bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3‐(1H‐Benzo[d]imidazol‐6‐yl)‐5‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole (DDO7232), a Novel Potent Nrf2/ARE Inducer, Ameliorates DSS‐Induced Murine Colitis and Protects NCM460 Cells against Oxidative Stress via ERK1/2 Phosphorylation
Authors: Xu Li-Li , Liu Tian , Wang Lei , Li Li , Wu Yu-Feng , Li Cui-Cui , Di Bin , You Qi-Dong , Jiang Zheng-Yu
Published: May 2018

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease that can destroy the integrity of the colon and increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Oxidative stress is one of the critical pathogenic factors for UC, further impairing the entire affected colon. The Nrf2‐ARE signaling pathway plays an important role in counteracting oxidative and electrophilic stress. Activation of the Nrf2‐ARE pathway provides an indispensable defense mechanism for the treatment of UC. In this study, we identified a novel effective Nrf2 activator, DDO7232, which showed protective effects on NCM460 cells and therapeutic effects on DSS‐induced colitis in mice. Mechanistic studies indicated that the Nrf2‐ARE‐inducing activity of DDO7232 was based on the activation of the ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of Nrf2 Ser40 by p‐ERK triggered the transport of Nrf2 into the nucleus and drove the expression of Nrf2‐dependent antioxidant proteins. These results not only revealed the antioxidant mechanisms of DDO7232 but also provided an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of UC.
Anesthesiologists’ Preferences regarding Visitor Presence during Placement of Neuraxial Labor Analgesia
Authors: Kumaraswami Sangeeta , Pothula Suryanarayana , Inchiosa Mario Anthony , Kubal Keshar Paul , Burns Micah Alexander
Published: May 2018

Introduction. Neuraxial labor analgesia has become an integral part of modern obstetric anesthetic practice. Presence of a familiar person during its placement may be beneficial to the patient. A survey was sent to anesthesiologists practicing obstetric anesthesia in the USA to determine their views. Methods. The survey queried the following: existence of a written policy; would they allow a visitor; visitor’s view, sitting or standing; reasons to allow or not allow a visitor; and influence by other staff on the decision. The responses were analyzed using multiple chi-square analyses. Results. Most practitioners supported allowing a visitor during placement. Reduction of patient anxiety and fulfillment of patient request were the major reasons for allowing a visitor. Sitting position and no view of the workspace were preferred. Visitor interference and safety were cited as the major reasons for precluding a visitor. Nonanesthesia providers rarely influenced the decision. Epidural analgesia was the preferred technique. Essentially no bias was found in the responses; there was statistical uniformity regardless of procedures done per week, years in practice, professional certification, geographic region (rural, urban, or suburban), or academic, private, or government responders. Conclusion. The practice of visitor presence during the placement of neuraxial labor analgesia is gaining acceptance.
Tribomechanical Properties of a Carbon-Based Nanolayer Prepared by Nitrogen Ion Beam Assisted Deposition for Finger Joint Replacements
Authors: Horazdovsky Tomas , Vrbova Radka
Published: May 2018

This paper presents the tribomechanical test results of Ti6Al4V alloy modified by carbon-based nanolayers with a thickness of 20 nm and 40 nm, prepared by nitrogen ion beam assisted deposition. The presence of carbon and nitrogen compounds was observed in the modified surface after ion bombardment. Nonstoichiometric TiNx was mainly detected near the interface nanolayer/titanium substrate and in the substrate itself. Ion bombardment led to an improved surface hardness of ~13 GPa in comparison to unmodified Ti6Al4V titanium alloy (~5.5 GPa) and alloy coated by carbon nanolayer without nitrogen ion assistance (~7 GPa). The decreasing of friction coefficient was achieved from 0.5–0.6 for untreated Ti6Al4V alloy to 0.1 for treated Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear testing using a joint wear simulator proved that the modified Ti6Al4V alloy has a higher resistance compared to the unmodified Ti6Al4V alloy. The primary local wear fault of the treated surface was observed after 240,000 cycles in comparison to enormous wear on the untreated surface after just 10,000 cycles. Treating the Ti6Al4V load-bearing components of implants with carbon-based nanolayers assisted by nitrogen ions is very promising in terms of extending the lifetime of implants and thereby reduces patient burden.
Dasatinib-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Treated with Upfront Combination Therapy
Authors: Nishimori Makoto , Honjo Tomoyuki , Kaihotsu Kenji , Sone Naohiko , Yoshikawa Sachiko , Imanishi Junichi , Nakayama Kazuhiko , Emoto Noriaki , Iwahashi Masanori
Published: May 2018

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare complication of dasatinib that was approved as a first-line therapy for chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). A 24-year-old man presenting dyspnea at rest and leg edema was admitted to our hospital. He had been diagnosed with CML and prescribed dasatinib for 4 years. Chest X-ray showed significant bilateral pleural effusion and heart enlargement. Echocardiography revealed interventricular septal compression and elevated peak tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient of 66.7 mmHg indicating severe pulmonary hypertension. After the other specific diseases to provoke PAH were excluded, he was diagnosed with dasatinib-induced PAH. Despite discontinuation of dasatinib and intravenous administration of diuretic for two weeks, World Health Organization (WHO) functional class was still II and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was high at 37 mmHg. Therefore, we administered sildenafil and bosentan together as an upfront combination therapy three weeks after dasatinib discontinuation. Six months later, his symptoms improved to WHO functional class I and mean PAP was decreased to 31 mmHg. Although PAH is a rare complication of dasatinib, symptomatic patients prescribed with dasatinib should have an echocardiogram for PAH screening. Moreover, the upfront combination therapy would be a useful option for symptomatic patients after discontinuation of dasatinib.
A New Lebanese Medication Adherence Scale: Validation in Lebanese Hypertensive Adults
Authors: Bou Serhal R. , Salameh P. , Wakim N. , Issa C. , Kassem B. , Abou Jaoude L. , Saleh N.
Published: May 2018

Background. A new Lebanese scale measuring medication adherence considered socioeconomic and cultural factors not taken into account by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Objectives were to validate the new adherence scale and its prediction of hypertension control, compared to MMAS-8, and to assess adherence rates and factors. Methodology. A cross-sectional study, including 405 patients, was performed in outpatient cardiology clinics of three hospitals in Beirut. Blood pressure was measured, a questionnaire filled, and sodium intake estimated by a urine test. Logistic regression defined predictors of hypertension control and adherence. Results. 54.9% had controlled hypertension. 82.4% were adherent by the new scale, which showed good internal consistency, adequate questions (KMO coefficient = 0.743), and four factors. It predicted hypertension control (OR = 1.217; p value = 0.003), unlike MMAS-8, but the scores were correlated (ICC average measure = 0.651; p value < 0.001). Stress and smoking predicted nonadherence. Conclusion. This study elaborated a validated, practical, and useful tool measuring adherence to medications in Lebanese hypertensive patients.
HSP90: A Novel Target Gene of miRNA-628-3p in A549 Cells
Authors: Pan Jieli , Jiang Fusheng , Zhou Jia , Wu Dehong , Sheng Zhenhua , Li Meiya
Published: May 2018

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. MicroRNA- (miR-) 628-3p plays critical roles in many cancers, including lung cancer. We investigated how miR-628-3p affected migration and apoptosis in A549 cells. We used bioinformatics algorithms to predict the miR-628-3p target gene to study the molecular mechanism by which miR-628-3p contributes to lung cancer. Then, we used the luciferase reporter assay to identify whether heat shock protein 90a (HSP90) is a direct target of miR-628-3p. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR showed that miR-628-3p downregulated HSP90a protein expression via a posttranscriptional mechanism. We confirm that miR-628-3p promotes apoptosis and inhibits migration in A549 cells by negatively regulating HSP90. Our results may reveal a novel strategy for lung cancer treatment.
Toxicological Assessment of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich.) Engl. Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract in Rats: Haematological, Biochemical, and Histopathological Studies
Authors: Adongo Donatus Wewura , Mante Priscilla Kolibea , Kukuia Kennedy Kwami Edem , Benneh Charles Kwaku , Biney Robert Peter , Boakye-Gyasi Eric , Titiloye Nicholas Akinwale , Woode Eric
Published: May 2018

Pseudospondias microcarpa is used traditionally for treating various diseases. However, although parts of the plant are extensively used in African traditional medicine, no scientific study has been reported on its toxicity. Therefore, this study evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity studies of the ethanolic extract of P. microcarpa in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (120–150 g) were treated orally with the extract (30, 100, 300, 1000, and 3000 mg kg−1) or distilled water (10 ml kg−1) for 2 weeks and observed daily for general appearance and signs of toxicity. In addition, blood was collected for both biochemical and haematological assays. Sections of tissues from liver, kidney, spleen, brain, and stomach were also used for histopathological examination. Administration of the extract for 14 consecutive days caused no deaths, with an LD50 above 3000 mg kg−1. Except for lymphocytes (%) that showed a significant decrease (F5,23=3.93, P=0.013), all other haematological parameters remained unaffected by the extract. The extract at 100 mg kg−1 showed a significant decrease in the levels of triglyceride and very-low-density lipoproteins (both at P<0.05). Weight change as well as histological evaluation of the organs indicated no toxicity. The study demonstrates that an ethanolic extract of P. microcarpa given orally to rats is safe.
Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among Domestic Ruminants in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Tilahun Berhanu , Tolossa Yacob Hailu , Tilahun Getachew , Ashenafi Hagos , Shimelis Shihun
Published: May 2018

A cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2011 to September 2013 to assess the seroprevalence and identify risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic ruminants of East Hararghe zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Sera of 1360 domestic ruminants were analyzed for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Additionally, the owners were also interviewed using a structured questionnaire to identify the potential risk factors of T. gondii infection. Overall, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in domestic ruminants was 22.2% (302/1360). The seroprevalence in sheep, goats, cattle, and camels was 33.7%, 27.6%, 10.7%, and 14.4%, respectively. District, species, sex, age, and water source were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. Increased seropositivity was observed in females (OR = 2.63) and also with the use of pond (OR = 4.25) and pipe (OR = 9.57) water sources in sheep; age >1 year old (OR = 3.45) and with drinking from pond (OR = 6.03) and pipe (OR = 11.61) water sources in goats; with the use of pond (OR = 5.60) and pipe (OR = 10.68) water sources in cattle; and in >4-year-old camels (OR = 2.49). In conclusion, T. gondii infection is common and widespread among the domestic ruminants of the study area, indicating the potential transmission to humans from these animals when they are used as a source of food. Hence, it is crucial to raise awareness of the people about T. gondii infection and conduct further study to explore the impact of the disease on food animal production.
A Color Distance Model Based on Visual Recognition
Authors: Lv Jingqin , Fang Jiangxiong
Published: May 2018

In computer vision, Euclidean Distance is generally used to measure the color distance between two colors. And how to deal with illumination change is still an important research topic. However, our evaluation results demonstrate that Euclidean Distance does not perform well under illumination change. Since human eyes can recognize similar or irrelevant colors under illumination change, a novel color distance model based on visual recognition is proposed. First, we find that various colors are distributed complexly in color spaces. We propose to divide the HSV space into three less complex subspaces, and study their specific distance models. Then a novel hue distance is modeled based on visual recognition, and the chromatic distance model is proposed in line with our visual color distance principles. Finally, the gray distance model and the dark distance model are studied according to the natures of their subspaces, respectively. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms Euclidean Distance and the related methods and achieves a good distance measure against illumination change. In addition, the proposed model obtains good performance for matching patches of pedestrian images. The proposed model can be applied to image segmentation, pedestrian reidentification, visual tracking, and patch or superpixel-based tasks.
A Novel Optimal Design of Measurement Configurations in Robot Calibration
Authors: Jia Qingxuan , Wang Shiwei , Chen Gang , Wang Lei , Sun Hanxu
Published: May 2018

Robot calibration highly depends on redundant measurement configurations to collect enough sample data for higher accuracy, but excessive measurements seem to be uneconomical and time-consuming. Thus lots of observability indexes to evaluate the goodness of the measurement configurations have been proposed. However, in some circumstances, it is of critical importance to obtain accurate kinematic parameters and estimate the end-effector pose precisely at the same time. Obviously one single observability index can hardly meet this need yet. Accordingly, after analyzing the essential constrains of robot calibration and the influence of measurement configurations on the observability indexes, an optimization model with two observability indexes to be taken into consideration is proposed in this paper, and then the existing DETMAX algorithm is modified to seek optimal design of measurement configurations, by adopting a set-constructing method and a set-shrinking method. Much better results have been obtained by simulation study, which implies that the proposed model and the modified DETMAX algorithm perform well in both kinematic parameter identification and pose estimation of the end-effector of the robot.
Preparation and Drug Release Study of Novel Nanopharmaceuticals with Polysorbate 80 Surface Adsorption
Authors: Tao Xiaojun , Li Yu , Hu Qian , Zhu Li , Huang Zixuan , Yi Jiajin , Yang Xiaoping , Hu Jianzhuo , Feng Xing
Published: May 2018

Most free drugs that cross the blood–brain barrier are characterized by high liposolubility, but they often have limited clinical applications because of poor dissolution and poor bioavailability. In this study, we prepared donepezil drug-loaded nanoparticles (DZP) with cholesterol-modified pullulan (CHP) as the nanocarrier (DZP-CHP) and surface modified the drug-loaded nanoparticles to improve the water solubility of donepezil while enhancing its targeting and sustained release. We determined the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of DZP-CHP nanoparticles at different feed ratios. The mean ± SD drug loading and entrapment efficiency were high: 13.52 ± 2.03 and 86.54 ± 1.31. On dynamic light-scattering measurement, mean ± SD particle size was 260.7 ± 1.76 nm, polydispersity index 0.123 ± 0.004, and zeta potential −5.75 ± 0.64 mV. DZP-CHP nanoparticles prepared with the optimal feed ratio (DZP : CHP = 1 : 5) were coated with polysorbate 80, and the adsorption process was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. We found good affinity between polysorbate 80 and DZP-CHP, with mean ± SD coverage 2.7 ± 0.372. The mean ± SD drug loading and entrapment efficiency of polysorbate 80-emulsified DZP-CHP nanoparticles were 8.25 ± 1.80 and 91.28 ± 4.57, respectively, and the proportion of drug released by 72 h was 42.71%. Compared to DZP-CHP alone, PS-DZP-CHP can enhance the release of donepezil.
The Complexity Analysis in Dual‐Channel Supply Chain Based on Fairness Concern and Different Business Objectives
Authors: Qiu-xiang Li , Yu-hao Zhang , Yi-min Huang
Published: May 2018

We study a dual‐channel supply chain which consists of one dual‐channel manufacturer and one traditional retailer considering fairness concern. The manufacturer takes the market share as one of its business objectives in the competition game. We are devoted to establishing a vertical Nash game model and analyzing the price evolution of the model via the method of complexity theory and take adaptive adjustment control method to control the system’s chaotic state. The results show that an excessive price adjustment speed will hurt the system’s stability as well as profit of the supply chain. A high level fair caring for retailer will push the system to fall into chaos earlier, while a higher level fair caring for manufacturer will enlarge the stability region of the system. Setting the different objectives by the manufacturer will cause drastic competition in dual‐channel supply chain. The research of this paper is of great significance to the decision‐makers’ price decision and supply chain operation management.
Scene Flow Estimation Based on Adaptive Anisotropic Total Variation Flow-Driven Method
Authors: Xiang Xuezhi , Zhang Rongfang , Zhai Mingliang , Xiao Deguang , Bai Erwei
Published: May 2018

Scene flow estimation based on disparity and optical flow is a challenging task. We present a novel method based on adaptive anisotropic total variation flow-driven method for scene flow estimation from a calibrated stereo image sequence. The basic idea is that diffusion of flow field in different directions has different rates, which can be used to calculate total variation and anisotropic diffusion automatically. Brightness consistency and gradient consistency constraint are employed to establish the data term, and adaptive anisotropic flow-driven penalty constraint is employed to establish the smoothness term. Similar to the optical flow estimation, there are also large displacement problems in the estimation of the scene flow, which is solved by introducing a hierarchical computing optimization. The proposed method is verified by using the synthetic dataset and the real scene image sequences. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Phagocytosis of Candida albicans Inhibits Autophagic Flux in Macrophages
Authors: Duan Zhimin , Chen Qing , Du Leilei , Tong Jianbo , Xu Song , Zeng Rong , Ma Yuting , Chen Xu , Li Min
Published: May 2018

Autophagy machinery has roles in the defense against microorganisms such as Candida albicans. Lipidated LC3, the marker protein of autophagy, participates in the elimination of C. albicans by forming a single‐membrane phagosome; this process is called LC3‐associated phagocytosis (LAP). However, the influence of C. albicans on autophagic flux is not clear. In this study, we found that C. albicans inhibited LC3 turnover in macrophages. After the phagocytosis of C. albicans in macrophages, we observed fewer acridine orange‐positive vacuoles and RFP‐GFP‐LC3 puncta without colocalization with phagocytized C. albicans. However, phagocytosis of C. albicans led to LC3 recruitment, but p62 and ATG9A did not colocalize with LC3 or C. albicans. These effects are due to an MTOR‐independent pathway. Nevertheless, we found that the C. albicans pattern‐associated molecular pattern β‐glucan increased LC3 turnover. In addition, phagocytosis of C. albicans caused a decrease in BrdU incorporation. Blocking autophagic flux aggravated this effect. Our findings suggest that phagocytosis of C. albicans decreases autophagic flux but induces LAP in an MTOR‐independent manner in macrophages. Occupation of LC3 by recruiting engulfed C. albicans might contribute to the inhibition of autophagic flux. Our study highlights the coordinated machinery between canonical autophagy and LAP that defends against C. albicans challenge.
Experimental and Numerical Studies on Sloshing Dynamics of PCS Water Tank of Nuclear Island Building
Authors: Li Xiaojun , Song Chenning , Zhou Guoliang , Wei Chao , Lu Ming
Published: May 2018

Water tank is one important component of passive containment cooling system (PCS) of nuclear island building. The sloshing frequency of water is much less than structure frequency and large-amplitude sloshing occurs easily when subjected to seismic loadings. Therefore, the sloshing dynamics and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effect of water tank should be considered when the dynamic response of nuclear island building is analyzed. A 1/16 scaled model was designed and the shaking table test was done, in which the hydrodynamic pressure time histories and attenuation data of wave height were recorded. Then the sloshing frequencies and 1st sloshing damping ratio were recognized. Moreover, modal analysis and time history analysis of numerical model were done by ADINA software. By comparing the sloshing frequencies and hydrodynamic pressures, it is proved that the test method is reasonable and the formulation of potential-based fluid elements (PBFE) can be used to simulate FSI effect of nuclear island building.
The Study of Pallet Pooling Information Platform Based on Cloud Computing
Authors: Li Jia-bin , He Shi-wei , Yin Wei-chuan
Published: May 2018

Effective implementation of pallet pooling system needs a strong information platform to support. Through the analysis of existing pallet pooling information platform (PPIP), the paper pointed out that the existing studies of PPIP are mainly based on traditional IT infrastructures and technologies which have software, hardware, resource utilization, and process restrictions. Because of the advantages of cloud computing technology like strong computing power, high flexibility, and low cost which meet the requirements of the PPIP well, this paper gave a PPIP architecture of two parts based on cloud computing: the users client and the cloud services. The cloud services include three layers, which are IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. The method of how to deploy PPIP based on cloud computing is proposed finally.
UsingDrosophilaModels of Amyloid Toxicity to Study Autophagy in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: O’Keefe Louise , Denton Donna
Published: May 2018

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic pathway that involves the engulfment of cytoplasmic components such as large protein aggregates and organelles that are delivered to the lysosome for degradation. This process is important in maintaining neuronal function and raises the possibility of a role for autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of these diseases and is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain which arise due to the misfolding and aggregation of toxic peptides, including amyloid beta (Aβ). There is substantial evidence from both AD patients and animal models that autophagy is dysregulated in this disease. However, it remains to be determined whether this is protective or pathogenic as there is evidence that autophagy can act to promote the degradation as well as function in the generation of toxic Aβpeptides. Understanding the molecular details of the extensive crosstalk that occurs between the autophagic and endolysosomal cellular pathways is essential for identifying the molecular details of amyloid toxicity.Drosophilamodels that express the toxic proteins that aggregate in AD have been generated and have been shown to recapitulate hallmarks of the disease. Here we focus on what is known about the role of autophagy in amyloid toxicity in AD from mammalian models and howDrosophilamodels can be used to further investigate AD pathogenesis.
The TDDB Characteristics of Ultra-Thin Gate Oxide MOS Capacitors under Constant Voltage Stress and Substrate Hot-Carrier Injection
Authors: Shen Jingyu , Tan Can , Jiang Rui , Li Wei , Fan Xue , Li Jianjun , Wu Jingping
Published: May 2018

The breakdown characteristics of ultra-thin gate oxide MOS capacitors fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology under constant voltage stress and substrate hot-carrier injection are investigated. Compared to normal thick gate oxide, the degradation mechanism of time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) of ultra-thin gate oxide is found to be different. It is found that the gate current (Ig) of ultra-thin gate oxide MOS capacitor is more likely to be induced not only by Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling electrons, but also by electrons surmounting barrier and penetrating electrons in the condition of constant voltage stress. Moreover it is shown that the time to breakdown (tbd) under substrate hot-carrier injection is far less than that under constant voltage stress when the failure criterion is defined as a hard breakdown according to the experimental results. The TDDB mechanism of ultra-thin gate oxide will be detailed. The differences in TDDB characteristics of MOS capacitors induced by constant voltage stress and substrate hot-carrier injection will be also discussed.
Congenital Heart Disease and Its Impact on the Development of Anastomotic Strictures after Reconstruction of Esophageal Atresia
Authors: Stenström Pernilla , Salö Martin , Anderberg Magnus , Arnbjörnsson Einar
Published: May 2018

Background. The aim was to explore if severe congenital heart disease (CHD) influenced the need for dilatation of anastomotic strictures (AS) after the repair of esophageal atresia (EA). Methods. A retrospective case-control study was conducted examining AS in children with EA and Gross type C. The spectra of CHD and cardiac interventions were reviewed. The frequency of dilatations of AS during the first year following EA reconstruction was compared between children with and without severe CHD requiring cardiac surgery during their first year of life. Endoscopic signs of stricture were an indication for dilatation. Results. Included in the follow-up for AS were 94 patients who had EA reconstructions, of whom 10 (11%) children had severe CHD requiring surgery during the first year including 19 different cardiac interventions. In total, 38 patients needed dilatation of esophageal AS, distributed as six (60%) with severe CHD and 32 (38%) without severe CHD (p=0.31). Conclusion. Severe CHD was present in 11% of children with EA. Esophageal AS developed in 60% children with concomitant CHD, but although high, it did not reach statistical difference from children without CHD (38%).
Analysis of Bone Mineral Density/Content of Paratroopers and Hoopsters
Authors: Luo Yixue , Luo Chenyu , Cai Yuhui , Jiang Tianyun , Chen Tianhong , Xiao Wenyue , Guo Junchao , Fan Yubo
Published: May 2018

The different mechanical stimulus affects the bone mass and bone strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of landing posture of the hoopster and paratrooper on the bone mass. In this study, 39 male participants were recruited including 13 paratroopers, 13 hoopsters, and 13 common students (control groups). Bone area (BA), BMD and BMC of calcaneus, and 1–5th of the metatarsus, hip, and lumbar spine (L1–L4) were measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Also, the vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) of hoopsters and paratroopers were measured by the landing of 1.2 m 3D force platform. BA of hoopsters at the calcaneus, lumbar spine, and hip were significantly higher than the control group. The lumbar spine, hip, calcaneus, the 1st and 2nd metatarsals, BMC of paratroopers, and control groups were significantly lower than hoopsters. BMD of the lumbar spine, hip, and right and left femoral necks in hoopsters were significantly higher than the other participants. BMC and BMD of lower limber showed no significant difference between paratroopers and the control group. Besides, peak GRFs of paratroopers (11.06 times of BW) were significantly higher than hoopsters (6.49 times of BW). The higher GRF in the landing train is not always in accordance with higher BMD and BMC. Variable loads in hoopsters can improve bone remodeling and play an important role in bone expansions for trabecular bones. This will be considered by the method of training to prevent bone loss.
Consensus of Fractional-Order Multiagent Systems with Double Integral and Time Delay
Authors: Liu Jun , Chen Wei , Qin Kaiyu , Li Ping
Published: May 2018

This paper is devoted to the consensus problems for a fractional-order multiagent system (FOMAS) with double integral and time delay, the dynamics of which are double-integrator fractional-order model, where there are two state variables in each agent. The consensus problems are investigated for two types of the double-integrator FOMAS with time delay: the double-integrator FOMAS with time delay whose network topology is undirected topology and the double-integrator FOMAS with time delay whose network topology is directed topology with a spanning tree in this paper. Based on graph theory, Laplace transform, and frequency-domain theory of the fractional-order operator, two maximum tolerable delays are obtained to ensure that the two types of the double-integrator FOMAS with time delay can asymptotically reach consensus. Furthermore, it is proven that the results are also suitable for integer-order dynamical model. Finally, the relationship between the speed of convergence and time delay is revealed, and simulation results are presented as a proof of concept.
Haptoglobin Genotype Is a Determinant of Hemoglobin Adducts and Vitamin E Content in HDL
Authors: Goldenstein Hagit , Levy Nina S. , Ward John , Costacou Tina , Levy Andrew P.
Published: May 2018

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an abundant hemoglobin- (Hb-) binding serum protein and a constituent of the HDL proteome. In man, there exists a common polymorphism at the Hp locus with two common alleles defined by the presence (Hp 2 allele) or absence (Hp 1 allele) of a 1.7 kb in-frame partial duplication of exons 3 and 4 of the Hp gene. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the Hp 2-2 genotype is associated with a 3–5-fold increase in vascular disease among individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Increased Hp-Hb complex has been shown to be associated with the HDL of Hp 2-2 DM individuals. Hb-associated HDL has been proposed to result in the oxidation of HDL and the consumption of antioxidants in HDL, such as vitamin E, rendering the HDL further susceptible to oxidation. In this study, we set out to identify proteins which become cross-linked to Hb in HDL and to measure vitamin E in HDL as a function of the Hp genotype. We report on the identification of a novel 72 kd Hb reactive species which is cross-linked to HDL and demonstrate that vitamin E in HDL is decreased in Hp 2-2 DM individuals.
Vitamin D-Binding Protein Clearance Ratio Is Significantly Associated with Glycemic Status and Diabetes Complications in a Predominantly Vitamin D-Deficient Population
Authors: Abdella Nabila A. , Mojiminiyi Olusegun A.
Published: May 2018

Introduction. Studies have shown increased urine excretion of vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) resulting from postulated mechanisms linked to renal tubular damage. In this study, we evaluate the utility of VDBP clearance ratio as a novel determinant of glycemic status, DN, and other diabetes-associated complications.Methods. Levels of vitamin D, HbA1c, serum, urine concentrations of VDBP, and creatinine were measured in 309 subjects. The ratio of urine microalbumin to creatinine was determined to categorize subjects as normoalbuminuric (NAO), microalbuminuric (MIA), and macroalbuminuric (MAA). The VDBP clearance ratio was calculated.Results. Mean VDBP clearance ratios in NAO, MIA, and MAA were 0.7, 4, and 15, respectively. Significant positive correlations of VDBP clearance ratio were found with age, WC, SBP, DBP, TG, glucose, HbA1c, urine VDBP, urine microalbumin, and urine microalbumin/creatinine, and a significant negative correlation was found with the steady-state estimate of beta cell function (B%). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses of the use of VDBP clearance ratio for detection of albumin status shows a value of 0.81 for the area under the curve.Conclusions. The strong associations of VDBP clearance ratio with glycemic control and diabetes-associated complications suggest that this index could play a wider role in detection and/or pathogenesis and complications of diabetes.
Removal of Colored Organic Pollutants from Wastewaters by Magnetite/Carbon Nanocomposites: Single and Binary Systems
Authors: Muntean Simona Gabriela , Nistor Maria Andreea , Muntean Eliza , Todea Anamaria , Ianoş Robert , Păcurariu Cornelia
Published: May 2018

This work develops a methodology for selective removal of industrial dyes from wastewaters using adsorption technology based on magnetic adsorbents. The magnetic nanoparticles embedded within a matrix of activated carbon were tested as adsorbents for removal of industrial dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of four independent variables, solution pH, initial concentration of pollutant, adsorbent dose, contact time, and their interactions on the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite were investigated in order to optimize the process. The removal efficiency of pollutants depends on solution pH and increases with increasing the carbon content, with initial concentration of the pollutants, the temperature, and the dose of magnetite/carbon nanocomposites. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was fitted to the kinetic data, and adsorption isotherm analysis and thermodynamics were used to elucidate the adsorption mechanism. The maximum adsorption capacities were 223.82 mg g−1 for Nylosan Blue, 114.68 mg g−1 for Chromazurol S, and 286.91 mg g−1 for Basic Red 2. The regeneration and reuse of the sorbent were evaluated in seven adsorption/desorption cycles. The optimum conditions obtained for individual adsorption were selected as starting conditions for simultaneous adsorption of dyes. In binary systems, in normal conditions, selectivity decreases in the order: Red Basic 2 > Nylosan Blue > Chromazurol S.
Observation of a Gelatinous Octopod, Haliphron atlanticus, along the Southern West Mariana Ridge: A Unique Cephalopod of Continental Slope and Mesopelagic Communities
Authors: Miller Michael J. , Miwa Tetsuya , Watanabe Shun , Kuroki Mari , Higuchi Takatoshi , Takeuchi Aya , Serizawa Kenta , Okino Tatsufumi , Tsukamoto Katsumi
Published: May 2018

The circumglobal deep-sea gelatinous giant octopod, Haliphron atlanticus, reaches 4 m in length and uses both benthic and pelagic habitats in the upper 3000 m of the ocean during different life history stages, but it is rarely observed due to the deep-depths where it typically lives. It has been collected in trawls and observed a few times near continental margins or islands and has been identified in the stomach contents of deep-diving predators such as sperm whales and blue sharks or detected as body fragments after predation events. An individual H. atlanticus (~1 m in total length) was video-recorded at 12:21 for about 3 minutes in front of the Shinkai 6500 submersible at 586–599 m (6.5°C, salinity 34.4) along the West Mariana Ridge. It made no escape attempt as the submersible approached and it moved slowly up or down in front of the submersible. It was over the outer seamount-slope (bottom depth ~3208 m) ~50 km west of seamounts (≥1529 m summits), but how it fits into the mesopelagic food web along the ridge is unclear. More information is needed to understand the role of H. atlanticus in oceanic food webs and if it typically lives along seamount ridges.
Research on Fault Diagnosis of Flexible Material R2R Manufacturing System Based on Quality Control Chart and SoV
Authors: Deng Yaohua , Zhou Na , Liu Xiali , Lu Qiwen
Published: May 2018

The Stream of Variation (SoV) model and control chart are combined to study the fault diagnosis method of flexible materials R2R manufacturing system. Based on the analysis of the correlation between the fault source and product quality in the manufacturing process and also the statistical distribution rule of the processing quality characteristic vector Li and the fault source fi, SoV model under controlled or uncontrolled states and the mathematical model of the probability distribution of the statistic Ti,m2 of the quality characteristic variable Li are deduced. And the calculation equation of the centerline, the upper limit, and the lower limit of the control chart are deduced. The experimental results show that, under controlled or uncontrolled condition, when the program runs to 500 steps, the Average Run Length (ARL) of the performance parameters tends to be stable; and when program reaches 1000 steps, the actual ARL value is almost the same as the theoretical value. The fault diagnosis experiment shows that, under the condition when the fault source is strongly correlated or the fault source correlation coefficient is the same, using the control chart established in this paper can simply and quickly determine the fault location in the system.
Spinors and Rodrigues Representations Associated with Orthogonal Polynomials
Authors: Bakhshi Zahra
Published: May 2018

An effective approach is presented to produce Schrödinger-like equation for the spinor components from Dirac equation. Considering electrostatic potential as a constant value yields a second-order differential equation that is comparable with the well-known solvable models in the nonrelativistic quantum mechanics for the certain bound state energy spectrum and the well-known potentials. By this comparison, the gauge field potential and the relativistic energy can be written by the nonrelativistic models and the spinors will be related to the orthogonal polynomials. It has also shown that the upper spinors wave functions based on the orthogonal polynomials can be given in terms of the Rodrigues representations. Association with the Rodrigues representations of orthogonal polynomials has also been investigated in the lower spinor components, since they are related to the upper spinor components according to first-order differential equation that is attained from Dirac equation.
Fermented Citrus Lemon Reduces Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats
Authors: Chen Yi Jinn Lillian , Chou Pei-Chi , Hsu Chang Lu , Hung Jeng-Fung , Wu Yang-Chang , Lin Jaung-Geng
Published: May 2018

Fermented lemon juice displays a variety of important biological activities, including anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. The aim of the present study is to investigate hepatic‐protective effects of no‐sugar‐added fermented lemon juice (FLJ) for liver inflammation caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Rats are divided into six groups: H2O, CCl4 + H2O, CCl4 + silymarin, and CCl4 plus three different FLJ doses by oral administration, respectively. The results show that the contents of plasma ALT and AST, hepatic lipid peroxidation, splenomegaly, and liver water are reduced significantly in rats under FLJ treatment, and pathological examination of liver fibrosis is improved. The reduced hepatic injury by increasing liver soluble protein and glutathione and albumin is observed in FLJ treated groups, and FLJ has comparable efficacies to medicine silymarin in liver therapies. The no‐sugar‐added FLJ differs from traditional fermentation by adding lots of sugar and prevents any hidden sugar intake while taking it as a complimentary treatment for liver inflammation. The green color and the taste of sourness are both associated with treating and healing the liver based on the five‐element theory in traditional Chinese medicine, and the green and sour FLJ may be applied to the ancient theory in preventing hepatic injury accordingly.
Purification and Characterization of Antibodies in Single-Chain Format against the E6 Oncoprotein of Human Papillomavirus Type 16
Authors: Verachi F. , Percario Z. , Di Bonito P. , Affabris E. , Amici C. , Accardi L.
Published: May 2018

In Human Papillomaviruses- (HPV-) associated carcinogenesis, continuous expression of the E6 oncoprotein supports its value as a potential target for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for HPV cancer. We previously reported that the I7 single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) specific for HPV16 E6, expressed as an intrabody by retroviral system, could inhibit significantly the growth of cervical cancer cells in vitro and was even able to reduce tumor development in experimental HPV-related cancer models. Nevertheless, for the development of therapeutic tools to be employed in humans, it is important to achieve maximum safety guarantee, which can be provided by the protein format. In the current study, two anti-16E6 scFvs derived from I7 were expressed in E. coli and purified in soluble form by affinity chromatography. Specificity, sensitivity and stability in physiologic environment of the purified scFvs were demonstrated by binding studies using recombinant 16E6 as an antigen. The scFvs functionality was confirmed by immunofluorescence in cervical cancer cells, where the scFvs were able to recognize the nuclear E6. Furthermore, an antiproliferative activity of the scFvI7nuc delivered in protein format to HPV16-positive cell lines was observed. Our results demonstrate that functional anti-16E6 scFvs can be produced in E. coli, suggesting that such purified antibodies could be used in the diagnosis and treatment of HPV-induced malignancies.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Cutaneous Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review of the Background, Role, and Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Hu Michael S. , Borrelli Mimi R. , Lorenz H. Peter , Longaker Michael T. , Wan Derrick C.
Published: May 2018

Cutaneous wound repair is a highly coordinated cascade of cellular responses to injury which restores the epidermal integrity and its barrier functions. Even under optimal healing conditions, normal wound repair of adult human skin is imperfect and delayed healing and scarring are frequent occurrences. Dysregulated wound healing is a major concern for global healthcare, and, given the rise in diabetic and aging populations, this medicoeconomic disease burden will continue to rise. Therapies to reliably improve nonhealing wounds and reduce scarring are currently unavailable. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as a powerful technique to improve skin wound healing. Their differentiation potential, ease of harvest, low immunogenicity, and integral role in native wound healing physiology make MSCs an attractive therapeutic remedy. MSCs promote cell migration, angiogenesis, epithelialization, and granulation tissue formation, which result in accelerated wound closure. MSCs encourage a regenerative, rather than fibrotic, wound healing microenvironment. Recent translational research efforts using modern bioengineering approaches have made progress in creating novel techniques for stromal cell delivery into healing wounds. This paper discusses experimental applications of various stromal cells to promote wound healing and discusses the novel methods used to increase MSC delivery and efficacy.
Sensitivity Enhancement of Benzene Sensor Using Ethyl Cellulose-Coated Surface-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Chobsilp Thanattha , Muangrat Worawut , Issro Chaisak , Chaiwat Weerawut , Eiad-ua Apiluck , Suttiponparnit Komkrit , Wongwiriyapan Winadda , Charinpanitkul Tawatchai
Published: May 2018

A hybrid sensor based on the integration of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with ethyl cellulose (EC) was fabricated for sensitivity enhancement of benzene detection. To functionalize the surface of MWCNTs, MWCNTs were treated with hydrochloric acid for 60 min (A60-MWCNTs), while other MWCNTs were treated with oxygen plasma for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min (P30-MWCNTs, P60-MWCNTs, P90-MWCNTs, and P120-MWCNTs, resp.). Pristine MWCNTs, A-MWCNTs, and P-MWCNTs were dispersed in 1,2-dichloroethane, then dropped onto a printed circuit board consisting of Cu/Au electrodes used as the sensor platform. Next, EC was separately spin coated on the pristine MWCNTs, A-MWCNTs, and P-MWCNTs (EC/MWCNTs, EC/A-MWCNTs, and EC/P-MWCNTs, resp.). All sensors responded to benzene vapor at room temperature by increasing their electrical resistance which was sensitive to benzene vapor. The EC/P90-MWCNTs enabled an approximately 11-fold improvement in benzene detection compared to EC/MWCNTs. The sensitivity of all sensors would be attributed to the swelling of EC, resulting in the loosening of the MWCNT network after benzene vapor exposure. The differences of the sensing responses of the EC/MWCNTs, EC/A-MWCNTs, and EC/P-MWCNTs would be ascribed to the differences in crystallinity and functionalization of MWCNT sidewalls, suggesting that acid and oxygen plasma treatments of MWCNTs would be promising techniques for the improvement of benzene detection.
The Heart as a Site of Metastasis of Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Meddeb Mariam , Chow Robert D. , Whipps Randolph , Haque Reyaz
Published: May 2018

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecological tumors in premenopausal women. While the lung is the most common extrauterine organ afflicted, benign metastasizing leiomyomas (BML) of the heart are rarities. We report an incidental finding of a cardiac mass in a 36-year-old woman who presented to the Emergency Department after a motor vehicle accident. CT scan of the chest revealed 2 well-circumscribed pulmonary nodules and a filling defect in the right ventricle. Echocardiogram showed a 4 cm mass attached to the right ventricular (RV) septum. The cardiac tumor was resected and showed benign histologic features. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for smooth muscle α-actin and desmin, as well as estrogen and progesterone receptors, consistent with the diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma.
Saliva as a Future Field in Psoriasis Research
Authors: Asa’ad Farah , Fiore Marco , Alfieri Aniello , Pigatto Paolo Daniele Maria , Franchi Chiara , Berti Emilio , Maiorana Carlo , Damiani Giovanni
Published: May 2018

Psoriasis is a skin inflammatory disease characterized by an increased body of comorbidities, including parodontopathy. Despite the visibility of skin lesions, prognostic biomarkers, related to disease monitoring and therapeutic effectiveness, are still missing. Although several markers have been studied, none of them has been identified as an independent prognostic factor. This concise review aims to summarize the current knowledge and results in saliva research applied to psoriasis. Combination of different markers could improve the prognostic prediction in patients with psoriasis. Future studies are needed to implement research on salivary biomarkers and their prognostic/therapeutic effects in the management of patients with psoriasis.