bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responses of four dominant dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin, northwest China
Authors: Xiao Jian , Eziz Anwar , Zhang Heng , Wang Zhiheng , Tang Zhiyao , Fang Jingyun
Published: November 2019

Aim

Dryland ecosystems are exceedingly sensitive to climate change. Desertification induced by both climate changes and human activities seriously threatens dryland vegetation. However, the impact of climate change on distribution of dryland plant species has not been well documented. Here, we studied the potential distribution of four representative dryland plant species (Haloxylon ammodendron, Anabasis aphylla, Calligonum mongolicum, and Populus euphratica) under current and future climate scenarios in a temperate desert region, aiming to improve our understanding of the responses of dryland plant species to climate change and provide guidance for dryland conservation and afforestation.

Location

Junggar Basin, a large desert region in northwestern China.

Methods

Occurrence data of the studied species were collected from an extensive field investigation of 2,516 sampling sites in the Junggar Basin. Ensemble species distribution models using 10 algorithms were developed and used to predict the potential distribution of each studied species under current and future climate scenarios.

Result

Haloxylon ammodendron and A. aphylla were likely to lose most of their current suitable habitats under future climate scenarios, while C. mongolicum and P. euphratica were likely to expand their ranges or remain relatively stationary. Variable importance evaluation showed that the most important climate variables influencing species distribution differed across the studied species. These results may be explained by the different ecophysiological characteristics and adaptation strategies to the environment of the four studied species.

Main conclusions

We explored the responses of the representative dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin in northwestern China. The different changes in suitability of different species imply that policymakers may need to reconsider the selection and combination of the afforestation species used in this area. This study can provide valuable reference for the management and conservation of dryland ecosystems under future climate change scenarios.
Drying landscape and interannual herbivory‐driven habitat degradation control semiaquatic mammal population dynamics
Authors: Ward Ellen M. , Wysong Kelsie , Gorelick Steven M.
Published: November 2019

Semiaquatic muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) are in decline throughout their native range. We report on the environmental and behavioural mechanisms responsible for a half‐century of muskrat decline in a model system floodplain region of the Peace–Athabasca Delta (“Delta”). Using the Landsat satellite record, trapping and population survey records, and ecological field studies of muskrat, we develop conceptual and quantitative models to investigate mechanisms driving muskrat population decline at Egg Lake, an archetypal Delta region. Simulation results show processes occurring over nested timescales control population decline: Multidecadal drying has diminished shoreline habitat, and inter‐annual shoreline habitat deterioration resulted from excessive herbivory by muskrat thereby exacerbating their die‐off. Simulations without herbivory feedback show peak population values up to 73% higher than simulations with herbivory. Simulation results also suggest that trapping is not the primary cause of declines in muskrat abundance. The process model highlights factors responsible for long‐term decline and rapid die‐off, providing insights into mechanisms for observed muskrat population decline.
Development of highly sensitive environmental DNA methods for the detection of Bull Sharks, Carcharhinus leucas (Müller and Henle, 1839), using Droplet Digital™ PCR
Authors: Schweiss Katherine E. , Lehman Ryan N. , Drymon J. Marcus , Phillips Nicole M.
Published: November 2019

Background

As apex and mesopredators, elasmobranchs play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem function and balance in marine systems. Elasmobranch populations worldwide are in decline as a result of exploitation via direct and indirect fisheries mortalities and habitat degradation; however, a lack of information on distribution, abundance, and population biology for most species hinders their effective management. Environmental DNA analysis has emerged as a cost‐effective and non‐invasive technique to fill some of these data gaps, but often requires the development of species‐specific methodologies.

Aims

Here, we established eDNA methodology appropriate for targeted species detections of Bull Sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in estuarine waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Materials and Methods

We compared different QIAGEN®DNeasy® extraction kit protocols and developed a species‐specific Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR) assay by designing primers and an internal probe to amplify a 237 base pair portion of the ND2 gene in the mitochondrial genome of C. leucas. To validate the developed methods, water samples were collected from known C. leucas habitat and from an ex situ closed environment containing a single C. leucas individual. The effectiveness of the assay in an open environment was then assessed by placing one C. leucas into a flow‐through mesocosm system and water samples were collected every 30 min for 3 hr.

Results

The developed C. leucas ‐specific assay has the ability to detect target DNA concentrations in a reaction as low as 0.6 copies/μl. DdPCR reactions performed on water samples from known habitat and 30 min after a shark was added to the closed environment contained 1.62 copies/μl and 166.6 copies/μl of target C. leucas eDNA, respectively. Carcharhinus leucas eDNA was detected in the flow‐through system within 30 min, but concentrations remained low and variable throughout the duration of the experiment.
Fractal dimension of antibody‐PEG precipitate: Light microscopy for the reconstruction of 3D precipitate structures
Authors: Satzer Peter , Burgstaller Daniel , Krepper Walpurga , Jungbauer Alois
Published: November 2019

Protein and in particular antibody precipitation by PEG is a cost‐effective alternative for the first capture step. The 3D structure of precipitates has a large impact on the process parameters for the recovery and dissolution, but current technologies for determination of precipitate structures are either very time consuming (cryo‐TEM) or only generate an average fractal dimension (light scattering). We developed a light microscopy based reconstruction of 3D structures of individual particles with a resolution of 0.1–0.2 µm and used this method to characterize particle populations generated by batch as well as continuous precipitation in different shear stress environments. The resulting precipitate structures show a broad distribution in terms of fractal dimension. While the average fractal dimension is significantly different for batch and continuous precipitation, the distribution is broad and samples overlap significantly. The precipitate flocs were monofractal from micro‐ to nanoscale showing a random but consistent nature of precipitate formation. We showed that the fractal dimension and 3D reconstruction is a valuable tool for characterization of protein precipitate processes. The current switch from batch to continuous manufacturing has to take the 3D structure and population of different protein precipitates into account in their design, engineering, and scale up.
Effects of the induced magnetic field, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion on mixed convective Jeffrey nanofluid flow through a porous channel
Authors: Raju Adigoppula , Ojjela Odelu
Published: November 2019

The main purpose of this research is to explore a comparative study of viscous and Jeffrey nanofluid flows through a parallel channel embedded in a porous medium under the influence of an induced magnetic field, Brownian motion, and thermophoresis. The convective boundary conditions are employed to study the heat and mass transfer at the lower plate. The system of transport constituent relations is reduced into coupled nondimensional ordinary differential equations through similar variables with appropriate boundary conditions. The resulting equations are analyzed for flow characteristics, heat and mass transfers, and magnetic diffusivities throughout the channel with various physical nondimensional parameters via shooting technique along with Runge‐Kutta fourth‐order scheme. It is observed that the temperature and concentration decrease with increasing Brownian motion parameters for both the viscous and Jeffrey fluid. The velocities decrease with increasing of the inverse Darcy parameter for Jeffrey fluid whereas velocities increase for a viscous fluid. The profiles of temperature and concentration for both fluids decrease with increasing of the Brownian motion parameter. The velocity profiles rise with suction/injection parameter for the both fluids. Finally, the numerical results of the present method are compared with a work available in the literature for the Newtonian case. An excellent agreement is found between the present and published numerical results.
Short‐term failure mechanism triggered by hydraulic fracturing
Authors: Wang Gang , Liu Yixin , Xu Jiang
Published: November 2019

Hydraulic fracturing may induce or trigger an earthquake while injecting fluid into strata to initiate a new fracture so as to promote oil and gas production. Previous studies have confirmed that the injection of fluids into the formation, especially hydraulic fracturing, is closely related to seismic activity. However, the mechanism through which fluid injection changes the stress field of rock mass and interacts with the in situ stress state is still poorly understood. This study focused on the short‐term mechanism coupling shear stress and hydraulic fracturing in an experimental simulation. Preexisting tension fractures were initiated and propagated by loading shear force. The fracture propagation path of hydraulic fracturing was closely related to the preexisting fractures formed by the preshear stress. Short‐term hydraulic fracturing promoted fracture propagation and acoustic emission events (or microearthquake signals), but it was less likely to cause rock mass instability or a large earthquake. The long‐term fluid injection could saturate preexisting fractures and infiltrate rock mass to increase the pore pressure and change the in situ stress field in a large area to induce an earthquake.
A systematic literature review on formal verification of software‐defined networks
Authors: Souri Alireza , Norouzi Monire , Asghari Parvaneh , Rahmani Amir Masoud , Emadi Ghazaleh
Published: November 2019

By raising evolutionary network connections, a software‐defined network (SDN) offers a well‐managed and flexible novel network topology. The SDN efforts are provided to abstract the original network configuration for business applications and web services. Additionally, the SDN modifies the network management policies such as topology policies, deployment policies, the applicability, and infrastructure maintenance. One of the important features of the SDN is standardizing the network interfaces with the precise functional semantics in application and control flow layers. In another hand, specification and evaluation of the existing network interfaces is a main and significant challenge to prove the correctness of the configurable scenarios in the SDN approach. Recently, formal verification presents a high potential platform to evaluate the main‐layer scenarios of the SDN as the novel perspective in this area. Up to now, there is no survey and state‐of‐the‐art review on the formal verification methods in the SDN. This paper provides a systematic literature review (SLR) for the formal verification methods in the SDN in form of the SDN plans to recognize the state of the art of the open challenges. The presented SLR is classified into three main fields: application plan, data plan, and control plan approaches. The verification mechanisms are compared with each other according to the important factors such as structural properties, quality‐of‐service metrics, applied algorithms, and measurement tools.
Detection of clone scammers in Android markets using IoT‐based edge computing
Authors: Ullah Farhan , Naeem Hamad , Naeem Muhammad Rashid , Jabbar Sohail , Khalid Shehazad , Al‐Turjman Fadi , Abuarqoub Abdelrahman
Published: November 2019

Pirated application developers find an alternate way to publish pirated versions of the same Android mobile applications (apps) on different Android markets. Therefore, a centralized, automated scrutiny system among multiple app stores is inevitable to prevent publishing pirated or cloned version of these Android applications. In this paper, we proposed an Android clone detection system for Internet of things (IoT) (Droid‐IoT) devices. First, the proposed system receives an original Android application package (APK) file along with possible candidate cloned APKs over the cloud network. The system uses an apkExtractor tool to extract Dalvik Executable (DEX) files for each subject program. The Jdex decompiler is used to extract Java source files from DEXs. Then, the bag‐of‐word model is used to extract tokenized features from source files. Further, the weighting filters are used to zoom the importance of each token. Moreover, Synthetic Minority Oversampling is applied to retrieve balanced features for better training of data. Finally, TensorFlow with Keras deep learning model is designed to predict clones in Android applications. The experimental results have shown that Droid‐IoT can successfully detect cloned apps with an accuracy of up to 96%. The primary purpose of this system is to prevent the publishing of pirated apps among different app stores under different pirated names.
Robotic Extrusion of Algae‐Laden Hydrogels for Large‐Scale Applications
Authors: Malik Shneel , Hagopian Julie , Mohite Sanika , Lintong Cao , Stoffels Laura , Giannakopoulos Sofoklis , Beckett Richard , Leung Christopher , Ruiz Javier , Cruz Marcos , Parker Brenda
Published: November 2019

A bioprinting technique for large‐scale, custom‐printed immobilization of microalgae is developed for potential applications within architecture and the built environment. Alginate‐based hydrogels with various rheology modifying polymers and varying water percentages are characterized to establish a window of operation suitable for layer‐by‐layer deposition on a large scale. Hydrogels formulated with methylcellulose and carrageenan, with water percentages ranging from 80% to 92.5%, demonstrate a dominant viscoelastic solid–like property with G′ > G″ and a low phase angle, making them the most suitable for extrusion‐based printing. A custom multimaterial pneumatic extrusion system is developed to be attached on the end effector of an industrial multiaxis robot arm, allowing precision‐based numerically controlled layered deposition of the viscous hydrogel. The relationship between the various printing parameters, namely air pressure, material viscosity, viscoelasticity, feed rate, printing distance, nozzle diameter, and the speed of printing, are characterized to achieve the desired resolution of the component. Printed prototypes are postcured in CaCl2 via crosslinking. Biocompatibility tests show that cells can survive for 21 days after printing the constructs. To demonstrate the methodology for scale‐up, a 1000 × 500 mm fibrous hydrogel panel is additively deposited with 3 different hydrogels with varying water percentages.
Spatial influence evaluation research of economic growth on greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil
Authors: de Souza Helson G. , Chaves Fellipy A.H. , Santos Camilla Oliveira , de Araujo Jair A.
Published: November 2019

Given the large contribution of rural activities to the Brazilian economy and the vast contribution of these agricultural activities to the emission of pollutant gases, this paper aims to analyze the impact of economic growth on greenhouse gas emissions related to the urban and rural areas of Brazil. Data from 2004 to 2014 were used and the environmental Kuznets curve equation for Brazilian states was estimated via a spatial econometric method for panel data. Thus, two effects have been demonstrated for both urban and rural areas. First, rising economic growth increases short‐term pollutant emissions. Second, in the long run, maintaining the rise in economic growth levels leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the estimation results showed the need to implement pollutant removal policies, especially in the rural areas of Brazilian states. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of the stateless health insurance scheme on inpatient service utilization of stateless children at the four selected district hospitals in Tak Province, Thailand
Authors: Barua Proloy , Narattharaksa Kanida
Published: November 2019

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the stateless insurance scheme on inpatient service utilization of stateless patients in comparison to the universal coverage scheme (UCS) insurees and the uninsured.

Design

The retrospective study used the routinely collected health data (eg, 43‐file database) from January 1,2013, to December 31,2017. The study took a sample of 9528 child patients aged 0to 18years who had an inpatient (IP)admission at the four selected district hospitals in Tak Province. The outcome variable was IP utilization rate (admissions/person/year), while the exposure was the three‐insurance status: uninsured, stateless, and UCS. With the counted outcome data, the researchers applied the Poisson regression, taking confounders into account, to measure the effect of exposure on outcome.

Results

The overall median IP utilization rate was one admissions/person/year. Compared with the uninsured group, the stateless and the UCS insurees had 98% (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.980, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.250, 2.710) and 67% (IRR=1.670, 95% CI = 0.949, 2.390) higher IP admissions, respectively. The younger stateless insurees (2‐3 years) had 16% (IRR=0.837, 95% CI=−0.036, 1.710) fewer admissions while oldest stateless insurees had 6% (IRR = 1.060, 95% CI = 0.235, 1.880) more admissions compared withtheir youngest uninsured counterpart (0–1 year). Stateless females had 21% (IRR=0.789, 95% CI = 0.344, 1.230) fewer IP admissions compared with their uninsured males counterparts. Overall IP utilization rate increased from 4% (IRR=1.040, 95% CI = 0.981,1.090) in 2014 to 14% (IRR=1.140, 95% CI = 1.070, 1.210) in 2017 compared with IP utilization in 2013.

Conclusions

The study suggests that inpatient utilization rate differs by insurance status with statistical significance. Further experimental studies are needed to understand the causal effect of the stateless insurance on adverse health outcomes in stateless children in the country.
Development and implementation of nutrition labelling in Iran: A retrospective policy analysis
Authors: Edalati Sareh , Omidvar Nasrin , Haghighian Roudsari Arezoo , Ghodsi Delaram , Zargaraan Azizollaah
Published: November 2019

Background

Nutrition labelling is a strategy to promote healthy eating and combat non‐communicable diseases (NCDs). The present study aimed to provide an analysis of the nutrition labelling policy and its opportunities to improve in Iran.

Methods

Data were collected by 1) reviewing relevant documents and 2) semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders through purposive and snowball sampling, continued until data saturation was achieved. A deductive content analysis was used by applying the policy triangulation framework and the Kingdon multiple stream theory. MAXQDA software was used to manage data analysis.

Results

Iran, is the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean region which has accomplished to implement nutrition traffic light labelling. The main contextual factors that affected nutrition labelling policy to become a national included health, political commitment, and international factors. Poor involvement of media for public awareness of nutrition traffic labeling, the inconsistency of nutrition traffic light color ranking using food standard guidelines, lack of consistency between nutrition traffic light colors and the healthy/unhealthy nature of some food products and the absence of a comprehensive evaluation plan were among the policy challenges identified.

Conclusions

Strengthening the governance for a healthy food environment is recommended to improve the program. Also, establishing national portion sizes for food labelling, initiating public awareness campaigns, evaluation of the policy effect and public perception of the labels and their application are recommended.
Medical reversals in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Haslam Alyson , Prasad Vinay , Livingston Catherine
Published: November 2019

Background

Low‐ to middle‐income countries (LMICs) often have limited budgets for health care, and as such, they need to prioritize health care interventions that are evidence based. However, sometimes, interventions are implemented despite a lack of supporting evidence because of a perceived biologic plausibility or because they have worked in other populations. Later, some of these interventions are shown to either lack benefit or are harmful in randomized studies, which we call a medical reversal.

Main body

In this paper, we discuss a variety of medical reversals in LMICs, ranging from tuberculosis to nutrition to malaria to septic shock. These practices were previously identified, but we wish to highlight those that are most relevant to LMICs.

Conclusion

Identifying and eliminating these practices will help in better allocation of limited health care resources and dollars in LMICs.
Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring
Authors: Ledford Sarah H. , Toran Laura
Published: November 2019

Wastewater treatment plants are major point‐sources of nutrients to streams globally, but the impact on receiving streams is not always clear. Previous research has shown mixed responses in receiving streams, with some showing no net retention through in‐stream processing for large distances below plants and some showing high rates of processing and retention. This study focuses on Sandy Run, a small, suburban stream in Montgomery County, PA, that receives effluent from two plants, where effluent makes up an estimated 50% of outlet discharge at baseflow. Two sites were monitored in late summer baseflow using high‐temporal loggers to evaluate nitrate and phosphate retention with distance below the plants. Effluent quantity was monitored immediately below the effluent outfalls using specific conductivity as a conservative signal of solute fluctuations throughout the day. A site 1 km downstream showed diel nitrate changes, but despite moderate gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates, there was little net retention of nutrients and the diel nitrate signal can be attributed to advection and dispersion of variable upstream effluent. A site 5.4 km below the plant showed a diel nitrate signal as well, but baseflow daily hysteresis plots of nitrate and specific conductivity showed the effluent and nitrate peaks did not coincide. Instead, the effluent input signal was seen overnight, but there was in‐stream removal and release processes during the day. Over the distance to this site, the stream was metabolizing some of the high nutrient loads, although gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates were lower. It is important to understand subdaily changes in nutrient processing to fully quantify the impacts of effluent on small streams at different scales. Furthermore, looking at the diel signal without considering conservative transport would overestimate in‐stream processing.
Highly immunosuppressive HLADRhi regulatory T cells are associated with unfavorable outcomes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yang Huijuan , Ye Shuang , Goswami Shyamal , Li Teng , Wu Jingwen , Cao Chunmei , Ma Jiaqiang , Lu Bin , Pei Xuan , Chen Yanan , Yu Jing , Xu Huihui , Qiu Liwei , Afridi Saifullah , Xiang Libing , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: November 2019

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, but they also limit beneficial responses through cancer‐induced immunoediting. The roles of Treg subsets in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are currently unknown. Here, we aimed to perform an extensive study with an increased resolution of the Treg compartment in the peripheral blood and tumor tissues of CSCC patients. We first identified that an HLADRhi Treg population in the peripheral blood was significantly increased in CSCC patients compared to precancer patients and healthy donors. We found that HLADRhi Tregs express high levels of a panel of inhibition and activation markers and the TCR‐responsive transcription factors BATF and IRF4. However, this Treg subset showed reduced calcium influx after TCR crosslinking. In addition, HLADRhi Tregs are highly proliferative and vulnerable to apoptosis. Further studies demonstrated that the HLADRhi Tregs display high levels of suppressive activity. Quantitative multiplexed immunohistochemistry revealed that an increase in the number of tumor‐infiltrating HLADRhi Tregs is associated with unfavorable classical risk parameters of advanced disease stage and stromal invasion. Context‐based quantification revealed that a high frequency of stromal HLADRhi Tregs in patients is significantly associated with worse progression‐free survival. In the current study, we characterized a population of highly activated and immunosuppressive HLADRhi Tregs in CSCC patients. An increased HLADRhi Treg frequency may be a potential biomarker to stratify CSCC patients and evaluate therapeutic efficacies in personalized immuno‐oncology studies.
Flexible electronics based on one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional hybrid nanomaterials
Authors: Park Jihun , Hwang Jae Chul , Kim Gon Guk , Park Jang‐Ung
Published: November 2019

Research on flexible or wearable electronics has been grown remarkably due to the advent of nanomaterials, such as metal nanowires, graphene, or transition metal dichalcogenides. Although each nanomaterial has mechanical and electrical characteristics that can be applied into flexible electronics, the limitations of each nanomaterial are also clear. In order to overcome the limitations of these nanomaterials, research on the hybrid structures of nanomaterials has been extensively conducted. In this study, we introduce the properties of one‐dimensional nanomaterials, two‐dimensional nanomaterials, and their hybrid nanomaterials. And then, we provide information concerning various flexible electronics based on these nanomaterials.

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Epithelium segmentation and automated Gleason grading of prostate cancer via deep learning in label‐free multiphoton microscopic images
Authors: Yang Qinqin , Xu Zhexin , Liao Chenxi , Cai Jianyong , Huang Ying , Chen Hong , Tao Xuan , Huang Zheng , Chen Jianxin , Dong Jiyang , Zhu Xiaoqin
Published: November 2019

In the current clinical care practice, Gleason grading system is one of the most powerful prognostic predictors for prostate cancer (PCa). The grading system is based on the architectural pattern of cancerous epithelium in histological images. However, the standard procedure of histological examination often involves complicated tissue fixation and staining, which are time‐consuming and may delay the diagnosis and surgery. In this study, label‐free multiphoton microscopy (MPM) was used to acquire subcellular‐resolution images of unstained prostate tissues. Then, a deep learning architecture (U‐net) was introduced for epithelium segmentation of prostate tissues in MPM images. The obtained segmentation results were then merged with the original MPM images to train a classification network (AlexNet) for automated Gleason grading. The developed method achieved an overall pixel accuracy of 92.3% with a mean F1 score of 0.839 for epithelium segmentation. By merging the segmentation results with the MPM images, the accuracy of Gleason grading was improved from 72.42% to 81.13% in hold‐out test set. Our results suggest that MPM in combination with deep learning holds the potential to be used as a fast and powerful clinical tool for PCa diagnosis.
Ameliorative effect of combined low dose of Pioglitazone and omega‐3 on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in diabetic rats
Authors: Hasan Mai M. , El‐Shal Amal S. , Mackawy Amal M. H. , Ibrahim Ebtesam M. , Abdelghany Eman M. M. A. , Saeed Abeer A. , El‐Gendy Jehan
Published: November 2019

Background

Chronic hyperglycemia is linked to either subfertility or infertility among diabetic males. Pioglitazone is one of the thiazolidinediones (TZDs) drugs that are selective peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR‐γ agonists used for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Aim

This study aims to explore the possible effect of low Pioglitazone dose and omega (ω‐3) on rat male reproductive function. Furthermore, we evaluated the add‐on effect of combined use of low Pioglitazone dose of and ω‐3 on reproductive functions in adult male T2DM rats.

Methods

Fifty adult male rats were included and subdivided into control and four test subgroups. T2DM was induced in test groups and subdivided into non‐treated T2DM, ω‐3 treated, 0.6 mg/kg Pioglitazone treated, and combined treated group (orally by gavage). Following 16 weeks, final body weight, testicular weight, fasting plasma glucose, and serum testosterone levels were measured. Semen analysis, testicular testosterone, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, immunohistochemistry staining for apoptosis marker B‐cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl‐2), proliferation marker as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), estrogen receptor α (ERα), androgen receptor (AR) were determined. Caspase‐3, nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐kB), glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β‐HSD) PPARγ, and PPARα genes expression were analyzed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

Results

Our findings revealed that treatment with low dose of Pioglitazone or ω‐3 significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose and MDA levels, ameliorated diabetes effects on histological damage, improved antioxidant activity (SOD), significantly improved anti‐apoptosis BCL‐2 and proliferation (PCNA), remarkably elevated ERα, AR, 17β‐HSD PPARγ, and PPARα expression with significant reduction in caspase‐3, NF‐kB genes expression and improved semen quality as well. Combined use of low dose of and ω‐3 has better effects on all measured parameters.

Conclusion

Small Pioglitazone dose and ω‐3 possess beneficial effects on spermatogenic and steroidogenic functions in adult diabetic rat; while combined use of both has an add‐on effect.
The new role of riluzole in the treatment of pancreatic cancer through the apoptosis and autophagy pathways
Authors: Sun Rulin , He Xujun , Jiang Xiaoting , Tao Houquan
Published: November 2019

Pancreatic cancer is always diagnosed at an advanced stage. Hence, chemotherapy becomes the best choice for patients. Therefore, new anticancer drugs for pancreatic cancer are needed. Riluzole (RIL) is mainly used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinically, but many previous studies have shown that RIL could inhibit tumors. However, no report has explored the association between RIL and pancreatic cancer. To validate this association, we performed this study. Our data showed that RIL could induce cytotoxicity, block the cell cycle, and inhibit clone formation, apoptosis, and migration in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that RIL could suppress autophagy. However, more experiments will be needed to validate the reliability of our conclusions. In summary, our data suggest that RIL might provide clues for the development of a treatment for human pancreatic cancer in the future.
Long noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion in maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma by regulating miR‐204/EphA7 axis
Authors: Sun Yiyuan , Xu Chenjie , Wu Qingwei , Zhang Liuqing , Wang Peihua
Published: November 2019

Long noncoding RNAs have been demonstrated to contribute to the development and progression of various cancers. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of KCNQ1OT1 in tumorigenesis of maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma (MSSCC) remain unknown. Herein, we found that KCNQ1OT1 expression was markedly upregulated in MSSCC tissues and MSSCC cell line (IMC‐3) by using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Loss‐of‐function experiments revealed that the deletion of KCNQ1OT1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, we confirmed KCNQ1OT1 could directly interact with miR‐204 by bioinformatic prediction and dual luciferase assay, and miR‐204 inhibitor markedly reversed MSSCC tumor phenotypes induced by shKCNQ1OT1. Finally, we demonstrated that KCNQ1OT1/miR‐204 facilitated MSSCC progression by regulating Eph receptor A7 (EphA7). Taken together, these results revealed a novel regulatory mechanism KCNQ1OT1/miR‐204/EphA7 axis, which could provide a new understanding of MSSCC tumorigenesis and develop potential targets for MSSCC therapy.
A prognostic five long–noncoding RNA signature for patients with rectal cancer
Authors: Zhao Kankan , Wang Mengchuan , Kang Houlong , Wu Aiguo
Published: November 2019

This study aimed to identify prognostic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) signature for predicting the prognosis of patients with rectal cancer. LncRNA‐sequencing data and clinicopathological data of patients with rectal cancer were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator analysis and the Kaplan‐Meier curve method were employed to identify prognostic lncRNAs and construct multi‐lncRNA signature. Finally, five lncRNAs (AC079789.1, AC106900.2, AL121987.1, AP004609.1, and LINC02163) were identified to construct a five‐lncRNA signature. According to the five‐lncRNA signature, patients with rectal cancer were divided into a high‐risk group and low‐risk group. Patients with rectal cancer had significantly poorer overall survival in the high‐risk group than in the low‐risk group. We used a time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curve to assess the power of the five‐lncRNA signature by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). The AUCs for predicting 3‐year survival and 5‐year survival were 0.742 and 0.935, respectively, which indicated a good performance of the five‐lncRNA signature. The five‐lncRNA signature was independently associated with the prognosis of patients with rectal cancer through using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The biological function of the five lncRNAs was enriched in some cancer‐related biological processes and pathways by performing functional enrichment analysis of their correlated protein‐coding genes. In conclusion, we developed a five‐lncRNA signature as a potential indicator for rectal cancer.
NAMPT, GRN, and SERPINE1 signature as predictor of disease progression and survival in gliomas
Authors: Vachher Meenakshi , Arora Kriti , Burman Archana , Kumar Bhupender
Published: November 2019

Adipose tissue is an important source of adipokines involved in anti‐ and pro‐inflammatory effects. Their involvement in certain cancers such as breast and colon cancer is known but in gliomas it remains unexplored till date. The aim of this study was to assess the status of adipokines as prognostic markers of gliomas (low grade gliomas [LGG] and glioblastoma mutiforme [GBM]). Expression status (messenger RNA [mRNA]), overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) was identified using gene expression profiling interactive analysis server. Clinicopathological analysis and correlation between different adipokines was performed using Xena server. Protein expression status was analyzed using tissue sections from the Human Protein Atlas. Out of 11 adipokines studied visfatin (NAMPT), apelin (APLN), granulin (GRN), serpin peptidase inhibitor/plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI‐1) member 1 (SERPINE1), and chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in both LGG and GBM. Interleukin 6 (IL6) mRNA was found be significantly upregulated only in GBM. NAMPT, GRN, SERPINE1, and IL6 showed reduced OS as well as worst DFS for patients having higher mRNA expression in LGG. Increased expression of CCL2 showed worst OS in LGG patients while resistin (RETN) and GRN showed the worst OS in GBM patients. Higher expression of RETN, GRN, IL6, SERPINE1, and CCL2 were found to be positively correlated with shorter DFS in GBM. In the clinicopathological analysis, NAMPT, GRN, IL6, SERPINE1, and CCL2 expressions were significantly associated between the neoplasm histological G2 and G3 grades. Furthermore, expression of NAMPT, GRN, tumor necrosis factor, IL6, SERPINE1, and CCL2 were significantly associated with histological type in LGG patients. NAMPT, GRN, SERPINE1, CCL2, and RETN expression were found to be correlated with each other in gliomas. Finally, NAMPT, GRN, and SERPINE1 were also found to be upregulated using immunohistochemistry in a lower grade and high grade gliomas as compared to normal cells. In conclusion, we have identified key adipokines, namely NAMPT, GRN, and SERPINE1 as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers that might be instrumental in the development and progression of gliomas.
Behavioral momentum and resistance to extinction across repeated extinction tests
Authors: Craig Andrew R. , Sweeney Mary M. , Shahan Timothy A.
Published: November 2019

The present experiments assessed whether resistance to extinction of pigeons' key pecking decreased across repeated extinction tests. An additional impetus for this research was to determine how the quantitative framework provided by behavioral momentum theory might be used to describe any such changes across tests. Pigeons pecked keys in two‐component multiple schedules (one component associated with a higher reinforcer rate and the other with a lower rate) in which baseline and extinction conditions alternated. In Experiment 1, baseline and extinction conditions alternated every session, and, in Experiment 2, these conditions lasted for 10 and 7 sessions, respectively. Resistance to extinction decreased across successive extinction conditions in both experiments. Fits of the behavioral‐momentum based model of extinction to the data returned uncertain results in Experiment 1 but implicated both generalization decrement and response–reinforcer contingency termination as the possible mechanisms responsible for behavior change in Experiment 2. Thus, these data suggest that experimental manipulations that affect discrimination of changes in reinforcement contingencies may influence resistance to extinction by modulating the disruptive impacts of removing reinforcers from the experimental context and of suspending response–reinforcer contingencies.
Morphogenesis of the ovarian follicular epithelium during initial stages of embryogenesis of the viviparous earwig, Hemimerus talpoides
Authors: Bilinski Szczepan M. , Sekula Malgorzata , Tworzydlo Waclaw
Published: November 2019

Representatives of the highly specialized earwig family Hemimeridae are epizoic and viviparous. Their embryos develop inside terminal ovarian follicles (termed also embryonic follicles) and rely solely on nutrients transferred from mother tissues. In this report, we present results of ultrastructural and histochemical studies of the initial stage of Hemimerus talpoides development. Our results show that the follicular cells surrounding fully grown oocyte of Hemimerus do not degenerate after initiation of embryogenesis, but transform and gradually form the wall of the incubation chamber in which the embryo develops. We also show that amniotic cells of the early embryo remain in direct contact with transformed follicular cells. In the region of contact, short outgrowths of the amniotic cells associate with irregular surface specializations of the transformed follicular cells. We suggest that extended “postfertilization” activity of hemimerid follicular cells represents an adaptation to viviparity and matrotrophy in this insect lineage.
Characterization of adhesion properties of the cardiomyocyte integrins and extracellular matrix proteins using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Li Zecheng , Liu Tianqi , Yang Junxian , Lin Jiangguo , Xin Sherman Xuegang
Published: November 2019

Integrins are transmembrane adhesion receptors that play important roles in the cardiovascular system by interacting with the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, direct quantitative measurements of the adhesion properties of the integrins on cardiomyocyte (CM) and their ECM ligands are lacking. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantify the adhesion force (peak force and mean force) and binding probability between CM integrins and three main heart tissue ECM proteins, ie, collagen (CN), fibronectin (FN), and laminin (LN). Functionalizing the AFM probes with ECM proteins, we found that the peak force (mean force) was 61.69 ± 5.5 pN (76.54 ± 4.0 pN), 39.26 ± 4.4 pN (59.84 ± 3.6 pN), and 108.31 ± 4.2 pN (129.63 ± 6.0 pN), respectively, for the bond of CN‐integrin, FN‐integrin, and LN‐integrin. The binding specificity between CM integrins and ECM proteins was verified by using monoclonal antibodies, where α10‐ and α11‐integrin bind to CN, α3‐ and α5‐integrin bind to FN, and α3‐ and α7‐integrin bind to LN. Furthermore, adhesion properties of CM integrins under physiologically high concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ were tested. Additional Ca2+ reduced the adhesion mean force to 68.81 ± 4.0 pN, 49.84 ± 3.3 pN, and 119.21 ± 5.8 pN and binding probability to 0.31, 0.34, 0.40 for CN, FN, and LN, respectively, whereas Mg2+ caused very minor changes to adhesion properties of CM integrins. Thus, adhesion properties between adult murine CM integrins and its main ECM proteins were characterized, paving the way for an improved understanding of CM mechanobiology.
Multiparametric Quantitative Brain MRI in Neurological and Hepatic Forms of Wilson's Disease
Authors: Dezortova Monika , Lescinskij Artem , Dusek Petr , Herynek Vit , Acosta‐Cabronero Julio , Bruha Radan , Jiru Filip , Robinson Simon D. , Hajek Milan
Published: November 2019

Background

In Wilson's disease (WD), demyelination, rarefaction, gliosis, and iron accumulation in the deep gray matter cause opposing effects on T2‐weighted MR signal. However, the degree and interplay of these changes in chronically treated WD patients has not been quantitatively studied.

Purpose

To compare differences in brain multiparametric mapping between controls and chronically treated WD patients with neurological (neuro‐WD) and hepatic (hep‐WD) forms to infer the nature of residual WD neuropathology.

Study Type

Cross‐sectional.

Population/Subjects

Thirty‐eight WD patients (28 neuro‐WD, 10 hep‐WD); 26 healthy controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T: susceptibility, T2*, T2, T1 relaxometry; 1.5T: T2, T1 relaxometry.

Assessment

The following 3D regions of interest (ROIs) were manually segmented: globus pallidus, putamen, caudate nucleus, and thalamus. Mean bulk magnetic susceptibility, T2*, T2, and T1 relaxation times were calculated for each ROI.

Statistical Tests

The effect of group (neuro‐WD, hep‐WD, controls) and age was assessed using a generalized least squares model with different variance for each ROI and quantitative parameter. A general linear hypothesis test with Tukey adjustment was used for post‐hoc between‐group analysis; P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Susceptibility values were higher in all ROIs in neuro‐WD compared to controls and hep‐WD (P < 0.001). In basal ganglia, lower T2 and T2* were found in neuro‐WD compared to controls (P < 0.01) and hep‐WD (P < 0.05) at 3.0T. Much smaller intergroup differences for T2 in basal ganglia were observed at 1.5T compared to 3.0T. In the thalamus, increased susceptibility in neuro‐WD was accompanied by increased T1 at both field strengths (P < 0.001 to both groups), and an increased T2 at 1.5T only (P < 0.001 to both groups).

Data Conclusion

We observed significant residual brain MRI abnormalities in neuro‐WD but not in hep‐WD patients on chronic anticopper treatment. Patterns of changes were suggestive of iron accumulation in the basal ganglia and demyelination in the thalamus; 3.0T was more sensitive for detection of the former and 1.5T of the latter abnormality.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy Stage: 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1829–1835.
Utility of directional high‐density mapping catheter (AdvisorTM HD Grid) in complex scar‐related atrial tachycardia
Authors: Tan Vern Hsen , Lyu Murphy Zhiyuan , Tan Peter Carlo , Wong Loo Chin , Yeo Colin , Wong Kelvin Cheok Keng
Published: November 2019

Mapping of scar‐related atrial tachycardias (AT) can be challenging even with the use of high‐density (HD) mapping catheter. AdvisorTM HD Grid is the only directional HD mapping catheter which not only identify local electrical signal but more importantly capture the direction of wave front propagation especially in low voltage zone. Accordingly, we present a case of complex scar‐related AT with the use of AdvisorTM HD Grid which showed clear fractionated signal at isthmus area as compare to the absence of signal on ablation catheter at the same area despite adequate contact force. Ablation at this area terminated the tachycardia.
The effect of failure on performance over time: The case of cardiac surgery operations
Authors: Avgerinos Emmanouil , Gokpinar Bilal , Fragkos Ioannis
Published: November 2019

Failure is a common occurrence in many operational contexts involving knowledge work. Concentrating on highly critical cardiac surgery operations, we investigate how failure affects subsequent performance over time. In addressing our research questions, we draw on the sensemaking perspective and incorporate behavioral aspects of failure that are often overlooked. We develop three hypotheses on the effects of failure (i.e., in‐hospital mortality of a patient) and test them with a unique data set of 4,306 cardiac surgery operations from a large European hospital, spanning five years. Our findings show that while failure promotes learning over time and improves task execution quality (as measured by patients' reduced length of stay) in the long term, its effect is the opposite in the short term. Our work also unravels how relational dynamics (i.e., familiarity) may reduce the short‐term effects of failure. We find evidence that team familiarity mitigates the detrimental effects of recent failures. This implies that certain team assignment strategies after failure (e.g., putting individuals into familiar teams) may be preferable than others. We explore and illustrate this by conducting a policy simulation based on our data. This article provides new insights into how operations managers can support their employees in moving forward after failure.