bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shifting Identity of Tamu Lhosar From Cultural To Political
Authors: Gurung Lina
Published: April 2017

Tamu Lhosar is Gurungs' New Year which is celebrated every year in the 15th of Poush (approximately December 30) is the biggest festival for Gurungs (Tamu). Tamu Lhosar has become a national festival and enjoys public holiday. This paper aims at exploring out the changing practice of Tamu Lhosar celebrated in Kathmandu Valley through ethnographic approach. Interview, interaction, participant’s observation were done to gather information. Besides, relevant literature was reviewed and, speech given in the program, press release and media news were also analyzed. I tried to apply both in emic and etic perspective in this research. The research found that Tamu Lhosar was stated to celebrate in Kathmandu in 2036 BS (1979 A.D) and then every year. It has been celebrating not only for preserving their culture, cultural identity, and uniting all Tamus residing in Kathmandu valley but also for raising awareness, demonstrating strength and advocating for their rights and issues. Along with changing socio-cultural and political context of the country, the practice of Tamu Lhosar is changing. The move is looking towards social and political transformation. In the starting years, it was celebrated with aim to preserve and promote culture, language and cultural identity of the Gurung community. But nowadays, its purpose has become wider and multipurpose. Tamu Lhosar is more focused in cities and urban areas. The inter organizations (Tamu samaj) of Gurung community actively participate in the festivals demonstrating their folk songs, dance, dresses and ritual activities. Now, Gurungs use this festival also as a platform to expose their cultural identity and political power as well. The big mass of the community that gather every year in the open central space of Kathmandu city has drawn the attraction of the people nationwide, activist and major political parties and leaders. The young generation are also boosting up the importance of Tamu Lhosar in the urban context. The celebration of Tamu Lhosar no more carry the message of their cultural preservation but its practice has shifted beyond it and demands for the institutionalization of their rights through their own federal state in the country. The ethnic identity of Gurungs thus now is marching for political identity.Himalayan Journal of Sociology & Anthropology - Vol. VII (2016), Page: 96-110
Democratization and Development in Nepal
Authors: Aryal Ram Prasad
Published: April 2017

Democratization and development are intrinsically related to each other. There is very little literature on the relationship between democratization and development, especially after major political movements in Nepal. Therefore, this paper focuses on impacts of democratization on development activities. This is based on descriptive analysis of the Nepalese censuses after 1950s, periodical demographic surveys and a review of official documents. Democratization in Nepal has resulted in changes in Nepalese society, especially in the areas of education, health, transportation, practices in elimination of caste differentials, and migration and remittance inflow into the country. This paper is expected to have importance for policy implications from holistic perspectives.Himalayan Journal of Sociology & Anthropology - Vol. VII (2016), Page: 141-154
Thermal shock behavior of rare earth modified alumina ceramic composites
Authors: Sun Junlong , Liu Changxia
Published: April 2017

Alumina matrix ceramic composites toughened by AlTiC master alloys, diopside and rare earths were fabricated by hot-pressing and their thermal shock behavior was investigated and compared with that of monolithic alumina. Results showed that the critical thermal shock temperature (ΔT) of monolithic alumina was 400 °C. However, it decreased to 300 °C for alumina incorporating only AlTiC master alloys, and increased with further addition of diopside and rare earths. Improvement of thermal shock resistance was obtained for alumina ceramic composites containing 9.5 wt.% AlTiC master alloys and 0.5 wt.% rare earth additions, which was mainly attributed to the formation of elongated grains in the composites.
Laser surface treatment of S235JRC carbon steel with Co2B nanocrystals
Authors: Simsek Tuncay , Baris Mustafa , Akkurt Adnan
Published: April 2017

In this study, Co2B nanocrystals, which were synthesized in a planetary type mill by using the mechanochemical method, were pre-coated on the surface of S235JRC low carbon steel substrates, and then the surfaces were clad using a CO2 laser. In the experiments, laser scan speed was kept constant and laser power was specified as the variable parameter. The microstructure and phases of the coatings were investigated by using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. The mechanical properties of the coatings were characterized using micro-hardness, ball-on-disc wear, and scratch testing. The thickness of the coatings depending on the laser power was measured in the range 35–71 μm. The hardness and the wear resistance of the coatings were approximately 3 times higher compared to the base metal due to FeN0.0760, Fe15.1C, FeCo, and B2C5N2 phases of the coatings. The most durable coatings against wear were obtained at 174 W and 220 W laser powers.
Emergence of multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant community acquired uropathogens in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.
Authors: Begum Nurjahan , Shamsuzzaman S. M.
Published: April 2017

Because of indiscriminate, inadequate and irrational usage of antimicriobials, the sensitivity pattern of community acquired uropathogens is changing drastically, specifically in developing countries, such as Bangladesh. This study was undertaken to investigate the profile of common uropathogens in community settings and to evaluate their antimicrobial resistance profile in order to categorize them into multidrug resistant (MDR), extensively drug resistant (XDR) and pandrug resistant (PDR) organisms.Total 800 urine samples were collected from symptomatic UTI cases and processed in the Department of Microbiology of DMC following standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined by Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.Simultaneously, the percentage prevalence of MDR, XDR, and PDR isolates were also determined. Out of the 800 urine samples screened, 150 (18.75%) samples yielded significant growth. The most common bacterial isolate was Esch.coli (60%), followed by Klebsiella species (13.33%). A significantly high resistance was noted to the beta-lactam group of antimicrobials, fluoroquinolones and cotrimoxazole, both by the gram-negative bacilli (GNB) as well as gram-positive cocci (GPC). However nitrofurantoinwas found to be most effective oral drug against both GNB and GPC. Out of total 150 bacterial strains studied, 106 (70.67%) bacterial strains were MDR, 21 (14%) strains were XDR, and no PDR was detected.So, close monitoring of MDR, XDR, or even PDR must be done by all clinical microbiology laboratories to implement effective measures to reduce the menace of antimicrobial resistance.Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2015; 9 (2): 7-12
The Immune Response against Acinetobacter baumannii, an Emerging Pathogen in Nosocomial Infections
Authors: García-Patiño María Guadalupe , García-Contreras Rodolfo , Licona-Limón Paula
Published: April 2017

Acinetobacter baumanniiis the etiologic agent of a wide range of nosocomial infections, including pneumonia, bacteremia, and skin infections. Over the last 45 years, an alarming increase in the antibiotic resistance of this opportunistic microorganism has been reported, a situation that hinders effective treatments. In order to develop effective therapies againstA. baumanniiit is crucial to understand the basis of host–bacterium interactions, especially those concerning the immune response of the host. Different innate immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells have been identified as important effectors in the defense againstA. baumannii; among them, neutrophils represent a key immune cell indispensable for the control of the infection. Several immune strategies to combatA. baumanniihave been identified such as recognition of the bacteria by immune cells through pattern recognition receptors, specifically toll-like receptors, which trigger bactericidal mechanisms including oxidative burst and cytokine and chemokine production to amplify the immune response against the pathogen. However, a complete picture of the protective immune strategies activated by this bacteria and its potential therapeutic use remains to be determined and explored.
A Free Interface Model for Static/Flowing Dynamics in Thin-Layer Flows of Granular Materials with Yield: Simple Shear Simulations and Comparison with Experiments
Authors: Lusso Christelle , Bouchut François , Ern Alexandre , Mangeney Anne
Published: April 2017

Flows of dense granular materials comprise regions where the material is flowing, and regions where it is static. Describing the dynamics of the interface between these two regions is a key issue to understanding the erosion and deposition processes in natural environments. A free interface simplified model for non-averaged thin-layer flows of granular materials has been previously proposed by the authors. It is a coordinate-decoupled (separated variables) version of a model derived by asymptotic expansion from an incompressible viscoplastic model with Drucker-Prager yield stress. The free interface model describes the evolution of the velocity profile as well as the position of the transition between static and flowing material. It is formulated using the coordinate Z in the direction normal to the topography and contains a source term that represents the opposite of the net force acting on the flow, including gravity, pressure gradient, and internal friction. In this paper we introduce two numerical methods to deal with the particular formulation of this model with a free interface. They are used to evaluate the respective role of yield and viscosity for the case of a constant source term, which corresponds to simple shear viscoplastic flows. Both the analytical solution of the inviscid model and the numerical solution of the viscous model (with a constant viscosity or the variable viscosity of the μ ( I ) rheology) are compared with experimental data. Although the model does not describe variations in the flow direction, it reproduces the essential features of granular flow experiments over an inclined static layer of grains, including the stopping time and the erosion of the initial static bed, which is shown to be closely related to the viscosity for the simple shear case.
Erosion Wear Investigation of HVOF Sprayed WC-10Co4Cr Coating on Slurry Pipeline Materials
Authors: Kumar Kaushal , Kumar Satish , Singh Gurprit , Singh Jatinder , Singh Jashanpreet
Published: April 2017

In the present work, erosion wear due to slurry mixture flow has been investigated using a slurry erosion pot tester. Erosion tests are conducted on three different slurry pipe materials, namely, mild steel, SS202, and SS304, to establish the influence of rotational speed, concentration, and time period. In order to increase erosion wear resistance, a high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) coating technique is used to deposit a WC-10Co4Cr coating on the surface of all piping materials. Experimental results show that rotational speed is a highly-influencing parameter for the erosion wear rate as compared to solid concentration, time duration, and weighted mean diameter. WC-10Co4Cr HVOF coating improved the erosion resistance of piping materials up to 3.5 times. From experimental data, the exponents of solid concentration, velocity, and the size of particles are calculated for the empirical erosion wear equation. A functional equation of the erosion wear rate is developed. The predicted erosion wear is in agreement with the experimental data and found to be within a deviation of ±12%.
Li2HgMS4 (M = Si, Ge, Sn): New Quaternary Diamond-Like Semiconductors for Infrared Laser Frequency Conversion
Authors: Wu Kui , Pan Shilie
Published: April 2017

A new family of quaternary diamond-like semiconductors (DLSs), Li2HgMS4 (M = Si, Ge, Sn), were successfully discovered for the first time. All of them are isostructural and crystallize in the polar space group (Pmn21). Seen from their structures, they exhibit a three-dimensional (3D) framework structure that is composed of countless 2D honeycomb layers stacked along the c axis. An interesting feature, specifically, that the LiS4 tetrahedra connect with each other to build a 2D layer in the ac plane, is also observed. Experimental investigations show that their nonlinear optical responses are about 0.8 for Li2HgSiS4, 3.0 for Li2HgGeS4, and 4.0 for Li2HgSnS4 times that of benchmark AgGaS2 at the 55–88 μm particle size, respectively. In addition, Li2HgSiS4 and Li2HgGeS4 also have great laser-damage thresholds that are about 3.0 and 2.3 times that of powdered AgGaS2, respectively. The above results indicate that title compounds can be expected as promising IR NLO candidates.
Comparative Interrelationship of the Structural, Nonlinear-Optical and Other Acentric Properties for Oxide, Borate and Carbonate Crystals
Authors: Kidyarov Boris I.
Published: April 2017

The structure and the maximal nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility χ(2) are tabulated for more 700 acentric binary oxides, 220 crystals of simple, binary and complex borates and for the same set of 110 carbonates, tartrates, formates, oxalates, acetates and fluoride-carbonates used in ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet optoelectronics. According to the chemical formula, the structural symbols of these crystals have been plotted on the plane of two minimal oxide bond lengths (OBL). It is shown that acentric crystals are positioned on such plane inside the vertical, horizontal and slope intersected ellipses of “acentricity”. The oxide and borate crystals with moderate NLO susceptibility are found in the central parts of these ellipses intersection and, with low susceptibility, on top, at the bottom and border of the ellipses rosette. The nonpolar fluoride-carbonate crystals with high NLO susceptibility are found in the curve-side rhombic parts of the slope ellipse of “acentricity”. The unmonotonous fuzzy dependence “χ(2)” on the OBL of these crystals is observed, and their clear-cut taxonomy on compounds with π– or σ–oxide bonds is also established. It is shown that the correlations of χ(2) with other acentric properties are nonlinear for the whole set of the oxide crystals having their clear maximum at a certain value of the piezoelectric or electro-optic coefficient. The correlation “hardness–thermoconductivity-fusibility” is plotted for oxide crystals, part of which is used at the creation of self-frequency-doubling solid state lasers.
Using Competition to Control Congestion in Autonomous Drone Systems
Authors: Manrique Pedro , Johnson D. , Johnson Neil
Published: April 2017

With the number and variety of commercial drones and UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) set to escalate, there will be high future demands on popular regions of airspace and communication bandwidths. This raises safety concerns and hence heightens the need for a generic quantitative understanding of the real-time dynamics of multi-drone populations. Here, we explain how a simple system design built around system-level competition, as opposed to cooperation, can be used to control and ultimately reduce the fluctuations that ordinarily arise in such congestion situations, while simultaneously keeping the on-board processing requirements minimal. These benefits naturally arise from the collective competition to choose the less crowded option, using only previous outcomes and built-in algorithms. We provide explicit closed-form formulae that are applicable to any number of airborne drones N, and which show that the necessary on-board processing increases slower than N as N increases. This design therefore offers operational advantages over traditional cooperative schemes that require drone-to-drone communications that scale like N 2 , and also over optimization and control schemes that do not easily scale up to general N. In addition to populations of drones, the same mathematical analysis can be used to describe more complex individual drones that feature N adaptive sensor/actuator units.
EMTP Model of a Bidirectional Cascaded Multilevel Solid State Transformer for Distribution System Studies
Authors: Martin-Arnedo Jacinto , González-Molina Francisco , Martinez-Velasco Juan A. , Adabi Mohammad Ebrahim
Published: April 2017

Abstract: This paper presents a time-domain model of a MV/LV bidirectional solid state transformer (SST). A multilevel converter configuration of the SST MV side is obtained by cascading a single-phase cell made of the series connection of an H bridge and a dual active bridge (dc-dc converter); the aim is to configure a realistic SST design suitable for MV levels. A three-phase four-wire converter has been used for the LV side, allowing the connection of both load/generation. The SST model, including the corresponding controllers, has been built and encapsulated as a custom-made model in the ATP version of the EMTP for application in distribution system studies. Several case studies have been carried out in order to evaluate the behavior of the proposed SST design under different operating conditions and check its impact on power quality.
The Signature of the Blandford-Znajek Mechanism in GRB Light Curves
Authors: Contopoulos Ioannis , Nathanail Antonios , Strantzalis Achillies
Published: April 2017

In 1977, Blandford and Znajek showed how the spin energy of a rotating black hole may be extracted electromagnetically through a magnetic field that threads the black hole horizon. A characteristic feature of this mechanism is that, under certain fairly general conditions, the energy loss rate decays exponentially. We looked precisely for such behavior in the X-ray light curves of Long and Ultra Long duration Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) observed with the XRT instrument on board the Swift satellite, and found that almost 30% of XRT light curves show an exponential decay before they reach the afterglow plateau. A similar behavior (Fast Rise Exponential Decay-FRED) was observed in γ -rays with the BATSE instrument aboard the CGRO satellite. We consider both of these findings as the signature of the Blandford-Znajek mechanism in action in the central engine of GRBs.
Study on the Health Status and Health Service Utilization of the Elderly of a Remote and Poor Village in a Mountainous Area in Jinzhai, Anhui
Authors: Hu Chaoqun , Yu Wenya , Lv Yipeng , Chen Haiping , Deng Qiangyu , Zhang Lulu
Published: April 2017

Background: Despite the rapid development of China’s economy, a number of poor areas in China continue to exist. The health status of the elderly in the poor areas is a matter of concern. This study aims to explore the status of the elderly in terms of their health status, health service needs, and utilization among rural residents of a remote and poor village in a mountainous area in Jinzhai, Anhui. Furthermore, this study aims to explore the differences between the nation rural area average level and the remote and poor village in the mountainous area in terms of health status and health service utilization. Methods: Cluster sampling was used to obtain the sample. A total of 110 elderly people were selected from the village, and face-to-face interviews were conducted with questionnaires by trained investigators to collect data. Results: All items except vision, language disability, and self-care disability were found to be higher than the national average level. In terms of mental health, Zishu Village has a ratio of 44.1% for the symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is higher than the average for the national rural areas. The two-week prevalence rate, prevalence of chronic diseases, and non-hospitalization rate of those who need hospitalization (%) in Zishu Village was 62.7%, 88.2%, and 47.6% respectively, which was higher than the rural values of the National Survey (2008). Most of the outpatient visits were to the village clinics, while the hospitalizations were mainly to county hospitals. The two-week visiting rate was 24.1%, which was lower than 2008. The hospitalization rate in Zishu Village was 10.8%, which is similar to the level of 2008. Conclusions: The health level and the utilization of health services of the people in Zishu Village, Jinzhai, are generally lower than the national average. Financial difficulties continue to remain the major factor affecting the utilization of hospitalization services of this remote and poor village in Jinzhai, Anhui.
High Glucose Accelerates Cell Proliferation and Increases the Secretion and mRNA Expression of Osteopontin in Human Pancreatic Duct Epithelial Cells
Authors: Ito Miho , Makino Naohiko , Matsuda Akiko , Ikeda Yushi , Kakizaki Yasuharu , Saito Yoshihiko , Ueno Yoshiyuki , Kawata Sumio
Published: April 2017

Background: The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing year-by-year in Japan. Among the diseases that complicate pancreatic cancer, diabetes is the most common. Recently, it has become evident that patients suffering from diabetes and obesity show increased expression of osteopontin (OPN). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high glucose and high insulin culture conditions on a human pancreatic duct epithelial cell line (HPDE-6), focusing particularly on OPN expression. Methods: HPDE-6 were cultured under various conditions, employing several combinations of glucose (normal, 6 mM high, 30 mM, and 60 mM) and insulin (0.1 nM, 1 nM) concentration. Results: HPDE-6 cell proliferation was significantly accelerated under high glucose culture conditions in comparison to samples in 6 mM glucose, and was more prominent under high insulin conditions. At the same time, the expression of OPN mRNA was also increased significantly. In comparison with 6 mM glucose, the expression of 8-OHdG DNA was increased in high glucose culture. Conclusion: HPDE-6 cells show accelerated proliferation and increased OPN expression when cultured under high glucose and high insulin conditions. Furthermore, the cells show increased oxidative stress in the presence of high glucose.
SUMO-Specific Cysteine Protease 1 Promotes Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition of Prostate Cancer Cells via Regulating SMAD4 deSUMOylation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Wang Hao , Wang Hua , Xiao Fengjun , Seth Prem , Xu Weidong , Jia Qinghua , Wu Chutse , Yang Yuefeng , Wang Lisheng
Published: April 2017

In advanced prostate cancer, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific cysteine protease 1 (SENP1) is up-regulated. However, the role of SENP1 in regulating deSUMOylation of TGF-β/SMADs signaling is unknown. In this study, we developed a lentiviral vector, PLKO.1-shSENP1, to silence SENP1 in prostate cancer cells with high metastatic characteristics (PC3M). Likewise, we also created an adenovirus vector, Ad5/F11p-SENP1 to over-express SENP1 in prostate cancer cells with low metastatic potential (LNCaP). We showed that silencing of SENP1 promoted cellular apoptosis, and inhibited proliferation and migration of PC3M cells. Moreover, SENP1 silencing increased the SMAD4 expression at protein level, up-regulated E-cadherin and down-regulated Vimentin expression, indicating the inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, SMAD4 interference abolished SENP1-mediated up-regulation of E-cadherin, suggesting that SENP1 regulated E-cadherin expression via SMAD4. SENP1 over-expression in LNCaP cells reduced SMAD4 protein, and promoted EMT via decreasing E-cadherin and increasing Vimentin. Moreover, down-regulation of SMAD4 and E-cadherin were blocked, after transfection with two SUMOylation sites mutated SMAD4, suggesting that SENP1 might reduce SMAD4 levels to regulate E-cadherin expression via deSUMOylation of SMAD4. In conclusion, SENP1 deSUMOylated SMAD4 to promote EMT via up-regulating E-cadherin in prostate cancer cells. Therefore, SENP1 is a potential target for treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Evaluation of the Potential Risk of Drugs to Induce Hepatotoxicity in Human—Relationships between Hepatic Steatosis Observed in Non-Clinical Toxicity Study and Hepatotoxicity in Humans-
Authors: Goda Keisuke , Kobayashi Akio , Takahashi Akemi , Takahashi Tadakazu , Saito Kosuke , Maekawa Keiko , Saito Yoshiro , Sugai Shoichiro
Published: April 2017

In the development of drugs, we sometimes encounter fatty change of the hepatocytes (steatosis) which is not accompanied by degenerative change in the liver in non-clinical toxicity studies. In this study, we investigated the relationships between fatty change of the hepatocytes noted in non-clinical toxicity studies of compound X, a candidate compound in drug development, and mitochondrial dysfunction in order to estimate the potential risk of the compound to induce drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in humans. We conducted in vivo and in vitro exploratory studies for this purpose. In vivo lipidomics analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between alteration of the hepatic lipids and mitochondrial dysfunction. In the liver of rats treated with compound X, triglycerides containing long-chain fatty acids, which are the main energy source of the mitochondria, accumulated. Accumulation of these triglycerides was considered to be related to the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration based on the results of in vitro mitochondria toxicity studies. In conclusion, fatty change of the hepatocytes (steatosis) in non-clinical toxicity studies of drug candidates can be regarded as a critical finding for the estimation of their potential risk to induce DILI in humans when the fatty change is induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.
Cytokinesis Failure Leading to Chromosome Instability in v-Src-Induced Oncogenesis
Authors: Nakayama Yuji , Soeda Shuhei , Ikeuchi Masayoshi , Kakae Keiko , Yamaguchi Naoto
Published: April 2017

v-Src, an oncogene found in Rous sarcoma virus, is a constitutively active variant of c-Src. Activation of Src is observed frequently in colorectal and breast cancers, and is critical in tumor progression through multiple processes. However, in some experimental conditions, v-Src causes growth suppression and apoptosis. In this review, we highlight recent progress in our understanding of cytokinesis failure and the attenuation of the tetraploidy checkpoint in v-Src-expressing cells. v-Src induces cell cycle changes—such as the accumulation of the 4N cell population—and increases the number of binucleated cells, which is accompanied by an excess number of centrosomes. Time-lapse analysis of v-Src-expressing cells showed that cytokinesis failure is caused by cleavage furrow regression. Microscopic analysis revealed that v-Src induces delocalization of cytokinesis regulators including Aurora B and Mklp1. Tetraploid cell formation is one of the causes of chromosome instability; however, tetraploid cells can be eliminated at the tetraploidy checkpoint. Interestingly, v-Src weakens the tetraploidy checkpoint by inhibiting the nuclear exclusion of the transcription coactivator YAP, which is downstream of the Hippo pathway and its nuclear exclusion is critical in the tetraploidy checkpoint. We also discuss the relationship between v-Src-induced chromosome instability and growth suppression in v-Src-induced oncogenesis.
Novel Nano-Therapeutic Approach Actively Targets Human Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells after Xenograft into Nude Mice
Authors: Abou-ElNaga Amoura , Mutawa Ghada , El-Sherbiny Ibrahim , Abd-ElGhaffar Hassan , Allam Ahmed , Ajarem Jamaan , Mousa Shaker
Published: April 2017

The power of tumorigenesis, chemo-resistance and metastasis in malignant ovarian tumors resides in a tiny population of cancer cells known as ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs). Developing nano-therapeutic targeting of OCSCs is considered a great challenge. The potential use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) was investigated as a drug delivery system for paclitaxel (PTX) against OCSCs in vitro and in vivo. PTX-loaded PLGA NPs were prepared by an emulsion solvent evaporation method, supported by incorporation of folic acid (FA) as the ligand. NPs were characterized for size, surface morphology, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency. In vitro cytotoxicity of PTX-loaded FA/PLGA NPs was tested against OCSCs with MTT assay. In vivo anti-tumoral efficiency and active targeting potential of prepared NPs against tumors in nude mice were investigated. In vitro results revealed that IC50 of PTX was significantly reduced after loading on PLGA NPs. On the other hand, in vivo results showed that PLGA NPs enhanced the tumor suppression efficiency of PTX. Investigation with real time quantitative PCR analysis revealed the limiting expression of chemo-resistant genes (ABCG2 and MDR1) after applying PLGA NPs as a drug delivery system for PTX. Histopathological examination of tumors showed the effective biological influence of PTX-loaded FA/PLGA NPs through the appearance of reactive lymphoid follicles. Targeting potential of PTX was activated by FA/PLGA NPs through significant preservation of body weight (p < 0.0001) and minimizing the systemic toxicity in healthy tissues. Immunohistochemical investigation revealed a high expression of apoptotic markers in tumor tissue, supporting the targeting effect of FA/PLGA NPs. A drug delivery system based on FA/PLGA NPs can enhance PTX’s in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo targeting potential against OCSCs.
Anemia in Kawasaki Disease: Hepcidin as a Potential Biomarker
Authors: Huang Ying-Hsien , Kuo Ho-Chang
Published: April 2017

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an autoimmune-like disease and acute childhood vasculitis syndrome that affects various systems but has unknown etiology. In addition to the standard diagnostic criteria, anemia is among the most common clinical features of KD patients and is thought to have a more prolonged duration of active inflammation. In 2001, the discovery of a liver-derived peptide hormone known as hepcidin began revolutionizing our understanding of anemia’s relation to a number of inflammatory diseases, including KD. This review focuses on hepcidin-induced iron deficiency’s relation to transient hyposideremia, anemia, and disease outcomes in KD patients, and goes on to suggest possible routes of further study.
Specific Abilities in the Workplace: More Important Than g?
Authors: Kell Harrison , Lang Jonas
Published: April 2017

A frequently reported finding is that general mental ability (GMA) is the best single psychological predictor of job performance. Furthermore, specific abilities often add little incremental validity beyond GMA, suggesting that they are not useful for predicting job performance criteria once general intelligence is accounted for. We review these findings and their historical background, along with different approaches to studying the relative influence of g and narrower abilities. Then, we discuss several recent studies that used relative importance analysis to study this relative influence and that found that specific abilities are equally good, and sometimes better, predictors of work performance than GMA. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings and sketching future areas for research.
Structural and Optical Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Treatment Method
Authors: Gharibshahi Leila , Saion Elias , Gharibshahi Elham , Shaari Abdul , Matori Khamirul
Published: April 2017

The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied using various techniques. The FTIR and EDX confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles without a trace of impurities. The XRD spectra revealed that the amorphous sample at 30 °C had transformed into the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperature of 400 °C and higher. The TEM images showed the formation of spherical Ag nanoparticles in which the average particle size decreased with increasing calcination temperature from 7.88 nm at 400 °C to 3.29 nm at 800 °C. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing calcination temperature from 2.75 eV at 400 °C to 3.04 eV at 800 °C. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions as the particle size decreases in corresponding to fewer numbers of atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles.
A Comparison of Microscale Techniques for Determining Fracture Toughness of LiMn2O4 Particles
Authors: Mughal Muhammad , Amanieu Hugues-Yanis , Moscatelli Riccardo , Sebastiani Marco
Published: April 2017

Accurate estimation of fracture behavior of commercial LiMn2O4 particles is of great importance to predict the performance and lifetime of a battery. The present study compares two different microscale techniques to quantify the fracture toughness of LiMn2O4 particles embedded in an epoxy matrix. The first technique uses focused ion beam (FIB) milled micro pillars that are subsequently tested using the nanoindentation technique. The pillar geometry, critical load at pillar failure, and cohesive FEM simulations are then used to compute the fracture toughness. The second technique relies on the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure the crack opening displacement (COD) and subsequent application of Irwin’s near field theory to measure the mode-I crack tip toughness of the material. Results show pillar splitting method provides a fracture toughness value of ~0.24 MPa.m1/2, while COD measurements give a crack tip toughness of ~0.81 MPa.m1/2. The comparison of fracture toughness values with the estimated value on the reference LiMn2O4 wafer reveals that micro pillar technique provides measurements that are more reliable than the COD method. The difference is associated with ease of experimental setup, calculation simplicity, and little or no influence of external factors as associated with the COD measurements.
Study on Protection Mechanism of 30CrMnMo-UHMWPE Composite Armor
Authors: Zhou Yu , Li Guoju , Fan Qunbo , Wang Yangwei , Zheng Haiyang , Tan Lin , Xu Xuan
Published: April 2017

The penetration of a 30CrMnMo ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene armor by a high-speed fragment was investigated via experiments and simulations. Analysis of the projectile revealed that the nose (of the projectile) is in the non-equilibrium state at the initial stage of penetration, and the low-speed regions undergo plastic deformation. Subsequently, the nose-tail velocities of the projectile were virtually identical and fluctuated together. In addition, the effective combination of the steel plate and polyethylene (PE) laminate resulted in energy absorption by the PE just before the projectile nose impacts the laminate. This early absorption plays a positive role in the ballistic performance of the composite armor. Further analysis of the internal energy and mass loss revealed that the PE laminate absorbs energy via the continuous and stable failure of PE fibers during the initial stages of penetration, and absorbs energy via deformation until complete penetration occurs. The energy absorbed by the laminate accounts for 68% of the total energy absorption, indicating that the laminate plays a major role in energy absorption during the penetration process.
A New Smoothing Nonlinear Penalty Function for Constrained Optimization
Authors: Yang Touna , Binh Nguyen , Thang Tran , Hoa Duong
Published: April 2017

In this study, a new smoothing nonlinear penalty function for constrained optimization problems is presented. It is proved that the optimal solution of the smoothed penalty problem is an approximate optimal solution of the original problem. Based on the smoothed penalty function, we develop an algorithm for finding an optimal solution of the optimization problems with inequality constraints. We further discuss the convergence of this algorithm and test this algorithm with three numerical examples. The numerical examples show that the proposed algorithm is feasible and effective for solving some nonlinear constrained optimization problems.
Indole Derivatives Isolated from Brown Alga Sargassum thunbergii Inhibit Adipogenesis through AMPK Activation in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes
Authors: Kang Min-Cheol , Ding Yuling , Kim Eun-A , Choi Youn Kyung , De Araujo Thiago , Heo Soo-Jin , Lee Seung-Hong
Published: April 2017

Seaweed, a popular and abundant food ingredient mainly consumed in Asian countries, is a good source of bioactive compounds with anti-obesity effects. However, the anti-obesity effects of Sargassum thunbergii have not yet been established. In this study, we isolated six indole derivatives (STCs)—indole-2-carboxaldehyde (STC-1), indole-3-carboxaldehyde (STC-2), indole-4-carboxaldehyde (STC-3), indole-5-carboxaldehyde (STC-4), indole-6-carboxaldehyde (STC-5), and indole-7-carboxaldehyde (STC-6)—from S. thunbergii and evaluated their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. We found that STC-1 and STC-5 resulted in non-toxic inhibition of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and thus selected these compounds for further study. STC-1 and STC-5 significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) in a dose-dependent manner. The specific mechanism mediating the effects of STC-1 and STC-5 was shown to be AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Our results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of STC-1 and STC-5 on adipogenesis through the activation of the AMPK signal pathway. Together, these findings suggested that STC-1 and STC-5 may be effective candidates for the prevention of obesity or obesity-related diseases.
High Prevalence of blaNDM-1, blaVIM, qacE, and qacEΔ1 Genes and Their Association with Decreased Susceptibility to Antibiotics and Common Hospital Biocides in Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Gomaa Fatma , Helal Zeinab , Khan Mazhar
Published: April 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) clinical isolates to biocides. We also determined the prevalence and correlation of efflux pump genes, class 1 integron and MBL encoding genes. In addition, blaVIM, blaNDM-1, qacE and qacEΔ1 nucleotide sequence analysis was performed and compared to sequences retrieved from GenBank at the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. A. baumannii had a resistance rate to carbapenem of 71.4% and 39.3% and was found to be a MBL producer. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of chlorhexidine and cetrimide were higher than the recommended concentrations for disinfection in 54.5% and 77.3% of MBL-positive isolates respectively and their MICs were significantly higher among qac gene-positive isolates. Coexistence of qac genes was detected in 68.1% and 50% of the isolates with blaVIM and blaNDM-1 respectively. There was a significant correlation between the presence of qac genes and MBL-encoding blaVIM and blaNDM-1 genes. Each of the blaNDM-1, blaVIM, qacE and qacEΔ1 DNA sequences showed homology with each other and with similar sequences reported from other countries. The high incidence of Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamases (VIM) and New-Delhi-metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) and qac genes in A. baumannii highlights emerging therapeutic challenges for being readily transferable between clinically relevant bacteria. In addition reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine and cetrimide and the potential for cross resistance to some antibiotics necessitates the urgent need for healthcare facilities to periodically evaluate biocides efficacy, to address the issue of antiseptic resistance and to initiate a “biocidal stewardship”.
Recent Advances in Cyanamide Chemistry: Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Prabhath M. , Williams Luke , Bhat Shreesha , Sharma Pallavi
Published: April 2017

The application of alkyl and aryl substituted cyanamides in synthetic chemistry has diversified multi-fold in recent years. In this review, we discuss recent advances (since 2012) in the chemistry of cyanamides and detail their application in cycloaddition chemistry, aminocyanation reactions, as well as electrophilic cyanide-transfer agents and their unique radical and coordination chemistry.
Degradation of Methyl 2-Aminobenzoate (Methyl Anthranilate) by H2O2/UV: Effect of Inorganic Anions and Derived Radicals
Authors: Lanzafame Grazia , Sarakha Mohamed , Fabbri Debora , Vione Davide
Published: April 2017

This study shows that methyl 2-aminobenzoate (also known as methyl anthranilate, hereafter MA) undergoes direct photolysis under UVC and UVB irradiation and that its photodegradation is further accelerated in the presence of H2O2. Hydrogen peroxide acts as a source of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) under photochemical conditions and yields MA hydroxyderivatives. The trend of MA photodegradation rate vs. H2O2 concentration reaches a plateau because of the combined effects of H2O2 absorption saturation and ·OH scavenging by H2O2. The addition of chloride ions causes scavenging of ·OH, yielding Cl2·− as the most likely reactive species, and it increases the MA photodegradation rate at high H2O2 concentration values. The reaction between Cl2·− and MA, which has second-order rate constant k C l 2 • − + M A = (4.0 ± 0.3) × 108 M−1·s−1 (determined by laser flash photolysis), appears to be more selective than the ·OH process in the presence of H2O2, because Cl2·− undergoes more limited scavenging by H2O2 compared to ·OH. While the addition of carbonate causes ·OH scavenging to produce CO3·− ( k C O 3 • − + M A = (3.1 ± 0.2) × 108 M−1·s−1), carbonate considerably inhibits the photodegradation of MA. A possible explanation is that the elevated pH values of the carbonate solutions make H2O2 to partially occur as HO2−, which reacts very quickly with either ·OH or CO3·− to produce O2·−. The superoxide anion could reduce partially oxidised MA back to the initial substrate, with consequent inhibition of MA photodegradation. Fast MA photodegradation is also observed in the presence of persulphate/UV, which yields SO4·− that reacts effectively with MA ( k S O 4 • − + M A = (5.6 ± 0.4) × 109 M−1·s−1). Irradiated H2O2 is effective in photodegrading MA, but the resulting MA hydroxyderivatives are predicted to be about as toxic as the parent compound for aquatic organisms (most notably, fish and crustaceans).
Pro-Angiogenic Effects of Low Dose Ethoxidine in a Murine Model of Ischemic Hindlimb: Correlation between Ethoxidine Levels and Increased Activation of the Nitric Oxide Pathway
Authors: Clere Nicolas , To Kim Hung Thien , Legeay Samuel , Bertrand Samuel , Helesbeux Jean Jacques , Duval Olivier , Faure Sébastien
Published: April 2017

Ethoxidine, a benzo[c]phenanthridine derivative, has been identified as a potent inhibitor of topoisomerase I in cancer cell lines. Our group has reported paradoxical properties of ethoxidine in cellular processes leading to angiogenesis on endothelial cells. Because low concentration ethoxidine is able to favor angiogenesis, the present study aimed to investigate the ability of 10−9 M ethoxidine to modulate neovascularization in a model of mouse hindlimb ischemia. After inducing unilateral hindlimb ischemia, mice were treated for 21 days with glucose 5% or with ethoxidine, to reach plasma concentrations equivalent to 10–9 M. Laser Doppler analysis showed that recovery of blood flow was 1.5 fold higher in ethoxidine-treated mice in comparison with control mice. Furthermore, CD31 staining and angiographic studies confirmed an increase of vascular density in ethoxidine-treated mice. This ethoxidine-induced recovery was associated with an increase of NO production through an enhancement of eNOS phosphorylation on its activator site in skeletal muscle from ischemic hindlimb. Moreover, real-time RT-PCR and western blots have highlighted that ethoxidine has pro-angiogenic properties by inducing a significant enhancement in vegf transcripts and VEGF expression, respectively. These findings suggest that ethoxidine could contribute to favor neovascularization after an ischemic injury by promoting the NO pathway and VEGF expression.
Evaluation of a Semi-Intensive Aquaponics System, with and without Bacterial Biofilter in a Tropical Location
Authors: Silva Laura , Escalante Edgardo , Valdés-Lozano David , Hernández Martha , Gasca-Leyva Eucario
Published: April 2017

This study compares the aquaponics Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)—pak choi (Brassica chinensis) system with and without a bacterial biofilter (BF and NBF) in a tropical location. The aim was to determine whether a semi-intensive aquaponics system NBF could offer a production alternative for small-scale farmers in this region, both technically and biologically. The Tilapia aquaponics culture was continuously recirculated and water was added (influent) and removed (effluent) from the plant aquaponics culture every 24 h. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen (NO2−-N) were analysed in the plant aquaponics culture influent and effluent. At the end of the experiment the individual fresh total weight, dry total weight, edible weight, height and diameter of the pak choi plants were measured. None of the pak choi variables showed significant differences between treatments. TAN and NO2−-N were higher in the NBF influent than in the BF influent. TAN and NO2−-N in the effluent of both treatments were similar and lower than in the influent. The plant aquaponics culture therefore works as a biofilter and the NBF aquaponics system could be used for small-scale farmers in the tropics, with easier management and less costs than a BF aquaponics system.
Comparative Study on the Antivirus Activity of Shuang–Huang–Lian Injectable Powder and Its Bioactive Compound Mixture against Human Adenovirus III In Vitro
Authors: Ma Qinhai , Liang Dedong , Song Shuai , Yu Qintian , Shi Chunyu , Xing Xuefeng , Luo Jia-Bo
Published: April 2017

Shuang–Huang–Lian injectable powder (SHL)—a classical purified herbal preparation extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, Lonicera japonica, and Forsythia suspense—has been used against human adenovirus III (HAdV3) for many years. The combination herb and its major bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acid, baicalin, and forsythia glycosides A, are effective inhibitors of the virus. However, no comprehensive studies are available on the antiviral effects of SHL against HAdV3. Moreover, it remains unclear whether the mixture of chlorogenic acid, baicalin, and forsythia glycosides A (CBF) has enhanced antiviral activity compared with SHL. Therefore, a comparative study was performed to investigate the combination which is promising for further antiviral drug development. To evaluate their antivirus activity in parallel, the combination ratio and dose of CBF were controlled and consistent with SHL. First, the fingerprint and the ratio of CBF in SHL were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Then, a plaque reduction assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to explore its therapeutic effects on viral infection and replication, respectively. The results showed that SHL and CBF inhibited dose- and time-dependently HAdV3-induced plaque formation in A549 and HEp-2 cells. SHL was more effective than CBF when supplemented prior to and after viral inoculation. SHL prevented viral attachment, internalization, and replication at high concentration and decreased viral levels within and out of cells at non-toxic concentrations in both cell types. Moreover, the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 was lower and the expression of interferon (IFN)-γ was higher in both cell types treated with SHL than with CBF. In conclusion, SHL is much more effective and slightly less toxic than CBF.