bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: STATE OF THE ART AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES FOR RESEARCH
Authors: BREM ALEXANDER , PUENTE-DIAZ ROGELIO , AGOGUÉ MARINE
Published: May 2016

Creativity is a vibrant field of scientific research with important applied implications for the management of innovation. In this article, we argue that the proliferation of creativity research has led to positive and less positive outcomes and discuss five relevant research themes. We first introduce our readers to the different proposed dimensions of a creative object. Next, we explain recent developments on the level of the creativity magnitude issue. Based on that, we review how researchers currently operationalize creativity. After discussing how creativity is conceptualized and operationalized, we outline how it might be enhanced. Finally, we present an overview of the wide variety of methodological approaches currently used in creativity research. We close by calling for more interdisciplinary research and offering other suggestions for future directions.
Synthesis and conduction mechanism of high proton conductor H6SiW10V2O40⋅14H2O
Authors: Cai Huaxue , Huang Tianpei , Wu Qingyin , Yan Wenfu
Published: May 2016

A ternary heteropoly acid (HPA) H6SiW[Formula: see text]V2O[Formula: see text]14H2O was prepared and investigated in this paper. The structure feature and hydration of this HPA was characterized by IR, XRD, UV, and TG-DTA. This HPA exhibits a high proton conductivity, which is [Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] at 25[Formula: see text]C and 70% relative humidity. It is a novel high proton conductor. The conductivity increases with higher temperature, and it exhibits Arrhenius behavior, with the activation energy value of 21.02[Formula: see text]kJ[Formula: see text] mol[Formula: see text] for proton conduction, indicating the proton conduction mechanism is dominated by vehicle mechanism.
Connectivity analysis and construction of cyclically balanced graphs
Authors: Jicy N. , Mathew Sunil
Published: May 2016

The concepts of connectivity and cyclic connectivity play an important role in weighted graph theory. The concepts of cyclic cutvertex, cyclic bridge and cyclically balanced graphs are discussed in this paper. It is proved that a vertex in a weighted graph is a cyclic cutvertex if it is a common vertex of all strong cycles with maximum strength. Also a cyclic cutvertex cannot be an endvertex in a weighted graph. A characterization of cyclically balanced graphs is obtained. Concepts of cyclic vertex connectivity and cyclic arc connectivity are also introduced.
Modeling study of solid-particle erosion with consideration of particle velocity dependent model parameters
Authors: Qian Shijie , Chen Kuiying , Liu Rong , Liang Ming
Published: May 2016

An advanced erosion model that correlates two model parameters—the energies required to remove unit mass of target material during cutting wear and deformation wear, respectively, with particle velocity, particle size and density, as well as target material properties, is proposed. This model is capable of predicting the erosion rates for a material under solid-particle impact over a specific range of particle velocity at the impingement angle between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], provided that the experimental data of erosion rate for the material at a particle velocity within this range and at impingement angles between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are available. The proposed model is applied on three distinct types of materials: aluminum, perspex and graphite, to investigate the dependence behavior of the model parameters on particle velocity for ductile and brittle materials. The predicted model parameters obtained from the model are validated by the experimental data of aluminum plate under Al2O3 particle impact. The significance and limitation of the model are discussed; possible improvements on the model are suggested.
Robust Decentralized Low-Rank Matrix Decomposition
Authors: Hegedűs István , Berta Árpád , Kocsis Levente , Benczúr András A. , Jelasity Márk
Published: May 2016

Low-rank matrix approximation is an important tool in data mining with a wide range of applications, including recommender systems, clustering, and identifying topics in documents. When the matrix to be approximated originates from a large distributed system, such as a network of mobile phones or smart meters, a challenging problem arises due to the strongly conflicting yet essential requirements of efficiency, robustness, and privacy preservation. We argue that although collecting sensitive data in a centralized fashion may be efficient, it is not an option when considering privacy and efficiency at the same time. Thus, we do not allow any sensitive data to leave the nodes of the network. The local information at each node (personal attributes, documents, media ratings, etc.) defines one row in the matrix. This means that all computations have to be performed at the edge of the network. Known parallel methods that respect the locality constraint, such as synchronized parallel gradient search or distributed iterative methods, require synchronized rounds or have inherent issues with load balancing, and thus they are not robust to failure. Our distributed stochastic gradient descent algorithm overcomes these limitations. During the execution, any sensitive information remains local, whereas the global features (e.g., the factor model of movies) converge to the correct value at all nodes. We present a theoretical derivation and a thorough experimental evaluation of our algorithm. We demonstrate that the convergence speed of our method is competitive while not relying on synchronization and being robust to extreme and realistic failure scenarios. To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we present trace-based simulations, real smartphone user behavior analysis, and tests over real movie recommender system data.
Insulin-induced cytokine production in macrophages causes insulin resistance in hepatocytes
Authors: Manowsky Julia , Camargo Rodolfo Gonzalez , Kipp Anna P. , Henkel Janin , Püschel Gerhard P.
Published: May 2016

Overweight and obesity are associated with hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and a low-grade inflammation. Although hyperinsulinemia is generally thought to result from an attempt of the β-cell to compensate for insulin resistance, there is evidence that hyperinsulinaemia itself may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and possibly the low-grade inflammation. To test this hypothesis, U937 macrophages were exposed to insulin. In these cells, insulin induced expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-8, CCL2, and OSM. The insulin-elicited induction of IL-1β was independent of the presence of endotoxin and most likely mediated by an insulin-dependent activation of NF-κB. Supernatants of the insulin-treated U937 macrophages rendered primary cultures of rat hepatocytes insulin resistant; they attenuated the insulin-dependent induction of glucokinase by 50%. The cytokines contained in the supernatants of insulin-treated U937 macrophages activated ERK1/2 and IKKβ, resulting in an inhibitory serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate. In addition, STAT3 was activated and SOCS3 induced, further contributing to the interruption of the insulin receptor signal chain in hepatocytes. These results indicate that hyperinsulinemia per se might contribute to the low-grade inflammation prevailing in overweight and obese patients and thereby promote the development of insulin resistance particularly in the liver, because the insulin concentration in the portal circulation is much higher than in all other tissues.
Glycine restores the anabolic response to leucine in a mouse model of acute inflammation
Authors: Ham Daniel J. , Caldow Marissa K. , Chhen Victoria , Chee Annabel , Wang Xuemin , Proud Christopher G. , Lynch Gordon S. , Koopman René
Published: May 2016

Amino acids, especially leucine, potently stimulate protein synthesis and reduce protein breakdown in healthy skeletal muscle and as a result have received considerable attention as potential treatments for muscle wasting. However, the normal anabolic response to amino acids is impaired during muscle-wasting conditions. Although the exact mechanisms of this anabolic resistance are unclear, inflammation and ROS are believed to play a central role. The nonessential amino acid glycine has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and preserves muscle mass in calorie-restricted and tumor-bearing mice. We hypothesized that glycine would restore the normal muscle anabolic response to amino acids under inflammatory conditions. Relative rates of basal and leucine-stimulated protein synthesis were measured using SUnSET methodology 4 h after an injection of 1 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Whereas leucine failed to stimulate muscle protein synthesis in LPS-treated mice pretreated with l-alanine (isonitrogenous control), leucine robustly stimulated protein synthesis (+51%) in mice pretreated with 1 g/kg glycine. The improvement in leucine-stimulated protein synthesis was accompanied by a higher phosphorylation status of mTOR, S6, and 4E-BP1 compared with l-alanine-treated controls. Despite its known anti-inflammatory action in inflammatory cells, glycine did not alter the skeletal muscle inflammatory response to LPS in vivo or in vitro but markedly reduced DHE staining intensity, a marker of oxidative stress, in muscle cross-sections and attenuated LPS-induced wasting in C2C12 myotubes. Our observations in male C57BL/6 mice suggest that glycine may represent a promising nutritional intervention for the attenuation of skeletal muscle wasting.
Glucocorticoid antagonism limits adiposity rebound and glucose intolerance in young male rats following the cessation of daily exercise and caloric restriction
Authors: Teich Trevor , Dunford Emily C. , Porras Deanna P. , Pivovarov Jacklyn A. , Beaudry Jacqueline L. , Hunt Hazel , Belanoff Joseph K. , Riddell Michael C.
Published: May 2016

Severe caloric restriction (CR), in a setting of regular physical exercise, may be a stress that sets the stage for adiposity rebound and insulin resistance when the food restriction and exercise stop. In this study, we examined the effect of mifepristone, a glucocorticoid (GC) receptor antagonist, on limiting adipose tissue mass gain and preserving whole body insulin sensitivity following the cessation of daily running and CR. We calorically restricted male Sprague-Dawley rats and provided access to voluntary running wheels for 3 wk followed by locking of the wheels and reintroduction to ad libitum feeding with or without mifepristone (80 mg·kg−1·day−1) for 1 wk. Cessation of daily running and CR increased HOMA-IR and visceral adipose mass as well as glucose and insulin area under the curve during an oral glucose tolerance test vs. pre-wheel lock exercised rats and sedentary rats (all P < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance were preserved and adipose tissue mass gain was attenuated by daily mifepristone treatment during the post-wheel lock period. These findings suggest that following regular exercise and CR there are GC-induced mechanisms that promote adipose tissue mass gain and impaired metabolic control in healthy organisms and that this phenomenon can be inhibited by the GC receptor antagonist mifepristone.
Physiological levels of thrombospondin-1 decrease NO-dependent vasodilation in coronary microvessels from aged rats
Authors: Nevitt Chris , McKenzie Grant , Christian Katelyn , Austin Jeff , Hencke Sarah , Hoying James , LeBlanc Amanda
Published: May 2016

Aging and cardiovascular disease are associated with the loss of nitric oxide (NO) signaling and a decline in the ability to increase coronary blood flow reserve (CFR). Thrombospondin-1 (Thbs-1), through binding of CD47, has been shown to limit NO-dependent vasodilation in peripheral vascular beds via formation of superoxide (O2−). The present study tests the hypothesis that, similar to the peripheral vasculature, blocking CD47 will improve NO-mediated vasoreactivity in coronary arterioles from aged individuals, resulting in improved CFR. Isolated coronary arterioles from young (4 mo) or old (24 mo) female Fischer 344 rats were challenged with the NO donor, DEA-NONO-ate (1 × 10−7 to 1 × 10−4 M), and vessel relaxation and O2− production was measured before and after Thbs-1, αCD47, and/or Tempol and catalase exposure. In vivo CFR was determined in anesthetized rats (1–3% isoflurane-balance O2) via injected microspheres following control IgG or αCD47 treatment (45 min). Isolated coronary arterioles from young and old rats relax similarly to exogenous NO, but addition of 2.2 nM Thbs-1 inhibited NO-mediated vasodilation by 24% in old rats, whereas young vessels were unaffected. Thbs-1 increased O2− production in coronary arterioles from rats of both ages, but this was exaggerated in old rats. The addition of CD47 blocking antibody completely restored NO-dependent vasodilation in isolated arterioles from aged rats and attenuated O2− production. Furthermore, αCD47 treatment increased CFR from 9.6 ± 9.3 (IgG) to 84.0 ± 23% in the left ventricle in intact, aged animals. These findings suggest that the influence of Thbs-1 and CD47 on coronary perfusion increases with aging and may be therapeutically targeted to reverse coronary microvascular dysfunction.
Androgen-sensitive hypertension associated with soluble guanylate cyclase-α1 deficiency is mediated by 20-HETE
Authors: Dordea Ana C. , Vandenwijngaert Sara , Garcia Victor , Tainsh Robert E. T. , Nathan Daniel I. , Allen Kaitlin , Raher Michael J. , Tainsh Laurel T. , Zhang Fan , Lieb Wolfgang S. , Mikelman Sarah , Kirby Andrew , Stevens Christine , Thoonen Robrecht , Hindle Allyson G. , Sips Patrick Y. , Falck John R. , Daly Mark J. , Brouckaert Peter , Bloch Kenneth D. , Bloch Donald B. , Malhotra Rajeev , Schwartzman Michal L. , Buys Emmanuel S.
Published: May 2016

Dysregulated nitric oxide (NO) signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension, a prevalent and often sex-specific risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We previously reported that mice deficient in the α1-subunit of the NO receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGCα1−/− mice) display sex- and strain-specific hypertension: male but not female sGCα1−/− mice are hypertensive on an 129S6 (S6) but not a C57BL6/J (B6) background. We aimed to uncover the genetic and molecular basis of the observed sex- and strain-specific blood pressure phenotype. Via linkage analysis, we identified a suggestive quantitative trait locus associated with elevated blood pressure in male sGCα1−/−S6 mice. This locus encompasses Cyp4a12a, encoding the predominant murine synthase of the vasoconstrictor 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE). Renal expression of Cyp4a12a in mice was associated with genetic background, sex, and testosterone levels. In addition, 20-HETE levels were higher in renal preglomerular microvessels of male sGCα1−/−S6 than of male sGCα1−/−B6 mice. Furthermore, treating male sGCα1−/−S6 mice with the 20-HETE antagonist 20-hydroxyeicosa-6(Z),15(Z)-dienoic acid (20-HEDE) lowered blood pressure. Finally, 20-HEDE rescued the genetic background- and testosterone-dependent impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation in renal interlobar arteries associated with sGCα1 deficiency. Elevated Cyp4a12a expression and 20-HETE levels render mice susceptible to hypertension and vascular dysfunction in a setting of sGCα1 deficiency. Our data identify Cyp4a12a as a candidate sex-specific blood pressure-modifying gene in the context of deficient NO-sGC signaling.
Rehydration with soft drink-like beverages exacerbates dehydration and worsens dehydration-associated renal injury
Authors: García-Arroyo Fernando E. , Cristóbal Magdalena , Arellano-Buendía Abraham S. , Osorio Horacio , Tapia Edilia , Soto Virgilia , Madero Magdalena , Lanaspa Miguel A. , Roncal-Jiménez Carlos , Bankir Lise , Johnson Richard J. , Sánchez-Lozada Laura-Gabriela
Published: May 2016

Recurrent dehydration, such as commonly occurs with manual labor in tropical environments, has been recently shown to result in chronic kidney injury, likely through the effects of hyperosmolarity to activate both vasopressin and aldose reductase-fructokinase pathways. The observation that the latter pathway can be directly engaged by simple sugars (glucose and fructose) leads to the hypothesis that soft drinks (which contain these sugars) might worsen rather than benefit dehydration associated kidney disease. Recurrent dehydration was induced in rats by exposure to heat (36°C) for 1 h/24 h followed by access for 2 h to plain water (W), a 11% fructose-glucose solution (FG, same composition as typical soft drinks), or water sweetened with noncaloric stevia (ST). After 4 wk plasma and urine samples were collected, and kidneys were examined for oxidative stress, inflammation, and injury. Recurrent heat-induced dehydration with ad libitum water repletion resulted in plasma and urinary hyperosmolarity with stimulation of the vasopressin (copeptin) levels and resulted in mild tubular injury and renal oxidative stress. Rehydration with 11% FG solution, despite larger total fluid intake, resulted in greater dehydration (higher osmolarity and copeptin levels) and worse renal injury, with activation of aldose reductase and fructokinase, whereas rehydration with stevia water had opposite effects. In animals that are dehydrated, rehydration acutely with soft drinks worsens dehydration and exacerbates dehydration associated renal damage. These studies emphasize the danger of drinking soft drink-like beverages as an attempt to rehydrate following dehydration.
Lack of correlation between cerebral vasomotor reactivity and dynamic cerebral autoregulation during stepwise increases in inspired CO2 concentration
Authors: Jeong Sung-Moon , Kim Seon-Ok , DeLorey Darren S. , Babb Tony G. , Levine Benjamin D. , Zhang Rong
Published: May 2016

Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR) and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) are measured extensively in clinical and research studies. However, the relationship between these measurements of cerebrovascular function is not well understood. In this study, we measured changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and arterial blood pressure (BP) in response to stepwise increases in inspired CO2 concentrations of 3 and 6% to assess CVMR and dynamic CA in 13 healthy young adults [2 women, 32 ± 9 (SD) yr]. CVMR was assessed as percentage changes in CBFV (CVMRCBFV) or cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi, CVMRCVCi) in response to hypercapnia. Dynamic CA was estimated by performing transfer function analysis between spontaneous oscillations in BP and CBFV. Steady-state CBFV and CVCi both increased exponentially during hypercapnia; CVMRCBFV and CVMRCVCi were greater at 6% (3.85 ± 0.90 and 2.45 ± 0.79%/mmHg) than at 3% CO2 (2.09 ± 1.47 and 0.21 ± 1.56%/mmHg, P = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, CVMRCBFV was greater than CVMRCVCi during either 3 or 6% CO2 ( P = 0.017 and P < 0.001, respectively). Transfer function gain and coherence increased in the very low frequency range (0.02-0.07 Hz), and phase decreased in the low-frequency range (0.07–0.20 Hz) when breathing 6%, but not 3% CO2. There were no correlations between the measurements of CVMR and dynamic CA. These findings demonstrated influences of inspired CO2 concentrations on assessment of CVMR and dynamic CA. The lack of correlation between CVMR and dynamic CA suggests that cerebrovascular responses to changes in arterial CO2 and BP are mediated by distinct regulatory mechanisms.
Hypothesis: Hughlings Jackson and presynaptic inhibition: is there a big picture?
Authors: McComas Alan J.
Published: May 2016

Presynaptic inhibition is a very powerful inhibitory mechanism and, despite many detailed studies, its purpose is still only partially understood. One accepted function is that, by reducing afferent inflow to the spinal cord and brainstem, the tonic level of presynaptic inhibition prevents sensory systems from being overloaded. A corollary of this function is that much of the incoming sensory data from peripheral receptors must be redundant, and this conclusion is reinforced by observations on patients with sensory neuropathies or congenital obstetric palsy in whom normal sensation may be preserved despite loss of sensory fibers. The modulation of incoming signals by presynaptic inhibition has a further function in operating a “gate” in the dorsal horn, thereby determining whether peripheral stimuli are likely to be perceived as painful. On the motor side, the finding that even minimal voluntary movement of a single toe is associated with widespread inhibition in the lumbosacral cord points to another function for presynaptic inhibition: to prevent reflex perturbations from interfering with motor commands. This last function, together with the normal suppression of muscle and cutaneous reflex activity at rest, is consistent with Hughlings Jackson's concept of evolving neural hierarchies, with each level inhibiting the one below it.
Frequency-specific insight into short-term memory capacity
Authors: Feurra Matteo , Galli Giulia , Pavone Enea Francesco , Rossi Alessandro , Rossi Simone
Published: May 2016

The digit span is one of the most widely used memory tests in clinical and experimental neuropsychology for reliably measuring short-term memory capacity. In the forward version, sequences of digits of increasing length have to be reproduced in the order in which they are presented, whereas in the backward version items must be reproduced in the reversed order. Here, we assessed whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) increases the memory span for digits of young and midlife adults. Imperceptibly weak electrical currents in the alpha (10 Hz), beta (20 Hz), theta (5 Hz), and gamma (40 Hz) range, as well as a sham stimulation, were delivered over the left posterior parietal cortex, a cortical region thought to sustain maintenance processes in short-term memory through oscillatory brain activity in the beta range. We showed a frequency-specific effect of beta-tACS that robustly increased the forward memory span of young, but not middle-aged, healthy individuals. The effect correlated with age: the younger the subjects, the greater the benefit arising from parietal beta stimulation. Our results provide evidence of a short-term memory capacity improvement in young adults by online frequency-specific tACS application.
Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis B virus: Epidemiological Considerations and Implications for Control with Vaccine
Authors: Judson Franklyn N
Published: May 2016

Prior to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, more than 50% of the new hepatitis
B virus infections in the United States and Canada were sexually transmitted, approximately
one‐quarter by heterosexual men and women and one‐third by homosexual men. The percentage
of hepatitis B virus infections attributable to heterosexual transmission in developing and
developed countries of Asia is unknown, but is probably proportionate to the percentage of the
population which escapes perinatal and early childhood infection. In homosexual men of
developed countries, fear of AIDS has led to dramatic reductions in high risk sexual behaviour
and hence in the incidence of hepatitis B virus infection. Specific interventions designed to
prevent sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (eg. testing for infection status
and counselling, choosing partners carefully, avoiding prostitutes, use of condoms, and
diagnostic and treatment services for other sexually transmitted diseases) should further
reduce hepatitis B virus sexual transmission in men and women. Eventually, however,
hepatitis B virus vaccination programs will need to be considered for all countries. They should
take into account regional epidemiology, vaccination cost‐benefit, and program goals such as
prevention of perinatal infection, sexually transmitted acute hepatitis, and/or cirrhosis and
hepatic cancer, as well as containment versus eradication of the virus. If eradication is the
goal, the only valid strategy is universal vaccination of infants or young adolescents ‐ or both.
High Risk Sexually Transmitted Disease Behaviour in Canada
Authors: MacDonald Noni E
Published: May 2016

High risk sexually transmitted disease (STD)/human immunodeficiency
virus (HfV) transmission behaviour appears to be the norm, not the exception, for
most adolescents. The perception of STD/HIV risk and actual risk do not always match. The
major motivating factor for condom use evident in adolescents was fear of pregnancy, not fear
of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome or STDs. Other factors influencing decreased
condom use included: embarrassment about buying condoms: difficulty discussing condoms
with a prospective partner; use of oral contraceptives; belief that condoms interfere with sexual
pleasure; low HIV knowledge; and, for women, a large number of sexual partners. Overall.
females reported having had more STDs than males. Prostitutes, both male and female,
reported the highest rates (45% and 68%, respectively). Of the street youths studied, 16%
reported having at least one prior STD diagnosis, compared to 9% of school dropouts and 5%
of first year college students. The number of sexual partners and participation in anal
intercourse strongly inlluenced the reported STD rate for street youths. STD/HIV risk reduction
educational programs must be targeted and adapted to the cultural and social needs and
resources of the different adolescent groups, particularly street youth, who are clearly a ′core′
group for adolescent STD.
Retinal Ganglion Cell Atrophy in Homonymous Hemianopia due to Acquired Occipital Lesions Observed Using Cirrus High-Definition-OCT
Authors: Yamashita Tsutomu , Miki Atsushi , Goto Katsutoshi , Araki Syunsuke , Takizawa Go , Ieki Yoshiaki , Kiryu Junichi , Tabuchi Akio , Iguchi Yasuyuki , Kimura Kazumi , Yagita Yoshiki
Published: May 2016

Purpose. To report a reduction in macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) thickness and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with homonymous hemianopia due to posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke.Methods. Seven patients with PCA stroke were examined using Cirrus high-definition-OCT. The GCL+IPL thicknesses were divided into the hemianopic and unaffected sides. The relationship between the time after stroke and the GCL+IPL thicknesses in the hemianopic side was evaluated.Results. The average thicknesses of the GCL+IPL were 64.6 and 82.0 μm on the hemianopic and unaffected sides, respectively, and the measurement was significantly thinner on the former side (p=0.018). A regression analysis revealed a negative linear relationship (R2=0.574,p=0.049) between the time after stoke and the GCL+IPL thicknesses on the hemianopic side. The supratemporal and inferotemporal cpRNFL thicknesses in the eyes ipsilateral to the stroke showed a significant reduction.Conclusion. Our findings confirmed our previous observations that the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells can occur after PCA stroke. GCL+IPL thinning was demonstrated in the hemiretinae corresponding to the affected hemifields. Also, it is suggested that the retinal changes observed are progressive.
Oxidative-Nitrosative Stress and Myocardial Dysfunctions in Sepsis: Evidence from the Literature and Postmortem Observations
Authors: Neri M. , Riezzo I. , Pomara C. , Schiavone S. , Turillazzi E.
Published: May 2016

Background. Myocardial depression in sepsis is common, and it is associated with higher mortality. In recent years, the hypothesis that the myocardial dysfunction during sepsis could be mediated by ischemia related to decreased coronary blood flow waned and a complex mechanism was invoked to explain cardiac dysfunction in sepsis. Oxidative stress unbalance is thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiac impairment in septic patients.Aim. In this paper, we review the current literature regarding the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction in sepsis, focusing on the possible role of oxidative-nitrosative stress unbalance and mitochondria dysfunction. We discuss these mechanisms within the broad scenario of cardiac involvement in sepsis.Conclusions. Findings from the current literature broaden our understanding of the role of oxidative and nitrosative stress unbalance in the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction in sepsis, thus contributing to the establishment of a relationship between these settings and the occurrence of oxidative stress. The complex pathogenesis of septic cardiac failure may explain why, despite the therapeutic strategies, sepsis remains a big clinical challenge for effectively managing the disease to minimize mortality, leading to consideration of the potential therapeutic effects of antioxidant agents.
Sociodemographic and Obstetric Characteristics of Anaemic Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Bolgatanga Regional Hospital
Authors: Ahenkorah Benjamin , Nsiah Kwabena , Baffoe Peter
Published: May 2016

The study determined the sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women which contribute to the risk of developing anaemia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Antenatal Clinic. Anaemia was significantly associated (p<0.05) with younger maternal age, parity, gravidity, trimester of pregnancy, and source of drinking water. Multivariate logistic regression identified the following factors with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI): unemployment (aOR = 4.76 (CI: 2.26–11.33);p<0.0001), rural dwelling (aOR = 3.10 (CI: 2.16–4.91);p=0.0071), primigravida (aOR = 2.13 (CI: 1.34–3.18);p=0.0201), nulliparity (aOR = 1.92 (CI: 1.23–2.86);p=0.0231), first antenatal visit at second trimester (aOR = 1.71 (CI: 1.33–3.12);p=0.0149) and first antenatal visit at third trimester (aOR = 2.73 (CI: 1.24–4.35);p=0.0017), drinking from well and boreholes (aOR = 2.78 (CI: 2.27–5.21);p<0.0001), and the presence of domestic livestock (aOR = 2.15 (CI: 1.33–3.68);p=0.0019). This study has shown the various sociodemographic and obstetric factors which significantly contribute to anaemia in pregnancy.
Semantic Signature: Comparative Interpretation of Gene Expression on a Semantic Space
Authors: Kim Jihun , Kim Keewon , Kim Ju Han
Published: May 2016

Background. Interpretation of microarray data remains challenging because biological meaning should be extracted from enormous numeric matrices and be presented explicitly. Moreover, huge public repositories of microarray dataset are ready to be exploited for comparative analysis. This study aimed to provide a platform where essential implication of a microarray experiment could be visually expressed and various microarray datasets could be intuitively compared.Results. On the semantic space, gene sets from Molecular Signature Database (MSigDB) were plotted as landmarks and their relative distances were calculated by Lin’s semantic similarity measure. By formal concept analysis, a microarray dataset was transformed into a concept lattice with gene clusters as objects and Gene Ontology terms as attributes. Concepts of a lattice were located on the semantic space reflecting semantic distance from landmarks and edges between concepts were drawn; consequently, a specific geographic pattern could be observed from a microarray dataset. We termed a distinctive geography shared by microarray datasets of the same category as “semantic signature.”Conclusions. “Semantic space,” a map of biological entities, could serve as a universal platform for comparative microarray analysis. When microarray data were displayed on the semantic space as concept lattices, “semantic signature,” characteristic geography for a microarray experiment, could be discovered.
Biodiesel Production from Castor Oil by Using Calcium Oxide Derived from Mud Clam Shell
Authors: Ismail S. , Ahmed A. S. , Anr Reddy , Hamdan S.
Published: May 2016

The catalytic potential of calcium oxide synthesized from mud clam shell as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production was studied. The mud clam shell calcium oxide was characterized using particle size analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and BET gas sorption analyzer. The catalyst performance of mud clam shell calcium oxide was studied in the transesterification of castor oil as biodiesel. Catalyst characterization and transesterification study results of synthesized catalyst proved the efficiency of the natural derived catalyst for biodiesel production. A highest biodiesel yield of 96.7% was obtained at optimal parameters such as 1 : 14 oil-to-methanol molar ratio, 3% w/w catalyst concentration, 60°C reaction temperature, and 2-hour reaction time. Catalyst reusability test shows that the synthesized calcium oxide from mud clam shell is reusable up to 5 times.
Comparison of Three Solid Phase Materials for the Extraction of Carboxylic Acids from River Water Followed by 2D GC × GC-TOFMS Determination
Authors: Bosire G. O. , Ngila J. C. , Parshotam H.
Published: May 2016

The extraction and determination of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids as well as their influence on the aromaticity and molecularity relationship of natural organic matter (NOM) in water are reported in this study. Three solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents were used and their extraction efficiencies evaluated after chromatographic determinations (using gas chromatography with a time of flight mass spectrometer (GC × GC-TOFMS) and liquid chromatography with organic carbon detector (LC-OCD)). More than 42 carboxylic acids were identified in raw water from the Vaal River, which feeds the Lethabo Power Generation Station, South Africa, with cooling water. The aromatic carboxylic acid efficiency (28%) was achieved by using Strata™X SPE while the highest aliphatic carboxylic acid efficiency (92.08%) was achieved by silica SPE. The hydrophobic nature of NOM in water depends on the nature of organic compounds in water, whether aromatic or aliphatic. The LC-OCD was used to assess the hydrophobicity levels of NOM as a function of these carboxylic acids in cooling water. The LC-OCD results showed that the aromatic nature of NOM in SPE filtered water followed the order Silica>Strata X>C-18. From the results, the hydrophobicity degree of the samples depended on the type and number of carboxylic acids that were removed by the SPE cartridges.
Association of Nuclear Factor‐Erythroid 2‐Related Factor 2, Thioredoxin Interacting Protein, and Heme Oxygenase‐1 Gene Polymorphisms with Diabetes and Obesity in Mexican Patients
Authors: Jiménez-Osorio Angélica Saraí , González-Reyes Susana , García-Niño Wylly Ramsés , Moreno-Macías Hortensia , Rodríguez-Arellano Martha Eunice , Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto , Zúñiga Joaquín , Barquera Rodrigo , Pedraza-Chaverri José
Published: May 2016

The nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐ (NF‐E2‐) related factor 2 (Nrf2) is abated and its ability to reduce oxidative stress is impaired in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore if polymorphisms in Nrf2 and target genes are associated with diabetes and obesity in Mexican mestizo subjects. The rs1800566 of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) gene, rs7211 of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) gene, rs2071749 of heme oxygenase‐1 (HMOX1) gene, and the rs6721961 and the rs2364723 from Nrf2 gene were genotyped in 627 diabetic subjects and 1020 controls. The results showed that the rs7211 polymorphism is a protective factor against obesity in nondiabetic subjects (CC + CT versus TT, OR = 0.40, P = 0.005) and in women (CC versus CT + TT, OR = 0.7, P = 0.016). TT carriers had lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower body mass index. The rs2071749 was positively associated with obesity (AA versus AG + GG, OR = 1.25, P = 0.026). Finally, the rs6721961 was negatively associated with diabetes in men (CC versus CA + AA, OR = 0.62, P = 0.003). AA carriers showed lower glucose concentrations. No association was found for rs1800566 and rs2364723 polymorphisms. In conclusion, the presence of Nrf2 and related genes polymorphisms are associated with diabetes and obesity in Mexican patients.
Thoracic Stent Graft Implantation for Aortic Coarctation with Patent Ductus Arteriosus via Retroperitoneal Iliac Approach in the Presence of Small Sized Femoral Artery
Authors: Korkmaz Ozge , Beton Osman , Goksel Sabahattin , Kaya Hakkı , Berkan Ocal
Published: May 2016

Endovascular stent graft implantation is a favorable method for complex aortic coarctation accompanied by patent ductus arteriosus. Herein, an 18-year-old woman with complex aortic coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus was successfully treated by endovascular thoracic stent graft via retroperitoneal approach. The reason for retroperitoneal iliac approach was small sized common femoral arteries which were not suitable for stent graft passage. This case is the first aortic coarctation plus patent ductus arteriosus case described in the literature which is treated by endovascular thoracic stent graft via retroperitoneal approach.
Markov Chain Decomposition of Monthly Rainfall into Daily Rainfall: Evaluation of Climate Change Impact
Authors: Yoo Chulsang , Lee Jinwook , Ro Yonghun
Published: May 2016

This study evaluates the effect of climate change on daily rainfall, especially on the mean number of wet days and the mean rainfall intensity. Assuming that the mechanism of daily rainfall occurrences follows the first-order Markov chain model, the possible changes in the transition probabilities are estimated by considering the climate change scenarios. Also, the change of the stationary probabilities of wet and dry day occurrences and finally the change in the number of wet days are derived for the comparison of current (1x CO2) and 2x CO2conditions. As a result of this study, the increase or decrease in the mean number of wet days was found to be not enough to explain all of the change in monthly rainfall amounts, so rainfall intensity should also be modified. The application to the Seoul weather station in Korea shows that about 30% of the total change in monthly rainfall amount can be explained by the change in the number of wet days and the remaining 70% by the change in the rainfall intensity. That is, as an effect of climate change, the increase in the rainfall intensity could be more significant than the increase in the wet days and, thus, the risk of flood will be much highly increased.
The Impact of General Strike on Government Healthcare Delivery in Kerala State in India
Authors: Jacob Aasems , Weiss Heidi , Mathew Aju
Published: May 2016

General strike (also known as hartal) is used as a mode of protest by organizations and political parties in India. It is generally thought that hartals negatively impact the healthcare delivery in a society. We used the Right to Information Act to obtain data from government health centers in Kerala state in India for four hartal days (H-day) and two control days (A-day and B-day) for each H-day, from sixteen health centers including 6 Community Health Center (CHC), 6 Secondary Health Center (SHC), and 4 Tertiary Health Center (THC). Data on emergency room visits was available for six HCs. 15 HCs had a statistically significant decrease in the number of outpatient visits on H-day. There was no difference in the number of outpatient visits between the two control days (A and B) in 15 HCs, suggesting the lack of a posthartal surge in visits. Median decrease in outpatient visits in CHCs, SHCs, and THCs was 50.4%, 59.5%, and 47.4%, respectively. Hartal did not impact the number of emergency room visits in 6 out of 7 health centers assessed. Our study identified a significant harmful impact on government healthcare delivery due to hartals in Kerala. These findings have major public health implications.
Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Detection of Microcalcification Clusters in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
Authors: Jeong Ji-wook , Chae Seung-Hoon , Chae Eun Young , Kim Hak Hee , Choi Young-Wook , Lee Sooyeul
Published: May 2016

We propose computer-aided detection (CADe) algorithm for microcalcification (MC) clusters in reconstructed digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images. The algorithm consists of prescreening, MC detection, clustering, and false-positive (FP) reduction steps. The DBT images containing the MC-like objects were enhanced by a multiscale Hessian-based three-dimensional (3D) objectness response function and a connected-component segmentation method was applied to extract the cluster seed objects as potential clustering centers of MCs. Secondly, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhanced image was also generated to detect the individual MC candidates and prescreen the MC-like objects. Each cluster seed candidate was prescreened by counting neighboring individual MC candidates nearby the cluster seed object according to several microcalcification clustering criteria. As a second step, we introduced bounding boxes for the accepted seed candidate, clustered all the overlapping cubes, and examined. After the FP reduction step, the average number of FPs per case was estimated to be 2.47 per DBT volume with a sensitivity of 83.3%.
Antidiabetic and Antinephritic Activities of Aqueous Extract of Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body in Diet‐Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Liu Chungang , Song Jingjing , Teng Meiyu , Zheng Xiaoyi , Li Xiangmei , Tian Yue , Pan Minlian , Li Yuhuan , Lee Robert J. , Wang Di
Published: May 2016

Cordyceps militaris has long been used as a crude drug and folk tonic food in East Asia. The present study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic and antinephritic effects of the aqueous extract of the Cordyceps militaris fruit body (CM) in diet‐streptozotocin‐ (STZ‐) induced diabetic rats. During four weeks of continuous oral administration of CM at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg and metformin at 100 mg/kg, the fasting blood glucose and bodyweight of each rat were monitored. Hypoglycemic effects of CM on diabetic rats were indicated by decreases in plasma glucose, food and water intake, and urine output. The hypolipidemic activity of CM was confirmed by the normalization of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low‐ and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in diabetic rats. Inhibitory effects on albuminuria, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and n‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase verified CM’s renal protective activity in diabetic rats. Furthermore, CM exerted beneficial modulation of inflammatory factors and oxidative enzymes. Compared with untreated diabetic rats, CM decreased the expression of phosphor‐AKT and phosphor‐GSK‐3β in the kidneys. Altogether, via attenuating oxidative stress, CM displayed antidiabetic and antinephritic activities in diet‐STZ‐induced diabetic rats.
Activation of the Lin28/let-7 Axis by Loss of ESE3/EHF Promotes a Tumorigenic and Stem-like Phenotype in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Albino Domenico , Civenni Gianluca , Dallavalle Cecilia , Roos Martina , Jahns Hartmut , Curti Laura , Rossi Simona , Pinton Sandra , D'Ambrosio Gioacchino , Sessa Fausto , Hall Jonathan , Catapano Carlo V. , Carbone Giuseppina M.
Published: May 2016

Although cancer stem-like cells (CSC) are thought to be the most tumorigenic, metastatic, and therapy-resistant cell subpopulation within human tumors, current therapies target bulk tumor cells while tending to spare CSC. In seeking to understand mechanisms needed to acquire and maintain a CSC phenotype in prostate cancer, we investigated connections between the ETS transcription factor ESE3/EHF, the Lin28/let-7 microRNA axis, and the CSC subpopulation in this malignancy. In normal cells, we found that ESE3/EHF bound and repressed promoters for the Lin28A and Lin28B genes while activating transcription and maturation of the let-7 microRNAs. In cancer cells, reduced expression of ESE3/EHF upregulated Lin28A and Lin28B and downregulated the let-7 microRNAs. Notably, we found that deregulation of the Lin28/let-7 axis with reduced production of let-7 microRNAs was critical for cell transformation and expansion of prostate CSC. Moreover, targeting Lin28A/Lin28B in cell lines and tumor xenografts mimicked the effects of ESE3/EHF and restrained tumor-initiating and self-renewal properties of prostate CSC both in vitro and in vivo. These results establish that tight control by ESE3/EHF over the Lin28/let-7 axis is a critical barrier to malignant transformation, and they also suggest new strategies to antagonize CSC in human prostate cancer for therapeutic purposes. Cancer Res; 76(12); 3629–43. ©2016 AACR.
GR and ER Coactivation Alters the Expression of Differentiation Genes and Associates with Improved ER+ Breast Cancer Outcome
Authors: West Diana C. , Pan Deng , Tonsing-Carter Eva Y. , Hernandez Kyle M. , Pierce Charles F. , Styke Sarah C. , Bowie Kathleen R. , Garcia Tzintzuni I. , Kocherginsky Masha , Conzen Suzanne D.
Published: May 2016

In estrogen receptor (ER)–negative breast cancer, high tumor glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression has been associated with a relatively poor outcome. In contrast, using a meta-analysis of several genomic datasets, here we find that tumor GR mRNA expression is associated with improved ER+ relapse-free survival (RFS; independently of progesterone receptor expression). To understand the mechanism by which GR expression is associated with a better ER+ breast cancer outcome, the global effect of GR-mediated transcriptional activation in ER+ breast cancer cells was studied. Analysis of GR chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing in ER+/GR+ MCF-7 cells revealed that upon coactivation of GR and ER, GR chromatin association became enriched at proximal promoter regions. Furthermore, following ER activation, increased GR chromatin association was observed at ER, FOXO, and AP1 response elements. In addition, ER associated with GR response elements, suggesting that ER and GR interact in a complex. Coactivation of GR and ER resulted in increased expression (relative to ER activation alone) of transcripts that encode proteins promoting cellular differentiation (e.g., KDM4B, VDR) and inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway (IGFBP4). Finally, expression of these individual prodifferentiation genes was associated with significantly improved RFS in ER+ breast cancer patients. Together, these data suggest that the coexpression and subsequent activity of tumor cell GR and ER contribute to the less aggressive natural history of early-stage breast cancer by coordinating the altered expression of genes favoring differentiation.

Implications: The interaction between ER and GR activity highlights the importance of context-dependent nuclear receptor function in cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 14(8); 707–19. ©2016 AACR.