bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patulin degradation and cytotoxicity evaluation of UV irradiated apple juice using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Chandra Sharath , Patras Ankit , Pokharel Bharat , Bansode Rishipal R. , Begum Afroza , Sasges Michael
Published: June 2017

Patulin, a mycotoxin produced by several genera of fungi, is an important concern in apple‐based products due to its toxicity and health consequences. Ultraviolet (UV‐C) irradiation is a method of disinfection that is effective against many microorganisms and is also applied for chemical contaminant treatment via direct photolysis and advanced oxidation with sensitizers such as hydrogen peroxide. The present study evaluates whether UV‐C could be an effective method to destroy patulin in apple juice. UV‐C irradiation experiments were conducted using a collimated beam system operating at 253.7 nm. It was observed that patulin was not destroyed in pure water, but was degraded in pure and diluted apple juice upon UV‐C irradiation, suggesting that chromophores (such as riboflavin) in the juice were important factors in the photo degradation. From an initial patulin concentration of approximately 200 ppb, UV‐C dose of 400 mJ/cm2 successfully reduced patulin concentration by 69.47 (±0.69) % (p < .05). In cell culture studies, our results showed that increasing UV‐C dose decreased the patulin‐induced cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood cells. Cell viability percentage increased from 47.3% to 81.64% as UV‐C dose increased from 0 to 400 mJ/cm2. These doses would also achieve significant inactivation of viruses, bacteria, and many molds and fungi. This study clearly shows the potential for using UV‐C treatment for patulin degradation in turbid liquid foods such as apple juice.

Practical applications

This research paper provides scientific evidence of the potential benefits UV‐C irradiation in removing patulin from apple juice. UV‐C dose of 400 mJ/cm2 successfully reduced patulin concentration by 69.47%. In cell culture studies, increasing UV‐C dose decreased the patulin‐induced cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood cells. UV‐C irradiation is an attractive food preservation technology and offers opportunities for horticultural and food processing industries to meet the growing demand from consumers for healthier and safer food products. Knowledge gained through this study will facilitate major advances in the field of food science and engineering. This study would also provide technical support for commercialization of UV‐C technology for patulin degradation in turbid liquid foods such as apple juice.
Effect of intermittent microwave drying on biophysical characteristics of rice
Authors: Xu Fengying , Chen Zhen , Huang Mushui , Li Changyou , Zhou Weibiao
Published: June 2017

The dehydration performance of intermittent microwave drying and its effect on the biophysical characteristics of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were quantified. Three pulse ratio levels (PR2, PR3, and PR5) were tested. Two dehydration performances (temperature and drying rate) and seven biophysical quality indices (moisture content, microstructure, glass transition temperature, color, hardness, crack percentage, and germination) of rice were measured. Different semi‐empirical moisture ratio models were optimized to fit the experimental data. The results showed that the temperature of rice treated by PR2, PR3, and PR5 were significantly different from each other during the process. The rice temperature dried by PR5 was the lowest and it tended to be constant at the late stage. The average drying rates of rice treated by PR2, PR3 and PR5 were 0.568, 0.437, 0.265% w.b. gg−1.min−1, respectively. With the increase of pulse ratio, the porosity of kernel glume cross section and the glass transition temperature of dried rice decreased. The moisture content changed significantly (p < .05). However, the hardness and color of rice showed no significant differences (p < .05). The crack quality and germination rate of dried rice treated by PR5 were significantly higher than those of the other treatments (p < .05). Page model was found to be the most fitted model. By considering the drying performance and quality, PR5 was the most suitable microwave drying treatment for rice.

Practical applications

Rice is one of the most important staple food sources of human being. Newly harvested rice are wet and easy to mildew, need to be dried for the sack of long‐term storage. Compared with conventional hot air drying, intermittent microwave drying greatly improved the drying rate of rice. High pulse ratio treatment can significantly reduce the temperature rise speed of rice, and comprehensively improve the bio‐physical quality of rice, for example, crack percentage, germination rate and so on. The application of the mathematical model of rice drying performance provided a reference for the design of drying process. The research results are helpful to the application of intermittent microwave drying technology in rice drying industry.
Hygroscopic equilibrium of microencapsulated extract of passion fruit seed and its effect on the antioxidant capacity
Authors: da Silva Marcos Vieira , de Oliveira Franciely dos Santos , Demczuk Junior Bogdan , Haminiuk Charles Windson Isidoro , Visentainer Jesuí Vergílio
Published: June 2017

The hygroscopic behavior of microcapsules of antioxidant extract of defatted passion fruit seed, produced using spray drying technique, was analyzed at 20 and 40 °C by the static method with saturated saline solutions. The isosteric heat of sorption of the microcapsules, concentration of phenolic compounds and piceatannol, and the antioxidant capacity using ABTS and DPPH methods were measured during storage at different relative humidities. The isotherms were classified as GAB isotherms, exhibiting a Type II behavior. Isosteric heat of sorption decreased when the relative humidity increased and critical equilibrium moisture reached 61%. The microencapsulated extracts retained their antioxidant capacities within the evaluated conditions, what suggests that it may be applied in food at any of these water activity values.

Practical applications

Piceatannol is a stilbene with expressive antioxidant capacity which can be found in passion fruit seeds. In this work, the seeds were used to obtain the crude hydroethanolic extract which was microencapsulated by spray drying. The hygroscopic behavior of the microencapsulated extract of piceatannol was evaluated by fitting the data on different isotherm theoretical models. It was possible to verify the interference of the water activity in the antioxidant capacity and establish a relationship with possible critical storage conditions of the microencapsulated extract.
Protective effects of tannic acid on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and underlying mechanisms in rats
Authors: Chu Li , Li Pinya , Song Tao , Han Xue , Zhang Xuan , Song Qiongtao , Liu Tao , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Jianping
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the cardioprotective effects and latent mechanism of tannic acid (TA) on cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods

Abdominal aortic banding (AAB) was used to induce pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in male Wistar rats, sham-operated rats served as controls. AAB rats were treated with TA (20 and 40 mg/kg) or captoril.

Key findings

Abdominal aortic banding rats that received TA showed ameliorated pathological changes in cardiac morphology and coefficients, decreased cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis, a reduction in over expressions of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R), phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) mRNA, and modified expression of matrix metal proteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA in AAB rat hearts. Furthermore, TA treatment contributed to a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) activities and content, while it caused an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial NO synthase (e-NOS). Furthermore, TA downregulated expression of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), bax, caspase-3 and upregulated expression of bcl-2.

Conclusions

Tannic acid displayed obvious suppression of AAB-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. The cardioprotective effects of TA may be attributed to multitargeted inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis and apoptosis in addition to an increase in NO levels, decrease in ET-1 levels, and downregulation of angiotensin receptors and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.
Tracking Adult Literacy Acquisition With Functional MRI: A Single‐Case Study
Authors: Braga Lucia W. , Amemiya Eduardo , Tauil Alexandre , Suguieda Denis , Lacerda Carolina , Klein Elise , Dehaene‐Lambertz Ghislaine , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: June 2017

We evaluated neuro‐functional changes associated with late acquisition of reading in an illiterate adult who underwent 20 longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans during 2 years, while the participant progressed from complete illiteracy to a modest level of alphabetical decoding. Initially, the participant did not activate neural circuits for reading when he was exposed to words; gradually, however, he began to present activation in left occipitotemporal cortex, at the visual word form area. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in face responses. Reading‐related responses also emerged in language‐related areas of the inferior frontal gyrus and temporal lobe. Additional activations in superior parietal lobe, superior frontal gyrus and posterior medial frontal cortex suggested that reading remained dependent on effortful executive attention and working memory processes. Nevertheless, the results indicate that adult plasticity can be sufficient to induce rapid changes in brain responses to written words and faces in an unschooled and illiterate adult.
Acute skin trauma induces hyperemia, but superficial papillary nutritive perfusion remains unchanged
Authors: Sundheim Liv Kristin , Sporastøyl Ane Halse , Wester Torjus , Salerud Göran , Kvernebo Knut
Published: June 2017

Objectives

Superficial skin papillary capillaries with blood supply from a superficial vascular plexus and regulated by local metabolic needs supply oxygen and nutrients for epithelial cell proliferation. A deep vascular plexus regulated by autonomous nerves serves body thermoregulation. In healthy volunteers, we assessed circulatory effects of a standardized skin trauma by CAVM, DRS, and LDPM to assess the measuring depth of the three techniques and to describe the acute trauma effects on nutritive and thermoregulatory perfusion.

Methods

Volunteers (n=12) were examined at baseline and after induction of a 5.0 mm×1.0 mm incision on the forearm; 30 minutes after the trauma induction, data were collected at 0‐1, 2‐3 and 30 mm distances.

Results

LDPM showed hyperemia at 2‐3 mm distance (35.8±15.2 a.u.), but not at 30 mm distance (7.4±2.5 a.u.) compared to baseline (8.8±1.8 a.u.). The DRS saturation increased at 2‐3 mm (71.2±4.8%), but not at 30 mm (49.8±7.9%) compared to baseline (45.8±7.4%). Capillary density and flow velocities were unaffected at all distances.

Conclusions

The results indicate that skin nutritive papillary capillary function can be assessed by CAVM and DRS, but not with LDPM because of its dependence of the deep plexus perfusion.
How Not to Characterise a Hard Choice
Authors: Reuter Kevin , Messerli Michael
Published: June 2017

People are often faced with so called hard choices – also known as hard cases of comparison. In trying to characterize these hard choices, philosophers have made two central claims. First, failure of transitivity underlies hard cases of comparison. Second, using a random procedure is considered inappropriate in order to arrive at a decision in hard cases. While having some argumentative support, both claims primarily rely on expert intuitions. The results of the experiments we present in this paper challenge both claims, as well as the representativeness of expert intuitions that support these claims, by showing that most people (i) violate transitivity only if a hard choice is important, and (ii) find it appropriate to use a random procedure even in hard cases of comparison.
The affective right to the city
Authors: Duff Cameron
Published: June 2017

This paper investigates the affective and performative aspects of the right to the city with a focus on the materialisation of this right, its corporeal coming into being. In elaborating the idea of an affective right to the city, I will refer to Judith Butler's performative theory of assembly, along with findings drawn from ethnographic research conducted among individuals experiencing homelessness in Melbourne, Australia. My research suggests that the materialisation of the right to the city is embodied in the social, material and affective occupation of urban spaces. This work reveals how the body's inhabitation of place, and the affordances of the material environment, mediate the performative expression of the right to the city. It also calls for a shift from a juridical conception of the right to the city to an affective one, more accommodating of the social and material contexts in which this right is enacted. I conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of this affective conception of rights for performative studies of homelessness in urban space.
A Survey on Clinical Research Training Status and Needs in Public Hospitals from Shenzhen
Authors: Ji Ping , Wang Haibo , Zhang Chao , Liu Min , Zhou Liping , Xiao Ping , Wang Yanfang , Wu Yangfeng
Published: June 2017

Objective: To obtain information on the current clinical research training status and evaluate the training needs comprehensively for medical staff in hospitals.Methods: This survey was initiated and conducted by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Shenzhen in conjunction with the Peking University Clinical Research Institute (Shenzhen) from Sep 2016 through Nov 2016. It was planned that no less than 10% of the total staff from each participating hospital were invited to complete the survey. All participants filled out the questionnaire anonymously and voluntarily.Results: A total of 644 subjects from 12 hospitals completed the survey with the response rate of 28.7%. The majority of respondents (80%) have attended training related to clinical research knowledge and skills, however, medical research ethical aspects and statistics knowledge have been provided only for 40% and 27% of respondents, respectively. With regard to preference on training subjects and contents, Protocol design and development (74%) is ranked first, followed by the data analysis and summary (59%) among those researchers from medical professions. Project management and quality control course are mostly demanded for technicians and nurses (53%). Unpredictably, no more than 40% of the respondents consider that it is necessary to receive “Regulation and Research ethics” course even for those Principal investigators.Conclusions: Our survey results indicated that training subjects on protocol design and research ethics are urgently needed and relatively inadequate in China. An appropriate clinical research competency training model should be developed and provided for hospital staffs in China.
Subtle radical moves in scientific publishing
Authors: Kallio Kirsi Pauliina
Published: June 2017

None
The political extreme as the new normal: the cases of Brexit, the French state of emergency and Dutch Islamophobia
Authors: Houtum Henk Van , Bueno Lacy Rodrigo
Published: June 2017

In this article we carry out a geopolitical analysis of the turbulent breeze driving the EU into uncharted extremes. To do this we zoom in on three cases that we deem both a response to political extremism and a source of political extremism in themselves: France’s state of emergency, Brexit and the pyrrhic victory over the far-right in the Dutch elections of 2017 . Our analysis suggests that even though the political forces behind these events have praised their policies or electoral victories as bulwarks to keep extremism in check, the sort of extremism that they try to keep at bay is not as worrying as the counter-productive realpolitik of the traditional establishment they represent. By surreptitiously adopting precisely the kind of extremist political preferences that they claim to set themselves against, these politics show how the establishment in the EU is normalising the extreme geopolitics of exclusion that are structurally undermining the very principles of rule of law, liberal democracy and overall openness on which the EU is based. The result: what used to be easily dismissed as irrational or evil has become the everyday normal. The extremism we so much fear has become the new normality.
Analysis of Oscillations in Relay Feedback Systems With Fractional-Order Integrating Plants
Authors: Rezaei Davood , Tavazoei Mohammad Saleh
Published: June 2017

Oscillatory behavior and transfer properties of relay feedback systems with a linear plant including a fractional-order integrator are studied in this paper. An expression for system response in the time domain is obtained by means of short memory principle, Poincare return map, and Mittag–Leffler functions. On the basis of this expression, the frequency of self-excited oscillations is approximated. In addition, the locus of perturbed relay system (LPRS) is derived to analyze the input–output properties of the relay system. The presented analysis is supported by a numerical example.
Dynamic Optimization of Multibody System Using Multithread Calculations and a Modification of Variable Metric Method
Authors: Warwas Kornel , Tengler Szymon
Published: June 2017

The paper presents dynamic optimization methods used to calculate the optimal braking torques applied to wheels of an articulated vehicle in the lane following/changing maneuver in order to prevent a vehicle rollover. In the case of unforeseen obstacles, the nominal trajectory of the articulated vehicle has to be modified, in order to avoid collisions. Computing the objective function requires an integration of the equation of motions of the vehicle in each optimization step. Since it is rather time-consuming, a modification of the classical gradient method—variable metric method (VMM)—was proposed by implementing parallel computing on many cores of computing unit processors. Results of optimization calculations providing stable motion of a vehicle while performing a maneuver and a description and results of parallel computing are presented in this paper.
Virtual Signal-Based Pulse Discrimination in Micro-Electro-Discharge Machining
Authors: Nirala C. K. , Unune D. R. , Sankhla H. K.
Published: June 2017

Owing to the contaminations in the small discharge gap of micro-electro-discharge machining (μEDM), generation of nonuniform nature of discharge pulses is more significant than in macro-EDM. To address the contribution in material removal of workpiece by each of these pulses, a pulse discriminating (PD) system which discriminates them into contributing and noncontributing types is generally used. Developing a PD system in μEDM is a time-consuming process that requires an availability of continuously running machine. Such requirement could be eliminated if virtual signals, similar to the actual once, are made available and provided continuously to the PD system developer. An innovative idea of generating such virtual signals, based on ni multisim, is, therefore, proposed and a robust PD system based on these signals is developed and validated. The strategy for discriminating the pulses in various types is developed through virtual instrumentation in ni labview. The robustness is validated in terms of its applicability over a wide range of parametric settings, acquisition length, and time.
Evaluation of Design Feedback Modality in Design for Manufacturability
Authors: Barnawal Prashant , Dorneich Michael C. , Frank Matthew C. , Peters Frank
Published: June 2017

The early conceptual design phase often focuses on functional requirements, with limited consideration of the manufacturing processes needed to turn design engineers' conceptual models into physical products. Increasingly, design and manufacturing engineers no longer work in physical proximity, which has slowed the feedback cycle and increased product lead-time. Design for manufacturability (DFM) techniques have been adopted to overcome this problem and are critical for faster convergence to a manufacturable design. DFM tools give feedback in textual and graphical modalities. However, since information modality may affect interpretability, empirical evidence is needed to understand how manufacturability feedback modalities affect design engineers' work. A user study evaluated how novice design engineers' design performance, workload, confidence, and feedback usability were affected by textual, two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) feedback modalities. Results showed that graphical feedback significantly improved performance and reduced mental workload compared to textual and no feedback. Differences between 3D and 2D feedback were mixed. Three-dimensional was generally better on average, but not significantly so. However, the usability of 3D was significantly higher than 2D. Conversely, providing feedback in textual modality was often no better than not providing feedback. The study will benefit manufacturing industries by demonstrating that early 3D manufacturability feedback improves novice design engineers' performance with less mental workload and streamlines the design process resulting in cost-saving and reduction of product lead-time.
Chemical mechanical polishing of Ge2Sb2Te5 in alkaline slurry
Authors: Wang Hai-bo , Lu Shi-bin , Yang Jin , Jiang Xian-wei , Song Zhi-tang , Liu Wei-li
Published: June 2017

Chemical mechanical polishing of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) films in alkaline slurry is studied. It is found that the GST removal rate reaches maximum at pH = 11.0. This phenomenon is considered to be related to static corrosion of the GST material, and thus, the test of open circuit potential (OCP) along with pH value changes is performed, which has a same variation as the removal rate. A further calculation of the difference between OCP and Ge, Sb, and Te reaction equilibrium potential can provide a better understanding of the relationship between the removal rate and static corrosion. The GST polishing mechanism is more deeply explored using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. These measurements reveal that the elements of Ge, Sb, and Te have a different removal process for GST material polishing.
Rapid and Consistent Evolution of Colistin Resistance in Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa during Morbidostat Culture
Authors: Dößelmann Bianca , Willmann Matthias , Steglich Matthias , Bunk Boyke , Nübel Ulrich , Peter Silke , Neher Richard A.
Published: June 2017

Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic commonly used against multidrug-resistant strains of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. To investigate the potential for
in situ
evolution of resistance against colistin and to map the molecular targets of colistin resistance, we exposed two
P. aeruginosa
isolates to colistin using a continuous-culture device known as a morbidostat. As a result, colistin resistance reproducibly increased 10-fold within 10 days and 100-fold within 20 days, along with highly stereotypic yet strain-specific mutation patterns. The majority of mutations hit the
pmrAB
two-component signaling system and genes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis, including
lpxC
,
pmrE
, and
migA
. We tracked the frequencies of all arising mutations by whole-genome deep sequencing every 3 to 4 days to obtain a detailed picture of the dynamics of resistance evolution, including competition and displacement among multiple resistant subpopulations. In 7 out of 18 cultures, we observed mutations in
mutS
along with a mutator phenotype that seemed to facilitate resistance evolution.
Loss of C-5 Sterol Desaturase Activity Results in Increased Resistance to Azole and Echinocandin Antifungals in a Clinical Isolate of Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Rybak Jeffrey M. , Dickens C. Michael , Parker Josie E. , Caudle Kelly E. , Manigaba Kayihura , Whaley Sarah G. , Nishimoto Andrew T. , Luna-Tapia Arturo , Roy Sujoy , Zhang Qing , Barker Katherine S. , Palmer Glen E. , Sutter Thomas R. , Homayouni Ramin , Wiederhold Nathan P. , Kelly Steven L. , Rogers P. David
Published: June 2017

Among emerging non-
albicans Candida
species,
Candida parapsilosis
is of particular concern as a cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections in neonatal and intensive care unit patients. While fluconazole and echinocandins are considered effective treatments for such infections, recent reports of fluconazole and echinocandin resistance in
C. parapsilosis
indicate a growing problem. The present study describes a novel mechanism of antifungal resistance in this organism affecting susceptibility to azole and echinocandin antifungals in a clinical isolate obtained from a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Transcriptome analysis indicated differential expression of several genes in the resistant isolate, including upregulation of ergosterol biosynthesis pathway genes
ERG2
,
ERG5
,
ERG6
,
ERG11
,
ERG24
,
ERG25
, and
UPC2
. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the resistant isolate possessed an
ERG3
mutation resulting in a G111R amino acid substitution. Sterol profiles indicated a reduction in sterol desaturase activity as a result of this mutation. Replacement of both mutant alleles in the resistant isolate with the susceptible isolate's allele restored wild-type susceptibility to all azoles and echinocandins tested. Disruption of
ERG3
in the susceptible and resistant isolates resulted in a loss of sterol desaturase activity, high-level azole resistance, and an echinocandin-intermediate to -resistant phenotype. While disruption of
ERG3
in
C. albicans
resulted in azole resistance, echinocandin MICs, while elevated, remained within the susceptible range. This work demonstrates that the G111R substitution in Erg3 is wholly responsible for the altered azole and echinocandin susceptibilities observed in this
C. parapsilosis
isolate and is the first report of an
ERG3
mutation influencing susceptibility to the echinocandins.
A Low-Molecular-Weight Alginate Oligosaccharide Disrupts Pseudomonal Microcolony Formation and Enhances Antibiotic Effectiveness
Authors: Pritchard Manon F. , Powell Lydia C. , Jack Alison A. , Powell Kate , Beck Konrad , Florance Hannah , Forton Julian , Rye Philip D. , Dessen Arne , Hill Katja E. , Thomas David W.
Published: June 2017

In chronic respiratory disease, the formation of dense, 3-dimensional “microcolonies” by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
within the airway plays an important role in contributing to resistance to treatment. An
in vitro
biofilm model of pseudomonal microcolony formation using artificial-sputum (AS) medium was established to study the effects of low-molecular-weight alginate oligomers (OligoG CF-5/20) on pseudomonal growth, microcolony formation, and the efficacy of colistin. The studies employed clinical cystic fibrosis (CF) isolates (
n
= 3) and reference nonmucoid and mucoid multidrug-resistant (MDR) CF isolates (
n
= 7). Bacterial growth and biofilm development and disruption were studied using cell viability assays and image analysis with scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Pseudomonal growth in AS medium was associated with increased ATP production (
P
< 0.05) and the formation (at 48 h) of discrete (>10-μm) microcolonies. In conventional growth medium, colistin retained an ability to inhibit growth of planktonic bacteria, although the MIC was increased (0.1 to 0.4 μg/ml) in AS medium compared to Mueller-Hinton (MH) medium. In contrast, in an established-biofilm model in AS medium, the efficacy of colistin was decreased. OligoG CF-5/20 (≥2%) treatment, however, induced dose-dependent biofilm disruption (
P
< 0.05) and led to colistin retaining its antimicrobial activity (
P
< 0.05). While circular dichroism indicated that OligoG CF-5/20 did not change the orientation of the alginate carboxyl groups, mass spectrometry demonstrated that the oligomers induced dose-dependent (>0.2%;
P
< 0.05) reductions in pseudomonal quorum-sensing signaling. These findings reinforce the potential clinical significance of microcolony formation in the CF lung and highlight a novel approach to treat MDR pseudomonal infections.
New Insights into the Roles of Long Polar Fimbriae and Stg Fimbriae in Salmonella Interactions with Enterocytes and M Cells
Authors: Gonzales Amanda M. , Wilde Shyra , Roland Kenneth L.
Published: June 2017

Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi causes the systemic disease typhoid fever. After ingestion, it adheres to and invades the host epithelium while evading the host innate immune response, causing little if any inflammation. Conversely,
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis in humans and thrives in the inflamed gut. Upon entering the host,
S
. Typhimurium preferentially colonizes Peyer's patches, a lymphoid organ in which microfold cells (M cells) overlay an arrangement of B cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells. Both serovars can adhere to and invade M cells and enterocytes, and it has been assumed that
S
. Typhi also preferentially targets M cells. In this study, we present data supporting the alternative hypothesis that
S
. Typhi preferentially targets enterocytes. Using a tissue culture M cell model, we examined
S
. Typhi strains with a deletion in the
stg
fimbriae. The
stg
deletion resulted in increased adherence to M cells and, as expected, decreased adherence to Caco-2 cells. Adherence to M cells could be further enhanced by introduction of the long polar fimbriae (Lpf), which facilitate adherence of
S
. Typhimurium to M cells. Deletion of
stg
and/or introduction of
lpf
enhanced M cell invasion as well, leading to significant increases in secretion of interleukin 8. These results suggest that
S
. Typhi may preferentially target enterocytes
in vivo
.
Degradation of Incretins and Modulation of Blood Glucose Levels by Periodontopathic Bacterial Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
Authors: Ohara-Nemoto Yuko , Nakasato Manami , Shimoyama Yu , Baba Tomomi T. , Kobayakawa Takeshi , Ono Toshio , Yaegashi Takashi , Kimura Shigenobu , Nemoto Takayuki K.
Published: June 2017

Severe periodontitis is known to aggravate diabetes mellitus, though molecular events related to that link have not been fully elucidated.
Porphyromonas gingivalis
, a major pathogen of periodontitis, expresses dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), which is involved in regulation of blood glucose levels by cleaving incretins in humans. We examined the enzymatic characteristics of DPP4 from
P. gingivalis
as well as two other periodontopathic bacteria,
Tannerella forsythia
and
Prevotella intermedia
, and determined whether it is capable of regulating blood glucose levels. Cell-associated DPP4 activity was found in those microorganisms, which was effectively suppressed by inhibitors of human DPP4, and molecules sized 73 kDa in
P. gingivalis
, and 71 kDa in
T. forsythia
and
P. intermedia
were immunologically detected. The
k
cat
/

K
m

values of recombinant DPP4s ranged from 721 ± 55 to 1,283 ± 23 μM
−1
s
−1
toward Gly-Pro-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (MCA), while those were much lower for His-Ala-MCA. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis showed His/Tyr-Ala dipeptide release from the N termini of incretins, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, respectively, with the action of microbial DPP4. Moreover, intravenous injection of DPP4 into mice decreased plasma active GLP-1 and insulin levels, accompanied by a substantial elevation in blood glucose over the control after oral glucose administration. These results are the first to show that periodontopathic bacterial DPP4 is capable of modulating blood glucose levels the same as mammalian DPP4; thus, the incidence of periodontopathic bacteremia may exacerbate diabetes mellitus via molecular events of bacterial DPP4 activities.
Maternal lifestyle and nutritional status in relation to pregnancy and infant health outcomes in Western China: protocol for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Tang Li , Pan Xiong-Fei , Lee Andy H , Binns Colin W , Yang Chun-Xia , Sun Xin
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Improving the health and nutrition of women and children is a priority for Western China, where the economy is less developed. Due to the dynamic nature of lifestyle, modern food habits and nutrition, there is a need to update our limited knowledge and understanding of maternal lifestyle and nutritional status and their impact on pregnancy and infant health outcomes. While breast milk is the preferred feeding option, infant formula use is widespread in China. It is thus necessary to examine the effects of formula consumption on growth and morbidity.

Methods and analysis

This is an ongoing prospective cohort study started in 2015 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. A sample of 1901 pregnant women at 15–20 weeks of gestation were recruited from four maternal and child health hospitals and are followed prospectively to 12 months post partum. Detailed information on maternal lifestyle and nutritional status, obstetric complications, pregnancy outcomes, infant feeding practices, illnesses of the mother and infant and growth trajectory is collected through personal interviews, anthropometric measures and medical records and local health management system records retrieval. Multilevel mixed regression models, adjusted for clustering, will be applied to investigate the association between various exposure variables of interest and the longitudinal outcomes, taking into account the correlated data structure and the nesting of observations. Kaplan-Meier test and Cox regression analysis will be used to analyse the time-to-event data.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the ethics committee of West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University and the Human Research Ethics Committee of Curtin University. Results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Effectiveness of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) of breast pathology using immunohistochemistry results of core needle biopsy samples for synaptophysin, oestrogen receptor and CK14/p63 for classification of epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast
Authors: Maeda Ichiro , Kubota Manabu , Ohta Jiro , Shinno Kimika , Tajima Shinya , Ariizumi Yasushi , Doi Masatomo , Oana Yoshiyasu , Kanemaki Yoshihide , Tsugawa Koichiro , Ueno Takahiko , Takagi Masayuki
Published: June 2017

Aims

The aim of this study was to develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) system for identifying breast pathology.

Methods

Two sets of 100 consecutive core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens were collected for test and validation studies. All 200 CNB specimens were stained with antibodies targeting oestrogen receptor (ER), synaptophysin and CK14/p63. All stained slides were scanned in a whole-slide imaging system and photographed. The photographs were analysed using software to identify the proportions of tumour cells that were positive and negative for each marker. In the test study, the cut-off values for synaptophysin (negative and positive) and CK14/p63 (negative and positive) were decided using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. For ER analysis, samples were divided into groups with <10% positive or >10% positive cells and decided using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Finally, these two groups categorised as ER-low, ER-intermediate (non-low and non-high) and ER-high groups. In the validation study, the second set of immunohistochemical slides were analysed using these cut-off values.

Results

The cut-off values for synaptophysin, <10% ER positive, >10% ER positive and CK14/p63 were 0.14%, 2.17%, 77.93% and 18.66%, respectively. The positive predictive value for malignancy (PPV) was 100% for synaptophysin-positive/ER-high/(CK14/p63)-any or synaptophysin-positive/ER-low/(CK14/p63)-any. The PPV was 25% for synaptophysin-positive/ER-intermediate/(CK14/p63)-positive. For synaptophysin-negative/(CK14/p63)-negative, the PPVs for ER-low, ER-intermediate and ER-high were 100%, 80.0% and 95.8%, respectively. The PPV was 4.5% for synaptophysin-negative/ER-intermediate/(CK14/p63)-positive.

Conclusion

The CADx system was able to analyse sufficient data for all types of epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast including invasive breast cancer. This system may be useful for pathological diagnosis of breast CNB in routine investigations.
Sedimentation in isolated glaciomarine embayments during glacio-isostatically induced relative sea level fall (northern Champlain Sea basin)
Authors: Normandeau Alexandre , Lajeunesse Patrick , Trottier Annie-Pier , Poiré Antoine G. , Pienitz Reinhard
Published: June 2017

The nature of glaciomarine sediments deposited during ice margin retreat can vary according to physiographic setting and relative sea level fluctuations. To understand the effects of these two parameters on sedimentation, we analyzed the sediment records of four lakes located within former isolated glaciomarine embayments of the northern Champlain Sea basin. These lakes were initially inundated by marine water of the Champlain Sea, following deglaciation, and have subsequently experienced basin isolation owing to glacio-isostatic rebound. Three of these lakes reveal a common litho- and acoustic stratigraphic succession, characterized by an IRD-free glaciomarine to marine facies consisting of homogeneous to faintly laminated clayey silts grading into well-laminated silts with rapidly deposited layers. These two units recorded the transitional environment from glaciomarine sedimentation below multiyear shorefast ice to increased terrestrial runoff and rapid glacio-isostatic rebound once the ice margin retreated inland. During ice margin retreat, relative sea level fell concomitantly resulting in the deposition of coarser sediments in marine embayments. Upon the complete retreat of the ice margin, the supply of terrestrial sediments diminished and lake isolation, driven by relative sea level fall, led to higher biogenic content and increased bioturbation. This study provides a framework for sedimentation in isolated glaciomarine embayments which differs from deep-water sedimentation owing to the presence of shorefast sea-ice and their protected location from major ice-stream outlets.
A O(m) Self-Stabilizing Algorithm for Maximal Triangle Partition of General Graphs
Authors: Neggazi Brahim , Turau Volker , Haddad Mohammed , Kheddouci Hamamache
Published: June 2017

The triangle partition problem is a generalization of the well-known graph matching problem consisting of finding the maximum number of independent edges in a given graph, i.e., edges with no common node. Triangle partition instead aims to find the maximum number of disjoint triangles. The triangle partition problem is known to be NP-complete. Thus, in this paper, the focus is on the local maximization variant, called maximal triangle partition (MTP). Thus, paper presents a new self-stabilizing algorithm for MTP that converges in O(m) moves under the unfair distributed daemon.
Study of carbon dioxide gas treatment based on equations of kinetics in plasma discharge reactor
Authors: Abedi-Varaki Mehdi
Published: June 2017

Carbon dioxide (CO2) as the primary greenhouse gas, is the main pollutant that is warming earth. CO2 is widely emitted through the cars, planes, power plants and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil). Thus, there is a need to develop some method to reduce CO2 emission. To this end, this study investigates the behavior of CO2 in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. The behavior of different species and their reaction rates are studied using a zero-dimensional model based on equations of kinetics inside plasma reactor. The results show that the plasma reactor has an effective reduction on the CO2 density inside the reactor. As a result of reduction in the temporal variations of reaction rate, the speed of chemical reactions for CO2 decreases and very low concentration of CO2 molecules inside the plasma reactor is generated. The obtained results are compared with the existing experimental and simulation findings in the literature.
Natural CO
2
sites in Italy show the importance of overburden geopressure, fractures and faults for CO
2
storage performance and risk management
Authors: Roberts Jennifer J. , Wilkinson Mark , Naylor Mark , Shipton Zoe K. , Wood Rachel A. , Haszeldine R. Stuart
Published: June 2017

The study of natural analogues can inform the long-term performance security of engineered CO
2
storage. There are natural CO
2
reservoirs and CO
2
seeps in Italy. Here, we study nine reservoirs and establish which are sealed or are leaking CO
2
to surface. Their characteristics are compared to elucidate which conditions control CO
2
leakage. All of the case studies would fail current CO
2
storage site selection criteria, although only two leak CO
2
to surface. The factors found to systematically affect seal performance are overburden geopressure and proximity to modern extensional faults. Amongst our case studies, the sealing reservoirs show elevated overburden geopressure whereas the leaking reservoirs do not. Since the leaking reservoirs are located within <10 km of modern extensional faults, pressure equilibration within the overburden may be facilitated by enhanced crustal permeability related to faulting. Modelling of the properties that could enable the observed CO
2
leakage rates finds that high-permeability pathways (such as transmissive faults or fractures) become increasingly necessary to sustain leak rates as CO
2
density decreases during ascent to surface, regardless of the leakage mechanism into the overburden. This work illustrates the value of characterizing the overburden geology during CO
2
storage site selection to inform screening criterion, risk assessment and monitoring strategy.
Periodontics, Implantology, and Prosthodontics Integrated: The Zenith-Driven Rehabilitation
Authors: Frizzera Fausto , Tonetto Mateus , Cabral Guilherme , Shibli Jamil Awad , Marcantonio Elcio
Published: June 2017

A customized treatment plan is important to reach results that will satisfy the patient providing esthetics, function, and long-term stability. This type of oral rehabilitation requires professionals from different dental specialties where communication is a major key point. Digital Smile Design allows the practitioners to plan and discuss the patient’s condition to establish the proper treatment plan, which must be driven by the desired zenith position. The ideal gingival position will guide the professionals and determine the need to perform surgical procedures or orthodontic movement before placing the final restorations. In this article, the zenith-driven concept is discussed and a challenging case is presented with 4-year follow-up where tooth extraction, immediate implant placement, bone regeneration, and a connective tissue graft were performed.
Study on Rail Profile Optimization Based on the Nonlinear Relationship between Profile and Wear Rate
Authors: Wang Jianxi , Ren Zhiqiang , Chen Jinjie , Chen Long
Published: June 2017

This paper proposes a rail profile optimization method that takes account of wear rate within design cycle so as to minimize rail wear at the curve in heavy haul railway and extend the service life of rail. Taking rail wear rate as the object function, the vertical coordinate of rail profile at range optimization as independent variable, and the geometric characteristics and grinding depth of rail profile as constraint conditions, the support vector machine regression theory was used to fit the nonlinear relationship between rail profile and its wear rate. Then, the profile optimization model was built. Based on the optimization principle of genetic algorithm, the profile optimization model was solved to achieve the optimal rail profile. A multibody dynamics model was used to check the dynamic performance of carriage running on optimal rail profile. The result showed that the average relative error of support vector machine regression model remained less than 10% after a number of training processes. The dynamic performance of carriage running on optimized rail profile met the requirements on safety index and stability. The wear rate of optimized profile was lower than that of standard profile by 5.8%; the allowable carrying gross weight increased by 12.7%.
Exponential Stability of the Monotubular Heat Exchanger Equation with Time Delay in Boundary Observation
Authors: Jin Xue-Lian , Zhang Yang , Zheng Fu , Guo Bao-zhu
Published: June 2017

The exponential stability of the monotubular heat exchanger equation with boundary observation possessing a time delay and inner control was investigated. Firstly, the close‐loop system was translated into an abstract Cauchy problem in the suitable state space. A uniformly bounded C0‐semigroup generated by the close‐loop system, which implies that the unique solution of the system exists, was shown. Secondly, the spectrum configuration of the closed‐loop system was analyzed and the eventual differentiability and the eventual compactness of the semigroup were shown by the resolvent estimates on some resolvent sets. This implies that the spectrum‐determined growth assumption holds. Finally, a sufficient condition, which is related to the physical parameters in the system and is independent of the time delay, of the exponential stability of the closed‐loop system was given.
Early Intrauterine Transfusion in Fetuses with Severe Anemia Caused by Parvovirus B19 Infection
Authors: Hellmund Astrid , Geipel Annegret , Berg Christoph , Bald Rainer , Gembruch Ulrich
Published: June 2017

Objective: To describe procedure-related complications and perinatal survival after intrauterine transfusion (IUT) before 20 weeks of gestation in fetuses with severe anemia due to human parvovirus B19 infection. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all fetuses requiring IUT before 20 weeks of gestation in two tertiary referral centers between January 2002 and July 2015. Gestational age (GA) at first IUT, fetal blood sampling results, and presence of hydrops were related to procedure-related complications, fetal death (FD), and perinatal outcome. Results: A total of 93 IUTs was performed on 55 fetuses. The mean GA at first IUT was 16+6 (13+0-19+6) weeks. FD occurred in 11 (20.0%) of the 55 fetuses. Overall survival was 80.0% (44/55). Hydrops was present in 38.2% (21/55) and was strongly associated with FD (p = 0.001). There was no difference with regard to FD, hydrops, or hemoglobin concentration at first IUT in fetuses with transfusion before or after 16+0 weeks. Conclusion: Severe anemia due to parvovirus B19 infection in the early second trimester can be treated successfully by IUT before 20 weeks of gestation in specialized centers with sufficient expertise.