bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic plasticity induced using high ambient temperature during embryogenesis in domesticated zebrafish, Danio rerio
Authors: Hosseini Shahrbanou , Brenig Bertram , Tetens Jens , Sharifi Ahmad Reza
Published: November 2018

Contents

Ambient temperature during early stages of life has a substantial effect on physiological processes, eliciting phenotypic plasticity during zebrafish developmental stages. Zebrafish are known to possess a noteworthy ability to modify their phenotype in dependence of environmental factors. However, there is a poor understanding of the effects of temperature during embryogenesis, which influences the biological functions such as survival ability and masculinization in later developmental stages. Since the middle embryonic phase (pharyngula period) is genetically the most conserved stage in embryogenesis, it is very susceptible to embryonic lethality in developmental processes of vertebrates. Here, we tested the effect of transient perturbations (heat shock) during early development (5–24 hr post‐fertilization; hpf) at 35°C compared to control group at 28°C, on survival ability of zebrafish to study the embryonic and post‐embryonic mortality. We studied the variation of heat‐induced masculinization among and across the families in response to high temperature. Furthermore, morphometric traits of adult zebrafish at different developmental time points were measured in order to estimate the temperature × sex interaction effect. We found the highest embryonic mortality around the gastrula and segmentation periods in both experimental groups, with significantly lower survival ability in the temperature‐treated group (73.30% ± 0.58% vs. 70.19% ± 0.57%, respectively). A higher hatching success was observed in the control group (71.08% ± 0.61%) compared to the heat‐induced group (67.95% ± 0.60%). A distinct reduction in survival ability was also observed in both experimental groups during the first two weeks after hatching, followed by a reduced level of changes thereafter. We found sex ratio imbalances across all families, with 25.2% more males under temperature treatment. Our study on growth performance has shown a positive effect of increased temperature on growth plasticity, with a greater impact on female fish in response to high ambient temperature.
Eyetracking measures of social attention in young children: How gaze patterns translate to real‐life social behaviors
Authors: van Rijn Sophie , Urbanus Evelien , Swaab Hanna
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate to what degree eyetracking paradigms of social attention, in combination with synchronous measurements of affective arousal, were associated with real‐life social behavior of children aged 3–7 years. Several eyetracking paradigms were used, involving social interactions, single/multiple faces, and emotional faces. Arousal was measured using electrocardiography. Real‐life social behavior was measured using structured behavior observations, parent questionnaires, and developmental interviews. Time spent looking at social stimuli was significantly associated with real‐life social behaviors, and independent of age, IQ, or gender. Paradigms involving social interactions and looking time to the eyes showed the most consistent relations with social behaviors. Stronger affective arousal responses were associated with shorter looking times toward eyes, which in turn were associated with less social awareness in real life. Eyetracking and arousal measures allow for sensitive and objective assessment of social abilities that have great relevance for real‐life social behaviors, with the potential to use in a broad and diverse population. These measures may help gain insight into the underpinnings of social behavior and may serve as a valuable marker or outcome measure in understanding, monitoring, and stimulating social‐emotional development early in life.
Ureaplasma urealyticum pyelonephritis presenting with progressive dysuria, renal failure, and neurologic symptoms in an immunocompromised patient
Authors: Schwartz Drew J. , Elward Alexis , Storch Gregory A. , Rosen David A.
Published: November 2018

Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterial species correlated with urethritis in healthy individuals and invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. We describe a 20‐year‐old female with a history of remote heart transplant on everolimus, mycophenolate, and rituximab presenting with progressive urinary tract symptoms, renal failure, and neurologic symptoms. An extensive workup ultimately identified U urealyticum infection, and the patient successfully recovered after a course of azithromycin and doxycycline.
Metabolite profiling and genome‐wide association studies reveal response mechanisms of phosphorus deficiency in maize seedling
Authors: Luo Bowen , Ma Peng , Nie Zhi , Zhang Xiao , He Xuan , Ding Xin , Feng Xing , Lu Quanxiao , Ren Zhiyong , Lin Haijian , Wu Yuanqi , Shen Yaou , Zhang Suzhi , Wu Ling , Liu Dan , Pan Guangtang , Rong Tingzhao , Gao Shibin
Published: November 2018

Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is an essential element in numerous metabolic reactions and signaling pathways, but the molecular details of these pathways remain largely unknown. In this study, metabolite profiles of maize (Zea mays L.) leaves and roots were compared between six low‐Pi‐sensitive lines and six low‐Pi‐tolerant lines under Pi‐sufficient and Pi‐deficient conditions to identify pathways and genes associated with the low‐Pi stress response. Results showed that under Pi deprivation the concentrations of nucleic acids, organic acids and sugars were increased, but that the concentrations of phosphorylated metabolites, certain amino acids, lipid metabolites and nitrogenous compounds were decreased. The levels of secondary metabolites involved in plant immune reactions, including benzoxazinoids and flavonoids, were significantly different in plants grown under Pi‐deficient conditions. Among them, the 11 most stable metabolites showed significant differences under low‐ and normal‐Pi conditions based on the coefficient of variation (CV). Isoleucine and alanine were the most stable metabolites for the identification of Pi‐sensitive and Pi‐resistant maize inbred lines. With the significant correlation between morphological traits and metabolites, five low‐Pi‐responding consensus genes associated with morphological traits and simultaneously involved in metabolic pathways were mined by combining metabolites profiles and genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The consensus genes induced by Pi deficiency in maize seedlings were also validated by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Moreover, these genes were further validated in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, in which the glucose‐6‐phosphate‐1‐epimerase encoding gene mediated yield and correlated traits to phosphorus availability. Together, our results provide a framework for understanding the metabolic processes underlying Pi‐deficient responses and give multiple insights into improving the efficiency of Pi use in maize.
LncRNA33732‐respiratory burst oxidase module associated with WRKY1 in tomato‐ Phytophthora infestans interactions
Authors: Cui Jun , Jiang Ning , Meng Jun , Yang Guanglei , Liu Weiwei , Zhou Xiaoxu , Ma Ning , Hou Xinxin , Luan Yushi
Published: November 2018

Our previous studies indicated that tomato WRKY1 transcription factor acts as a positive regulator during tomato resistance to Phytophthora infestans. However, the molecular mechanism of WRKY1‐mediated resistance regulation remains unclear. Here, we used a comparative transcriptome analysis between wild‐type and WRKY1‐overexpressing tomato plants to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and long non‐coding RNAs (DELs), and we examined long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA)‐gene networks. The promoter sequences of the upregulated DEGs and DELs were analyzed. Among 1073 DEGs and 199 DELs, 1 kb 5′‐upstream regions of 59 DEGs and 22 DELs contain the W‐box, the target sequence of the WRKY1. The results of promoter−β‐glucuronidase (GUS) fusion and yeast one‐hybrid assay showed that lncRNA33732 was activated by WRKY1 through sequence‐specific interactions with the W‐box element in its promoter. The overexpression and silencing analysis of lncRNA33732 in tomato showed that lncRNA33732 acts as a positive regulator and enhanced tomato resistance to P. infestans by induction of the expression of respiratory burst oxidase (RBOH) and increase in the accumulation of H2O2. When the expression of RBOH gene was inhibited in tomato plants, H2O2 accumulation decreased and resistance were impaired. These findings suggest that lncRNA33732 activated by WRKY1 induces RBOH expression to increase H2O2 accumulation in early defense reaction of tomato to P. infestans attack. Our results provide insights into the WRKY1−lncRNA33732−RBOH module involved in the regulation of H2O2 accumulation and resistance to P. infestans, as well as provide candidates to enhance broad‐spectrum resistance to pathogens in tomato.
Consequences of photosystem‐I damage and repair on photosynthesis and carbon use in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Lima‐Melo Yugo , Gollan Peter J. , Tikkanen Mikko , Silveira Joaquim A. G. , Aro Eva‐Mari
Published: November 2018

Natural growth environments commonly include fluctuating conditions that can disrupt the photosynthetic energy balance and induce photoinhibition through inactivation of the photosynthetic apparatus. Photosystem II (PSII) photoinhibition is efficiently reversed by the PSII repair cycle, whereas photoinhibited photosystem I (PSI) recovers much more slowly. In the current study, treatment of the Arabidopsis thaliana mutant proton gradient regulation 5 (pgr5) with excess light was used to compromise PSI functionality in order to investigate the impact of photoinhibition and subsequent recovery on photosynthesis and carbon metabolism. The negative impact of PSI photoinhibition on CO2 fixation was especially deleterious under low irradiance. Impaired starch accumulation after PSI photoinhibition was reflected in reduced respiration in the dark, but this was not attributed to impaired sugar synthesis. Normal chloroplast and mitochondrial metabolisms were shown to recover despite the persistence of substantial PSI photoinhibition for several days. The results of this study indicate that the recovery of PSI function involves the reorganization of the light‐harvesting antennae, and suggest a pool of surplus PSI that can be recruited to support photosynthesis under demanding conditions.
Comparing approval procedures for new drugs
Authors: Houy Nicolas , Jelovac Izabela
Published: November 2018

We analyse how drug approval procedures influence the incentives of pharmaceutical firms to commercialise new drugs in the presence of international reference pricing. Since 1995, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) coordinates a centralised approval procedure for specific new drugs in the EU. With such a centralised procedure, the EMA grants simultaneous drug approvals for all EU countries. Alongside, non‐centralised procedures coexist for approvals of other new drugs and approvals can be sequential. We focus on the effects of the exogenous timing of drug approvals, either simultaneous or sequential, and we compare the effects of centralised versus non‐centralised procedures on the firms’ incentives to commercialise new drugs in different markets. In a context of international reference pricing, we show that a centralised procedure limits the number of countries where the firm commercialises new drugs, compared to a non‐centralised procedure. We also show in a simplified framework that countries are better off with non‐centralised procedures, while pharmaceutical firms in theory prefer the drug to be approved everywhere as soon as possible, as in an early centralised procedure. This is in line with the stated objective of the EMA to generate savings for the pharmaceutical firms.
Phenotypic similarity leads to taxonomic inconsistency: A revision of the lowland's antpittas
Authors: Carneiro Lincoln , Bravo Gustavo A. , Aleixo Alexandre
Published: November 2018

A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of lowland antpittas in the genera Hylopezus and Myrmothera indicated that Hylopezus, as currently defined, is paraphyletic with respect to Myrmothera and Grallaricula. Specifically, both species now placed in Myrmothera, Hylopezus dives, Hylopezus fulviventris and Hylopezus berlepschi form a strongly supported clade that is sister to a clade comprised by Hylopezus perspicillatus, Hylopezus auricularis, Hylopezus ochroleucus, Hylopezus whittakeri, Hylopezus paraensis, Hylopezus macularius, and Hylopezus dilutus. Furthermore, Hylopezus nattereri is sister to a clade glade grouping Myrmothera, Hylopezus, and Grallaricula, representing the most divergent lineage in this complex. Our approach to assess diagnosability and define generic boundaries among these taxa integrates phylogenetic relationships with morphological and acoustic traits. Given that phenotypic and ecological differences do not warrant merging H. nattereri into any other genus, and because there is no generic name available for H. nattereri, we describe herein a new genus for this Atlantic Forest endemic lineage, Cryptopezus gen. n. We also redefine generic limits in Myrmothera and Hylopezus to have a taxonomic classification concordant with their phylogenetic relationships.
Infinite-shear viscosity plateau of salt-free aqueous xanthan solutions
Authors: Dakhil H. , Auhl D. , Wierschem A.
Published: November 2018

We study aqueous xanthan solutions at shear rates up to about 105 s−1. At these shear rates, the salt-free solutions show an infinite-shear viscosity plateau. Depending on the xanthan concentration, we find two different regimes with scaling laws well known for the zero-shear viscosity of dilute and semidilute solutions: The crossover concentration is considerably higher than in the first Newtonian branch, which can be related to the orientation of the polyelectrolytes. In the second regime, the normal stress differences increase with an exponent of about 1, indicating that the polymer solution behaves like nematic liquid crystals or rigid fiber suspensions. In the first regime, the exponent is smaller suggesting that the polyelectrolytes behave more flexible.
Understanding the full burden of drowning: a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of fatal and non-fatal drowning in Australia
Authors: Peden Amy E , Mahony Alison J , Barnsley Paul D , Scarr Justin
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The epidemiology of fatal drowning is increasingly understood. By contrast, there is relatively little population-level research on non-fatal drowning. This study compares data on fatal and non-fatal drowning in Australia, identifying differences in outcomes to guide identification of the best practice in minimising the lethality of exposure to drowning.

Design

A subset of data on fatal unintentional drowning from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database was compared on a like-for-like basis to data on hospital separations sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Hospital Morbidity Database for the 13-year period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2015. A restrictive definition was applied to the fatal drowning data to estimate the effect of the more narrow inclusion criteria for the non-fatal data (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes W65-74 and first reported cause only). Incidence and ratios of fatal to non-fatal drowning with univariate and Χ2analysis are reported and used to calculate case-fatality rates.

Setting

Australia, 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2015.

Participants

Unintentional fatal drowning cases and cases of non-fatal drowning resulting in hospital separation.

Results

2272 fatalities and 6158 hospital separations occurred during the study period, a ratio of 1:2.71. Children 0–4 years (1:7.63) and swimming pools (1:4.35) recorded high fatal to non-fatal ratios, whereas drownings among people aged 65–74 years (1:0.92), 75+ years (1:0.87) and incidents in natural waterways (1:0.94) were more likely to be fatal.

Conclusions

This study highlights the extent of the drowning burden when non-fatal incidents are considered, although coding limitations remain. Documenting the full burden of drowning is vital to ensuring that the issue is fully understood and its prevention adequately resourced. Further research examining the severity of non-fatal drowning cases requiring hospitalisation and tracking outcomes of those discharged will provide a more complete picture.
Evaluating the diversity and composition of bacterial communities associated withVachellia pachyceras— the only existing native tree species in the Kuwait desert
Authors: Suleiman Majda K. , Dixon Kingsley , Commander Lucy , Nevill Paul , Quoreshi Ali M. , Bhat Narayana R. , Manuvel Anitha J. , Sivadasan Mini T.
Published: November 2018

We investigated the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric bulk soils as well as root nodule bacterial communities of Vachellia pachyceras — the only native tree species existing in the Kuwait desert. Community fingerprinting comparisons and 16S rDNA sequence identifications were used for characterization of the bacterial population using specific primers. The bacterial characterization of soil samples revealed four major phyla: Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. In situ (desert) samples of both rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric bulk soil were dominated by the bacterial phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, whereas the phylum Betaproteobacteria was present only in non-rhizospheric bulk soil. Ex situ (nursery growing condition) V. pachyceras resulted in restricted bacterial communities dominated by members of a single phylum, Bacteroidetes. Results indicated that the soil organic matter and rhizospheric environments might drive the bacterial community. Despite harsh climatic conditions, data demonstrated that V. pachyceras roots harbor endophytic bacterial populations. Our findings on bacterial community composition and structure have major significance for evaluating how Kuwait’s extreme climatic conditions affect bacterial communities. The baseline data obtained in this study will be useful and assist in formulating strategies in ecological restoration programs, including the application of inoculation technologies.
Air Data Sensor Fault Detection with an Augmented Floating Limiter
Authors: Balzano Fabio , Fravolini Mario L. , Napolitano Marcello R. , d’Urso Stéphane , Crispoltoni Michele , del Core Giuseppe
Published: November 2018

Although very uncommon, the sequential failures of all aircraft Pitot tubes, with the consequent loss of signals for all the dynamic parameters from the Air Data System, have been found to be the cause of a number of catastrophic accidents in aviation history. This paper proposes a robust data-driven method to detect faulty measurements of aircraft airspeed, angle of attack, and angle of sideslip. This approach first consists in the appropriate selection of suitable sets of model regressors to be used as inputs of neural network-based estimators to be used online for failure detection. The setup of the proposed fault detection method is based on the statistical analysis of the residual signals in fault-free conditions, which, in turn, allows the tuning of a pair of floating limiter detectors that act as time-varying fault detection thresholds with the objective of reducing both the false alarm rate and the detection delay. The proposed approach has been validated using real flight data by injecting artificial ramp and hard failures on the above sensors. The results confirm the capabilities of the proposed scheme showing accurate detection with a desirable low level of false alarm when compared with an equivalent scheme with conventional “a priori set” fixed detection thresholds. The achieved performance improvement consists mainly in a substantial reduction of the detection time while keeping desirable low false alarm rates.
Pancreatoduodenectomy without Vascular Resection in Patients with Primary Resectable Adenocarcinoma and Unilateral Venous Contact: A Matched Case Study
Authors: Morelli Luca , Berchiolli Raffaella , Guadagni Simone , Palmeri Matteo , Furbetta Niccolò , Gianardi Desirée , Bianchini Matteo , Funel Niccola , Caprili Giovanni , Pollina Luca Emanuele , Di Candio Giulio , Mosca Franco , Di Franco Gregorio , Cuschieri Alfred
Published: November 2018

Purpose. To investigate the oncological outcome and survival of patients following a conservative approach on the portal-mesenteric axis, in an intraoperative ultrasound-selected group of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), performed on patients with primary resectable with vascular contact (prVC) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods. A consecutive series of patients who underwent PD for PDAC at our tertiary care center, between 2008 and 2017, were reviewed. A total of 156 PDs and 88 total pancreatectomies were performed during the study period, including 35 vascular resections. We identified a group of 40 (25.6%) patients with prVC-PDAC in whom after checking the feasibility with intraoperative ultrasound, we were able to perform PD by separation of the tumor from the portomesenteric axis avoiding vascular resection, without residual macroscopic disease (no vascular resection, nvrPD), and compared this group, using case-matched methodology, with the standard PD (sPD) group of primary resectable without vascular contact- (prwVC-) PDAC. Results. The median follow-up was 28.5 ± 23.2 months in the sPD group and 23.8 ± 20.8 months in the nvrPD group (p=0.35). Isolated local recurrence rate was 2/40 (5%) in both groups. Additionally, there were no statistical differences in the systemic progression of the disease (42.5% sPD vs. 45% nvrPD, p=0.82) or local plus synchronous systemic disease rates (2.5% sPD vs. 7.5% nvrPD, p=0.30). The median survival was 22 months for the sPD group and 23 months for the nvrPD group, p=0.86. The overall survival was similar in the two groups (1 y: 76.3% sPD vs. 70.0% nvrPD; 3 y: 35.6% vs. 31.6%; and 5 y: 28.5% vs. 25.3%; p=0.80). Conclusions. PD without vascular resection can be considered safe and oncologically acceptable in selected patients with preoperative diagnosis of prVC-PDAC. The poor prognosis of PDAC is related to the aggressive biology and systemic spread of the tumor, rather than the local control of the disease.
EGFR-Targeted Immunotoxin Exerts Antitumor Effects on Esophageal Cancers by Increasing ROS Accumulation and Inducing Apoptosis via Inhibition of the Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway
Authors: Yang Yun , Tian Ziyin , Ding Yanke , Li Xiaojing , Zhang Ziheng , Yang Liu , Zhao Fangyu , Ren Feng , Guo Rui
Published: November 2018

Previously, we developed a novel EGFR-targeted antibody (denoted as Pan), which has superior antitumor activity against EGFR-overexpressed tumors. However, it shows marginal effect on the growth of esophageal cancers. Therefore, the variable region of Pan was fused to a fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38) to create the immunotoxin, denoted as Ptoxin (PT). Results indicated that PT shows more effective antitumor activity as compared with Pan both on EGFR-overexpressed KYSE-450 and KYSE-150 esophageal cancer cells, especially on KYSE-450 cells. Moreover, treatment of PT induces regression of KYSE-450 tumor xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, we investigated the potential mechanism involved in the enhanced antitumor effects of PT. Data showed that PT was more potent in reducing the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK1/2. More importantly, we for the first time found that PT was more effective than Pan in inducing ROS accumulation by suppression of the Nrf2-Keap1 antioxidant pathway, and then induced apoptosis in KYSE-450 esophageal cancer cells, which may partly explain the more sensitive response of KYSE-450 to PT treatment. To conclude, our study provides a promising therapeutic approach for immunotoxin-based esophageal cancer treatment.
STING Signaling Promotes Apoptosis, Necrosis, and Cell Death: An Overview and Update
Authors: Liu Song , Guan Wenxian
Published: November 2018

STING is a newly identified intracellular sensor of foreign and endogenous DNA. STING has been recognized as an activator of immune responses by TBK1/IRF3 and NF-κB pathways, and it is suggested to play critical roles in host defense, autoimmune diseases, and tumor immunity. Recent studies have revealed that the outcome of STING activation could vary between distinct cell types and scenarios. STING activation in certain cell types triggered cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. This effect could be critical for preventing unnecessary or excessive inflammatory events and maintaining host immune homeostasis. This review is dedicated to summarize recent evidences in the field of STING-mediated cell death and to demonstrate dual outcomes of STING signaling. Besides canonical immune responses represented by IFN and TNF productions, STING signaling can also induce cell death events in a variety of cell types. The double-faced characteristics of STING signaling requires further exploration and precious regulation before tailoring clinical strategies for associated diseases.
Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate (PDTC) Inhibits DON‐Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptosis via the NF‐κB/iNOS Pathway
Authors: Wan Dan , Wu Qinghua , Qu Wei , Liu Gang , Wang Xu
Published: November 2018

Oxidative stress is closely linked to the toxic responses of various cell types in normal and pathophysiological conditions. Deoxynivalenol (DON), an inducer of stress responses in the ribosome and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), causes mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis through oxidative stress in humans and animals. The NF‐κB pathway, which is closely linked to oxidative stress, is hypothesized to be a critical signaling pathway for DON‐induced toxicity and is a potential target for intervention. The present study was conducted to explore the protective effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) from the toxic effects of DON in rat anterior pituitary GH3 cells. Our results showed that DON activated the NF‐κB transcription factors and induced cellular oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Morphological studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cell apoptosis analyses suggested that PDTC prevented DON‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, probably by preventing the DON‐induced translocation of NF‐κB p65 into the nucleus, and by inhibiting DON‐induced iNOS expression. This led to the blocking of the NF‐κB pathway and inhibition of iNOS activity.
A Prosthetic Solution to Poorly Placed Implants in the Posterior Mandible
Authors: Treml Michele Albino de Oliveira , Schenkel Laerte Balduíno , Filho Guenther Schuldt
Published: November 2018

The objective of the present study is to find a solution for patients who have multiple implants that are poorly placed in the posterior mandible and require a solution to be rehabilitated, taking into account some diagnostic principles such as maintenance of the occlusal plane, maintenance of correct dental arch inclination, and adequate vertical dimension.
Evidence Linking Brain Activity Modulation to Age and to Deductive Training
Authors: Álvarez Merino P. , Requena C. , Salto F.
Published: November 2018

Electrical brain activity modulation in terms of changes in its intensity and spatial distribution is a function of age and task demand. However, the dynamics of brain modulation is unknown when it depends on external factors such as training. The aim of this research is to verify the effect of deductive reasoning training on the modulation in the brain activity of healthy younger and older adults (N=47 (mean age of 21 ± 3.39) and N=38 (mean age of 68.92 ± 5.72)). The analysis reveals the benefits of training, showing that it lowers cerebral activation while increasing the number of correct responses in the trained reasoning task (p<0.001). The brain source generators were identified by time-averaging low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) current density images. In both groups, a bilateral overactivation associated with the task and not with age was identified. However, while the profile of bilateral activation in younger adults was symmetrical in anterior areas, in the older ones, the profile was located asymmetrically in anterior and posterior areas. Consequently, bilaterality may be a marker of how the brain adapts to maintain cognitive function in demanding tasks in both age groups. However, the differential bilateral locations across age groups indicate that the tendency to brain modulation is determined by age.
Positive Solutions for a System of Fractional Differential Equations with Two Parameters
Authors: Li Hongyu , Zhang Junting
Published: November 2018

In this paper, the existence of positive solutions in terms of different values of two parameters for a system of conformable-type fractional differential equations with the p-Laplacian operator is obtained via Guo-Krasnosel’skii fixed point theorem.
RIPK3-Mediated Necroptosis and Neutrophil Infiltration Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Xie Guomin , Liang Li , Liu Hui , Pan Jing , Cheng Hao , Wang Hua , Qu Aijuan , Wang Yan
Published: November 2018

Alcoholic cirrhosis is an end-stage liver disease with impaired survival and often requires liver transplantation. Recent data suggests that receptor-interacting protein kinase-3- (RIPK3-) mediated necroptosis plays an important role in alcoholic cirrhosis. Additionally, neutrophil infiltration is the most characteristic pathologic hallmark of alcoholic hepatitis. Whether RIPK3 level is correlated with neutrophil infiltration or poor prognosis in alcoholic cirrhotic patients is still unknown. We aimed to determine the correlation of RIPK3 and neutrophil infiltration with the prognosis in the end-stage alcoholic cirrhotic patients. A total of 20 alcoholic cirrhotic patients subjected to liver transplantation and 5 normal liver samples from control patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Neutrophil infiltration and necroptosis were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for myeloperoxidase (MPO) and RIPK3, respectively. The noninvasive score system (model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)) and histological score systems (Ishak, Knodell, and ALD grading and ALD stage) were used to evaluate the prognosis. Neutrophil infiltration was aggravated in patients with a high MELD score (≥32) in the liver. The MPO and RIPK3 levels in the liver were positively related to the Ishak score. The RIPK3 was also significantly and positively related to the Knodell score. In conclusion, RIPK3-mediated necroptosis and neutrophil-mediated alcoholic liver inflammatory response are highly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with end-stage alcoholic cirrhosis. RIPK3 and MPO might serve as potential predictors for poor prognosis in alcoholic cirrhotic patients.
Evaluation of Long-Term Inflammatory Responses after Implantation of a Novel Fully Bioabsorbable Scaffold Composed of Poly-L-lactic Acid and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles
Authors: Feng Gaoke , Nguyen Thanh Dinh , Yi Xin , Lyu Yongnan , Lan Zhiyuan , Xia Jinggang , Wu Tim , Jiang Xuejun
Published: November 2018

Objectives. Our previous studies have confirmed the superior biocompatibility of the poly-L-lactic acid/amorphous calcium phosphate (PLLA/ACP) scaffolds compared to PLLA scaffolds at 1-month. In the present study, the long-term inflammatory responses of PLLA/ACP scaffolds in a porcine coronary model have been explored. Methods. The 24 PLLA scaffolds and 24 PLLA/ACP scaffolds were implanted into the coronary arteries of 24 miniature pigs. Serum levels of ALT, AST, and CRP were measured before operation, as well as 1-month, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months. The vascular segments were taken for pathomorphological observation. HE staining was used for the inflammatory score and fibrosis score. Immunohistochemical staining detected positive expression indexes of MMP-9 and NF-κB. The expression of inflammation-related proteins of IL-1 and IL-6 was detected by Western Blot in surrounding tissues of scaffolds. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups in ALT, AST, and UR at different time points (P<0.05). The inflammation score in the PLLA/ACP group was lower than that in the PLLA group at 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months (P<0.05), and the fibrosis score was reduced in the PLLA/ACP group than that in the PLLA group at 12-months and 24-months (P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB in the PLLA/ACP group was significantly less than that in the PLLA group at 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months (P<0.05). The protein expression of IL-1 in the PLLA/ACP group was decreased than that in the PLLA group at 12-months and 24-months (P<0.05). Furthermore, the protein expression of IL-1 was significantly lower than that in the PLLA group at 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months (P<0.01). Conclusions. The supplement of ACP nanoparticles can effectively reduce the long-term inflammatory reaction caused by PLLA and has good safety and biocompatibility. The novel bioabsorbable PLLA/ACP scaffold provides reliable guidance for the development and clinical application of bioabsorbable scaffolds in the future.
A New Mining and Protection Method Based on Sensitive Data
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyao , Liu Yuqing , You Hao , Guo Liangmin , Zhao Chuanxin
Published: November 2018

The traditional method of sensitive data identification for data stream has a large amount of calculation and does not reflect the impact of time on the data value, and the mining accuracy is not high. In view of the above problems we firstly adopt the sliding window mechanism to divide the data flow according to time and delay the dataset according to the characteristics of the data flow in the sliding window to achieve the purpose of saving time and space. At the same time, threshold sensitivity analysis is used to find out the optimal threshold. Finally, a K-anonymous algorithm based on dynamic rounding function is employed to achieve the protection of sensitive data. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively mine the sensitive data in the data stream and can effectively protect the sensitive data.
Hip Fracture Nonunions: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Special Considerations in Elderly Patients
Authors: Babcock Sharon , Kellam James F.
Published: November 2018

In the United States, more than 300,000 hip fractures occur annually in the elderly population with associated significant morbidity and mortality. Both intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures have inherent treatment challenges and therefore are at risk of nonunion complications. A systematic assessment including radiographic, metabolic, and infectious evaluations should be completed for all patients suspected of nonunion. Failed internal fixation of intracapsular hip fractures is typically treated with arthroplasty, while extracapsular proximal femur nonunions may be amenable to revision internal fixation or arthroplasty. While not a classic hip fracture, bisphosphate associated subtrochanteric femur fractures affect a similar patient population and are historically difficult to treat. Atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures are at increased risk of nonunion given the altered biologic environment secondary to bisphosphonate use; therefore adjuvant therapies may be beneficial in setting of revision fixation. Having a thorough understanding of nonunion risks, recognition, evaluation, and treatment is necessary for appropriate patient care.
Inositols in Insulin Signaling and Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Bevilacqua Arturo , Bizzarri Mariano
Published: November 2018

In the past decades, both the importance of inositol for human health and the complex interaction between glucose and inositol have been the subject of increasing consideration. Glucose has been shown to interfere with cellular transmembrane transport of inositol, inhibiting, among others, its intestinal absorption. Moreover, intracellular glucose is required for de novo biosynthesis of inositol through the inositol-3-phosphate synthase 1 pathway, while a few glucose-related metabolites, like sorbitol, reduce intracellular levels of inositol. Furthermore, inositol, via its major isomersmyo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, and probably some of its phosphate intermediate metabolites and correlated enzymes (like inositol hexakisphosphate kinase) participate in both insulin signaling and glucose metabolism by influencing distinct pathways. Indeed, clinical data support the beneficial effects exerted by inositol by reducing glycaemia levels and hyperinsulinemia and buffering negative effects of sustained insulin stimulation upon the adipose tissue and the endocrine system. Due to these multiple effects, myoIns has become a reliable treatment option, as opposed to hormonal stimulation, for insulin-resistant PCOS patients.
Positive Mental Attitude Associated with Lower 35-Year Mortality: The Leisure World Cohort Study
Authors: Paganini-Hill Annlia , Kawas Claudia H. , Corrada María M.
Published: November 2018

Background. Although emerging research has suggested that “positive psychological well-being” is associated with better health outcomes, studies of long-term health and mortality in the elderly are limited. This study assessed the relationship of mental attitude and mortality in older adults followed up for 35 years. Methods. In the 1980s, the Leisure World Cohort Study recruited residents of a California retirement community to a prospective cohort study of health promotion and disease prevention. Participants completed a postal survey including seven positively worded items from the Zung self-rating depression scale. Age-adjusted and multivariable-adjusted (for lifestyle behaviors and disease conditions) hazard ratios (HRs) for death were calculated using Cox regression for 8682 women and 4992 men (median age at entry, 74 years). During follow-up (1981–2016), 13,405 participants died (median age at death, 88 years). Results. In both women and men, HRs for death were significantly related to mental attitude with increasing risk with decreasing positive responses for total attitude and the seven individual items. The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for death for individuals in the lowest vs. highest quarter of total attitude was 1.24 (1.16, 1.32) for women and 1.30 (1.19, 1.41) for men. Some attenuation in the observed associations occurred after adjustment for potential confounders and after elimination of the first five years of follow-up. Conclusions. Our study suggests that persons with negative attitude have an increased risk of death even after many years of follow-up. Research into strategies to improve mental outlook may help improve the quantity as well as the quality of life.
Early Stone Manipulation in Urinary Tract Infection Associated with Obstructing Nephrolithiasis
Authors: Swonke Megan L. , Mahmoud Ali M. , Farran Elias J. , Dafashy Tamer J. , Kerr Preston S. , Kosarek Christopher D. , Sonstein Joseph
Published: November 2018

A urinary tract infection (UTI) and sepsis secondary to an obstructing stone are one of the few true urological emergencies. The accepted management of infected ureteral stones includes emergent decompression of the collecting system as well as antibiotic therapy. Despite this, no consensus guidelines clarify the optimal time to undergo definitive stone management following decompression. Historically, our institution has performed ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy (URS-LL) treatment at least 1 to 2 weeks after decompression to allow for clinical improvement and completion of an antibiotic course. In this case series, we retrospectively review four cases in which patients had a documented UTI secondary to an obstructive ureteral stone. The patients underwent urgent decompression and, based on labs and clinical improvement, were subsequently treated with URS-LL. The presented patients received URS-LL within 5 days of decompression and antibiotics. The patients had no sepsis related postoperative complications from the accelerated course of treatment, resulting in discharge within 2 days following URS-LL. We provide a detailed examination of each patient presentation to describe our institution’s experience with treating infected kidney stones within days of urgent decompression in order to question the previous standard of treating an infected kidney stone with a more delayed intervention.
Factors Associated with Depression among the Elderly Living in Urban Vietnam
Authors: Dao An T. M. , Nguyen Van T. , Nguyen Huy V. , Nguyen Lien T. K.
Published: November 2018

The proportion of elderly people in big cities of developing countries, including Vietnam, is rapidly increasing during the age of rampant urbanization. This is being followed by a sustained rise of illnesses, especially mental health issues. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between depression and the factors associated with depression among the elderly. In a cross-sectional study, 299 elderly living in Hanoi, Vietnam, were approached for data collection. Self-reported depression among the elderly was 66.9% (32.8% mild, 30.4% moderate, and 3.7% severe cases). In multivariate analysis, there were significant associations between age, number of physical activities, number of medicine intake, and 3 domains of quality of life (physical health, psychological health, and environmental health) and depression. Age and the number of medicine intake are positively correlated with depression, accounting for 57.94% and 58.93%, respectively. On the contrary, the number of physical activities and the 3 domains of quality life mentioned above are negatively correlated with depression. In the urban setting of a developing country like Vietnam, the elderly have experienced common depression. Recognizing depression among the elderly—which is individual and social—helps us design public health programs. Screening for early depression, joining social programming, and participating in physical activities may improve the mental life of the elderly.
Analysis of Cause of Endodontic Failure of C-Shaped Root Canals
Authors: Kim Yemi , Lee Donghee , Kim Da-Vin , Kim Sin-Young
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze various characteristics and classification of C-shaped root canals and evaluate the causes of endodontic failure of C-shaped root canals by examining the resected root surface with an endodontic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Forty-two teeth with C-shaped root canals were included in this study and had undergone intentional replantation surgery. Before surgery, periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography were taken. The root canal configuration was analyzed and classified according to Melton’s classification at coronal and apical level. After injection of 1 : 100,000 epinephrine with 2% lidocaine, the tooth was carefully extracted. After the root-end resection, the resected root surface was examined using an operating microscope and SEM. Mandibular second molars were most frequently involved teeth (90.4%). The most frequently observed root canal configurations were C1 at the coronal level (45.2%) and C3 at the apical 3 mm level (45.2%). The most common cause of failure for a C-shaped root canal treatment was a leaky canal (45.2%), followed by an isthmus (23.8%), missing canal, overfilling, and iatrogenic problems. In conclusion, C-shaped root canals were most frequently found in mandibular second molars. The most common cause of failure was a leaky canal and isthmus.
Exploiting Impacts of Intercell Interference on SWIPT‐Assisted Non‐Orthogonal Multiple Access
Authors: Nguyen Thanh-Luan , Do Dinh-Thuan
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we examine the influence of intercell interference (ICI) on the system outage behavior with important derived results in the proposed model of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) together with the nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) using the amplify‐and‐forward protocol. We derive the closed‐form expression of coverage probability for two NOMA users as a function of the signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (SINR). To fully take into account the effect of ICI, we adopt more practical parameters to evaluate the optimal power splitting coefficient regarding energy harvesting system performance analysis. Furthermore, to consider a more practical scenario, based on the fact that the number of ICI sources can affect wireless powered relays, we investigate the average outage probability by considering impacts of the reasonable number of participating ICI.
Polycystic Ovarian Condition May Be a Risk Factor for Ovarian Tumor Development in the Laying Hen Model of Spontaneous Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lee Hyun Ju , Bahr Janice M. , Bitterman Pincas , Basu Sanjib , Sharma Sameer , Abramowicz Jacques S. , Barua Animesh
Published: November 2018

Chronic inflammation and long-standing oxidative stress are potential predisposing factors for developing malignancies, including ovarian cancer (OVCA). Information on the association of ovarian chronic abnormal conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), with the development of OVCA is unknown. The goal of this study was to examine if polycystic ovarian conditions are associated with OVCA development. In the exploratory study, 3–4-year-old laying hens were randomly selected and examined for the presence of polycystic ovaries with cancer (PCOC). In the prospective study, hens were monitored by ultrasound scanning to detect the incidence of a polycystic ovaries and subsequent development of OVCA. Tissues from normal ovaries and PCOC were examined for macrophage infiltration, expression of interleukin-16, and superoxide dismutase 2. The exploratory study detected spontaneous PCOC at early and late stages in hens. PCOC in hens were accompanied with influx of macrophages (17.33 ± 2.26 in PCOC at the early stage and 24.24 ± 2.5 in PCOC at the late stage in 20 mm2areas of tissue as compared with 6.77 ± 1.58 in normal hens). Expression of interleukin-16 was more than 2.5-fold higher and superoxide dismutase 2 was approximately 3-fold higher in PCOC hens than normal hens. The prospective study showed the development of OVCA in some hens with polycystic ovarian condition (PCO). PCOC development in hens was associated with chronic inflammation in the ovary. Laying hens may represent a potential model for the study of spontaneous PCOS and its long-term risk of PCOC development.
Recent Advances in Ferroelectric Nanosensors: Toward Sensitive Detection of Gas, Mechanothermal Signals, and Radiation
Authors: Mistewicz Krystian
Published: November 2018

A spontaneous polarization that occurs below the Curie temperature is characteristic for ferroelectric materials. This polarization is sensitive to many external conditions such as an electric field, mechanical deformation, temperature, and chemical and biological factors. Therefore, bulk ferroelectric materials have been used for decades in sensors and actuators. Recently, special attention has been paid to ferroelectric nanostructures that represent better sensing properties than their bulk counterparts. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of applications of nanoferroelectrics in different types of sensors, e.g., gas sensors and piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and piezoresistive sensors of mechanothermal signals, as well as photodetectors, ionizing radiation detectors, and biosensors. The recent achievements and challenges in these fields are summarized. This review also outlines the prospects for future development of sensors based on nanosized ferroelectrics.
The Existence and Stability of Two Periodic Solutions on a Class of Riccati’s Equation
Authors: Ni Hua
Published: November 2018

The existence of two periodic solutions of the Riccati’s equation when the coefficients areω-periodic and have different signs is obtained. One of these solutions is unstable onRand the other one is attractive on some region. Finally, an example is presented.