of Li, Be+ and B2+
Authors: Li Jun , Liu Jian Dang , Zhang Song Bin , Ye Bang Jiao
Published: June 2016

K-shell photoionization (PI) of Li, Be[Formula: see text] and B[Formula: see text] from ground state [Formula: see text] have been studied by using the [Formula: see text]-matrix method with pseudostates. The K-shell PI process is featured with the contributions from the core-excited metastable states or dominated by the Auger states 2Po. The resonant parameters of the Auger states 2Po and the PI cross-sections have been calculated and compared with the available experimental and theoretical works. Our results agree very well with that of the published works. It is worth noting that compared with previous theoretical calculations, our results of B[Formula: see text] show better agreements with the latest high-resolution advanced light source measurements [A. Müller et al., J. Phys. B 43 (2010) 135602].
Density-fluctuation symbolic computation on the (3+1)-dimensional variable-coefficient Kudryashov–Sinelshchikov equation for a bubbly liquid with experimental support
Authors: Gao Xin-Yi
Published: June 2016

Liquids with gas bubbles are commonly seen in medical science, natural science, daily life and engineering. Nonlinear-wave symbolic computation on the (3[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional variable-coefficient Kudryashov–Sinelshchikov model for a bubbly liquid is hereby performed. An auto-Bäcklund transformation and some solitonic solutions are obtained. With respect to the density fluctuation of the bubble-liquid mixture, both the auto-Bäcklund transformation and solitonic solutions depend on the bubble-liquid-viscosity, transverse-perturbation, bubble-liquid-nonlinearity and bubble-liquid-dispersion coefficient functions. We note that some shock waves given by our solutions have been observed by the gas-bubble/liquid-mixture experiments. Effects on a bubbly liquid with respect to the bubble-liquid-viscosity, transverse-perturbation, bubble-liquid-nonlinearity and bubble-liquid-dispersion coefficient functions might be detected by the future gas-bubble/liquid-mixture experiments.
BOND PERCOLATION ON A NON-P.C.F. SIERPIŃSKI GASKET, ITERATED BARYCENTRIC SUBDIVISION OF A TRIANGLE, AND HEXACARPET
Authors: LOUGEE D. , STEINHURST B.
Published: June 2016

We investigate bond percolation on the iterated barycentric subdivision of a triangle, the hexa-carpet, and the non-p.c.f. Sierpinski gasket. With the use of known results on the diamond fractal, we are able to bound the critical probability of bond percolation on the non-p.c.f. gasket and the iterated barycentric subdivision of a triangle from above by 0.282. We then show how both the gasket and hexacarpet fractals are related via the iterated barycentric subdivisions of a triangle: the two spaces exhibit duality properties although they are not themselves dual graphs. Finally, we show the existence of a non-trivial phase transition on all three graphs.
League Tables for Hospital Comparisons
Authors: Normand Sharon-Lise T. , Ash Arlene S. , Fienberg Stephen E. , Stukel Thérèse A. , Utts Jessica , Louis Thomas A.
Published: June 2016

We review statistical methods for estimating and interpreting league tables used to infer hospital quality with a primary focus on methods for partitioning variation into two types: (a) that associated with within-hospital variation for a homogeneous group of patients and (b) that produced by between-hospital variation. We discuss the types of covariates included in the model, hierarchical and nonhierarchical logistic regression models for conducting inferences in a low-information context and their associated trade-offs, and the role of hospital volume. We use all-cause mortality rates for US hospitals to illustrate concepts and methods.
Data Visualization and Statistical Graphics in Big Data Analysis
Authors: Cook Dianne , Lee Eun-Kyung , Majumder Mahbubul
Published: June 2016

This article discusses the role of data visualization in the process of analyzing big data. We describe the historical origins of statistical graphics, from the birth of exploratory data analysis to the impacts of statistical graphics on practice today. We present examples of contemporary data visualizations in the process of exploring airline traffic, global standardized test scores, election monitoring, Wikipedia edits, the housing crisis as observed in San Francisco, and the mining of credit card databases. We provide a review of recent literature. Good data visualization yields better models and predictions and allows for the discovery of the unexpected.
Preconditioning mice with activators of AMPK ameliorates ischemic acute kidney injury in vivo
Authors: Lieberthal Wilfred , Tang Meiyi , Lusco Mark , Abate Mersema , Levine Jerrold S.
Published: June 2016

This study had two objectives: 1) to determine whether preconditioning cultured proximal tubular cells (PTCs) with pharmacological activators of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protects these cells from apoptosis induced by metabolic stress in vitro and 2) to assess the effects of preconditioning mice with these agents on the severity of ischemic acute renal kidney injury (AKI) in vivo. We demonstrate that preconditioning PTCs with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) or A-769662 reduces apoptosis of PTCs induced by subsequent stress. We also show that the reduction in cell death during metabolic stress associated with pretreatment by AMPK activators is associated with an increase in the cytosolic level of ATP, which is mediated by an increase in the rate of glycolysis. In addition, we provide evidence that the effect of AMPK activators on glycolysis is mediated, at least in part, by an increased uptake of glucose, and by the induction of hexokinase II (HK II) expression. Our data also show that the increased in HK II expression associated with preconditioning with AMPK activators is mediated by the activation (phosphorylation) of the cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB). We also provide entirely novel evidence that that A-79662 is substantially more effective than AICAR in mediating these alterations in PTCs in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate that preconditioning mice with AICAR or A-769662 substantially reduces the severity of renal dysfunction and tubular injury in a model of ischemic AKI in vivo and that the efficacy of AICAR and A-768662 in ameliorating ischemic AKI in vivo is comparable.
Residual Force Enhancement Following Eccentric Contractions: A New Mechanism Involving Titin
Authors: Herzog W. , Schappacher G. , DuVall M. , Leonard T. R. , Herzog J. A.
Published: June 2016

Eccentric muscle properties are not well characterized by the current paradigm of the molecular mechanism of contraction: the cross-bridge theory. Findings of force contributions by passive structural elements a decade ago paved the way for a new theory. Here, we present experimental evidence and theoretical support for the idea that the structural protein titin contributes to active force production, thereby explaining many of the unresolved properties of eccentric muscle contraction.
The VCD Mouse Model of Menopause and Perimenopause for the Study of Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease and the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Brooks H. L. , Pollow D. P. , Hoyer P. B.
Published: June 2016

In females, menopause, the cessation of menstrual cycling, is associated with an increase in risk for several diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and ovarian cancer. The majority of women enter menopause via a gradual reduction of ovarian function over several years (perimenopause) and retain residual ovarian tissue. The VCD mouse model of menopause (ovarian failure in rodents) is a follicle-deplete, ovary-intact animal that more closely approximates the natural human progression through perimenopause and into the postmenopausal stage of life. In this review, we present the physiological parameters of how to use the VCD model and explore the VCD model and its application into the study of postmenopausal disease mechanisms, focusing on recent murine studies of diabetic kidney disease, the metabolic syndrome, and hypertension.
Amla Enhances Mitochondrial Spare Respiratory Capacity by Increasing Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Antioxidant Systems in a Murine Skeletal Muscle Cell Line
Authors: Yamamoto Hirotaka , Morino Katsutaro , Mengistu Lemecha , Ishibashi Taishi , Kiriyama Kohei , Ikami Takao , Maegawa Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

Amla is one of the most important plants in Indian traditional medicine and has been shown to improve various age‐related disorders while decreasing oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a proposed cause of aging through elevated oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of Amla on mitochondrial function in C2C12 myotubes, a murine skeletal muscle cell model with abundant mitochondria. Based on cell flux analysis, treatment with an extract of Amla fruit enhanced mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity, which enables cells to overcome various stresses. To further explore the mechanisms underlying these effects on mitochondrial function, we analyzed mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant systems, both proposed regulators of mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity. We found that Amla treatment stimulated both systems accompanied by AMPK and Nrf2 activation. Furthermore, we found that Amla treatment exhibited cytoprotective effects and lowered reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cells subjected to t‐BHP‐induced oxidative stress. These effects were accompanied by increased oxygen consumption, suggesting that Amla protected cells against oxidative stress by using enhanced spare respiratory capacity to produce more energy. Thus we identified protective effects of Amla, involving activation of mitochondrial function, which potentially explain its various effects on age‐related disorders.
“Inflammaging” as a Druggable Target: A Senescence‐Associated Secretory Phenotype—Centered View of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Prattichizzo Francesco , De Nigris Valeria , La Sala Lucia , Procopio Antonio Domenico , Olivieri Fabiola , Ceriello Antonio
Published: June 2016

Aging is a complex phenomenon driven by a variety of molecular alterations. A relevant feature of aging is chronic low‐grade inflammation, termed “inflammaging.” In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many elements of aging appear earlier or are overrepresented, including consistent inflammaging. T2DM patients have an increased death rate, associated with an incremented inflammatory score. The source of this inflammation is debated. Recently, the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) has been proposed as the main origin of inflammaging in both aging and T2DM. Different pathogenic mechanisms linked to T2DM progression and complications development have been linked to senescence and SASP, that is, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here we review the latest data connecting oxidative and ER stress with the SASP in the context of aging and T2DM, with emphasis on endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, since current medical practice is insufficient to completely suppress the increased death rate of diabetic patients, we propose a SASP‐centered view of T2DM as a futuristic therapeutic option, possibly opening new prospects by moving the attention from one‐organ studies of diabetes complications to a wider targeting of the aging process.
Exact Solutions Superimposed with Nonlinear Plane Waves
Authors: Desale B. S. , Sharma Vivek
Published: June 2016

The flow of fluid in atmosphere and ocean is governed by rotating stratified Boussinesq equations. Through the literature, we found that many researchers are trying to find the solutions of rotating stratified Boussinesq equations. In this paper, we have obtained special exact solutions and nonlinear plane waves. Finally, we provide exact solutions to rotating stratified Boussinesq equations with large scale motion superimposed with the nonlinear plane waves. In support of our investigations, we provided two examples: one described the special exact solution and in second example, we have determined the special exact solution superimposed with nonlinear plane wave. Also, we depicted some integral curves that represent the flow of an incompressible fluid particle on the planex1+x2=L(constant)as the particular case.
NRF2, a Key Regulator of Antioxidants with Two Faces towards Cancer
Authors: Kim Jaieun , Keum Young-Sam
Published: June 2016

While reactive oxygen species (ROS) is generally considered harmful, a relevant amount of ROS is necessary for a number of cellular functions, including the intracellular signal transduction. In order to deal with an excessive amount of ROS, organisms are equipped with a sufficient amount of antioxidants together with NF‐E2‐related factor‐2 (NRF2), a transcription factor that plays a key role in the protection of organisms against environmental or intracellular stresses. While the NRF2 activity has been generally viewed as beneficial to preserve the integrity of organisms, recent studies have demonstrated that cancer cells hijack the NRF2 activity to survive under the oxidative stress and, therefore, a close check must be kept on the NRF2 activity in cancer. In the present review, we briefly highlight important progresses in understanding the molecular mechanism, structure, and function of KEAP1 and NRF2 interaction. In addition, we provide general perspectives that justify conflicting views on the NRF2 activity in cancer.
Cockroaches as a Source of High Bacterial Pathogens with Multidrug Resistant Strains in Gondar Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Moges Feleke , Eshetie Setegn , Endris Mengistu , Huruy Kahsay , Muluye Dagnachew , Feleke Tigist , G/Silassie Fisha , Ayalew Getenet , Nagappan Raja
Published: June 2016

Background. Cockroaches are source of bacterial infections and this study was aimed to assess bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial profiles from cockroaches in Gondar town, Ethiopia.Methods. A total of 60 cockroaches were collected from March 1 to May 30, 2014, in Gondar town. Bacterial species were isolated from external and internal parts of cockroaches. Disk diffusion method was used to determine antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20;Pvalues <0.005 were considered as statistically significant.Results. Of 181 identified bacteria species, 110 (60.8%) and 71 (39.2%) were identified from external and internal parts of cockroaches, respectively.Klebsiella pneumoniae32 (17.7%),Escherichia coli29 (16%), andCitrobacterspp. 27 (15%) were the predominant isolates. High resistance rate was observed to cotrimoxazole, 60 (33.1%), and least resistance rate was noted to ciprofloxacin, 2 (1.1%). Additionally, 116 (64.1%) of the isolates were MDR strains;Salmonellaspp. were the leading MDR isolates (100%) followed byEnterobacter(90.5%) andShigellaspp. (76.9%).Conclusion. Cockroaches are the potential source of bacteria pathogens with multidrug resistant strains and hence effective preventive and control measures are required to minimize cockroach related infections.
Finding Clocks in Genes: A Bayesian Approach to Estimate Periodicity
Authors: Ren Yan , Hong Christian I. , Lim Sookkyung , Song Seongho
Published: June 2016

Identification of rhythmic gene expression from metabolic cycles to circadian rhythms is crucial for understanding the gene regulatory networks and functions of these biological processes. Recently, two algorithms, JTK_CYCLE and ARSER, have been developed to estimate periodicity of rhythmic gene expression. JTK_CYCLE performs well for long or less noisy time series, while ARSER performs well for detecting a single rhythmic category. However, observing gene expression at high temporal resolution is not always feasible, and many scientists are interested in exploring both ultradian and circadian rhythmic categories simultaneously. In this paper, a new algorithm, named autoregressive Bayesian spectral regression (ABSR), is proposed. It estimates the period of time-course experimental data and classifies gene expression profiles into multiple rhythmic categories simultaneously. Through the simulation studies, it is shown that ABSR substantially improves the accuracy of periodicity estimation and clustering of rhythmic categories as compared to JTK_CYCLE and ARSER for the data with low temporal resolution. Moreover, ABSR is insensitive to rhythmic patterns. This new scheme is applied to existing time-course mouse liver data to estimate period of rhythms and classify the genes into ultradian, circadian, and arrhythmic categories. It is observed that 49.2% of the circadian profiles detected by JTK_CYCLE with 1-hour resolution are also detected by ABSR with only 4-hour resolution.
Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1 Is Required for Extracellular Calcium-Induced Keratinocyte Differentiation
Authors: Shrestha Chandrama , Tang Yuanyuan , Fan Hong , Li Lusha , Zeng Qin , Pennypacker Sally D. , Bikle Daniel D. , Xie Zhongjian
Published: June 2016

Extracellular calcium is a major regulator of keratinocyte differentiation in vitro and appears to play that role in vivo, but the mechanism is unclear. We have previously demonstrated that, following calcium stimulation, PIP5K1αis recruited by the E-cadherin-β-catenin complex to the plasma membrane where it provides the substrate PIP2 for both PI3K and PLC-γ1. This signaling pathway is critical for calcium-induced generation of second messengers including IP3 and intracellular calcium and keratinocyte differentiation. In this study, we explored the upstream regulatory mechanism by which calcium activates PIP5K1αand the role of this activation in calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation. We found that treatment of human keratinocytes in culture with calcium resulted in an increase in serine dephosphorylation and PIP5K1αactivation. PP1 knockdown blocked extracellular calcium-induced increase in serine dephosphorylation and activity of PIP5K1αand induction of keratinocyte differentiation markers. Knockdown of PLC-γ1, the downstream effector of PIP5K1α, blocked upstream dephosphorylation and PIP5K1αactivation induced by calcium. Coimmunoprecipitation revealed calcium induced recruitment of PP1 to the E-cadherin-catenin-PIP5K1αcomplex in the plasma membrane. These results indicate that PP1 is recruited to the extracellular calcium-dependent E-cadherin-catenin-PIP5K1αcomplex in the plasma membrane to activate PIP5K1α, which is required for PLC-γ1 activation leading to keratinocyte differentiation.
Strong k-Barrier Coverage for One-Way Intruders Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Luo Junhai , Zou Shihua
Published: June 2016

Intruders detection is one of the very important applications in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Sometimes detecting intruders is not sufficient; distinguishing whether an intruder is legal or illegal is necessary. Since k-barrier coverage is widely used in detecting intruders, a barrier construction algorithm is needed, which can not only detect an intruder but also judge an illegal intruder. An intruder is defined as illegal if and only if it crosses straightly through the monitored region from the special side to another side. On the contrary, it is a legal intruder. To detect an intruder and distinguish whether the intruder is legal or illegal, a strong k-barrier coverage algorithm is proposed. The strong k-barrier coverage is a local barrier constructing algorithm and can detect any intruder crossing the k-barrier with a full probability. The strong k-barrier coverage detects all intruders penetrating the annular region for k times. What is more, the proposed strong k-barrier algorithm can provide a reliable judgement on whether an intruder is legal or illegal, and the constructed k-barrier coverage is different from the traditional one-way barrier coverage using binary barriers that are intersected but not overlapped. Some simulation tests show that the proposed algorithm can construct strong k-barrier coverage very well.
Chongcao‐Shencha Attenuates Liver and Kidney Injury through Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in D‐Galactose‐Treated Mice
Authors: Li Cailan , Mo Zhizhun , Xie Jianhui , Xu Lieqiang , Tan Lihua , Luo Dandan , Chen Hanbin , Yang Hongmei , Li Yucui , Su Ziren , Su Zuqing
Published: June 2016

The Chongcao‐Shencha (CCSC), a Chinese herbal compound formula, has been widely used as food material and medicine for enhancing physical strength. The present study investigated the possible effect of CCSC in alleviating the liver and kidney injury in D‐galactose‐ (D‐gal‐) treated mice and the underlying mechanism. Mice were given a subcutaneous injection of D‐gal (200 mg/kg) and orally administered CCSC (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Results indicated that CCSC increased the depressed body weight and organ index induced by D‐gal, ameliorated the histological deterioration, and decreased the levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and CRE as compared with D‐gal group. Furthermore, CCSC not only elevated the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GPx but also upregulated the mRNA expression of SOD1, CAT, and GPx1, while decreasing the MDA level in D‐gal‐treated mice. Results of western blotting analysis showed that CCSC significantly inhibited the upregulation of expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) p65, p‐p65, p‐IκBα, COX2, and iNOS and inhibited the downregulation of IκBα protein expression caused by D‐gal. This study demonstrated that CCSC could attenuate the liver and kidney injury in D‐gal‐treated mice, and the mechanism might be associated with attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response.
New Materials for SLS: The Use of Antistatic and Flow Agents
Authors: Lexow Matthias Michael , Drummer Dietmar
Published: June 2016

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a process based on the principle of a locally confined energy input by a laser into a powder bed, producing highly complex parts without the use of moulds or any other tools. In order to ensure good results for the processing behaviour of a new material, the powder must perform well during the phase of feeding the material into the process chamber which majorly influences the quality of the spread of the powder into the part bed and thus the mechanical performance of the final parts. In the present study, the principle of modification of fine powders with flow agents is applied aiming to enable the use of powders for SLS which are otherwise unsuitable due to poor flowability. In addition, the influence of antistatic agent on the powder flow and processing behaviour is discussed. The additives are found to strongly improve the flow behaviour at already very small contents and thus allow for processing of the composite material. The development of determining factors shares insight into the mechanisms of dry particle coating and its implementation into a growing market of material development.
Cigarette Smoke Extract‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis‐Related Genes Expression in Orbital Fibroblasts from Patients with Graves’ Ophthalmopathy
Authors: Kau Hui-Chuan , Wu Shi-Bei , Tsai Chieh-Chih , Liu Catherine Jui-Ling , Wei Yau-Huei
Published: June 2016

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for the development or deterioration of Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Smoke‐induced increased generation of reactive oxygen species may be involved. However, it remains to be clarified how orbital fibroblasts are affected by cigarette smoking. Our study demonstrated that Graves’ orbital fibroblasts have exaggerated response to cigarette smoke extract challenge along with increased oxidative stress, fibrosis‐related genes expression, especially connective tissue growth factor, and intracellular levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 and interleukin‐1β. The findings obtained in this study provide some clues for the impact of cigarette smoking on Graves’ ophthalmopathy and offer a theoretical basis for the potential and rational use of antioxidants in treating Graves’ ophthalmopathy.
Fabella Fractures after Total Knee Arthroplasty with Correction of Valgus Malalignment
Authors: Kwee Thomas Christian , Heggelman Ben , Gaasbeek Robert , Nix Maarten
Published: June 2016

The incidence of fabella fractures is considered to be extremely low. This report presents two patients with femorotibial osteoarthritis and considerable preoperative valgus malalignment, who developed a fracture of the fabella (as demonstrated by radiography) after total knee arthroplasty with intraoperative correction of the valgus malalignment. Special attention should be paid to the fabella for not missing a fabella fracture in these patients.
Language and Culture in Health Literacy for People Living with HIV: Perspectives of Health Care Providers and Professional Care Team Members
Authors: Mogobe Keitshokile Dintle , Shaibu Sheila , Matshediso Ellah , Sabone Motshedisi , Ntsayagae Esther , Nicholas Patrice K. , Portillo Carmen J. , Corless Inge B. , Rose Carol Dawson , Johnson Mallory O. , Webel Allison , Cuca Yvette , Rivero-Méndez Marta , Solís Báez Solymar S. , Nokes Kathleen , Reyes Darcel , Kemppainen Jeanne , Reid Paula , Sanzero Eller Lucille , Lindgren Teri , Holzemer William L. , Wantland Dean
Published: June 2016

Low health literacy has been linked to inadequate engagement in care and may serve as a contributor to poor health outcomes among people living with HIV and AIDS. The purpose of this paper was to examine the perspectives of health care providers and professional care team members regarding health literacy in HIV disease. A secondary data analysis was conducted from a qualitative study aimed at understanding factors that help an HIV positive person to manage their HIV disease. Data were collected from sites in Botswana, the US, and Puerto Rico. In the parent study, data were collected through focus group discussions with 135 people living with HIV, 32 HIV health care providers (HCPs), and 39 HIV professional care team members (PCTMs). SPSS was used to analyze quantitative data while ATLAS.ti was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings from analyses of the perspectives of HCPs/PCTMs suggested that linguistic and cultural factors were important themes in the exchange of HIV information between health care providers and PLHIV. These themes included ineffective communication, health seeking behavior, cultural facilitators, and complementary and alternative/traditional healing methods. Thus, this study suggests that language and culture have a major role in health literacy for PLHIV.
Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Voroneanu Luminita , Nistor Ionut , Dumea Raluca , Apetrii Mugurel , Covic Adrian
Published: June 2016

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and nephropathy—now the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and dialysis in Europe and the United States. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a pivotal role in the development of diabetic complications. Silymarin, an herbal drug with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may improve glycemic control and prevent the progression of the complications. In a systematic review and meta-analysis including five randomized controlled trials and 270 patients, routine silymarin administration determines a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels (−26.86 mg/dL; 95% CI −35.42–18.30) and HbA1c levels (−1.07; 95% CI −1.73–0.40) and has no effect on lipid profile. Benefits for silymarin on proteinuria and CKD progressions are reported in only one small study and are uncertain. However, being aware of the low quality of the available evidence and elevated heterogeneity of these studies, no recommendation can be made and further studies are needed.
Salvianolate Protects Hepatocytes from Oxidative Stress by Attenuating Mitochondrial Injury
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Peng Yuan , Huang Kai , Lei Yang , Liu Hong-Liang , Tao Yan-Yan , Liu Cheng-Hai
Published: June 2016

Salvianolate is widely used to treat angiocardiopathy in clinic in China, but its application in liver diseases remains unclear. Our study aims to investigate the effect of Salvianolate on rat hepatic injury by protecting hepatocyte mitochondria. To evaluate the effects of Salvianolate on injured hepatocytes, alpha mouse liver 12 (AML‐12) cells were induced with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and treated with Salvianolate. Cell viability and MitoTracker Green for mitochondria and 5,5′,6,6′‐tetrachloro‐1,1′,3,3′‐tetraethylbenzimidazole‐carbocyanide iodine (JC‐1) levels and cytochrome C (Cyto‐C) expressions were detected in vitro. To identify the effect of Salvianolate on protecting against mitochondria injury, male Wistar rats were injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and treated with Salvianolate (40 mg·kg−1). Serum liver function, parameters for peroxidative damage, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) of hepatocyte mitochondria were assayed. Our results showed that Salvianolate effectively protected hepatocytes, increased mitochondria vitality, and decreased Cyto‐C expressions in vitro. Besides, Salvianolate alleviated the liver function, attenuated the indicators of peroxidation, and relieved the mitochondria injury in vivo. In conclusion, Salvianolate is effective in protecting hepatocytes from injury in vitro and in vivo, and the mechanism might be related to its protective effect on hepatocyte mitochondria against oxidative stress.
Nasogastric Nutrition versus Nasojejunal Nutrition in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhu Youfeng , Yin Haiyan , Zhang Rui , Ye Xiaoling , Wei Jianrui
Published: June 2016

Introduction.Previous studies have shown that the nasogastric (NG) route seems equivalent to the nasojejunal (NJ) route in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, these studies used a small sample size and old criteria for diagnosing SAP, which may include some patients with moderate SAP, according to the newly established SAP criteria (Atlanta 2012 classification). Based on the changes in the criteria for classifying SAP, we performed an up-to-date meta-analysis.Method.We reviewed the PubMed, EMbase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases. We included randomized controlled trials comparing NG and NJ nutrition in patients with SAP. We performed the meta-analysis using the Cochrane Collaborations’ RevMan 5.3 software.Results.We included four randomized controlled trials involving 237 patients with SAP. There were no significant differences in the incidence of mortality, infectious complications, digestive complications, achievement of energy balance, or length of hospital stay between the NG and NJ nutrition groups.Conclusions.NG nutrition was as safe and effective as NJ nutrition in patients with SAP. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.
Intracellular Calcium Dysregulation: Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Magi Simona , Castaldo Pasqualina , Macrì Maria Loredana , Maiolino Marta , Matteucci Alessandra , Bastioli Guendalina , Gratteri Santo , Amoroso Salvatore , Lariccia Vincenzo
Published: June 2016

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neuronal loss. AD is associated with aberrant processing of the amyloid precursor protein, which leads to the deposition of amyloid-βplaques within the brain. Together with plaques deposition, the hyperphosphorylation of the microtubules associated protein tau and the formation of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles are a typical neuropathological feature in AD brains. Cellular dysfunctions involving specific subcellular compartments, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are emerging as crucial players in the pathogenesis of AD, as well as increased oxidative stress and dysregulation of calcium homeostasis. Specifically, dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis has been suggested as a common proximal cause of neural dysfunction in AD. Aberrant calcium signaling has been considered a phenomenon mainly related to the dysfunction of intracellular calcium stores, which can occur in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells. This review reports the most recent findings on cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD, with main focus on the control of calcium homeostasis at both cytosolic and mitochondrial level.
Response ofSorghum(Sorghum bicolorL.) to Residual Phosphate in Soybean-Sorghumand Maize-SorghumCrop Rotation Schemes on Two Contrasting Nigerian Alfisols
Authors: Hamza Abdulmajeed , Akinrinde Ezekiel Akinkunmi
Published: June 2016

The effectiveness of finely ground Sokoto Rock Phosphate and Morocco Rock Phosphate to enhance productivity of maize- (Zea maysL.)Sorghum(Sorghum bicolor) and soybean- (Glycine maxL.)Sorghumcrop rotation schemes was evaluated using Single Super Phosphate as reference fertilizer. The experiments were carried out in the screen house of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, in February and June 2013. The experiments involved 2 × 2 × 4 × 3 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design. In the first and second croppings, the slightly acidic loamy sand still produced higher biomass than the strongly acidic sandy clay loam. On average, MRP was more efficient than SSP for maize dry biomass but, for soybean dry biomass, MRP was less efficient than SSP in the two soils. Sokoto Rock Phosphate was less efficient in the two location soils compared to SSP for the test crops. There was no difference in performance of P-sources in the second cropping. Soybean-Sorghumcrop rotation scheme produced greaterSorghumbiomass than maize-Sorghumcrop rotation scheme. It is evident that pH and clay contents of soils as well as the rotation crop concerned influence the efficiency of finely ground soluble phosphates in crop rotation schemes.
Mobile Robot Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Based on a Monocular Camera
Authors: Jia Songmin , Wang Ke , Li Xiuzhi
Published: June 2016

This paper proposes a novel monocular vision-based SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm for mobile robot. In this proposed method, the tracking and mapping procedures are split into two separate tasks and performed in parallel threads. In the tracking thread, a ground feature-based pose estimation method is employed to initialize the algorithm for the constraint moving of the mobile robot. And an initial map is built by triangulating the matched features for further tracking procedure. In the mapping thread, an epipolar searching procedure is utilized for finding the matching features. A homography-based outlier rejection method is adopted for rejecting the mismatched features. The indoor experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has a great performance on map building and verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Investigating the Burden of Chronic Pain: An Inflammatory and Metabolic Composite
Authors: Sibille Kimberly T. , Steingrímsdóttir Ólöf A. , Fillingim Roger B. , Stubhaug Audun , Schirmer Henrik , Chen Huaihou , McEwen Bruce S. , Nielsen Christopher S.
Published: June 2016

Background. Chronic pain is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, predominated by cardiovascular disease and cancer. Investigating related risk factor measures may elucidate the biological burden of chronic pain.Objectives. We hypothesized that chronic pain severity would be positively associated with the risk factor composite.Methods. Data from 12,982 participants in the 6th Tromsø study were analyzed. Questionnaires included demographics, health behaviors, medical comorbidities, and chronic pain symptoms. The risk factor composite was comprised of body mass index, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and triglycerides. Chronic pain severity was characterized by frequency, intensity, time/duration, and total number of pain sites.Results. Individuals with chronic pain had a greater risk factor composite than individuals without chronic pain controlling for covariates and after excluding inflammation-related health conditions (p<0.001). A significant “dose-response” relationship was demonstrated with pain severity (p<0.001). In individuals with chronic pain, the risk factor composite varied by health behavior, exercise, lower levels and smoking, and higher levels.Discussion. The risk factor composite was higher in individuals with chronic pain, greater with increasing pain severity, and influenced by health behaviors.Conclusions. Identification of a biological composite sensitive to pain severity and adaptive/maladaptive behaviors would have significant clinical and research utility.
Agent-Based Deterministic Modeling of the Bone Marrow Homeostasis
Authors: Kurhekar Manish , Deshpande Umesh
Published: June 2016

Modeling of stem cells not only describes but also predicts how a stem cell’s environment can control its fate. The first stem cell populations discovered were hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In this paper, we present a deterministic model of bone marrow (that hosts HSCs) that is consistent with several of the qualitative biological observations. This model incorporates stem cell death (apoptosis) after a certain number of cell divisions and also demonstrates that a single HSC can potentially populate the entire bone marrow. It also demonstrates that there is a production of sufficient number of differentiated cells (RBCs, WBCs, etc.). We prove that our model of bone marrow is biologically consistent and it overcomes the biological feasibility limitations of previously reported models. The major contribution of our model is the flexibility it allows in choosing model parameters which permits several different simulations to be carried out in silico without affecting the homeostatic properties of the model. We have also performed agent-based simulation of the model of bone marrow system proposed in this paper. We have also included parameter details and the results obtained from the simulation. The program of the agent-based simulation of the proposed model is made available on a publicly accessible website.
Beyond Preconditioning: Postconditioning as an Alternative Technique in the Prevention of Liver Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Theodoraki Kassiani , Karmaniolou Iosifina , Tympa Aliki , Tasoulis Marios-Konstantinos , Nastos Constantinos , Vassiliou Ioannis , Arkadopoulos Nikolaos , Smyrniotis Vassilios
Published: June 2016

Liver ischemia/reperfusion injury may significantly compromise hepatic postoperative function. Various hepatoprotective methods have been improvised, aiming at attenuating IR injury. With ischemic preconditioning (IPC), the liver is conditioned with a brief ischemic period followed by reperfusion, prior to sustained ischemia. Ischemic postconditioning (IPostC), consisting of intermittent sequential interruptions of blood flow in the early phase of reperfusion, seems to be a more feasible alternative than IPC, since the onset of reperfusion is more predictable. Regarding the potential mechanisms involved, it has been postulated that the slow intermittent oxygenation through controlled reperfusion decreases the burst production of oxygen free radicals, increases antioxidant activity, suppresses neutrophil accumulation, and modulates the apoptotic cascade. Additionally, favorable effects on mitochondrial ultrastructure and function, and upregulation of the cytoprotective properties of nitric oxide, leading to preservation of sinusoidal structure and maintenance of blood flow through the hepatic circulation could also underlie the protection afforded by postconditioning. Clinical studies are required to show whether biochemical and histological improvements afforded by the reperfusion/reocclusion cycles of postconditioning during early reperfusion can be translated to a substantial clinical benefit in liver resection and transplantation settings or to highlight more aspects of its molecular mechanisms.
Cervical Vertebral Body’s Volume as a New Parameter for Predicting the Skeletal Maturation Stages
Authors: Choi Youn-Kyung , Kim Jinmi , Yamaguchi Tetsutaro , Maki Koutaro , Ko Ching-Chang , Kim Yong-Il
Published: June 2016

This study aimed to determine the correlation between the volumetric parameters derived from the images of the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae by using cone beam computed tomography with skeletal maturation stages and to propose a new formula for predicting skeletal maturation by using regression analysis. We obtained the estimation of skeletal maturation levels from hand-wrist radiographs and volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae bodies from 102 Japanese patients (54 women and 48 men, 5–18 years of age). We performed Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and simple regression analysis. All volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae exhibited statistically significant correlations (P<0.05). The simple regression model with the greatest R-square indicated the fourth-cervical-vertebra volume as an independent variable with a variance inflation factor less than ten. The explanation power was 81.76%. Volumetric parameters of cervical vertebrae using cone beam computed tomography are useful in regression models. The derived regression model has the potential for clinical application as it enables a simple and quantitative analysis to evaluate skeletal maturation level.
Ultrastructural Mapping of the Zebrafish Gastrointestinal System as a Basis for Experimental Drug Studies
Authors: Cheng Delfine , Shami Gerald J. , Morsch Marco , Chung Roger S. , Braet Filip
Published: June 2016

Research in the field of gastroenterology is increasingly focused on the use of alternative nonrodent model organisms to provide new experimental tools to study chronic diseases. The zebrafish is a particularly valuable experimental platform to explore organ and cell structure-function relationships under relevant biological and pathobiological settings. This is due to its optical transparency and its close-to-human genetic makeup. To-date, the structure-function properties of the GIS of the zebrafish are relatively unexplored and limited to histology and fluorescent microscopy. Occasionally those studies include EM of a given subcellular process but lack the required full histological picture. In this work, we employed a novel combined biomolecular imaging approach in order to cross-correlate 3D ultrastructure over different length scales (optical-, X-ray micro-CT, and high-resolution EM). Our correlated imaging studies and subsequent data modelling provide to our knowledge the first detailed 3D picture of the zebrafish larvae GIS. Our results provide unequivocally a limit of confidence for studying various digestive disorders and drug delivery pathways in the zebrafish.
PWC-ICA: A Method for Stationary Ordered Blind Source Separation with Application to EEG
Authors: Ball Kenneth , Bigdely-Shamlo Nima , Mullen Tim , Robbins Kay
Published: June 2016

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a class of algorithms widely applied to separate sources in EEG data. Most ICA approaches use optimization criteria derived from temporal statistical independence and are invariant with respect to the actual ordering of individual observations. We propose a method of mapping real signals into a complex vector space that takes into account the temporal order of signals and enforces certain mixing stationarity constraints. The resulting procedure, which we callPairwise Complex Independent Component Analysis(PWC-ICA), performs the ICA in a complex setting and then reinterprets the results in the original observation space. We examine the performance of our candidate approach relative to several existing ICA algorithms for the blind source separation (BSS) problem on both real and simulated EEG data. On simulated data, PWC-ICA is often capable of achieving a better solution to the BSS problem than AMICA, Extended Infomax, or FastICA. On real data, the dipole interpretations of the BSS solutions discovered by PWC-ICA are physically plausible, are competitive with existing ICA approaches, and may represent sources undiscovered by other ICA methods. In conjunction with this paper, the authors have released a MATLAB toolbox that performs PWC-ICA on real, vector-valued signals.