bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rac Regulates Giardia lamblia Encystation by Coordinating Cyst Wall Protein Trafficking and Secretion
Authors: Krtková Jana , Thomas Elizabeth B. , Alas Germain C. M. , Schraner Elisabeth M. , Behjatnia Habib R. , Hehl Adrian B. , Paredez Alexander R.
Published: August 2016

Encystation of the common intestinal parasite
Giardia lamblia
involves the production, trafficking, and secretion of cyst wall material (CWM). However, the molecular mechanism responsible for the regulation of these sequential processes remains elusive. Here, we examined the role of GlRac,
Giardia
’s sole Rho family GTPase, in the regulation of endomembrane organization and cyst wall protein (CWP) trafficking. Localization studies indicated that GlRac is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus-like encystation-specific vesicles (ESVs). Constitutive GlRac signaling increased levels of the ER marker PDI2, induced ER swelling, reduced overall CWP1 production, and promoted the early maturation of ESVs. Quantitative analysis of cells expressing constitutively active hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged GlRac (HA-Rac
CA
) revealed fewer but larger ESVs than control cells. Consistent with the phenotype of premature maturation of ESVs in HA-Rac
CA
-expressing cells, constitutive GlRac signaling resulted in increased CWP1 secretion and, conversely, morpholino depletion of GlRac blocked CWP1 secretion. Wild-type cells unexpectedly secreted large quantities of CWP1 into the medium, and free CWP1 was used cooperatively during cyst formation. These results, in part, could account for the previously reported observation that
G. lamblia
encysts more efficiently at high cell densities. These studies of GlRac show that it regulates encystation at several levels, and our findings support its coordinating role as a regulator of CWP trafficking and secretion. The central role of GlRac in regulating membrane trafficking and the cytoskeleton, both of which are essential to
Giardia
parasitism, further suggests its potential as a novel target for drug development to treat giardiasis.

IMPORTANCE
The encystation process is crucial for the transmission of giardiasis and the life cycle of many protists. Encystation for
Giardia lamblia
involves the assembly of a protective cyst wall via sequential production, trafficking, and secretion of cyst wall material. However, the regulatory pathways that coordinate cargo maturation and secretion remain unknown. Here, we asked whether the signaling activities of
G. lamblia
’s single Rho family GTPase, GlRac, might have a regulatory role in the encystation process. We show that GlRac localizes to endomembranes and its signaling activities regulate the production of cyst wall protein 1 (CWP1), the maturation of encystation-specific vesicles (ESVs), and secretion of CWP1. We also show that secreted CWP1 is available for the development of cysts at the population level, a finding that in part could explain why
Giardia
encystation proceeds more efficiently at high cell densities.
Looking for a Signal in the Noise: Revisiting Obesity and the Microbiome
Authors: Sze Marc A. , Schloss Patrick D.
Published: August 2016

Two recent studies have reanalyzed previously published data and found that when data sets were analyzed independently, there was limited support for the widely accepted hypothesis that changes in the microbiome are associated with obesity. This hypothesis was reconsidered by increasing the number of data sets and pooling the results across the individual data sets. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were used to identify 10 studies for an updated and more synthetic analysis. Alpha diversity metrics and the relative risk of obesity based on those metrics were used to identify a limited number of significant associations with obesity; however, when the results of the studies were pooled by using a random-effect model, significant associations were observed among Shannon diversity, the number of observed operational taxonomic units, Shannon evenness, and obesity status. They were not observed for the ratio of
Bacteroidetes
and
Firmicutes
or their individual relative abundances. Although these tests yielded small
P
 values, the difference between the Shannon diversity indices of nonobese and obese individuals was 2.07%. A power analysis demonstrated that only one of the studies had sufficient power to detect a 5% difference in diversity. When random forest machine learning models were trained on one data set and then tested by using the other nine data sets, the median accuracy varied between 33.01 and 64.77% (median, 56.68%). Although there was support for a relationship between the microbial communities found in human feces and obesity status, this association was relatively weak and its detection is confounded by large interpersonal variation and insufficient sample sizes.

IMPORTANCE
As interest in the human microbiome grows, there is an increasing number of studies that can be used to test numerous hypotheses across human populations. The hypothesis that variation in the gut microbiota can explain or be used to predict obesity status has received considerable attention and is frequently mentioned as an example of the role of the microbiome in human health. Here we assessed this hypothesis by using 10 independent studies and found that although there is an association, it is smaller than can be detected by most microbiome studies. Furthermore, we directly tested the ability to predict obesity status on the basis of the composition of an individual’s microbiome and found that the median classification accuracy is between 33.01 and 64.77%. This type of analysis can be used to design future studies and expanded to explore other hypotheses.
A Full-Length Infectious cDNA Clone of Zika Virus from the 2015 Epidemic in Brazil as a Genetic Platform for Studies of Virus-Host Interactions and Vaccine Development
Authors: Tsetsarkin Konstantin A. , Kenney Heather , Chen Rubing , Liu Guangping , Manukyan Hasmik , Whitehead Stephen S. , Laassri Majid , Chumakov Konstantin , Pletnev Alexander G.
Published: August 2016

An arthropod-borne virus, Zika virus (ZIKV), has recently emerged as a major human pathogen. Associated with complications during perinatal development and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, ZIKV raises new challenges for understanding the molecular determinants of flavivirus pathogenesis. This underscores the necessity for the development of a reverse genetic system based on an epidemic ZIKV strain. Here, we describe the generation and characterization in cell cultures of an infectious cDNA clone of ZIKV isolated from the 2015 epidemic in Brazil. The cDNA-derived ZIKV replicated efficiently in a variety of cell lines, including those of both neuronal and placental origin. We observed that the growth of cDNA-derived virus was attenuated compared to the growth of the parental isolate in most cell lines, which correlates with substantial differences in sequence heterogeneity between these viruses that were determined by deep-sequencing analysis. Our findings support the role of genetic diversity in maintaining the replicative fitness of viral populations under changing conditions. Moreover, these results indicate that caution should be exercised when interpreting the results of reverse-genetics experiments in attempts to accurately predict the biology of natural viruses. Finally, a Vero cell-adapted cDNA clone of ZIKV was generated that can be used as a convenient platform for studies aimed at the development of ZIKV vaccines and therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE
The availability of genetic tools and laboratory models determines the progress in understanding mechanisms of virus emergence and pathogenesis. Recent large-scale outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) that were linked to complications during perinatal development and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults emphasize the urgency for the development of a reverse-genetics system based on an epidemic ZIKV strain. Here, we report a stable infectious cDNA clone for ZIKV isolated during the 2015 epidemic in Brazil, as well as a Vero cell-adapted version of it, which will be used for virus-host interaction studies and vaccine development.
How to make a transverse triple junction—New evidence for the assemblage of Gondwana along the Kaoko-Damara belts, Namibia
Authors: Passchier Cees , Trouw Rudolph , da Silva Schmitt Renata
Published: August 2016

T-shaped orogenic triple junctions between mobile belts usually form in two unrelated stages by subsequent and oblique continental collisions separated by a significant time span. Besides these “oblique triple junctions”, another type, named “transverse triple junctions”, may exist. Such junctions are created by a more complex mechanism of partly contemporaneous convergence of three cratons in a restricted time frame, involving strike slip. The Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Kaoko-Damara junction between the Rio de la Plata, Congo, and Kalahari cratons in Namibia is an example of such a transverse orogenic triple junction, formed by at least four subsequent but partly related deformation events. Initial north-south convergence between the Congo and Kalahari cratons was followed by east-west collision of the Rio de la Plata and Congo cratons. Subsequently, the Kalahari and Congo cratons collided, contemporaneous with sinistral strike-slip motion between the Congo and Rio de la Plata cratons and with the intrusion of large granite-syenite plutons, probably associated with slab detachment aided by the strike-slip movement. Other examples of transverse triple junctions may exist in Gondwana. Transcurrent shear zones, some possibly nucleated on transform faults from the pre-collision setting, are essential for the formation of transverse triple junctions.
The influence of vegetation on debris-flow initiation during extreme rainfall in the northern Colorado Front Range
Authors: Rengers Francis K. , McGuire Luke A. , Coe Jeffrey A. , Kean Jason W. , Baum Rex L. , Staley Dennis M. , Godt Jonathan W.
Published: August 2016

We explored regional influences on debris-flow initiation throughout the Colorado Front Range (Colorado, USA) by exploiting a unique data set of more than 1100 debris flows that initiated during a 5 day rainstorm in 2013. Using geospatial data, we examined the influence of rain, hillslope angle, hillslope aspect, and vegetation density on debris-flow initiation. In particular we used a greenness index to differentiate areas of high tree density from grass and bare soil. The data demonstrated an overwhelming propensity for debris-flow initiation on south-facing hillslopes. However, when the debris-flow density was analyzed with respect to total rainfall and greenness we found that most debris flows occurred in areas of high rainfall and low tree density, regardless of hillslope aspect. These results indicate that present-day tree density exerts a stronger influence on debris-flow initiation locations than aspect-driven variations in soil and bedrock properties that developed over longer time scales.
Development of cutoff-related knickpoints during early evolution of submarine channels
Authors: Sylvester Zoltán , Covault Jacob A.
Published: August 2016

Submarine channels are often thought of as having relatively simple geometries, with significant along-channel morphologic and stratigraphic continuity. Using high-resolution seismic reflection data from offshore Angola and a kinematic model of channel evolution, we present evidence that channels on the seafloor can develop slope variability as a result of meander cutoff events. When cutoffs develop, the shortened flow paths produce locally steep gradients, thus initiating knickpoints. Waves of knickpoint retreat and the related channel incision explain the occurrence of terraces and associated remnant channel deposits above the youngest channel thalweg. The simple processes of meander cutoff followed by knickpoint retreat are intrinsic to submarine channels and result in significant morphologic variability, erosion, and stratigraphic complexity, without any external forcing. These insights highlight the early evolution of submarine channels, a phase with a record that is commonly fragmented or completely absent as a result of subsequent erosion, and allow a better understanding of the autogenic controls on deep-marine stratigraphy.
Severe hyponatraemia associated with pre-eclampsia
Authors: Anglim Breffini , Levins Kirk , Bussmann Neidin , Imcha Mendinaro
Published: August 2016

Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder with incidence rates ranging from 2% to 5%. Hyponatraemia is a rare complication of pre-eclampsia. A 41-year-old, para 0+1 in vitro fertilisation monochorionic diamniotic triplet pregnancy woman presented at 25 weeks with dyspnoea and general malaise. Her antenatal course was complicated by the diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction in triplet one at 27 weeks of gestation. At 27+3 weeks gestation, she was diagnosed as having pre-eclampsia. Subsequent biochemical analysis demonstrated hyponatraemia with serum sodium falling steadily to 117 mmol/L over the next 19 days. She was admitted to intensive care unit for stabilisation of fulminant pre-eclampsia and severe hyponatraemia at 30+5 weeks of gestation. Hypertonic saline and intravenous labetolol were administered prior to delivery by caesarean section. She recovered well postdelivery with stabilisation of her blood pressure and normalisation of her sodium level to 135 mmol/L. Awareness and frequent monitoring of hyponatraemia should become an integral part of monitoring women with pre-eclampsia.
Congenital tufting enteropathy and chronic arthritis: a clinical and radiological perspective
Authors: Azzopardi Christine , Pullicino Edgar , Coleiro Bernard , Galea Soler Sandro
Published: August 2016

Congenital tufting enteropathy is a rare condition which presents in early infancy. It is a condition which should be suspected in infants who present with diarrhoea soon after birth. A rare association with arthritis has been observed with a handful of cases documented in the literature. Our case differs as the arthritis described is erosive in nature, a feature which is not present in other cases.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection as the first presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Reddy Sravan , Vaid Tejasvini , Ganiga Sanjeeva Naveen Chandra , Shetty Ranjan K
Published: August 2016

A 33-year-old woman with no premorbidities presented to us with chest pain and worsening dyspnoea since 1 week. Systemic examination was suggestive of acute pulmonary oedema and preliminary investigations revealed evolved anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI). The patient was stabilised and taken up for angiography which revealed spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. She underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the same. Further investigation into the cause for the SCAD came strongly positive for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had no prior symptoms suggestive of SLE and the SCAD was its very first clinical manifestation.
Case of gastric intestinal metaplasia in an old patient with previous gastric surgery
Authors: Kadurei Firas , Alboraie Mohamed
Published: August 2016

An 87-year-old woman with multiple medical disorders presented with dyspeptic symptoms of long duration. She has a history of peptic ulcer disease for which she has partial gastrectomy (Billroth I) in the past. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) was performed which revealed erythematous mucosa in the lower part of the gastric remnant with areas of whitish mucosal patches in the distal stomach close to the gastroduodenal anastomosis. Biopsies were taken from the whitish mucosal patches and sent for histopathological examination. The result of the biopsy confirmed the presence of marked intestinal metaplasia. This case report summarises the presentation, diagnoses and treatment of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM).
Necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the glans penis
Authors: Christodoulidou Michelle , Bunker Christopher B , Trevisan Giorgia , Muneer Asif
Published: August 2016

We describe the case of a 73-year-old man who presented with a 10-month history of an ulcerating lesion on the glans penis. Initially this was thought to be an invasive squamous cell carcinoma but a biopsy showed histological features consistent with necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. Extensive serological, immunological and microbiological tests only showed a positive antinuclear and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies indicating a possible autoimmune aetiology but an underlying systemic cause was not identified. Treatment with oral corticosteroids limited the inflammatory process but due to the gross destruction of the glans penis, he still required a glansectomy and split-skin graft reconstruction from which he recovered well. Although this patient ultimately required surgery for this rare presentation, this case highlights the differential diagnosis of penile ulceration (that transcends neoplasia) and the importance of performing and interpreting penile biopsies before undertaking potentially mutilating definitive surgery.
Antibiotic use and clinical outcomes in the acute setting under management by an infectious diseases acute physician versus other clinical teams: a cohort study
Authors: Fawcett Nicola JK , Jones Nicola , Quan T Phuong , Mistry Vikash , Crook Derrick , Peto Tim , Walker A Sarah
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To assess the magnitude of difference in antibiotic use between clinical teams in the acute setting and assess evidence for any adverse consequences to patient safety or healthcare delivery.

Design

Prospective cohort study (1 week) and analysis of linked electronic health records (3 years).

Setting

UK tertiary care centre.

Participants

All patients admitted sequentially to the acute medical service under an infectious diseases acute physician (IDP) and other medical teams during 1 week in 2013 (n=297), and 3 years 2012–2014 (n=47 585).

Primary outcome measure

Antibiotic use in days of therapy (DOT): raw group metrics and regression analysis adjusted for case mix.

Secondary outcome measures

30-day all-cause mortality, treatment failure and length of stay.

Results

Antibiotic use was 173 vs 282 DOT/100 admissions in the IDP versus non-IDP group. Using case mix-adjusted zero-inflated Poisson regression, IDP patients were significantly less likely to receive an antibiotic (adjusted OR=0.25 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.84), p=0.03) and received shorter courses (adjusted rate ratio (RR)=0.71 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.93), p=0.01). Clinically stable IDP patients of uncertain diagnosis were more likely to have antibiotics held (87% vs 55%; p=0.02). There was no significant difference in treatment failure or mortality (adjusted p>0.5; also in the 3-year data set), but IDP patients were more likely to be admitted overnight (adjusted OR=3.53 (95% CI 1.24 to 10.03), p=0.03) and have longer length of stay (adjusted RR=1.19 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.36), p=0.007).

Conclusions

The IDP-led group used 30% less antibiotic therapy with no adverse clinical outcome, suggesting antibiotic use can be reduced safely in the acute setting. This may be achieved in part by holding antibiotics and admitting the patient for observation rather than prescribing, which has implications for costs and hospital occupancy. More information is needed to indicate whether any such longer admission will increase or decrease risk of antibiotic-resistant infections.
African Breast Cancer—Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO): protocol of a multicountry mobile health prospective study of breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: McKenzie Fiona , Zietsman Annelle , Galukande Moses , Anele Angelica , Adisa Charles , Cubasch Herbert , Parham Groesbeck , Anderson Benjamin O , Abedi-Ardekani Behnoush , Schuz Joachim , dos Santos Silva Isabel , McCormack Valerie
Published: August 2016

Introduction

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) women with breast cancer (BC) have low survival rates from this potentially treatable disease. An understanding of context-specific societal, health-systems and woman-level barriers to BC early detection, diagnosis and treatment are needed.

Methods

The African Breast Cancer—Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) is a prospective hospital-based study of overall survival, impact on quality of life (QOL) and delays along the journey to diagnosis and treatment of BC in SSA. ABC-DO is currently recruiting in Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Women aged 18 years or older who present at participating secondary and tertiary hospitals with a new clinical or histocytological diagnosis of primary BC are invited to participate. For consented women, tumour characteristics, specimen and treatment data are obtained. Over a 2-year enrolment period, we aim to recruit 2000 women who, in the first instance, will be followed for between 1 and 3 years. A face-to-face baseline interview obtains information on socioeconomic, cultural and demographic factors, QOL, health and BC attitudes/knowledge, and timing of all prediagnostic contacts with caregivers in orthodox health, traditional and spiritual systems. Responses are immediately captured on mobile devices that are fed into a tailored mobile health (mHealth) study management system. This system implements the study protocol, by prompting study researchers to phone women on her mobile phone every 3 months and, failing to reach her, prompts contact with her next-of-kin. At follow-up calls, women provide updated information on QOL, care received and disease impacts on family and working life; date of death is asked of her next-of-kin when relevant.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by ethics committees of all involved institutions. All participants provide written informed consent. The findings from the study will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presented to funders and relevant local organisations and at scientific conferences.
Maternal morbidity and mortality from severe sepsis: a national cohort study
Authors: Acosta Colleen D , Harrison David A , Rowan Kathy , Lucas D Nuala , Kurinczuk Jennifer J , Knight Marian
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To describe the incidence, characteristics and risk factors for critical care admission with severe maternal sepsis in the UK.

Design

National cohort study.

Setting

198 critical care units in the UK.

Participants

646 pregnant and recently pregnant women who had severe sepsis within the first 24 hours of admission in 2008–2010.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Septic shock, mortality.

Results

Of all maternal critical care admissions, 14.4% (n=646) had severe sepsis; 10.6% (n=474) had septic shock. The absolute risk of maternal critical care admission with severe sepsis was 4.1/10 000 maternities. Pneumonia/respiratory infection (irrespective of the H1N1 pandemic influenza strain) and genital tract infection were the most common sources of sepsis (40% and 24%, respectively). We identified a significant gradient in the risk of severe maternal sepsis associated with increasing deprivation (RR=6.5; 95% CI 4.9 to 8.5 most deprived compared with most affluent women). The absolute risk of mortality was 1.8/100 000 maternities. The most common source of infection among women who died was pneumonia/respiratory infection (41%). Known risk factors for morbidity supported by this study were: younger age, multiple gestation birth and caesarean section. Significant risk factors for mortality in unadjusted analysis were: age ≥35 years (unadjusted OR (uOR)=3.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 10.6), ≥3 organ system dysfunctions (uOR=12.7; 95% CI 2.9 to 55.1), respiratory dysfunction (uOR=6.5; 95% CI1.9 to 21.6), renal dysfunction (uOR=5.6; 95% CI 2.3 to 13.4) and haematological dysfunction (uOR=6.5; 95% CI 2.9 to 14.6).

Conclusions

This study suggests a need to improve timely recognition of severe respiratory tract and genital tract infection in the obstetric population. The social gradient associated with the risk of severe sepsis morbidity and mortality raises important questions regarding maternal health service provision and usage.
Advanced imaging in colonoscopy: contemporary approach to dysplasia surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Beintaris Iosif , Rutter Matt
Published: August 2016

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD)) is a chronic relapsing/remitting condition characterised by intestinal inflammation. One of the main concerns in patients with longstanding ulcerative and Crohn’s colitis is development of colonic dysplasia and colorectal cancer (CRC), a risk higher than that of the general population. Colonoscopy surveillance programmes have been developed by major societies worldwide to improve early dysplasia detection and treatment, thus preventing progression to colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy is an imperfect tool as lesions can be missed, an issue even more relevant to colitic patients, where mucosal inspection and lesion recognition may prove challenging. Extensive research has been undertaken on performance improvement in this area while technical advances in optical imaging, such as high-definition, have made their way into modern endoscopy units.

Techniques and technologies available to enhance optical diagnosis of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease are reviewed in this paper, focusing on those that are realistic, widely available and feasible for everyday practice.
The impact of gestational weight gain in different trimesters of pregnancy on glucose challenge test and gestational diabetes
Authors: Hantoushzadeh Sedigheh , Sheikh Mahdi , Bosaghzadeh Zeynab , Ghotbizadeh Fahimeh , Tarafdari Azam , Panahi Zahra , Shariat Mamak
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Assessing the effects of excessive weight gain before pregnancy, in the first and second trimesters and in the month preceding glucose challenge test (GCT) on GCT results and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Study design

This prospective cohort study evaluated 1279 pregnant women who were referred for their first prenatal visit in 2012–2015. Mother's body mass index (BMI) was recorded before pregnancy, during the first visit and every 4 weeks until 28 gestational weeks. All mothers underwent GCT at 28 weeks and when 1 h glucose ≥140 mg/dL (≥7.8 mmol/L), they were referred for a 100 g fasting glucose 3 h glucose tolerance test.

Results

Obesity and being overweight prior to pregnancy were associated with 2.8-fold and 1.5-fold higher rates of developing GDM (p<0.001, p=0.04) and 1.9-fold and 1.8-fold higher rates of having false-positive GCT results (p<0.001). First-trimester excessive weight gain was significantly associated with false-positive GCT in women who were lean, overweight and obese before pregnancy (all p<0.001). When these women kept gaining excessive weight during the subsequent period the risk of developing GDM was significantly increased regardless of their pre-pregnancy BMI (p=0.03). When these women adhered to the recommended weight gain during the subsequent period, the risk of developing GDM was not increased, however the risk of having false-positive GCT remained high (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Elevated pre-pregnancy BMI independently increases the risk of GDM and false-positive GCT. First trimester weight gain is the most important predictor of GCT and GDM regardless of pre-pregnancy BMI. The weight gain during the subsequent period affects the risk of developing GDM only in women with excessive first-trimester weight gain.
Association between blood lead levels and blood pressures in a non-smoking healthy Korean population
Authors: Lee Kyu Rae , Ko Ki Dong , Hwang In Cheol , Suh Heuy Sun , Kim Kyoung Kon
Published: August 2016

Objective

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) has been performed every 3 years in Korea to help prevent cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Previous studies showed an association between blood lead levels and cardiovascular mortality. In order to assess the relationship between blood lead concentration and blood pressure in the healthy general population, we investigated whether blood lead levels were related to blood pressure in a non-smoking healthy population without any known medical diseases in the 2013 KNHANES.

Methods

896 (mean age 40.55±13.83 years; body mass index 23.06±3.33 kg/m2) subjects who had no known diseases were included among 8018 subjects. Exclusion criteria were: hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, cerebrovascular events, renal insufficiency, liver cirrhosis, thyroid dysfunction, any cardiovascular or renal disease, and any malignancy. Blood pressures were measured three times by sphygmomanometers, 5 min apart. Blood pressures were then expressed as the average between the second and third values. Height, weight, waist circumferences and blood pressure, as well as total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cell count and blood lead levels were measured. In addition, dietary components were analysed by 24 hour recall.

Results

The association between log blood lead levels and systolic/diastolic pressure was stronger after it was controlled for age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p=0.048, 0.002). Furthermore, the association between log blood lead levels and systolic pressure (p=0.048) and diastolic pressure (p=0.002) was more evident when controlled for age, sex, education, BMI, waist circumference, FPG, AST and ALT.

Conclusions

Blood lead levels are significant determinants of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a healthy Korean population, irrespective of sociodemographic factors and metabolic derangements.
Relationship between vitamin A deficiency and the thyroid axis in clinically stable patients with liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus
Authors: El-Eshmawy Mervat M. , Arafa Mona M. , Elzehery Rasha R. , Elhelaly Rania M. , Elrakhawy Mohamed M. , El-Baiomy Azza A.
Published: August 2016

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and altered thyroid function are commonly encountered in patients with liver cirrhosis. The link between vitamin A metabolism and thyroid function has been previously identified. The aim of this study was to explore the association between VAD and the thyroid axis in clinically stable patients with cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). One hundred and twelve patients with clinically stable HCV-related cirrhosis and 56 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status were recruited for this study. Vitamin A status, liver function, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and thyroid volume were evaluated. The prevalence of VAD among patients with HCV-related cirrhosis was 62.5% compared with 5.4% among controls (P < 0.001). Patients with HCV-related cirrhosis had significantly higher FT4, FT3, TSH, and thyroid volume than did healthy controls. Of the 112 patients initially recruited, 18 were excluded (patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and/or anti-TPO positive), so a total of 94 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis were divided into 2 groups according to vitamin A status: VAD and normal vitamin A. Patients with VAD had significantly lower vitamin A intake and serum albumin and higher serum bilirubin, FT4, FT3, and TSH than patients with normal vitamin A status. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that VAD was associated with Child–Pugh score (β = 0.11, P = 0.05) and TSH (β = –1.63, P = 0.02) independently of confounding variables. We conclude that VAD may be linked to central hyperthyroidism in patients with clinically stable HCV-related liver cirrhosis.
Understanding the masses and mixings of one-zero textures in 3+1 scenario
Authors: Nath Newton , Ghosh Monojit , Gupta Shivani
Published: August 2016

We present a detailed analysis and phenomenological consequences of neutrino mass matrix, [Formula: see text], with one-zero texture in the flavor basis where the active neutrino sector is extended by one sterile neutrino (3[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1 case). In particular, our aim is to explore behavior of the sterile mixing parameters in detail when one of the elements of the neutrino mass matrix goes to zero. To study this, we consider two distinct mass spectrum of the active neutrinos: (i) completely hierarchical mass spectrum with a vanishing neutrino mass and (ii) completely quasidegenerate mass spectrum. In 3[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1 scenario, the low energy neutrino mass matrix, [Formula: see text], is a [Formula: see text] matrix and has 10 independent elements. Thus it can have 10 possible one-zero textures. From the earlier studies it can be inferred that, if one assumes one vanishing neutrino mass, then only seven of these [Formula: see text] are phenomenologically allowed by the current neutrino oscillation data. On the other hand, if the neutrinos are quasidegenerate then there are eight phenomenologically viable one-zero textures. In this paper, we study the correlations between the sterile mixing parameters for each of these allowed textures for both mass spectrum and also their implications on the effective Majorana mass.
A first-principles study of the effects of different Al constituents on Ga1−xAlxN nanowires
Authors: Xia Sihao , Liu Lei , Kong Yike , Wang Honggang , Wang Meishan
Published: August 2016

In order to investigate the influences of different Al constituents on Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires, the formation energy, stability, band structure, densities of states and optical properties of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires with different Al constituents are calculated using first-principles plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential method. Results show that Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires become more stable with increasing Al constituent. Bandgap of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires increases as the Al constituent increases but with a lower amplification compared with bulk Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N. The peaks of static dielectric constants show a decreasing trend and move towards high-energy side as Al constituent increases. The absorption of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires shows an interesting phenomenon that it firstly increases and then decreases slightly as the Al constituent increases. Reflectivity of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires is much smaller than that of the bulk. The optical properties of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires show a blueshift effect as Al composition increases. According to these calculations, it is found that Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires are appropriate to be applied into photoelectric detecting materials by adjusting the Al constituent of Ga[Formula: see text]Al[Formula: see text]N nanowires.
PARTIALLY BLENDED CONSTRAINED RATIONAL CUBIC TRIGONOMETRIC FRACTAL INTERPOLATION SURFACES
Authors: CHAND A. K. B. , TYADA K. R.
Published: August 2016

Fractal interpolation is an advance technique for visualization of scientific shaped data. In this paper, we present a new family of partially blended rational cubic trigonometric fractal interpolation surfaces (RCTFISs) with a combination of blending functions and univariate rational trigonometric fractal interpolation functions (FIFs) along the grid lines of the interpolation domain. The developed FIFs use rational trigonometric functions [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are cubic trigonometric polynomials with four shape parameters. The convergence analysis of partially blended RCTFIS with the original surface data generating function is discussed. We derive sufficient data-dependent conditions on the scaling factors and shape parameters such that the fractal grid line functions lie above the grid lines of a plane [Formula: see text], and consequently the proposed partially blended RCTFIS lies above the plane [Formula: see text]. Positivity preserving partially blended RCTFIS is a special case of the constrained partially blended RCTFIS. Numerical examples are provided to support the proposed theoretical results.
Bioinspired Functional Surfaces for Technological Applications
Authors: Sharma Vipul , Kumar Suneel , Reddy Kumbam Lingeshwar , Bahuguna Ashish , Krishnan Venkata
Published: August 2016

Biological matters have been in continuous encounter with extreme environmental conditions leading to their evolution over millions of years. The fittest have survived through continuous evolution, an ongoing process. Biological surfaces are the important active interfaces between biological matters and the environment, and have been evolving over time to a higher state of intelligent functionality. Bioinspired surfaces with special functionalities have grabbed attention in materials research in the recent times. The microstructures and mechanisms behind these functional biological surfaces with interesting properties have inspired scientists to create artificial materials and surfaces which possess the properties equivalent to their counterparts. In this review, we have described the interplay between unique multiscale (micro- and nano-scale) structures of biological surfaces with intrinsic material properties which have inspired researchers to achieve the desired wettability and functionalities. Inspired by naturally occurring surfaces, researchers have designed and fabricated novel interfacial materials with versatile functionalities and wettability, such as superantiwetting surfaces (superhydrophobic and superoleophobic), omniphobic, switching wettability and water collecting surfaces. These strategies collectively enable functional surfaces to be utilized in different applications such as fog harvesting, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), catalysis, sensing and biological applications. This paper delivers a critical review of such inspiring biological surfaces and artificial bioinspired surfaces utilized in different applications, where material science and engineering have merged by taking inspiration from the natural systems.
Industrial Integration: A Literature Review
Authors: Lu Yang
Published: August 2016

Industrial integration becomes more and more attractive to practitioners in industry, and draws a lot of attention from academia as well. However, the discussion of industrial integration is inconsistent, diversified, and targeted at different prospects. This paper attempts to address a systematic and comprehensive review on 74 articles about industrial integration from 2006 to 2016 in the SCI/SSCI database, in order to present an overview to researchers and practitioners. We will clarify current trends and main findings, and framework, strategies, and case analyses as well. The selected papers are diversified into seven research potential outlets. Summarization and research directions for each outlet are examined. Depending on the selected articles, European countries are the major contributed countries focusing on practical or technological issues regarding industrial integration.
Interorgan handling of fibroblast growth factor-23 in humans
Authors: Verzola Daniela , Ansaldo Francesca , Milanesi Samantha , Parodi Emanuele Luigi , Rosa Gian Marco , Sofia Antonella , Bonanni Alice , Viazzi Francesca , Balbi Manrico , Garibotto Giacomo
Published: August 2016

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) accumulates in blood of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated both with cardiovascular complications and disease progression. However, our knowledge of the sites and mechanisms that regulate plasma FGF-23 is still incomplete. We measured plasma intact FGF-23 across the kidney, splanchnic organs, and lung in 11 patients [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 60 ± 6 ml/min] during elective diagnostic cardiac catheterizations. In these patients FGF-23 was removed by the kidney, with a fractional extraction (FE) of ∼22%. The FE of FGF-23 across the kidney was similar to that of creatinine (∼17%, P = NS). In addition, the FGF-23 FE by the kidney was significantly directly related to eGFR ( r = 0.709 P = 0.018) and to kidney creatinine FE ( r = 0.736 P = 0.013) but only as a trend to plasma phosphate levels (r = 0.55, P = 0.18). There was no difference in FGF-23 levels in blood perfusing splanchnic organs and cardiopulmonary bed. However, the arterial-venous difference of FGF-23 across the lung was directly related to FGF-23 pulmonary artery levels, suggesting that the lung, and possibly the heart, participate in the homeostasis of plasma FGF-23 when its systemic levels are increased. Our data show that the human kidney is the only site for FGF-23 removal from blood and suggest that FGF-23 is predominantly removed by glomerular filtration. The kidney ability to remove FGF-23 from the circulation likely accounts for the early increase in blood of FGF-23 in patients with CKD.
Weighted Complex Network Analysis of Shanghai Rail Transit System
Authors: Xing Yingying , Lu Jian , Chen Shendi
Published: August 2016

With increasing passenger flows and construction scale, Shanghai rail transit system (RTS) has entered a new era of networking operation. In addition, the structure and properties of the RTS network have great implications for urban traffic planning, design, and management. Thus, it is necessary to acquire their network properties and impacts. In this paper, the Shanghai RTS, as well as passenger flows, will be investigated by using complex network theory. Both the topological and dynamic properties of the RTS network are analyzed and the largest connected cluster is introduced to assess the reliability and robustness of the RTS network. Simulation results show that the distribution of nodes strength exhibits a power-law behavior and Shanghai RTS network shows a strong weighted rich-club effect. This study also indicates that the intentional attacks are more detrimental to the RTS network than to the random weighted network, but the random attacks can cause slightly more damage to the random weighted network than to the RTS network. Our results provide a richer view of complex weighted networks in real world and possibilities of risk analysis and policy decisions for the RTS operation department.
Complementarity of Clinician Judgment and Evidence Based Models in Medical Decision Making: Antecedents, Prospects, and Challenges
Authors: Lulin Zhou , Yiranbon Ethel , Asante Antwi Henry
Published: August 2016

Early accounts of the development of modern medicine suggest that the clinical skills, scientific competence, and doctors’ judgment were the main impetus for treatment decision, diagnosis, prognosis, therapy assessment, and medical progress. Yet, clinician judgment has its own critics and is sometimes harshly described as notoriously fallacious and an irrational and unfathomable black box with little transparency. With the rise of contemporary medical research, the reputation of clinician judgment has undergone significant reformation in the last century as its fallacious aspects are increasingly emphasized relative to the evidence based options. Within the last decade, however, medical forecasting literature has seen tremendous change and new understanding is emerging on best ways of sharing medical information to complement the evidence based medicine practices. This review revisits and highlights the core debate on clinical judgments and its interrelations with evidence based medicine. It outlines the key empirical results of clinician judgments relative to evidence based models and identifies its key strengths and prospects, the key limitations and conditions for the effective use of clinician judgment, and the extent to which it can be optimized and professionalized for medical use.
Circular RNA-ITCH Suppresses Lung Cancer Proliferation via Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway
Authors: Wan Li , Zhang Lin , Fan Kai , Cheng Zai-Xing , Sun Quan-Chao , Wang Jian-Jun
Published: August 2016

As a special form of noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) played important roles in regulating cancer progression mainly by functioning as miRNA sponge. While the function of circular RNA-ITCH (cir-ITCH) in lung cancer is still less reported, in this study, we firstly detected the expression ofcir-ITCHin tumor tissues and paired adjacent noncancer tissues of 78 patients with lung cancer using a TaqMan-based quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that the expression ofcir-ITCHwas significantly decreased in lung cancer tissues. In cellular studies,cir-ITCHwas also enhanced in different lung cancer cell lines, A549 and NIC-H460. Ectopic expression ofcir-ITCHmarkedly elevated its parental cancer-suppressive gene, ITCH, expression and inhibited proliferation of lung cancer cells. Molecular analysis further revealed thatcir-ITCHacted as sponge of oncogenic miR-7 and miR-214 to enhance ITCH expression and thus suppressed the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Altogether, our results suggested thatcir-ITCHmay play an inhibitory role in lung cancer progression by enhancing its parental gene, ITCH, expression.
A Finite Volume-Complete Flux Scheme for a Polluted Groundwater Site
Authors: Eikelder M. F. P. ten , Boonkkamp J. H. M. ten Thije , Moonen M. P. T. , Kumar B. V. Rathish
Published: August 2016

We present a model of a polluted groundwater site. The model consists of a coupled system of advection-diffusion-reaction equations for the groundwater level and the concentration of the pollutant. We use the complete flux scheme for the space discretization in combination with the ϑ-method for time integration and we prove a new stability result for the scheme. Numerical results are computed for the Guarani Aquifer in South America and they show good agreement with results in literature.
In Vivo Interrelationship between Insulin Resistance and Interferon Gamma Production: Protective and Therapeutic Effect of Berberine
Authors: Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmad , Ghareeb Doaa Ahmad , Sahyoun Heba Abdelghany , Elshehawy Ashraf Abdelhamed , Elsayed Mohammad Mohammad
Published: August 2016

This research was conducted to investigate if there is a relation between insulin resistance incidence and inhibition of interferon gamma production or not. Firstly, insulin resistance was induced by high fat diet (HFD) intake for 6 weeks. Secondly, berberine was used as protective/curative compound for insulin resistance. Results revealed that feeding rats HFD for 6 weeks developed features of insulin resistance (IR) syndrome. These features presented in increased body weight, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia (with increased LDL‐cholesterol and decreased HDL‐cholesterol), and hypertriglyceridemia. Level of antioxidant enzymes in HFD group was higher than in normal one. Also there was an increasing in level of proinflammatory cytokines as interleukin‐ (IL‐) 6 and IL‐12 in HFD group. Feeding rats HFD for 6 weeks also decreased level of interferon gamma (IFN‐γ). The decreased level of IFN‐γ has been shown to predict infection with infectious diseases especially viral infection. Treatment and protection with berberine 50 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks were found to be effective against the features of insulin resistance syndrome, improved levels of insulin resistance parameters, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes, proinflammatory cytokines, and IFN‐γ.