bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plantar mechanical stimulation prevents calcineurin-NFATc1 inactivation and slow-to-fast fiber type shift in rat soleus muscle under hindlimb unloading
Authors: Sharlo Kristina , Paramonova Inna , Turtikova Olga , Tyganov Sergey , Shenkman Boris
Published: May 2019

The prevailing myosin isoform [myosin heavy chain (MyHC)] in a skeletal muscle determines contractile properties of the muscle. Under actual or simulated microgravity conditions such as human bed rest or rat hindlimb unloading, decrease in expression of MyHC of the slow type [MyHC I(β)] has been observed. It was demonstrated that increasing sensory input by performing plantar mechanical stimulation (PMS) on the soles of the feet results in an increase in neuromuscular activation of the lower limb muscles and may prevent slow-to-fast fiber type shift. The calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) signaling pathway is the main cascade regulating MyHC I(β) expression. The present study was aimed to analyze the states of the calcineurin-NFATc1 signaling cascade under conditions of PMS during rat hindlimb unloading. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to vivarium control groups and 1-day unloading (1HS), 3-day unloading (3HS), 1HS+PMS, and 3HS+PMS groups. We found that both 1 day and 3 days of unloading caused decrease in MyHC I(β) mRNA expression and decrease in glycogen synthase kinase-3β phosphorylation (Ser 9) that brought about the kinase activation, and these effects of unloading were prevented by PMS. Three days of unloading also caused increase in expression of calsarcin-2 (myozenin-I), which was found to be the endogenous calcineurin inhibitor. The level of calsarcin-2 expression in the 3HS+PMS group did not differ from the control group. Therefore, we conclude that PMS upregulates the calcineurin-NFATc1 signaling pathway and prevents unloading-induced MyHC I(β) decrease.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is widely accepted that changes in the myosin phenotype during functional unloading (disuse) are determined by a decreased expression of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) I(β) gene, and this decrease leads to changes of contractile and fatigue characteristics of soleus muscle. The calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) pathway is one of the most important signaling cascades regulating slow MyHC isoform expression. The present study is the first to show that plantar mechanical stimulation upregulates calcineurin-NFATc1 signaling in soleus muscles of hindlimb-unloaded rats.
Altered brain structure with preserved cortical motor activity after exertional hypohydration: a MRI study
Authors: Tan X. R. , Low I. C. C. , Stephenson M. C. , Kok T. , Nolte H. W. , Soong T. W. , Lee J. K. W.
Published: May 2019

Hypohydration exceeding 2% body mass can impair endurance capacity. It is postulated that the brain could be perturbed by hypohydration, leading to impaired motor performance. We investigated the neural effects of hypohydration with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten men were dehydrated to approximately −3% body mass by running on a treadmill at 65% maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max) before drinking to replace either 100% [euhydration (EU)] or 0% [hypohydration (HH)] of fluid losses. MRI was performed before start of trial (baseline) and after rehydration phase (post) to evaluate brain structure, cerebral perfusion, and functional activity. Endurance capacity assessed with a time-to-exhaustion run at 75% V̇o2maxwas reduced with hypohydration (EU: 45.2 ± 9.3 min, HH: 38.4 ± 10.7 min; P = 0.033). Mean heart rates were comparable between trials (EU: 162 ± 5 beats/min, HH: 162 ± 4 beats/min; P = 0.605), but the rate of rise in rectal temperature was higher in HH trials (EU: 0.06 ± 0.01°C/min, HH: 0.07 ± 0.02°C/min; P < 0.01). In HH trials, a reduction in total brain volume (EU: +0.7 ± 0.6%, HH: −0.7 ± 0.9%) with expansion of ventricles (EU: −2.7 ± 1.6%, HH: +3.7 ± 3.3%) was observed, and vice versa in EU trials. Global and regional cerebral perfusion remained unchanged between conditions. Functional activation in the primary motor cortex in left hemisphere during a plantar-flexion task was similar between conditions (EU: +0.10 ± 1.30%, HH: −0.11 ± 0.31%; P = 0.637). Our findings demonstrate that with exertional hypohydration, brain volumes were altered but the motor-related functional activity was unperturbed.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dehydration occurs rapidly during prolonged or intensive physical activity, leading to hypohydration if fluid replenishment is insufficient to replace sweat losses. Altered hydration status poses an osmotic challenge for the brain, leading to transient fluctuations in brain tissue and ventricle volumes. Therefore, the amount of fluid ingestion during exercise plays a critical role in preserving the integrity of brain architecture. These structural changes, however, did not translate directly to motor functional deficits in a simple motor task.
Using injury cost functions from a predictive single-compartment model to assess the severity of mechanical ventilator-induced lung injuries
Authors: Mellenthin Michelle M. , Seong Siyeon A. , Roy Gregory S. , Bartolák-Suki Elizabeth , Hamlington Katharine L. , Bates Jason H. T. , Smith Bradford J.
Published: May 2019

Identifying safe ventilation patterns for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome remains challenging because of the delicate balance between gas exchange and selection of ventilator settings to prevent further ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Accordingly, this work seeks to link ventilator settings to graded levels of VILI to identify injury cost functions that predict injury by using a computational model to process pressures and flows measured at the airway opening. Pressure-volume loops were acquired over the course of ~2 h of mechanical ventilation in four different groups of BALB/c mice. A cohort of these animals were subjected to an injurious bronchoalveolar lavage before ventilation. The data were analyzed with a single-compartment model that predicts recruitment/derecruitment and tissue distension at each time step in measured pressure-volume loops. We compared several injury cost functions to markers of VILI-induced blood-gas barrier disruption. Of the cost functions considered, we conclude that mechanical power dissipation and strain heterogeneity are the best at distinguishing between graded levels of injury and are good candidates for forecasting the development of VILI.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work uses a predictive single-compartment model and injury cost functions to assess graded levels of mechanical ventilator-induced lung injury. The most promising measures include strain heterogeneity and mechanical power dissipation.
Graded reductions in preexercise muscle glycogen impair exercise capacity but do not augment skeletal muscle cell signaling: implications for CHO periodization
Authors: Hearris Mark A. , Hammond Kelly M. , Seaborne Robert A. , Stocks Ben , Shepherd Sam O. , Philp Andrew , Sharples Adam P. , Morton James P. , Louis Julien B.
Published: May 2019

We examined the effects of graded muscle glycogen on exercise capacity and modulation of skeletal muscle signaling pathways associated with the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. In a repeated-measures design, eight men completed a sleep-low, train-low model comprising an evening glycogen-depleting cycling protocol followed by an exhaustive exercise capacity test [8 × 3 min at 80% peak power output (PPO), followed by 1-min efforts at 80% PPO until exhaustion] the subsequent morning. After glycogen-depleting exercise, subjects ingested a total of 0 g/kg (L-CHO), 3.6 g/kg (M-CHO), or 7.6 g/kg (H-CHO) of carbohydrate (CHO) during a 6-h period before sleeping, such that exercise was commenced the next morning with graded ( P < 0.05) muscle glycogen concentrations (means ± SD: L-CHO: 88 ± 43, M-CHO: 185 ± 62, H-CHO: 278 ± 47 mmol/kg dry wt). Despite differences ( P < 0.05) in exercise capacity at 80% PPO between trials (L-CHO: 18 ± 7, M-CHO: 36 ± 3, H-CHO: 44 ± 9 min), exercise induced comparable AMPKThr172 phosphorylation (~4-fold) and PGC-1α mRNA expression (~5-fold) after exercise and 3 h after exercise, respectively. In contrast, neither exercise nor CHO availability affected the phosphorylation of p38MAPKThr180/Tyr182 or CaMKIIThr268 or mRNA expression of p53, Tfam, CPT-1, CD36, or PDK4. Data demonstrate that when exercise is commenced with muscle glycogen < 300 mmol/kg dry wt, further graded reductions of 100 mmol/kg dry weight impair exercise capacity but do not augment skeletal muscle cell signaling.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We provide novel data demonstrating that when exercise is commenced with muscle glycogen below 300 mmol/kg dry wt (as achieved with the sleep-low, train-low model) further graded reductions in preexercise muscle glycogen of 100 mmol/kg dry wt reduce exercise capacity at 80% peak power output by 20–50% but do not augment skeletal muscle cell signaling.
Sildenafil enhances central hemodynamic responses to exercise, but not V̇o2peak, in people with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Roberts Timothy J. , Burns Andrew T. , MacIsaac Richard J. , MacIsaac Andrew I. , Prior David L. , La Gerche André
Published: May 2019

Exercise capacity is frequently reduced in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), and the contribution of pulmonary microvascular dysfunction remains undefined. We hypothesized that pulmonary microvascular disease, measured by a novel exercise echocardiography technique termed pulmonary transit of agitated contrast (PTAC), would be greater in subjects with DM and that the use of pulmonary vasodilator agent sildenafil would improve exercise performance by reducing right ventricular afterload. Forty subjects with DM and 20 matched controls performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing and semisupine exercise echocardiography 1 h after placebo or sildenafil ingestion in a double-blind randomized crossover design. The primary efficacy end point was exercise capacity (V̇o2peak) while secondary measures included pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac output, and change in PTAC. DM subjects were aged 44 ± 13 yr, 73% male, with 16 ± 10 yr DM history. Sildenafil caused marginal improvements in echocardiographic measures of biventricular systolic function in DM subjects. Exercise-induced increases in pulmonary artery systolic pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were attenuated with sildenafil, while heart rate (+2.4 ±1.2 beats/min, P = 0.04) and cardiac output (+322 ± 21 ml, P = 0.03) improved. However, the degree of PTAC did not change ( P = 0.93) and V̇o2peak did not increase following sildenafil as compared with placebo (V̇o2peak: 31.8 ± 9.7 vs. 32.1 ± 9.5 ml·min−1·kg−1, P = 0.42). We conclude that sildenafil administration causes modest acute improvements in central hemodynamics but does not improve exercise capacity. This may be due to the mismatch in action of sildenafil on the pulmonary arteries rather than the distal pulmonary microvasculature and potential adverse effects on peripheral oxygen extraction.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of cardiopulmonary exercise performance in people with diabetes mellitus and to our knowledge the first to assess the effect of sildenafil using detailed echocardiographic measures during incremental exercise. Sildenafil attenuated the rise in pulmonary vascular resistance while augmenting cardiac output and intriguingly heart rate, without conferring any improvement in exercise capacity. The enhanced central hemodynamic indexes may have been offset by reduced peripheral O2 extraction.
Daily heat treatment maintains mitochondrial function and attenuates atrophy in human skeletal muscle subjected to immobilization
Authors: Hafen Paul S. , Abbott Kaitlin , Bowden Jennifer , Lopiano Ryan , Hancock Chad R. , Hyldahl Robert D.
Published: May 2019

Skeletal muscle immobilization leads to atrophy, decreased metabolic health, and substantial losses in function. Animal models suggest that heat stress can provide protection against atrophy in skeletal muscle. This study investigated the effects of daily heat therapy on human skeletal muscle subjected to 10 days of immobilization. Muscle biopsies were collected, and MRIs were analyzed from the vastus lateralis of 23 healthy volunteers (11 women, 12 men) before and after either 10 days of immobilization with a daily sham treatment (Imm) or with a targeted, daily 2-h heat treatment using pulsed shortwave diathermy (Imm + H). Diathermy increased intramuscular temperature 4.2 ± 0.29°C ( P < 0.0001), with no change during sham treatment. As a result, heat shock protein (HSP)70 and HSP90 increased ( P < 0.05) following Imm + H (25 ± 6.6 and 20 ± 7.4%, respectively) but were unaltered with Imm only. Heat treatment prevented the immobilization-induced loss of coupled (−27 ± 5.2% vs. −8 ± 6.0%, P = 0.0041) and uncoupled (−25 ± 7.0% vs. −10 ± 3.9%, P = 0.0302) myofiber respiratory capacity. Likewise, heat treatment prevented the immobilization-induced loss of proteins associated with all five mitochondrial respiratory complexes ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, decreases in muscle cross-sectional area following Imm were greater than Imm + H at both the level of the whole muscle (−7.6 ± 0.96% vs. −4.5 ± 1.09%, P = 0.0374) and myofiber (−10.8 ± 1.52% vs. −5.8 ± 1.49%, P = 0.0322). Our findings demonstrate that daily heat treatments, applied during 10 days of immobilization, prevent the loss of mitochondrial function and attenuate atrophy in human skeletal muscle.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Limb immobilization results in substantial decreases in skeletal muscle size, function, and metabolic capacity. To date, there are few, if any, interventions to prevent the deleterious effects of limb immobilization on skeletal muscle health. Heat stress has been shown to elicit a stress response, resulting in increased heat shock protein expression and improved mitochondrial function. We show that during 10 days of lower-limb immobilization in humans, daily exposure to heat stress maintains mitochondrial respiratory capacity and attenuates atrophy in skeletal muscle. Our findings suggest that heat stress may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy to attenuate the decreases of muscle mass and metabolic function that accompany periods of disuse.
CFTR Expression Analysis for Subtyping of Human Pancreatic Cancer Organoids
Authors: Hennig Alexander , Wolf Laura , Jahnke Beatrix , Polster Heike , Seidlitz Therese , Werner Kristin , Aust Daniela E. , Hampe Jochen , Distler Marius , Weitz Jürgen , Stange Daniel E. , Welsch Thilo
Published: May 2019

Background. Organoid cultures of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have become a promising tool for tumor subtyping and individualized chemosensitivity testing. PDACs have recently been grouped into different molecular subtypes with clinical impact based on cytokeratin-81 (KRT81) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A (HNF1A). However, a suitable antibody for HNF1A is currently unavailable. The present study is aimed at establishing subtyping in PDAC organoids using an alternative marker. Methods. A PDAC organoid biobank was generated from human primary tumor samples containing 22 lines. Immunofluorescence staining was established and done for 10 organoid lines for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and KRT81. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed for CFTR and HNF1A. A chemotherapeutic drug response analysis was done using gemcitabine, 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. Results. A biobank of patient-derived PDAC organoids was established. The efficiency was 71% (22/31) with 68% for surgical resections and 83% for fine needle aspirations. Organoids could be categorized into the established quasimesenchymal, exocrine-like, and classical subtypes based on KRT81 and CFTR immunoreactivity. CFTR protein expression was confirmed on the transcript level. CFTR and HNF1A transcript expression levels positively correlated (n=10; r=0.927; p=0.001). PDAC subtypes of the primary tumors and the corresponding organoid lines were identical for most of the cases analyzed (6/7). Treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs revealed tendencies but no significant differences regarding drug responses. Conclusions. Human PDAC organoids can be classified into known subtypes based on KRT81 and CFTR immunoreactivity. CFTR and HNF1A mRNA levels correlated well. Furthermore, subtype-specific immunoreactivity matched well between PDAC organoids and the respective primary tumor tissue. Subtyping of human PDACs using CFTR might constitute an alternative to HNF1A and should be further investigated.
Research on Wireless Positioning Technology Based on Digital FM Broadcasting
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yang Zhanxin , Deng Lunhui , Li Shanshan
Published: May 2019

With more and more new mobile devices (such as mobile phones, tablets, and wearable devices) entering people’s daily life, along with the application and development of relevant technologies based on users’ location information, location based service is becoming a basic service demand of people’s life. This paper puts forward a research on location technology based on frequency modulation band digital audio broadcasting (FM China Digital Radio, FM-CDR). A new method of adding timestamp information to the FM-CDR frame structure is proposed, which verified that the change to the system does not affect the normal transmission and reception of broadcast content under the original standards and can accurately extract the recognition signal and timing information of BS. In the complex environment, the estimation algorithm of signal parameters such as received signal strength (RSS), time of arrival (TOA), and time difference of arrival (TDOA) of terrestrial radio broadcast signals is studied. In this paper, a new method based on multisource data fusion is proposed, which can meet the need of localization in various environments and overcome the deficiency of single localization method.
Research on Polymer Viscous Flow Activation Energy and Non-Newtonian Index Model Based on Feature Size
Authors: Lou Yan , Lei Qunan , Wu Gang
Published: May 2019

The viscous flow activation energy and non-Newtonian index properties of polymer based on feature size were studied through a series of experiments on the rheological properties of amorphous polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), semi-crystalline polymer polypropylene (PP), and crystalline polymer high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using capillary die with hole diameters of φ0.3 mm, φ0.5 mm, φ1.0 mm, and φ2.0 mm. The results show that the viscous flow activation energy of PMMA decreases with the feature size under microscopic scale. And the viscous flow activation energy of PP and HDPE increases with hole diameters of the die. Under macroscopic scale, the difference in viscous flow activation energy of all polymer materials is significantly reduced with hole diameters of the die. For the non-Newtonian index of the three polymer materials, it decreases with the feature size under the microscopic scale while it increases or does not change with the feature size under the macroscopic scale. At the same time, for different high polymer materials, the viscous flow activation energy model (SVAE model) and non-Newtonian index model (SNNE model) based on feature size were established. Finally, the accuracy and effectiveness of the SVAE model and the SNNE model are verified by comparing with the traditional model and reference data. The viscous flow activation energy and non-Newtonian index values of the polymer material can be calculated conveniently and accurately.
Synthesis, Cyclic Voltammetric, Electrochemical, and Gravimetric Corrosion Inhibition Investigations of Schiff Base Derived from 5,5-Dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione and 2-Aminophenol on Mild Steel in 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4
Authors: Kooliyat Ragi , Kakkassery Joby Thomas , Raphael Vinod P. , Cheruvathur Sini Varghese , Paulson Binsi M.
Published: May 2019

Schiff base 2,2’-(5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene) diphenol (DmChDp) was synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods (IR, UV, NMR, and Mass) and cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies. The corrosion inhibition potency of (DmChDp) on mild steel (MS) in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4was investigated. The corrosion monitoring techniques employed for this purpose are gravimetric and electrochemical methods (EIS and potentiodynamic polarization studies). The study reveals that the Schiff base, DmChDp, acts as excellent corrosion inhibitor on mild steel in 1M HCl. DmChDp obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm both in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4on MS. Polarization studies show that DmChDp behaves as a mixed type inhibitor in both media. Scanning electron microscopic analysis established the protective nature of DmChDp on mild steel surface. The impact of temperature on the corrosion of MS was also evaluated using gravimetric method.
Moyamoya Disease May Mimic Multiple Sclerosis?
Authors: Spanou Ioanna , Evangelopoulos Maria-Eleftheria , Velonakis Georgios , Logiotatos Nikolaos , Chatziioannou Achilleas , Potagas Constantinos , Kilidireas Constantinos , Vassilopoulou Sophia
Published: May 2019

Introduction. A wide range of medical conditions may mimic multiple sclerosis. Among them, cerebrovascular diseases, including moyamoya disease, need to be excluded since they share common clinical features and radiographic findings with multiple sclerosis. Case Report. A 44-year-old woman experienced transient numbness of her right sided face and arm and was referred to our unit due to small brain lesions in magnetic resonance imaging, with a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Neurological examination was unremarkable except for plantar reflexes and jerky deep tendon reflexes. Brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed findings typically seen in moyamoya disease, confirmed with digital subtraction angiography. Antiplatelet therapy started, but few days later, she developed suddenly global aphasia and right hemiparesis (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale/NIHSS 6). Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute infarct in the distribution of the left middle cerebral artery. At her discharge, she was significantly improved (NIHSS 3). Conclusion. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is often challenging. In particular, in young patients with transient neurological symptoms and atypical white matter lesions in magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrovascular disorders such as moyamoya disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Detailed clinical and neuroimaging evaluation are mandatory for the correct diagnosis.
Effect of Temperature and Duration Time of Maceration on Nitrate Content of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.: Circumscribed Central Composite Design and Method Validation
Authors: Monton Chaowalit , Luprasong Chitradee
Published: May 2019

Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. is a herbal plant in Family Asteraceae. It can be used as a smoking cessation aid due to the fact that it contains nitrate which can induce tongue numbness and cause less favor of cigarette smell and taste. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of maceration temperature and time on the nitrate content of V. cinerea. A circumscribed central composite experimental design was applied in the work. Two factors (temperature and duration time) were investigated and two responses (yield of the extraction and nitrate content) were monitored. The high performance liquid chromatography using for quantitative analysis of nitrate content was validated. The HPLC response was linear (R2 = 1.000) in range of 10-100 μg/mL. The HPLC method was specific, precise, and accurate. The maceration temperature and time were varied from 40 to 100°C and 10 to 60 min, respectively. Results showed that maceration at high temperature and long duration time gave the simultaneous high yield of the extraction and nitrate content. The prediction by the computer software, Design-Expert, was stable, reliable, and accurate. The optimal condition that provided simultaneous high yield of the extraction and nitrate content was achieved when extraction was at 99.5°C for 56.4 min. V. cinerea extracted using the optimal condition gave the yield of the extraction and nitrate content of 15.6% and 0.610%, respectively. In conclusion, maceration temperature and duration time had a positive effect on yield of the extraction and nitrate content of V. cinerea. Furthermore, the optimal condition in this work could be used as a guide for extraction of V. cinerea to obtain the high yield of the extraction as well as nitrate content.
Medium Perfusion Flow Improves Osteogenic Commitment of Human Stromal Cells
Authors: Pasini Alice , Lovecchio Joseph , Ferretti Giulia , Giordano Emanuele
Published: May 2019

Dynamic culture protocols have recently emerged as part of (bone) tissue engineering strategies due to their ability to represent a more physiological cell environment in vitro. Here, we described how a perfusion flow induced by a simple bioreactor system improves proliferation and osteogenic commitment of human bone marrow stromal cells. L88/5 cells were cultured in poly(methyl methacrylate) custom-milled communicating well plates, in the presence of an osteogenic cocktail containing 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, andβ-glycerophosphate. The dynamic cell culture was maintained under perfusion flow stimulation at 1 mL/min for up to 4 days and compared with a static control condition. A cell viability assay showed that the proliferation associated with the dynamic cell culture was 20% higher vs. the static condition. A significantly higher upregulation of the osteogenic markers runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type I (COL1A1), osteocalcin (BGLAP), alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), and osteopontin (SPP1) was detected when the perfusion flow stimulation was administered to the cells treated with the osteogenic cocktail. An in silico analysis showed that in the dynamic cell culture condition (i) the shear stress in the proximity of the cell layer approximates 10-3 Pa, (ii) the nutrient and the waste product concentration is more homogeneously distributed than in the static counterpart, and (iii) perfusion flow was associated with higher nutrient consumption. In summary, increased cell proliferation and enhanced early phenotype commitment indicate that dynamic cell culture conditions, delivered via bioreactor systems, produce an enhanced in vitro environment for both basic and translational research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Morphology of Peeled Internal Limiting Membrane in Macular Hole Surgery
Authors: Faria Mun Y. , Sousa David C. , Almeida Bruna C. , Pinto Andreia L. , Ferreira Nuno P.
Published: May 2019

Purpose. The aim of this work was to describe the ultrastructure and behavior of peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) in macular hole (MH) surgery. Methods. Seven patients with MH were included, and vitrectomy with ILM peeling was performed in all patients. The ILM inverted flap technique was used. Two other flaps of ILM of the same patient were collected and studied using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ILM cell type, distribution, and morphology were analyzed, and the proliferation or fusion potential of the ILM interface was evaluated. Results. ILM vitreous sides in apposition showed signs of proliferative fibrotic activity, producing a basal membrane that merges ILM sides. Conclusions. Epiretinal cells in ILM show proliferative capacity, with formation of microfibrils between adjacent sides of the ILM, which may explain adherence of ILM flaps to the hole border, contributing to closure of the hole in MH surgery. This trail is registered with NCT03799575.
Generation and miRNA Characterization of Equine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Fetal and Adult Multipotent Tissues
Authors: Pessôa Laís Vicari de Figueiredo , Pires Pedro Ratto Lisboa , del Collado Maite , Pieri Naira Caroline Godoy , Recchia Kaiana , Souza Aline Fernanda , Perecin Felipe , da Silveira Juliano Coelho , de Andrade André Furugen Cesar , Ambrosio Carlos Eduardo , Bressan Fabiana Fernandes , Meirelles Flavio Vieira
Published: May 2019

Introduction. Pluripotent stem cells are believed to have greater clinical potential than mesenchymal stem cells due to their ability to differentiate into almost any cell type of an organism, and since 2006, the generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has become possible in multiple species. Objectives. We hypothesize that different cell types respond differently to the reprogramming process; thus, the goals of this study were to isolate and characterize equine adult and fetal cells and induce these cells to pluripotency for future regenerative and translational purposes. Methods. Adult equine fibroblasts (eFibros) and mesenchymal cells derived from the bone marrow (eBMmsc), adipose tissue (eADmsc), and umbilical cord tissue (eUCmsc) were isolated, their multipotency was characterized, and the cells were induced in vitro into pluripotency (eiPSCs). eiPSCs were generated through a lentiviral system using the factors OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4. The morphology and in vitro pluripotency maintenance potential (alkaline phosphatase detection, embryoid body formation, in vitro spontaneous differentiation, and expression of pluripotency markers) of the eiPSCs were characterized. Additionally, a miRNA profile analysis of the mesenchymal and eiPSCs was performed. Results. Multipotent cells were successfully isolated, but the eBMmsc failed to generate eiPSCs. The eADmsc-, eUCmsc-, and eFibros-derived iPSCs were positive for alkaline phosphatase, OCT4 and NANOG, were exclusively dependent on bFGF, and formed embryoid bodies. The miRNA profile revealed a segregated pattern between the eiPSCs and multipotent controls: the levels of miR-302/367 and the miR-92 family were increased in the eiPSCs, while the levels of miR-23, miR-27, and miR-30, as well as the let-7 family were increased in the nonpluripotent cells. Conclusions. We were able to generate bFGF-dependent iPSCs from eADmsc, eUCmsc, and eFibros with human OSKM, and the miRNA profile revealed that clonal lines may respond differently to the reprogramming process.
Developing Shuffled Frog‐Leaping Algorithm (SFLA) Method to Solve Power Load‐Constrained TCRTO Problems in Civil Engineering
Authors: Tao Xingyu , Li Heng , Mao Chao , Wang Chen , Hui Yap Jeffrey Boon , Sepasgozar Samad , Shirowzhan Sara , Rose Timothy
Published: May 2019

It is extensively acknowledged that excessive on‐site electricity power load often causes power failure across a construction site and surrounding residential zones and can result in unforeseen schedule delay, construction quality problems, life inconvenience, and even property loss. However, energy management, such as power load optimization, has long been ignored in construction scheduling. This study aims to develop a modified shuffled frog‐leaping algorithm (SFLA) approach in project scheduling to aid decision‐makers in identifying the best Pareto solution for time‐cost‐resource trade‐off (TCRTO) problems under the constraint of precedence, resource availability, and on‐site peak electricity power load. A mathematical model including three objective functions and five constraints was established followed by the application of the modified SLFA on real‐case multiobjective optimization problems in construction scheduling. The performance of SLFA was compared with that of the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA II). The results showed that the developed new approach was superior in identifying optimal project planning solutions, which could essentially assist on‐site power load‐oriented schedule decision‐making for construction teams.
Assessing the Impact of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) on Tuberculosis Incidence and Predictors of Tuberculosis among Adult Patients Enrolled on ART in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tiruneh Gemechu , Getahun Alemayehu , Adeba Emiru
Published: May 2019

Background. Isoniazid preventive therapy is a prophylactic treatment used in the prevention of active tuberculosis. It is known to be most effective in preventing tuberculosis in patients with positive tuberculin skin test. Methods. A retrospective cohort study centering on two institutions in Nekemte town, Western Ethiopia, was employed. Secondary data of 600 medical records were analyzed by Cox regression. Result. Tuberculosis incidence among the Isoniazid treated group was 1.98 per 100 person-years and 4.52 per 100 person-years in the untreated group. CD4 cell count, clinical staging, body mass index (BMI), not using cotrimoxazole, body weight, and functional status were significant predictors of tuberculosis risk. Isoniazid preventive therapy use was associated with 55% reduction of tuberculosis incidence. Conclusion. Isoniazid preventive therapy use was associated with significant reduction in tuberculosis incidence, even in the absence of Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). Therefore, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) coverage should be used more widely, with special emphasis given to patients at higher risk of tuberculosis. The study shows that the absence of TST testing should not be a limitation.
Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Antisliding Performance of Casting Steel Cable Clamps
Authors: Ruan Yangjie , Luo Bin , Ding Mingmin , Huang Lifan , Guo Zhengxing
Published: May 2019

For large‐span cable structures, a cable clamp is a key joint that connects adjacent structural components. In general, the antisliding performance of cable clamps determines their resistance capacity, and the antisliding force is generated by the clamping force induced by the high‐strength bolts and the contact surfaces between the cable and the clamp. Since the existing methods are not sufficiently comprehensive for use to predict the precise bolt preload, a theoretical model developed by considering transversely isotropic material and the generalized Hook’s law is presented to predict the attenuation values of the bolt clamping force and the corresponding parameters. Then, to meet the requirements of Eurocode 3, a new laboratory test is performed to reveal the antisliding mechanism of cable clamps, considering the effects of long‐term creep and cable tension. According to the results of the data collected by real‐time monitoring, the actual ultimate antisliding force of the clamp and the comprehensive friction coefficient are determined. Finally, a comparative study between the theoretical results and the experimental results is conducted. The proposed theoretical model can predict the actual attenuation of the bolt clamping force after cable tension. The results show that the stiffness of the clamp plate should be minimized when designing the clamp to reduce the loss of the bolt preload.
Comparison of Autorefraction and Photorefraction with and without Cycloplegia Using 1% Tropicamide in Preschool Children
Authors: Yassa Ertuğrul Tan , Ünlü Cihan
Published: May 2019

Purpose. We aimed to investigate whether the accuracy of the Plusoptix A09 photorefractor in children with ametropia is enhanced by cycloplegia with 1% tropicamide. Methods. A total of 70 eyes (70 children) were retrospectively reviewed. Noncycloplegic photorefraction, cycloplegia with 1% tropicamide, cycloplegic photorefraction, and cycloplegic refraction with a tabletop autorefractometer were performed on all subjects in this order. Measurements were compared statistically. Results. The mean age was 45.9 ± 11.4 months. The mean spherical equivalent (0.61 ± 1.03 diopters (D); range, −2.38 to 3.63 D) and mean spherical power (1.16 ± 0.92 D; range, −1.25 to 3.75 D) values that were acquired from the photorefraction without cycloplegia showed statistically significant differences from those of the autorefraction with cycloplegia (mean spherical equivalent = 1.00 ± 1.27 D; range, −1.50 to 4.25 D, mean spherical power = 1.60 ± 1.14; range, −1.25 to 4.50 D). The mean difference for the spherical equivalent was −0.39 ± 0.93 D (P=0.021; 95% limits of agreement (LoA) = −2.22 D to 1.44 D) and for spherical power was −0.44 ± 1.02 D (P=0.016; LoA = −2.44 D to 1.56 D). Without cycloplegia, Plusoptix A09 showed myopic shift, while after cycloplegia, it showed hyperopic shift. Spherical equivalent (mean difference (MD) ± SD = 0.78 ± 1.00 D, P<0.001; LoA = −1.17 D to 2.72 D) and spherical power (MD ± SD = 0.73 ± 1.04 D, P<0.001; LoA = −1.31 D to 2.77 D) values were significantly different from those of autorefraction with cycloplegia. Cylindrical power values obtained by photorefraction both with and without cycloplegia were not statistically different from those of autorefraction with cycloplegia (P>0.05). Conclusion. Cycloplegia with 1% tropicamide did not improve the accuracy of photorefraction using Plusoptix A09 in preschool children. The spherical equivalent and spherical power values obtained by photorefraction with cycloplegia were significantly higher from those obtained by autorefraction with cycloplegia.
Control Strategy for PHEB Based on Actual Driving Cycle with Driving Style Characteristic
Authors: Gao Jianping , Xu Zhenhai , Gao Xiaojie
Published: May 2019

To exert fully the energy economy performance of plug-in hybrid electric buses (PHEBs) and enhance the adaptability to different drivers and driving cycles, a control strategy for PHEB based on actual driving cycle with driving style characteristic is proposed in this paper. Through the actual city bus driving data, collected in real time, 6 actual driving cycles with driving style characteristic are fitted by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). Based on the 6 driving cycles, the key parameters of rule-based control strategy are optimized and established by a combinatorial optimization algorithm in Isight. Then, an identification model to recognize the current condition based on the Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) neural network has been built and trained offline, which is integrated in the control strategy for PHEB to invoke the corresponding optimized key control parameters in real time. A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test is conducted, and the result shows that the proposed strategy could improve the energy consumption by 4.94%, compared with the original rule-based control strategy, and its validity and practicability are fully verified.
Triclosan: An Update on Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Alfhili Mohammad A. , Lee Myon-Hee
Published: May 2019

Triclosan (TCS) is a synthetic, chlorinated phenolic antimicrobial agent commonly used in commercial and healthcare products. Items made with TCS include soaps, deodorants, shampoos, cosmetics, textiles, plastics, surgical sutures, and prosthetics. A wealth of information obtained fromin vitroandin vivostudies has demonstrated the therapeutic effects of TCS, particularly against inflammatory skin conditions. Nevertheless, extensive investigations on the molecular aspects of TCS action have identified numerous adversaries associated with the disinfectant including oxidative injury and influence of physiological lifespan and longevity. This review presents a summary of the biochemical alterations pertaining to TCS exposure, with special emphasis on the diverse molecular pathways responsive to TCS that have been elucidated during the present decade.
The Best for the Most Important: Maintaining a Pristine Proteome in Stem and Progenitor Cells
Authors: Aktas Bertal H. , Upcin Berin , Henke Erik , Padmasekar Manju , Qin Xuebin , Ergün Süleyman
Published: May 2019

Pluripotent stem cells give rise to reproductively enabled offsprings by generating progressively lineage-restricted multipotent stem cells that would differentiate into lineage-committed stem and progenitor cells. These lineage-committed stem and progenitor cells give rise to all adult tissues and organs. Adult stem and progenitor cells are generated as part of the developmental program and play critical roles in tissue and organ maintenance and/or regeneration. The ability of pluripotent stem cells to self-renew, maintain pluripotency, and differentiate into a multicellular organism is highly dependent on sensing and integrating extracellular and extraorganismal cues. Proteins perform and integrate almost all cellular functions including signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, metabolism, and cell division and death. Therefore, maintenance of an appropriate mix of correctly folded proteins, a pristine proteome, is essential for proper stem cell function. The stem cells’ proteome must be pristine because unfolded, misfolded, or otherwise damaged proteins would interfere with unlimited self-renewal, maintenance of pluripotency, differentiation into downstream lineages, and consequently with the development of properly functioning tissue and organs. Understanding how various stem cells generate and maintain a pristine proteome is therefore essential for exploiting their potential in regenerative medicine and possibly for the discovery of novel approaches for maintaining, propagating, and differentiating pluripotent, multipotent, and adult stem cells as well as induced pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we will summarize cellular networks used by various stem cells for generation and maintenance of a pristine proteome. We will also explore the coordination of these networks with one another and their integration with the gene regulatory and signaling networks.
Dynamic Resource Provisioning on Fog Landscapes
Authors: Pham-Nguyen Hoang-Nam , Tran-Minh Quang
Published: May 2019

A huge amount of smart devices which have capacity of computing, storage, and communication to each other brings forth fog computing paradigm. Fog computing is a model in which the system tries to push data processing from cloud servers to “near” IoT devices in order to reduce latency time. The execution orderings and the deployed places of services make significant effect on the overall response time of an application. Beside new research directions in fog computing, e.g., fog-cloud collaboration, service scalability, fog scalability, mobile fog computing, fog federation, trade-off between energy consumption and communication efficiency, duration of storing data locally, storage security and communication security, and semantic-aware fog computing, the service deployment problem is one of the attractive research fields of fog computing. The service deployment is a multiobjective optimization problem; there are so many proposed solutions for various targets, such as response time, communication cost, and energy consumption. In this paper, we focus on the optimization problem which minimizes the overall response time of an application with awareness of network usage and server usage. Then, we have conducted experiments on two service deployment strategies, called cloudy and foggy strategies. We analyze numerically the overall response time, network usage, and server usage of those two strategies in order to prove the effectiveness of our proposed foggy service deployment strategy.
Reliable Distributed Integrated Navigation Based on CI during Mars Entry
Authors: Lou Tai-shan , Chen Nan-hua , Wang Xiao-qian , He Zhen-dong , Liu Jie
Published: May 2019

A reliable distributed covariance intersection (CI) fusion integrated navigation algorithm with information feedback during the Mars atmospheric entry is proposed to meet robust, reliable, and high-precision Mars atmospheric entry navigation strategy. A distributed integrated navigation scheme includes four independent subsystems consisting of an IMU and one radio beacon, but each subsystem is weakly observable under limited Mars entry measurements. The scalar weights are fast obtained by maximizing the information contribution of the corresponding estimate. The distributed framework based upon the CI fusion algorithm is designed by using dynamic information distribution coefficients and information feedback strategy. This distributed fusion approach could meet the lower computation cost and robust and reliable capacity and especially is beneficial to the weakly observable or unobservable subsystems during the Mars entry navigation scheme. Numerical simulations show that the proposed distributed CI fusion integrated navigation algorithm can provide consistent navigation accuracy for the Mars entry vehicle and improve the entry navigation robustness under the weakly observable navigation subsystems.
Additive Value of Biomarkers and Echocardiography to Stratify the Risk of Death in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Falletta Calogero , Clemenza Francesco , Klersy Catherine , Agnese Valentina , Bellavia Diego , Di Gesaro Gabriele , Minà Chiara , Romano Giuseppe , Temporelli Pier Luigi , Dini Frank Lloyd , Rossi Andrea , Raineri Claudia , Turco Annalisa , Traversi Egidio , Ghio Stefano
Published: May 2019

Background. Risk stratification is a crucial issue in heart failure. Clinicians seek useful tools to tailor therapies according to patient risk. Methods. A prospective, observational, multicenter study on stable chronic heart failure outpatients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Baseline demographics, blood, natriuretic peptides (NPs), high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), and echocardiographic data, including the ratio between tricuspid annular plane excursion and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/PASP), were collected. Association with death for any cause was analyzed. Results. Four hundred thirty-one (431) consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 32 months. On the multivariable Cox model analysis, TAPSE/PASP ratio, number of biomarkers above the threshold values, and gender were independent predictors of death. Both the TAPSE/PASP ratio ≥0.36 and TAPSE/PASP unavailable groups had a three-fold decrease in risk of death in comparison to the TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.36 group. The risk of death increased linearly by 1.6 for each additional positive biomarker and by almost two for women compared with men. Conclusions. In a HFrEF outpatient cohort, the evaluation of plasma levels of both NPs and hsTnI can contribute significantly to identifying patients who have a worse prognosis, in addition to the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular-arterial coupling.
Synthesis of Nanohydroxyapatite from Cuttlefish Bone (Sepia sp.) Using Milling Method
Authors: Aminatun  , Supardi Adri , Nisa Zulifah Izzatin , Hikmawati Dyah , Siswanto
Published: May 2019

The synthesis of nanohydroxyapatite from cuttlefish bone (Sepia sp.) has been done by using High Energy Milling (HEM) and its characterization in vitro as bone repair. This study aimed to determine the effect of the milling process on microscopic properties and mechanical properties of nano-HA through XRD, TEM, and compressive strength tests. The hydroxyapatite (HA) used in this study consisted of 1M CaCO3 from aragonite which was extracted from cuttlefish lamella bone (Sepia sp.) and 0.6 M NH4H2PO4, which was hydrothermally processed at 200°C for 12 h and then sintered at 900°C for 1h. Parameter milling includes the variation of milling time, i.e., 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h at rotational speed of 350 rpm. An increase in milling time causes a decrease in HA particle size. This is shown from the results of TEM at the milling time of 9 h with the smallest size up to 65 nm. The result of cell viability test showed that all samples are not toxic with cell viability value of >80%. The milling time of 9 h was an optimum condition with a compressive strength of 4.35952 MPa that can be applied to cancellous bone.