bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of metabolic syndrome in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Authors: Villamor Eduardo , Finan Caitlin C , Ramirez-Zea Manuel , Roman Ana Victoria ,   for the Nine Mesoamerican Countries Metabolic Syndrome Study (NiMeCoMeS) Group
Published: September 2016

Objective

To ascertain the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and school-aged children from Mesoamerica.

Design

Cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. In adults, metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. In children, we calculated a continuous sex- and age-standardized metabolic risk score using variables corresponding to adult ATP III criteria. Metabolic syndrome prevalence in adults and risk score distribution in children were compared across levels of sociodemographic characteristics with use of Poisson and linear regression, respectively.

Setting

Capital cities of Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, the Mexican State of Chiapas (Tuxtla Gutiérrez city) and Belize.

Subjects

Families (n 267), comprising one child aged 7–12 years and their biological parents.

Results

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 37·9 % among women and 35·3 % among men. The most common component was low HDL cholesterol, 83·3 % in women and 78·9 % in men. Prevalence was positively associated with age. In women, metabolic syndrome was inversely related to education level whereas in men it was positively associated with household food security and height, after adjustment. The metabolic risk score in children was inversely related to parental height, and positively associated with height-for-age and with having parents with the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions

Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in Mesoamerica. The burden of metabolic risk factors disproportionately affects women and children of lower socio-economic status and men of higher socio-economic status.
ON POINTS WITH POSITIVE DENSITY OF THE DIGIT SEQUENCE IN INFINITE ITERATED FUNCTION SYSTEMS
Authors: ZHANG ZHEN-LIANG , CAO CHUN-YUN
Published: September 2016

Let $\{f_{n}\}_{n\geq 1}$ be an infinite iterated function system on $[0,1]$ and let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ be its attractor. Then, for any $x\in \unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$, it corresponds to a sequence of integers $\{a_{n}(x)\}_{n\geq 1}$, called the digit sequence of $x$, in the sense that $$\begin{eqnarray}x=\lim _{n\rightarrow \infty }f_{a_{1}(x)}\circ \cdots \circ f_{a_{n}(x)}(1).\end{eqnarray}$$ In this note, we investigate the size of the points whose digit sequences are strictly increasing and of upper Banach density one, which improves the work of Tong and Wang and Zhang and Cao.
EXISTENCE OF A WEAK SOLUTION FOR A CLASS OF FRACTIONAL LAPLACIAN EQUATIONS
Authors: RAGHAVENDRA V. , KAR RASMITA
Published: September 2016

We study the existence of a weak solution of a nonlocal problem$$\begin{eqnarray}\displaystyle & \displaystyle -{\mathcal{L}}_{K}u-\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}ug_{1}+h(u)g_{2}=f\quad \text{in }\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}, & \displaystyle \nonumber\\ \displaystyle & \displaystyle u=0\quad \text{in }\mathbb{R}^{n}\setminus \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}, & \displaystyle \nonumber\end{eqnarray}$$where${\mathcal{L}}_{k}$is a general nonlocal integrodifferential operator of fractional type,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}$is a real parameter and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$is an open bounded subset of$\mathbb{R}^{n}$($n>2s$, where$s\in (0,1)$is fixed) with Lipschitz boundary$\unicode[STIX]{x2202}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$. Here$f,g_{1},g_{2}:\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$and$h:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$are functions satisfying suitable hypotheses.
Does body mass index or subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness affect interfraction prostate motion in patients receiving radical prostate radiotherapy?
Authors: Rogers Jonathan , Welgemoed Camarie , Gujral Dorothy
Published: September 2016

Aim

It is unclear whether body mass index (BMI) is a useful measurement for examining prostate motion. Patient’s subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) and weight has been shown to correlate with prostate shifts in the left/right direction. We sought to analyse the relationship between BMI and interfraction prostate movement in order to determine planning target volume (PTV) margins based on patient BMI.

Materials and methods

In all, 38 prostate cancer patients with three implanted gold fiducial markers in their prostate were recruited. Height, mass and SAT were measured, and the extent of interfraction prostate movement in the left/right, superior/inferior and anterior/posterior directions was recorded during each daily fiducial marker-based image-guided radiotherapy treatment. Mean corrective shift in each direction for each patient, along with BMI values, were calculated.

Results

The median BMI value was 28·4 kg/m2 (range 21·4–44·7). Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between BMI, mass or SAT and the extent of prostate movement in any direction. Linear regression analysis also showed no relationship between any of the patient variables and the extent of prostate movement in any direction (BMI: R2=0·006 (ρ=0·65), 0·002 (ρ=0·80) and 0·001 (ρ=0·86); mass: R2=0·001 (ρ=0·87), 0·010 (ρ=0·54) and 0·000 (ρ=0·99); SAT: R2=0·012 (ρ=0·51), 0·013 (ρ=0·50) and 0·047 (ρ=0·19) for shifts in the X, Y and Z axis, respectively). Patients were grouped according to BMI, as BMI<30 (n=25, 65·8%) and BMI≥30 (n=13, 34·2%). A two-tailed t-test showed no significant difference between the mean prostate shifts for the two groups in any direction (ρ=0·320, 0·839 and 0·325 for shifts in the X, Y and Z axis, respectively).

Findings

BMI is not a useful parameter for determining individualised PTV margins. Gold fiducial marker insertion should be used as standard to improve treatment accuracy.
Differentiation of some populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in three areas of Lagos State, Nigeria, using wing morphometry
Authors: Ayorinde Adenola F. , Oboh Bola O. , Otubanjo Olubunmi A.
Published: September 2016

Diversity amongst the different populations is one of the problems in the control of medically important mosquitoes. Wing morphometry was used to identify within-species variation amongst some populations ofAedes aegyptiin three areas of Lagos State, Nigeria. Ten landmarks on the right wing of adult femaleAe. aegyptimosquitoes were digitized using TPSdig software. Relative distances of the veins and interpoints were calculated as well as the Euclidean distances based on these relative distances. In three (50%) of the interpoints, the relative distances were significant (P<0.05) to both the Brown–Forsythe F ratio and Welch ANOVA. The highest Euclidean distance of 7.738 was between Ebute Metta 2 and Badagry; the lowest of 4.426 was between Ikorodu and Ebute Metta 2. The distance between Ebute Metta 1 and Ebute Metta 2 was 5.867, which is more than the distance between Ebute Metta 2 and Ikorodu. Three groups ofAe. aegyptiwere identified, and the differences in lengths and interpoints observed on the wing veins suggest a possible morphological divergence amongst populations.
The design of solar synoptic chart for space weather forecast
Authors: Song Qiao , Wang Jing-Song , Feng Xue-Shang , Zhang Xiao-Xin
Published: September 2016

The Sun drives most events of space weather in the vicinity of the Earth. Because the activities of the Sun are complicated, a visualized chart with key objects of solar activities is needed for space weather forecast. This work investigates the key objects in research during the past forty years and surveys a variety of solar observational data. We design the solar synoptic chart (SSC) that covers the key objects of solar activities, i.e., active regions, coronal holes, filaments/prominences, flares and coronal mass ejections, and synthesizes images from different heights and temperatures of solar atmosphere. The SSC is used to analyze the condition of the Sun in March 2012 and October 2014 as examples. The result shows that the SSC is timely, comprehensive, concise and easy to understand. It has the potentiality for space weather forecast and can help in improving the public education.
Super-active regions in solar cycle 24
Authors: Chen Anqin , Wang Jingxiu
Published: September 2016

Comparing with solar cycles 21-23, the level of solar activity in the current cycle is very low. So far, there have been only five SARs and 45 X class flares. The monthly smoothed total solar irradiance decreased sharply by 0.09% from the maximum of cycle 23 to the minima between cycles 23 and 24. In this contribution, we present new studies on SARs in Cycle 24. The SARs in the current cycle have relatively smaller flare index (Iflare) and composite vector field index (Icom) comparing with the SARs in cycles 22 and 23. There is a clearly linear relationship between Iflare and Icom. The emphasis of this contribution is put on the similarity and different behaviors of vector magnetic fields of the SARs in the current solar cycle and the previous ones. We try to get a satisfactory account for the general characteristics and relatively lower level of solar flare activity in Cycle 24.
Observed effects of star-planet interaction
Authors: Wolk Scott J. , Pillitteri Ignazio , Poppenhaeger Katja
Published: September 2016

Since soon after the discovery of hot Jupiters, it had been suspected that interaction of these massive bodies with their host stars could give rise to observable signals. We discuss the observational evidence for star-planet interactions (SPI) of tidal and magnetic origin observed in X-rays and FUV. Hot Jupiters can significantly impact the activity of their host stars through tidal and magnetic interaction, leading to either increased or decreased stellar activity – depending on the internal structure of the host star and the properties of the hosted planet. In HD 189733, X-ray and FUV flares are preferentially in a very restricted range of planetary phases. Matsakos et al. (2015) show, using MHD simulations, planetary gas can be liberated, forming a stream of material that gets compressed and accretes onto the star with a phase lag of 70-90 degrees. This scenario explains many features observed both in X-rays and the FUV (Pillitteri et al. 2015). On the other hand, WASP-18 – an F6 star with a massive hot Jupiter, shows no signs of activity in X-rays or UV. Several age indicators (isochrone fitting, Li abundance) point to a young age (~0.5 –1.0 Gyr) and thus significant activity was expected. In this system, tidal SPI between the star and the very close-in and massive planet appears to destroy the formation of magnetic dynamo and thus nullify the stellar activity.
Evidence of thermal conduction suppression in hot coronal loops: supplementary results
Authors: Wang Tongjiang , Ofman Leon , Sun Xudong , Provornikova Elena , Davila Joseph M.
Published: September 2016

Slow magnetoacoustic waves were first detected in hot (>6 MK) flare loops by the SOHO/SUMER spectrometer as Doppler shift oscillations in Fe xix and Fe xxi lines. Recently, such longitudinal waves have been found by SDO/AIA in the 94 and 131 Å channels. Wang et al. (2015) reported the first AIA event revealing signatures in agreement with a fundamental standing slow-mode wave, and found quantitative evidence for thermal conduction suppression from the temperature and density perturbations in the hot loop plasma of ≳ 9 MK. The present study extends the work of Wang et al. (2015) by using an alternative approach. We determine the polytropic index directly based on the polytropic assumption instead of invoking the linear approximation. The same results are obtained as in the linear approximation, indicating that the nonlinearity effect is negligible. We find that the flare loop cools slower (by a factor of 2–4) than expected from the classical Spitzer conductive cooling, approximately consistent with the result of conduction suppression obtained from the wave analysis. The modified Spitzer cooling timescales based on the nonlocal conduction approximation are consistent with the observed, suggesting that nonlocal conduction may account for the observed conduction suppression in this event. In addition, the conduction suppression mechanism predicts that larger flares may tend to be hotter than expected by the EM-T relation derived by Shibata & Yokoyama (2002).
Spectroscopic UV observations of M1.0 class solar flare from IRIS satellite
Authors: Sadykov Viacheslav M , Kosovichev Alexander G , Sharykin Ivan N , Dominguez Santiago Vargas
Published: September 2016

This work presents an analysis of UV spectroscopic observations from the IRIS satellite of an M1.0 class flare occurred on 12 June 2014 in active region NOAA 12087. Our analysis of the IRIS spectra and Slit-Jaw images revealed presence of a strongly redshifted chromospheric jet before the flare. We also found strong emission of the chromospheric lines, and studied the C II 1334.5 Å line emission distribution in details. A blueshift of the Fe XXI line across the flaring region corresponds to evaporation flows of the hot chromospheric plasma with a speed of 50 km/s. Although the enhancement of the C II line integrated redshift correlates with the flare X-ray emission, we classify the evaporation as of a “gentle” type because of its long time scale and subsonic velocities. Analysis of X-ray data from the RHESSI satellite showed that both, an injection of accelerated particles and a heat flux from the energy release site can explain the energetics of the observed event.
Thermal characteristics of a B8.3 flare observed on July 04, 2009
Authors: Awasthi Arun Kumar , Sylwester Barbara , Sylwester Janusz , Jain Rajmal
Published: September 2016

We explore the temporal evolution of flare plasma parameters including temperature (T) - differential emission measure (DEM) relationship by analyzing high spectral and temporal cadence of X-ray emission in 1.6-8.0 keV energy band, recorded by SphinX (Polish) and Solar X-ray Spectrometer (SOXS; Indian) instruments, during a B8.3 flare which occurred on July 04, 2009. SphinX records X-ray emission in 1.2-15.0 keV energy band with the temporal and spectral cadence as good as 6 μs and 0.4 keV, respectively. On the other hand, SOXS provides X-ray observations in 4-25 keV energy band with the temporal and spectral resolution of 3 s and 0.7 keV, respectively. We derive the thermal plasma parameters during impulsive phase of the flare employing well-established Withbroe-Sylwester DEM inversion algorithm.
Hinode magnetic-field observations of solar flares for exploring the energy storage and trigger mechanisms
Authors: Shimizu Toshifumi , Inoue Satoshi , Kawabata Yusuke
Published: September 2016

The spectro-polarimeter in the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is one of the powerful instruments for the most accurate measurements of vector magnetic fields on the solar surface. The magnetic field configuration and possible candidates for flare trigger are briefly discussed with some SOT observations of solar flare events, which include X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, X1.2 flare on 7 January 2014 and two M-class flares on 2 February 2014. Especially, using an unique set of the Hinode and SDO data for the X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, we briefly reviewed remarkable properties observed in the spatial distribution of the photospheric magnetic flux, chromospheric flare ribbons, and the 3D coronal magnetic field structure inferred by non-linear force-free field modeling with the Hinode photospheric magnetic field data.
Mass ejections from the Sun
Authors: Green Lucie M.
Published: September 2016

Coronal mass ejections are the most spectacular form of solar activity and they play a key role in driving space weather at the Earth. These eruptions are associated with active regions and occur throughout an active region's entire lifetime. All coronal mass ejection models invoke the presence of a twisted magnetic field configuration known as a magnetic flux rope either before or after eruption onset. The observational identification of magnetic flux ropes in the solar atmosphere using remote sensing data represents a challenging task, but theoretical models have led to the understanding that there are signatures that reveal their presence. The range of coronal mass ejection models are helping build a more complete picture of both the trigger and drivers of these eruptions.
Enfranchising all subjected, worldwide
Authors: Goodin Robert E.
Published: September 2016

For cosmopolitans, global democracy is valuable both in itself and as a means to global justice. Their preferred principle of political enfranchisement is the All Affected Principle which, given global interdependencies, means that virtually everyone should have a vote virtually everywhere. Anti-cosmopolitans want to resist that conclusion. They try to do so by appealing instead to the All Subjected Principle. But you are subject to a law whenever it claims to apply to you, and in contemporary practice states typically claim authority to make many laws that apply even to non-nationals abroad. On the All Subjected Principle, they too should have a vote over those laws. The All Subjected Principle would thus have similarly expansionary implications for the franchise as the All Affected Principle, contrary to the fondest hopes of anti-cosmopolitans.
Epigenetic studies in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: pitfalls and key considerations for study design and interpretation
Authors: Yamada L. , Chong S.
Published: September 2016

The field of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) seeks to understand the relationships between early-life environmental exposures and long-term health and disease. Until recently, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena were poorly understood; however, epigenetics has been proposed to bridge the gap between the environment and phenotype. Epigenetics involves the study of heritable changes in gene expression, which occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. Different types of epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications and non-coding RNAs. Increasingly, changes to the epigenome have been associated with early-life exposures in both humans and animal models, offering both an explanation for how the environment may programme long-term health, as well as molecular changes that could be developed as biomarkers of exposure and/or future disease. As such, epigenetic studies in DOHaD hold much promise; however, there are a number of factors which should be considered when designing and interpreting such studies. These include the impact of the genome on the epigenome, the tissue-specificity of epigenetic marks, the stability (or lack thereof) of epigenetic changes over time and the importance of associating epigenetic changes with changes in transcription or translation to demonstrate functional consequences. In this review, we discuss each of these key concepts and provide practical strategies to mitigate some common pitfalls with the aim of providing a useful guide for future epigenetic studies in DOHaD.
Pten and EphB4 regulate the establishment of perisomatic inhibition in mouse visual cortex
Authors: Baohan Amy , Ikrar Taruna , Tring Elaine , Xu Xiangmin , Trachtenberg Joshua T.
Published: September 2016

Perisomatic inhibition of pyramidal neurons is established by fast-spiking, parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV cells). Failure to assemble adequate perisomatic inhibition is thought to underlie the aetiology of neurological dysfunction in seizures, autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Here we show that in mouse visual cortex, strong perisomatic inhibition does not develop if PV cells lack a single copy of Pten. PTEN signalling appears to drive the assembly of perisomatic inhibition in an experience-dependent manner by suppressing the expression of EphB4; PV cells hemizygous for Pten show an ∼2-fold increase in expression of EphB4, and over-expression of EphB4 in adult PV cells causes a dismantling of perisomatic inhibition. These findings implicate a molecular disinhibitory mechanism driving the establishment of perisomatic inhibition whereby visual experience enhances Pten signalling, resulting in the suppression of EphB4 expression; this relieves a native synaptic repulsion between PV cells and pyramidal neurons, thereby promoting the assembly of perisomatic inhibition.
Identification of Altered Metabolomic Profiles Following a Panchakarma-based Ayurvedic Intervention in Healthy Subjects: The Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative (SBTI)
Authors: Peterson Christine Tara , Lucas Joseph , John-Williams Lisa St. , Thompson J. Will , Moseley M. Arthur , Patel Sheila , Peterson Scott N. , Porter Valencia , Schadt Eric E. , Mills Paul J. , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Doraiswamy P. Murali , Chopra Deepak
Published: September 2016

The effects of integrative medicine practices such as meditation and Ayurveda on human physiology are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify altered metabolomic profiles following an Ayurveda-based intervention. In the experimental group, 65 healthy male and female subjects participated in a 6-day Panchakarma-based Ayurvedic intervention which included herbs, vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga, and massage. A set of 12 plasma phosphatidylcholines decreased (adjusted p < 0.01) post-intervention in the experimental (n = 65) compared to control group (n = 54) after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing; within these compounds, the phosphatidylcholine with the greatest decrease in abundance was PC ae C36:4 (delta = −0.34). Application of a 10% FDR revealed an additional 57 metabolites that were differentially abundant between groups. Pathway analysis suggests that the intervention results in changes in metabolites across many pathways such as phospholipid biosynthesis, choline metabolism, and lipoprotein metabolism. The observed plasma metabolomic alterations may reflect a Panchakarma-induced modulation of metabotypes. Panchakarma promoted statistically significant changes in plasma levels of phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins and others in just 6 days. Forthcoming studies that integrate metabolomics with genomic, microbiome and physiological parameters may facilitate a broader systems-level understanding and mechanistic insights into these integrative practices that are employed to promote health and well-being.
Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes from the Synoviocytes of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis via Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Lee Jaecheol , Jung Seung Min , Ebert Antje D. , Wu Haodi , Diecke Sebastian , Kim Youngkyun , Yi Hyoju , Park Sung-Hwan , Ju Ji Hyeon
Published: September 2016

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This study aimed to generate and characterise cardiomyocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of RA patients. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA) were successfully reprogrammed into RA-iPSCs and OA-iPSCs, respectively. The pluripotency of iPSCs was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. Established iPSCs were differentiated into cardiomyocytes using a small molecule-based monolayer differentiation protocol. Within 12 days of cardiac differentiation from patient-specific and control-iPSCs, spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) were observed. All iPSC-CMs exhibited a reliable sarcomeric structure stained with antibodies against cardiac markers and similar expression profiles of cardiac-specific genes. Intracellular calcium signalling was recorded to compare calcium-handling properties among cardiomyocytes differentiated from the three groups of iPSCs. RA-iPSC-CMs had a lower amplitude and a shorter duration of calcium transients than the control groups. Peak tangential stress and the maximum contractile rate were also decreased in RA-iPSC-CMs, suggesting that contractility was reduced. This study demonstrates the successful generation of functional cardiomyocytes from pathogenic synovial cells in RA patients through iPSC reprogramming. Research using RA-iPSC-CMs might provide an opportunity to investigate the pathophysiology of cardiac involvement in RA.
Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose disease in peppers from Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Liu Fangling , Tang Guiting , Zheng Xiaojuan , Li Ying , Sun Xiaofang , Qi Xiaobo , Zhou You , Xu Jing , Chen Huabao , Chang Xiaoli , Zhang Sirong , Gong Guoshu
Published: September 2016

The anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species is an important disease that primarily causes fruit rot in pepper. Eighty-eight strains representing seven species of Colletotrichum were obtained from rotten pepper fruits in Sichuan Province, China, and characterized according to morphology and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) sequence. Fifty-two strains were chosen for identification by phylogenetic analyses of multi-locus sequences, including the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the β-tubulin (TUB2), actin (ACT), calmodulin (CAL) and GAPDH genes. Based on the combined datasets, the 88 strains were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. siamense, C. fructicola, C. truncatum, C. scovillei, and C. brevisporum, and one new species was detected, described as Colletotrichum sichuanensis. Notably, C. siamense and C. scovillei were recorded for the first time as the causes of anthracnose in peppers in China. In addition, with the exception of C. truncatum, this is the first report of all of the other Colletotrichum species studied in pepper from Sichuan. The fungal species were all non-host-specific, as the isolates were able to infect not only Capsicum spp. but also Pyrus pyrifolia in pathogenicity tests. These findings suggest that the fungal species associated with anthracnose in pepper may inoculate other hosts as initial inoculum.
Mechanotransduction-Induced Lipid Production System with High Robustness and Controllability for Microalgae
Authors: Cho Myung Kwon , Shin Hwa Sung
Published: September 2016

Microalgae lipids are a promising energy source, but current biochemical methods of lipid-inductions such as nitrogen deprivation have low process robustness and controllability. Recently, use of mechanotransduction based membrane distortion by applying compression stress in a 2D-microsystem was suggested as a way to overcome these limitations of biochemical induction. However, reproduction in large numbers of cells without cell death has been difficult to overcome because compression for direct membrane distortion reduces culture volume and leads to cell death due to nutrient deprivation. In this study, a mechanotransduction-induced lipid production (MDLP) system that redirects elastic microbeads to induce membrane distortion of microalgae with alleviating cell death was developed. This system resulted in accumulation of lipid in as little as 4 hr. Once compressed, porous microbeads absorb media and swell simultaneously while homogeneously inducing compression stress of microalgae. The absorbed media within beads could be supplied to adjacent cells and could minimize cell death from nutrient deficiency. All mechanotransduction was confirmed by measuring upregulation of calcium influx and Mat3 genes. The microbeads ensured robustness and controllability in repeated compression/de-compression processes. Overall, the MDLP system has potential for use as a fundamental biodiesel process that requires robustness and controllability.
Insulin Restores an Altered Corneal Epithelium Circadian Rhythm in Mice with Streptozotocin-induced Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Song Fang , Xue Yunxia , Dong Dong , Liu Jun , Fu Ting , Xiao Chengju , Wang Hanqing , Lin Cuipei , Liu Peng , Zhong Jiajun , Yang Yabing , Wang Zhaorui , Pan Hongwei , Chen Jiansu , Li Yangqiu , Cai Dongqing , Li Zhijie
Published: September 2016

The mechanisms of corneal epithelial lesions and delayed wound repair, as well as their association with diabetes mellitus, are critical issues for clinical ophthalmologists. To test whether the diabetic condition alters the circadian rhythm in a mouse cornea and whether insulin can synchronise the corneal clock, we studied the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the mitosis of epithelial cells, the recruitment of leukocytes to the cornea, and the expression of main core clock genes (Clock, Bmal1, Per2, Cry1, and Rev-erbα) in the corneal epithelium. We also assessed the possible effect of insulin on these modifications. Diabetes downregulated Clock, Bmal1, and Per2 expression, upregulated Cry1 and Rev-erbα expression, reduced corneal epithelial mitosis, and increased leukocyte (neutrophils and γδ T-cells) recruitment to the cornea. Early treatments with insulin partially restored the altered rhythmicity in the diabetic cornea. In conclusion, insulin-dependent diabetes altered the normal rhythmicity of the cornea, and insulin administration had a beneficial effect on restoring normal rhythmicity in the diabetic cornea.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor Increases Circulating Zinc-Α2-Glycoprotein Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Liao Xin , Wang Xuemei , Li Haopeng , Li Ling , Zhang Guohao , Yang Mengliu , Yuan Lei , Liu Hua , Yang Gangyi , Gao Lin
Published: September 2016

ZAG has recently been characterized as a potent metabolic regulator, but the effect of anti-diabetic agents on ZAG in humans remains unknown. Our aim was to study the effects of SGLT2 inhibitor on circulating ZAG and ADI in nT2DM. 162 subjects with nT2DM were treated by a placebo or DAPA. After 3-months of DAPA therapy, HbA1c, FBG, 2h-PBG, FFA, TG, blood pressure, BMI, WHR, body weight, FAT%, FINS, and HOMA-IR in T2DM patients decreased significantly, whereas HDL-C was significantly increased. Importantly, circulating ZAG and ADI levels in these patients were also significantly increased after DAPA therapy. Basal ZAG levels were associated with changes in BMI, FAT%, TC, HbA1c, HDL-C and ADI at post-treatment, whereas basal ADI levels were associated with changes in FAT%, TC, HbA1c, FFA and HDL-c. In vitro, DAPA treatment showed increased ZAG expression and secretion in HepG2 cells. When combined with a PPAR-γinhibitor GW9662, the effect of DAPA on ZAG was abrogated. These findings suggest that circulating ZAG can be regulated by DAPA, and DAPA promotes the expression and secretion of ZAG in the liver via the activation of PPAR-γ. The changes in ZAG induced by DAPA may play a physiologic role in enhancing insulin sensitivity.
McGurk illusion recalibrates subsequent auditory perception
Authors: Lüttke Claudia S. , Ekman Matthias , van Gerven Marcel A. J. , de Lange Floris P.
Published: September 2016

Visual information can alter auditory perception. This is clearly illustrated by the well-known McGurk illusion, where an auditory/aba/ and a visual /aga/ are merged to the percept of ‘ada’. It is less clear however whether such a change in perception may recalibrate subsequent perception. Here we asked whether the altered auditory perception due to the McGurk illusion affects subsequent auditory perception, i.e. whether this process of fusion may cause a recalibration of the auditory boundaries between phonemes. Participants categorized auditory and audiovisual speech stimuli as /aba/, /ada/ or /aga/ while activity patterns in their auditory cortices were recorded using fMRI. Interestingly, following a McGurk illusion, an auditory /aba/ was more often misperceived as ‘ada’. Furthermore, we observed a neural counterpart of this recalibration in the early auditory cortex. When the auditory input /aba/ was perceived as ‘ada’, activity patterns bore stronger resemblance to activity patterns elicited by /ada/ sounds than when they were correctly perceived as /aba/. Our results suggest that upon experiencing the McGurk illusion, the brain shifts the neural representation of an /aba/ sound towards /ada/, culminating in a recalibration in perception of subsequent auditory input.
Mechanically activated artificial cell by using microfluidics
Authors: Ho Kenneth K. Y. , Lee Lap Man , Liu Allen P.
Published: September 2016

All living organisms sense mechanical forces. Engineering mechanosensitive artificial cell through bottom-up in vitro reconstitution offers a way to understand how mixtures of macromolecules assemble and organize into a complex system that responds to forces. We use stable double emulsion droplets (aqueous/oil/aqueous) to prototype mechanosensitive artificial cells. In order to demonstrate mechanosensation in artificial cells, we develop a novel microfluidic device that is capable of trapping double emulsions into designated chambers, followed by compression and aspiration in a parallel manner. The microfluidic device is fabricated using multilayer soft lithography technology, and consists of a control layer and a deformable flow channel. Deflections of the PDMS membrane above the main microfluidic flow channels and trapping chamber array are independently regulated pneumatically by two sets of integrated microfluidic valves. We successfully compress and aspirate the double emulsions, which result in transient increase and permanent decrease in oil thickness, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate the influx of calcium ions as a response of our mechanically activated artificial cell through thinning of oil. The development of a microfluidic device to mechanically activate artificial cells creates new opportunities in force-activated synthetic biology.
Autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction in adjuvant-arthritis rats treatment with resveratrol
Authors: Zhang Junqiang , Song Xianbin , Cao Wei , Lu Jinseng , Wang Xiaoqing , Wang Gaoyuan , Wang Zhicheng , Chen Xiaoyu
Published: September 2016

Resveratrol is a polyphenol derivatives which exhibits a pro-apoptotic effect in a variety of human cancers by triggering mitochondria apoptosis pathway and autophagy. However, there are scarcely reports on its apoptosis-promoting effect in abnormal proliferation fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism and apoptosis-inducing effects of resveratrol on the abnormal proliferation of FLSs in adjuvant-arthritis (AA) rats. Since using resveratrol for 12 days resulted in a significant decreasing the swelling degree of the paw, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content and enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase ratio in AA rats. Moreover, we found that 5 μMH2O2 could increase cells viability, Beclin1, LC3A/B, MnSOD, SIRT3 protein expression in FLSs. But, resveratrol could reverse these effects by changing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) to promote mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation in 5 μMH2O2-treatment FLSs. These results suggest that oxidative stress existed in AA rats. Resveratrol could suppress oxidative stress in AA rats and increase mtROS production by reducing autophagy protein Beclin1, LC3A/B and oxidative stress protein MnSOD to promoted the apoptosis of FLSs. Thus, targeting of mtROS may be a crucial mechanism of resveratrol confers patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Selective de-repression of germ cell-specific genes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts in a permissive epigenetic environment
Authors: Sekinaka Tamotsu , Hayashi Yohei , Noce Toshiaki , Niwa Hitoshi , Matsui Yasuhisa
Published: September 2016

Epigenetic modifications play crucial roles on establishment of tissue-specific transcription profiles and cellular characteristics. Direct conversions of fibroblasts into differentiated tissue cells by over-expression of critical transcription factors have been reported, but the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these conversions are still not fully understood. In addition, conversion of somatic cells into germ cells has not yet been achieved. To understand epigenetic mechanisms that underlie germ cell characteristics, we attempted to use defined epigenetic factors to directly convert mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into germ cells. Here, we successfully induced germ cell-specific genes by inhibiting repressive epigenetic modifications via RNAi or small-molecule compounds. Under these conditions, some tissue-specific genes and stimulus-inducible genes were also induced. Meanwhile, the treatments did not result in genome-wide transcriptional activation. These results suggested that a permissive epigenetic environment resulted in selective de-repression of stimulus- and differentiation-inducible genes including germ cell-specific genes in MEFs.
A Fully-Sealed Carbon-Nanotube Cold-Cathode Terahertz Gyrotron
Authors: Yuan Xuesong , Zhu Weiwei , Zhang Yu , Xu Ningsheng , Yan Yang , Wu Jianqiang , Shen Yan , Chen Jun , She Juncong , Deng Shaozhi
Published: September 2016

Gigahertz to terahertz radiation sources based on cold-cathode vacuum electron technology are pursued, because its unique characteristics of instant switch-on and power saving are important to military and space applications. Gigahertz gyrotron was reported using carbon nanotube (CNT) cold-cathode. It is reported here in first time that a fully-sealed CNT cold-cathode 0.22 THz-gyrotron is realized, typically with output power of 500 mW. To achieve this, we have studied mechanisms responsible for CNTs growth on curved shape metal surface, field emission from the sidewall of a CNT, and crystallized interface junction between CNT and substrate material. We have obtained uniform growth of CNTs on and direct growth from cone-cylinder stainless-steel electrode surface, and field emission from both tips and sidewalls of CNTs. It is essential for the success of a CNT terahertz gyrotron to have such high quality, high emitting performance CNTs. Also, we have developed a magnetic injection electron gun using CNT cold-cathode to exploit the advantages of such a conventional gun design, so that a large area emitting surface is utilized to deliver large current for electron beam. The results indicate that higher output power and higher radiation frequency terahertz gyrotron may be made using CNT cold-cathode electron gun.
Roles and regulation of autophagy and apoptosis in the remodelling of the lepidopteran midgut epithelium during metamorphosis
Authors: Romanelli Davide , Casartelli Morena , Cappellozza Silvia , de Eguileor Magda , Tettamanti Gianluca
Published: September 2016

We previously showed that autophagy and apoptosis occur in the removal of the lepidopteran larval midgut during metamorphosis. However, their roles in this context and the molecular pathways underlying their activation and regulation were only hypothesized. The results of the present study better clarify the timing of the activation of these two processes: autophagic and apoptotic genes are transcribed at the beginning of metamorphosis, but apoptosis intervenes after autophagy. To investigate the mechanisms that promote the activation of autophagy and apoptosis, we designed a set of experiments based on injections of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Our data demonstrate that autophagy is induced at the end of the last larval stage by the 20E commitment peak, while the onset of apoptosis occurs concomitantly with the 20E metamorphic peak. By impairing autophagic flux, the midgut epithelium degenerated faster, and higher caspase activity was observed compared to controls, whereas inhibiting caspase activation caused a severe delay in epithelial degeneration. Our data demonstrate that autophagy plays a pro-survival function in the silkworm midgut during metamorphosis, while apoptosis is the major process that drives the demise of the epithelium. The evidence collected in this study seems to exclude the occurrence of autophagic cell death in this setting.
Tracking Optical and Electronic Behaviour of Quantum Contacts in Sub-Nanometre Plasmonic Cavities
Authors: Sanders A. , Bowman R. W. , Baumberg J. J.
Published: September 2016

Plasmonic interactions between two metallic tips are dynamically studied in a supercontinuum dark-field microscope and the transition between coupled and charge-transfer plasmons is directly observed in the sub-nm regime. Simultaneous measurement of the dc current, applied force, and optical scattering as the tips come together is used to determine the effects of conductive pathways within the plasmonic nano-gap. Critical conductances are experimentally identified for the first time, determining the points at which quantum tunnelling and conductive charge transport begin to influence plasmon coupling. These results advance our understanding of the relationship between conduction and plasmonics, and the fundamental quantum mechanical behaviours of plasmonic coupling.
Rough gold films as broadband absorbers for plasmonic enhancement of TiO2 photocurrent over 400–800 nm
Authors: Tan Furui , Li Tenghao , Wang Ning , Lai Sin Ki , Tsoi Chi Chung , Yu Weixing , Zhang Xuming
Published: September 2016

Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in highly-efficient absorbers of visible light for the conversion of solar energy into electrochemical energy. This study presents a TiO2-Au bilayer that consists of a rough Au film under a TiO2film, which aims to enhance the photocurrent of TiO2over the whole visible region and may be the first attempt to use rough Au films to sensitize TiO2. Experiments show that the bilayer structure gives the optimal optical and photoelectrochemical performance when the TiO2layer is 30 nm thick and the Au film is 100 nm, measuring the absorption 80–90% over 400–800 nm and the photocurrent intensity of 15 μA·cm−2, much better than those of the TiO2-AuNP hybrid (i.e., Au nanoparticle covered by the TiO2film) and the bare TiO2film. The superior properties of the TiO2-Au bilayer can be attributed to the rough Au film as the plasmonic visible-light sensitizer and the photoactive TiO2film as the electron accepter. As the Au film is fully covered by the TiO2film, the TiO2-Au bilayer avoids the photocorrosion and leakage of Au materials and is expected to be stable for long-term operation, making it an excellent photoelectrode for the conversion of solar energy into electrochemical energy in the applications of water splitting, photocatalysis and photosynthesis.
Low energy electron imaging of domains and domain walls in magnesium-doped lithium niobate
Authors: Nataf G. F. , Grysan P. , Guennou M. , Kreisel J. , Martinotti D. , Rountree C. L. , Mathieu C. , Barrett N.
Published: September 2016

The understanding of domain structures, specifically domain walls, currently attracts a significant attention in the field of (multi)-ferroic materials. In this article, we analyze contrast formation in full field electron microscopy applied to domains and domain walls in the uniaxial ferroelectric lithium niobate, which presents a large 3.8 eV band gap and for which conductive domain walls have been reported. We show that the transition from Mirror Electron Microscopy (MEM – electrons reflected) to Low Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM – electrons backscattered) gives rise to a robust contrast between domains with upwards (Pup) and downwards (Pdown) polarization, and provides a measure of the difference in surface potential between the domains. We demonstrate that out-of-focus conditions of imaging produce contrast inversion, due to image distortion induced by charged surfaces, and also carry information on the polarization direction in the domains. Finally, we show that the intensity profile at domain walls provides experimental evidence for a local stray, lateral electric field.
Pentoxifylline ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hyperglycaemic and dyslipidaemic mice by upregulating fatty acid β-oxidation
Authors: Ye Jia-Hung , Chao Jung , Chang Ming-Ling , Peng Wen-Huang , Cheng Hao-Yuan , Liao Jiunn-Wang , Pao Li-Heng
Published: September 2016

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which includes simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, is characterised by abnormal fat accumulation in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol intake. In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), concurrent NAFLD might increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and the mortality rate. Although several studies have examined the effectiveness of pentoxifylline (PTX) in NAFLD treatment, no results are available to verify the effectiveness of PTX in treating T2D associated with NAFLD. In this study, we developed a combined high-fat diet-induced obesity and low-dose streptozocin-induced hyperglycaemia mouse model to mimic the concurrent NAFLD and T2D pathological condition. By combining physiological assessments, pathological examinations, metabolomics studies on blood, urine, and liver, and measurements of gene and protein expression, we elucidated the effectiveness and the underlying mechanism of action of PTX in the hyperglycaemic and dyslipidaemic mice. Our results revealed that PTX ameliorated NAFLD in the hyperglycaemic and dyslipidaemic mice by upregulating fatty acid β-oxidation. Furthermore, the glycolysis pathway and branched-chain amino acid-related pathways in these mice were restored by PTX.
Estrogen receptors α and β and aromatase as independent predictors for prostate cancer outcome
Authors: Grindstad Thea , Skjefstad Kaja , Andersen Sigve , Ness Nora , Nordby Yngve , Al-Saad Samer , Fismen Silje , Donnem Tom , Khanehkenari Mehrdad Rakaee , Busund Lill-Tove , Bremnes Roy M. , Richardsen Elin
Published: September 2016

Androgens are considered important in normal prostate physiology and prostate cancer (PCa) pathogenesis. However, androgen-targeted treatment preventing PCa recurrence is still lacking. This indicates additional mediators contributing to cancer development. We sought to determine the prognostic significance of estrogen receptors, ERα and -β, and the aromatase enzyme in PCa. Tissue microarrays were created from 535 PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy. Expression of ERα, ERβ and aromatase were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Representative tumor epithelial (TE) and tumor stromal (TS) areas were investigated separately. Survival analyses were used to evaluate the markers correlation to PCa outcome. In univariate analyses, ERα in TS was associated with delayed time to clinical failure (CF) (p = 0.042) and PCa death (p = 0.019), while ERβ was associated with reduced time to biochemical failure (BF) (p = 0.002). Aromatase in TS and TE was associated with increased time to BF and CF respectively (p = 0.016, p = 0.046). Multivariate analyses supported these observations, indicating an independent prognostic impact of all markers. When stratifying the analysis according to different surgical centers the results were unchanged. In conclusion, significant prognostic roles of ERα, ERβ and aromatase were discovered in the in PCa specimens of our large multicenter cohort.