bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Airway Transmural Pressures in an Airway Tree During Bronchoconstriction in Asthma
Authors: Winkler Tilo
Published: January 2019

Airway transmural pressure in healthy homogeneous lungs with dilated airways is approximately equal to the difference between intraluminal and pleural pressure. However, bronchoconstriction causes airway narrowing, parenchymal distortion, dynamic hyperinflation, and the emergence of ventilation defects (VDefs) affecting transmural pressure. This study aimed to investigate the changes in transmural pressure caused by bronchoconstriction in a bronchial tree. Transmural pressures before and during bronchoconstriction were estimated using an integrative computational model of bronchoconstriction. Briefly, this model incorporates a 12-generation symmetric bronchial tree, and the Anafi and Wilson model for the individual airways of the tree. Bronchoconstriction lead to the emergence of VDefs and a relative increase in peak transmural pressures of up to 84% compared to baseline. The highest increase in peak transmural pressure occurred in a central airway outside of VDefs, and the lowest increase was 27% in an airway within VDefs illustrating the heterogeneity in peak transmural pressures within a bronchial tree. Mechanisms contributing to the increase in peak transmural pressures include increased regional ventilation and dynamic hyperinflation both leading to increased alveolar pressures compared to baseline. Pressure differences between intraluminal and alveolar pressure increased driven by the increased airway resistance and its contribution to total transmural pressure reached up to 24%. In conclusion, peak transmural pressure in lungs with VDefs during bronchoconstriction can be substantially increased compared to dilated airways in healthy homogeneous lungs and is highly heterogeneous. Further insights will depend on the experimental studies taking these conditions into account.
Improved pumping speeds of oxygen-free palladium/titanium nonevaporable getter coatings and suppression of outgassing by baking under oxygen
Authors: Miyazawa Tetsuya , Kano Yu , Nakayama Yasuo , Ozawa Kenichi , Iga Toshiharu , Yamanaka Misao , Hashimoto Ayako , Kikuchi Takashi , Mase Kazuhiko
Published: January 2019

Oxygen-free palladium/titanium (Pd/Ti) is a new nonevaporable getter material with an activation temperature as low as 133 °C. Because pumping speeds of oxygen-free Pd/Ti for H2 and CO have been reported to be improved by baking under an O2 atmosphere, the authors investigated oxygen-free Pd/Ti samples heated in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) or under an O2 pressure of 1.3 × 10−4 Pa by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The authors found that carbon contamination decreased to an extent on heating in UHV, but decreased considerably on heating in O2. Pressure-curve measurements in an oxygen-free Pd/Ti-coated chamber show that pumping speeds for H2 and CO were considerably improved after baking the chamber under an O2 pressure of 1.3 × 10−4 Pa (O2 baking) in comparison with baking in UHV. Furthermore, partial-pressure measurements suggested that O2 baking removes adsorbed carbon and hydrogen, and consequently suppresses the formation of H2, CO, H2O, and CH4. Catalytic chemical reactions on the Pd surface appear to be responsible for the removal of adsorbed carbon and hydrogen. The pumping speeds of the oxygen-free Pd/Ti-coated chamber for H2 and CO were measured by using the orifice method and were found to be improved after O2 baking. O2 baking is therefore useful for improving pumping speeds for H2 and CO and for reducing the partial pressures of H2, CO, H2O, and CH4.
The effects of contaminating noise on the calculation of active acoustic intensity for pressure gradient methods
Authors: Cook Mylan R. , Gee Kent L. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Sommerfeldt Scott D.
Published: January 2019

Bias errors for two-dimensional active acoustic intensity using multi-microphone probes have been previously calculated for both the traditional cross-spectral and the Phase and Amplitude Gradient Estimator (PAGE) methods [Whiting, Lawrence, Gee, Neilsen, and Sommerfeldt, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 142, 2208–2218 (2017)]. Here, these calculations are expanded to include errors due to contaminating noise, as well as probe orientation. The noise can either be uncorrelated at each microphone location or self-correlated; the self-correlated noise is modeled as a plane-wave with a varying angle of incidence. The intensity errors in both magnitude and direction are dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), frequency, source properties, incidence angles, probe configuration, and processing method. The PAGE method is generally found to give more accurate results, especially in direction; however, uncorrelated noise with a low SNR (below 10–15 dB) and low frequency (wavelengths more than 1/4 the microphone spacing) can yield larger errors in magnitude than the traditional method—though a correction for this is possible. Additionally, contaminating noise does not necessarily impact the possibility of using the PAGE method for broadband signals beyond a probe's spatial Nyquist frequency.
Manganese activates NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and propagates exosomal release of ASC in microglial cells
Authors: Sarkar Souvarish , Rokad Dharmin , Malovic Emir , Luo Jie , Harischandra Dilshan S. , Jin Huajun , Anantharam Vellareddy , Huang Xuemei , Lewis Mechelle , Kanthasamy Arthi , Kanthasamy Anumantha G.
Published: January 2019

Exosomes containing the adaptor ASC spread NLRP3 inflammasome activation between cells after manganese exposure.
Utility of Serum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Galactomannan in Diagnosis of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Authors: Sehgal Inderpaul Singh , Dhooria Sahajal , Choudhary Hansraj , Aggarwal Ashutosh Nath , Garg Mandeep , Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Agarwal Ritesh
Published: January 2019

The value of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan (BALF-GM) in diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) remains unclear. Here, we study the diagnostic efficacy of GM in the diagnosis of CPA.
Chloroviruses Lure Hosts through Long-Distance Chemical Signaling
Authors: Dunigan David D. , Al-Sammak Maitham , Al-Ameeli Zeina , Agarkova Irina V. , DeLong John P. , Van Etten James L.
Published: January 2019

Viruses have not previously been reported to act as chemotactic/chemoattractive agents. Rather, viruses as extracellular entities are generally viewed as non-metabolically active spore-like agents that await further infection events upon collision with appropriate host cells. That a virus might actively contribute to its fate via chemotaxis and change the behavior of an organism independent of infection is unprecedented.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus LANA-Adjacent Regions with Distinct Functions in Episome Segregation or Maintenance
Authors: Juillard Franceline , De León Vázquez Erika , Tan Min , Li Shijun , Kaye Kenneth M.
Published: January 2019

KSHV LANA mediates episomal persistence of viral genomes. LANA binds the KSHV terminal-repeat (TR) sequence to mediate DNA replication and tethers KSHV DNA to mitotic chromosomes to segregate genomes to daughter cell nuclei. Here, we investigate LANA sequence upstream of the internal repeat elements that contributes to episome segregation and persistence. Mutants with deletions within this sequence maintained the ability to bind mitotic chromosomes or bind and replicate TR DNA. Deletion of upstream sequence within the region reduced segregation of TR DNA to daughter cells, but not episome maintenance. In contrast, mutants with deletions of 80 amino acids immediately downstream were highly deficient for episome persistence yet maintained the ability to replicate and segregate TR DNA, the two principal components of episome persistence, suggesting another role for the residues. In summary, this work identifies adjacent LANA sequence with distinct roles in episome segregation and persistence.
Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis NCM 61, with High Potential for Biofilm Formation, Isolated from Meat-Related Sources
Authors: Wang Huhu , Cai Linlin , Hu Haijing , Xu Xinglian , Zhou Guanghong
Published: January 2019

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of strain NMC 61 of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Enteritidis, which was previously isolated from conveyor belts during chicken slaughter and has the potential to form biofilms on several surfaces. The genome is predicted to contain 110 noncoding small RNAs on the chromosome.
Draft Genome Sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain CXM1-105
Authors: Baturina Olga A. , Muntyan Victoria S. , Afonin Alexey M. , Cherkasova Maria E. , Simarov Boris V. , Kabilov Marsel R. , Roumiantseva Marina L.
Published: January 2019

Sinorhizobium meliloti
is a Gram-negative bacterium which fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with
Medicago
spp. We report the draft genome sequence of
S. meliloti
strain CXM1-105, associated with nodules of
Medicago sativa
subsp.
Fisetin, a potential caloric restriction mimetic, attenuates senescence biomarkers in rat erythrocytes
Authors: Singh Sandeep , Garg Geetika , Singh Abhishek Kumar , Bissoyi Akalabya , Rizvi Syed Ibrahim
Published: January 2019

An imbalanced redox status is a hallmark of the aging process. Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are compounds that produce caloric restriction benefits at the molecular, cellular, and physiological level, translating into health-promoting effects. Fisetin is the least explored CRM, and its role in modulating oxidative stress during aging is not clearly known. This study investigated the antioxidative and protective potential of fisetin in a rat model of d-galactose (D-gal)-induced accelerated senescence, and in naturally aged rat erythrocytes. Young rats (4 months), aged D-gal-induced rats [24 months; 500 mg/kg body mass (b.m.); subcutaneous injection] and naturally aged D-gal-induced rats [24 months; 500 mg/kg b.m.; subcutaneous injection] were supplemented with fisetin (15 mg/kg b.m.; orally) for 6 weeks. The resulting data indicated that supplementation with fisetin suppresses aging-induced increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species, eryptosis, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation. Our data also show that fisetin significantly increases the levels of antioxidants and activates the plasma membrane redox system. Taken together, the findings show that a fisetin-rich diet could be an anti-aging intervention strategy.
A seascape-scale habitat model to support management of fishing impacts on benthic ecosystems
Authors: Smeltz T. Scott , Harris Bradley P. , Olson John V. , Sethi Suresh A.
Published: January 2019

Minimizing fishing impacts on seafloor ecosystems is a growing focus of ocean management; however, few quantitative tools exist to guide seascape-scale habitat management. To meet these needs, we developed a model to assess benthic ecosystem impacts from fishing gear contact. The habitat impacts model is cast in discrete time and can accommodate overlapping fisheries as well as incorporate gear-specific contact dynamics. We implemented the model in the North Pacific using fishing data from 2003 to 2017, estimating that habitat in 3.1% of the 1.2 million km2study area was disturbed at the end of the simulation period. A marked decline in habitat disturbance was evident since 2010, attributable to a single regulatory gear change that lifted trawl gear components off the seafloor. Running scenarios without these gear modifications showed these policies might have contributed to a 24% reduction in habitat disturbance since their implementation. Ultimately, model outputs provide direct estimates of the spatial and temporal trends of habitat effects from fishing — a key component of regulatory policies for many of the world’s fisheries.
Detecting non-displaceable toric fibers on compact toric manifolds via tropicalizations
Authors: Kim Yoosik , Lee Jaeho , Sanda Fumihiko
Published: January 2019

We provide a combinatorial way to locate non-displaceable Lagrangian toric fibers on any compact toric manifold. By taking the intersection of certain tropicalizations coming from its moment polytope, one can detect all Lagrangian toric fibers having non-vanishing Floer cohomology ([K. Fukaya, Y.-G. Oh, H. Ohta and K. Ono, Lagrangian Floer theory on compact toric manifolds, I, Duke Math. J. 151(1) (2010) 23–174; K. Fukaya, Y.-G. Oh, H. Ohta and K. Ono, Lagrangian Floer theory on compact toric manifolds II: bulk deformations, Selecta Math. (N.S.) 17(3) (2011) 609–711.]). The intersection completely characterizes all non-displaceable toric fibers, in some cases including pseudo symmetric smooth Fano varieties ([G. Ewald, On the classification of toric Fano varieties, Discrete Comput. Geom. 3(1) (1988) 49–54.]).
Dirichlet Laplacian in a thin twisted strip
Authors: Verri Alessandra A.
Published: January 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be a two-dimensional, infinite and twisted strip in [Formula: see text]. Consider [Formula: see text] the Dirichlet Laplacian operator in [Formula: see text]. At first, we find the effective operator when the transversal sections of [Formula: see text] tend to zero. Then, assuming that [Formula: see text] is thin enough, we show some situations where the discrete spectrum [Formula: see text] is nonempty; an asymptotic behavior for the eigenvalues is also found. In particular, we study the case where the twisted effect “grows” at infinity.
Invariant Whitney functions
Authors: Herbig Hans-Christian , Pflaum Markus J.
Published: January 2019

Theorem 1 of [G. W. Schwarz, Smooth functions invariant under the action of a compact Lie group, Topology 14 (1975) 63–68.] says that for a linear action of a compact Lie group [Formula: see text] on a finite dimensional real vector space [Formula: see text], any smooth [Formula: see text]-invariant function on [Formula: see text] can be written as a composite with the Hilbert map. We prove a similar statement for the case of Whitney functions along a subanalytic set [Formula: see text] fulfilling some regularity assumptions. In order to deal with the case when [Formula: see text] is not [Formula: see text]-stable, we use the language of groupoids.
A Versatile 3D Vehicle-Track-Bridge Element for Dynamic Analysis of the Railway Bridges under Moving Train Loads
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Ren Wei-Xin
Published: January 2019

There has been a growing interest to carry out the vehicle–track–bridge (VTB) dynamic interaction analysis using 2D or 3D finite elements based on simplified wheel–rail relationships. The simplified or elastic wheel–rail contact relationships, however, cannot consider the lateral contact forces and geometric shapes of the wheel and rails, and even the occasional jump of wheels from the rails. This does not guarantee a reliable analysis for the safety running of trains over bridges. To consider the wheel–rail constraint and contact forces, this paper proposes a versatile 3D VTB element, consisting of a vehicle, eight rail beam elements, four bridge beam elements, and continuous springs as well as the dampers between the rail and bridge girder. With the 3D VTB element matrices formulated, a procedure for assembling the interaction matrices of the 3D VTB element is presented based on the virtual work principle. The global equations of motion of the VTB interaction system are established accordingly, which can be solved by time integration methods to obtain the dynamic responses of the vehicle, track and bridge, as well as the stability and safety indices of the moving train. Finally, an illustrative example is used to verify the proposed the versatile 3D VTB element for the dynamic interactive analysis of railway bridges under moving train loads.
Text Mining for Evaluating Authors' Birth and Death Years
Authors: Moghaz Dror , Hacohen-Kerner Yaakov , Gabbay Dov
Published: January 2019

This article presents a unique method in text and data mining for finding the era, i.e., mining temporal data, in which an anonymous author was living. Finding this era can assist in the examination of a fake document or extracting the time period in which a writer lived. The study and the experiments concern Hebrew, and in some parts, Aramaic and Yiddish rabbinic texts. The rabbinic texts are undated and contain no bibliographic sections, posing an interesting challenge. This work proposes algorithms using key phrases and key words that allow the temporal organization of citations together with linguistic patterns. Based on these key phrases, key words, and the references, we established several types of “Iron-clad,” Heuristic and Greedy rules for estimating the years of birth and death of a writer in an interesting classification task. Experiments were conducted on corpora, including documents authored by 12, 24, and 36 rabbinic writers and demonstrated promising results.
Skeletal muscle denervation investigations: selecting an experimental control wisely
Authors: Liu Haiming , Thompson LaDora V.
Published: January 2019

Unilateral denervation is widely used for studies investigating mechanisms of muscle atrophy. The “contralateral-innervated muscle” is a commonly used experimental control in denervation studies. It is not clear whether denervation unilaterally alters the proteolytic system in the contralateral-innervated muscles. Therefore, the objectives of this rapid report are 1) to determine whether unilateral denervation has an effect on the proteolytic system in contralateral-innervated control muscles and 2) to identify the changes in proteasome properties in denervated muscles after 7- and 14-day tibial nerve transection with either the contralateral-innervated muscles or intact muscles from nonsurgical mice used as the experimental control. In the contralateral-innervated muscles after 7 and 14 days of nerve transection, the proteasome activities and content are significantly increased compared with muscles from nonsurgical mice. When the nonsurgical mice are used as the experimental control, a robust increase in proteasome properties is found in the denervated muscles. This robust increase in proteasome properties is eliminated when the contralateral-innervated muscles are the experimental control. In conclusion, there is a crossover effect from unilateral denervation on proteolytic parameters. As a result, the crossover effect on contralateral-innervated muscles must be considered when an experimental control is selected in a denervation study.
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids influence flight muscle oxidative capacity but not endurance flight performance in a migratory songbird
Authors: Dick Morag F. , Guglielmo Christopher G.
Published: January 2019

The migratory flights of birds are primarily fueled by fat; however, certain fatty acids may also enhance flight performance and the capacity to oxidize fat. The natural doping hypothesis posits that n–3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increase membrane fluidity and aerobic and fatty acid oxidative enzymes in the flight muscles, which enables prolonged endurance flight. Support for this hypothesis is mixed, and there is no empirical evidence for increased flight performance. We fed yellow-rumped warblers ( Setophaga coronata coronata) diets enriched in either n–3 or n–6 long-chain PUFA or low in long-chain PUFA and evaluated flight muscle metabolism and endurance performance in a wind tunnel flights lasting up to 6 h. Fatty acid profiles of muscle phospholipids confirmed enrichment of the targeted dietary fatty acids, whereas less substantial differences were observed in adipose triacylglycerol. Contrary to the predictions, feeding n–3 PUFA decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-β mRNA abundance and muscle oxidative enzyme activities. However, changes in muscle metabolism were not reflected in whole animal performance. No differences were observed in flight performance among diet treatments in terms of endurance capacity, energy costs, or fuel composition. These measures of flight performance were more strongly influenced by body mass and flight duration. Overall, we found no support for the natural doping hypothesis in a songbird. Furthermore, we caution against extending changes in flight muscle metabolic enzymes or fatty acid composition to changes to migratory performance without empirical evidence.
Aberrant thalamocortical coherence in an animal model of tinnitus
Authors: Vianney-Rodrigues Paulo , Auerbach Benjamin D. , Salvi Richard
Published: January 2019

Electrophysiological and imaging studies from humans suggest that the phantom sound of tinnitus is associated with abnormal thalamocortical neural oscillations (dysrhythmia) and enhanced gamma band activity in the auditory cortex. However, these models have seldom been tested in animal models where it is possible to simultaneously assess the neural oscillatory activity within and between the thalamus and auditory cortex. To explore this issue, we used multichannel electrodes to examine the oscillatory behavior of local field potentials recorded in the rat medial geniculate body (MBG) and primary auditory cortex (A1) before and after administering a dose of sodium salicylate (SS) that reliably induces tinnitus. In the MGB, SS reduced theta, alpha, and beta oscillations and decreased coherence (synchrony) between electrode pairs in theta, alpha, and beta bands but increased coherence in the gamma band. Within A1, SS significantly increased gamma oscillations, decreased theta power, and decreased coherence between electrode pairs in theta and alpha bands but increased coherence in the gamma band. When coherence was measured between one electrode in the MGB and another in A1, SS decreased coherence in beta, alpha, and theta bands but increased coherence in the gamma band. SS also increased cross-frequency coupling between the phase of theta oscillations in the MGB and amplitude of gamma oscillations in A1. Altogether, our results suggest that SS treatment fundamentally alters the manner in which thalamocortical circuits communicate, leading to excessive cortical gamma power and synchronization, neurophysiological changes implicated in tinnitus. Our data provide support for elements of both the thalamocortical dysrhythmia (TD) and synchronization by loss of inhibition (SLIM) models of tinnitus, demonstrating that increased cortical gamma band activity is associated with both enhanced theta-gamma coupling as well as decreases alpha power/coherence between the MGB and A1.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY There are no effective drugs to alleviate the phantom sound of tinnitus because the physiological mechanisms leading to its generation are poorly understood. Neural models of tinnitus suggest that it arises from abnormal thalamocortical oscillations, but these models have not been extensively tested. This article identifies abnormal thalamocortical oscillations in a drug-induced tinnitus model. Our findings open up new avenues of research to investigate whether cellular mechanisms underlying thalamocortical oscillations are causally linked to tinnitus.
β3-Adrenergic receptor-dependent modulation of the medium afterhyperpolarization in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Church Timothy W. , Brown Jon T. , Marrion Neil V.
Published: January 2019

Action potential firing in hippocampal pyramidal neurons is regulated by generation of an afterhyperpolarization (AHP). Three phases of AHP are recognized, with the fast AHP regulating action potential firing at the onset of a burst and the medium and slow AHPs supressing action potential firing over hundreds of milliseconds and seconds, respectively. Activation of β-adrenergic receptors suppresses the slow AHP by a protein kinase A-dependent pathway. However, little is known regarding modulation of the medium AHP. Application of the selective β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol suppressed both the medium and slow AHPs evoked in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons recorded from slices maintained in organotypic culture. Suppression of the slow AHP was mimicked by intracellular application of cAMP, with the suppression of the medium AHP by isoproterenol still being evident in cAMP-dialyzed cells. Suppression of both the medium and slow AHPs was antagonized by the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol. The effect of isoproterenol to suppress the medium AHP was mimicked by two β3-adrenergic receptor agonists, BRL37344 and SR58611A. The medium AHP was mediated by activation of small-conductance calcium-activated K+ channels and deactivation of H channels at the resting membrane potential. Suppression of the medium AHP by isoproterenol was reduced by pretreating cells with the H-channel blocker ZD7288. These data suggest that activation of β3-adrenergic receptors inhibits H channels, which suppresses the medium AHP in CA1 hippocampal neurons by utilizing a pathway that is independent of a rise in intracellular cAMP. This finding highlights a potential new target in modulating H-channel activity and thereby neuronal excitability.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The noradrenergic input into the hippocampus is involved in modulating long-term synaptic plasticity and is implicated in learning and memory. We demonstrate that activation of functional β3-adrenergic receptors suppresses the medium afterhyperpolarization in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This finding provides an additional mechanism to increase action potential firing frequency, where neuronal excitability is likely to be crucial in cognition and memory.
ADAS: Adaptive Switching between Full-Duplex and MU-MIMO for Wi-Fi Networks
Authors: Lee Kyu-haeng
Published: January 2019

Full-duplex (FD) and multiuser multi-input multioutput (MU-MIMO) approaches have been attracting much attention as core technologies of next-generation Wi-Fi systems, since they have vast potential to improve communication performance. In particular, the system throughput can be significantly increased if both technologies are used in harmony, based on a solid understanding of the characteristics of each technology. To realise this, it is essential and important for a node using both technologies to acquire a priori channel and queue information about the receiving nodes. Unfortunately, it is very challenging to obtain this information in Wi-Fi networks in which there are no separate channels or proper protocols. In this paper, a new MAC protocol for Wi-Fi networks is proposed, called ADAS, which selects the transmission strategy that best matches the given network environment. By fully utilising the conventional CSI acquisition protocol, an ADAS access point (AP) effectively obtains the necessary information and exploits it appropriately, in order to yield higher throughput gains. Through extensive Matlab simulations, the author proves that ADAS maintains high system throughputs for dynamic network changes.
Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action
Authors: Ma Zheng Feei , Zhang Hongxia , Teh Sue Siang , Wang Chee Woon , Zhang Yutong , Hayford Frank , Wang Liuyi , Ma Tong , Dong Zihan , Zhang Yan , Zhu Yifan
Published: January 2019

Goji berries (Lycium fruits) are usually found in Asia, particularly in northwest regions of China. Traditionally, dried goji berries are cooked before they are consumed. They are commonly used in Chinese soups and as herbal tea. Moreover, goji berries are used for the production of tincture, wine, and juice. Goji berries are high antioxidant potential fruits which alleviate oxidative stress to confer many health protective benefits such as preventing free radicals from damaging DNA, lipids, and proteins. Therefore, the aim of the review was to focus on the bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of goji berries including their molecular mechanisms of action. The health benefits of goji berries include enhancing hemopoiesis, antiradiation, antiaging, anticancer, improvement of immunity, and antioxidation. There is a better protection through synergistic and additive effects in fruits and herbal products from a complex mixture of phytochemicals when compared to one single phytochemical.
Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) as a Mevalonate Pathway Activator in the Rescue of Bone Cells Treated with Zoledronic Acid: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Fliefel Riham M. , Entekhabi Saleh A. , Ehrenfeld Michael , Otto Sven
Published: January 2019

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are the keystone to treat bone disorders. Despite the great benefits of BPs, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) arouse as a potential side effect. Nitrogen-containing BPs (N-BPs) as zoledronate (ZA) act by the inhibition of specific enzymes of the mevalonate pathway resulting in altering protein prenylation which is required for the posttranslational maturation of the small GTP-binding proteins. Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) is an intermediate product in the mevalonate pathway having positive effects on different cell types treated with BPs by salvaging protein prenylation improving cell viability and proliferation in tissue regeneration, thus overcoming N-BP-induced apoptosis. Here, the effect of different concentrations of zoledronate (ZA) on the bone cells has been investigated by cell viability assay, live/dead staining, and western blot to understand if GGOH was able to rescue bone cells and levels of statistical significance were indicated at ∗P<0.05, ∗∗P<0.01, ∗∗∗P<0.001, and ∗∗∗∗P<0.0001. Although the high concentration of ZA had significantly decreased the cell viability in the bone cells, GGOH reversed the action of ZA on the cells while at very high concentration; it caused severe reduction in the cell viability. Rap1A, a member of the GTPases family, was expressed in the negative controls but was absent in cells treated with high concentrations of ZA. The addition of GGOH had increased the expression of Rap1A up to a certain limit. The experiments proved that ZA acts directly on the mevalonate pathway and protein prenylation and that GGOH could be applied as a future local therapy to MRONJ.
Melatonin and Docosahexaenoic Acid Decrease Proliferation of PNT1A Prostate Benign Cells via Modulation of Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and ROS Production
Authors: Tamarindo Guilherme H. , Ribeiro Daniele L. , Gobbo Marina G. , Guerra Luiz H. A. , Rahal Paula , Taboga Sebastião R. , Gadelha Fernanda R. , Góes Rejane M.
Published: January 2019

Prostate cancer development has been associated with changes in mitochondrial activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Melatonin (MLT) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have properties to modulate both, but their protective role, mainly at early stages of prostate cancer, remains unclear. In this study, the effects of MLT and DHA, combined or not, on PNT1A cells with regard to mitochondria bioenergetics, ROS production, and proliferation-related pathways were examined. Based on dose response and lipid accumulation assays, DHA at 100 μM and MLT at 1 μM for 48 h were chosen. DHA doubled and MLT reduced (40%) superoxide anion production, but coincubation (DM) did not normalize to control. Hydrogen peroxide production decreased after MLT incubation only (p<0.01). These alterations affected the area and perimeter of mitochondria, since DHA increased whereas MLT decreased, but such hormone has no effect on coincubation. DHA isolated did not change the oxidative phosphorylation rate (OXPHOS), but decreased (p<0.001) the mitochondrial bioenergetic reserve capacity (MBRC) which is closely related to cell responsiveness to stress conditions. MLT, regardless of DHA, ameliorated OXPHOS and recovered MBRC after coincubation. All incubations decreased AKT phosphorylation; however, only MLT alone inhibited p-mTOR. MLT increased p-ERK1/2 and, when combined to DHA, increased GSTP1 expression (p<0.01). DHA did not change the testosterone levels in the medium, whereas MLT alone or coincubated decreased by about 20%; however, any incubation affected AR expression. Moreover, incubation with luzindole revealed that MLT effects were MTR1/2-independent. In conclusion, DHA increased ROS production and impaired mitochondrial function which was probably related to AKT inactivation; MLT improved OXPHOS and decreased ROS which was related to AKT/mTOR dephosphorylation, and when coincubated, the antiproliferative action was related to mitochondrial bioenergetic modulation associated to AKT and ERK1/2 regulation. Together, these findings point to the potential application of DHA and MLT towards the prevention of proliferative prostate diseases.
MTOR-Mediated Autophagy Is Involved in the Protective Effect of Ketamine on Allergic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Zou Hongyun , Wang Li-Xia , Wang Muzi , Cheng Cheng , Li Shuai , Shen Qiying , Fang Lei , Liu Rongyu
Published: January 2019

Unresolved inflammation underpins the pathogenesis of allergic airway diseases, such as asthma. Ketamine, accepted as a promising therapy for resistant asthma, has been demonstrated to attenuate allergic airway inflammation. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism by ketamine in this setting is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate whether autophagy was involved in the protective effect of ketamine on allergic airway inflammation. Female C57BL/6 mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and treated with ketamine at 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg prior to OVA challenge. In this model, the pulmonary morphological findings and airway inflammation were significantly inhibited at 50 mg/kg but not at 25 or 100 mg/kg. Moreover, 50 mg/kg ketamine abrogated the increased concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of allergic mice, as well as activated the expression of phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-MTOR) and inhibited autophagy in allergic mice. To confirm whether the effect of 50 mg/kg ketamine on asthma was mediated by inhibiting autophagy, rapamycin was administered to mice sensitized to OVA and exposed to 50 mg/kg ketamine. All of the effect of 50 mg/kg ketamine was reversed by rapamycin treatment, including increased p-MTOR and decreased autophagy. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that 50 mg/kg ketamine inhibits allergic airway inflammation by suppressed autophagy, and this effect is mediated by the activation of MTOR in the lungs of allergic mice.
Production of Methanol from Aqueous CO2 by Using Co3O4 Nanostructures as Photocatalysts
Authors: Pocoví-Martínez Salvador , Zumeta-Dube Inti , Diaz David
Published: January 2019

In this work, we report for the first time the photocatalytic activity of Co3O4 nanostructures for the reduction of aqueous CO2 to methanol (MeOH). This could be considered a simple example of artificial photosynthesis. The photocatalysis experiments were developed under simulated solar light of 100 mW/cm2 and without using any sacrificial agent. To carry out this study, nanostructured mixed valence cobalt oxide (Co3O4) powders, with porous nanoparticle aggregates of different morphologies, have been prepared by two synthesis methods. The characterization of structural (PXRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM) and optical (UV-vis-NIR, Raman, and FT-IR) properties, magnetization curves, and surface area (BET) was accomplished.
A Game Theory Energy Management Strategy for a Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid Energy Storage System
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Li Gang
Published: January 2019

This paper introduces a game theory approach to implement power flow distribution mission for a fuel cell/battery hybrid system considering uncertain power information. To fully describe the vying interaction relationship between the fuel cell and the battery, we design the power distribution problem as a noncooperative game problem, in which the fuel cell and the battery are deemed to be two interactional players, and each one chooses proper amount of power supply to maximize its own optimization function relying on the other chosen. Different from all previous research work in the published papers, the power demand information of the adopted driving cycle is assumed to be absolutely known. In this paper, we discuss the case that when the power demand is uncertain how the players act and the Nash Equilibrium can be effectively achieved. Three original contributions are made. First, we develop the utility function for each player taking into account the uncertain behavior of the power demand due to inaccurate prediction of driving cycle. Second, an iterative algorithm with a fuzzy logical controller for correction is proposed to reduce the influence of uncertain power demand information on the decisions of the players. Finally, the effectiveness is validated by a comparison simulation test.
A Nonsense Mitochondrial DNA Mutation Associates with Dysfunction of HIF1α in a Von Hippel-Lindau Renal Oncocytoma
Authors: De Luise Monica , Guarnieri Vito , Ceccarelli Claudio , D’Agruma Leonardo , Porcelli Anna Maria , Gasparre Giuseppe
Published: January 2019

The Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome has been rarely associated with renal oncocytomas, and tumors usually show HIF1α chronic stabilization. By contrast, oncocytomas mainly associated with respiratory chain (RC) defects due to severe mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are incapable of stabilizing HIF1α, since oxygen consumption by the RC is dramatically diminished and prolylhydroxylase activity is increased by α-ketoglutarate accumulation following Krebs cycle slowdown. Here, we investigate the cooccurrence of a pseudohypoxic condition with oncocytic transformation in a case of VHL-associated renal oncocytoma. While HIF1α was abundant in nuclei concordantly with defects in VHL, negative staining of its targets carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) and glucose transporter GLUT1, usually overexpressed in VHL-associated neoplasms, suggested HIF1α to be present in its inactive (hydroxylated) form. MtDNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed a MT-CO1 stop-gain mutation and cytochrome c oxidase loss. We suggest that a mitochondrial respiration impairment may lead to hyperhydroxylation of the transcription factor, which we confirmed by specific staining of hydroxylated HIF1α. Such inactive form hence accumulated in the VHL-deficient tumor, where it may contribute to the benign nature of the neoplasm. We propose that the protumorigenic role of HIF1α in VHL cancers may be blunted through drugs inhibiting mitochondrial respiratory complexes, such as metformin.
Influence of Crystallization Temperature on Structural, Ferroelectric, and Ferromagnetic Properties of Lead-Free Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 Multiferroic Films
Authors: Quan Ngo Duc , Toan Tran Quoc , Hung Vu Ngoc , Nguyen Minh-Duc
Published: January 2019

Lead-free Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 (abbreviated as BNKT) films have been synthesized via a sol-gel technique on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates, and the dependence of the physical properties in BNKT films were investigated as a function of the crystallization temperature. The BNKT films were annealed at different temperatures (600, 650, 700, and 750°C) for 60 min in the air. The results of this study showed that the optimal crystallization temperature is 700°C. At this, the BNKT films exhibited a single perovskite phase structure and high-dense surface. Besides, the remanent (Pr) and maximum (Pm) polarization reached their highest values of 9.2 µC/cm2 and 30.6 µC/cm2, respectively. All the films showed a weak ferromagnetic behavior with the maximum saturated magnetization (Ms) of 2.1 emu/cm3. These values are equivalent to the highest Pr and Pm values in previous reports on lead-free films.
Repeated Utilization of Ionic Liquid to Extract Lipid from Algal Biomass
Authors: Zhou Weizheng , Wang Zhongming , Alam Md. Asraful , Xu Jingliang , Zhu Shunni , Yuan Zhenhong , Huo Shuhao , Guo Ying , Qin Lei , Ma Longlong
Published: January 2019

In this work, different kinds of ionic liquids and reaction conditions for the extraction of lipid from microalgae biomass were optimized and repeated use of ionic liquids for microalgal lipid extraction was evaluated. Morphological changes of microalgae cells were compared in terms of pre- and post-treatment to understand the mechanisms of ionic liquid treatment. Ionic liquid [BMIM][MeSO4] showed the best lipid extraction efficiency at 70°C and with reaction time of 2 hours. The ratios (ILs : methanol) of 1 : 7 and 1 : 3 were the optimum ratios to complete the extraction of the lipids from microalgae. The initial 50% volume fraction of [BMIM][MeSO4] was 16.04% of dry weight, which showed the highest five average extraction rates. The loss of ionic liquid in the reaction system and the increase in water content of ionic liquids were considered as the main reasons for the decrease in the extraction rate. It is suggested that the potential of lipid extraction in this IL-methanol co-solvent system is promising due to the high efficiency, low cost, safety, environmental protection, and other characteristics.
Committee Machines for Hourly Water Demand Forecasting in Water Supply Systems
Authors: Ambrosio Julia K. , Brentan Bruno M. , Herrera Manuel , Luvizotto Edevar , Ribeiro Lubienska , Izquierdo Joaquín
Published: January 2019

Prediction models have become essential for the improvement of decision‐making processes in public management and, particularly, for water supply utilities. Accurate estimation often needs to solve multimeasurement, mixed‐mode, and space‐time problems, typical of many engineering applications. As a result, accurate estimation of real world variables is still one of the major problems in mathematical approximation. Several individual techniques have shown very good estimation abilities. However, none of them are free from drawbacks. This paper faces the challenge of creating accurate water demand predictive models at urban scale by using so‐called committee machines, which are ensemble frameworks of single machine learning models. The proposal is able to combine models of varied nature. Specifically, this paper analyzes combinations of such techniques as multilayer perceptrons, support vector machines, extreme learning machines, random forests, adaptive neural fuzzy inference systems, and the group method for data handling. Analyses are checked on two water demand datasets from Franca (Brazil). As an ensemble tool, the combined response of a committee machine outperforms any single constituent model.
The Roles of Age and Aging in Essential Tremor: An Epidemiological Perspective
Authors: Louis Elan D.
Published: January 2019

Background: With an aging population, it behooves physicians and scientists to gain an understanding of the intersections between aging and human disease. Here, the author reviews the intersections between age, aging, and essential tremor (ET), particularly as these relate to disease epidemiology. Summary: The prevalence and incidence of ET both increase with age, and the former, in an exponential fashion with advanced aging. There is evidence that age may independently drive several features of the natural history of ET (e.g., the increase in tremor severity with time, the appearance of head tremor with time). Epidemiological studies clearly show that ET is associated with several conditions of advanced age, including Parkinson’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Aside from age, age of onset has several important clinical correlates – familial forms of ET are more likely to have younger ages of onset, and older ages of onset are associated with more rapid disease progression. Key Messages: Overall, there are several important intersection points between age, aging, and ET. Potential biological explanations for these observations are discussed. Further knowledge about the basis for these observations will enhance our understanding of this disease and inform our care of patients.
Clinical, Histochemical, and Molecular Study of Three Turkish Siblings Diagnosed with H Syndrome, and Literature Review
Authors: Simsek Enver , Simsek Tulay , Eren Makbule , Yilmaz Evrim , Arik Deniz , Cilingir Oguz , Ceylaner Serdar , Harmancı Koray
Published: January 2019

Background: The term “H syndrome” was coined to denote the major clinical findings, which include hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, hearing loss, hepatosplenomegaly, hyperglycaemia, hypogonadism, hallux flexion contractures, and short height. Objective: To report the clinical, endocrinological, histochemical, and genetic findings of three siblings. Methods: Skin and liver biopsies were taken to investigate the histochemical characteristics of hyperpigmented hypertrichotic skin lesions and massive hepatomegaly. The levels of basal serum thyroid hormones, oestradiol, total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, and stimulated growth hormone (GH) were measured to investigate the endocrine aspects of the syndrome. Mutation analysis was carried out in all six exons and exon-intron boundaries of SLC29A3 by direct sequencing. Results: Physical examination of the patients revealed common charac­teristic findings of H syndrome. Additional clinical findings were sectorial iris atrophy in the younger sister. Laboratory evaluation revealed microcytic anaemia, markedly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels, and humoral immune deficiency in the younger siblings, who presented with recurrent fever and sinopulmonary infection. Two different GH stimulation tests revealed GH deficiency in the younger sister with short stature. Liver and skin biopsies revealed polyclonal lymphohistiocytic and plasma cell infiltration. Sequencing of SLC29A3 in the three siblings revealed a novel homozygous mutation in exon 6, which caused the transition of arginine to tryptophan. Conclusion: This study not only extended the clinical and mutation spectrum of SLC29A3 in H syndrome, but also showed that short children should be assessed according to the guidelines for short stature in children.
Ensuring Basic Competence in Thoracentesis
Authors: Rasmussen Kasper Møller Boje , Hertz Peter , Laursen Christian B. , Arshad Arman , Saghir Zaigham , Clementsen Paul Frost , Konge Lars
Published: January 2019

Background: Trocar pigtail catheter thoracentesis (TPCT) is a common procedure often performed by junior physicians. Simulation-based training may effectively train physicians in the procedure prior to performing it on patients. An assessment tool with solid validity evidence is necessary to ensure sufficient procedural competence. Objectives: Our study objectives were (1) to collect evidence of validity for a newly developed pigtail catheter assessment tool (Thoracentesis Assessment Tool [ThorAT]) developed for the evaluation of TPCT performance and (2) to establish a pass/fail score for summative assessment. Methods: We assessed the validity evidence for the ThorAT using the recommended framework for validity by Messick. Thirty-four participants completed two consecutive procedures and their performance was assessed by two blinded, independent raters using the ThorAT. We compared performance scores to test whether the assessment tool was able to discern between the two groups, and a pass/fail score was established. Results: The assessment tool was able to discriminate between the two groups in terms of competence level. Experienced physicians received significantly higher test scores than novices in both the first and second procedure. A pass/fail score of 25.2 points was established, resulting in 4 (17%) passing novices and 1 (9%) failing experienced participant in the first procedure. In the second procedure 9 (39%) novices passed and 2 (18%) experienced participants failed. Conclusions: This study provides a tool for summative assessment of competence in TPCT. Strong validity evidence was gathered from five sources of evidence. A simulation-based training program using the ThorAT could ensure competence before performing thoracentesis on patients.