bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Four distinct leaf types in the Brazilian Cerrado, based on bundle sheath extension morphology
Authors: Rodrigues Tatiane Maria , Esteves Amaro Amanda Cristina , Fernandes Boaro Carmen Silvia , Mendes Katiane Reis , Silva Stefany Cristina de Melo , Ferreira Júnior Valdemir , Machado Silvia Rodrigues
Published: July 2017

Plant species have been classified as being either heterobaric or homobaric based on the presence or absence (respectively) of bundle sheath extensions (BSE) in leaf veins. These leaf types differ in their physiological performance, and their occurrences tend to be associated with environment. This study investigated the presence/absence of BSE and their structural peculiarities in 49 woody species (28 angiosperm families) in the Brazilian Cerrado using anatomical methods. We measured the gas exchange indices and stomatal density. In addition to typical homobaric (61.2%) and heterobaric (22.4%) species, we also found species with intermediate BSE features. These we call “larger heterobaric” (12.2%) and “semi-heterobaric” (4.1%) species. In the former, BSE occurs around only the secondary veins, whereas in the latter the BSE projects only towards the adaxial leaf surface. The net CO2 assimilation rates, the stomatal conductance, the transpiration rates, and the carboxylation efficiencies were statistically higher in heterobaric than in homobaric species. In the larger heterobaric species, the photosynthetic indices were similar to those in the heterobaric species. Meanwhile, semi-heterobaric species showed photosynthetic indices similar to the homobaric species. We demonstrated that structural variation in the BSE is linked to physiological leaf performance, suggesting some correlation between leaf morphology and plant adaptations.
Performance evaluation of foaming agents in cellular concrete based on foamed alkali-activated slag
Authors: Tarameshloo Azadeh , Kani Ebrahim Najafi , Allahverdi Ali
Published: July 2017

In this work, three different foaming agents were selected and their performance on density, compressive strength, pore structure, and molecular structure of alkali-activated blast furnace slag cellular concrete have been investigated. For this purpose, pre-formed foams based on sodium lauryl sulfate, protein-based foaming agent, and hydrogen peroxide were added to the alkali-activated slag paste with determined activator composition. After curing, density and compressive strength of cellular concretes were evaluated. Also, macroscopic pore size distribution was investigated by image processing technique for studying its relation with density and compressive strength. Results showed that with increasing the amount of foam, the density and the compressive strength decreased due to increases in both the number of pores per area and the pore average size. Samples containing protein-based foam showed higher mechanical strength, which could be due to its effect on the molecular structure of hydration product resulting in a stronger bond and hence higher compressive strength.
Effects of kisspeptin on diabetic rat platelets
Authors: Mezei Zsófia , Váczi Sándor , Török Viktória , Stumpf Csaba , Ónody Rita , Földesi Imre , Szabó Gyula
Published: July 2017

Hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and free radicals result in platelet activation and atherogenesis. Kisspeptin (KP) is able to regulate metabolism, hemostasis, and the development of atherosclerosis. We examined whether platelet aggregation of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats depends on the inducer type and if KP-13 and RF-9 (a kisspeptin receptor modifier) can influence platelet function. We measured the speed and the maximum of aggregation, along with the area under the curve. Serum glucose and calcium levels and urine formation of diabetic animals increased, while the body mass and platelet count decreased. Collagen was the most effective inducer of platelet aggregation. The aggregability of nondiabetic platelets was elevated in the presence of 5 × 10−8 mol/L KP-13. This effect was less expressed in diabetic animals. The effectivity of RF-9 was stronger than that of KP-13 in nondiabetic platelets, however it was ineffective in diabetic animals. RF-9 pre-treatment did not change the effects of 5 × 10−8 mol/L KP-13 in either animal group. The in vivo activation of diabetic platelets, which may be due to elevated serum calcium, induces thrombocytopenia and may lead to reduced in vitro aggregability. We could not demonstrate the antagonistic effect of RF-9 against KP-13 in isolated platelets.
The acute effects of different spironolactone doses on cardiac function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Vranic Aleksandra , Simovic Stefan , Ristic Petar , Nikolic Tamara , Stojic Isidora , Srejovic Ivan , Zivkovic Vladimir , Jakovljevic Vladimir , Djuric Dusan
Published: July 2017

Currently, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality, while diabetes mellitus remains an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity. A recent study showed that patients with diabetes mellitus treated with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have improved coronary microvascular function, leading to improved diastolic dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the influence of acute administration of spironolactone on myocardial function in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, with special emphasis on cardiodynamic parameters in diabetic rat hearts. The present study was carried out on 40 adult male Wistar albino rats (8 weeks old). Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 animals per group): healthy rats treated with 0.1 μmol/L of spironolactone, diabetic rats treated with 0.1 μmol/L of spironolactone, healthy rats treated with 3 μmol/L of spironolactone, and diabetic rats treated with 3 μmol/L of spironolactone. Different, dose-dependent, acute responses of spironolactone treatment on isolated, working diabetic and healthy rat heart were observed in our study. In healthy rats, better systolic function was achieved with higher spironolactone dose, while in diabetic rats, similar effects of low and high spironolactone dose were observed.
Expression of classical mediators in hearts of rats with hepatic dysfunction
Authors: Jarkovska Dagmar , Bludovska Monika , Mistrova Eliska , Krizkova Vera , Kotyzova Dana , Kubikova Tereza , Slavikova Jana , Erek Sumeyye Nur , Djordjevic Aleksandar , Chottova Dvorakova Magdalena
Published: July 2017

Liver cirrhosis is associated with impairment of cardiovascular function including alterations of the heart innervation, humoral and nervous dysregulation, changes in systemic circulation and electrophysiological abnormalities. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), enzyme forming acetylcholine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), enzymes participating in noradrenaline synthesis, are responsible for the production of classical neurotransmitters, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is produced by cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of experimentally induced hepatic dysfunction on the expression of proANP, ChAT, TH, and DBH in the heart. Hepatic dysfunction was induced by application of thioacetamide (TAA) or by ligation of bile duct. Biochemical parameters of hepatic injury and levels of peroxidation in the liver and heart were measured. Liver enzymes measured in the plasma were significantly elevated. Cardiac level of peroxidation was increased in operated but not TAA group animals. In the left atrium of operated rats, the expression of TH and DBH was lower, while expression of ChAT remained unchanged. In TAA group, no significant differences in the expression of the genes compared to controls were observed. Liver injury induced by ligation leads to an imbalance in the intracardiac innervation, which might impair nervous control of the heart.
Influence of nitrogen fertilization on abundance and diversity of plants and animals in temperate and boreal forests
Authors: Sullivan Thomas P. , Sullivan Druscilla S.
Published: July 2017

Aerial and land-based applications of nitrogen-based fertilizers to enhance forest growth makes nutrients potentially available to all trees, plants, and wildlife in a given ecosystem and, therefore, may have direct and indirect effects on wildlife and biodiversity. A scientific review of these potential effects was conducted with 106 published studies covering vascular and nonvascular plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, terrestrial invertebrates, and soil animals associated with fertilization in temperate and boreal forests, primarily in North America and Scandinavia. In terms of direct effects, amphibians and domestic mammals appear to be the most sensitive to urea used in fertilization programs. The avoidance behaviour and (or) mortality of amphibians in laboratory studies was species dependent. Ruminant animals, including wild ungulates, rapidly convert urea to ammonia and are susceptible to toxicity following ingestion of large amounts of urea. Feeding on urea pellets by small mammals or gallinaceous birds appears to be minimal as granules are unpalatable. In terms of indirect effects, the majority of responses of understory herbs to nitrogen fertilization showed an increase in abundance. Some shrubs in repeatedly fertilized stands eventually increased in abundance in long-term studies, whereas dwarf shrubs and abundance of bryophytes (mosses and terrestrial lichens) declined. In general, species richness and diversity of understory herbs and shrubs declined, or were unaffected, in fertilized stands. Response in abundance and species richness-diversity of vascular plants to a single application of nitrogen showed either an increase or no change. Repeated applications (2–5 and >5) usually resulted in declines in these responses. Relative abundance of mule deer (Odocoileus Rafinesque spp.), moose (Alces alces L.), and hares (Lepus L. spp.), and forage quantity and quality were usually increased by fertilization. Small mammal species generally showed increases or no change in abundance; decreases may be related to fertilizer-induced changes in food sources. Forest fertilization may provide winter feeding habitat for coniferous foliage-gleaning insectivorous birds in some cases. Six species of forest grouse showed no response to fertilizer treatments. Responses of soil animals to nitrogen fertilization appeared to be species- and dose-specific and are ameliorated by surrounding micro- and macro-habitat characteristics.
Two-dimensional Veronese groups with an invariant ball
Authors: Cano Angel , Loeza Luis
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we characterize the complex hyperbolic groups that leave invariant a copy of the Veronese curve in [Formula: see text]. As a corollary we get that every discrete compact surface group in [Formula: see text] admits a deformation in [Formula: see text] with a nonempty region of discontinuity which is not conjugate to a complex hyperbolic subgroup. This provides a way to construct new examples of Kleinian groups acting on [Formula: see text].
Effect of Surface Plasmon-Based Improvement in Optical Absorption in Plasmonic Solar Cell
Authors: Sarkar Partha , Maji Bansibadan , Manna Aritra , Panda Saradindu , Mukhopadhyay Asish Kr
Published: July 2017

In the last few years, plasmonics has attracted much attention and has been included in the principal domains of nanophotonics that can manage optical fields at the nanodimension level. Its exquisite characteristic is to increase the electromagnetic fields at the nanometer scale particularly in the solar cell. In the plasmonic discipline, noble metals used as nanoparticles in which the density of the electron gas which oscillates at surface plasmon frequency at that time also enhances absorption via scattering. So the usage of plasmonics in solar cells offers better possibility of improving the performance through absorption, because the optical spectrum loss is principal as a part of the overall loss for the solar photovoltaic cell. So we investigated the impact of the nanoparticle size for the enhancement of extinction in terms of absorption and scattering by using surface plasmon resonance, and additionally studied the finite-difference time domain (FDTD)-based proposed model and found various plasmonic fields components and characterized optical enhancement in the plasmonic thin film solar cell.
Photophysical studies of 2,6-dibrominated BODIPY dyes substituted with 4-benzyloxystyryl substituents
Authors: Ngoy Bokolombe P. , Molupe Nthabeleng , Harris Jessica , Fomo Gertrude , Mack John , Nyokong Tebello
Published: July 2017

A series of novel 2,6-dibrominated BODIPY dyes with styryl groups at the 3,5-positions has been prepared, and their photophysical properties have been analyzed to assess their potential utility for use as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy and in bioimaging.
Electric-Field Control of Magnon Gaps in a Ferromagnet using a Spatially-Periodic Electric Field
Authors: Sietsema Glade , Liu Tianyu , Flatté Michael E.
Published: July 2017

The frequencies and linewidths of spin waves in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) periodic superlattices of magnetic materials are found, using the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equations. The form of the exchange field from a surface-torque-free boundary between magnetic materials is derived, and magnetic-material combinations are identified which produce gaps in the magnonic spectrum across the entire superlattice Brillouin zone for hexagonal and square-symmetry superlattices. The magnon gaps and spin-wave dispersion properties of a uniform magnetic material under the influence of a periodic electric field are presented. Such results suggest the utility of magnetic insulators for electric-field control of spin-wave propagation properties.
Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in Critical Zone of Luan River Catchment in the North China Plain
Authors: Ma Rong , Zhou Xiaoni , Shi Jiansheng
Published: July 2017

Two profiles (
P
1 and
P
2) were established along two lines perpendicular to the direction of the Luan River flow and 200 pore water and sediments samples as well as thirty maize samples, were collected from ten drills in these two profiles. Spatial distribution models of iron, manganese and lead were established using the Simple Kriging method, and the transfer factor (TF) and multi-metal (combined) target hazard quotient (CTHQ) were calculated to assess the potential human health risk of the metals. The results indicate that the maximum TF value was 3245.37 for iron in the sheath, while its min value was 13 for lead in the seeds. Of the ten drills, Sd08 possessed the maximum CTHQ (1.74), while the CTHQ of the other drills was less than the unit, indicating that it is not likely to impact human health. This work indicates that the Luan River and the associated irrigation water have significant effects on the spatial distribution of the three metals in the critical zone (CZ). Iron exhibited greater transfer ability than manganese and lead, however it was mainly concentrated in the roots and sheath of the maize, rather than the seeds. The human health risks of metals are attributed to lead.

Supplementary material:
These graphs quantitatively characterize the important parameters for manganese, iron and lead contents in maize. They are available at
http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3828172
Humanized Mouse Models for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Marsden Matthew D. , Zack Jerome A.
Published: July 2017

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. No effective vaccine is available to prevent HIV transmission, and although antiretroviral therapy can prevent disease progression, it does not cure HIV infection. Substantial effort is therefore currently directed toward basic research on HIV pathogenesis and persistence and developing methods to stop the spread of the HIV epidemic and cure those individuals already infected with HIV. Humanized mice are versatile tools for the study of HIV and its interaction with the human immune system. These models generally consist of immunodeficient mice transplanted with human cells or reconstituted with a near-complete human immune system. Here, we describe the major humanized mouse models currently in use, and some recent advances that have been made in HIV research/therapeutics using these models.
Lethal digenic mutations in the K+ channels Kir4.1 (KCNJ10) and SLACK (KCNT1) associated with severe-disabling seizures and neurodevelopmental delay
Authors: Hasan Sonia , Balobaid Ameera , Grottesi Alessandro , Dabbagh Omar , Cenciarini Marta , Rawashdeh Rifaat , Al-Sagheir Afaf , Bove Cecilia , Macchioni Lara , Pessia Mauro , Al-Owain Mohammed , D’Adamo Maria Cristina
Published: July 2017

A 2-yr-old boy presented profound developmental delay, failure to thrive, ataxia, hypotonia, and tonic-clonic seizures that caused the death of the patient. Targeted and whole exome sequencing revealed two heterozygous missense variants: a novel mutation in the KCNJ10 gene that encodes for the inward-rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1 and another previously characterized mutation in KCNT1 that encodes for the Na+-activated K+ channel known as Slo2.2 or SLACK. The objectives of this study were to perform the clinical and genetic characterization of the proband and his family and to examine the functional consequence of the Kir4.1 mutation. The mutant and wild-type KCNJ10 constructs were generated and heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and whole cell K+ currents were measured using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. The KCNJ10 mutation c.652C>T resulted in a p.L218F substitution at a highly conserved residue site. Wild-type KCNJ10 expression yielded robust Kir current, whereas currents from oocytes expressing the mutation were reduced, remarkably. Western Blot analysis revealed reduced protein expression by the mutation. Kir5.1 subunits display selective heteromultimerization with Kir4.1 constituting channels with unique kinetics. The effect of the mutation on Kir4.1/5.1 channel activity was twofold: a reduction in current amplitudes and an increase in the pH-dependent inhibition. We thus report a novel loss-of-function mutation in Kir4.1 found in a patient with a coexisting mutation in SLACK channels that results in a fatal disease.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present and characterize a novel mutation in KCNJ10. Unlike previously reported EAST/SeSAME patients, our patient was heterozygous, and contrary to previous studies, mimicking the heterozygous state by coexpression resulted in loss of channel function. We report in the same patient co-occurrence of a KCNT1 mutation resulting in a more severe phenotype. This study provides new insights into the phenotypic spectrum and to the genotype-phenotype correlations associated with EAST/SeSAME and MMFSI.
Right Ventricular Remodeling and Dysfunction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Maripov Abdirashit , Mamazhakypov Argen , Sartmyrzaeva Meerim , Akunov Almaz , Muratali uulu Kubatbek , Duishobaev Melis , Cholponbaeva Meerim , Sydykov Akylbek , Sarybaev Akpay
Published: July 2017

Background. Recent studies have reported that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients present alterations in right ventricular (RV) structure and function. However, large randomized controlled trials evaluating the impact of OSA on the right ventricle are lacking. Methods. A comprehensive electronic database (PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and reference search up to October 30, 2016, was performed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess RV structure and function in OSA patients based on conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Results. Twenty-five studies with 1,503 OSA patients and 796 controls were included in this study. OSA patients exhibited an increase in RV internal diameter (weighted mean difference (WMD) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) 2.49 (1.62 to 3.37); p=0.000) and RV wall thickness (WMD (95% CIs) 0.82 (0.51 to 1.13); p=0.000). Furthermore, OSA patients had a significantly elevated RV myocardial performance index (WMD (95% CI) 0.08 (0.06 to 0.10); p=0.000), decreased RV S’ (WMD (95% CI) −0.95 (−1.59 to −0.32); p=0.003), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (WMD (95% CI) −1.76 (−2.73 to −0.78); p=0.000), and RV fractional area change (WMD (95% CI) −3.16 (−5.60 to −0.73); p=0.011). Conclusion. OSA patients display RV dilatation, increased wall thickening, and altered RV function.
Convolutional Neural Network for the Detection of End-Diastole and End-Systole Frames in Free-Breathing Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Yang Fan , He Yan , Hussain Mubashir , Xie Hong , Lei Pinggui
Published: July 2017

Free-breathing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has short examination time with high reproducibility. Detection of the end-diastole and the end-systole frames of the free-breathing cardiac magnetic resonance, supplemented by visual identification, is time consuming and laborious. We propose a novel method for automatic identification of both the end-diastole and the end-systole frames, in the free-breathing CMR imaging. The proposed technique utilizes the convolutional neural network to locate the left ventricle and to obtain the end-diastole and the end-systole frames from the respiratory motion signal. The proposed procedure works successfully on our free-breathing CMR data, and the results demonstrate a high degree of accuracy and stability. Convolutional neural network improves the postprocessing efficiency greatly and facilitates the clinical application of the free-breathing CMR imaging.
Interleukin-17 Can Induce Osteoarthritis in Rabbit Knee Joints Similar to Hulth’s Method
Authors: Wang Zili , Zheng Chenhuang , Zhong Yunbin , He Jinshen , Cao Xu , Xia Hansong , Ba Hongliang , Li Pei , Wu Song , Peng Cheng
Published: July 2017

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is closely related to osteoarthritis (OA), but animal studies that employ IL-17 to induce OA are currently lacking. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of IL-17 in the rabbit knee joint. The right knees served as the control group. The left knees were divided randomly into 4 groups: a Hulth group and 3 IL-17 groups (1-ng, 10-ng, and 50-ng groups). OA was induced in the Hulth group using Hulth’s method. The IL-17 groups were injected with 1, 10, or 50 ng of IL-17 as indicated. Specimens were collected at 72 h, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after surgery or the last injection. Subsequently, the following experiments were conducted: X-ray analysis, histological evaluation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the mRNA expression levels of cartilage degeneration-related markers. At 12 weeks, like the Hulth group, the 10-ng and 50-ng IL-17 groups displayed typical manifestations of OA. The X-ray results, histological scores, and mRNA expression levels showed statistically significant differences between the control group and the 10-ng and 50-ng IL-17 groups. In sum, injecting 10 ng of IL-17 into the rabbit knee joint can induce OA similar to OA induced by Hulth’s method.
Activation of Endocannabinoid Receptor 2 as a Mechanism of Propofol Pretreatment‐Induced Cardioprotection against Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Authors: Sun Hai-Jing , Lu Yan , Wang Hao-Wei , Zhang Hao , Wang Shuang-Ran , Xu Wen-Yun , Fu Hai-Long , Yao Xue-Ya , Yang Feng , Yuan Hong-Bin
Published: July 2017

Propofol pretreatment before reperfusion, or propofol conditioning, has been shown to be cardioprotective, while its mechanism is unclear. The current study investigated the roles of endocannabinoid signaling in propofol cardioprotection in an in vivo model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and in in vitro primary cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. The results showed that propofol conditioning increased both serum and cell culture media concentrations of endocannabinoids including anandamide (AEA) and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) detected by LC‐MS/MS. The reductions of myocardial infarct size in vivo and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and death in vitro were accompanied with attenuations of oxidative injuries manifested as decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS), malonaldehyde (MDA), and MPO (myeloperoxidase) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) production. These effects were mimicked by either URB597, a selective endocannabinoids degradation inhibitor, or VDM11, a selective endocannabinoids reuptake inhibitor. In vivo study further validated that the cardioprotective and antioxidative effects of propofol were reversed by selective CB2 receptor antagonist AM630 but not CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. We concluded that enhancing endogenous endocannabinoid release and subsequent activation of CB2 receptor signaling represent a major mechanism whereby propofol conditioning confers antioxidative and cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury.
2‐Deoxy‐D‐glucose Restore Glucocorticoid Sensitivity in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia via Modification of N‐Linked Glycosylation in an Oxygen Tension‐Independent Manner
Authors: Leni Zaira , Ćwiek Paulina , Dimitrova Valeriya , Dulcey Andrea S. , Zamboni Nicola , Simillion Cedric , Rossi Geetha , Leibundgut Kurt , Arcaro Alexandre
Published: July 2017

In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, treatment failure is associated with resistance to glucocorticoid agents. Resistance to this class of drugs represents one of the strongest indicators of poor clinical outcome. We show that leukemic cells, which are resistant to the glucocorticoid drug methylprednisolone, display a higher demand of glucose associated with a deregulation of metabolic pathways, in comparison to sensitive cells. Interestingly, a combinatorial treatment of glucocorticoid and the glucose analog 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose displayed a synergistic effect in methylprednisolone‐resistant cells, in an oxygen tension‐independent manner. Unlike solid tumors, where 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose promotes inhibition of glycolysis by hexokinase II exclusively under hypoxic conditions, we were able to show that the antileukemic effects of 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose are far more complex in leukemia. We demonstrate a hexokinase II‐independent cell viability decrease and apoptosis induction of the glucose analog in leukemia. Additionally, due to the structural similarity of 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose with mannose, we could confirm that the mechanism by which 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose predominantly acts in leukemia is via modification in N‐linked glycosylation, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress and consequently induction of the unfolded protein response.
Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxic Activity, and Interactions with CT-DNA and BSA of Cationic Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Dppm and Quinoline Carboxylates
Authors: da Silva Edinaldo N. , da Silva Paulo A. B. , Graminha Angélica E. , de Oliveira Pollyanna F. , Damasceno Jaqueline L. , Tavares Denise C. , Batista Alzir A. , Von Poelhsitz Gustavo
Published: July 2017

The complexes cis-[Ru(quin)(dppm)2]PF6 and cis-[Ru(kynu)(dppm)2]PF6 (quin = quinaldate; kynu = kynurenate; dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic, FTIR, 1H, and 31P{H1} NMR spectroscopies. Characterization data were consistent with a cis arrangement for the dppm ligands and a bidentate coordination through carboxylate oxygens of the quin and kynu anions. These complexes were not able to intercalate CT-DNA as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy. On the other hand, bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding constants and thermodynamic parameters suggest spontaneous interactions with this protein by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Cytotoxicity assays were carried out on a panel of human cancer cell lines including HepG2, MCF-7, and MO59J and one normal cell line GM07492A. In general, the new ruthenium(II) complexes displayed a moderate to high cytotoxicity in all the assayed cell lines with IC50 ranging from 10.1 to 36 µM and were more cytotoxic than the precursor cis-[RuCl2(dppm)2]. The cis-[Ru(quin)(dppm)2]PF6 were two to three times more active than the reference metallodrug cisplatin in the MCF-7 and MO59J cell lines.
Detecting Different Road Infrastructural Elements Based on the Stochastic Characterization of Speed Patterns
Authors: Muñoz-Organero Mario , Ruiz-Blázquez Ramona
Published: July 2017

The automatic detection of road related information using data from sensors while driving has many potential applications such as traffic congestion detection or automatic routable map generation. This paper focuses on the automatic detection of road elements based on GPS data from on-vehicle systems. A new algorithm is developed that uses the total variation distance instead of the statistical moments to improve the classification accuracy. The algorithm is validated for detecting traffic lights, roundabouts, and street-crossings in a real scenario and the obtained accuracy (0.75) improves the best results using previous approaches based on statistical moments based features (0.71). Each road element to be detected is characterized as a vector of speeds measured when a driver goes through it. We first eliminate the speed samples in congested traffic conditions which are not comparable with clear traffic conditions and would contaminate the dataset. Then, we calculate the probability mass function for the speed (in 1 m/s intervals) at each point. The total variation distance is then used to find the similarity among different points of interest (which can contain a similar road element or a different one). Finally, a k-NN approach is used for assigning a class to each unlabelled element.
A Benchmark for Endoluminal Scene Segmentation of Colonoscopy Images
Authors: Vázquez David , Bernal Jorge , Sánchez F. Javier , Fernández-Esparrach Gloria , López Antonio M. , Romero Adriana , Drozdzal Michal , Courville Aaron
Published: July 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer death worldwide. Currently, the standard approach to reduce CRC-related mortality is to perform regular screening in search for polyps and colonoscopy is the screening tool of choice. The main limitations of this screening procedure are polyp miss rate and the inability to perform visual assessment of polyp malignancy. These drawbacks can be reduced by designing decision support systems (DSS) aiming to help clinicians in the different stages of the procedure by providing endoluminal scene segmentation. Thus, in this paper, we introduce an extended benchmark of colonoscopy image segmentation, with the hope of establishing a new strong benchmark for colonoscopy image analysis research. The proposed dataset consists of 4 relevant classes to inspect the endoluminal scene, targeting different clinical needs. Together with the dataset and taking advantage of advances in semantic segmentation literature, we provide new baselines by training standard fully convolutional networks (FCNs). We perform a comparative study to show that FCNs significantly outperform, without any further postprocessing, prior results in endoluminal scene segmentation, especially with respect to polyp segmentation and localization.
Liver Biomarkers and Lipid Profiles in Mexican and Mexican-American 10- to 14-Year-Old Adolescents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Fernández-Gaxiola Ana Cecilia , Valdés-Ramos Roxana , Fulda Kimberly G. , López Ana Laura Guadarrama , Martínez-Carrillo Beatriz E. , Franks Susan F. , Fernando Shane
Published: July 2017

Liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) are markers for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); alkaline phosphatase is a marker of liver disease. Mexican-American adolescents are disproportionately affected by T2DM, while in Mexico its prevalence is emerging. We assessed liver biomarkers and lipid profiles among Mexican and Mexican-American adolescents 10–14 years old with high/low risk of T2DM through a cross-sectional, descriptive study (Texas n=144; Mexico n=149). We included family medical histories, anthropometry, and blood pressure. Obesity was present in one-third of subjects in both sites. ALT (UL) was higher (p<0.001) in high-risk adolescents (23.5 ± 19.5 versus 17.2 ± 13.4 for males, 19.7 ± 11.6 versus 15.1 ± 5.5 for females), in Toluca and in Texas (26.0 ± 14.7 versus 20.0 ± 13.2 for males, 18.2 ± 13.4 versus 14.6 ± 10.1 for females), as well as GGT (UL) (p<0.001) (18.7 ± 11.1 versus 12.4 ± 2.3 for males, 13.6 ± 5.8 versus 11.5 ± 3.9 for Mexican females; 21.0 ± 6.8 versus 15.4 ± 5.5 for males, 14.3 ± 5.0 versus 13.8 ± 5.3 for females in Texas). We found no differences by sex or BMI. Total cholesterol and HDL were higher among Mexican-Americans (p<0.001). In conclusion, multiple risk factors were present in the sample. We found differences by gender and between high and low risk for T2DM adolescents in all liver enzymes in both sites.
Intrinsic Osteoinductivity of Porous Titanium Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Tamaddon Maryam , Samizadeh Sorousheh , Wang Ling , Blunn Gordon , Liu Chaozong
Published: July 2017

Large bone defects and nonunions are serious complications that are caused by extensive trauma or tumour. As traditional therapies fail to repair these critical-sized defects, tissue engineering scaffolds can be used to regenerate the damaged tissue. Highly porous titanium scaffolds, produced by selective laser sintering with mechanical properties in range of trabecular bone (compressive strength 35 MPa and modulus 73 MPa), can be used in these orthopaedic applications, if a stable mechanical fixation is provided. Hydroxyapatite coatings are generally considered essential and/or beneficial for bone formation; however, debonding of the coatings is one of the main concerns. We hypothesised that the titanium scaffolds have an intrinsic potential to induce bone formation without the need for a hydroxyapatite coating. In this paper, titanium scaffolds coated with hydroxyapatite using electrochemical method were fabricated and osteoinductivity of coated and noncoated scaffolds was compared in vitro. Alizarin Red quantification confirmed osteogenesis independent of coating. Bone formation and ingrowth into the titanium scaffolds were evaluated in sheep stifle joints. The examinations after 3 months revealed 70% bone ingrowth into the scaffold confirming its osteoinductive capacity. It is shown that the developed titanium scaffold has an intrinsic capacity for bone formation and is a suitable scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
A Case of Hyperparathyroidism due to a Large Intrathyroid Parathyroid Adenoma with Recurrent Episodes of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Kageyama Kazunori , Ishigame Noriko , Sugiyama Aya , Igawa Akiko , Nishi Takashi , Morohashi Satoko , Kijima Hiroshi , Daimon Makoto
Published: July 2017

We report a case of a 66-year-old woman who developed hyperparathyroidism due to a large intrathyroid parathyroid adenoma with episodes of acute pancreatitis. She had previously been treated for acute pancreatitis twice. Serum calcium was 12.4 mg/dL, and intact parathyroid hormone was 253 pg/dL. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the neck with contrast enhancement revealed a soft tissue mass (28 mm transverse diameter) within the left lobe of the thyroid. 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy demonstrated focal accumulation due to increased radiotracer uptake in the left thyroid lobe. Left hemithyroidectomy was performed. Histopathology showed no signs of invasion, and this is consistent with parathyroid adenoma. Immunostaining was positive for expression of chromogranin A and parathyroid hormone. The patient had no episode of pancreatitis after the operation. In a patient with recurrent episodes of pancreatitis, the possibility of complication with hyperparathyroidism should be considered.
Spatiotemporal Variation of Frost within Growing Periods
Authors: Moeletsi Mokhele Edmond , Tongwane Mphethe Isaac
Published: July 2017

Frost is one of the devastating agroclimatological hazards affecting crop production in the Free State Province of South Africa. In this study, frost (0°C threshold) probabilities within different growing periods starting from the first dekad of October to the third dekad of February for a 100-day, 120-day, and 140-day crop were determined. The data used in the investigation was daily minimum temperature obtained from 55 weather stations located in and around the Free State Province with data from 1950 to 2010. The results show high spatial and temporal variability of frost within the different growing periods. The western, central, northern, and northwestern parts of the province have the longest planting window for all the growing lengths from mid-October to mid-January. The eastern, northeastern, southern, and southeastern parts of Free State have the highest frost risk with shortened planting window mostly from the first dekad of November to the second dekad of December. Thus, careful consideration of frost incidences is important for successful crop production in this area.
Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm Associated with Celiac Trunk Stenosis: Case Illustration and Literature Review
Authors: Degheili Jad A. , El Chediak Alissar , Dergham Mohamad Yasser R. , Al-Kutoubi Aghiad , Hallal Ali H.
Published: July 2017

Pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms (PDA) are rare visceral aneurysms. Celiac trunk stenosis represents a common attributable aetiology for those aneurysms. Therefore, an alternative treatment approach, which differs from those isolated aneurysms, is recommended. We hereby present a 77-year-old male patient who was admitted with sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and significant drop in haemoglobin, occurring within a 24-hour interval. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a ruptured visceral aneurysm arising from the anterior branch of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. A severe stenosis was also noted at the take-off of the celiac trunk. Selective catheterization of the supplying branch of the superior mesenteric artery, followed by coil embolization of the aneurysm, was performed, resulting in cessation of flow within the aneurysm, with preservation of the posterior branch, supplying the celiac territory. PDAs are usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally at rupture. The risk of rupture is independent of the aneurysmal size and is associated with a 50% mortality rate. The consensus on coping with aneurysms is to treat them whenever they are discovered. Selective angiography followed by coil embolization represents a less invasive, and frequently definitive, approach than surgery. The risk for ischemia mandates that the celiac territory must not be compromised after embolization.
Effect of High-Temperature Curing Methods on the Compressive Strength Development of Concrete Containing High Volumes of Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag
Authors: Jung Wonsuk , Choi Se-Jin
Published: July 2017

This paper investigates the effect of the high-temperature curing methods on the compressive strength of concrete containing high volumes of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). GGBS was used to replace Portland cement at a replacement ratio of 60% by binder mass. The high-temperature curing parameters used in this study were the delay period, temperature rise, peak temperature (PT), peak period, and temperature down. Test results demonstrate that the compressive strength of the samples with PTs of 65°C and 75°C was about 88% higher than that of the samples with a PT of 55°C after 1 day. According to this investigation, there might be optimum high-temperature curing conditions for preparing a concrete containing high volumes of GGBS, and incorporating GGBS into precast concrete mixes can be a very effective tool in increasing the applicability of this by-product.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell for the Study and Treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia
Authors: Junqueira Reis Luiza Cunha , Picanço-Castro Virgínia , Paes Bárbara Cristina Martins Fernandes , Pereira Olívia Ambrozini , Gerdes Gyuricza Isabela , de Araújo Fabiano Tófoli , Morato-Marques Mariana , Moreira Lílian Figueiredo , Costa Everton de Brito Oliveira , dos Santos Tálita Pollyanna Moreira , Covas Dimas Tadeu , Pereira Carramaschi Lygia da Veiga , Russo Elisa Maria de Sousa
Published: July 2017

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a monogenic disease of high mortality, affecting millions of people worldwide. There is no broad, effective, and safe definitive treatment for SCA, so the palliative treatments are the most used. The establishment of an in vitro model allows better understanding of how the disease occurs, besides allowing the development of more effective tests and treatments. In this context, iPSC technology is a powerful tool for basic research and disease modeling, and a promise for finding and screening more effective and safe drugs, besides the possibility of use in regenerative medicine. This work obtained a model for study and treatment of SCA using iPSC. Then, episomal vectors were used for reprogramming peripheral blood mononuclear cells to obtain integration-free iPSC. Cells were collected from patients treated with hydroxyurea and without treatment. The iPSCP Bscd lines were characterized for pluripotent and differentiation potential. The iPSC lines were differentiated into HSC, so that we obtained a dynamic and efficient protocol of CD34+CD45+ cells production. We offer a valuable tool for a better understanding of how SCA occurs, in addition to making possible the development of more effective drugs and treatments and providing better understanding of widely used treatments, such as hydroxyurea.
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Shubo , Zhang Liu , Yan Guangyue , Cheng Sijin , Fathy Abdel Hamid , Yan Nana , Zhao Yongzhao
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims. Plenty of studies were conducted to explore the prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in ovarian cancer with contradictory results. This study aims to summarize the prognostic significance of NLR in patients with ovarian cancer. Methods. A literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted. The endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results. Eleven studies involving a total of 2,892 patients were identified. The results indicated that patients with high NLR had shorter PFS compared to patients with low NLR in ovarian cancer (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.15–2.08, p=0.004, and I2=61%). Similarly, high NLR was related to shorter OS (HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.03–2.23, p=0.04, and I2=85%). Moreover, high NLR was significantly associated with shorter PFS when the NLR cut-off was less than 3.3 (p=0.03) or when treatment is operation (p=0.002). In addition, high NLR was distinctly related to worse OS in Asian people (p = 0.04) or operation (p = 0.04). Conclusion. High NLR was associated with shorter PFS and shorter OS in ovarian cancer. NLR is potentially a promising prognostic biomarker in patients with ovarian cancer.
Zinc Chloride Smoke Inhalation Induced Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: First Survival in the United States with Extended Duration (Five Weeks) Therapy with High Dose Corticosteroids in Combination with Lung Protective Ventilation
Authors: Mahboob Hafiz , Richeson III Robert , McCain Robert
Published: July 2017

Zinc chloride smoke bomb exposure is frequently seen in military drills, combat exercises, metal industry works, and disaster simulations. Smoke exposure presents with variety of pulmonary damage based on the intensity of the exposure. Smoke induced severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is often fatal and there are no standard treatment guidelines. We report the first survival of smoke induced severe ARDS in the United States (US) with prolonged use of high dose steroids (five weeks) and lung protective ventilation alone. Previously reported surviving patients in China and Taiwan required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other invasive modalities. We suggest that an extended course of high dose corticosteroids should be considered for the treatment of smoke inhalation related ARDS and should be introduced as early as possible to minimize the morbidity and mortality. We further suggest that patients with smoke inhalation should be observed in the hospital for at least 48 to 72 hours before discharge, as ARDS can have a delayed onset. Being vigilant for infectious complications is important due to prolonged steroid treatment regimen. Patients must also be monitored for critical illness polyneuromyopathy. Additionally, upper airway injury should be suspected and early evaluation by otorhinolaryngology may be beneficial.
Seasonal Changes and Spatial Variation in Water Quality of a Large Young Tropical Reservoir and Its Downstream River
Authors: Ling Teck-Yee , Gerunsin Norliza , Soo Chen-Lin , Nyanti Lee , Sim Siong-Fong , Grinang Jongkar
Published: July 2017

This study examined the water quality of the large young tropical Bakun hydroelectric reservoir in Sarawak, Malaysia, and the influence of the outflow on the downstream river during wet and dry seasons. Water quality was determined at five stations in the reservoir at three different depths and one downstream station. The results show that seasons impacted the water quality of the Bakun Reservoir, particularly in the deeper water column. Significantly lower turbidity, SRP, and TP were found during the wet season. At 3–6 m, the oxygen content fell below 5 mg/L and hypoxia was also recorded. Low NO2--N, NO3--N, and SRP and high BOD5, OKN, and TP were observed in the reservoir indicating organic pollution. Active logging activities and the dam construction upstream resulted in water quality deterioration. The outflow decreased the temperature, DO, and pH and increased the turbidity and TSS downstream. Elevated organic matter and nutrients downstream are attributable to domestic discharge along the river. This study shows that the downstream river was affected by the discharge through the turbines, the spillway operations, and domestic waste. Therefore, all these factors should be taken into consideration in the downstream river management for the health of the aquatic organisms.
Body Height of Children with Bronchial Asthma of Various Severities
Authors: Eliseeva Tatiana I. , Geppe Natalia A. , Tush Elena V. , Khaletskaya Olga V. , Balabolkin Ivan I. , Bulgakova Vilya A. , Kubysheva Nailya I. , Ignatov Stanislav K.
Published: July 2017

Influence of bronchial asthma (BA) severity on physical development in children patients was evaluated in comparison with healthy population. Materials and Methods. 1042 children and adolescents (768 boys) with atopic BA were evaluated. All children underwent standard examination in a clinical setting, including anthropometry. The control group included 875 healthy children of a comparable age (423 boys). Results. The fraction of patients with the normal, lower, and increased height among the whole group of patients with BA is close to the corresponding values in the healthy population (χ2=3.32, p=0.65). The fraction of BA patients with the reduced physical development is increased monotonically and significantly when the BA severity increases: healthy group, 8.2% (72/875), BA intermittent, 4.2% (6/144), BA mild persistent 9% (47/520), BA moderate persistent, 11.7% (36/308), and BA severe persistent, 24.3% (17/70) (χ2=45.6, p=0,0009). Conclusion. The fraction of the children with the reduced height is increased monotonically and significantly in the groups of increasing BA severities. At the same time, the fraction of such children in groups of intermittent and mild persistent BA practically does not differ from the conditionally healthy peers.