bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonspecific Lymphocytic Myocarditis in Baboons Is Associated with Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Authors: Andrade Marcia C. R. , Dick Edward J. , Guardado-Mendoza Rodolfo , Hohmann Michaelle L. , Mejido Diana C. P. , VandeBerg John L. , DiCarlo Cheryl D. , Hubbard Gene B.
Published: September 2018

Non-specific lymphocytic myocarditis (NLM) is frequently observed in baboons within the endemic range of Trypanosoma cruzi. We sought to determine whether T. cruzi infection is a cause of baboon NLM. We evaluated serial histologic sections of cardiac muscle, blood cultures, immunohistochemistry, serology, polymerase chain reaction, and clinical pathology from 31 baboons with NLM to determine whether T. cruzi infection is associated with NLM. Eleven baboons with no evidence of T. cruzi infection by serology and no NLM were used as controls. Seropositivity for T. cruzi was 45% in baboons with NLM compared with a 2–3% colony prevalence. NLM lesion severity was significantly higher in seropositive than seronegative baboons with NLM. NLM was significantly more common in older baboons. No statistical association between NLM and sex, weight, or clinical pathology was found. These results suggest an association between NLM and T. cruzi infection in the baboon.
West Nile Virus Infection Alters Midgut Gene Expression in Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Smartt Chelsea T. , Richards Stephanie L. , Anderson Sheri L. , Erickson Jennifer S.
Published: September 2018

Alterations in gene expression in the midgut of female Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus exposed to blood meals containing 6.8 logs plaque-forming units/mL of West Nile virus (WNV) were studied by fluorescent differential display. Twenty-six different cDNAs exhibited reproducible differences after feeding on infected blood. Of these, 21 cDNAs showed an increase in expression, and 5 showed a decrease in expression as a result of WNV presence in the blood meal. GenBank database searches showed that one clone with increased expression, CQ G12A2, shares 94% identity with a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein from Cx. p. quinquefasciatus and 32% identity to Toll-like receptors from Aedes aegypti. We present the first cDNA clone isolated from female Cx. p. quinquefasciatus midgut tissue whose expression changes on exposure to WNV. This cDNA represents a mosquito gene that is an excellent candidate for interacting with WNV in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus and may play a role in disease transmission.
Risk Factors for Visceral Leishmaniasis in a New Epidemic Site in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Bashaye Seife , Nombela Nohelly , Argaw Daniel , Mulugeta Abate , Herrero Merce , Nieto Javier , Chicharro Carmen , Cañavate Carmen , Aparicio Pilar , Vélez Iván Darío , Alvar Jorge , Bern Caryn
Published: September 2018

We conducted a case-control study to evaluate risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis during an epidemic in a previously unaffected district of Ethiopia. We also collected blood and bone marrow specimens from dogs in the outbreak villages. In multivariable analyses of 171 matched case-control pairs, dog ownership, sleeping under an acacia tree during the day, and habitually sleeping outside at night were associated with significantly increased risk. Specimens from 7 (3.8%) dogs were positive by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), whereas Leishmania DNA was detected in 5 (2.8%) bone marrow aspirates (from 3 seropositive and 2 seronegative dogs). Insecticide-treated nets may only protect a portion of those at risk. Further research on the vectors, the role of the dog in the transmission cycle, and the effect of candidate interventions are needed to design the best strategy for control.
Natural History of a Visceral Leishmaniasis Outbreak in Highland Ethiopia
Authors: Herrero Mercè , Orfanos Giannos , Argaw Daniel , Mulugeta Abate , Aparicio Pilar , Parreño Fernando , Bernal Oscar , Rubens Daniel , Pedraza Jaime , Lima Maria Angeles , Flevaud Laurence , Palma Pedro Pablo , Bashaye Seife , Alvar Jorge , Bern Caryn
Published: September 2018

In May 2005, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was recognized for the first time in Libo Kemken, Ethiopia, a highland region where only few cases had been reported before. We analyzed records of VL patients treated from May 25, 2005 to December 13, 2007 by the only VL treatment center in the area, maintained by Médecins Sans Frontières-Ethiopia, Operational Center Barcelona-Athens. The median age was 18 years; 77.6% were male. The overall case fatality rate was 4%, but adults 45 years or older were five times as likely to die as 5–29 year olds. Other factors associated with increased mortality included HIV infection, edema, severe malnutrition, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and vomiting. The VL epidemic expanded rapidly over a several-year period, culminating in an epidemic peak in the last third of 2005, spread over two districts, and transformed into a sustained endemic situation by 2007.
Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis Virus from the Black Flying Fox, Pteropus alecto, to Culex annulirostris Mosquitoes, Despite the Absence of Detectable Viremia
Authors: van den Hurk Andrew F. , Smith Craig S. , Field Hume E. , Smith Ina L. , Northill Judith A. , Taylor Carmel T. , Jansen Cassie C. , Smith Greg A. , Mackenzie John S.
Published: September 2018

To determine the potential role of flying foxes in transmission cycles of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in Australia, we exposed Pteropus alecto (Megachiroptera: Pteropididae) to JEV via infected Culex annulirostris mosquitoes or inoculation. No flying foxes developed symptoms consistent with JEV infection. Anti-JEV IgG antibodies developed in 6/10 flying foxes exposed to infected Cx. annulirostris and in 5/5 inoculated flying foxes. Low-level viremia was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 1/5 inoculated flying foxes and this animal was able to infect recipient mosquitoes. Although viremia was not detected in any of the 10 flying foxes that were exposed to JEV by mosquito bite, two animals infected recipient mosquitoes. Likewise, an inoculated flying fox without detectable viremia infected recipient mosquitoes. Although infection rates in recipient mosquitoes were low, the high population densities in roosting camps, coupled with migratory behavior indicate that flying foxes could play a role in the dispersal of JEV.
Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Malaria in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Hui Feng-Ming , Xu Bing , Chen Zhang-Wei , Cheng Xiao , Liang Lu , Huang Hua-Bing , Fang Li-Qun , Yang Hong , Zhou Hong-Ning , Yang Heng-Lin , Zhou Xiao-Nong , Cao Wu-Chun , Gong Peng
Published: September 2018

The spatio-temporal distribution pattern of malaria in Yunnan Province, China was studied using a geographic information system technique. Both descriptive and temporal scan statistics revealed seasonal fluctuation in malaria incidences in Yunnan Province with only one peak during 1995–2000, and two apparent peaks from 2001 to 2005. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that malaria incidence was not randomly distributed in the province. Further analysis using spatial scan statistics discovered that the high risk areas were mainly clustered at the bordering areas with Myanmar and Laos, and in Yuanjiang River Basin. There were obvious associations between Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodoium falciparum malaria incidences and climatic factors with a clear 1-month lagged effect, especially in cluster areas. All these could provide information on where and when malaria prevention and control measures would be applied. These findings imply that countermeasures should target high risk areas at suitable times, when climatic factors facilitate the transmission of malaria.
Outcome of Patients with Buruli Ulcer after Surgical Treatment with or without Antimycobacterial Treatment in Ghana
Authors: Schunk Mirjam , Thompson William , Klutse Erasmus , Nitschke Jörg , Opare-Asamoah Kwame , Thompson Ruth , Fleischmann Erna , Siegmund Vera , Herbinger Karl-Heinz , Adjei Ohene , Fleischer Bernhard , Loscher Thomas , Bretzel Gisela
Published: September 2018

This study assesses the frequency of recurrences and treatment outcome after surgery of buruli ulcer disease (BUD) with or without concomitant antimycobacterial treatment. Of 129 laboratory-confirmed BUD patients who underwent surgery in two treatment centers in Ghana, 79 (61%) were retrieved for follow-up 4–29 months after the initial treatment. Among 7 (9%) recurrent cases no significant association was found between recurrences and clinical or treatment specific factors including antimycobacterial treatment. In 21 (27%) patients, a reduced range of motion (ROM) of one or more joints was detected. Lesions other than nodules, joint involvement, and skin grafting were identified as independent risk factors. Functional limitations hampering daily activities were perceived by 22% of the patients. Compared with other studies the recurrence rate was relatively low, functional limitations were, however, frequent. This emphasizes the need for improvement of pre- and post-treatment wound care as well as rehabilitation programs.
Thinking about (Hidden) Criminalisation
Authors: Farmer Lindsay
Published: September 2018

Criminalisation is now seen as one of the central issues in criminal law theory. However, in spite of the (rather belated) recognition of the importance of the topic, a number of fundamental questions remain unaddressed (Duff et al. 2014) and, in many cases, not even openly acknowledged. I discuss three such questions here, prompted by the articles in this excellent special issue on ‘Hidden Criminalisation’ and, in doing so, I raise a fourth and broader issue about the possible limits of criminalisation theory.
Theorising Criminalisation through the Modalities Approach: A Critical Appreciation
Authors: Lacey Nicola
Published: September 2018

New scholarly paradigms in the study of criminal law come along rather rarely. Despite extensive published work on this core topic in the educational curriculum and intellectual programme of the legal academy in most countries, the basic conceptual tools which inform its exposition and analysis in mainstream scholarship have remained relatively stable over the last half century. Moreover, they have not evolved in proportion to the development of the field at large. Valuable attention to rethinking the conceptual parameters of the field has come from contextual, historical, feminist or otherwise critical scholarship (Ashworth 1991; Farmer 2016; Fletcher 1978; Loughnan 2012; Naffine 2009; Norrie 2014; Wells and Quick 2010); and—as the contributors to this fine essay note—from site-specific areas of criminalisation. But, the conceptual basis for theorisation remains a pressing concern. This is particularly so given the recognition, in much of the most innovative recent scholarship, that the field of criminal law cannot be fully understood independent of the dynamics of criminalisation conceived as a broad social practice. This development is giving a new spin to the longstanding focus in theoretically informed criminal law scholarship on the question of responsibility (Ashworth forthcoming; Ashworth and Zedner 2014; Duff et al. 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014; Farmer 2016; Horder 1992; Lacey 2016; McSherry, Norrie and Bronitt 2009; Norrie 2016; Ramsay 2012).
Visionizing a Fiat Cryptocurrency
Authors: Salhout Sand , Bechter Clemens
Published: September 2018

Bitcoin is part of a wider range of opportunities to creating cryptocurrencies based on blockchains. Research has shown that the existing cryptocurrencies are very volatile and often illiquid. A cryptocurrency endorsed by a Central Bank, as the starter of a private blockchain, will most likely show more stability. It may even take the form of legal tender. However, since almost all countries have their own currency already, the governments will not feel the need for an additional currency. One exception is Palestine. It enjoyed the privilege of having its own currency in the past. The purpose of this research is the evaluation of the feasibility of a cryptocurrency as legal tender. The authors recommend a new Palestinian Pound built on a private blockchain using Hyperledger. In practice it would not differ from any other fiat (legal) currency. The current weakness of not having its own currency could be turned into a strength by becoming the most advanced economy where transactions are transparent and efficient. This paper fills a research gap by analyzing the opportunities of a cryptocurrency that is actual legal tender and endorsed by a monetary authority.
Wagner Equation Predicting Entire Curve for Pure Fluids from Limited VLE Data: Critical and Normal Boiling Points & Acentric Factor
Authors: NİCHOLS Todd , UTGİKAR Vivek
Published: September 2018

Wagner constants are estimated from VLE predictions
based solely on the critical and normal boiling points, and acentric factor.  The predictions come from the standard forms of 1) Riedel and 2) Ambrose-Walton, 3) a modified
Riedel equation resulting from forcing the value of K to provide zero error at
the reduced temperature of 0.7, and 4) a modified Ambrose-Walton equation
resulting from using a pseudo acentric factor that provides zero error at the
normal boiling point.  Reduced vapor
pressure values obtained using these Wagner constants are compared to those
generated by using literature-reported Wagner constants that are applicable for
the entire two-phase VLE curve for 72 species. It is shown that the Wagner equation parameterized using VLE predictions
from such correlations can provide better accuracy than the underlying source
correlations themselves, and it can exhibit less error than a parameterization
using a limited interval of experimental data.
Protein kinase CK2 activation is required for transforming growth factor β‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Kim Seongrak , Ham Sunyoung , Yang Kyungmi , Kim Kunhong
Published: September 2018

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is overexpressed in advanced cancers and promotes tumorigenesis by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which enhances invasiveness and metastasis. Although we previously reported that EMT could be induced by increasing CK2 activity alone, it is not known whether CK2 also plays an essential role in TGFβ‐induced EMT. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether TGFβ signaling could activate CK2 and, if so, whether such activation is required for TGFβ‐induced EMT. We found that CK2 is activated by TGFβ treatment, and that activity peaks at 48 h after treatment. CK2 activation is dependent on TGFβ receptor (TGFBR) I kinase activity, but independent of SMAD4. Inhibition of CK2 activation through the use of either a CK2 inhibitor or shRNA against CSNK2A1 inhibited TGFβ‐induced EMT. TGFβ signaling decreased CK2β but did not affect CK2α protein levels, resulting in a quantitative imbalance between the catalytic α and regulatory β subunits, thereby increasing CK2 activity. The decrease in CK2β expression was dependent on TGFBRI kinase activity and the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. The E3 ubiquitin ligases responsible for TGFβ‐induced CK2β degradation were found to be CHIP and WWP1. Okadaic acid (OA) pretreatment protected CK2β from TGFβ‐induced degradation, suggesting that dephosphorylation of CK2β by an OA‐sensitive phosphatase might be required for CK2 activation in TGFβ‐induced EMT. Collectively, our results suggest CK2 as a therapeutic target for the prevention of EMT and metastasis of cancers.
Paracrine potential of adipose stromal vascular fraction cells to recover hypoxia‐induced loss of cardiomyocyte function
Authors: Mytsyk Myroslava , Isu Giuseppe , Cerino Giulia , Grapow Martin T. R. , Eckstein Friedrich S. , Marsano Anna
Published: September 2018

Cell‐based therapies show promising results in cardiac function recovery mostly through paracrine‐mediated processes (as angiogenesis) in chronic ischemia. In this study, we aim to develop a 2D (two‐dimensional) in vitro cardiac hypoxia model mimicking severe cardiac ischemia to specifically investigate the prosurvival paracrine effects of adipose tissue‐derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell secretome released upon three‐dimensional (3D) culture. For the 2D‐cardiac hypoxia model, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (CM) were cultured for 5 days at < 1% (approaching anoxia) oxygen (O2) tension. Typical cardiac differentiation hallmarks and contractile ability were used to assess both the cardiomyocyte loss of functionality upon anoxia exposure and its possible recovery following the 5‐day‐treatment with SVF‐conditioned media (collected following 6‐day‐perfusion‐based culture on collagen scaffolds in either normoxia or approaching anoxia). The culture at < 1% O
2 for 5 days mimicked the reversible condition of hibernating myocardium with still living and poorly contractile CM (reversible state). Only SVF‐medium conditioned in normoxia expressing a high level of the prosurvival hepatocyte‐growth factor (HGF) and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) allowed the partial recovery of the functionality of damaged CM. The secretome generated by SVF‐engineered tissues showed a high paracrine potential to rescue the nonfunctional CM, therefore resulting in a promising patch‐based treatment of specific low‐perfused areas after myocardial infarction.
Escherichia coli inner membrane display system for high‐throughput screening of dimeric proteins
Authors: Jo Migyeong , Hwang Bora , Yoon Hyun Woung , Jung Sang Taek
Published: September 2018

Multimer formation is indispensable to the intrinsicbiologicalfunctions of many natural proteins. For example, the human immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody has two variable regions (heavy chain variable domain [VH] and light chain variable domain [VL]) that must be assembled for specific antigen binding, and homodimerization of the antibody's Fc domain is essential for eliciting therapeutic effector functions. For the more efficient high‐throughput directed evolution of multimeric proteins with ease of cultivation and handling, here we report a membrane protein drift and assembly (MPDA) system, in which a multimeric protein is displayed on a bacterial inner membrane by drifting and auto‐assembling membrane‐anchored subunit polypeptides. This system enabled the auto‐assembly of membrane‐tethered Fv domains (VH and VL) or the monomeric Fc domain into a functional hetero‐ or homodimeric protein complex on the bacterial inner membrane. This system could also be used to enrich a desired engineered Fc variant from a mixture containing a million‐fold excess of wild‐type Fc domain, indicating the applicability of the MPDA system for the high‐throughput directed evolution of a variety of multimeric proteins, such as cytokines, enzymes, or structural proteins.
Coassembly of a Polyoxometalate and a Zwitterionic Amphiphile into a Luminescent Hydrogel with Excellent Stimuli Responsiveness
Authors: Wu Aoli , Sun Panpan , Sun Na , Yu Yang , Zheng Liqiang
Published: September 2018

The co‐existence of electrostatic attraction and repulsion between zwitterionic amphiphile and anionic polyoxometalate (POM) promotes the formation of aqueous inorganic–organic coassemblies. Injectable, luminescent supramolecular hydrogels have been fabricated by using this novel and versatile technique. Hydrogels with different characteristics can be flexibly manipulated by adjusting the molar ratios of compounds. Interestingly, a linear relationship between the luminescence intensity and temperature accompanying the sol‐gel transition was observed. In addition, the emission properties of the hydrogels were sensitive to external acid and base gasses. Such multi‐stimuli responsive luminescent hydrogels provide an attractive pathway to construct intelligent optical soft materials, especially for biological sensors for which stimuli responsiveness is necessary.
Septin mutations and phenotypes in S. cerevisiae
Authors: Mela Alexander , Momany Michelle
Published: September 2018

Septins are highly conserved guanosine triphosphate (GTP)‐binding proteins that are a component of the cytoskeletal systems of virtually all eukaryotes (except higher plants). Septins play important roles in a multitude of cellular processes, including cytokinesis, establishment of cell polarity, and cellular partitioning. The ease of genetic screens and a fully sequenced genome have made Saccharomyces cerevisiae one of the most extensively studied and well‐annotated model organisms in eukaryotic biology. Here, we present a synopsis of the known point mutations in the seven S. cerevisiae septin genes: CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, CDC12, SHS1, SPR3, and SPR28. We map these mutations onto septin protein structures, highlighting important conserved motifs, and relating the functional consequences of mutations in each domain.
Small Heat Shock Proteins B1 and B6: Which One is the Most Effective Adjuvant in Therapeutic HPV Vaccine?
Authors: Bolhassani Azam , Shahbazi Sepideh , Milani Alireza , Nadji Seyed Alireza
Published: September 2018

Therapeutic human papillomaviruse (HPV) vaccines have the potential to inhibit the tumor growth by targeting HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Among different vaccine strategies, DNA and protein‐based approaches are the most effective candidates for stimulation of the immune responses against HPV infections. Our study was designed to assess the efficacy of small heat shock proteins B1 (Hsp27) and B6 (Hsp20) as an adjuvant accompanied by HPV16 E7 and hPP10‐E7 antigens in tumor mouse model. A major key for successful DNA and protein transfer into cells is the development of delivery systems with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Herein, we used hPP10 and MPG cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) for protein and DNA delivery in vivo, respectively. Our data indicated that the combination of Hsp27 with the recombinant hPP10‐E7 protein in homologous protein/protein (hPP10‐E7 + Hsp27) and heterologous DNA/protein (pcDNA‐E7 + MPG/ hPP10‐E7 + Hsp27) significantly enhanced the E7‐specific T cell responses. Indeed, these regimens induced high levels of IgG2a, IFN‐γ and IL‐2 directed toward Th1 responses and also Granzyme B secretion as compared to other immunization strategies, and also displayed complete protection more than 60 days after treatment. These data suggest that the use of Hsp27 as an adjuvant and MPG and hPP10 as a gene and protein carrier would represent promising applications for improvement of HPV therapeutic vaccines. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(10):1002–1011, 2018
LncRNA NKILA correlates with the malignant status and serves as a tumor‐suppressive role in rectal cancer
Authors: Tao Fei , Xu Yongpan , Yang Dezhen , Tian Bo , Jia Yong , Hou Junming , Dong Ming
Published: September 2018

NF‐κB interacting lncRNA (NKILA) has been found to function as a tumor‐suppressive role in various human cancers. However, the role of NKILA in rectal cancer is still unknown. The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical value and biological function of NKILA in rectal cancer. The association between NKILA expression and clinical variables including prognosis was estimated in rectal cancer patients. The gain‐of‐function study of NKILA in rectal cancer cell was conducted to evaluate the effect of NKILA on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and NF‐κB signaling pathway. The results suggested NKILA expression was decreased in rectal cancer tissues and cells, and correlated with clinical stage, T classification, N classification and M classification. NKILA low‐expression was an independent poor prognostic factor in rectal cancer patients. NKILA‐inhibited rectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via suppressing NF‐κB signaling. In conclusion, NKILA serves as an antioncogenic lncRNA in rectal cancer.
Synthesis and DNase I inhibitory properties of some 4‐thiazolidinone derivatives
Authors: Kolarević Ana , Ilić Budimir S. , Kocić Gordana , Džambaski Zdravko , Šmelcerović Andrija , Bondžić Bojan P.
Published: September 2018

Twelve new thiazolidinones were synthesized and, together with 41 previously synthesized thiazolidinones, evaluated for inhibitory activity against deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) in vitro. Ten compounds inhibited commercial bovine pancreatic DNase I with an IC50 below 200 μM and showed to be more potent DNase I inhibitors than crystal violet (IC50 = 365.90 ± 47.33 μM), used as a positive control. Moreover, three compounds were active against DNase I in rat liver homogenate, having an IC50 below 200 μM. (3‐Methyl‐1,4‐dioxothiazolidin‐2‐ylidene)‐N‐(2‐phenylethyl)ethanamide (41) exhibited the most potent DNase I inhibition against both commercial and rat liver DNase I with IC50 values of 115.96 ± 11.70 and 151.36 ± 15.85 μM, respectively. Site Finder and molecular docking defined the thiazolidinones interactions with the most important catalytic residues of DNase I, including the H‐acceptor interaction with residues His 134 and His 252 and/or H‐donor interaction with residues Glu 39 and Asp 168. The three most active compounds against both commercial and rat liver DNase I (31, 38, and 41) exhibited favorable physico‐chemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties. These observations could be utilized to guide the rational design and optimization of novel thiazolidinone inhibitors. Thiazolidinones as novel DNase I inhibitors could have potential therapeutic applications due to the significant involvement of DNase I in the pathophysiology of many disease conditions.
Differential proteomic profiling identifies novel molecular targets of pterostilbene against experimental diabetes
Authors: Dornadula Sireesh , Thiruppathi Suresh , Palanisamy Rajaguru , Umapathy Dhamodharan , Suzuki Takayoshi , K. Mohanram Ramkumar
Published: September 2018

Pterostilbene (PTS), a naturally occurring stilbene, confers protection against oxidative and cytokine stress induced pancreatic β‐cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. To provide insights into the molecular mechanism, we performed a proteomic study on the pancreas of PTS‐treated diabetic mice using electrospray ionization tandem–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). A total of 1,260 proteins were detected in triplicate samples. Of which, 359 proteins were found to be differentially regulated in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice pancreas with two fold difference (
P < 0.05, two or more peptides) and on PTS treatment 315 proteins were normalized to control levels. Gene ontology (GO) indicated that majority of the differentially regulated proteins are involved in cellular functions such as metabolism, cellular structure, oxidative stress, endoplasmic‐reticulum‐associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway and several stress sensors. Protein–protein interaction network analysis of these differentially expressed proteins showed clustering of proteins involved in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (protein synthesis machinery and protein folding), oxidative phosphorylation/oxidative stress proteins, oligosaccharide metabolic process, and antioxidant activity. Our results highlighted that PTS administration rehabilitated the defective metabolic process and redox imbalance, and also suppressed the unfolded protein response and ERAD pathways. The effects on targeting ER machinery and suppressing oxidative stress suggest the great potential of PTS for diabetes management.
Oxidative, inflammatory, genetic, and epigenetic biomarkers associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
Authors: Aggarwal Taru , Wadhwa Ridhima , Thapliyal Noopur , Sharma Kanishka , Rani Varsha , Maurya Pawan K.
Published: September 2018

A large body of evidence indicates that chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammatory and genetic pathways. Epidemiological studies indicate that COPD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. Recent research development in COPD focuses on accelerated aging and various oxidative stress biomarkers. It involves the clinical manifestation of the disease process and may also contain biochemical, immunological, physiological, morphological, and genetic aspects that add to the progressiveness of the disease. Herein, we summarize findings that highlight the role of dimensions of COPD in the investigation of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, genetic and epigenetic studies, and pharmacological and dietary antioxidant intervention.
Ultrasound‐Guided Prolotherapy for Acromial Enthesopathy and Acromioclavicular Joint Arthropathy: A Single‐Arm Prospective Study
Authors: Hsieh Pei‐Chun , Chiou Hong‐Jen , Wang Hsin‐Kai , Lai Yi‐Chen , Lin Yung‐Hui
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Prolotherapy is an injection‐based complementary treatment for various musculoskeletal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound‐guided prolotherapy in the treatment of acromial enthesopathy and acromioclavicular joint arthropathy.

Methods

Thirty‐one patients with chronic moderate‐to‐severe shoulder pain were recruited from September 2015 to September 2017. Ultrasound‐guided prolotherapy was performed by injecting 10 mL of a 15% dextrose solution into the acromial enthesis of the deltoid or acromioclavicular joint capsule aseptically. Prolotherapy was given in 2 sessions separated by a 1‐month interval. The pretreatment‐to‐posttreatment change in the pain visual analog scale (VAS) score was recorded as the primary outcome. The mean follow‐up duration was 61.8 days. A paired t test was used to assess the difference in pretreatment and posttreatment VAS scores. A univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the demographic variables associated with substantial pain reduction after the intervention. Substantial pain reduction was defined as a posttreatment VAS score of 3 or less.

Results

Twenty of the 31 patients reported substantial pain reduction without adverse effects after the intervention. The mean VAS score reduction ± SD was 4.3 ± 2.6 (pretreatment, 6.8 ± 1.5; posttreatment, 2.5 ± 2.1; P < .01).

Conclusions

Ultrasound‐guided prolotherapy with a 15% dextrose solution is an effective and safe therapeutic option for moderate‐to‐severe acromial enthesopathy and acromioclavicular joint arthropathy.
Difference in Visceral Adipose Tissue in Pregnancy and Postpartum and Related Changes in Maternal Insulin Resistance
Authors: Shinar Shiri , Berger Howard , De Souza Leanne R. , Ray Joel G.
Published: September 2018

Objective

To measure the difference between first‐trimester and postpartum visceral adipose tissue (VAT), the agreement of this difference with change in body mass index, and whether a difference in VAT is associated with insulin resistance or glucose mishandling.

Methods

Prospective study of 93 women with singleton pregnancies without a history of diabetes. Visceral adipose tissue depth was sonographically assessed at 11 to 14 weeks and at 6 to 12 weeks postpartum. Metabolic measures, sampled at 24 to 28 weeks and 6 to 12 weeks postpartum, included homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity index composite, and area under the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test curve.

Results

First‐trimester VAT depth explained only 37% (95% confidence interval [CI], 22–52) of the variation in postpartum VAT depth. There was limited agreement between the net change in postpartum minus first‐trimester VAT depth and that same net change for body mass index (Cohen's kappa, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.05–0.47). Those with a net gain in VAT depth demonstrated poorer insulin sensitivity index postpartum than women with a net regression in VAT depth—a difference of –2.0 (95% CI, –3.3 to –0.69).

Conclusion

Sonographic assessment of postpartum VAT is feasible and may provide insight to metabolic changes between pregnancy and postpartum, beyond body mass index.
Diagnostic Accuracy of 2‐Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography for the Staging of Liver Fibrosis: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhu Ya , Zhang Cuncheng , Ran Haitao
Published: September 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the overall accuracy of 2‐dimensional shear wave elastography (SWE) for the staging of liver fibrosis.

Methods

Literature databases and conference abstracts were searched from 2000 to September 2017. Sensitivity, specificity, and other information were extracted from the included studies. Methodological quality was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tools. Data were synthesized by a bivariate hierarchical model.

Results

The summary sensitivity and specificity were 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–0.89) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72–0.85) for fibrosis stage F≥2, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.93) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80–0.89) for F≥3, and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84–0.93) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89–0.95) for F=4, respectively. The areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve for F≥2, F≥3, and F=4 was 0.81, 0.77, and 0.84.

Conclusions

Two‐dimensional SWE is a good noninvasive method for the diagnosis of substantial liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to assess severe fibrosis and to perform head‐to‐head comparisons of 2‐dimensional SWE and other imaging modalities for the evaluation of liver fibrosis.
It's Not All Deep Vein Thrombosis: Sonography of the Painful Lower Extremity With Multimodality Correlation
Authors: Naringrekar Haresh , Sun Joel , Ko Charles , Rodgers Shuchi K.
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review different etiologies for lower extremity pain encountered on lower extremity venous sonography including acute deep venous thrombosis, chronic postthrombotic change, central venous disease, common arterial pathologies, and nonvascular abnormalities.
Mit dem gleichen Maß messen
Authors: Leusmann Eliza
Published: September 2018

Ab dem nächsten Weltmetrologietag, dem 20. Mai 2019, werden sieben Naturkonstanten die Basis des Internationalen Einheitensystems bilden.
Chemische Kommunikation
Authors: Leusmann Eliza
Published: September 2018

Der Sonderforschungsbereich über chemische Mediatoren in der Biologie an der Universität Jena wird nun mit 9,5 Mio. Euro weiter gefördert.
Contributions to b → sℓℓ anomalies from R-parity violating interactions
Authors: Earl Kevin , Grégoire Thomas
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We examine the parameter space of supersymmetric models with R-parity violating interactions of the form λ′
LQD

c
to explain the various anomalies observed in b → sℓℓ transitions. To generate the appropriate operator in the low energy theory, we are led to a region of parameter space where loop contributions dominate. In particular, we concentrate on parameters for which diagrams involving winos, which have not been previously considered, give large contributions. Many different potentially constraining processes are analyzed, including

$$ \tau \to \mu \mu \mu, {B}_s-{\overline{B}}_s $$

τ
→
μ
μ
μ
,

B
s

−

B
¯

s

mixing,

$$ B\to {K}^{\left(\ast \right)}\nu \overline{\nu} $$

B
→

K

∗

ν

ν
¯

, Z decays to charged leptons, and direct LHC searches. We find that it is possible to explain the anomalies, but it requires large values of λ′, which lead to relatively low Landau poles.
Quantification of Urinary Loss in Nulliparous Athletes During 1 Hour of Sports Training
Authors: dos Santos Keyla M. , Da Roza Thuane , Tonon da Luz Soraia C. , Hort Julia P. , Kruger Joyce M. , Schevchenco Bruna
Published: September 2018

Background

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a pelvic floor dysfunction that can affect nulliparous female athletes because of the effect of sports activities on pelvic floor muscles.

Objectives

To verify and quantify urine loss in nulliparous athletes during 1 hour of sports training using a modified pad test protocol.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Secondary, institutional practice.

Participants

Nulliparous athletes (N = 104).

Methods

Athletes completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Short Form (ICIQ‐UI‐SF) and underwent a maximal resistance test of the abdominal muscles followed by the new modified pad test during 1 hour of training.

Outcomes

Presence or absence of UI was the dependent variable; the initial hypothesis was that high‐impact activities could lead to the development of UI.

Results

Almost 52% of athletes (n = 54) self‐reported UI according to the ICIQ‐UI‐SF score. Of athletes who reported stress or mixed UI (n = 32), only 43.7% (n = 14) had leakage during the training pad test. Interestingly, 24% of athletes (n = 12) who did not report UI had a positive pad test result. In total, 27.9% of athletes (n = 29) presented a positive pad test during the training. Mean urinary loss was 1.57 ± 0.4 g.

Conclusion

Athletes did not seem to have a good knowledge of UI symptoms, and the modified pad test could be an alternative to quantify urine loss; however, it is necessary to perform accuracy tests. None of the athletes reported discomfort or decreased performance when performing the pad test.

Level of Evidence

II
Experimental Poroviscoelasticity of Common Sedimentary Rocks
Authors: Makhnenko Roman Y. , Podladchikov Yury Y.
Published: September 2018

The success of geoenergy applications such as petroleum recovery or geological storage of CO2 depends on properly addressing the physical coupling between the pore fluid diffusion and mechanical deformation of the subsurface rock. Constitutive models should include short‐term hydromechanical interactions and long‐term behavior and should incorporate the principles behind the mathematical models for poroelastic and poroviscoelastic responses. However, the viscous parameters in constitutive relationships still need to be validated and estimated. In this work, we experimentally quantify the time‐dependent response of fluid‐filled sedimentary rocks at room temperature and isotropic stress states. Drained, undrained, and unjacketed geomechanical tests are performed to measure the poroelastic parameters for Berea sandstone, Apulian limestone, clay‐rich material, and Opalinus clay (shale). A poroviscous model parameter, the bulk viscosity, is included in the constitutive relationships. The bulk viscosity is estimated under constant isotropic stress conditions from time‐dependent deformation of rock in the drained regime for timescales ~105 s and from observations of the pore pressure growth under undrained conditions at timescales of ~104 s. The bulk viscosity is on the order of 1015–1016 Pa s for sandstone, limestone, and shale and ~1013 Pa s for clay‐rich material, and it decreases with an increase in pore pressure despite a corresponding decrease in the effective stress. In the long term, fluid pressure can asymptotically approach minimum principal stress, which in natural reservoirs may lead to liquefaction or rock embrittlement, causing slip instabilities and earthquakes and creating high‐permeability channels in low‐permeable rock.
A comparative DFT study of TBD-catalyzed reactions of amines with CO2 and hydrosilane: the effect of solvent polarity on the mechanistic preference and the origins of chemoselectivities
Authors: Zhang Chaoshen , Lu Yu , Zhao Ruihua , Menberu Wasihun , Guo Jiandong , Wang Zhi-Xiang
Published: September 2018

A DFT comparative mechanistic study unveils that the TBD-catalyzed reactions of amines with CO2 and hydrosilanes may either undergo a neutral mechanism or a mechanism involving free ions, depending on the polarity of the solvent.
Chiral symmetry breaking due to impeller size in cooling crystallization of sodium chlorate
Authors: Ni Xiongwei , Shepherd Rachel , Whitehead Jennifer , Liu Tao
Published: September 2018

We report, for the first time, that the size of impellers is the exception to Denk and Botsaris's work where a stirrer of the smallest surface area led to close to 100% deracemization, while the data from the largest impeller agreed with the results of Denk and Botsaris, displaying a racemic mixture.
Highly efficient adsorption of uranium(vi) from aqueous solution by a novel adsorbent: titanium phosphate nanotubes
Authors: Tang Mengling , Chen Juan , Wang Peifang , Wang Chao , Ao Yanhui
Published: September 2018

A novel adsorbent (titanium phosphate nanotube) with high performance for U(vi) adsorption was fabricated through a facile solvothermal method.
A label-free ratiometric fluorescence strategy for 3′–5′ exonuclease detection
Authors: Hu Wei , Zhao Hengzhi , Jing Jing , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: September 2018

A label-free ratiometric fluorescent biosensor for detection of exonuclease was proposed through utilizing two individual DNA conformation-specific dyes (DAPI and NMM).
Multiple resonant controllers strategy to achieve fault ride‐through and high performance output voltage in UPS applications
Authors: Carballo Roberto Esteban , Botterón Fernando , Oggier Germán Gustavo , García Guillermo Oscar
Published: September 2018

A control strategy to achieve fault ride‐through capability and to provide high performance of the output voltage of a single‐phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) inverter is proposed in this study. This strategy consists in controlling the voltage and current waveforms measured at the inverter output filter, with an inner current control loop and an outer voltage control loop, using a plug‐in structure based on multiple resonant stages in addition with proportional controllers. In order to achieve stability from no load to short‐circuit conditions, the implementation of the multiple resonant controllers includes a compensation of the system phase lag. Moreover, it presents a comparative analysis between two controller structures, the proposed plug‐in and the classical proportional + resonant. From this analysis, it can be concluded that the plug‐in structure presents improved characteristics of closed‐loop output impedance and output voltage dynamic response during fault ride‐through events. A controller design methodology to achieve robustness to parametric uncertainties and UPS standard compliance, is detailed. Experimental results from a single‐phase 2 kVA inverter prototype are presented to validate the feasibility of the proposal.
Swarm intelligence‐based energy‐efficient data delivery in WSAN to virtualise IoT in smart cities
Authors: Manshahia Mukhdeep Singh
Published: September 2018

With the rapid implementation and expansion of the Internet of things (IoT) technologies in smart cities, network congestion control and energy‐efficient routing in wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs) for virtualising IoT have emerged as a crucial area of research in recent years. This study implements the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm to realise network congestion control and energy‐efficient routing in the transport layer of WSANs. This algorithm is based on the flocking behaviour of birds. The simulation results show that the proposed PSO‐based approach provides better performance in terms of network lifetime and packet drop ratio compared with the ant colony optimisation and the artificial bee colony algorithm.
Engineered geothermal systems have wide potential as a renewable energy source
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: September 2018

A test site in Utah will focus on tackling technical barriers.
Can carbon capture from air shift the climate change equation?
Authors: Kramer David
Published: September 2018

Critics dismiss the idea of scrubbing meaningful amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, but proponents say the approach could be scaled up for the job.
Time crystals in periodically driven systems
Authors: Yao Norman Y. , Nayak Chetan
Published: September 2018

When the discrete time-translation symmetry of isolated, periodically driven systems is spontaneously broken, a new phase of matter can emerge.
An examination of opioid prescription for Medicare Part D patients among family practice prescribers
Authors: Pan Kevin , Blankley Alan I , Hughes Peter J
Published: September 2018

Background

In the USA, opioid overdose accounted for more than 60% of drug overdose deaths in 2015. Of these deaths, 40% were due to use of prescription opioids.

Objectives

The aims of the study were to (i) study family medicine physician opioid-prescribing rate and duration of prescription, (ii) study the distribution of prescription by medication potency, (iii) study opioid-prescribing trends in health care shortage areas and (iv) study the association between extreme high prescribing rates and medical board discipline.

Methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of the 2015 Medicare Part D claim data.

Results

Family practitioners have opioid prescription rates (5.6%) similar to medical subspecialists (6.0%), but lower than pain specialists (53.2%) and surgical specialists (36.6%). Family practitioners have an average opioid prescription duration (21.5 days) similar to medical subspecialists (23.1 days) and pain specialists (27.1 days), but longer than surgical specialists (8.9 days). Family practitioners tend to prescribe lower potency opioids. Family practitioners in rural health care shortage areas have a higher opioid prescription rate than other family practitioners (6.5% versus 5.6%). Among the 52 family practitioners who prescribed opioids as frequently as pain specialists, 26 of the 52 (50%) were certified in pain management or worked with a partner certified in pain management. Of the other 26 family practitioners, 3 (12%) had medical board disciplinary actions regarding opioid prescription.

Conclusions

While monitoring extreme prescribers is important and needs to be continued, the next step in policies to reduce prescription opioids will require systemic change, especially providing support for family practitioners in rural health care shortage areas.
Tensor Diagrams and Chebyshev Polynomials
Authors: Lamberti Lisa
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we describe a class of elements in the ring of $\textrm{SL}(V)$-invariant polynomial functions on the space of configurations of vectors and linear forms of a 3D vector space $V.$ These elements are related to one another by an induction formula using Chebyshev polynomials. We also investigate the relation between these polynomials and G. Lusztig’s dual canonical basis in tensor products of representations of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_3(\mathbb C)).$
Cardiovascular Care Among Cancer Survivors in the United States
Authors: Pearlstein Kevin A , Basak Ramsankar , Chen Ronald C
Published: September 2018

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality among cancer survivors, but whether survivors receive routine cardiovascular monitoring and preventive care has not been well studied. This study uses a population-based dataset to examine this question.

Methods

Data from the National Health Interview Survey were used to identify 13 266 cancer survivors who completed surveys from 2011 to 2015. Prevalence of CVD and associated risk factors, patterns of doctor visitation, and receipt of CVD preventive care were examined. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine factors associated with the receipt of preventive care for survivors with and without CVD risk factors.

Results

CVD risk factors were prevalent in older cancer survivors 65 years and older (56.9% with hyperlipidemia, 66.8% with hypertension) and younger survivors younger than 50 years (35.4% obese, 30.3% current smokers). Rates of blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose monitoring were high, but rates of lifestyle modification were lower (54.8% moderate exercise, 47.1% smoking cessation attempts among smokers). Although 71.5% of survivors at 2 years or less from diagnosis saw both general and specialist doctors, only 51.6% of survivors at 5 or more years saw both, and 43.5% saw only a general doctor. On multivariable analysis, receipt of CVD preventive care was strongly associated with general doctor visitation for those with and without CVD risk factors.

Conclusions

CVD and associated risk factors are prevalent among both older and younger cancer survivors across the United States. This study identifies areas for improvement related to lifestyle modification in survivors, and also highlights the importance of care transition to the primary care provider for long-term survivors.