bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethanolic Extract of Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) Peel Inhibits T47D and Hela Cells Line Proliferation Via Nf-қB Pathway Inhibition
Authors: Rivanti Erlina , Rohmah Annishfia Lailatur , Putri Herwandhani , Tirtanirmala Prisnu , Putri Dyaningtyas Dewi Pamungkas
Published: February 2018

Effective and selective chemoterapeutic and chemopreventive agent is needed to cure breast and cervical cancers. One of the potential natural material is mangosteen peel (Garcinia mangostana). In this study, we observed cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extract of mangosteen peel (EMP) on HeLa cells line and T47D cells line. The cytotoxic effect was determined using MTT assay.EMP showed cytotoxic effect on T47D cells and HeLa cells with IC50 values of 2.07 μg/ml and 10.58 µg/ml respectively. Molecular docking simulation was done to predict the molecular mechanism of active compund in mangosteen peel extract, α-mangostin, in NFқB pathway which is one of the potential pathway to induce cytotoxicity on T47D and HeLa cells. Docking was done using PLANTS software and the binding score between α-mangostin and proteasom is -78,12, whereas the binding score between α-mangostin and IKK is -86.84. These results showed the possiblity mechanism of mangostin peel extract containing α-mangostin inhibits IKK activation in NFқB pathway. Based on this study, we conclude that mangosteen peel extract is potential to be developed as chemopreventive agent toward cervical and breast cancers.Keywords: Mangosteen peel (Garcinia mangostana), cytotoxic, T47D cells, HeLa cells, NFқB
Synergistic Effect of Cinnamon Essential Oil (Cinnamomum burmannii) and Doxorubicin on T47D Cells Correlated with Apoptosis Induction
Authors: Anjarsari Etyk Yunita , Kristina Nita , Larasati Yonika Arum , Putri Dyaningtyas Dewi Pamungkas , Meiyanto Edy
Published: February 2018

Cinnamon  (Cinnamomum burmannii)  shows  anticancer activity  in  several  types  of  cancer  cells.  The aim of this study is to  observe the  cytotoxic  activity  of  cinnamon essential oil (CEO) solely and its combination with doxorubicin,  also the  ability  of  the  combination to induce apoptosis on T47D breast cancer cells. The CEO was prepared through distillation of dry cinnamon bark. Cytotoxic  assay  was performed by using MTT assay and apoptosis determination was done by using double staining with ethidium bromide and acridine orange. The result showed that CEO exhibited cytotoxic effect on T47D cells with IC50 values of 75 µg/ml.  Moreover, CEO showed synergist effect with doxorubicin. The lowest combination index (CI) with CI values of 0,37 was obtained by combination of doxorubicin-CEO  37,5  µg/ml-1,25  µM.  Treatment with CEO solely and its combination with doxorubicin showed apoptosis induction on T47D cells. The results of this  study  indicate  the potency of CEO  to  be  developed  as co-chemotherapeutic  agent  of  doxorubicin on breast cancer. Keywords:  cinnamon essential oil, doxorubicin, T47D cells, combination cytotoxic
Evaluation of Anti-angiogenic Activity of Centella asiatica Water Extract on Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Induced by bFGF
Authors: Hamid Iwan Sahrial , Widjaja Ngakan Made Rai
Published: February 2018

Angiogenesis is a physiological process that involves the formation of new blood vessels. In the cancer growth process, angiogenesis acts by supplying nutrition and oxygen for the cancer cells, carries metabolic waste and biological end product of cancer cells. Therefore the spread of cancer cells to the surrounding cells and tissues is accelerated. The occurrence of angiogenesis shows a change in cancer cell status, from dormant to malignant. Cancer cells induce the formation of angiogenesis through the secretion of various growth factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF).Currently many people turn into treatment using natural materials. One of the natural materials used for cancer therapy is pegagan (Centella asiatica). In this research 25 embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) were divided into five treatment groups. Treatment group I as the control received 60 ng bFGF, treatment group II received neither bFGF nor pegagan leaves (Centella asiatica) water extract, and  treatment groups III-V received 60 ng bFGF and  C. asiatica leaves water extract of 75, 90 and 110 µg.  Nine days old ESE were inoculated with bFGF and extract at the same time and then were incubated at 380C for three days to allow the formation of blood vessels in embryonated chicken egg chorioallantoic membrane.  Observations were performed microscopically and macroscopically by counting the new blood vessels formed around paper disc. Analysis on VEGF expression were conducted to define the role of angiogenesis growth factor.Research results showed a significant difference of treatment with Centella asiatica water extract on the number of new blood vessels formed. Centella asiatica water extract at the dose of 110 µg was the highest in inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels. Centella asiatica water extract also inhibited the expression of VEGF.Keywords : Centella asiatica, antiangiogenic, Corio Allantois Membran, VEGF
Ethanolic Extract of Secang Heartwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) Increases Bone Density in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Shabrina Bani Adlina , Kristiani Nita , Irnanda Khairunisa , Lumakso Fajar Aji , Jenie Riris Istighfari
Published: February 2018

Osteoporosis has become a major public health concern, due to its rising incidence every year. Osteoporosis mostly occurs in women at menopause, especially in Asia. Secang (Caesalpinia sappan L.) heartwood contains brazilin and brazilein which are known to suppress expression of NF-ĸB, an osteoclastogenesis protein playing an important role in osteoporosis.  Thus, the aim of this research is to investigate the inhibition of osteoporosis by ethanolic extract of secang (Caesalpinia sappan L.) (EES) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups treated for 20 days:  group I were OVX and treated with 1000 mg/kgBW EES; group II were OVX and treated with 500 mg/kgBW EES; group III were OVX and treated with CMC-Na; group IV were shame OVX baseline; and group V were non-OVX-baseline. Bone density was examined by using X-Ray rontgen and was strengthen by qualitative data of Giemsa staining. Moreover, total number of osteoclasts in bone slide was observed by TRAP expression using double staining immunohistochemistry with hematoxylin eosin (HE) – TRAP. Treatment of 500 mg/kgBW EES in ovariectomized rats showed the highest bone density of 0.60 gr/cm3 and the lowest number of osteoclasts was 4.66 osteoclasts per field of view. These results showed that EES is potent to be developed as an antiosteoporosis agent. Further study on its dose adjustment and molecular mechanism needs to be conducted.Keywords: Caesalpinia sappan L., osteoporosis, RANK, bone density
S100A4 Protein in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results of a Single Centre Prospective Study
Authors: Morávková Paula , Kohoutová Darina , Vávrová Jaroslava , Bureš Jan
Published: February 2018

Introduction: The aim of our study was to assess association of serum S100A4 protein with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods: Study included 118 subjects: 93 patients with CD, 16 with UC and 9 controls. In CD group, 20/93 patients had B1 phenotype, 19/93 B2, 20/93 B3 and 34/93 B2 + B3. L1 involvement was present in 15/93, L2 in 14/93 and L3 in 64/93 patients. Serum S100A4 concentration was investigated in peripheral venous blood samples by means of ELISA. Results: Serum S100A4 was significantly higher in UC (158.6 ± 56.2 ng/mL), p = 0.019 and in CD (154.4 ± 52.1 ng/mL), p = 0.007 compared to controls (104.8 ± 40.5 ng/mL). No difference in S100A4 was revealed between UC and CD, p > 0.05. Serum S100A4 in each CD subgroup (according to behaviour) was significantly higher compared to controls, p < 0.05. Serum S100A4 was significantly higher in L2 (144.6 ± 44.2 ng/mL), p = 0.041 and in L3 (163.0 ± 52.8 ng/mL), p = 0.002 compared to controls and in L3 compared to L1 (126.9 ± 47.6 ng/mL), p = 0.017. Conclusion: Association of serum S100A4 protein with UC and CD was confirmed. In CD, disease behaviour did not influence serum concentration of S100A4 protein. In CD, higher levels of serum S100A4 were observed in patients with ileo-colonic and colonic involvement compared to those with isolated small bowel involvement.
SOSYAL AĞ KULLANICILARININ “ABARTILI PAYLAŞIM”, “BENLİK SUNUMU” VE MAHREMİYET TÜKETİMLERİ
Authors: ALGÜL And
Published: February 2018

Sosyal Medyanın en önemli etkilerinin kullanıcıların
benliklerini sunma biçiminde yaşandığı görülmektedir. Sosyal Medyanın yoğun
kullanılan iletişim aracı haline gelmesi, Sosyal Medya kullanıcılarının mobil
cihazlar vasıtasıyla hesaplarına sürekli erişim sağlayabilmeleri,
kullanıcıların paylaşım ile “abartılı paylaşım” arasındaki ayrıma dikkat
etmemesi, görme, gösterme, beğeni alma ve takip etmeye dayalı yeni iletişim
şekli, kullanıcıların mahremiyet farkındalığının ne yönde olduğu sorusunu
ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu kapsamda araştırmamızın amacı, kullanımlar ve etkiler
yaklaşımına göre, Erving Goffman’ın “benlik sunumu” ve Hal Niedzviecki’nin
“abartılı paylaşım” kavramları bağlamında sosyal paylaşım ağı kullanıcılarının
mahremiyet algılamalarının ne yönde olduğunu ortaya çıkarmaktır. Nisan 2015
tarihinde, rastgele örnekleme (random sampling) metodu kullanılarak, 727
katılımcının Sosyal Medya mahremiyet algılamalarını değerlendirmeye yönelik
anket çalışması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma, Sosyal Medyada mahremiyetin
bireysel olgu olmaktan çıkıp, iletişime geçmek istenilen kişiye göre
oluşturulduğu, bu anlamda iletişimi açık tutmaya yönelik bir metaya
dönüştürüldüğü ve tüketime tabii tutulduğu, internet kullanım sıklığı ve
cinsiyet özelliklerinin mahremiyet farkındalığı konusunda etkili demografik
özellikler olduğu ve kullanıcıların farklı Sosyal Medya kullanım tercihleri
açısından en çok kullandıkları sosyal paylaşım ağlarında, mahremiyet
farkındalığının “abartılı paylaşım” yönünde olduğu sonucuna varmaktadır.
TÜKETİMİN PARANORMALİ: GÖSTERİŞÇİ TÜKETİM VE PARANORMAL İNANÇ İLİŞKİSİ
Authors: Tosun Nurhan , Karşu Cesur Damla
Published: February 2018

Gösterişçi tüketim genel olarak bireyin
kendisini alt sınıflardan ayırmak ve ait olmak istediği üst sınıfa yaklaştırmak
amacıyla gerçekleştirdiği tüketim türünü ifade eder. Diğer bir deyişle,
gösterişçi tüketimde bireyin üst sınıfın tüketim kalıplarını taklit etmesi söz
konusudur. Bu çerçevede kişiyi bir anda varlıklı, başarılı, güçlü, seçkin veya
zevk sahibi bir bireye dönüştürme gibi birtakım gizsel güçlerin tüketim nesnelerine
atfedilmiş olduğu görülür. Benzer şekilde göstergeyi ele geçirerek, göstergenin
kimi zaman doğrudan kimi zaman ise rastlantısal olarak temsil ettiği güce de sahip
olunabileceği fikri paranormal inançlar bağlamında ele alınabilir.  Bu çalışma ise, gösterişçi tüketim nesnelerine
atfedilen söz konusu güce yönelik inanç ile paranormal inançlar arasında kökensel
olarak bir benzerlik kurar. Buradan yola çıkan araştırma gösterişçi tüketim
eğilimi ile paranormal inanç eğilimi arasında bir ilişkinin olup olmadığını
nicel olarak sorgular. Bu doğrultuda Marmara Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi’nde
313 katılımcı ile gerçekleşen araştırma, gösterişçi tüketim eğilimi ile
paranormal inanç eğilimi arasında pozitif yönlü bir ilişki tespit eder
A Study of Bidding Behavior in Voluntary-Pay Philanthropic Auctions
Authors: Haruvy Ernan , Popkowski Leszczyc Peter T.L.
Published: February 2018

The authors investigate compliance behavior and revenue implications in winner-pay and voluntary-pay auctions in charity and noncharity settings. In the voluntary-pay format, the seller asks all bidders to pay their own high bid. The authors explore motives and boundary conditions for compliance behavior based on internal and external triggers of social norms. The voluntary-pay format generates higher revenue than the winner-pay format for charity auctions, despite imperfect compliance, but it generates lower revenues in noncharity settings. To characterize bidding strategy, the authors study time to bid, auction choice, and jump bidding and find evidence that bidders in voluntary-pay auctions more commonly use jump bidding and late entry. The findings have important implications for marketing managers, augmenting the growing stream of empirical auction studies and work on corporate social responsibility. Specifically, combining an auction with a charitable cause may result in increased revenues, but managers should ensure that they are accounting for differential compliance rates between auction formats. Even if low-compliance bidders can be identified and screened out, doing so is not advantageous, because noncompliant bidders bid up prices.
The Teasing Effect: An Underappreciated Benefit of Creating and Resolving an Uncertainty
Authors: Ruan Bowen , Hsee Christopher K. , Lu Zoe Y.
Published: February 2018

Seven studies covering diverse contexts show an underappreciated benefit of teasing in information acquisition: first creating and then resolving an uncertainty can generate a net positive experience, yet laypeople do not seek out this process. For example, trivia readers report better hedonic experiences if they are first teased with some missing information and then given that information than if they receive all the information at the same time; however, when given a choice, readers prefer to receive all information at the same time. The authors further show that teasing is hedonically beneficial because uncertainty engenders curiosity and thereby builds a potential for a positive experience, whereas uncertainty resolution satisfies the curiosity and thereby realizes that potential. This research yields practical implications by demonstrating that imbuing an ad with an uncertainty creation–resolution process improves the viewer's attitude toward and increases the viewer's willingness to try the advertised product.
Non-hyperbolic P-Invariant Closed Characteristics on Partially Symmetric Compact Convex Hypersurfaces
Authors: Liu Hui , Zhu Gaosheng
Published: February 2018

Let

n
≥
2

{n\geq 2}

be an integer,

P
=

diag
⁢

(

-

I

n
-
κ

,

I
κ

,

-

I

n
-
κ

,

I
κ

)

{P=\mathrm{diag}(-I_{n-\kappa},I_{\kappa},-I_{n-\kappa},I_{\kappa})}

for some integer

κ
∈

[
0
,
n
]

{\kappa\in[0,n]}

, and let

Σ
⊂

ℝ

2
⁢
n

{\Sigma\subset{\mathbb{R}}^{2n}}

be a partially symmetric compact convex hypersurface, i.e.,

x
∈
Σ

{x\in\Sigma}

implies

P
⁢
x

∈
Σ

{Px\in\Sigma}

, and

(
r
,
R
)

{(r,R)}

-pinched. In this paper, we prove that when

R
/
r

<

5
/
3

{{R/r}<\sqrt{5/3}}

and

0
≤
κ
≤

[

n
-
1

2

]

{0\leq\kappa\leq[\frac{n-1}{2}]}

, there exist at least

E
⁢

(

n
-

2
⁢
κ

-
1

2

)

+

E
⁢

(

n
-

2
⁢
κ

-
1

3

)

{E(\frac{n-2\kappa-1}{2})+E(\frac{n-2\kappa-1}{3})}

non-hyperbolic P-invariant closed characteristics on Σ. In addition, when

R
/
r

<

3
/
2

{{R/r}<\sqrt{3/2}}

,

[

n
+
1

2

]

≤
κ
≤
n

{[\frac{n+1}{2}]\leq\kappa\leq n}

and Σ carries exactly n
P-invariant closed characteristics, then there exist at least

2
⁢
E
⁢

(

2
⁢
κ

-
n
-
1

4

)

+

E
⁢

(

n
-
κ
-
1

3

)

{2E(\frac{2\kappa-n-1}{4})+E(\frac{n-\kappa-1}{3})}

non-hyperbolic P-invariant closed characteristics on Σ, where the function

E
⁢

(
a
)

{E(a)}

is defined as

E
⁢

(
a
)

=

min
⁡

{

k
∈
ℤ

∣

k
≥
a

}

{E(a)=\min{\{k\in{\mathbb{Z}}\mid k\geq a\}}}

for any

a
∈
ℝ

{a\in\mathbb{R}}

.
Magnitude of physiological curvatures of the spine and the incidence of contractures of selected muscle groups in students
Authors: Olszewska Elżbieta , Tabor Piotr , Czarniecka Renata
Published: February 2018

Study aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contractures of selected muscle groups with respect to the magnitude of the physiological curvatures of the spine in young men with above-average levels of physical activity.

Material and methods: The study included 96 students at the University of Physical Education in Warsaw aged between 20 and 22 years (21.2 ± 1.05). Ninety-five percent of the students participated in sports training activities. The study was conducted between January and February 2016. The selected traits of the body posture were evaluated with an inclinometer, which was used to measure the inclination angles of sections of the spine relative to the vertical. The ranges of motion in the shoulder complex and the pelvic complex were measured with a goniometer. Values of 175º (for the shoulder complex) and 174° (for the hip joint) were assumed to indicate a decreased range of motion.

Results: The analysis of the individual results concerning mobility disorders in the shoulder complex and the pelvic complex revealed significant abnormalities in the researched group of students. About 90% of the study participants showed contrac­tures of selected muscle groups within the shoulder girdle, primarily in the right upper limb. Similar results were obtained for the incidence of contractures in the flexors of the hip joint. Flexion contractures in the hip joint were observed in around 84% of the participants, primarily in the left lower limb. The correlations between the inclination angles of the sections of the spine relative to the vertical and the ranges of motion in the shoulder complex and the pelvic complex, established using Pearson correlation coefficients, were ambiguous. The angles γ, β1 and α were inversely proportional to the range of raising motions of the upper limbs through flexion, where the correlation coefficients of all angles were statistically significant. Similar tendencies were observed for the correlations between the angles β2, β1 and α and the range of the extension movements at the hip joint, although the correlation coefficients were statistically significant only in the case of the angle β1.

Conclusions: Ranges of movement in the shoulder complex and pelvic complex have an influence on magnitude of physiologi­cal curvatures of the spine and the functioning of body posture.
Spatio-temporal deixis and cognitive models in early Indo-European
Authors: Bartolotta Annamaria
Published: February 2018

This paper is a comparative study based on the linguistic evidence in Vedic Sanskrit and Homeric Greek, aimed at reconstructing the space-time cognitive models used in the Proto-Indo-European language in a diachronic perspective. While it has been widely recognized that ancient Indo-European languages construed earlier (and past) events as in front of later ones, as predicted in the Time-Reference-Point mapping, it is less clear how in the same languages the passage took place from this ‘archaic’ Time-RP model or non-deictic sequence, in which future events are behind or follow the past ones in a temporal sequence, to the more recent ‘post-archaic’ Ego-RP model that is found only from the classical period onwards, in which the future is located in front and the past in back of a deictic observer. Data from the Rigveda and the Homeric poems show that an Ego-RP mapping with an ego-perspective frame of reference (FoR) could not have existed yet at an early Indo-European stage. In particular, spatial terms offrontandbehindturn out to be used with reference not only to temporal events, but also to east and west respectively, thus presupposing the existence of an absolute field-based FoR which the temporal sequence is metaphorically related to. Specifically,sequence is relative position on a pathappears to be motivated by what has been calledday orientationframe, in which the different positions of the sun during the day motivate the mapping offrontonto ‘earlier’ andbehindonto ‘later’, without involving ego’s ‘now’. These findings suggest that early Indo-European still had not made use of spatio-temporal deixis based on the tense-related ego-perspective FoR found in modern languages.
Metabolism and mechanisms of action of hyaluronan in human biology
Authors: Joy Reenu Anne , Vikkath Narendranath , Ariyannur Prasanth S.
Published: February 2018

Hyaluronan is a ubiquitous high-molecular weight polymer of repeated disaccharides of glucuronic acid andN-acetylglucosamine. It is a membrane-bound, viscous material extruded into the extracellular matrix after being synthesized in the cytoplasm by hyaluronan synthases complex and a regulated degradation by a group of enzymes called hyaluronidases. Hyaluronan has varied biological roles on many vital organismal functions, such as cellular and tissue development, migration and repair after injury or inflammation and cancer genesis. Hyaluronan in the tissue microenvironment is regulated by its concentration as well as the chain length of the polysaccharide. Many functions of hyaluronan are mediated by specific receptors at the cellular level, though its general physiochemical properties facilitate and coordinate many organ functions as well as in development. These fundamental characteristics of hyaluronan are reviewed, focusing on human biological context.
HDAC1 knockdown inhibits invasion and induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Libin , Bu Liang , Hu Jiang , Xu Zheyuan , Ruan Libo , Fang Yan , Wang Ping
Published: February 2018

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant tumor. Although the abnormal expression and potential clinical prognostic value of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) were recently discovered in many kinds of cancer, the roles and molecular mechanisms of HDAC1 in NSCLC is still limited. The CCK-8 assay is used to evaluate the viability of NSCLC cells. Downregulation of HDAC1 by shRNA. The TUNEL assay was used to evaluate the role of HDAC1 in NSCLC apoptosis. To evaluate the role of HDAC1 in NSCLC cells migration, the Boyden chamber transwell assay and wound healing assay were used. To evaluate the cells invasion, the matrigel precoated Transwell assay was used. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to detect the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-8 in NSCLC. To investigate the role of HDAC1 in angiogenesis, the tube formation assay was investigated. In this study, we showed that HDAC1 expression was elevated in NSCLC lines compared to that in normal liver cells LO2. Furthermore, downregulation of HDAC1 inhibited cell proliferation, prevented cell migration, decreased cell invasion, reduced tumor angiogenesis and induced cell apoptosis. In summary, HDAC1 may be regarded as a potential indicator for NSCLC patient treatment.
A Novel Bio-Inspired Algorithm Based on Social Spiders for Improving Performance and Efficiency of Data Clustering
Authors: Thalamala Ravi Chandran , Venkata Swamy Reddy A. , Janet B.
Published: February 2018

Since the last decade, the collective intelligent behavior of groups of animals, birds or insects have attracted the attention of researchers. Swarm intelligence is the branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the implementation of intelligent systems by taking inspiration from the collective behavior of social insects and other societies of animals. Many meta-heuristic algorithms based on aggregative conduct of swarms through complex interactions with no supervision have been used to solve complex optimization problems. Data clustering organizes data into groups called clusters, such that each cluster has similar data. It also produces clusters that could be disjoint. Accuracy and efficiency are the important measures in data clustering. Several recent studies describe bio-inspired systems as information processing systems capable of some cognitive ability. However, existing popular bio-inspired algorithms for data clustering ignored good balance between exploration and exploitation for producing better clustering results. In this article, we propose a bio-inspired algorithm, namely social spider optimization (SSO), for clustering that maintains a good balance between exploration and exploitation using female and male spiders, respectively. We compare results of the proposed algorithm SSO with K means and other nature-inspired algorithms such as particle swarm optimization (PSO), ant colony optimization (ACO) and improved bee colony optimization (IBCO). We find it to be more robust as it produces better clustering results. Although SSO solves the problem of getting stuck in the local optimum, it needs to be modified for locating the best solution in the proximity of the generated global solution. Hence, we hybridize SSO with K means, which produces good results in local searches. We compare proposed hybrid algorithms SSO+K means (SSOKC), integrated SSOKC (ISSOKC), and interleaved SSOKC (ILSSOKC) with K means+PSO (KPSO), K means+genetic algorithm (KGA), K means+artificial bee colony (KABC) and interleaved K means+IBCO (IKIBCO) and find better clustering results. We use sum of intra-cluster distances (SICD), average cosine similarity, accuracy and inter-cluster distance to measure and validate the performance and efficiency of the proposed clustering techniques.
Real-time gaze estimation via pupil center tracking
Authors: Cazzato Dario , Dominio Fabio , Manduchi Roberto , Castro Silvia M.
Published: February 2018

Automatic gaze estimation not based on commercial and expensive eye tracking hardware solutions can enable several applications in the fields of human computer interaction (HCI) and human behavior analysis. It is therefore not surprising that several related techniques and methods have been investigated in recent years. However, very few camera-based systems proposed in the literature are both real-time and robust. In this work, we propose a real-time user-calibration-free gaze estimation system that does not need person-dependent calibration, can deal with illumination changes and head pose variations, and can work with a wide range of distances from the camera. Our solution is based on a 3-D appearance-based method that processes the images from a built-in laptop camera. Real-time performance is obtained by combining head pose information with geometrical eye features to train a machine learning algorithm. Our method has been validated on a data set of images of users in natural environments, and shows promising results. The possibility of a real-time implementation, combined with the good quality of gaze tracking, make this system suitable for various HCI applications.
Cohesive Property Evaluation of Crack Sealants Using a Low-Temperature Tensile Tester
Authors: Xue Hengxiao , Cao Liping , Hou Xiangchen , Tan Yiqiu
Published: February 2018

This paper presents a new test method that was developed to evaluate the cohesive properties of crack sealants at low temperatures. The low-temperature tensile tester (LTTT) used in this test method was self-developed as a result of field-investigation experiences. Field investigations of crack expansion were conducted in four climate regions in Heilongjiang Province, China, to understand the actual working environment. The LTTT, highly efficient and equipped with a wide measurement range, was then developed. The cohesive specimen is dog-bone shaped and 24 × 24 mm in width and thickness, a size selected based on the test results of various specimen dimensions. The optimal elongation rate was 100 mm/h, and displacement-at-failure emerged as the evaluation index, having been derived from the analysis of test results at various temperatures and elongation rates. According to the results of field investigation, the threshold values of displacement-at-failure were 84, 60, 36, and 28.8 mm, from the lowest to the highest temperature region. The cohesive properties of six types of sealant were assessed on the threshold-evaluation values of the various regions. This test method can effectively differentiate the cohesive properties of various sealants and can be applied in a diversity of climate regions.
His Bundle Pacing: Rebirth of an Important Technique for Pacing the Intrinsic Conduction System
Authors: Kaufmann Michael R. , McKillop Matthew S. , Burkart Thomas A. , Panna Mark , Miles William M. , Conti C. Richard
Published: February 2018

Permanent pacemaker implant is a commonly performed cardiac procedure for treatment of bradycardia or conduction system abnormality. With conventional right ventricular (RV) pacing a lead is implanted at the RV apex or on the RV septum. However, RV apical or RV septal pacing causes iatrogenic left bundle-branch block and ventricular dyssynchrony and can lead to adverse cardiac remodeling, a pacing-mediated cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. Alternatively, permanent His-bundle pacing uses the intrinsic rapidly-conducting His-Purkinje system to activate the ventricle, thereby maintaining (or sometimes even restoring) ventricular synchrony. Many patients may derive benefit from permanent His-bundle pacing.
MeCP2 Deficiency Leads to Loss of Glial Kir4.1
Authors: Kahanovitch Uri , Cuddapah Vishnu A. , Pacheco Natasha L. , Holt Leanne M. , Mulkey Daniel K. , Percy Alan K. , Olsen Michelle L.
Published: February 2018

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder usually caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). RTT is typified by apparently normal development until 6–18 mo of age, when motor and communicative skills regress and hand stereotypies, autonomic symptoms, and seizures present. Restoration of MeCP2 function selectively to astrocytes reversed several deficits in a murine model of RTT, but the mechanism of this rescue is unknown. Astrocytes carry out many essential functions required for normal brain functioning, including extracellular K+buffering. Kir4.1, an inwardly rectifying K+channel, is largely responsible for the channel-mediated K+regulation by astrocytes. Loss-of-function mutations in Kir4.1 in human patients result in a severe neurodevelopmental disorder termed EAST or SESAME syndrome. Here, we evaluated astrocytic Kir4.1 expression in a murine model of Rett syndrome. We demonstrate by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis that Kir4.1 is a direct molecular target of MeCP2. Astrocytes fromMecp2-deficient mice express significantly less Kir4.1 mRNA and protein, which translates into a >50% deficiency in Ba2+-sensitive Kir4.1-mediated currents, and impaired extracellular potassium dynamics. By examining astrocytes in isolation, we demonstrate that loss of Kir4.1 is cell autonomous. Assessment through postnatal development revealed that Kir4.1 expression inMecp2-deficient animals never reaches adult, wild-type levels, consistent with a neurodevelopmental disorder. These are the first data implicating a direct MeCP2 molecular target in astrocytes and provide novel mechanistic insight explaining a potential mechanism by which astrocytic dysfunction may contribute to RTT.
Amygdala Adaptation and Temporal Dynamics of the Salience Network in Conditioned Fear: A Single-Trial fMRI Study
Authors: Yin Siyang , Liu Yuelu , Petro Nathan M. , Keil Andreas , Ding Mingzhou
Published: February 2018

Research in rodents has established the role of the amygdaloid complex in defensive responses to conditioned threat. In human imaging studies, however, activation of the amygdala by conditioned threat cues is often not observed. One hypothesis states that this finding reflects adaptation of amygdaloid responses over time. We tested this hypothesis by estimating single-trial neural responses over a large number of conditioning trials. Functional MRI (fMRI) was recorded from 18 participants during classical differential fear conditioning: Participants viewed oriented grayscale grating stimuli (45° or 135°) presented centrally in random order. In the acquisition block, one grating (the CS+) was paired with a noxious noise, the unconditioned stimulus (US), on 25% of trials. The other grating, denoted CS–, was never paired with the US. Consistent with previous reports, BOLD in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and insula, but not the amygdala, was heightened when viewing CS+ stimuli that were not paired with US compared to CS– stimuli. Trial-by-trial analysis showed that over the course of acquisition, activity in the amygdala attenuated. Interestingly, activity in the dACC and insula also declined. Representational similarity analysis (RSA) corroborated these results, indicating that the voxel patterns evoked by CS+ and CS– in these brain regions became less distinguishable over time. Together, the present findings support the hypothesis that the lack of BOLD differences in the amygdaloid complex in many studies of classical conditioning is due to adaptation, and the adaptation effects may reflect changes in large-scale networks mediating aversive conditioning, particularly the salience network.
Ex vivo activity of cytotoxic drugs and targeted agents in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Daskalakis Kosmas , Norlén Olov , Karakatsanis Andreas , Hellman Per , Larsson Rolf , Nygren Peter , Stålberg Peter
Published: February 2018

Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) are generally considered resistant to systemic treatment. To date, predictive markers for drug activity are lacking. Tumor samples from 27 patients with SI-NETs were analyzedex vivofor sensitivity to a panel of cytotoxic drugs and targeted agents using a short-term total cell kill assay. Samples of renal cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), ovarian cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were included for comparison. For the SI-NET subset, drug sensitivity was analyzed in relation to clinicopathological variables and pre-treatment biomarkers. For cytotoxic drugs, SI-NETs demonstrated similar or higher sensitivity to 5-FU, platinum, gemcitabine and doxorubicin compared with CRC. For several of the targeted kinase inhibitors, SI-NET was among the most sensitive solid tumor types. CLL and ovarian cancer were generally the most sensitive tumor types to both cytotoxic drugs and protein kinase inhibitors. SI-NET was more sensitive to the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus than the other solid tumor types tested. Individual SI-NET samples demonstrated great variability inex vivosensitivity for most drugs. Cross-resistance between different drugs also varied considerably, being higher among protein kinase inhibitors. Age, stage, grade, peritoneal carcinomatosis and extra-abdominal metastases as well as serum chromogranin A and urine 5-HIAA concentrations at diagnosis did not correlate to drug sensitivityex vivo. SI-NETs exhibit intermediate sensitivityex vivoto cytotoxic and targeted drugs. Clinicopathological factors and currently used biomarkers are not clearly associated toex vivosensitivity, challenging these criteria for treatment decisions in SI-NET. The great variability in drug sensitivity calls for individualized selection of therapy.
Thyroid hormone receptor localization in target tissues
Authors: Anyetei-Anum Cyril S , Roggero Vincent R , Allison Lizabeth A
Published: February 2018

The thyroid hormone receptors, TRα1, TRβ1 and other subtypes, are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that mediate the action of thyroid hormone signaling in numerous tissues to regulate important physiological and developmental processes. Their most well-characterized role is as ligand-dependent transcription factors; TRs bind thyroid hormone response elements in the presence or absence of thyroid hormone to facilitate the expression of target genes. Although primarily residing in the nucleus, TRα1 and TRβ1 shuttle rapidly between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We have identified multiple nuclear localization signals and nuclear export signals within TRα1 and TRβ1 that interact with importins and exportins, respectively, to mediate translocation across the nuclear envelope. More recently, enigmatic cytoplasmic functions have been ascribed to other TR subtypes, expanding the diversity of the cellular response to thyroid hormone. By integrating data on localization signal motifs, this review provides an overview of the complex interplay between TR’s dynamic transport pathways and thyroid hormone signaling activities. We examine the variation in TR subtype response to thyroid hormone signaling, and what is currently known about regulation of the variety of tissue-specific localization patterns, including targeting to the nucleus, the mitochondria and the inner surface of the plasma membrane.
Os subfalares do Norte e o traçado das vogais médias pretônicas
Authors: Mota Jacyra Andrade , Lopes Paulo Henrique de Souza
Published: February 2018

Neste artigo, discute-se a proposta de divisão dialetal de Nascentes (1953) em dois subfalares do Norte (o amazônico e o nordestino), a partir do timbre aberto ou fechado das vogais médias pretônicas, confrontando-a com dados atuais, que integram o corpus do Projeto Atlas Linguístico do Brasil (ALiB), referentes às capitais. Para a análise, consideraram-se as respostas aos questionários Fonético-Fonológico (QFF) e Semântico-Lexical (QSL), aplicados a 120 informantes, oito por localidade, distribuídos pelas seis capitais da região Norte e pelas nove capitais da região Nordeste, estratificados quanto à faixa etária, sexo e nível de escolaridade, de acordo com a metodologia do Projeto ALiB. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística (Goldvarb 2001) e são apresentados em percentuais e em pesos relativos (P. R.). Os resultados corroboram a divisão do país em duas grandes áreas, como propôs Nascentes, ao lado de diferenças entre as capitais do Norte e do Nordeste e semelhanças entre o falar baiano e o falar nordestino. Apontam, ainda, fatores que favorecem a manutenção das variantes médias fechadas, tanto linguísticos quanto sociais, destacando-se, entre os últimos, a faixa etária I (indivíduos entre 18 e 30 anos), o que se interpreta como indício de mudança em direção às variantes de mais prestígio no português do Brasil.
A special type of left dislocation in Galician and Portuguese: the D-construction
Authors: De Andrade Aroldo
Published: February 2018

This text analyses the here dubbed D-construction in Galician and European Portuguese, composed of a determiner phrase (DP) followed by a demonstrative pronoun and a main clause. This quite unexplored contruction is described as a strategy to promote a referent into the sentence topic and at the same time contrasting it to other salient members of a partially ordered set, by means of the analysis of its pragmatic and prosodic aspects. An existing analysis supposing an appositive role for the demonstrative is argued against, thus strengthening the idea that DP and demonstrative do not form a single constituent. By means of a series of intuition tests, the D-construction is characterised as an instance of Hanging Topic Left Dislocation of a kind found in Germanic languages. Finally, a unified account is put forward for Galician and Portuguese, whenever the structure includes a coreferent clitic in the main clause. In this case the DP is assigned a position in a Frame projection (FrameP), whereas the demonstrative is a base-generated topic in the left periphery, connected to the clitic by long-distance agreement. In European Portuguese, where the structure may also occur without a resumptive clitic, the demonstrative can move into Spec,IP. Either of these are the first part of the derivation, respectively identical to Clitic Left Dislocation or Topicalisation. The paper concludes that the D-construction must be considered a marked syntactic construction on its own terms, and considers some possible themes for future research.
Sobre construções analíticas com leitura possessiva no galego-português medieval
Authors: Lennertz Marcotulio Leonardo , Castilho R. B. dos Santos Cláudio Leonardo João Pedro
Published: February 2018

Diferentemente das gramáticas contemporâneas do galego e do português, em que somente são possíveis construções analíticas de posse correlacionadas às novas formas gramaticalizadas (del(es), dela(s), de vostede(s), para o galego; e dele(s), dela(s), de você(s), da gente, para o português), textos escritos em galego-português fornecem evidências de que a gramática medieval é capaz de licenciar construções com pronomes de 1ª e 2ª pessoas (de mim, de ti, de nós, de vós). A partir de um corpus constituído por textos escritos entre os séculos XIII e XVI (Maia 1986), o objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a distribuição e o comportamento sintático dessas construções medievais. Como hipótese de trabalho, argumentamos que as construções analíticas medievais com leitura possessiva são sintaticamente distintas dos possessivos analíticos das gramáticas contemporâneas, razão pela qual não competiam com os possessivos simples em todos os contextos estruturais, apresentando, portanto, uma produtividade limitada. Tais construções teriam sido eliminadas da língua, nos contextos de variação com os possessivos simples correspondentes, após terem sido reanalisadas como sintagmas genitivos.
Cambio lingüístico e morfoloxía: aproximación ao galego da comarca do Ribeiro
Authors: Louredo Rodríguez Eduardo
Published: February 2018

Neste traballo estúdanse algunhas variables lingüísticas de tipo morfolóxico. Trátase da alternancia /u/ ~ /?/ como vogal radical (VR) na P2, P3 e P6 dos verbos tipo durmir e subir e a variación entre pór e poñer; facer, faguer e faer; fixen e figuen; e oír, ouvir, oucir e ouír na comarca do Ribeiro. Téntase demostrar que o factor territorial e a idade son determinantes para a aparición dunhas variantes ou outras. Polo tanto as variables que se teñen en conta son o lugar de nacemento e a idade. O corpus de estudo está constituído polas respostas de trinta informantes a un cuestionario e pola transcrición dunhas 30 horas de entrevistas semidirixidas. Os informantes pertencen a tres grupos de idade diferentes. A escolla de informantes de diferentes idades permite estudar o cambio lingüístico en tempo aparente e determinar se existen tendencias de cambio que afectan ás variables arriba mencionadas.
Variación na colocación dos pronomes átonos nalgúns complexos verbais do galego
Authors: Santos Raña Irene
Published: February 2018

Esta investigación ten como obxectivo analizar a posición dos clíticos en construcións con máis dunha forma verbal en textos do galego moderno. Algúns traballos previos mostraron que a variable tempo ten unha función importante no cambio que se vén producindo na lingua galega nestas construcións, especialmente na comparación da lingua medieval coa moderna. No caso deste traballo, a análise céntrase na revisión de textos de tres períodos cronolóxicos: 1875-1900, 1900-1925 e 1975-2000. Os datos utilizados obtivéronse do corpus de textos escritos do Tesouro Informatizado da Lingua Galega. Na análise dos datos contémplanse, por unha parte, a colocación do clítico e o tipo complexo e, por outra parte, a variable extralingüística tempo. As conclusións indican que encontramos variación entre os distintos complexos verbais, mais non temos datos que permitan testemuñar un cambio lingüístico na colocación dos clíticos nas estruturas e nos períodos analizados.
Oxidation Behaviour at 1100°C of HfC-Containing Co-Based Alloys
Authors: Patrice Berthod
Published: February 2018

Cobalt alloys may be efficiently strengthened by hafnium carbides for uses at high temperature. However the presence of Hf in quantities high enough to allow significant creep-resistance may lead to particular behaviour in oxidation at high temperature. In this work three HfC-containing cobalt-based alloys were exposed to synthetic air at 1100‚°C for 50 hours, to observe their surface reactivity. The change in mass by oxidation, the general surface state, the oxide scales and subsurface changes specified by cross-sectional characterization were studied. They were compared to similar results obtained for hafnium-free cobalt alloys with the same chromium and carbon contents, considered as references. The presence of several weight % of hafnium obviously induced a real deterioration of the resistance against oxidation at 1100‚°C. This shows that these cobalt alloys must be improved for better resisting high temperature oxidation. This is compulsory to allow lifetime really benefiting from the mechanical strengthening brought by the HfC interdendritic network.
Claridad y calidad de las notas explicativas en estados financieros bajo IFRS. Un estudio de brechas de Expectativas Gaps para normas contables (NIC 2, NIC 16, NIC 37 y NIC 38)
Authors: Salas Avila José , Vilchez Olivares Percy , Curvelo Hassan José O.
Published: February 2018

Este análisis situacional de la claridad y calidad de las notas explicativas en los estados financieros bajo IFRS (Obligatory Disclosure), pretende entregar claridad acerca de la calidad de la información entregada en las notas explicativas para 4 normas de Información Contable, claves en la información financiera en los países de la región, que son la NIC 2; Notas referente a Inventarios, NIC 16; Notas referente a Propiedad Planta y Equipos, NIC 37; Notas referente a Provisiones, y NIC 38; Notas referente a Activos Intangibles. Adicionalmente, este trabajo estudia la brecha de expectativas (Expectation Gaps) que existe en la información entregada en las notas de los estados financieros para tres importantes grupos de interés de estos estados financieros; a) los auditores externos, b) los administradores de empresas y c) accionistas. El análisis se efectúo en estados financieros de 6 países de la región; Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Perú, Paraguay, y Uruguay, se pidió la opinión de profesionales de los tres grupos mencionados anteriormente y se obtuvo una respuesta de 230 opiniones profesionales de notas a los estados financieros de empresas de los 6 países antes mencionados. Las conclusiones están claras de acuerdo a la evidencia obtenida. Como se esperaba, los terceros interesados en los estados financieros y sus notas estiman que dichas notas explicativas aun no tienen la claridad ni la calidad que los auditores y administradores sostienen.
Asas da Florestania: languages and cultures at play in the forest-based citizenship literacy program in Brazil
Authors: Ramos Sollai Silvia
Published: February 2018

This methodological article applies the Continua of Biliteracy (Hornberger, 1989; Hornberger & Skilton-Sylvester, 2000) onto the curriculum and human resources of Asas da Florestania Infantil, namely Asinhas, a preschool initiative with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognition for its startling approach to the Acre an multilingual setting in northwestern Brazil. Overseen, forest-dependent, Acre’s identity is a traditional and hybridculture melting pot with sustainable rubber tapping advocates, indigenous land claimers and Haitian refugees, where languages and literacy converge to legitimate the Brazilian linguistic and cultural diversity. Initially funded by national communication mogul Rede Globo and the World Bank, today, it also responds to municipal, state, and federal accountability. We concludedthat Asinhas’ recruitment of Educational Agents to promote meaningful forest-based content at an anthropological home visits approach is an outstanding decentralization and multilingual setting and curriculum acknowledgement, despite its population under representation and scaling-up limitations.
A avaliação integrada no exame Celpe-Bras e as tarefas de leitura e escrita
Authors: Mendel Kaiane , Schoffen Juliana Roquele
Published: February 2018

The Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese Language for Foreigners (Celpe-Bras) aims to assess language proficiency  by integrating comprehension and production skills. Despite being a controversial issue, integrated assessment is inaccordance with the theoretical construct of the Celpe-Bras exam, based on a dialogical perspective of language. As such, this paper investigates how the Celpe-Bras exam presents the concept of integrated assessment in its publicdocuments, specifications and assessment parameters. Furthermore, it discusses how the analyzed tasks assess reading and writing. The results point to the need for a better description and operationalization of integrated assessment inthe exam, and demonstrate the importance of the task instruction for the integration of skills and to emphasize the complexity of comprehension assessment in this type of task. The reflections presented can contribute to the description of the comprehension and production assessment in the Celpe-Bras exam and to the promotion of new discussions on integrated tasks.