bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electroweak Symmetry Breaking in Historical Perspective
Authors: Quigg Chris
Published: October 2015

The discovery of the Higgs boson is a major milestone in our progress toward understanding the natural world. A particular aim of this review is to show how diverse ideas came together in the conception of electroweak symmetry breaking that led up to the discovery. I also survey what we know now that we did not know before, what properties of the Higgs boson remain to be established, and what new questions we may now hope to address.
ATP promotes cell survival via regulation of cytosolic [Ca2+] and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in lung cancer cells
Authors: Song Shanshan , Jacobson Krista N. , McDermott Kimberly M. , Reddy Sekhar P. , Cress Anne E. , Tang Haiyang , Dudek Steven M. , Black Stephen M. , Garcia Joe G. N. , Makino Ayako , Yuan Jason X.-J.
Published: October 2015

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a ubiquitous extracellular messenger elevated in the tumor microenvironment. ATP regulates cell functions by acting on purinergic receptors (P2X and P2Y) and activating a series of intracellular signaling pathways. We examined ATP-induced Ca2+ signaling and its effects on antiapoptotic (Bcl-2) and proapoptotic (Bax) proteins in normal human airway epithelial cells and lung cancer cells. Lung cancer cells exhibited two phases (transient and plateau phases) of increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]cyt) caused by ATP, while only the transient phase was observed in normal cells. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ eliminated the plateau phase increase of [Ca2+]cyt in lung cancer cells, indicating that the plateau phase of [Ca2+]cyt increase is due to Ca2+ influx. The distribution of P2X (P2X1-7) and P2Y (P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y11) receptors was different between lung cancer cells and normal cells. Proapoptotic P2X7 was nearly undetectable in lung cancer cells, which may explain why lung cancer cells showed decreased cytotoxicity when treated with high concentration of ATP. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio was increased in lung cancer cells following treatment with ATP; however, the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 demonstrated more sensitivity to ATP than proapoptotic protein Bax. Decreasing extracellular Ca2+ or chelating intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA-AM significantly inhibited ATP-induced increase in Bcl-2/Bax ratio, indicating that a rise in [Ca2+]cyt through Ca2+ influx is the critical mediator for ATP-mediated increase in Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Therefore, despite high ATP levels in the tumor microenvironment, which would induce cell apoptosis in normal cells, the decreased P2X7 and elevated Bcl-2/Bax ratio in lung cancer cells may enable tumor cells to survive. Increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio by exposure to high extracellular ATP may, therefore, be an important selective pressure promoting transformation and cancer progression.
Inhibition of Notch signaling pathway attenuates sympathetic hyperinnervation together with the augmentation of M2 macrophages in rats post-myocardial infarction
Authors: Yin Jie , Hu Hesheng , Li Xiaolu , Xue Mei , Cheng Wenjuan , Wang Ye , Xuan Yongli , Li Xinran , Yang Na , Shi Yugen , Yan Suhua
Published: October 2015

Inflammation-dominated sympathetic sprouting adjacent to the necrotic region following myocardial infarction (MI) has been implicated in the etiology of arrhythmias resulting in sudden cardiac death; however, the mechanisms responsible remain to be elucidated. Although being a key immune mediator, the role of Notch has yet to be explored. We investigated whether Notch regulates macrophage responses to inflammation and affects cardiac sympathetic reinnervation in rats undergoing MI. MI was induced by coronary artery ligation. A high level of Notch intracellular domain was observed in the macrophages that infiltrated the infarct area at 3 days post-MI. The administration of the Notch inhibitor N-N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl-l-alanyl)-S-phenylglycine-t-butyl ester (DAPT) (intravenously 30 min before MI and then daily until death) decreased the number of macrophages and significantly increased the M2 macrophage activation profile in the early stages and attenuated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF). Eventually, NGF-induced sympathetic hyperinnervation was blunted, as assessed by the immunofluorescence of tyrosine hydroxylase. At 7 days post-MI, the arrhythmia score of programmed electric stimulation in the vehicle-treated infarcted rats was higher than that in rats treated with DAPT. Further deterioration in cardiac function and decreases in the plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were also detected. In vitro studies revealed that LPS/IFN-γ upregulated the surface expression of NGF in M1 macrophages in a Notch-dependent manner. We concluded that Notch inhibition during the acute inflammatory response phase is associated with the downregulation of NGF, probably through a macrophage-dependent pathway, thus preventing the process of sympathetic hyperinnervation.
F-actin clustering and cell dysmotility induced by the pathological W148R missense mutation of filamin B at the actin-binding domain
Authors: Zhao Yongtong , Shapiro Sandor S. , Eto Masumi
Published: October 2015

Filamin B (FLNB) is a dimeric actin-binding protein that orchestrates the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Congenital mutations of FLNB at the actin-binding domain (ABD) are known to cause abnormalities of skeletal development, such as atelosteogenesis types I and III and Larsen's syndrome, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, using fluorescence microscopy, we characterized the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in cells expressing each of six pathological FLNB mutants that have been linked to skeletal abnormalities. The subfractionation assay showed a greater accumulation of the FLNB ABD mutants W148R and E227K than the wild-type protein to the cytoskeleton. Ectopic expression of FLNB-W148R and, to a lesser extent, FLNB-E227K induced prominent F-actin accumulations and the consequent rearrangement of focal adhesions, myosin II, and septin filaments and results in a delayed directional migration of the cells. The W148R protein-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement was partially attenuated by the inhibition of myosin II, p21-activated protein kinase, or Rho-associated protein kinase. The expression of a single-head ABD fragment with the mutations partially mimicked the rearrangement induced by the dimer. The F-actin clustering through the interaction with the mutant FLNB ABD may limit the cytoskeletal reorganization, preventing normal skeletal development.
Regulation of cell proliferation by hypoxia-inducible factors
Authors: Hubbi Maimon E. , Semenza Gregg L.
Published: October 2015

Hypoxia is a physiological cue that impacts diverse physiological processes, including energy metabolism, autophagy, cell motility, angiogenesis, and erythropoiesis. One of the key cell-autonomous effects of hypoxia is as a modulator of cell proliferation. For most cell types, hypoxia induces decreased cell proliferation, since an increased number of cells, with a consequent increase in O2 demand, would only exacerbate hypoxic stress. However, certain cell populations maintain cell proliferation in the face of hypoxia. This is a common pathological hallmark of cancers, but can also serve a physiological function, as in the maintenance of stem cell populations that reside in a hypoxic niche. This review will discuss major molecular mechanisms by which hypoxia regulates cell proliferation in different cell populations, with a particular focus on the role of hypoxia-inducible factors.
Loss of hepatocyte ERBB3 but not EGFR impairs hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Scheving Lawrence A. , Zhang Xiuqi , Stevenson Mary C. , Weintraub Michael A. , Abbasi Annam , Clarke Andrea M. , Threadgill David W. , Russell William E.
Published: October 2015

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ERBB3 have been implicated in hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). However, it is not known whether altering the activity of either EGFR or ERBB3 affects HCC development. We now show that Egfr Dsk5 mutant mice, which have a gain-of-function allele that increases basal EGFR kinase activity, develop spontaneous HCC by 10 mo of age. Their tumors show increased activation of EGFR, ERBB2, and ERBB3 as well as AKT and ERK1,2. Hepatocyte-specific models of EGFR and ERBB3 gene ablation were generated to evaluate how the loss of these genes affected tumor progression. Loss of either receptor tyrosine kinase did not alter liver development or regenerative liver growth following carbon tetrachloride injection. However, using a well-characterized model of HCC in which N-nitrosodiethylamine is injected into 14-day-old mice, we discovered that loss of hepatocellular ERBB3 but not EGFR, which occurred after tumor initiation, retarded liver tumor formation and cell proliferation. We found no evidence that this was due to increased apoptosis or diminished phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity in the ERBB3-null cells. However, the relative amount of phospho-STAT3 was diminished in tumors derived from these mice, suggesting that ERBB3 may promote HCC through STAT3 activation.
Candida glabratabinds to glycosylated and lectinic receptors on the coronary endothelial luminal membrane and inhibits flow sense and cardiac responses to agonists
Authors: Torres-Tirado David , Knabb Maureen , Castaño Irene , Patrón-Soberano Araceli , De Las Peñas Alejandro , Rubio Rafael
Published: October 2015

Candida glabrata (CG) is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that initiates infection by binding to host cells via specific lectin-like adhesin proteins. We have previously shown the importance of lectin-oligosaccharide binding in cardiac responses to flow and agonists. Because of the lectinic-oligosaccharide nature of CG binding, we tested the ability of CG to alter the agonist- and flow-induced changes in cardiac function in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts. Both transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed strong attachment of CG to the coronary endothelium, even after extensive washing. CG shifted the coronary flow vs. auricular-ventricular (AV) delay relationship upward, indicating that greater flow was required to achieve the same AV delay. This effect was completely reversed with mannose, partially reversed with galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine, but hyaluronan had no effect. Western blot analysis was used to determine binding of CG to isolated coronary endothelial luminal membrane (CELM) receptors, and the results indicate that flow-sensitive CELM receptors, ANG II type I, α-adrenergic 1A receptor, endothelin-2, and VCAM-1 bind to CG. In addition, CG inhibited agonist-induced effects of bradykinin, angiotensin, and phenylephrine on AV delay, coronary perfusion pressure, and left ventricular pressure. Mannose reversed the inhibitory effects of CG on the agonist responses. These results suggest that CG directly binds to flow-sensitive CELM receptors via lectinic-oligosaccharide interactions with mannose and disrupts the lectin-oligosaccharide binding necessary for flow-induced cardiac responses.
Hepatic fatty acid biosynthesis is more responsive to protein than carbohydrate in rainbow trout during acute stimulations
Authors: Dai Weiwei , Panserat Stéphane , Kaushik Sadasivam , Terrier Frédéric , Plagnes-Juan Elisabeth , Seiliez Iban , Skiba-Cassy Sandrine
Published: October 2015

The link between dietary carbohydrate/protein and de novo lipogenesis (DNL) remains debatable in carnivorous fish. We aimed to evaluate and compare the response of hepatic lipogenic gene expression to dietary carbohydrate intake/glucose and dietary protein intake/amino acids (AAs) during acute stimulations using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. For the in vivo trial, three different diets and a controlled-feeding method were employed to supply fixed amount of dietary protein or carbohydrate in a single meal; for the in vitro trial, primary hepatocytes were stimulated with a low or high level of glucose (3 mM or 20 mM) and a low or high level of AAs (one-fold or four-fold concentrated AAs). In vitro data showed that a high level of AAs upregulated the expression of enzymes involved in DNL [fatty acid synthase (FAS) and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY)], lipid bioconversion [elongation of very long chain fatty acids like-5 (Elovl5), Elovl2, Δ6 fatty acyl desaturase (D6D) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1)], NADPH production [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malic enzyme (ME)], and transcriptional factor sterol regulatory element binding protein 1-like, while a high level of glucose only elevated the expression of ME. Data in trout liver also showed that high dietary protein intake induced higher lipogenic gene expression (FAS, ACLY, and Elovl2) regardless of dietary carbohydrate intake, while high carbohydrate intake markedly suppressed the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Elovl5. Overall, we conclude that, unlike rodents or humans, hepatic fatty acid biosynthetic gene expression in rainbow trout is more responsive to dietary protein intake/AAs than dietary carbohydrate intake/glucose during acute stimulations. This discrepancy probably represents one important physiological and metabolic difference between carnivores and omnivores.
Increased placental fatty acid transporter 6 and binding protein 3 expression and fetal liver lipid accumulation in a mouse model of obesity in pregnancy
Authors: Díaz Paula , Harris Jessica , Rosario Fredrick J. , Powell Theresa L. , Jansson Thomas
Published: October 2015

Obesity in pregnancy is associated with increased fetal growth and adiposity, which, in part, is determined by transplacental nutrient supply. Trophoblast uptake and intracellular trafficking of lipids are dependent on placental fatty acid transport proteins (FATP), translocase (FAT/CD36), and fatty acid binding proteins (FABP). We hypothesized that maternal obesity in mice leads to increased placental expression of FAT/CD36, FATPs, and FABPs, and lipid accumulation in the fetal liver. C57/BL6J female mice were fed either a control (C; n = 10) or an obesogenic (OB; n = 10) high-fat, high-sugar diet before mating and throughout pregnancy. At E18.5, placentas and fetal livers were collected. Trophoblast plasma membranes (TPM) were isolated from placental homogenates. Expression of FAT/CD36 and FATP (TPM) and FABP (homogenates) was determined by immunoblotting. Gene expression was assessed by RT-quantitative PCR. Sections of fetal livers were stained for Oil Red O, and lipid droplets were quantified. TPM protein expression of FAT/CD36, FATP 2, and FATP 4 was comparable between C and OB groups. Conversely, TPM FATP 6 expression was increased by 35% in OB compared with C placentas without changes in mRNA expression. FABPs 1, 3–5 and PPARγ were expressed in homogenates, and FABP 3 expression increased 27% in OB compared with C placentas; however, no changes were observed in mRNA expression. Lipid droplet accumulation was 10-fold higher in the livers of fetuses from OB compared with C group. We propose that increased lipid transport capacity in obese mice promotes transplacental fatty acid transport and contributes to excess lipid accumulation in the fetal liver.
Synchronization of motor unit firings: an epiphenomenon of firing rate characteristics not common inputs
Authors: Kline Joshua C. , De Luca Carlo J.
Published: October 2015

Synchronous motor unit firing instances have been attributed to anatomical inputs shared by motoneurons. Yet, there is a lack of empirical evidence confirming the notion that common inputs elicit synchronization under voluntary conditions. We tested this notion by measuring synchronization between motor unit action potential trains (MUAPTs) as their firing rates progressed within a contraction from a relatively low force level to a higher one. On average, the degree of synchronization decreased as the force increased. The common input notion provides no empirically supported explanation for the observed synchronization behavior. Therefore, we investigated a more probable explanation for synchronization. Our data set of 17,546 paired MUAPTs revealed that the degree of synchronization varies as a function of two characteristics of the motor unit firing rate: the similarity and the slope as a function of force. Both are measures of the excitation of the motoneurons. As the force generated by the muscle increases, the firing rate slope decreases, and the synchronization correspondingly decreases. Different muscles have motor units with different firing rate characteristics and display different amounts of synchronization. Although this association is not proof of causality, it consistently explains our observations and strongly suggests further investigation. So viewed, synchronization is likely an epiphenomenon, subject to countless unknown neural interactions. As such, synchronous firing instances may not be the product of a specific design and may not serve a specific physiological purpose. Our explanation for synchronization has the advantage of being supported by empirical evidence, whereas the common input does not.
Functional plasticity in the respiratory drive to thoracic motoneurons in the segment above a chronic lateral spinal cord lesion
Authors: Ford T. W. , Anissimova N. P. , Meehan C. F. , Kirkwood P. A.
Published: October 2015

A previous neurophysiological investigation demonstrated an increase in functional projections of expiratory bulbospinal neurons (EBSNs) in the segment above a chronic lateral thoracic spinal cord lesion that severed their axons. We have now investigated how this plasticity might be manifested in thoracic motoneurons by measuring their respiratory drive and the connections to them from individual EBSNs. In anesthetized cats, simultaneous recordings were made intracellularly from motoneurons in the segment above a left-side chronic (16 wk) lesion of the spinal cord in the rostral part of T8, T9, or T10 and extracellularly from EBSNs in the right caudal medulla, antidromically excited from just above the lesion but not from below. Spike-triggered averaging was used to measure the connections between pairs of EBSNs and motoneurons. Connections were found to have a very similar distribution to normal and were, if anything (nonsignificantly), weaker than normal, being present for 42/158 pairs, vs. 55/154 pairs in controls. The expiratory drive in expiratory motoneurons appeared stronger than in controls but again not significantly so. Thus we conclude that new connections made by the EBSNs following these lesions were made to neurons other than α-motoneurons. However, a previously unidentified form of functional plasticity was seen in that there was a significant increase in the excitation of motoneurons during postinspiration, being manifest either in increased incidence of expiratory decrementing respiratory drive potentials or in an increased amplitude of the postinspiratory depolarizing phase in inspiratory motoneurons. We suggest that this component arose from spinal cord interneurons.
Effects of Lower-Leg Kinesiology Taping on Balance Ability in Stroke Patients with Foot Drop
Authors: Bae Young-Hyeon , Kim Hyeong Geun , Min Kyung Sam , Lee Suk Min
Published: October 2015

Objective. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of lower-leg kinesiology taping on balance ability in stroke patients with foot drop.Design. Randomized controlled trial study.Method. Thirty stroke patients with foot drop were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group underwent kinesiology taping, and the control group underwent placebo taping. Balance ability was assessed before and after taping in both groups.Results. No difference was observed over time in the Berg Balance Scale score between the two groups, and a significant difference in the Berg Balance Scale score was observed only in the experimental group. Additionally, there were significant differences in the center of pressure area and limits of stability over time.Conclusion. Kinesiology taping temporarily improved static balance ability in stroke patients. However, its effect on dynamic balance was not verified. Therefore, further research on the influence of long-term kinesiology taping on dynamic balance and gait ability is suggested.
Identification of Immune Related LRR-Containing Genes in Maize (Zea maysL.) by Genome-Wide Sequence Analysis
Authors: Song Wei , Wang Baoqiang , Li Xinghua , Wei Jianfen , Chen Ling , Zhang Dongmin , Zhang Wenying , Li Ronggai
Published: October 2015

A large number of immune receptors consist of nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) proteins and leucine rich repeat-receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLK) that play a crucial role in plant disease resistance. Although many NBS-LRR genes have been previously identified inZea mays, there are no reports on identifying NBS-LRR genes encoded in the N-terminal Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) motif and identifying genome-wide LRR-RLK genes. In the present study, 151 NBS-LRR genes and 226 LRR-RLK genes were identified after performing bioinformatics analysis of the entire maize genome. Of these identified genes, 64 NBS-LRR genes and four TIR-NBS-LRR genes were identified for the first time. The NBS-LRR genes are unevenly distributed on each chromosome with gene clusters located at the distal end of each chromosome, while LRR-RLK genes have a random chromosomal distribution with more paired genes. Additionally, six LRR-RLK/RLPs including FLS2, PSY1R, PSKR1, BIR1, SERK3, and Cf5 were characterized inZea maysfor the first time. Their predicted amino acid sequences have similar protein structures with their respective homologues in other plants, indicating that these maize LRR-RLK/RLPs have the same functions as their homologues act as immune receptors. The identified gene sequences would assist in the study of their functions in maize.
A Simple and Safe Technique for CT Guided Lung Nodule Marking prior to Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgical Resection Revisited
Authors: Stephenson James A. , Mahfouz Ayman , Rathinam Sridhar , Nakas Apostolos , Bajaj Amrita
Published: October 2015

Aim. We describe our experience of a simple, safe, and reproducible technique for lung nodule marking prethoracoscopic metastasectomy. Thoracoscopic lung nodule resection reduces patient discomfort, complications, higher level of care, hospital stay, and cost; however, small deeply placed lung nodules are difficult to locate and resect thoracoscopically. Materials and Methods. We describe and review the success of our novel technique, where nodules are identified on a low dose CT and marked with methylene blue using CT fluoroscopy guidance immediately prior to surgery. Results. 30 nodules were marked with a mean size of 8 mm (4–18 mm) located at a mean depth of 17 mm, distributed through both lungs. Dye was detected at the pleural surface in 97% of the patients and at the nodule in 93%. There were no major complications. Thoracoscopic resection was possible in 90%. Conclusion. This is a simple and safe method of lung nodule marking to facilitate thoracoscopic resection in cases where this may not be technically possible due to nodule location.
Every Cloud Has a Push Data Lining: Incorporating Cloud Services in a Context-Aware Application
Authors: Grønli Tor-Morten , Hansen Jarle , Ghinea Gheorghita , Younas Muhammad
Published: October 2015

We investigated context-awareness by utilising multiple sources of context in a mobile device setting. In our experiment we developed a system consisting of a mobile client, running on the Android platform, integrated with a cloud-based service. These components were integrated using push messaging technology. One of the key features was the automatic adaptation of smartphones in accordance with implicit user needs. The novelty of our approach consists in the use of multiple sources of context input to the system, which included the use of calendar data and web based user configuration tool, as well as that of an external, cloud-based, configuration file storing user interface preferences which, pushed at log-on time irrespective of access device, frees the user from having to manually configure its interface. The system was evaluated via two rounds of user evaluations (n= 50 users), the feedback of which was generally positive and demonstrated the viability of using cloud-based services to provide an enhanced context-aware user experience.
Alkali Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Australian Timber Mill Sawdust for Biofuel Production
Authors: Trevorah Raymond Martin , Othman Maazuza Z.
Published: October 2015

This study investigated the potential use of alkali pretreatment of sawdust from Australian timber mills to produce bioethanol. Sawdust was treated using 3–10% w/w NaOH at temperatures of 60, 121, and −20°C. Two pathways of production were trialled to see the impact on the bioethanol potential, enzymatic hydrolysis for glucose production, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for ethanol production. The maximum yields obtained were at 121°C and −20°C using 7% NaOH, with 29.3% and 30.6% ethanol yields after 0.5 and 24 hr, respectively, these treatments yielded 233% and 137% increase from the 60°C counter parts. A notable trend of increased ethanol yields with increased NaOH concentration was observed for samples treated at 60°C; for example, samples treated using 10% NaOH produced 1.92–2.07 times more than those treated using 3% NaOH. FTIR analysis showed reduction in crystallinity correlating with increased ethanol yields with the largest reduction in crystallinity in the sample treated at −20°C for 24 hr with 7% NaOH.
MAC Protocol in Wireless Body Area Network for Mobile Health: A Survey and an Architecture Design
Authors: Qi Xin , Wang Kun , Huang AnPeng , Hu Haifeng , Han Guangjie
Published: October 2015

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) have become a leading solution in mobile health (mHealth). Typically, a WBAN consists of in-body or around-body sensor nodes for collecting data of physiological feature. For a WBAN to provide high throughput and low delay in an energy-efficient way, designing an efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol is of paramount importance because the MAC layer coordinates nodes’ access to the shared wireless medium. To show the difference of MAC protocols between Energy-Harvesting wireless body area networks (EH-WBANs) and battery powered WBANs (BT-WBANs), this paper surveys the latest progresses in energy harvesting techniques and WBAN MAC protocol designs. Furthermore, a novel energy utility architecture is designed to enable sensor node lifetime operation in an EH-WBAN.
Long-Term Ultrasonography Follow-Up of Thyroid Colloid Cysts at the Health Center: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Rho Myung Ho , Kim Dong Wook
Published: October 2015

Objective. No previous study has employed long-term follow-up ultrasonography (US) examinations for evaluating thyroid colloid cysts (TCCs) in the general population. This study aimed to assess the interval changes of TCCs at the health center by evaluating long-term US follow-up examinations.Methods. For evaluation of the thyroid gland at our health center from 2006 to 2010, 3692 individuals underwent 4 or more thyroid US examinations at an interval of 1 year or 2 years. We assessed the interval changes of TCCs ≥ 5 mm on US follow-up examinations.Results. Of the 3692 subjects, only 115 (3.1%) showed TCCs ≥ 5 mm on one or more thyroid US examinations. The interval changes in TCCs, as shown by the thyroid US examinations performed during the study period, were classified as follows: no interval change (n=60), gradual increase (n=37), gradual decrease (n=6), positive fluctuation (n=10), negative fluctuation (n=0), and disappearance (n=2). No subject reported any relevant symptom pertaining to TCCs.Conclusions. Overall, follow-up US examinations showed various interval changes in TCCs, but a majority of TCCs showed no interval change or a gradual increase in size.
Effects of Heat Transfer and an Endoscope on Peristaltic Flow of a Fractional Maxwell Fluid in a Vertical Tube
Authors: Rachid H.
Published: October 2015

We investigate the unsteady peristaltic transport of a viscoelastic fluid with fractional Maxwell model through two coaxial vertical tubes. This analysis has been carried under low Reynolds number and long wavelength approximations. Analytical solution of the problem is obtained by using a fractional calculus approach. The effects of Grashof number, heat parameter, relaxation time, fractional time derivative parameter, amplitude ratio, and the radius ratio on the pressure gradient, pressure rise, and the friction forces on the inner and outer tubes are graphically presented and discussed.
Acetylcholinesterase from Human Erythrocytes as a Surrogate Biomarker of Lead Induced Neurotoxicity
Authors: Gupta Vivek Kumar , Pal Rajnish , Siddiqi Nikhat Jamal , Sharma Bechan
Published: October 2015

Lead induced neurotoxicity in the people engaged in different occupations has received wide attention but very little studies have been carried out to monitor occupational neurotoxicity directly due to lead exposure using biochemical methods. In the present paper an endeavour has been made in order to assess the lead mediated neurotoxicity byin vitroassay of the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from human erythrocytes in presence of different concentrations of lead. The results suggested that the activity of this enzyme was localized in membrane bound fraction and it was found to be highly stable up to 30 days when stored at −20°C in phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.4) containing 0.2% Triton X-100. The erythrocyte’s AChE exhibitedKmfor acetylcholinesterase to be 0.1 mM. Lead caused sharp inhibition of the enzyme and its IC50value was computed to be 1.34 mM. The inhibition of the enzyme by lead was found to be of uncompetitive type (Kivalue, 3.6 mM) which negatively influenced both theVmaxand the enzyme-substrate binding affinity. Taken together, these results indicate that AChE from human erythrocytes could be exploited as a surrogate biomarker of lead induced neurotoxicity particularly in the people occupationally exposed to lead.
Cyber Physical Sensors and Actuators for Privacy- and Cost-Aware Optimization of User-Generated Content Provisioning
Authors: Bellavista Paolo , Giannelli Carlo
Published: October 2015

Nowadays there is growing interest in evolving the distributed sensors concept from the more traditional one of enabling technology to monitor the surrounding physical environmenttowards Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) sensors and actuators, that is, as a suitable tool to measure/influence the cyber activity of possibly worldwide communities of users (e.g., any geotagged operation leaving a cyber footprint and any cyber physical incentive to stimulate activity as in crowdsensing). To leverage this novel perspective, we propose a framework to integrate at bestmultilayer CPS sensors and actuatorsas the basis for autonomic management operations on both physical and cyber worlds. In this paper the specific application domain target is peer-to-peer content sharing based on social identities and relationships, but we claim that the proposed CPS framework is of general applicability. In particular, our original middleware solution adopts CPS actuators to move users’ content temporarily from smart home environments to high-performance cloud resources to minimize the access time of a dynamically selected quota of contents. Then, based on social network sensors and connectivity/networking ones hosted at lightweight domestic Web servers, our CPS actuators can originally and dynamically move content back from the cloud to smart homes when appropriate, in order to both retain full ownership of user-generated content and reduce cloud hosting costs.
A Simple Immersed Boundary Method for Compressible Flow Simulation around a Stationary and Moving Sphere
Authors: Mizuno Yusuke , Takahashi Shun , Nonomura Taku , Nagata Takayuki , Fukuda Kota
Published: October 2015

This study is devoted to investigating a flow around a stationary or moving sphere by using direct numerical simulation with immersed boundary method (IBM) for the three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations. A hybrid scheme developed to solve both shocks and turbulent flows is employed to solve the flow around a sphere in the equally spaced Cartesian mesh. Drag coefficients of the spheres are compared with reliable values obtained from highly accurate boundary-fitted coordinate (BFC) flow solver to clarify the applicability of the present method. As a result, good agreement was obtained between the present results and those from the BFC flow solver. Moreover, the effectiveness of the hybrid scheme was demonstrated to capture the wake structure of a sphere. Both advantages and disadvantages of the simple IBM were investigated in detail.
Management of Inflammatory Internal Root Resorption with Biodentine and Thermoplasticised Gutta-Percha
Authors: Umashetty Girish , Hoshing Upendra , Patil Suvarna , Ajgaonkar Nishant
Published: October 2015

Internal root resorption is a chronic inflammatory process initiated within the pulp space with the loss of dentin. This condition demands a comprehensive understanding of the pathologic process, so as to identify the cause and arrest the resorptive phenomena. It is a rare occurrence, asymptomatic, with slow progression, detected through routine radiographic examination, where it appears as a radiolucent lesion. This paper reports a clinical case of inflammatory internal root resorption in the premolar tooth. Because it is asymptomatic, internal root resorption needs an early diagnosis in order to institute the endodontic treatment before the process compromises the remaining mineralized structures of the tooth. Biodentine was used to reinforce the weaker structures in the root. Thermoplasticised gutta-percha was used to completely obturate the defect. Ten-month follow-up showed arrest of internal root resorption.
3,3′-Diindolylmethane: A Promising Sensitizer ofγ-Irradiation
Authors: Wang Wenjing , Lv Maomin , Huangfu Chaoji , Wang Fang , Zhang Jingang
Published: October 2015

Purpose. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment modality in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. The present work investigated the effect of 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) onγ-irradiation sensitizing human breast carcinoma.Methods. Cell survival, intracellular ROS levels, cell cycle distribution, cell apoptosis, and expression of proteins related to apoptosis were measured with MTT assays, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, respectively.Results.In vitroDIM plusγ-irradiation arrested the activity of G2/M phase cell cycle, increased intracellular ROS level, significantly suppressed PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase), and enhancedγ-irradiation-induced apoptosis, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of MCF-7 cells.Conclusion. These data provide a rationale for the use of DIM as a promising sensitizer ofγ-irradiation.
Cystic Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor
Authors: Grover Sonal , Rahim Ahmed Mujib Bangalore , Parakkat Nithin Kavassery , Kapoor Shekhar , Mittal Kumud , Sharma Bhushan , Shivappa Anil Bangalore
Published: October 2015

Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor (AOT) is a well-established benign epithelial lesion of odontogenic origin. Rightfully called “the master of disguise,” this lesion has been known for its varied clinical and histoarchitectural patterns. Not only does AOT predominantly present radiologically as a unilocular cystic lesion enclosing the unerupted tooth (which is commonly mistaken as a dentigerous cyst) but the lesion also presents rarely with a cystic component histopathologically. We present one such unusual case of cystic AOT associated with an impacted canine, mimicking a dentigerous cyst. The present case aims to highlight the difference between cystic AOT and dentigerous cyst radiographically. The exact histogenesis of AOT and its variants still remains obscure. An attempt has been made to hypothesize the new school of thought regarding the origin of AOT.
HIV Vaccine: Recent Advances, Current Roadblocks, and Future Directions
Authors: Rubens Muni , Ramamoorthy Venkataraghavan , Saxena Anshul , Shehadeh Nancy , Appunni Sandeep
Published: October 2015

HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In spite of successful interventions and treatment protocols, an HIV vaccine would be the ultimate prevention and control strategy. Ever since identification of HIV/AIDS, there have been meticulous efforts for vaccine development. The specific aim of this paper is to review recent vaccine efficacy trials and associated advancements and discuss the current challenges and future directions. Recombinant DNA technologies greatly facilitated development of many viral products which were later incorporated into vectors for effective vaccines. Over the years, a number of scientific approaches have gained popularity and include the induction of neutralizing antibodies in late 1980s, induction of CD8 T cell in early 1990s, and combination approaches currently. Scientists have hypothesized that stimulation of right sequences of somatic hypermutations could induce broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) capable of effective neutralization and viral elimination. Studies have shown that a number of host and viral factors affect these processes. Similarly, eliciting specific CD8 T cells immune responses through DNA vaccines hold future promises. In summary, future studies should focus on the continuous fight between host immune responses and ever-evasive viral factors for effective vaccines.
Quantitative Image Analysis of Epithelial and Stromal Area in Histological Sections of Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Diagnostic Tool
Authors: Rogojanu R. , Thalhammer T. , Thiem U. , Heindl A. , Mesteri I. , Seewald A. , Jäger W. , Smochina C. , Ellinger I. , Bises G.
Published: October 2015

In colorectal cancer (CRC), an increase in the stromal (S) area with the reduction of the epithelial (E) parts has been suggested as an indication of tumor progression. Therefore, an automated image method capable of discriminating E and S areas would allow an improved diagnosis. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections from colorectal tumors (16 samples from patients with liver metastasis and 18 without). Noncancerous tumor adjacent mucosa (n=5) and normal mucosa (n=4) were taken as controls. Epithelial cells were identified by an anti-keratin 8 (K8) antibody. Large tissue areas (5–63 mm2/slide) including tumor center, tumor front, and adjacent mucosa were scanned using an automated microscopy system (TissueFAXS). With our newly developed algorithms, we showed that there is more K8-immunoreactive E in the tumor center than in tumor adjacent and normal mucosa. Comparing patients with and without metastasis, the E/S ratio decreased by 20% in the tumor center and by 40% at tumor front in metastatic samples. The reduction of E might be due to a more aggressive phenotype in metastasis patients. The novel software allowed a detailed morphometric analysis of cancer tissue compartments as tools for objective quantitative measurements, reduced analysis time, and increased reproducibility of the data.
Design and Characterization of Buccoadhesive Liquisolid System of an Antihypertensive Drug
Authors: Kala Nilesh P. , Shastri Divyesh H. , Shelat Pragna K.
Published: October 2015

Nifedipine is an antihypertensive BCS class II drug which has poor bioavailability when given orally. The objective of the present study was to increase the bioavailability of nifedipine, by formulation and evaluation of a buccoadhesive liquisolid system using magnesium aluminium silicate (Neusilin) as both carrier and coating material and dissolution media were selected based on the solubility studies. A mixture of carboxymethylcellulose sodium and carbomer was used as mucoadhesive polymers. Buccoadhesive tablets were prepared by direct compression. FTIR studies confirmed no interaction between drug and excipients. XRD studies indicated change/reduction in crystallinity of drug. The powder characteristics were evaluated by different flow parameters to comply with pharmacopoeial specifications. The dissolution studies for liquisolid compacts and tablet formulations were carried out and it was found that nifedipine liquisolid tablets formulated from bioadhesive polymers containing 49% liquisolid system, 17.5% carbomer, and 7.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium showed the best results in terms of dissolution properties. Prepared formulation batches were evaluated for swelling, bioadhesion strength, ex vivo residence time, and permeability studies. The optimized batch was showing promising features of the system. Formulating nifedipine as a buccoadhesive tablet allows reduction in dose and offers better control over the plasma levels.
Radiographic Determination of Hip Rotation Center and Femoral Offset in Japanese Adults: A Preliminary Investigation toward the Preoperative Implications in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Takamatsu Taichiro , Shishido Takaaki , Takahashi Yasuhito , Masaoka Toshinori , Tateiwa Toshiyuki , Kubo Kosuke , Endo Kenji , Aoki Masaya , Yamamoto Kengo
Published: October 2015

The values of hip rotation center (HRC) and femoral offset (FO) evaluated according to Caucasian anatomical landmarks have been regarded as a useful reference also for Japanese patients in total hip arthroplasty (THA). In a strict sense, however, since there can be racial differences among their anatomical morphologies, it is clinically important to reconsider those parameters for the Japanese. In the present study, in order to investigate correlations among hip and pelvic morphometric parameters, frontal radiographs were taken from 98 Japanese adults (60 males and 38 females) without acetabular dysplasia and arthropathy in the standing position. Their mean age was 62.0 ± 16.7 years. The horizontal position of HRC was significantly correlated with the pelvic width in both genders (P=0.0026and 0.0010 for the males and the females, resp.). The vertical position of HRC was significantly correlated with the teardrop-sacroiliac distance in the malesP=0.0003and with the pelvic cavity height in the femalesP=0.0067. However, in both genders, there were no correlations among FO and the other parameters analyzed in this study. Our present findings might contribute to theoretical implications of an appropriate HRC position for Japanese OA patients in THA.
“The Great Mimicker”: An Unusual Etiology of Cytopenia, Diffuse Lymphadenopathy, and Massive Splenomegaly
Authors: Zaarour Mazen , Weerasinghe Chanudi , Moussaly Elias , Hussein Shafinaz , Atallah Jean-Paul
Published: October 2015

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multisystem disease characterized by the formation of noncaseating granulomas. It frequently presents with pulmonary infiltrates and bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Splenic involvement is common, but massive splenomegaly is a rare occurrence. Sarcoidosis is known as “the great mimicker” (or “the great imitator”) since it exhibits a myriad of symptoms, mimicking other inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic conditions, including lymphoma. Herein, we report the case of a 44-year-old male patient who was found to have bicytopenia, hypercalcemia, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and massive splenomegaly, a constellation of findings suggestive of underlying lymphoma. Interestingly, lymph node biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas suggestive of sarcoidosis, without evidence of malignancy.
Potential Use of Natural Killer Cell Transfer Therapy in the Perioperative Period to Improve Oncologic Outcomes
Authors: Cata Juan P. , Conrad Claudius , Rezvani Katy
Published: October 2015

Immune suppression after oncologic surgery is a common phenomenon. Several studies have demonstrated that it is associated with poor survival owing to cancer progression. Immunotherapy, especially NK cell transfer therapy, is an attractive alternative because current methodologies to isolate, generate, and expand NK cells have shown good safety profiles in current active investigations. We believe that the use of NK cell transfer therapy in the context of postoperative minimal residual disease deserves significant investigation.
Application of Artificial Intelligence for Bridge Deterioration Model
Authors: Chen Zhang , Wu Yangyang , Li Li , Sun Lijun
Published: October 2015

The deterministic bridge deterioration model updating problem is well established in bridge management, while the traditional methods and approaches for this problem require manual intervention. An artificial‐intelligence‐based approach was presented to self‐updated parameters of the bridge deterioration model in this paper. When new information and data are collected, a posterior distribution was constructed to describe the integrated result of historical information and the new gained information according to Bayesian theorem, which was used to update model parameters. This AI‐based approach is applied to the case of updating parameters of bridge deterioration model, which is the data collected from bridges of 12 districts in Shanghai from 2004 to 2013, and the results showed that it is an accurate, effective, and satisfactory approach to deal with the problem of the parameter updating without manual intervention.
Regulation of Neutrophil Degranulation and Cytokine Secretion: A Novel Model Approach Based on Linear Fitting
Authors: Naegelen Isabelle , Beaume Nicolas , Plançon Sébastien , Schenten Véronique , Tschirhart Eric J. , Bréchard Sabrina
Published: October 2015

Neutrophils participate in the maintenance of host integrity by releasing various cytotoxic proteins during degranulation. Due to recent advances, a major role has been attributed to neutrophil-derived cytokine secretion in the initiation, exacerbation, and resolution of inflammatory responses. Because the release of neutrophil-derived products orchestrates the action of other immune cells at the infection site and, thus, can contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, we aimed to investigate in more detail the spatiotemporal regulation of neutrophil-mediated release mechanisms of proinflammatory mediators. Purified human neutrophils were stimulated for different time points with lipopolysaccharide. Cells and supernatants were analyzed by flow cytometry techniques and used to establish secretion profiles of granules and cytokines. To analyze the link between cytokine release and degranulation time series, we propose an original strategy based on linear fitting, which may be used as a guideline, to (i) define the relationship of granule proteins and cytokines secreted to the inflammatory site and (ii) investigate the spatial regulation of neutrophil cytokine release. The model approach presented here aims to predict the correlation between neutrophil-derived cytokine secretion and degranulation and may easily be extrapolated to investigate the relationship between other types of time series of functional processes.
Pentraxin-3 Predicts Long-Term Cardiac Events in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Liu Haibo , Guo Xiaofang , Yao Kang , Wang Chunming , Chen Guozhong , Gao Wei , Yuan Jie , Yu Wangjun , Ge Junbo
Published: October 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term prognostic value of pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). 377 patients were prospectively followed up for 3 years to determine cardiac events including cardiac death or rehospitalization for worsening heart failure. The plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in CHF patients than in healthy subjects (p<0.001), and they increased with advancing New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification (p<0.001). Plasma PTX3 levels in CHF patients with cardiac events were significantly higher than in event-free patients (p<0.001). We determined the normal upper limit of plasma PTX3 levels from the mean + 2 SD value of 64 control subjects (3.64 ng/mL). A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with increased PTX3 (≥3.64 ng/mL) were at a higher risk for cardiac events than those without increased PTX3 (p<0.01). A multifactorial Cox proportional hazards model showed that increased PTX3 (≥3.64 ngImL) was an independent risk factor for cardiac events in CHF patients (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.224,p<0.01; 95% CI: 1.130–15.783). Plasma PTX3 levels are a long-term independent predictor of prognosis in patients with CHF.