bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plants and human beings engage similar molecular crosstalk with nitric oxide under stress conditions
Authors: Singh Neha , Bhatla Satish C. , Demidchik Vadim
Published: April 2019

Human beings and plants experience a variety of stress conditions and adapt themselves through novel molecular crosstalk in their cellular constituents. Nitric oxide (NO), haemoglobin and melatonin interact with each other not only in blood stream of human beings, but also in the cells and metabolically active conducting strands of plants. Specialised sites of biosynthesis and differential intracellular spatial distribution of these molecules have been clearly demonstrated by the authors in plant systems. This has led to an understanding of the role of these molecules under salt stress conditions experienced by plants: NO is a modulator of enzyme activity through S-nitrosylation and tyrosine nitration, haemoglobin (phytoglobin) is an NO scavenger, and melatonin is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger involved in key crosstalk in both plants and humans facing stress. Our recent work on heme oxygenase (HO) activity modulation by stress in plants, and its interaction with NO, further demonstrates common features of molecular crosstalk in protecting plants and human beings from stress.
An ancient hybridization event reconciles mito-nuclear discordance among spiral-horned antelopes
Authors: Rakotoarivelo Andrinajoro R , O’Donoghue Paul , Bruford Michael W , Moodley Yoshan
Published: April 2019

The spiral-horned antelopes (genus Tragelaphus) are among the most phenotypically diverse of all large mammals, and evolved in Africa during an adaptive radiation that began in the late Miocene, around 6 million years ago. Tragelaphus was able to exploit the habitat heterogeneity created by Plio-Pleistocene paleoclimatic fluctuations and tectonic processes to eventually occupy almost every habitat type in present day sub-Saharan Africa. The smallest of the spiral-horned antelopes, the bushbuck (T. scriptus), is also widely distributed across Africa, but is genetically divided into polyphyletic Scriptus and Sylvaticus mitochondrial (mt)DNA superlineages that inhabit opposite halves of the continent, suggesting the convergent evolution of independent bushbuck species. In this study, we provide a species tree reconstruction for the genus Tragelaphus and show that Scriptus and Sylvaticus are reciprocally monophyletic at nuclear DNA loci, comprising a single species across its African range. Given that mtDNA will sort into species-specific lineages more quickly than nuclear DNA, only an ancient interspecific hybridization event between a female from a now-extinct Tragelaphus species and a proto-Scriptus bushbuck male can reconcile the mito-nuclear incongruence. This extinct species diverged from the nyala (T. angasii) in the Pliocene about 4.1 million years ago. This study adds to an increasing body of evidence that suggests interspecific hybridization may be more common than previously thought.
Zfp217 mediates m6A mRNA methylation to orchestrate transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to promote adipogenic differentiation
Authors: Song Tongxing , Yang Yang , Wei Hongkui , Xie Xiaowei , Lu Jinxin , Zeng Qianhui , Peng Jie , Zhou Yuanfei , Jiang Siwen , Peng Jian
Published: April 2019

A complex and highly orchestrated gene expression program chiefly establishes the properties that define the adipocyte phenotype, in which the vast majority of factors are involved in transcriptional regulation. However, the mechanisms by post-transcriptional modulation are poorly understood. Here, we showed that zinc finger protein (Zfp217) couples gene transcription to m6A mRNA modification to facilitate adipogenesis. Zfp217 modulates m6A mRNA methylation by activating the transcription of m6A demethylase FTO. Consistently, depletion of Zfp217 compromises adipogenic differentiation of 3T3L1 cells and results in a global increase of m6A modification. Moreover, the interaction of Zfp217 with YTHDF2 is critical for allowing FTO to maintain its interaction with m6A sites on various mRNAs, as loss of Zfp217 leads to FTO decrease and augmented m6A levels. These findings highlight a role for Zfp217-dependent m6A modification to coordinate transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation and thus promote adipogenic differentiation.
An ostentatious model of cosmological scalar–tensor theory
Authors: Kan Nahomi , Shiraishi Kiyoshi
Published: April 2019

We consider a novel model of gravity with a scalar field described by the Lagrangian with higher-order derivative terms in a cosmological context. The model has the same solution for the homogeneous and isotropic universe as in the model with the Einstein gravity, notwithstanding the additional higher-order terms. Finally, a possible modification scenario is briefly discussed.
Production cross-section of heavy flavored hadrons in pp collision at s = 7 TeV
Authors: Ajaz Muhammad , Khan Irfan , Suleymanov M. K.
Published: April 2019

The transverse momentum distribution of the differential production cross-sections of heavy flavored charm hadrons [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] in pp collisions at 7 TeV are simulated. Predictions of DPMJETIII.17-1, HIJING1.383 and Sibyll2.3c are compared to the differential cross-section measurements of the LHCb experimental data presented in the region of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where the pp center of mass frame is used to measure the transverse momentum and rapidity. The models reproduce only some regions of [Formula: see text] and/or bins of [Formula: see text] but none of them predict completely all the [Formula: see text] bins over the entire [Formula: see text] range.
Structural and Mineralogical Characterization of a Fossil Hydrothermal System Located at the Outermost Front of the Southern Apennines Fold-and-Thrust Belt
Authors: Fulignati Paolo , Agosta Fabrizio , Belviso Claudia , Prosser Giacomo , Lettino Antonio , Petrullo Angela Vita , Cavalcante Francesco
Published: April 2019

Aiming at investigating the hydrothermal circulation along the eastern flank of the Vulture volcano, along the outermost edge of the southern Apennine fold-and-thrust belt (ftb), we studied the fossil hydrothermal alteration that mineralized a transtensional fault that crosscuts volcanoclastic rocks in the Rapolla area. On the basis of structural, mineralogical, and fluid inclusion data, three main stages of activity of the hydrothermal system are documented. Stage 1 was produced by the circulation of fluids having low-pH conditions (pH ≈ 3-4) and relatively high-SO42- activity, as testified by the hydrothermal alteration mainly carried out by the alunite group minerals (particularly jarosite), which is typical of an advanced argillic alteration facies. Hydrothermal fluids were characterized by a high temperature of about 200°-210°C. These hot fluids altered and mineralized the matrices of pyroclastic rocks and sealed both burial-related and fault-related fracture networks. Later hydrothermal circulation (Stage 2) was recorded by opal A-rich veins present both within and outside the fault zone. The fluids responsible of opal A precipitation were characterized by lower temperature conditions, probably lower than 100°C. Current goethite mineralization takes place along the main slip surfaces of the study high-angle fault zone due to low temperature (<30°C) underground water circulation. This study highlights that a high-temperature hydrothermal system developed in the past within the transtensional fault zone of the Rapolla area when a high thermal anomaly was present. If we take into account that this area is still affected by a heat flux positive anomaly (90 mW/m2), we may infer that it has the potentiality to be considered an interesting site for future exploration devoted to the finding of medium-enthalpy geothermal resources at depth.
Investigation on Texture Changes and Classification between Cold-Fresh and Freeze-Thawed Tan Mutton
Authors: Li Dongdong , Peng Yaling , Zhang Haihong
Published: April 2019

To study the texture, microstructural changes, and classification of cold-fresh (C-F), freeze-thawed once (F-T0), and freeze-thawed twice Tan mutton (F-Tt), the aforementioned three types of Tan mutton were subjected to near-infrared hyperspectrum scanning, scanning electron microscopy, and TPA testing. The original spectrum of Tan mutton was obtained at a wavelength range of 900∼1,700 nm after hyperspectrum scanning; a spectrum fragment ranging from 918 nm to 1,008 nm was intercepted, and the remaining original spectrum was used as a studied spectrum (“full spectrum” hereafter). The full spectrum was pretreated by SNV (standard normal variate), MSC (multiple scattering correction), and SNV + MSC and then extracted feature wavelengths by SPA (successive projections algorithm) and CARS (competitive adaptive reweighted sampling) algorithm, and 25 feature wavelengths were obtained. By combining these feature wavelengths with classified variables, the SNV + MSC−CARS−PLS-DA (partial least squares-discriminate analysis, PLS-DA) and SNV + MSC−SPA−PLS-DA models for classification of C-F and F-T Tan mutton were established. In contrast, SNV + MSC−CARS−PLS-DA yielded the highest classification rate of 98% and 100% for calibration set and validation set, respectively. The results indicated that the texture and surface microstructure of F-T Tan mutton deteriorated, and more worsely with F-T time. SNV+MSC-CARS-PLS-DA could be well used to classify C-F, F-T0, and F-Tt Tan mutton.
Effects of Fe3O4 Nanoparticle Stress on the Growth and Development of Rocket Eruca sativa
Authors: Plaksenkova Ilona , Jermaļonoka Marija , Bankovska Linda , Gavarāne Inese , Gerbreders Vjačeslavs , Sledevskis Eriks , Sniķeris Jānis , Kokina Inese
Published: April 2019

Plants exposed to stress use the variety of gene regulatory mechanisms to achieve cellular homeostasis, including posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression where microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role. Since various environmental stress factors such as nanoparticles affect crop productivity and quality, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxicity level and to estimate miRNA expression level and chlorophyll a level in the magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticle-stressed rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) seedlings grown in hydroponics. Rocket seedlings were exposed to 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 4 mg/L Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and after 5 weeks, seed germination rate, root-shoot elongation, genotoxicity, chlorophyll a, and miRNA expression levels were evaluated. The obtained results indicated that 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 4 mg/L concentrations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles induce low genotoxicity and have a positive effect on the growth and development of rocket seedlings and that nanoparticles may improve the ability of plants to stand against environmental stresses.
Cyclophilin A Protects Cardiomyocytes against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Apoptosis via the AKT/Nox2 Pathway
Authors: Cheng Fuyu , Yuan Wei , Cao Mengfei , Chen Rui , Wu Xiuli , Yan Jinchuan
Published: April 2019

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) accelerates the process of cardiomyocyte apoptosis during ischemia-reperfusion. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a critical driver of oxidative stress injury. Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a major ROS-induced factor in atherosclerosis. There is a positive feedback mechanism between CyPA and ROS, which enables the oxidative stress response to continue and expand. However, it is unclear whether this positive feedback mechanism exists in cardiomyocytes. Through western blotting and flow cytometric assays and TUNEL assay, we found that CyPA inhibited the apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes under H/R conditions. By dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and electron spin resonance (ESR) assays, we demonstrated that CyPA reduced ROS production and suppressed O2-production dependent on reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. By western blotting, we showed that CyPA inhibited the expression of NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) protein by the AKT pathway. Through confocal microscopy assay, we found that CyPA reduced the expression of Nox2 membrane-bound subunits. The current study shows that a positive feedback mechanism does not exist in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. CyPA protects H9c2 cardiomyoblasts against H/R-induced apoptosis via the AKT/Nox2 pathway. This could be a potential target for ischemia-reperfusion injury therapy.
Upregulation of UCP2 Expression Protects against LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Huang Jinda , Peng Wanwan , Zheng Yijun , Hao Hu , Li Sitao , Yao Yu , Ding Yue , Zhang Junliang , Lyu Juanjuan , Zeng Qiyi
Published: April 2019

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) has a cardioprotective role under septic conditions, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed at investigating the effects of UCP2 on the oxidative stress and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). First, LPS increased UCP2 expression in cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner. LPS increased the production of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, UCP2 knockdown increased the LPS-induced cardiac injury and oxidative stress. In addition, LPS damaged the mitochondrial ultrastructure and led to the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), as well as the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. UCP2 knockdown aggravated mitochondrial injury and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. LPS increased the protein levels of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3, decreased the protein level of Bcl-2, and upregulated the protein level of mitogen-activated protein kinase. However, upon UCP2 knockdown, the protein levels of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 increased even further, and the protein level of Bcl-2 was further decreased. The protein level of phosphorylated p38 was also further enhanced. Thus, UCP2 protects against LPS-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.
Raman Spectroscopy and Aptamers for a Label-Free Approach: Diagnostic and Application Tools
Authors: Scatena Elisa , Baiguera Silvia , Del Gaudio Costantino
Published: April 2019

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful optical technique based on the inelastic scattering of incident light to assess the chemical composition of a sample, including biological ones. Medical diagnostic applications of Raman spectroscopy are constantly increasing to provide biochemical and structural information on several specimens, being not affected by water interference, and potentially avoiding the constraint of additional labelling procedures. New strategies have been recently developed to overcome some Raman limitations related, for instance, to the need to deal with an adequate quantity of the sample to perform a reliable analysis. In this regard, the use of metallic nanoparticles, the optimization of fiber optic probes, and other approaches can actually enhance the signal intensity compared to spontaneous Raman scattering. Moreover, to further increase the potential of this investigation technique, aptamers can be considered as a valuable means, being synthetic, short, single, or double-stranded oligonucleotides (RNAs or DNAs) that fold up into unique 3D structures to specifically bind to selected molecules, even at very low concentrations, and thus allowing an early diagnosis of a possible disease. Due to the paramount relevance of the topic, this review focuses on the main Raman spectroscopy techniques combined with aptamer arrays in the label-free mode, providing an overview on different applications to support healthcare management.
Modeling of the Penultimate Unit Effect in Chain-Growth Copolymerizations
Authors: Machado Fabricio
Published: April 2019

The present work addresses the modeling and simulation of the addition of copolymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in batch mode, and the formation of tailored vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers is evaluated through stochastic optimization procedures based on the Monte Carlo method. A kinetic model of the free-radical reaction was proposed in order to predict the behavior of the reaction system taking into consideration the presence of the penultimate unit effect. The profiles of conversion and copolymer composition were also evaluated considering the effect of the medium viscosity (kinetic phenomena related to gel and glass effects) on the reaction performance. It was shown that the proposed model for chain-growth copolymerization is able to describe strong nonlinear behaviors such as autoacceleration of the polymerization and drift of copolymer composition. It was also shown that copolymers with homogeneous composition can be successfully synthesized through manipulation of the monomer feed flow rate based on a stochastic optimization procedure.
Dehydroepiandrosterone Prevents H2O2-Induced BRL-3A Cell Oxidative Damage through Activation of PI3K/Akt Pathways rather than MAPK Pathways
Authors: Li Longlong , Yao Yao , Jiang Zhihao , Zhao Jinlong , Cao Ji , Ma Haitian
Published: April 2019

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a popular dietary supplement that has well-known benefits in animals and humans, but there is not enough information about the mechanisms underlying its effects. The present study aimed at investigating these mechanisms through in vitro experiments on the effects of DHEA on rat liver BRL-3A cells exposed to oxidative stress through H2O2. The findings showed that DHEA increased the antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased ROS generation, and inhibited apoptosis in H2O2-treated cells. These effects of DHEA were not observed when the cells were pretreated with known antagonists of sex hormones (Trilostane, Flutamide, or Fulvestrant). Furthermore, treatment with estradiol and testosterone did not have the same protective effects as DHEA. Thus, the beneficial effects of DHEA were associated with mechanisms that were independent of steroid hormone pathways. With regard to the mechanism underlying the antiapoptotic effect of DHEA, pretreatment with DHEA was found to induce a significant decrease in the protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 and a significant increase in the protein expression of PI3K and p-Akt in H2O2-treated BRL-3A cells. These effects of DHEA were abolished when the cells were pretreated with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. No changes were observed on the p-ERK1/2, p-p38, and p-JNK protein levels in H2O2-induced BRL-3A cells pretreated with DHEA. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that DHEA protects BRL-3A cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through mechanisms that do not involve its biotransformation into steroid hormones or the activation of sex hormone receptors. Importantly, the protective effect of DHEA on BRL-3A cells was mainly associated with PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, rather than MAPK signaling pathways.
Stiffness Analysis of Rectangular Isolators Reinforced by Engineering Plastics
Authors: Liu Han , Tan Ping , Zhou Fulin
Published: April 2019

A novel cost‐effective isolator reinforced by engineering plastics has been designed and manufactured for seismic protection for low‐rise buildings in less developed areas. The reinforcement is flexible in tension, which is similar to fiber‐reinforced isolators. However, available solutions for fiber‐reinforced isolators are not applicable, because the Poisson effect of engineering plastics cannot be neglected, which is done for fiber reinforcement. In this paper, analytical solutions for compression and bending stiffness for rectangular isolators reinforced by engineering plastics are proposed, with both the Poisson effect of the reinforcement and the effect of rubber compressibility taken into consideration. Then, the simplified solutions are also derived, which can greatly improve calculation efficiency. To validate the solutions, finite element analysis is conducted on a set of isolators with different reinforcement stiffnesses. The results show the superiority of the proposed solutions to the previous solutions for fiber‐reinforced isolators. A series of experimental tests of the isolators are also carried out to verify the solutions. Both the analytical and the simplified solutions match well with the experimental results.
Antimicrobial, Conductive, and Mechanical Properties of AgCB/PBS Composite System
Authors: Veranitisagul Chatchai , Wattanathana Worawat , Wannapaiboon Suttipong , Hanlumyuang Yuranan , Sukthavorn Kankavee , Nootsuwan Nollapan , Chotiwan Siwaruk , Phuthong Witchukorn , Jongrungruangchok Suchada , Laobuthee Apirat
Published: April 2019

Demand for environmentally friendly plastic materials which are obtained from renewable resources such as biomass-based polyesters is of concern. Herein, the enhanced characteristic performances of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) by employing the fabrication of PBS-based composites with the nanosilver-coated carbon black (AgCB) using an injection-molding method are reported. The preformed AgCB additives are priorly prepared by the benzoxazine oxidation method. Phase characterization of the obtained composite materials examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the crystalline PBS matrix and the presence of metallic silver particles, confirming the successful fabrication of the composite materials. Detailed analyses on thermal, mechanical, electrical, and antimicrobial properties of the composite materials are reported. The AgCB-PBS composite materials provide such potential features by an enhancement of electrical conductivity and the antimicrobial activity by an inhibition against E. coli and C. albicans. These AgCB-PBS composite materials show the possibility to be an option for antielectrostatic and antimicrobial applications such as for the production of smart, environmentally friendly keyboards.
The Burden of Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus in Adult African Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Asmelash Daniel , Asmelash Yemane
Published: April 2019

Background. The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing in Africa. Type two diabetes may remain undetected for many years, leading to severe complications and healthcare costs. This underlines the importance of understanding the magnitude of undiagnosed diabetes in different populations of Africa. This study is intended to summarize and pool the results of community-based studies to provide a continental level estimate of the undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Methods. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, HINARI, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for community-based studies on diabetes mellitus in Africa. Descriptive information for the original studies was presented in a table, and the quantitative results were presented in forest plots. The Cochran’s Q test and I2 test statistic were used to test heterogeneity across studies. The pooled prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and subgroup analyses within urban and rural population and diagnostic methods were computed by a random effects model from 2011 to 2017. Results. One hundred fifty-seven articles were identified through electronic searching using keywords. Of these, seventeen studies, with a total population of 20,350, met the inclusion criteria. A random effects meta-analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in African population was 5.37% (95% CI: 4.57, 6.81). The pooled prevalence from subgroup analyses indicated that undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in the urban population (8.68%, 95% CI: 5.33, 12.03) is twice higher than that in the rural population (3.93%, 95% CI: 2.91, 4.95). The prevalence of UDM by OGTT (8.84%, 95% CI: 1.95, 15.73) was higher than that by the FPG diagnostic method (4.54%, 95% CI: 3.59, 5.49). Conclusion. This study found high proportions of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in different communities of the African countries. Policy makers must consider diagnostic strategies to improve screening for the undiagnosed diabetes mellitus cases for effective care, which can bring about a substantial reduction in diabetes-related complications and mortality. This review is registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42018092637.
A Novel Memory-Scheduling Strategy for Large Convolutional Neural Network on Memory-Limited Devices
Authors: Li Shijie , Shen Xiaolong , Dou Yong , Ni Shice , Xu Jinwei , Yang Ke , Wang Qiang , Niu Xin
Published: April 2019

Recently, machine learning, especially deep learning, has been a core algorithm to be widely used in many fields such as natural language processing, speech recognition, object recognition, and so on. At the same time, another trend is that more and more applications are moved to wearable and mobile devices. However, traditional deep learning methods such as convolutional neural network (CNN) and its variants consume a lot of memory resources. In this case, these powerful deep learning methods are difficult to apply on mobile memory-limited platforms. In order to solve this problem, we present a novel memory-management strategy called mmCNN in this paper. With the help of this method, we can easily deploy a trained large-size CNN on any memory size platform such as GPU, FPGA, or memory-limited mobile devices. In our experiments, we run a feed-forward CNN process in some extremely small memory sizes (as low as 5 MB) on a GPU platform. The result shows that our method saves more than 98% memory compared to a traditional CNN algorithm and further saves more than 90% compared to the state-of-the-art related work “vDNNs” (virtualized deep neural networks). Our work in this paper improves the computing scalability of lightweight applications and breaks the memory bottleneck of using deep learning method on memory-limited devices.
Tricetin Protects Rat Chondrocytes against IL-1β-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis
Authors: Sun Fang-Fang , Hu Peng-Fei , Xiong Yan , Bao Jia-Peng , Qian Jing , Wu Li-Dong
Published: April 2019

Tricetin is a well-studied flavonoid with a wide range of pharmacological activities in cancer and inflammation. However, the ability of tricetin to ameliorate the inflammation that occurs in osteoarthritis (OA) has not been determined. This study explored the effects of tricetin on interleukin- (IL-) 1β-induced rat chondrocytes. Chondrocytes harvested from rat cartilage were incubated in vitro with tricetin in the presence of IL-1β. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 1, MMP-3, MMP-13, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Bax, and Bcl-2 was evaluated by real-time-PCR, ELISA, Griess reaction, and western blotting. Caspase-3 activity in chondrocytes was determined using a caspase-3 activity assay and MAPK pathway activity by western blotting. Tricetin decreased the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 at both the gene and protein level in IL-1β-induced rat chondrocytes. It also inhibited IL-1β-induced NO and PGE2 production, by modulating inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 gene expression. An antiapoptotic role of tricetin involving the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-3 pathway was also determined. The chondroprotective effect of tricetin was shown to be partly related to the suppression of the MAPK signaling pathway. The results of this study demonstrate the chondroprotective role of tricetin, based on its anticatabolic, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects in chondrocytes. The therapeutic potential of tricetin in OA patients should be explored in future studies.
Multistage System-Based Machine Learning Techniques for Intrusion Detection in WiFi Network
Authors: Thang Vu Viet , Pashchenko F. F.
Published: April 2019

The aim of machine learning is to develop algorithms that can learn from data and solve specific problems in some context as human do. This paper presents some machine learning models applied to the intrusion detection system in WiFi network. Firstly, we present an incremental semisupervised clustering based on a graph. Incremental clustering or one-pass clustering is very useful when we work with data stream or dynamic data. In fact, for traditional clustering such as K-means, Fuzzy C-Means, DBSCAN, etc., many versions of incremental clustering have been developed. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no incremental semisupervised clustering in the literature. Secondly, by combining a K-means algorithm and a measure of local density score, we propose a fast outlier detection algorithm, named FLDS. The complexity of FLDS is On1.5 while the results obtained are comparable with the algorithm LOF. Thirdly, we introduce a multistage system-based machine learning techniques for mining the intrusion detection data applied for the 802.11 WiFi network. Finally, experiments conducted on some data sets extracted from the 802.11 networks and UCI data sets show the effectiveness of our new proposed methods.
Bandwidth Allocation of Cognitive Relay Networks with Energy Harvesting for Smart Grid
Authors: Li Yupeng , Wang Zihao , Luo Ling , Chen Zhiyong , Xia Bin , Luo Hao
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we investigate an energy harvesting scheme in a smart grid based on the cognitive relay protocol, where a primary transmitter scavenges energy from the nature sources and then employs the harvested energy to forward the primary signal. Depending on the intensity of the energy harvesting from nature, a secondary user dynamically acts as a relay node to assist the primary transmission or does not. When the energy is not enough powerful to support the direct transmission between two primary users, the secondary users share the spectrum by assisting the primary transmission. For the relaying scheme, both amplify-and-forward (AF) and decode-and-forward (DF) protocols are investigated. We analytically obtain the exact transmission rates for both primary and secondary networks and derive the exact expressions of the system outage probabilities for both primary and secondary users in the smart grid. Moreover, we develop the analytically optimal bandwidth allocation strategy to maximize the total sum rate of the proposed scheme. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the performance gain of the proposed scheme over the nonoptimal scheme.
Vibration Reduction of the Nonlinearly Tufted Carpet Yarn by a Modified Sliding Mode Control Method
Authors: Huang Shuang , Wu Xin , Li Peixing
Published: April 2019

The yarn vibration causes the yarn tension value to fluctuate, causing a change in the amount of yarn feed, thus causing a deviation of the carpet pile height from the predetermined value. To solve this problem, the sliding mode control algorithm is used to design the sliding mode function and the sliding mode control law. And four variables in the yarn vibration system are controlled by the MATLAB software. For solving the chattering problem of the control law, the sliding mode control law is improved. The fuzzy sliding mode control algorithm based on the quasisliding mode is adopted. The results show that the sliding mode control algorithm is effective, but the sliding mode control force needs to be switched at high frequency and there is severe chattering. The fuzzy sliding mode control algorithm based on quasisliding mode is adopted to achieve better control effect with a smaller force. In addition, the control force does not have high‐frequency switching, and the change is relatively stable, which reduces the chattering phenomenon of sliding mode control.
Effects of Phaseolus vulgaris Extract on Lipolytic Activity and Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes into Mature Adipocytes: A Strategy to Prevent Obesity
Authors: Castillo Felipe , González Daniel R. , Moore-Carrasco Rodrigo
Published: April 2019

Background. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may be harmful for health. A global trend in this area is the search for natural compounds that have a proven beneficial effect and no clinical complications. Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) is a vegetable highly consumed worldwide. One of its effects, the most reported, is weight reduction in overweight individuals. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the antiobesity activity of this legume in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in rat white adipose tissue in an ex vivo model. Design. Mature adipocytes 3T3-L1 and rat adipose tissue were treated with bean extracts. We quantified lipolysis in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in rat white adipose tissue in an ex vivo model. Results. In an ex vivo assay with adipose tissue, methanolic and aqueous green bean extracts increased glycerol release to the medium compared to control (p<0.05 and p<0.001 respectively). Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with green bean extracts (800 and 1000 µg/mL) increased glycerol release significantly (p<0.0001). Extracts at concentrations between 500 and 1000 µg/mL reduced intracellular triglyceride accumulation by 34.4% and 47.1% compared to control (p<0.0001). Discussion. Our results propose that bioactive compounds of green beans exert a direct mechanism on adipocytes through lipolysis. Conclusion. We have identified a novel capacity of bean extracts related to lipolytic activity both in vitro and ex vivo, resulting in a powerful lipolytic effect. Moreover, we also found that bean extracts has an antiadipogenic effect during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These results suggest that bean is a good candidate for the development of functional ingredients that can help reduce the high rates of death from cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity.
Highly Crystalline WO3 Nanoparticles Are Nontoxic to Stem Cells and Cancer Cells
Authors: Han B. , Popov A. L. , Shekunova T. O. , Kozlov D. A. , Ivanova O. S. , Rumyantsev A. A. , Shcherbakov A. B. , Popova N. R. , Baranchikov A. E. , Ivanov V. K.
Published: April 2019

Tungsten oxide sol, containing highly crystalline nanoparticles of orthorhombic WO3 and having good sedimentation stability, was synthesized using a facile, ultrasonic-assisted technique. An additional steric stabilizer, dextran, was proposed to enhance the stability of WO3 nanoparticles in biological media and to reduce their in vivo toxicity. The cytotoxicity of dextran-stabilized and nonstabilized WO3 sols was studied in vitro using dental pulp stem (DPS) cell lines and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Both tungsten oxide sols demonstrated low cytotoxicity and low genotoxicity for both stem cells and malignant cells and only slightly reduced their metabolic activity in the concentration range studied (from 0.2 to 200 μg/ml). The data obtained support possible theranostic applications of tungsten oxide colloidal solutions.
Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial Activity, and Antioxidant Activity of Ocotea minarum (Nees & Mart.) Mez.
Authors: Rodrigues Allan Belarmino , Almeida-Apolonio Adriana Araújo de , Alfredo Tamaeh Monteiro , Dantas Fabiana Gomes da Silva , Campos Jaqueline Ferreira , Cardoso Claudia Andrea Lima , de Picoli Souza Kely , Oliveira Kelly Mari Pires de
Published: April 2019

Ocotea minarum is a native plant from Brazil, popularly known as “canelinha” or “canela vassoura.” The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of the extracts of the bark and the leaves of O. minarum and to evaluate its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tanins, were quantified with the reagents Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, and vanillin. The chemical profile was performed by HPLC-DAD. The minimum inhibitory concentration was evaluated by the microdilution in a broth method. The antioxidant activity was measured by the capture of free radicals 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). In addition, protection against oxidative hemolysis and generation of malondialdehyde were evaluated in human erythrocytes. The composition of the extracts included the caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rosmarinic acid, besides the flavonoids quercetin and luteolin. The EEL showed bacteriostatic action of 1000 μg/mL for all evaluated Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis, and the EHEB had a moderate antifungal action against Candida krusei and Cryptococcus gattii (250 μg/mL). IC50 values of 8.19 (EEL) and 4.51 μg/mL (EEB) in the assay with DPPH and 6.25 (EEL) and 2.87 μg/mL (EEB) in the assay with ABTS were obtained. Up to the 3rd hour of oxidative hemolysis testing induced by AAPH, the EEB and EEL had a protective action, reducing the malondialdehyde. In conclusion, the data indicate that the O. minarum extracts can be evaluated as bioactive supplies for the development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress and microbial infections.
A Meta-Analysis of Resveratrol Protects against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: Evidence from Small Animal Studies and Insight into Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Mao Zhi-Jie , Lin Hui , Hou Jian-Wen , Zhou Qian , Wang Qian , Chen Yi-He
Published: April 2019

Aims. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a leading cause of cardiomyocyte loss and subsequent ventricular dysfunction after restoring the coronary blood flow and contributes to considerable increase in morbidity and mortality. Resveratrol has been declared to confer cardioprotection against in vivo and ex vivo myocardial I/R injury. Here, we have sought to investigate the effects of preconditioning with resveratrol on myocardial I/R damage across the small animal studies. Methods and Results. The MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were searched for preclinical studies investigating resveratrol vs. vehicle published from the inception to July 2018. Eventually, 10 in vivo and 7 ex vivo studies with 261 animals (130 for resveratrol; 131 for vehicle) were included for meta-analysis. Pooled estimates for primary outcomes demonstrated that pretreatment with resveratrol significantly reduced the infarct size after myocardial I/R injury irrespective of in vivo (weighted mean difference (WMD): -13.42, 95% CI: -16.63 to -10.21, P≤0.001) or ex vivo (WMD: -15.05, 95% CI: -18.23 to -11.86, P≤0.001) studies. Consistently, stratified analysis according to the reperfusion duration, route of administration, or timing regimen of pretreatment all showed the infarct-sparing benefit of resveratrol. Metaregression did not indicate any difference in infarct size based on species, sample size, state, route of administration, reperfusion duration, and timing regimen of pretreatment. Meanwhile, sensitivity analysis also identified the cardioprotection of resveratrol with robust results in spite of significant heterogeneity. Conclusions. Preconditioning with resveratrol appears to prevent the heart from I/R injury in comparison with vehicle, as evidenced by limited infarct size in a preclinical setting. Studies with large animals or randomized controlled trials will add more evidence and provide the rationale for clinical use.
Prevalence of Dental Caries in 5- and 6-Year-Old Myanmar Children
Authors: Nomura Yoshiaki , Maung Khin , Kay Khine Eint Min , Sint Khin Myo , Lin May Phyo , Win Myint Min Khaing , Aung Thu , Sogabe Kaoru , Otsuka Ryoko , Okada Ayako , Kakuta Erika , Wint Wit Yee , Uraguchi Masahide , Hasegawa Ryo , Hanada Nobuhiro
Published: April 2019

There are no national data available of the oral health in Myanmar. In this study, we examined dental caries status of 187 school children located in the suburban area of Naypyidaw, capital of Myanmar, at the age of five and six and analyzed by the individual level and tooth level. Maxillary D and B were sensitive for dental caries almost at the same level. They were less sensitive than maxillary A. Mandibular A and B were tolerant for dental caries. Prevalence of dental caries in Myanmar children was still high. By applying item response theory and multilevel modeling, tooth level analysis can be implemented to confirm the tendency for sensitivity or tolerance for dental caries by the tooth level.
Microglial BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK in the Spinal Cord Are Suppressed by Pulsed Radiofrequency on Dorsal Root Ganglion to Ease SNI-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats
Authors: Xu Xueru , Fu Shaoxiong , Shi Xiaomei , Liu Rongguo
Published: April 2019

Background. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) has been applied to alleviate neuropathic pain effectively, yet the mechanisms underlying pain reduction owing to this treatment are not clarified completely. The activated microglia, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the spinal cord were demonstrated to be involved in developing neuropathic pain. Also, it has been just known that PRF on DRG inhibits the microglial activation in nerve injury rats. Here, we aim to investigate whether PRF treatment could regulate the levels of BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK in the spinal cord of rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) via suppressing the spinal microglia activation to ease neuropathic pain. Methods. The rats with SNI were intrathecally treated with minocycline (specific microglia inhibitor) or same volume of dimethyl sulfoxide once daily, beginning from 1 h before nerve transection to 7 days. PRF was applied adjacent to the L4-L5 DRG of rats with SNI at 45 V for 6 min on the seventh postoperative day, whereas the free-PRF rats were treated without PRF. The withdrawal thresholds were studied, and the spinal levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK were calculated by western blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence. Results. The paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency decreased in the ipsilateral hind paws after SNI, and the spinal levels of Iba1, BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK increased on day 21 after SNI compared with baseline (P<0.01). An intrathecal injection of minocycline led to the reversal of SNI-induced allodynia and increase in levels of Iba1, BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK. Withdrawal thresholds recovered partially after a single PRF treatment for 14 days, and SNI-induced microglia hyperactivity, BDNF upregulation, and PI3K and ERK phosphorylation in the spinal cord reduced on D14 due to the PRF procedure. Conclusion. Microglial BDNF, PI3K, and p-ERK in the spinal cord are suppressed by the therapy of PRF on DRG to ease SNI-induced neuropathic pain in rats.
Electrical Conductivity of Films Formed by Few-Layer Graphene Structures Obtained by Plasma-Assisted Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphite
Authors: Vasiliev Vladimir P. , Manzhos Roman A. , Krivenko Alexander G.
Published: April 2019

Current-voltage characteristics of few-layer graphene structures (FLGS) obtained by plasma-assisted electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in Na2SO4 solution were measured. FLGS are shown to possess electronic conductivity, which indicates the predominant functionalization of the edges of graphene planes and the preservation of the structure of basal planes in obtained nanostructures as in the source graphite. The effect of humidity on the conductivity of FLGS films was studied. The resistance of films was found to increase with an increase in the relative humidity of the environment due to the shielding of FLGS flakes by a film of water. The effect of different solvents on the current-voltage characteristics of FLGS was analyzed. The conductivity of films significantly decreased in vapors of polar protic solvents, while there was a minor effect of nonpolar aprotic solvents on the conductivity of FLGS films.
Triptolide Inhibits Preformed Fibril-Induced Microglial Activation by Targeting the MicroRNA155-5p/SHIP1 Pathway
Authors: Feng Yang , Zheng Chuyun , Zhang Yajun , Xing Changyang , Cai Wenbin , Li Ruru , Chen Jianzong , Duan Yunyou
Published: April 2019

Evidence suggests that various forms of α-synuclein- (αSyn-) mediated microglial activation are associated with the progression of Parkinson’s disease. MicroRNA-155-5p (miR155-5p) is one of the most important microRNAs and enables a robust inflammatory response. Triptolide (T10) is a natural anti-inflammatory component, isolated from a traditional Chinese herb. The objective of the current study was to identify the role and potential regulatory mechanism of T10 in αSyn-induced microglial activation via the miR155-5p mediated SHIP1 signaling pathway. Mouse primary microglia were exposed to monomers, oligomers, and preformed fibrils (PFFs) of human wild-type αSyn, respectively. The expressions of TNFα and IL-1β, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qPCR, demonstrated that PFFs initiated the strongest immunogenicity in microglia. Application of inhibitors of toll-like receptor (TLR) 1/2, TLR4, and TLR9 indicated that PFFs activated microglia mainly via the NF-κB pathway by binding TLR1/2 and TLR4. Treatment with T10 significantly suppressed PFF-induced microglial activation and attenuated the release of proinflammatory cytokines including TNFα and IL-1β. Levels of IRAK1, TRAF6, IKKα/β, p-IKKα/β, NF-κB, p-NF-κB, PI3K, p-PI3K, t-Akt, p-Akt and SHIP1 were measured via Western blot. Levels of miR155-5p were measured by qPCR. The results demonstrated that SHIP1 acted as a downstream target molecule of miR155-5p. Treatment with T10 did not alter the expression of IRAK1 and TRAF6, but significantly decreased the expression of miR155-5p, resulting in upregulation of SHIP1 and repression of NF-κB activity, suggesting inhibition of inflammation and microglial activation. The protective effects of T10 were abolished by the use of SHIP1 siRNA and its inhibitor, 3AC, and miR155-5p mimics. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that treatment with T10 suppressed microglial activation and attenuated the release of proinflammatory cytokines by suppressing NF-κB activity via targeting the miR155-5p/SHIP1 pathway in PFFs-induced microglial activation.
Does Antenatal Care Translate into Skilled Birth Attendance? Analysis of 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Baatiema Linus , Ameyaw Edward Kwabena , Moomin Aliu , Zankawah Mukaila Mumuni , Koramah Doris
Published: April 2019

Background. Despite the high antenatal care attendance rate in Ghana, skilled birth attendance is relatively low. There is limited evidence on whether antenatal care attendance translates into skilled birth attendance in the Ghanaian research discourse. This study investigates whether antenatal care attendance translates into skilled birth. Methods. We extracted data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Data were analysed using descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses at 5% confidence interval. Results. The descriptive findings indicated a vast variation between antenatal care attendance and skilled birth attendance. Skilled birth attendance was consistently low across almost all sociodemographic characteristics as compared to antenatal care attendance. The binary logistic regression analysis however indicated higher inclination toward skilled birth attendance among women who had at least four antenatal care visits [OR=5.87, CI=4.86-7.08]. The category of women noted to have higher tendencies of skilled birth attendance was those with higher/tertiary education [OR=9.13, CI=2.19-37.93], the rich [OR=4.27, CI=3.02-6.06], urban residents [OR=2.35, CI=1.88-2.93], women with maximum of four children [OR=1.36, CI=1.08-1.72], and those using modern contraceptives [OR=1.24, CI=1.03-1.50]. Conclusion. We recommend that interventions to enhance skilled birth attendance must target women who do not achieve at least four antenatal visits, those with low wealth standing, those not using contraceptives, and women without formal education. Again, an in-depth qualitative study is envisaged to deepen the understanding of these dynamics in the rural setting.
Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Luber Raphael P. , Rentsch Clarissa , Lontos Steve , Pope Jeffrey D. , Aung Ar Kar , Schneider Hans G. , Kemp William , Roberts Stuart K. , Majeed Ammar
Published: April 2019

Turmeric is a commonly used oral herbal supplement with purported anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties. It is promoted as safe, with limited reports of severe adverse effects directly related to oral turmeric thus far in the literature. Herein we report two cases of turmeric supplement induced severe hepatitis. These cases highlight the need for physicians to be aware of patients taking this common supplement and the potential risks that exist.