bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANA IIF Automation: Moving towards Harmonization? Results of a Multicenter Study
Authors: Van den Bremt Stefanie , Schouwers Sofie , Van Blerk Marjan , Van Hoovels Lieve
Published: February 2017

Background. Our study aimed to investigate whether the introduction of automated anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis decreases the interlaboratory variability of ANA titer results. Method. Three serum samples were sent to 10 laboratories using the QUANTA-Lyser® in combination with the NOVA View®. Each laboratory performed the ANA IIF analysis 10x in 1 run and 1x in 10 different runs and determined the endpoint titer by dilution. One of the three samples had been sent in 2012, before the era of ANA IIF automation, by the Belgian National External Quality Assessment (EQA) Scheme. Harmonization was evaluated in terms of variability in fluorescence intensity (LIU) and ANA IIF titer. Results. The evaluation of the intra- and interrun LIU variability revealed a larger variability for 2 laboratories, due to preanalytical and analytical problems. Reanalysis of the EQA sample resulted in a lower titer variability. Diluted endpoint titers were similar to the estimated single well titer and the overall median titer as reported by the EQA in 2012. Conclusion. The introduction of automated microscopic analysis allows more harmonized ANA IIF reporting, provided that this totally automated process is controlled by a thorough quality assurance program, covering the total ANA IIF process.
Modified Regression Rate Formula of PMMA Combustion by a Single Plane Impinging Jet
Authors: Matsuoka Tsuneyoshi , Kamei Kyohei , Nakamura Yuji , Nagata Harunori
Published: February 2017

A modified regression rate formula for the uppermost stage of CAMUI-type hybrid rocket motor is proposed in this study. Assuming a quasi-steady, one-dimensional, an energy balance against a control volume near the fuel surface is considered. Accordingly, the regression rate formula which can calculate the local regression rate by the quenching distance between the flame and the regression surface is derived. An experimental setup which simulates the combustion phenomenon involved in the uppermost stage of a CAMUI-type hybrid rocket motor was constructed and the burning tests with various flow velocities and impinging distances were performed. A PMMA slab of 20 mm height, 60 mm width, and 20 mm thickness was chosen as a sample specimen and pure oxygen and O2/N2mixture (50/50 vol.%) were employed as the oxidizers. The time-averaged regression rate along the fuel surface was measured by a laser displacement sensor. The quenching distance during the combustion event was also identified from the observation. The comparison between the purely experimental and calculated values showed good agreement, although a large systematic error was expected due to the difficulty in accurately identifying the quenching distance.
An Integrated Support to Collaborative Semantic Annotation
Authors: Goy Annamaria , Magro Diego , Petrone Giovanna , Picardi Claudia , Rovera Marco , Segnan Marino
Published: February 2017

Everybody experiences every day the need to manage a huge amount of heterogeneous shared resources, causing information overload and fragmentation problems. Collaborative annotation tools are the most common way to address these issues, but collaboratively tagging resources is usually perceived as a boring and time consuming activity and a possible source of conflicts. To face this challenge, collaborative systems should effectively support users in the resource annotation activity and in the definition of a shared view. The main contribution of this paper is the presentation and the evaluation of a set of mechanisms (personal annotations over shared resources and tag suggestions) that provide users with the mentioned support. The goal of the evaluation was to (1) assess the improvement with respect to the situation without support; (2) evaluate the satisfaction of the users, with respect to both the final choice of annotations and possible conflicts; (3) evaluate the usefulness of the support mechanisms in terms of actual usage and user perception. The experiment consisted in a simulated collaborative work scenario, where small groups of users annotated a few resources and then answered a questionnaire. The evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed support mechanisms can reduce both overload and possible disagreement.
Triple-Frequency GPS Precise Point Positioning Ambiguity Resolution Using Dual-Frequency Based IGS Precise Clock Products
Authors: Liu Fei , Gao Yang
Published: February 2017

With the availability of the third civil signal in the Global Positioning System, triple-frequency Precise Point Positioning ambiguity resolution methods have drawn increasing attention due to significantly reduced convergence time. However, the corresponding triple-frequency based precise clock products are not widely available and adopted by applications. Currently, most precise products are generated based on ionosphere-free combination of dual-frequency L1/L2 signals, which however are not consistent with the triple-frequency ionosphere-free carrier-phase measurements, resulting in inaccurate positioning and unstable float ambiguities. In this study, a GPS triple-frequency PPP ambiguity resolution method is developed using the widely used dual-frequency based clock products. In this method, the interfrequency clock biases between the triple-frequency and dual-frequency ionosphere-free carrier-phase measurements are first estimated and then applied to triple-frequency ionosphere-free carrier-phase measurements to obtain stable float ambiguities. After this, the wide-lane L2/L5 and wide-lane L1/L2 integer property of ambiguities are recovered by estimating the satellite fractional cycle biases. A test using a sparse network is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the method. The results show that the ambiguity resolution can be achieved in minutes even tens of seconds and the positioning accuracy is in decimeter level.
An Analysis of Impact Factors for Positioning Performance in WLAN Fingerprinting Systems Using Ishikawa Diagrams and a Simulation Platform
Authors: Liu Keqiang , Wang Yunjia , Lin Lixin , Chen Guoliang
Published: February 2017

Many factors influence the positioning performance in WLAN RSSI fingerprinting systems, and summary of these factors is an important but challenging job. Moreover, impact analysis on nonalgorithm factors is significant to system application and quality control but little research has been conducted. This paper analyzes and summarizes the potential impact factors by using an Ishikawa diagram considering radio signal transmitting, propagating, receiving, and processing. A simulation platform was developed to facilitate the analysis experiment, and the paper classifies the potential factors into controllable, uncontrollable, nuisance, and held-constant factors considering simulation feasibility. It takes five nonalgorithm controllable factors including APs density, APs distribution, radio signal propagating attenuation factor, radio signal propagating noise, and RPs density into consideration and adopted the OFAT analysis method in experiment. The positioning result was achieved by using the deterministic and probabilistic algorithms, and the error was presented by RMSE and CDF. The results indicate that the high APs density, signal propagating attenuation factor, and RPs density, with the low signal propagating noise level, are favorable to better performance, while APs distribution has no particular impact pattern on the positioning error. Overall, this paper has made great potential contribution to the quality control of WLAN fingerprinting solutions.
Metabonomics Research Progress on Liver Diseases
Authors: Yu Mengqian , Zhu Ying , Cong Qingwei , Wu Chunyan
Published: February 2017

Metabolomics as the new omics technique develops after genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics and has rapid development at present. Liver diseases are worldwide public health problems. In China, chronic hepatitis B and its secondary diseases are the common liver diseases. They can be diagnosed by the combination of history, virology, liver function, and medical imaging. However, some patients seldom have relevant physical examination, so the diagnosis may be delayed. Many other liver diseases, such as drug-induced liver injury (DILI), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and autoimmune liver diseases, still do not have definite diagnostic markers; the diagnosis consists of history, medical imaging, and the relevant score. As a result, the clinical work becomes very complex. So it has broad prospects to explore the specific and sensitive biomarkers of liver diseases with metabolomics. In this paper, there are several summaries which are related to the current research progress and application of metabolomics on biomarkers of liver diseases.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Test forTrypanosoma gambienseGroup 1 with Stem Primers: A Molecular Xenomonitoring Test for Sleeping Sickness
Authors: Njiru Zablon K. , Mbae Cecilia K. , Mburugu Gitonga N.
Published: February 2017

The World Health Organization has targeted Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) for elimination by 2020 with zero incidence by 2030. To achieve and sustain this goal, accurate and easy-to-deploy diagnostic tests for Gambian trypanosomiasis which accounts for over 98% of reported cases will play a crucial role. Most needed will be tools for surveillance of pathogen in vectors (xenomonitoring) since population screening tests are readily available. The development of new tests is expensive and takes a long time while incremental improvement of existing technologies that have potential for xenomonitoring may offer a shorter pathway to tools for HAT surveillance. We have investigated the effect of including a second set of reaction accelerating primers (stem primers) to the standardT. brucei gambienseLAMP test format. The new test format was analyzed with and without outer primers. Amplification was carried out using Rotorgene 6000 and the portable ESE Quant amplification unit capable of real-time data output. The stem LAMP formats indicated shorter time to results (~8 min), were 10–100-fold more sensitive, and indicated higher diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy compared to the standard LAMP test. It was possible to confirm the predicted product using ESE melt curves demonstrating the potential of combining LAMP and real-time technologies as possible tool for HAT molecular xenomonitoring.
The Role of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase in Inflammatory Disorders of Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Bilski Jan , Mazur-Bialy Agnieszka , Wojcik Dagmara , Zahradnik-Bilska Janina , Brzozowski Bartosz , Magierowski Marcin , Mach Tomasz , Magierowska Katarzyna , Brzozowski Tomasz
Published: February 2017

Over the past few years, the role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) as a crucial mucosal defence factor essential for maintaining gut homeostasis has been established. IAP is an important apical brush border enzyme expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and secreted both into the intestinal lumen and into the bloodstream. IAP exerts its effects through dephosphorylation of proinflammatory molecules including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), flagellin, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from cells during stressful events. Diminished activity of IAP could increase the risk of disease through changes in the microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and intestinal permeability. Exogenous IAP exerts a protective effect against intestinal and systemic inflammation in a variety of diseases and represents a potential therapeutic agent in diseases driven by gut barrier dysfunction such as IBD. The intestinal protective mechanisms are impaired in IBD patients due to lower synthesis and activity of endogenous IAP, but the pathomechanism of this enzyme deficiency remains unclear. IAP has been safely administered to humans and the human recombinant form of IAP has been developed. This review was designed to provide an update in recent research on the involvement of IAP in intestinal inflammatory processes with focus on IBD in experimental animal models and human patients.
Circulating miR-132-3p as a Candidate Diagnostic Biomarker for Malignant Mesothelioma
Authors: Weber Daniel G. , Gawrych Katarzyna , Casjens Swaantje , Brik Alexander , Lehnert Martin , Taeger Dirk , Pesch Beate , Kollmeier Jens , Bauer Torsten T. , Johnen Georg , Brüning Thomas
Published: February 2017

The use of circulating microRNAs as biomarkers has opened new opportunities for diagnosis of cancer because microRNAs exhibit tumor-specific expression profiles. The aim of this study was the identification of circulating microRNAs in human plasma as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. For discovery, TaqMan Low Density Array Human MicroRNA Cards were used to analyze 377 microRNAs in plasma samples from 21 mesothelioma patients and 21 asbestos-exposed controls. For verification, individual TaqMan microRNA assays were used for quantitative real-time PCR in plasma samples from 22 mesothelioma patients and 44 asbestos-exposed controls. The circulating miR-132-3p showed different expression levels between mesothelioma patients and asbestos-exposed controls. For discrimination, sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 61% were calculated. Circulating miR-132-3p in plasma was not affected by hemolysis and no impact of age or smoking status on miR-132-3p levels could be observed. For the combination of miR-132-3p with the previously described miR-126, sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 86% were calculated. The results of this study indicate that miR-132-3p might be a new promising diagnostic biomarker for malignant mesothelioma. It is indicated that the combination of miR-132-3p with other individual biomarkers improves the biomarker performance.
Fatigue Properties of Plain Concrete under Triaxial Tension-Compression-Compression Cyclic Loading
Authors: Zhao Dongfu , Gao Haijing , Liu Huixuan , Jia Penghe , Yang Jianhui
Published: February 2017

Fatigue tests were performed on plain concrete under triaxial tension-compression-compression (T-C-C) cyclic loading with constant and variable amplitude using a large multiaxial machine. Experimental results show that, under constant amplitude fatigue loads, the development of residual strain in the fatigue loading direction depends mostly on the lateral compressive stress ratio and is nearly independent of stress level. Under variable amplitude fatigue loads, the fatigue residual strain is related to the relative fatigue cycle and lateral compressive stress ratio but has little relationship with the loading process. To model this system, the relative residual strain was defined as the damage variant. Damage evolutions for plain concrete were established. In addition, fatigue damage analysis and predictions of fatigue remaining life were conducted. This work provides a reference for multistage fatigue testing and fatigue damage evaluation of plain concrete under multiaxial loads.
High Fat Diet Alters Gut Microbiota and the Expression of Paneth Cell-Antimicrobial Peptides Preceding Changes of Circulating Inflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Guo Xiulan , Li Jinchao , Tang Renyong , Zhang Guodong , Zeng Huawei , Wood Richard J. , Liu Zhenhua
Published: February 2017

Obesity is an established risk factor for many diseases including intestinal cancer. One of the responsible mechanisms is the chronic inflammation driven by obesity. However, it remains to be defined whether diet-induced obesity exacerbates the intestinal inflammatory status by cytokines produced in adipose tissue or the high fat diet first alters the gut microbiota and then drives intestinal inflammation. To address this question, we fed C57BL/6 mice with a high fat diet (HF, 60%) and sacrificed them sequentially after 8, 12, and 16 weeks, and then compositions of gut microbiota and expressions of antimicrobial peptides were determined. The compositions of gut microbiota were altered at 8 wk HF feeding, followed with reduced Paneth antimicrobial peptides lysozyme and Reg IIIγafter 12 and 16 wk HF feeding (p<0.05), whereas elevations of circulating inflammatory cytokines IFNγand TNF-αwere observed until feeding a HF diet for 16 weeks (p<0.05). These results indicated that high fat diet may stimulate intestinal inflammation via altering gut microbiota, and it occurs prior to the potential influence by circulating inflammatory cytokines. These findings emphasized the importance of microbiota, in addition to adipose tissue per se, in driving intestinal inflammation, which may thereafter promote intestinal tumorigenesis.
Hyers-Ulam Stability and Existence of Solutions for Nigmatullin’s Fractional Diffusion Equation
Authors: Gao Zhuoyan , Wang JinRong
Published: February 2017

We discuss stability of time-fractional order heat conduction equations and prove the Hyers-Ulam and generalized Hyers-Ulam-Rassias stability of time-fractional order heat conduction equations via fractional Green function involving Wright function. In addition, an interesting existence result for solution is given.
Novel Insights into Gastric Cancer: Methylation of R-spondins and Regulation of LGR5 by SP1
Authors: Wilhelm Franziska , Simon Eva , Böger Christine , Behrens Hans-Michael , Krüger Sandra , Röcken Christoph
Published: February 2017

Recently, it was shown that leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor 5 (LGR5)–expressing stem cells are the cellular origin of intestinal-type gastric cancer. The aim of our study was to uncover regulatory mechanisms of LGR5 expression in gastric mucosa and their implications for cancer development. Reporter assays identified an LGR5 promoter fragment, which is highly relevant for active LGR5 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation verified that SP1 is bound within this region, and reporter activity increased in SP1 transfected cells. Subsequently, the expression of R-spondins (RSPO1 and RSPO2), ligands of LGR5, was explored in neoplastic and nonneoplastic gastric tissue and gastric cancer cell lines. Using IHC, distinct spatial expression patterns of LGR5, RSPO1, and RSPO2 were found in nonneoplastic stomach mucosa and gastric cancer. RSPO expression was lower in gastric cancer compared with nonneoplastic mucosa on both the transcriptional (P = 0.003 for RSPO1 and P = 0.000 for RSPO2; n = 50) and the translational level. Methylation-specific PCR showed higher methylation levels of RSPO1/2 and reexpression of RSPOs in the gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and MKN74 were induced by demethylating 5-aza-C treatment. Finally, expression patterns of LGR5 and RSPO were similar in gastric cancer.

Implications: This report identifies a regulatory mechanism of LGR5 expression in gastric carcinogenesis, with SP1 as an important component of the transcriptional complex and LGR5 activity, which is modulated by its ligands RSPO1 and RSPO2, whose expression is modulated by methylation.

Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/15/6/776/F1.large.jpg. Mol Cancer Res; 15(6); 776–85. ©2017 AACR.
Impact of FMR1 Pre-Mutation Status on Blastocyst Development in Patients Undergoing Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Authors: Hutchinson Anne P. , Pereira Nigel , Lilienthal Debra P. , Coveney Siobhán , Lekovich Jovana P. , Elias Rony T. , Rosenwaks Zev
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: The study aimed to investigate the impact of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) pre-mutation status on blastocyst development in patients undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Methods: Case-control study of patients <40 years undergoing PGD at blastocyst stage for FMR1 pre-mutation status. Age-matched patients undergoing PGD for other single gene disorders were considered controls. Blastocyst development, calculated per metaphase II (MII) oocyte retrieved and per 2 pronuclear (2PN) embryos, was compared between the 2 groups. Pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer were also compared. Results: Eighty-one and 791 patients were included in the FMR1 and control groups, respectively. FMR1 pre-mutation carriers had lower indicators of ovarian reserve, required higher gonadotropin doses, and had fewer MII oocytes retrieved. Mean blastocyst development per MII oocyte (12.6 vs. 29.4%; p < 0.001) and per 2PN embryos (21.5 vs. 41.7%; p < 0.001) was lower in the FMR1 group. An inverse correlation between the number of FMR1 CGG repeats and blastocyst development per MII oocyte (ρ = -0.63; p < 0.001) was observed. There was no difference in the rates of clinical pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, or live birth among the groups. Conclusion: Our study suggests lower rates of blastocyst development in patients with FMR1 pre-mutation status and an inverse correlation between the number of FMR1 CGG repeats and blastocyst development.
Unusual Occurrence of Multifocal Desmoplastic Infantile Astrocytoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Narayan Vinayak , Savardekar Amey R. , Mahadevan Anita , Arivazhagan A. , Appaji Lingegowda
Published: February 2017

Desmoplastic infantile gliomas are rare, benign tumors of the early infancy period. Two histological subtypes - desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma (DIA) and desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma - have been described. The characteristic features of DIAs are lobar location, glial histology, and excellent prognosis after complete surgical excision. DIAs usually present as solitary, cortical-surfacing, solid-cystic neoplasms; however, atypical, aggressive, and multifocal variants of DIA have been reported in the literature. These rare DIAs presenting with multiple lesions pose a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic dilemma. We report an unusual case of an 8-month-old female infant diagnosed with multifocal (cranial and spinal) DIA and obstructive hydrocephalus and discuss the radiological and histological features of this rare variant of DIA. The patient underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement to relieve the hydrocephalus, excisional biopsy from a surfacing lesion in the right frontal lobe, and multiple cycles of chemotherapy; however, the lesions continued to progress, and the patient is likely to have an unfavorable outcome.
Characterization of Cutaneous Plasmacytosis at Different Disease Stages
Authors: Hsiao Pa-Fan , Wu Yu-Hung
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: Cutaneous plasmacytosis is rare and still not well understood. A retrospective study was made of 9 Chinese patients with 1- to 15-year histories of biopsy-proven cutaneous plasmacytosis diagnosed between 2003 and 2015. Methods: Patient records and archival photographs helped establish the pattern and duration of skin lesions, and skin biopsy specimens provided additional data. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 46.4 years. Two patients had lesions within 1 year of developing the disease, and 4 had lesions lasting longer than 5 years. One patient had lymphadenopathy of the neck that was later determined to be Castleman disease. Three patients had elevated IgG4 levels; only 2 had increased IgG4+ cells in skin tissues. Flexural accentuation was prominent. Four patients had elevated IgG levels, and 1, with an IgG level >5,000 mg/dL, developed systemic plasmacytosis (later confirmed as Castleman disease). The level of IgG4 subclass was related to disease duration, whereas IgG4+ plasma cells in tissues seemed irrelevant. Conclusion: Routine laboratory tests, especially measurement of IgG4 levels, may be useful for following patients with cutaneous plasmacytosis. Because of the retrospective nature of our study, we could only evaluate the results of a single IgG4 test for each patient, but the results pointed to cutaneous plasmacytosis in all 9 patients, who had different stages of the disease. Serial skin biopsies may also be helpful for gauging disease progress. Although IgG4-related disease was not established in any of these patients, long-term follow-up is warranted for all patients.
1α,25(OH) 2D3 Sensitive Cytosolic pH Regulation and Glycolytic Flux in Human Endometrial Ishikawa Cells
Authors: Zeng Ni , Zhou Yuetao , Zhang Shaqiu , Singh Yogesh , Shi Bing , Salker Madhuri S. , Lang Florian
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: Tumor cell proliferation is modified by 1,25-Dihydroxy-Vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), a steroid hormone predominantly known for its role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Key properties of tumor cells include enhanced glycolytic flux with excessive consumption of glucose and formation of lactate. As glycolysis is highly sensitive to cytosolic pH, maintenance of glycolysis requires export of H+ ions and lactate, which is in part accomplished by Na+/H+ exchangers, such as NHE1 and monocarboxylate transporters, such as MCT4. An effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on those transport processes has, however, never been reported. As cytosolic pH impacts on apoptosis, the study further explored the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on apoptosis and on the apoptosis regulating kinase AKT, transcription factor Forkhead box O-3 (FOXO3A) and B-cell lymphoma protein BCL-2. Methods: In human endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells, cytosolic pH (pHi) was determined utilizing (2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein [BCECF] fluorescence, Na+/H+ exchanger activity from Na+ dependent realkalinization after an ammonium pulse, NHE1 and MCT4 transcript levels using qRT-PCR, NHE1, MCT4, total & phospho AKT, total & phospho-FOXO3A and BCL-2 protein abundance by Western blotting, lactate concentration in the supernatant utilizing a colorimetric enzyme assay and cell death quantification using CytoTox 96®, Annexin V and Propidium Iodide staining. Results: A 24 hours treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nM) significantly increased cytosolic pH (pHi), significantly decreased Na+/H+ exchanger activity, NHE1 and MCT4 transcript levels as well as protein abundance and significantly increased lactate concentration in the supernatant. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nM) further triggered apoptosis, an effect paralleled by decreased phosphorylation of AKT and FOXO3A as well as decreased abundance of BCL-2. Conclusions: In Ishikawa cells 1,25(OH)2D3 is a powerful stimulator of glycolysis, an effect presumably due to cytosolic alkalinization. Despite stimulation of glycolysis, 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulates slightly but significantly suicidal cell death, an effect presumably in part due to decreased activation of AKT with decreased inhibition of pro-apoptotic transcription factor FOXO3A and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2.
Knockdown of PD-L1 in Human Gastric Cancer Cells Inhibits Tumor Progression and Improves the Cytotoxic Sensitivity to CIK Therapy
Authors: Li Jing , Chen Lujun , Xiong Yuqi , Zheng Xiao , Xie Quanqin , Zhou Qi , Shi Liangrong , Wu Changping , Jiang Jingting , Wang Haitao
Published: February 2017

Background/Abstract: PD-L1 has been an important target of cancer immunotherapy. We have showed that in human gastric cancer tissues, over-expression of PD-L1 was significantly associated with cancer progression and patients’ postoperative prognoses. However, as of now, how PD-L1 regulates the biological function of gastric cancer cells still remains elusive. Methods: We constructed the stable PD-L1 knockdown expression gastric cancer cell lines by using RNAi method, and further investigated the changes of biological functions including cell viability, migration, invasion, cell cycle, apoptosis, tumorigenicity in vivo, and the cytotoxic sensitivity to CIK therapy, in contrast to the control cells. Results: In the current study, we demonstrated that the knockdown of PD-L1 expression in human gastric cancer cells could significantly suppress the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, cell cycle, tumorigenicity in vivo and the cytotoxic sensitivity to CIK therapy. Conclusion: Our results indicate that PD-L1 contributes towards transformation and progression of human gastric cancer cells, and its intervention could prove to be an important therapeutic strategy against gastric cancer.
ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ ЯК ЗАПОРУКА ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ТА ЯКОСТІ НАВЧАННЯ У ВИЩІЙ ШКОЛІ
Authors: Dubinin S. I. , Vatsenko A. V. , Piliuhin V. O. , Ulanovska-Tsyba N. A. , Perederii N. O. , Ryabushko O. B. , Ovcharenko O. V.
Published: February 2017

У статті, з метою інтеграції навчального процесу до Європейського простору, проаналізовані деякі сучасні застосування інтерактивних методів навчання, зокрема мультимедійних технологій та комп’ютерного тестування. В умовах інформатизації суспільства і бурхливого розвитку техніки перед викладачами постають нові завдання до організації науково-методичного підходу викладання фахових дисциплін. Сучасний підхід передбачає презентацію нового матеріалу при великому обсязі інформації за певний час, ефективну організацію навчального процесу та об’єктивного оцінювання його результатів.
ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ МЕТОДИКИ ВИКЛАДАННЯ СТОМАТОЛОГІЧНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН НА КАФЕДРІ СТОМАТОЛОГІЇ НАВЧАЛЬНО-НАУКОВОГО ІНСТИТУТУ ПІСЛЯДИПЛОМНОЇ ОСВІТИ
Authors: Duda K. M. , Fedirko H. V. , Lebid O. L.
Published: February 2017

У статті наведений аналіз даних методичної літератури та власного досвіду, розкрито суть проблематики проведення занять для лікарів-інтернів першого та другого років навчання. Висвітлено застосування сучасних методик у різних частинах освітнього процесу, які базуються на самостійній роботі лікаря-інтерна. Основним завданням викладачів є підготовка лікарів-стоматологів, здатних в умовах робочого процесу клінічно мислити, проводити постановку діагнозу та складати план лікування. Використання нових методик освіти підвищує якісний рівень знань інтернів і зацікавленість в обраній професії.
ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СИМУЛЯЦІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ ПРИ ВИВЧЕННІ ПЕДІАТРИЧНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН
Authors: Boyarchuk O. R. , Chornomydz I. B. , Vorontsova T. O. , Kinash M. I.
Published: February 2017

У статті викладено досвід проведення занять з педіатрії у симуляційному центрі Тернопільського державного медичного університету імені І. Я. Горбачевського. Проаналізовано основні переваги симуляційного навчання, та висвітлено методики викладання занять з педіатрії, а зокрема пропедевтичної педіатрії, догляду за хворими та сестринської практики,  використовуючи технічні можливості симуляційного центру університету.
ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ НАВЧАЛЬНОЇ МОТИВАЦІЇ У СТУДЕНТІВ ПЕРШОГО КУРСУ ТЕРНОПІЛЬСЬКОГО ДЕРЖАВНОГО МЕДИЧНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ ІМЕНІ І. Я. ГОРБАЧЕВСЬКОГО
Authors: Burmas N. M. , Boyko L. A. , Bekus I. R. , Kyryliv M. V.
Published: February 2017

У статті проведено діагностику навчальної мотивації студентів першого курсу медичного факультету методом анкетування. Отримані дані розкривають структуру мотивації першокурсників і свідчать про необхідність втручання у процес її формування. Домінуючими  для студентів медичного факультету виявилися професійні мотиви. Результати дослідження показали різні мотиви студентів до навчання, що потребує організаційних та виховних зусиль професорсько-викладацького складу для компетентного впливу на підвищення навчальної мотивації.
ДОСВІД ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ НАВЧАННЯ В ІНТЕРНАТУРІ
Authors: Нrebenyk M. V. , Lazarchuk T. B. , Kryskiv O. I.
Published: February 2017

Підготовка компетентного спеціаліста, здатного забезпечити належний рівень медичної допомоги в умовах інформаційних потоків та сучасних технологій, вимагає переорієнтації системи післядипломної освіти на індивідуальне навчання майбутнього спеціаліста у супроводі викладача. У статті висвітлено багаторічний досвід кафедри терапії і сімейної медицини навчально-наукового інституту ТДМУ із використання методології адаптації набутих на додипломному етапі знань та умінь молодих лікарів до роботи в реальних умовах практичної медицини.
СУЧАСНІ ІННОВАЦІЙНО-ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНІ ПРИЙОМИ ТА ШЛЯХИ ПОЛІПШЕННЯ ВИВЧЕННЯ ТЕМИ “ГОСТРИЙ АПЕНДИЦИТ ТА ЙОГО УСКЛАДНЕННЯ” СТУДЕНТАМИ МЕДИЧНОГО ФАКУЛЬТЕТУ
Authors: Dmytruk O. M.
Published: February 2017

У роботі узагальнено досвід кафедри хірургії № 1 ІФНМУ вивчення студентами теми “Гострий апендицит та його ускладнення”; впровадження й удосконалення інноваційних технологій при використанні інтерактивних методів навчання на всіх етапах навчального процесу з вивчення спеціальності, в т. ч. під час проведення загально-курсової конференції  з актуальних проблем клініки, діагностики та лікувальної програми. На етапі визначення кінцевого рівня знань використовуються вирішення кейс-завдань, ігрові та неігрові методи модельованого навчання, а якість отриманих знань оцінюється поточним та підсумковим  контролем.
Detection of Perkinsus marinus in the oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae in southern Bahia by proteomic analysis
Authors: Pinto Thiago Ramos , Boehs Guisla , Pessoa Wallace Felipe Blohem , Luz Mariane Dos Santos Aguiar , Costa Helena
Published: February 2017

Este estudo relata a presença do patógeno Perkinsus marinus, de notificação obrigatória à Organização Internacional de Epizootias (OIE) na ostra Crassostrea rhizophorae no sul da Bahia, via análise proteômica. Foram analisadas as ostras Crassostrea brasiliana de um cultivo em espinhel e C. rhizophorae de um manguezal adjacente, na localidade de Porto do Campo, Baía de Camamu, Bahia. As coletas (n = 100) foram efetuadas em outubro de 2012. Em laboratório, as ostras foram medidas e abertas para a retirada da carne, que foi macerada em gelo seco. Para a extração das proteínas, foi adotada a adaptação de um protocolo utilizado para mexilhões, após o que foi realizada a separação na primeira dimensão, por focalização isoelétrica (IEF). Os peptídeos foram transferidos para um Espectrômetro de Massas. Os espectros obtidos foram analisados no software ProteinLynx Global Server 4.2 e também pela ferramenta MASCOT (Matrix Science) e comparados com os bancos de dados do SWISSPROT e do NCBI, respectivamente. A identificação foi evidenciada por meio da beta-tubulina, homologia Perkinsus marinus ATCC 50983 e código da proteína no banco de dados NCBI = gi|294889481. Este é o primeiro registro de P. marinus na Bahia e o quarto no Brasil.
Anatomia comparativa dos nervos da pelve de macacos-prego (Sapajus sp)
Authors: Silva Ediana Vasconcelos da , Silva Sylla Figueredo da , Aversi-Ferreira Roqueline Ametila Glória Martins de Freitas , De Abreu Tainá , Nishijo Hisao , Aversi-Ferreira Tales Alexandre
Published: February 2017

Macacos-prego (Sapajus sp), inesperadamente, compartilham com chimpanzés comportamentos como alta cognição e memória, uso de ferramentas com o bipedalismo intermitente, tolerância social. No entanto, sua anatomia ainda é pouco estudada. Para verificar a hipótese com qual espécie e/ou grupo de primatas os macacos-prego compartilham mais características, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os nervos pélvicos do Sapajus e compará-los com dados da literatura anatômica sobre os seres humanos, chimpanzés e babuínos, considerando aspectos como origem, trajetória e estruturas inervadas. Foi observado que existem grandes variações nos nervos pélvicos entre os primatas estudados aqui, quais sejam, 1) o problema da posição anatômica, i.e., alguns primatologistas consideram a posição anatômica humana para os primatas, outros consideram a posição anatômica animal, e a opção por um ou outro não é clara nos textos; 2) o problema dos membros pélvicos em primatas não humanos serem lateralizados e semi-fletidos em relação aos seres humanos modernos; 3) o problema da ausência, nos seres humanos modernos, de alguns músculos da coxa em relação aos outros primatas como o escansório e o iliosquiofemoral; e 4] o problema da diferença do número de vértebras nos primatas estudados aqui, inclusive com diferenças para a mesma espécie citadas por diferentes autores tanto para chimpanzés como para macacos-prego.
Inovação em tempos difíceis
Authors: Arbix Glauco , Miranda Zil
Published: February 2017

A baixa produtividade está na raiz das dificuldades da economia brasileira e na sua capacidade de sustentar longos ciclos de crescimento e de geração de empregos de qualidade. Estagnada desde os anos 1970, a agenda da economia tem um ponto chave: como superar o baixo desempenho estrutural da nossa economia? Infraestrutura, sistema tributário, baixo grau de competição e sistema regulatório inadequado despontam como itens de primeira importância. Mas é somente a elevação das habilidades de quem trabalha que permitirá a integração entre pessoas, ideias, tecnologia, processos e modelos de produção mais avançados. É o que dá ao conhecimento a capacidade de mover os mecanismos da economia. Esse processo atende pelo nome de inovação. E a capacidade de incorporar, adaptar e produzir inovações de modo ininterrupto é fundamental para viabilizar ganhos crescentes de eficiência na atividade econômica. É o que a economia mais urgentemente precisa. Esse é o foco da agenda capaz de conectar o Brasil com o futuro.
O espírito capitalista neoliberal na América Latina: o papel da orientação para o mercado financeiro nas grandes empresas argentinas e brasileiras
Authors: Valarini Elizângela , Elias Friederike , Pohlmann Markus
Published: February 2017

Este artigo tem como objetivo investigar o estabelecimento de um novo espírito capitalista de cunho neoliberal nas grandes empresas argentinas e brasileiras. O principal aspecto da investigação empírica é verificar se a ação dos executivos argentinos e brasileiros está orientada para o princípio de geração de valor ao acionista, no qual a capitalização da empresa – por meio do mercado financeiro – torna-se atividade comum para a maximização do lucro da empresa. Esta pesquisa está baseada no programa de investigação heurístico de Max Weber a respeito do desenvolvimento do capitalismo moderno, focalizando nos mecanismo de reprodução do espírito capitalista, mas também com referencial teórico na sociologia do conhecimento de Alfred Schütz. Para este texto, foram coletados dados a respeito da trajetória de vida de 224 CEOs e conduzidas 52 entrevistas com Presidentes e Diretores Executivos das 100 maiores indústrias em cada um desses países. A análise da orientação da ação dos executivos industriais argentinos e brasileiros foi realizada por intermédio do método qualitativo de análise do padrão interpretativo coletivo.
Da mestiçagem à reconstrução diaspórica do pertencimento étnico-racial
Authors: Medeiros Priscila Martins , Vieira Paulo Alberto dos Santos
Published: February 2017

O artigo traz uma reflexão a respeito das mudanças conceituais percebidas no Brasil ao longo do último século no que tange às suas características étnico-raciais. O objetivo é analisar as transformações sentidas não apenas na composição étnico-racial do país, mas também os motivos sociais, teóricos e políticos que fizeram com que se abandonassem os debates em torno do mestiço e se chegasse ao contexto atual, em que se pauta outra lógica, qual seja: a identificação afro-brasileira. A ideia de um país mestiço e a busca pelo branqueamento do país significaram a institucionalização da desmemória das origens étnico-raciais. Isso fez com que negros e indígenas fossem incorporados na sociedade brasileira não como sujeitos plenos de direitos, mas enquanto “marcos da brasilidade”. O negro no Brasil do século XXI, por meio de sua intelectualidade, tem se afirmado enquanto afro-brasileiro, trilhando o caminho de recriar sua origem para além da fronteira nacional; ou seja, não se trata de um retorno ao lar africano, mas do refazer de sua subjetividade, em um terceiro espaço, um território subjetivo. Isso se dá por meio da crítica à racialização de sua pertença étnica, bem como à hierarquização a qual foi submetida sua história, denunciando a maneira como a diferença se transformou em pretexto e justificativa para a desigualdade social.
Provocações para uma sociologia da sexualidade: Sistemas, linguagem, amor
Authors: Teixeira Marcelo Augusto De Almeida
Published: February 2017

O artigo busca pensar, a partir de uma sociologia da sexualidade, as provocações epistemológicas propostas por Judith Butler e Niklas Luhmann, sobretudo os pressupostos de que o sujeito é “inexistente”, vindo a existir por meio da linguagem, e de que a sociedade existe apartada do sujeito – sendo composta por comunicações. O texto discorre sobre os modos pelos quais a sociologia refletiu o corpo sexuado, passando pela polarização entre essencialistas/construcionistas, até as recentes tentativas de síntese entre esses polos, ilustrada com uma topologia baseada na faixa de Mobius lacaniana. O objetivo é ilustrar a importância dada à linguagem na constituição de corpos, sexualidade e valor de “humano”, a partir do exemplo de “crianças-feras” e do conceito butleriano de “abjeto”. Por fim, considera-se o Amor a partir de uma perspectiva sistêmica, com contribuições da Neurociência, concluindo que a Sociologia da Sexualidade se beneficia do sistema luhmanniano: o sujeito se configura mais autônomo em seu contexto social, psíquico e biológico e nos sistemas da sexualidade. Nesse cenário, não só o sujeito se torna central, porquanto seu próprio corpo físico seja a interseção de sistemas sociais, psíquicos e biológicos, mas também a sexualidade se torna cada vez mais autônoma, estetizada, atomizada a uma questão de escolha individual, com repercussões políticas, espaciais, corporais e sociais.
Colonialidade do poder como meio de conhecimento: em torno de seus limites e potencialidades explicativas
Authors: Silva Lucas Trindade da
Published: February 2017

Diante da crescente importância do giro decolonial, tanto dentro como fora do contexto latino-americano, buscaremos neste artigo um retorno aos seus fundamentos, a partir de uma leitura cuidadosa dos conceitos de colonialidade do poder/racialidade e de dependência histórico-estrutural no pensamento de Aníbal Quijano. Percebemos uma relação monocausal entre a persistência da racialidade em sociedades politicamente emancipadas (explanans) e a dependência latino-americana (explanandum). Ademais, concluímos ser fundamental a utilização da contribuição decolonial como instrumento para a formação conceitual ou como meio heurístico em cooperação com outras abordagens sobre a questão racial na América Latina, como a de Carlos Hasenbalg e a de Florestan Fernandes.
A Mutation in the G-Protein Gene
GNB2
Causes Familial Sinus Node and Atrioventricular Conduction Dysfunction
Authors: Stallmeyer Birgit , Kuß Johanna , Kotthoff Stefan , Zumhagen Sven , Vowinkel Kirsty , Rinné Susanne , Matschke Lina A. , Friedrich Corinna , Schulze-Bahr Ellen , Rust Stephan , Seebohm Guiscard , Decher Niels , Schulze-Bahr Eric
Published: February 2017

Rationale:

Familial sinus node and atrioventricular conduction dysfunction is a rare disorder that leads to paroxysmal dizziness, fatigue, and syncope because of a temporarily or permanently reduced heart rate. To date, only a few genes for familial sinus and atrioventricular conduction dysfunction are known, and the majority of cases remain pathogenically unresolved.

Objective:

We aim to identify the disease gene in a large 3-generation family (n=25) with autosomal dominant sinus node dysfunction (SND) and atrioventricular block (AVB) and to characterize the mutation-related pathomechanisms in familial SND+AVB.

Methods and Results:

Genome-wide linkage analysis mapped the SND+AVB disease locus to chromosome 7q21.1-q31.1 (2-point logarithm of the odds score: 4.64; θ=0); in this region, targeted exome sequencing identified a novel heterozygous mutation (p.Arg52Leu) in the
GNB2
gene that strictly cosegregated with the SND+AVB phenotype.
GNB2
encodes the β
2
subunit (Gβ
2
) of the heterotrimeric G-protein complex that is being released from G-protein–coupled receptors on vagal stimulation. In 2 heterologous expression systems (HEK-293T cells and
Xenopus laevis
oocytes), an enhanced activation of the G-protein–activated K
+
channel (GIRK; Kir3.1/Kir3.4) was shown when mutant Gβ
2
was coexpressed with Gγ
2
; this was in contrast to coexpression of mutant Gβ
2
-Gγ
2
with other cardiac ion channels (HCN4, HCN2, and Cav1.2). Molecular dynamics simulations suggested a reduced binding property of mutant Gβ
2
to cardiac GIRK channels when compared with native Gβ
2
.

Conclusions:

A
GNB2
gene mutation is associated with familial SND+AVB and leads to a sustained activation of cardiac GIRK channels, which is likely to hyperpolarize the myocellular membrane potential and thus reduces their spontaneous activity. Our findings describe for the first time a role of a mutant G-protein in the nonsyndromic pacemaker disease because of GIRK channel activation.
Countries versus Disciplines: Comparative Analysis of Post-Soviet Transformations in Academic Publications from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Authors: Tregubova Natalia D. , Fabrykant Marharyta , Marchenko Alla
Published: February 2017

The objective of this paper is to outline and compare frameworks for studying post-Soviet transformations developed by social scientists from various disciplines in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The objective is realized by means of quantitative content analysis of scholarly articles’ abstracts in ninety-four journals in eight (inter)disciplinary fields that covers the period of 2001-2015. This paper seeks to answer the question whether differences in the studies of the post-Soviet transformations are defined by country discourse or by the field of study. The research results suggest that there is a two-level mechanism, by which the societal context affects academia, in this case, social sciences and humanities. While general directions of scholarly attention are determined by societal differences, representations of post-Soviet transformations are framed through specific disciplinary lenses that combine both international and post-Soviet features.
A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Patterns in the Acceleration and the Catching Up Performance of the Former Soviet Union Republics
Authors: Norkus Zenonas
Published: February 2017

Mikhail Gorbachev’s reform promised to accelerate the growth of the Soviet economy, leading it out of the trap of stagnation. Boris Yeltsin’s circle of reformers also believed that shedding the status of empire would encourage Russia’s process of “catching up.” Nationalists from Soviet republics believed that the independence of their homelands would prompt similar economic effects. Did these hopes and promises materialize? Two measures are used to assess the economic effects of the dissolution of theussr. (1) Acceleration performance: did thegdpper capita of the former Soviet (fSU) republics grow more rapidly during post-communist independence than in the late Soviet “stagnation era”? (2) Catching up performance: did fSU republics decrease thegdpper capita gap, separating them from theu.s.(fulfilling the promise to catch up and overtakeu.s.which legitimated Communist rule in theussrsince 1961)? After dividing the fSU republics into two subsets (“success” and “failure” cases), multi-value qualitative comparative analysis (qca) is applied to explore the explanatory power of differences in the models of post-communist capitalism, involvement in wars, and natural resource endowments.
The Role of Rents in the Transition from Socialist Redistributive Economies to Market Capitalism
Authors: Mihalyi Peter , Szelényi Iván
Published: February 2017

In this paper the authors make a critical distinction between inequalities arising from profits and wages and inequalities arising from rents, following Sorensen and 19th century economist Ricardo. Their new contribution is to articulate how rents are especially important in post-communist capitalist transition. Without the concept of rents, the mechanisms of corruption cannot be understood. The authors identify three types of rent-seeking behavior, which can be observed in any capitalist country, that play a particularly important role in post-communist transition: (i) market capture by political elites; (ii) state capture by oligarchs; (iii) capture of oligarchs by autocratic rulers through selective criminalization and the redistribution of their wealth to loyal new rich.