bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of activity-dependent vasopressin release from neuronal dendrites and axon terminals using sniffer cells
Authors: Zaelzer Cristian , Gizowski Claire , Salmon Christopher K. , Murai Keith K. , Bourque Charles W.
Published: July 2018

Our understanding of neuropeptide function within neural networks would be improved by methods allowing dynamic detection of peptide release in living tissue. We examined the usefulness of sniffer cells as biosensors to detect endogenous vasopressin (VP) release in rat hypothalamic slices and from isolated neurohypophyses. Human embryonic kidney cells were transfected to express the human V1a VP receptor (V1aR) and the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6m. The V1aR couples to Gq11, thus VP binding to this receptor causes an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] that can be detected by a rise in GCaMP6 fluorescence. Dose-response analysis showed that VP sniffer cells report ambient VP levels >10 pM (EC50 = 2.6 nM), and this effect could be inhibited by the V1aR antagonist SR 49059. When placed over a coverslip coated with sniffer cells, electrical stimulation of the neurohypophysis provoked a reversible, reproducible, and dose-dependent increase in VP release using as few as 60 pulses delivered at 3 Hz. Suspended sniffer cells gently plated over a slice adhered to the preparation and allowed visualization of VP release in discrete regions. Electrical stimulation of VP neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus caused significant local release as well as VP secretion in distant target sites. Finally, action potentials evoked in a single magnocellular neurosecretory cell in the supraoptic nucleus provoked significant VP release from the somatodendritic compartment of the neuron. These results indicate that sniffer cells can be used for the study of VP secretion from various compartments of neurons in living tissue.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The specific functional roles of neuropeptides in neuronal networks are poorly understood due to the absence of methods allowing their real-time detection in living tissue. Here, we show that cultured “sniffer cells” can be engineered to detect endogenous release of vasopressin as an increase in fluorescence.
The Organic Pollutant Characteristics of Lurgi Coal Gasification Wastewater before and after Ozonation
Authors: Wang Chunrong , Zhang Qi , Jiang Longxin , Hou Zhifei
Published: July 2018

The effluent of distilled and extracted Lurgi coal gasification wastewater has been found to have low biodegradability and high toxicity, which inhibits further biodegradation. However, ozonation enhances the biodegradability and reduces the toxicity of this effluent, enabling further biological treatment and increased removal of organic materials. In this study, the dissolved organic matters in Lurgi coal gasification wastewater were isolated into six classes by resin adsorbents, after which TOC, UV254, UV-Vis, and 3D EEM were employed to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze organic materials in each part of the fractionated samples. The HoA and HiN fraction accounted for large amounts of the Lurgi coal gasification wastewater, and their TOC values were about 380.21 mg·L−1 and 646.84 mg·L−1, respectively. After ozonation, the TOC removal rates of HoA and HiN reached 42.85% and 67.13%, respectively. The UV254 of HoA was basically stable before and after ozonation, while that of HiN increased continuously because a portion of the humic macromolecular organic materials in HoA was oxidized to HiN. Additionally, UV-Vis analysis revealed that the larger molecular organics of HoA were oxidized during ozonation, resulting in high biodegradability. Finally, the 3D EEM spectra indicated that the macromolecular organics were oxidized to smaller molecules with the degradation of soluble microbial by-products.
Utilization of Machine Vision to Monitor the Dynamic Responses of Rice Leaf Morphology and Colour to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Deficiencies
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Gao Jiali , Wang Ke , Shen Zhangquan , Chen Lisu
Published: July 2018

Machine vision technology enables the continuous and nondestructive monitoring of leaf responses to different nutrient supplies and thereby contributes to the improvement of diagnostic effects. In this study, we analysed the temporal dynamics of rice leaf morphology and colour under different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) treatments by continuous imaging and further evaluated the effectiveness of dynamic characteristics for identification. The top four leaves (the 1st incomplete leaf and the top three fully expanded leaves) were scanned every three days, and all images were processed in MATLAB to extract the morphological and colour characteristics for dynamic analysis. Subsequently, the mean impact value was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic indices for identification. According to the results, higher nutrient supply resulted in a faster leaf extension rate and a lower developing rate of chlorosis, and the influence of N deficiency on leaf growth was the greatest, followed by P deficiency and then K deficiency. Furthermore, the optimal indices for identification were mainly calculated from morphological characteristics of the 1st incomplete leaf and colour characteristics of the 3rd fully expanded leaf. Overall, dynamic analysis contributes not only to the exploration of the plant growth mechanism but also to the improvement of diagnostics.
Tribology and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fabric/MWCNT/Epoxy Composites
Authors: Shivamurthy B. , Murthy Krishna , Anandhan S.
Published: July 2018

Cryogenic treated multilayered carbon fabric/oxidized multiwall carbon nanotube/epoxy (CCF/O-MWCNT/E) composite and untreated carbon fabric/epoxy (CF/E) composite were prepared by hot compression molding technique. The density and mechanical properties such as tensile properties, flexural properties, interlaminar shear strength, and microhardness of the composites were investigated as per ASTM standards. The wear and coefficient of friction behavior were investigated using computer interfaced pin-on-disc test rig at room temperature for varied load and sliding speed. The morphology of worn surfaces of the wear test composite specimens were studied by scanning electron microscope. It is found that the synergetic effect of addition of O-MWCNT to epoxy matrix and cryogenic treatment of carbon fabric improved the wear resistance and mechanical properties. Also, a thin lubricating film developed by the oxidized multiwall carbon nanotube/epoxy wear debris reduces the coefficient of sliding friction and wear rate.
ETAS®50 Attenuates Ultraviolet‐B‐Induced Interleukin‐6 Expression by Suppressing Akt Phosphorylation in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Shirato Ken , Koda Tomoko , Takanari Jun , Ogasawara Junetsu , Sakurai Takuya , Ohno Hideki , Kizaki Takako
Published: July 2018

We recently reported that ETAS 50, a standardized extract from the Asparagus officinalis stem, exerted anti‐inflammatory effects on ultraviolet‐B‐ (UV‐B‐) irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) by inhibiting nuclear factor‐κB p65 nuclear import and the resulting interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) expression. To further elucidate the antiphotoaging potency of ETAS 50, we examined the anti‐inflammatory effects on UV‐B‐irradiated NHDFs by focusing on the stress‐activated mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt signaling pathways. NHDFs were treated with 1 mg/mL of ETAS 50 or dextrin (vehicle control) after UV‐B irradiation (20 mJ/cm2) for different time periods. Phosphorylation levels of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPK, and Akt were analyzed by western blotting. IL‐6 mRNA levels were analyzed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. UV‐B‐irradiated NHDFs showed increased phosphorylation levels of JNK, p38 MAPK, and Akt, as well as increased mRNA levels of IL‐6. ETAS 50 treatment after UV‐B irradiation suppressed the increased phosphorylation levels of Akt without affecting those of JNK and p38 MAPK. ETAS 50 as well as Akt inhibitor Perifosine repressed UV‐B irradiation‐induced IL‐6 mRNA expression. These results suggest that ETAS 50 treatment represses UV‐B irradiation‐induced IL‐6 expression by suppressing Akt phosphorylation. The present findings demonstrate the potential of ETAS 50 to prevent photoaging by attenuating UV‐B irradiation‐induced proinflammatory responses in skin fibroblasts.
Identification of Novel ARSA Mutations in Chinese Patients with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Authors: Chen Li , Yan Huifang , Cao Binbin , Wu Ye , Gu Qiang , Xiao Jiangxi , Yang Yanling , Yang Huixia , Shi Zhen , Yang Zhixian , Pan Hong , Chang Xingzhi , Chen Junya , Sun Yu , Zhang Yuehua , Wu Xiru , Jiang Yuwu , Wang Jingmin
Published: July 2018

Objective. Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA) that leads to severe physiologic and developmental problems. Our study is aimed at elucidating the clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese MLD patients. Methods. Clinical data of 21 MLD patients was collected. All coding exons of ARSA and their flanking intronic sequences were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing. Results. All 21 patients were diagnosed with MLD clinically and genetically, out of which 17 patients were late infantile and 4 were juvenile types. A total of 34 ARSA mutations, including 28 novel mutations (22 missense, 1 splicing, 1 nonsense, 3 small insertions, and 1 small deletion mutation) and 6 known mutations (5 missense and 1 small insertion mutation), were identified. Prenatal diagnosis was performed for four pedigrees. One fetus was a patient, two fetuses were carriers, and two were wild type. Conclusions. The present study discovered 28 novel ARSA mutations and widely expanded the mutation spectrum of ARSA. Four successful prenatal diagnoses provided critical information for MLD families.
Prevalence, Genetic Heterogeneity, and Antibiotic Resistance Profile ofListeriaspp. andListeria monocytogenesat Farm Level: A Highlight of ERIC- and BOX-PCR to Reveal Genetic Diversity
Authors: Maurice Bilung Lesley , Sin Chai Lai , Tahar Ahmad Syatir , Ted Chong Kian , Apun Kasing
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to identifyListeriaspp. andL. monocytogenes, characterize the isolates, and determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolatesListeriaspp. andL. monocytogenesin fresh produce, fertilizer, and environmental samples from vegetable farms (organic and conventional farms). A total of 386 samples (vegetables, soil, water, and fertilizer with manure) were examined. The identification of bacterial isolates was performed using PCR and characterized using ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR. The discriminating power of the typing method was analyzed using Simpson’s Index of Diversity. Thirty-four (n=34)Listeriaisolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the disc-diffusion technique. The PCR analysis revealed thatListeriaspp. were present in 7.51% (29/386) of all the samples (vegetable, soil, fertilizer, and water). None of the samples examined were positive for the presence ofL. monocytogenes.Percentages of 100% (15/15) and 73.30% (11/15) of theListeriaspp. isolated from vegetables, fertilizer, and soil from organic farm B had indistinguishable DNA fingerprints by using ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR, respectively.Listeriaspp. isolated from 86 samples of vegetable, fertilizer, and environment of organic farm A and conventional farm C had distinct DNA fingerprints. Simpson’s Index of Diversity, D, of ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR is 0.604 and 0.888, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that most of theListeriaspp. in this study were found to be resistant to ampicillin, rifampin, penicillin G, tetracycline, clindamycin, cephalothin, and ceftriaxone. The isolates had MAR index ranging between 0.31 and 0.85. In conclusion, hygienic measures at farm level are crucial to the reduction ofListeriatransmission along the food chain.
A New Method to Deal with the Stability of the Weak Solutions for a Nonlinear Parabolic Equation
Authors: Zhan Huashui
Published: July 2018

Consider the nonlinear parabolic equation ∂u/∂t-div(a(x)|∇u|p-2∇u)=f(x,t,u,∇u) with axx∈Ω>0 and a(x)x∈∂Ω=0. Though it is well known that the degeneracy of a(x) may cause the usual Dirichlet boundary value condition to be overdetermined, and only a partial boundary value condition is needed, since the nonlinearity, this partial boundary can not be depicted out by Fichera function as in the linear case. A new method is introduced in the paper; accordingly, the stability of the weak solutions can be proved independent of the boundary value condition.
Influence of Surfactant on the Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity of Anatase TiO2 by Solvothermal Synthesis
Authors: Wei Junfang , Wen Xiaojing , Zhu Fang
Published: July 2018

Highly photocatalytically active anatase TiO2 were synthesized by a solvothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate (TBT), citric acid, and ethanol as row material. The morphology and photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide have changed significantly with the presence of surfactants, such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), and diethanolamine (DEA). Scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction results show that the synthesized products are anatase TiO2 spherical particles with a micronanostructure. The crystal type of TiO2 has no obvious change with the addition of different surfactants, but the morphology, size, and dispersion of the TiO2 particles have changed to some extent. Among the three surfactants, CTAB is beneficial to reduce TiO2 particle size and improve TiO2 dispersion and agglomeration. DEA is favor to self-assembly the nanocrystals into spherical particles. Degradation of methyl orange photocatalyzed by TiO2 prepared with CTAB as surfactant reaches 95.4% under ultraviolet light for 100 min. After five recycles, the catalyst did not exhibit significant loss of photocatalytic activity, confirming that the photocatalyst is essentially stable. This work indicates that the surfactant-assisted solvothermal method is an effective approach to improve the structure, morphology, and photocatalytic performance of TiO2. Moreover, the surfactants with various types can interact with the precursors of TiO2 in different ways.
Influence of L-Tryptophan on Growth and Optical Properties of PbS Nanocrystalline Thin Films
Authors: Palomino Merino R. , Gutiérrez Pérez R. , Trejo García P. , Chaltel Lima L. , Portillo Moreno O. , Araiza García M. E. , Moreno Rodriguez A. , Rubio Rosas E.
Published: July 2018

The growth through the green chemical bath of PbS doped systematically with the biomolecule L-tryptophan led to growth of hybrid, inorganic-organic, nanocrystalline thin films onto glass slides at T~80°C. The thickness was found in the range of 230–140 nm. Morphological changes were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) spectra showed broad absorption bands located at ~3450 cm−1 attributed to stretching of the H2O molecules and two small absorption bands located at ~2285 cm−1 and ~2918 cm−1 along with a strong band at ~1385 cm−1 assigned to vibration modes corresponding to CO32− ions. In the patterns of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the cubic phase was identified in all the samples according to the angular positions 2θ~26.08°, 30.13°, 43.08°, 51.91°, 53.60°, 6251°, 68.98°, and 71.15°. Using the Scherrer formula on the XRD patterns, the grain size (GS) was determined; for the undoped sample, ~42 nm was found, whereas for the doped samples, ~42–22 nm was found. The electronic charge distribution of L-tryptophan was determined using the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) to understand the decrease on the GS associated with the interaction of π electrons from conjugated rings and amino-acid functional groups. The absorbance spectra in doped films showed excitonic peaks at ~1.8–2.1 eV associated to a higher energy of the 1Sh → 1Sh and 1Ph → 1Pe electronic transitions. Through optical absorption, a shift for the band gap energy was observed from ~1.4 eV for the undoped sample and ~2.1–2.3 eV for the doped films, respectively. Such behaviour is generally associated with the GS decrease and the effect of quantum confinement; a simple model by calculating changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) for growth of nanocrystals is presented.
Fever of Unknown Origin: Could It Be a Pheochromocytoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Siddiqui Uzma Mohammad , Matta Stephany , Wessolossky Mireya A. , Haas Richard
Published: July 2018

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla, with an incidence of less than 1 per 100,000 person-years. These tumors are characterized by excess catecholamine secretion and classically present with the triad of headaches, palpitations, and sweating episodes. However, the clinical presentation can be quite variable. Herein, we present a patient who presented with persistent fevers. An adrenal mass was incidentally discovered during the extensive investigation for the fever of unknown origin. Consequently, blood and urine tests were done and found to be consistent with a pheochromocytoma. The resection of this pheochromocytoma resulted in resolution of fevers. It is hypothesized that fevers in patients with pheochromocytomas occur due to the excess catecholamine or possibly due to interleukins. This clinical presentation serves as a learning point that adrenal incidentalomas in the setting of fever of unknown origin should not be ignored. It also reminds clinicians that pheochromocytomas which present with fevers may have tumor necrosis and many such patients are at risk for multisystem crises.
NDDN: A Cloud-Based Neuroinformation Database for Developing Neuronal Networks
Authors: Pu Jiangbo , Li Xiangning
Published: July 2018

Electrical activity of developing dissociated neuronal networks is of immense significance for understanding the general properties of neural information processing and storage. In addition, the complexity and diversity of network activity patterns make them ideal candidates for developing novel computational models and evaluating algorithms. However, there are rare databases which focus on the changing network dynamics during development. Here, we describe the design and implementation of Neuroinformation Database for Developing Networks (NDDN), a repository for electrophysiological data collected from long-term cultured hippocampal networks. The NDDN contains over 15 terabytes of multielectrode array data consisting of 25,380 items collected from 105 culture batches. Metadata including culturing and recording information and stimulation/drug application protocols are linked to each data item. A Matlab toolbox named MEAKit is also provided with the NDDN to ease the analysis of downloaded data items. We expect that NDDN may contribute to both the fields of experimental and computational neuroscience.
Association between Physical Exercise and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress among Middle-Aged and Elderly Community Residents with Essential Hypertension in China
Authors: Yu Ying , Gao Qin , Xia Wanning , Zhang Lina , Hu Zhiyuan , Wu Xuesen , Jia Xianjie
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to investigate the role of different types and frequencies of physical exercise in biomarkers of oxidative stress among middle-aged and elderly community residents with essential hypertension in China. A community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 7 subdistricts. Individuals, 45-79 years old, with essential hypertension (n=402) and without cardiovascular disease (n=1047) were included. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were determined. Multilevel linear regression was used to estimate the associations between various types of physical exercise and oxidative stress biomarker levels. Participants engaged in high frequency walking/square dancing or taiji/yoga demonstrated decreased systolic blood pressure in both groups; however, diastolic blood pressure decreased only among individuals with hypertension participating in walking/square dancing. In individuals with hypertension, MDA levels decreased in those participating in walking/square dancing, SOD activity increased in those participating in walking/square dancing, and 4-HNE levels decreased in those involved in taiji/yoga. In individuals without cardiovascular disease, MDA levels decreased in those involved in walking/square dancing or taiji/yoga, SOD activity increased in those performing walking/square dancing, and 4-HNE levels decreased in those involved in taiji/yoga. Oxidative stress marker levels also improved in those involved in walking/square dancing or taiji/yoga groups as the exercise frequency increased. Thus, frequent participation in walking/square dancing or taiji/yoga effectively decreases hypertension-related oxidative stress biomarker levels.
Expansions of the Solutions of the General Heun Equation Governed by Two-Term Recurrence Relations for Coefficients
Authors: Ishkhanyan T. A. , Shahverdyan T. A. , Ishkhanyan A. M.
Published: July 2018

We examine the expansions of the solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric functions. We present several expansions using functions, the forms of which differ from those applied before. In general, the coefficients of the expansions obey three-term recurrence relations. However, there exist certain choices of the parameters for which the recurrence relations become two-term. The coefficients of the expansions are then explicitly expressed in terms of the gamma functions. Discussing the termination of the presented series, we show that the finite-sum solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of generally irreducible hypergeometric functions have a representation through a single generalized hypergeometric function. Consequently, the power-series expansion of the Heun function for any such case is governed by a two-term recurrence relation.
Knock-In Mice with Myo3a Y137C Mutation Displayed Progressive Hearing Loss and Hair Cell Degeneration in the Inner Ear
Authors: Li Peipei , Wen Zongzhuang , Zhang Guangkai , Zhang Aizhen , Fu Xiaolong , Gao Jiangang
Published: July 2018

Myo3a is expressed in cochlear hair cells and retinal cells and is responsible for human recessive hereditary nonsyndromic deafness (DFNB30). To investigate the mechanism of DFNB30-type deafness, we established a mouse model of Myo3a kinase domain Y137C mutation by using CRISPR/Cas9 system. No difference in hearing between 2-month-old Myo3a mutant mice and wild-type mice was observed. The hearing threshold of the ≥6-month-old mutant mice was significantly elevated compared with that of the wild-type mice. We observed degeneration in the inner ear hair cells of 6-month-old Myo3a mutant mice, and the degeneration became more severe at the age of 12 months. We also found structural abnormality in the cochlear hair cell stereocilia. Our results showed that Myo3a is essential for normal hearing by maintaining the intact structure of hair cell stereocilia, and the kinase domain plays a critical role in the normal functions of Myo3a. This mouse line is an excellent model for studying DFNB30-type deafness in humans.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Corrects Defective Mini-Puberty in Boys with Cryptorchidism: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Vincel Beata , Verkauskas Gilvydas , Bilius Vytautas , Dasevicius Darius , Malcius Dalius , Jones Birute , Hadziselimovic Faruk
Published: July 2018

Introduction. This prospective study investigated the efficacy of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (LH-RHa) in restoring defective mini-puberty. Materials and Methods. Boys with isolated bilateral cryptorchidism and defective mini-puberty were randomly divided into two groups. The “surgery only” group underwent a second orchidopexy without hormonal treatment (control). The “LH-RHa” group received LH-RHa therapy followed by a second orchidopexy. The number of Ad spermatogonia and the total germ cell count per tubule (S/T) were analyzed. Results. Five boys were included in each arm. In the LH-RHa group, the median S/T increased from 0.11 to 0.42, p=0.04. In the surgery only group, the median S/T did not change. In the surgery only group, none of the testes had Ad spermatogonia. In contrast, in the LH-RHa group, all testes completed the transition from gonocytes to Ad spermatogonia (p=0.008). Conclusions. Treatment with LH-RHa was effective in rescuing defective mini-puberty in boys with bilateral cryptorchidism.
Genetic Etiology Study of Ten Chinese Families with Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss
Authors: Hu Songqun , Sun Feifei , Zhang Jie , Tang Yan , Qiu Jinhong , Wang Zhixia , Zhang Luping
Published: July 2018

Nonsyndromic hearing loss has been shown to have high genetic heterogeneity. In this report, we aimed to disclose the genetic causes of the subjects from the ten Chinese deaf families who did not have pathogenic common genes/mutation. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 142 known deafness genes was performed in the probands of ten families followed by cosegregation analysis of all family members. We identified novel pathogenic variants in six families including p.D1806E/p.R1588W, p.R964W/p.R1588W, and p.G17C/p.G1449D in CDH23; p.T584M/p.D1939N in LOXHD1; p.P1225L in MYO7A; and p.K612X in EYA4. Sanger sequencing confirmed that these mutations segregated with the hearing loss of each family. In four families, no pathogenic variants were identified. Our study provided better understanding of the mutation spectrum of hearing loss in the Chinese population.
Random Forests-Based Operational Status Perception Model in Extra-Long Highway Tunnels with Longitudinal Ventilation: A Case Study in China
Authors: Qian Chao , Chen Jianxun , Luo Yanbin , Li Shuguang
Published: July 2018

An increasing number of extra-long highway tunnels have been built and put into operation around the world, but the quantified segmentation criteria for evaluating the in-tunnel operational status have not yet been enacted up till the present moment. Meanwhile, ventilation facilities could not satisfy the dynamic requirements of fresh air demand under fast spatial-temporal variation of traffic conditions and operating environment. In this study, the operational data collected from an extra-long highway tunnel were deeply analyzed using big data technology. By combining traffic flow and environmental monitoring data, a data-driven perception model based on the Random Forests was structured. The prediction results show that the proposed model provides better performances as compared to contrast models, indicating it had better ability to adapt to the dynamic changes of in-tunnel operational status while realizing accurate prediction. The designed intelligent control strategies of ventilation facilities and traffic operation applying for different operational status would provide a theoretical basis and data support for lifting the level of intelligent control as well as promoting energy saving and consumption reducing in extra-long highway tunnels.
Is Total Serum Nitrite and Nitrate (NOx) Level in Dengue Patients a Potential Prognostic Marker of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever?
Authors: Mapalagamage Maheshi , Handunnetti Shiroma , Premawansa Gayani , Thillainathan Sharmila , Fernando Tharanga , Kanapathippillai Karunayokiny , Wickremasinghe Rajitha , De Silva Aruna Dharshan , Premawansa Sunil
Published: July 2018

Potential use of total nitrite plus nitrate (NOx) and nitrite (NO2−) separately as surrogate markers for serum nitric oxide in severe dengue and their longitudinal changes along with the progression of infection was studied. Deproteinized sera from confirmed dengue fever (DF,n=145) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF,n=74) patients on admission—A, critical—C, discharge—D, and convalescence—CON stages and from age-gender matched healthy individuals (HC,n=77) were taken to assess NO2−and NOx levels using Griess and modified Griess assays. Serum NOx in DHFA was significantly lower compared to DFA (p<0.001). HC had the lowest NOx and NO2−compared to all patient categories (p<0.001) except NO2−in DF-CON and DHF-CON and NOx in DHF-CON. Serum NOx and NO2−in DHF patients admitted on fever day 3 (DHFA-3) was significantly lower compared to DFA-3 (p<0.05). Cut-off values of 4.46 μM for NOx (91.3% sensitivity and 80.1% specificity) and 1.25 μM for NO2−(75.0% sensitivity and 73.3% specificity) were obtained for day 3 of fever. Serum NOx may be used as potential prognostic marker of DHF in patients presenting with DF in the early stage (on day 3 of fever) of the disease.
Exposure of Drosophila melanogaster to Mancozeb Induces Oxidative Damage and Modulates Nrf2 and HSP70/83
Authors: Saraiva Miriane Acosta , da Rosa Ávila Eduardo , da Silva Gustavo Felipe , Macedo Giulianna Echeverria , Rodrigues Nathane Rosa , de Brum Vieira Patrícia , Nascimento Mariele Samuel , Picoloto Rochele Sogari , Martins Illana Kemmerich , de Carvalho Nelson Rodrigues , Franco Jeferson Luis , Posser Thais
Published: July 2018

Mancozeb (MZ), a manganese‐ and zinc‐containing ethylene‐bis‐dithiocarbamate, is a broad‐spectrum fungicide. Harmful effects of this fungicide have been reported in nontarget organisms via a not fully understood mechanism. Drosophila melanogaster has provided remarkable contributions for toxicological studies. This work was aimed at evaluating the biochemical targets and implication of oxidative stress in MZ‐mediated toxicity in drosophilas. Exposure of flies for fifteen days to MZ at 5 and 10 mg/mL through the diet impaired locomotor performance and induced fly mortality. In parallel, it caused lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and Mn overload. MZ inhibited superoxide dismutase and inducted catalase and glutathione S‐transferase activities. Nitric oxide and reduced glutathione levels were significantly decreased by MZ. Heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP83) and Nrf2 mRNA levels were significantly augmented in MZ‐exposed flies. Our study reinforced the use of Drosophila melanogaster as a reliable model for the study of biochemical targets of pesticides, and based on our data, MZ induced oxidative damage and Mn accumulation in a concentration‐dependent manner. An adaptative cellular state was inducted by the lower concentration of pesticide, possibly contributing to the slighter damage observed.
A Hybrid Method Based on the Iterative Fourier Transform and the Differential Evolution for Pattern Synthesis of Sparse Linear Arrays
Authors: Wang Xin-Kuan , Wang Gui-Bao
Published: July 2018

A hybrid method that combines the iterative Fourier transform (IFT) and the algorithm of differential evolution (DE) is proposed to address the synthesis of low sidelobe sparse linear array (SLA) including many elements. Firstly, a thinned linear array (TLA) with the lattices spaced at half wavelength is obtained by the IFT. Then, for the elements of the TLA whose left or right spacing are greater than half wavelength, their placements are selected as the candidates which will be further optimized by the DE, as long as the interelement spacing is not less than half wavelength. Consequently, the convergence pressure of DE is greatly alleviated for the reason that the selected elements only accounts for a small part of the total. Therefore, the SLA with improved sidelobe performance can be obtained at relative low hardware cost. Several numerical instances confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Multifeature Quantification of Nuclear Properties from Images of H&E-Stained Biopsy Material for Investigating Changes in Nuclear Structure with Advancing CIN Grade
Authors: Konstandinou Christos , Glotsos Dimitris , Kostopoulos Spiros , Kalatzis Ioannis , Ravazoula Panagiota , Michail George , Lavdas Eleftherios , Cavouras Dionisis , Sakellaropoulos George
Published: July 2018

Background. Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition, and if left untreated, it may lead to cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in nuclear properties of the H&E-stained biopsy material between low CIN and high CIN cases and associate those properties with the CIN grade.Methods. The clinical material comprised hematoxylin and eosin- (H&E-) stained biopsy specimens from lesions of 44 patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Four or five nonoverlapping microscopy images were digitized from each patient’s H&E specimens, from regions indicated by the expert physician. Sixty-three textural and morphological nuclear features were generated for each patient’s images. The Wilcoxon statistical test and the point biserial correlation were used to estimate each feature’s discriminatory power between low CIN and high CIN cases and its correlation with the advancing CIN grade, respectively.Results. Statistical analysis showed 19 features that quantify nuclear shape, size, and texture and sustain statistically significant differences between low CIN and high CIN cases. These findings revealed that nuclei in high CIN cases, as compared to nuclei in low CIN cases, have more irregular shape, are larger in size, are coarser in texture, contain higher edges, have higher local contrast, are more inhomogeneous, and comprise structures of different intensities.Conclusion. A systematic statistical analysis of nucleus features, quantified from the H&E-stained biopsy material, showed that there are significant differences in the shape, size, and texture of nuclei between low CIN and high CIN cases.
Four Japanese Patients with Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus due to theAVPR2Mutations
Authors: Namatame-Ohta Noriko , Morikawa Shuntaro , Nakamura Akie , Matsuo Kumihiro , Nakajima Masahide , Tomizawa Kazuhiro , Tanahashi Yusuke , Tajima Toshihiro
Published: July 2018

Almost 90% of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is caused by mutations in the arginine vasopressin receptor 2 gene (AVPR2) on the X chromosome. Herein, we reported clinical and biochemical parameters in four cases of three unrelated Japanese families and analyzed the status of theAVPR2.Two of the four patients had poor weight gain. However, in the male and female sibling cases, neither had poor weight gain while toddlers, but in the male sibling, episodes of recurrent fever, polyuria, and polydipsia led to the diagnosis of NDI at 4 years of age. Analysis ofAVPR2identified two nonsense mutations (c.299_300insA; p.K100KfsX91 and c.296G > A; p.W99X) and one missense mutation (c.316C > T; p.R106C). These mutations were previously reported. The patient with c.316C > T; p.R106C had milder symptoms consistent with previous reports. Of the familial cases, the sister was diagnosed as having NDI, but a skewed X-inactivation pattern in her peripheral blood lymphocytes was not identified. In conclusion, our study expands the spectrum of phenotypes and characterized mutations inAVPR2in NDI.
Relations between Safety Climate, Awareness, and Behavior in the Chinese Construction Industry: A Hierarchical Linear Investigation
Authors: Wang Mudan , Sun Jun , Du Hua , Wang Cynthia
Published: July 2018

The vast majority of accidents in construction are generated by unsafe behaviors. Some researches also find that the behaviors could be influenced by the awareness and safety climate. The safety behavior and awareness belong to individual levels, while the safety climate belongs to the organization level. Previous studies mainly focus on the relationships between safety climate, safety awareness, and safety behavior without considering their different respective levels and the interaction between levels. This study establishes a hierarchical linear model (HLM) of safety climate, individual safety awareness, and safety behavior to examine the multilevel relationships between them. Data were collected using questionnaire from workers in different teams on the construction site in China. The results indicate that organizational safety climates affect individual safety behavior and safety awareness. In addition, there is a positive correlation between individual safety awareness and safety behavior, and the safety climates have a positive moderating effect on the relationship between them. The final conclusion offers a path for the current practice of safety management in the construction industry.
Tissue Regeneration without Stem Cell Transplantation: Self-Healing Potential from Ancestral Chemistry and Physical Energies
Authors: Facchin Federica , Bianconi Eva , Canaider Silvia , Basoli Valentina , Biava Pier Mario , Ventura Carlo
Published: July 2018

The human body constantly regenerates after damage due to the self-renewing and differentiating properties of its resident stem cells. To recover the damaged tissues and regenerate functional organs, scientific research in the field of regenerative medicine is firmly trying to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the regenerative potential of stem cells may be unfolded into a clinical application. The finding that some organisms are capable of regenerative processes and the study of conserved evolutionary patterns in tissue regeneration may lead to the identification of natural molecules of ancestral species capable to extend their regenerative potential to human tissues. Such a possibility has also been strongly suggested as a result of the use of physical energies, such as electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibrations in human adult stem cells. Results from scientific studies on stem cell modulation confirm the possibility to afford a chemical manipulation of stem cell fate in vitro and pave the way to the use of natural molecules, as well as electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibrations to target human stem cells in their niche inside the body, enhancing human natural ability for self-healing.
The Influence of Orbital Element Error on Satellite Coverage Calculation
Authors: Dai Guangming , Chen Xiaoyu , Zuo Mingcheng , Peng Lei , Wang Maocai , Song Zhiming
Published: July 2018

This paper studies the influence of orbital element error on coverage calculation of a satellite. In order to present the influence, an analysis method based on the position uncertainty of the satellite shown by an error ellipsoid is proposed. In this error ellipsoid, positions surrounding the center of the error ellipsoid mean different positioning possibilities which present three-dimensional normal distribution. The possible subastral points of the satellite are obtained by sampling enough points on the surface of the error ellipsoid and projecting them on Earth. Then, analysis cases are implemented based on these projected subastral points. Finally, a comparison report of coverage calculation between considering and not considering the error of orbital elements is given in the case results.
Intercropping of Gramineous Pasture Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Leguminous Forage Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Increases the Resistance of Plants to Heavy Metals
Authors: Cui Tuantuan , Fang Linchuan , Wang Mengke , Jiang Mao , Shen Guoting
Published: July 2018

Intercropping can increase the biomass of plants and reduce the accumulation of heavy metals in plants. However, the mechanisms of intercropping increasing plant biomass and resistance to heavy metals are still unclear. Therefore, the pot experiment had been conducted to investigate the effect of intercropping treatment on the growth of gramineous pasture ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and leguminous forage alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in metal-contaminated soil. Our results showed that intercropping alleviated inhibition of heavy metals to plant growth and increased nitrogen and chlorophyll contents in the shoots and roots. Moreover, the Pb concentrations in the shoots and roots of ryegrass and alfalfa in the intercropping were significantly lower than those in the monoculture. And, the contents of saccharase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in the intercropping treatment. Additionally, the intercropping treatment could reduce the oxidative damage and increase enzymatic antioxidant activities to improve the resistance of plants in contaminated soil. The intercropping treatment can increase the resistance of plants to heavy metals through reduction of plant oxidative damage and increase of antioxidant activity. It could provide us with a strategy that intercropping of ryegrass and alfalfa can increase biomass and reduce the absorption of Pb on forage plants.
The Investigation of the Use of Prealbumin as a Tool for Nutritional Assessment in Adults Coinfected with HIV and Intestinal Helminth Parasites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Mkhize B. T. , Mabaso M. H. L. , Madurai S. , Mkhize-Kwitshana Z. L.
Published: July 2018

Serum prealbumin is considered to be as important as albumin in the nutritional status assessment. However, there is relatively little evidence of its advantage over the commonly used albumin. This study investigated the use of prealbumin compared to albumin as a marker of nutritional status in adults singly and dually infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and intestinal helminths, with or without inflammatory conditions, in different body mass index (BMI) categories. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a periurban setting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the effect of prealbumin and albumin in nutritional assessment among HIV and helminth individuals with or without inflammation, indicated by elevated and normal C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. In normal CRP, albumin was significantly lower in unadjusted BMI [RRR = 0.8, p = 0.001] and in normal weight [RRR = 0.7, p = 0.003] and overweight [RRR = 0.5, p = 0.001] participants. In elevated CRP, albumin was significantly lower [RRR = 0.8, p = 0.050] and prealbumin was significantly higher in unadjusted BMI [RRR = 1.2, p = 0.034] and overweight [RRR = 1.4, p = 0.052] individuals. The current study found that prealbumin can differentiate between inflammation-induced reduction of albumin and true malnutrition in adults singly or coinfected with HIV and intestinal helminths in the presence or absence of inflammation in various BMI categories.
Evaluation on Analgesic and Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Total Flavonoids from Juniperus sabina
Authors: Zhao Jun , Maitituersun Aosimanjiang , Li Chenyang , Li Qian , Xu Fang , Liu Tao
Published: July 2018

The leaves of Juniperus sabina (Cupressaceae) are used in traditional Uygur medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritic pain. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic and anti‐inflammatory effects of total flavonoids from leaves of Juniperus sabina (JSTF) on rodents. The anti‐inflammatory activity was investigated using the carrageenan, egg albumin, or histamine‐induced rat paw edema as well as xylene‐induced ear edema, capillary permeability, and cotton pellet granuloma while the antinociceptive activity was evaluated using the mouse writhing, formalin, and hot‐plate tests. JSTF (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) significantly inhibited xylene‐induced ear edema in mice (inhibition ratio as 16.22%, 40.67%, and 51.78%, respectively) and also significantly ameliorated acetic acid increased vascular permeability in mice (inhibition ratio as 11.63%, 32.56%, and 53.49%, respectively). JSTF (250 and 500 mg/kg) gave significant reduction of carrageenin‐induced paw oedema at the interval of 1 h and 5 h. Administration of JSTF (500 mg/kg) caused a significant anti‐inflammatory effect against oedema induced by egg albumin or histamine at the interval of 0.5 h and 4 h, and both which induced the paw oedema were also inhibited by JSTF (250 mg/kg) at a point in 1, 2, or 3 h after the inflammation. Furthermore, JSTF (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) produced time‐course increase in pain threshold in hot‐plate test also. JSTF produced concentration‐dependent inhibition on cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) or 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO) activities in vitro, and their IC50 values were 31.92 and 129.26 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, JSTF significantly caused a significant dose‐dependent inhibition on acetic acid induced writhing response in mice (inhibition ratio as 23.27%, 36.91%, and 50.76%, respectively). JSTF also significantly ameliorated formalin‐induced pain in mice in the late phase on dose‐dependent way. These results confirms the clinical use of J. sabina for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in ethnomedicine, and its effective mechanism will be further studied in the future.
A Case of Primary Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenia: Challenges in Choice of Therapies
Authors: Wang Hanyin , Tuncer Hande
Published: July 2018

The value of combination therapy for refractory ITP is not well defined. We present the case of a 29-year-old male with severe ITP refractory to initial standard therapy including steroids, IVIG, and subsequent splenectomy, who was treated with the combination therapy of rituximab, romiplostim, and mycophenolate and eventually developed thrombocytosis requiring plateletpheresis. Our case highlights the importance of the need to understand predictors of response to standard upfront treatment of acute ITP.
The Clinical Cases of Geleophysic Dysplasia: One Gene, Different Phenotypes
Authors: Globa Evgenia , Zelinska Nataliya , Dauber Andrew
Published: July 2018

Background. Geleophysic dysplasia is a rare multisystem disorder that principally affects the bones, joints, heart, and skin. This condition is inherited either in an autosomal dominant pattern due to FBN1 mutations or in an autosomal recessive pattern due to ADAMTSL2 mutations. Two patients with unaffected parents from unrelated families presented to their endocrinologist with severe short stature, resistant to growth hormone treatment. Routine endocrine tests did not reveal an underlying etiology. Exome sequencing was performed in each family. Our two patients, harboring de novo heterozygous FBN1 mutations p.Tyr1696Asp and p.Cys1748Ser, had common clinical symptoms such as severe short stature, characteristic facial features, short hands and feet, and limitation of joint movement. However, one patient had severe cardiac involvement whereas the other patient had tracheal stenosis requiring tracheostomy placement. Conclusions. Patients with severe dwarfism, skeletal anomalies, and other specific syndromic features (e.g., tracheal stenosis and cardiac valvulopathy) should undergo genetic testing to exclude acromelic dysplasia syndromes.
Quality of Life in Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Authors: Lee Chuo-Yu , Cheng Shih-Jung , Lin Hui-Chi , Liao Yu-Lu , Chen Pei-Hao
Published: July 2018

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a complex, multisymptom disorder. When making decisions regarding the treatment of DLB, the patient’s quality of life (QoL) should always be the main consideration. To our knowledge, this is the first review article focusing on the QoL in DLB patients. We searched the PubMed database using the keywords “quality of life” and “dementia with Lewy bodies.” Previously, no specific instrument had been developed for assessing the QoL in DLB patients. Patients with DLB have a decreased QoL compared to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, which is reportedly caused by several factors including level of independence in instrumental activities of daily living, whether the patient is living with the caregiver, apathy, delusion, and dysautonomia. The direct effect of visual hallucination, sleep, and movement disorders on the QoL in DLB patients has not been previously studied. The role of cognitive function on the QoL is still controversial. In a randomized controlled study, memantine may improve the QoL in PDD or DLB patients. We concluded that it is important to develop a specific instrument to assess the QoL in DLB patients. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for large clinical trials to identify factors associated with the QoL and how they can be managed.