bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study on Damage Breakage Properties of Shaft Lining Concrete under Hydromechanical Coupling
Authors: Xue Weipei , Yao Zhishu , Jing Wei , Tang Bin , Kong Gan , Xie Dezhu
Published: March 2018

Shaft lining concrete is exposed to a long‐term coupled effect of a complex stress environment and high underground water pressure. To study the damage breakage properties under the above specific working conditions, shaft lining concrete specimens meeting the requirements of engineering application were prepared. The triaxial hydraulic coupling permeability test was conducted, and the designed osmotic pressures were 4 MPa, 6 MPa, 8 MPa, and 10 MPa. The results show that as osmotic pressure increases, the peak strength of shaft lining concrete decreases gradually, the surface cracks of specimen increase, and the failure mode is oblique shear failure. According to variation characteristics of permeability‐strain and stress‐strain curves of shaft lining concrete during loading, it is divided into three stages: compaction stage, sudden increase of permeability stage, and postpeak permeability change stage. In addition, the constitutive model of the shaft lining concrete with the influence of confining pressure and osmotic pressure was established, and the theoretical curve is in good agreement with the test curve. The damage evolution model shows that damage threshold of shaft lining concrete occurs earlier than that of ordinary concrete because of the influence of permeable water, and the damage development of the strain softening stage is particularly rapid.
A Wearable System for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring of Physical Activity
Authors: Taffoni Fabrizio , Rivera Diego , La Camera Angelica , Nicolò Andrea , Velasco Juan Ramón , Massaroni Carlo
Published: March 2018

Over the last decades, wearable systems have gained interest for monitoring of physiological variables, promoting health, and improving exercise adherence in different populations ranging from elite athletes to patients. In this paper, we present a wearable system for the continuous real-time monitoring of respiratory frequency (fR), heart rate (HR), and movement cadence during physical activity. The system has been experimentally tested in the laboratory (by simulating the breathing pattern with a mechanical ventilator) and by collecting data from one healthy volunteer. Results show the feasibility of the proposed device for real-time continuous monitoring of fR, HR, and movement cadence both in resting condition and during activity. Finally, different synchronization techniques have been investigated to enable simultaneous data collection from different wearable modules.
Phenotypic Features and Salivary Parameters in Patients with Ectodermal Dysplasia: Report of Three Cases
Authors: Gomes Mônica Fernandes , Sichi Luigi Giovanni Bernardo , Giannasi Lilian Chrystiane , Amorim José Benedito Oliveira , Rocha João Carlos da , Koga-Ito Cristiane Yumi , Salgado Miguel Angel Castillo
Published: March 2018

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a rare hereditary disorder affecting the development of ectoderm-derived organs and tissues. The aim of this study was to describe phenotypic features and the therapeutic approach in dentistry among three patients with ED, correlating their data with the literature. Additionally, to investigate the salivary gland disorders and their impacts on oral microbiota, we performed salivary tests, including salivary flow rate, salivary buffering capacity, and concentration levels of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and yeasts. All patients presented oligodontia, resulting in a significant masticatory dysfunction and aesthetic impairment. The counts of mutans streptococci n=3 and yeasts n=2 were high; on the other hand, the count of lactobacilli n=3 was low. Therefore, salivary and microbiological tests showed that the patients with ED, particularly the hypohidrotic type, presented a high risk of enamel caries and susceptibility to oral infections, which may be likely triggered by reduction of salivary flow and/or possible immunological disorders.
Affine Tensor Product Model Transformation
Authors: Kuti József , Galambos Péter
Published: March 2018

This paper introduces the novel concept of Affine Tensor Product (TP) Model and the corresponding model transformation algorithm. Affine TP Model is a unique representation of Linear Parameter Varying systems with advantageous properties that makes it very effective in convex optimization‐based controller synthesis. The proposed model form describes the affine geometric structure of the parameter dependencies by a nearly minimum model size and enables a systematic way of geometric complexity reduction. The proposed method is capable of exact analytical model reconstruction and also supports the sampling‐based numerical approach with arbitrary discretization grid and interpolation methods. The representation conforms with the latest polytopic model generation and manipulation algorithms. Along these advances, the paper reorganizes and extends the mathematical theory of TP Model Transformation. The practical merit of the proposed concept is demonstrated through a numerical example.
Antibacterial and Antioxidant Compounds from the Flower Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina
Authors: Habtamu Abere , Melaku Yadessa
Published: March 2018

Vernonia amygdalina is traditionally used in Ethiopia to treat various diseases. This prompted us to isolate bioactive compounds from the flowers of this plant. The CHCl3 extract after silica gel column chromatography has led to the isolation of two compounds identified as tricosane (1) and vernolide (2), while the acetone extract furnished isorhamnetin (3) and luteolin (4). The acetone extract and isorhamnetin significantly scavenged the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical by 91.6 and 94%, respectively. It was also shown that the acetone extract and isorhamnetin inhibited lipid peroxidation by 74 and 80%, respectively. The extracts and isolated compounds were also evaluated for their antibacterial activity with the CHCl3 extract and vernolide showing strong activity against S. aureus with an inhibition zone of 21 and 19 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the acetone extract and isorhamnetin were active against all bacterial pathogens tested. The work presented herein has demonstrated that vernolide and isorhamnetin had antibacterial activity. The antioxidant activity displayed by the flowers of V. amygdalina is accounted to the presence of isorhamnetin. Therefore, the biological activities displayed by the extracts and isolated compounds from this plant corroborate the traditional uses of this plant by the local people against various diseases.
Treatment of Diabetic Mice with a Combination of Ketogenic Diet and Aerobic Exercise via Modulations of PPARs Gene Programs
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Xu Lingyan , Xia Jie , Wang Dongmei , Qian Min , Ding Shuzhe
Published: March 2018

Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease arising as a serious public health problem worldwide. Diet intervention is considered to be a critical strategy in glycemic control of diabetic patients. Recently, the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet is shown to be effective in glycemic control and weight loss. However, hepatic lipid accumulation could be observed in mice treated with ketogenic diet. On the other hand, exercise is a well-known approach for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We thus hypothesize that the combination of ketogenic diet and exercise could improve insulin sensitivity, while minimizing adverse effect of hepatic steatosis. In order to test this hypothesis, we established diabetic mice model with streptozotocin (STZ) and divided them into control group, ketogenic diet group, and ketogenic diet with aerobic exercise group. We found that after six weeks of intervention, mice treated with ketogenic diet and ketogenic diet combined with exercise both have lower body weights, HbAlc level, HOMA index, and improvements in insulin sensitivity, compared with diabetes group. In addition, mice in ketogenic diet intervention exhibited hepatic steatosis shown by serum and hepatic parameters, as well as histochemistry staining in the liver, which could be largely relieved by exercise. Furthermore, gene analysis revealed that ketogenic diet in combination with exercise reduced PPARγ and lipid synthetic genes, as well as enhancing PPARα and lipid β-oxidation gene program in the liver compared to those in ketogenic diet without exercise. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the combination of ketogenic diet and a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention improved insulin sensitivity in diabetic mice, while avoiding hepatic steatosis, which provided a novel strategy in the combat of diabetes.
Prediction of Ubiquitination Sites Using UbiNets
Authors: Yadav Sarthak , Gupta Manoj , Bist Ankur Singh
Published: March 2018

Ubiquitination controls the activity of various proteins and belongs to posttranslational modification. Various machine learning techniques are taken for prediction of ubiquitination sites in protein sequences. The paper proposes a new MLP architecture, named UbiNets, which is based on Densely Connected Convolutional Neural Networks (DenseNet). Computational machine learning techniques, such as Random Forest Classifier, Gradient Boosting Machines, and Multilayer Perceptrons (MLP), are taken for analysis. The main target of this paper is to explore the significance of deep learning techniques for the prediction of ubiquitination sites in protein sequences. Furthermore, the results obtained show that the newly proposed model provides significant accuracy. Satisfactory experimental results show the efficiency of proposed method for the prediction of ubiquitination sites in protein sequences. Further, it has been recommended that this method can be used to sort out real time problems in concerned domain.
Energy Absorption Characteristics of Frozen Soil Based on SHPB Test
Authors: Ma Qin-yong , Ma Dong-dong , Yuan Pu , Yao Zhao-ming
Published: March 2018

Dynamic compressive tests are performed in three frozen soil types under different stress states at freezing temperatures of −5°C and −15°C with impact loading pressures from 0.3 MPa to 0.6 MPa. The effects of frozen soil type, freezing temperature, impact loading pressures, and stress states on incident energy and energy absorption characteristics, such as absorbed energy and energy absorbency rate, are investigated. The experimental results show that most of the incident energy is reflected back to the incident bar, and incident energy linearly increases with the increase of impact loading pressures. Both absorbed energy and energy absorbency rate are found to be negatively correlated with freezing temperature, and there values under confining pressure state are larger than that under uniaxial condition. The effects of confining pressure on absorbed energy are quite different at different freezing temperatures. In addition, frozen soil type also affects absorbed energy and energy absorbency rate. Meanwhile, impact loading pressure shows an increased effect on the absorbed energy, but it has little effect on energy absorbency rate in the research.
Cytomegalovirus Colitis Masquerading as Apple-Core Lesion after Systemic Chemotherapy in a Patient with Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: An Jong , Brownell Jason , Barker Darrell , Stockinger Theresa , Brady Robert , Cebe Katherine , Baur Russell
Published: March 2018

We report the case of a 71-year-old male with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia who developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis presenting as an apple-core lesion during induction chemotherapy. CMV infection occurs rarely during induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. CMV infection is usually observed in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in those on immunosuppressive agents following bone marrow transplant. Although rare, CMV colitis should be considered in patients who are critically ill after systemic chemotherapy as it can cause significant morbidity and mortality.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Our Understanding of the Genes Associated with Endometriosis: Natural Language Processing of the PubMed Database
Authors: Bouaziz J. , Mashiach R. , Cohen S. , Kedem A. , Baron A. , Zajicek M. , Feldman I. , Seidman D. , Soriano D.
Published: March 2018

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the development of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, but its cause remains largely unknown. Numerous genes have been studied and proposed to help explain its pathogenesis. However, the large number of these candidate genes has made functional validation through experimental methodologies nearly impossible. Computational methods could provide a useful alternative for prioritizing those most likely to be susceptibility genes. Using artificial intelligence applied to text mining, this study analyzed the genes involved in the pathogenesis, development, and progression of endometriosis. The data extraction by text mining of the endometriosis-related genes in the PubMed database was based on natural language processing, and the data were filtered to remove false positives. Using data from the text mining and gene network information as input for the web-based tool, 15,207 endometriosis-related genes were ranked according to their score in the database. Characterization of the filtered gene set through gene ontology, pathway, and network analysis provided information about the numerous mechanisms hypothesized to be responsible for the establishment of ectopic endometrial tissue, as well as the migration, implantation, survival, and proliferation of ectopic endometrial cells. Finally, the human genome was scanned through various databases using filtered genes as a seed to determine novel genes that might also be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis but which have not yet been characterized. These genes could be promising candidates to serve as useful diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the management of endometriosis.
Optimizing the Prediction Accuracy of Friction Capacity of Driven Piles in Cohesive Soil Using a Novel Self‐Tuning Least Squares Support Vector Machine
Authors: Prayogo Doddy , Susanto Yudas Tadeus Teddy
Published: March 2018

This research presents a novel hybrid prediction technique, namely, self‐tuning least squares support vector machine (ST‐LSSVM), to accurately model the friction capacity of driven piles in cohesive soil. The hybrid approach uses LS‐SVM as a supervised‐learning‐based predictor to build an accurate input‐output relationship of the dataset and SOS method to optimize the σ and γ parameters of the LS‐SVM. Evaluation and investigation of the ST‐LSSVM were conducted on 45 training data and 20 testing data of driven pile load tests that were compiled from previous studies. The prediction accuracy of the ST‐LSSVM was then compared to other machine learning methods, namely, LS‐SVM and BPNN, and was benchmarked with the previous results by neural network (NN) from Goh using coefficient of correlation (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The comparison showed that the ST‐LSSVM performed better than LS‐SVM, BPNN, and NN in terms of R, RMSE, and MAE. This comprehensive evaluation confirmed the capability of hybrid approach SOS and LS‐SVM to modeling the accurate friction capacity of driven piles in clay. It makes for a reliable and robust assistance tool in helping all geotechnical engineers estimate friction pile capacity.
Levels of Essential Elements in Different Medicinal Plants Determined by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Brima Eid I.
Published: March 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the content of essential elements in medicinal plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Five different medical plants (mahareeb (Cymbopogon schoenanthus), sheeh (Artemisia vulgaris), harjal (Cynanchum argel delile), nabipoot (Equisetum arvense), and cafmariam (Vitex agnus-castus)) were collected from Madina city in the KSA. Five elements Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Se were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fe levels were the highest and Se levels were the lowest in all plants. The range levels of all elements in all plants were as follows: Fe 193.4–1757.9, Mn 23.6–143.7, Zn 15.4–32.7, Se 0.13–0.92, and Cu 11.3–21.8 µg/g. Intakes of essential elements from the medical plants in infusion were calculated: Fe 4.6–13.4, Mn 6.7–123.2, Zn 7.0–42.7, Se 0.14–1.5, and Cu 1.5–5.0 µg/dose. The calculated intakes of essential elements for all plants did not exceed the daily intake set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These medicinal plants may be useful sources of essential elements, which are vital for health.
Correlation between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Metabolic Abnormality in General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lu Li-juan , Hao Ning-Bo , Liu Jian-Jun , Li Xue , Wang Rui-Ling
Published: March 2018

Background. Previous studies have suggested a link between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and metabolic abnormality. This study aimed at investigating the correlation between H. pylori infection and metabolic abnormality in a general population. Methods. All enrolled participants underwent a carbon-13 urea breath test (13C-UBT). For each individual, the following data were collected: age, gender, alanine transaminase (ALT), total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood sugar, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and bone mineral density (BMD). Results. The study included 1867 (393 females and 1474 males, aged 54.0 ± 9.6 years) people that took a physical examination. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the study participants with and without H. pylori infection. The statistical data are as follows: albumin: P=0.045, uric acid: P=0.025, fasting glucose: P=0.043, and postprandial blood glucose: P=0.035. In terms of the patients with NAFLD, there were significant differences in ALT and HDL-C between the study participants with and without H. pylori infection. TG (P=0.048), HDL-C (P=0.011), and fasting blood glucose (P=0.018) were significantly different in both groups among individuals who got osteopenia. Conclusion. H. pylori infection may be an important factor affecting metabolic abnormality and osteoporosis.
Hypophyseal Involvement in Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease: A Retrospective Study from a Single Tertiary Center
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Linjie , Zhang Wen , Pan Hui , Yang Hongbo , Deng Kan , Lu Lin , Yao Yong , Chen Shi , Chai Xiaofeng , Feng Feng , You Hui , Jin Zimeng , Zhu Huijuan
Published: March 2018

This study aims to outline the clinical features and outcomes of IgG4-related hypophysitis (IgG4-RH) patients in a tertiary medical center. We reviewed clinical manifestations and imaging and pituitary function tests at baseline, as well as during follow-up. Ten patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis of IgG4-RH was 48.4 (16.0–64.0) years. An average of 3 (0–9) extrapituitary organs were involved. Five patients had panhypopituitarism, three had only posterior hypopituitarism, one had only anterior hypopituitarism, and one had a normal pituitary function. One patient in our study had pituitary mass biopsy, lacking IgG4-positive cells despite lymphocyte infiltration forming an inflammatory pseudotumor. Five patients with a clinical course of IgG4-RH less than nine months and a whole course of IgG4-RD less than two years were managed with glucocorticoids, while three patients with a longer history were administered glucocorticoids plus immunosuppressive agents. One patient went through surgical excision, and one patient was lost to follow-up. All patients showed a prompt response clinically, but only three patients had normalized serum IgG4 levels. Two patients who took medications for less than six months relapsed. Conclusions. IgG4-RD is a broad disease, and all physicians involved have to be aware of the possibility of pituitary dysfunction. Younger patients should be expected. The histopathological feature of pituitary gland biopsy could be atypical. For patients with a longer history, the combination of GC and immunosuppressive agents is favorable. Early and adequate courses of treatment are crucial for the management of IgG4-RH. With GC and/or immunosuppressant treatment, however, pituitary function or diabetes insipidus did not improve considerably.
Effects of Cyclic Loading on the Mechanical Properties of Mature Bedding Shale
Authors: Guo Yintong , Yang Chunhe , Wang Lei , Xu Feng
Published: March 2018

We investigated the mechanical properties of mature bedding shale under cyclic loading conditions, with an application to the design of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas wells. Laboratory experiments were conducted on shale samples under two principal loading orientations. Testing results showed that accumulated fatigue damage occurs in a three‐stage process. Analysis of fatigue damage at different maximum stress levels shows that fatigue life increases as a power‐law function with maximum stress decreasing. And the maximum stress significantly affects the fatigue life. Further, the elastic part of shale rock deformation was recovered in the unloading process, whereas the irreversible deformation remained. The irreversible deformation, growth trend, and accumulation of the total fatigue were directly related to the fatigue damage. This process can be divided into 3 stages: an initial damage stage, a constant velocity damage stage, and an accelerated damage stage, which accounted for about one‐third of the fatigue damage. Shale rock is a nonhomogeneous material, and the bedding is well developed. Its fatigue life differs greatly in two principal loading orientations, even under the same loading conditions. All of these drawn conclusions are of great importance for design of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas wells.
Drying Rate and Product Quality Evaluation of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Calyces Extract Dried with Foaming Agent under Different Temperatures
Authors: Djaeni Mohamad , Kumoro Andri Cahyo , Sasongko Setia Budi , Utari Febiani Dwi
Published: March 2018

The utilisation of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) calyx as a source of anthocyanins has been explored through intensive investigations. Due to its perishable property, the transformation of roselle calyces into dried extract without reducing their quality is highly challenging. The aim of this work was to study the effect of air temperatures and relative humidity on the kinetics and product quality during drying of roselle extract foamed with ovalbumin and glycerol monostearate (GMS). The results showed that foam mat drying increased the drying rate significantly and retained the antioxidant activity and colour of roselle calyces extract. Shorter drying time was achieved when higher air temperature and/or lower relative humidity was used. Foam mat drying produced dried brilliant red roselle calyces extract with better antioxidant activity and colour qualities when compared with nonfoam mat drying. The results showed the potential for retaining the roselle calyces extract quality under suggested drying conditions.
Secure Virtualization Environment Based on Advanced Memory Introspection
Authors: Zhang Shuhui , Meng Xiangxu , Wang Lianhai , Xu Lijuan , Han Xiaohui
Published: March 2018

Most existing virtual machine introspection (VMI) technologies analyze the status of a target virtual machine under the assumption that the operating system (OS) version and kernel structure information are known at the hypervisor level. In this paper, we propose a model of virtual machine (VM) security monitoring based on memory introspection. Using a hardware-based approach to acquire the physical memory of the host machine in real time, the security of the host machine and VM can be diagnosed. Furthermore, a novel approach for VM memory forensics based on the virtual machine control structure (VMCS) is put forward. By analyzing the memory of the host machine, the running VMs can be detected and their high-level semantic information can be reconstructed. Then, malicious activity in the VMs can be identified in a timely manner. Moreover, by mutually analyzing the memory content of the host machine and VMs, VM escape may be detected. Compared with previous memory introspection technologies, our solution can automatically reconstruct the comprehensive running state of a target VM without any prior knowledge and is strongly resistant to attacks with high reliability. We developed a prototype system called the VEDefender. Experimental results indicate that our system can handle the VMs of mainstream Linux and Windows OS versions with high efficiency and does not influence the performance of the host machine and VMs.
Factors Affecting the Length of Stay in the Intensive Care Unit: Our Clinical Experience
Authors: Toptas Mehmet , Sengul Samanci Nilay , Akkoc İbrahim , Yucetas Esma , Cebeci Egemen , Sen Oznur , Can Mehmet Mustafa , Ozturk Savas
Published: March 2018

Background and Aim. Long hospital days in intensive care unit (ICU) due to life-threatening diseases are increasing in the world. The primary goal in ICU is to decrease length of stay in order to improve the quality of medical care and reduce cost. The aim of our study is to identify and categorize the factors associated with prolonged stays in ICU.Materials and Method. We retrospectively analyzed 3925 patients. We obtained the patients’ demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and physiologic variables; mortality; lengths of stay by examining the intensive care unit database records.Results. The mean age of the study was 61.6 ± 18.9 years. The average length of stay in intensive care unit was 10.2 ± 25.2 days. The most common cause of hospitalization was because of multiple diseases (19.5%). The length of stay was positively correlated with urea, creatinine, and sodium. It was negatively correlated with uric acid and hematocrit levels. Length of stay was significantly higher in patients not operated on than in patients operated on (p<0.001).Conclusion. Our study showed a significantly increased length of stay in patients with cardiovascular system diseases, multiple diseases, nervous system diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. Moreover we showed that when urea, creatinine, and sodium values increase, in parallel the length of stay increases.
Plasma Asprosin Concentrations Are Increased in Individuals with Glucose Dysregulation and Correlated with Insulin Resistance and First-Phase Insulin Secretion
Authors: Wang Yuren , Qu Hua , Xiong Xin , Qiu Yuyang , Liao Yong , Chen Yingchun , Zheng Yi , Zheng Hongting
Published: March 2018

Background. Adipokines are reported to participate in many common pathologic processes of glucose dysregulation, such as insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Objective. To detect the concentrations of plasma asprosin in subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (nT2DM) and its relationship to parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and pancreatic β-cell function. Methods. 143 eligible participants were included and were divided into three groups including normal glucose regulation (NGR, n=52), IGR (n=40), and nT2DM group (n=51). The intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and clinical and biochemical parameters were measured in all participants. Results. Plasma asprosin levels were higher in IGR (82.40 ± 91.06 ng/mL, P<0.001) and nT2DM (73.25 ± 91.69 ng/mL, P<0.001) groups compared with those in the NGR (16.22 ± 9.27 ng/mL) group, especially in IGR subjects. Correlation analysis showed that plasma asprosin levels were positively correlated with waist circumference (Wc), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postchallenge plasma glucose (2hPG), HbA1c, triglyceride (TG), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and negatively correlated with homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-β), area under the curve of the first-phase (0–10 min) insulin secretion (AUC), acute insulin response (AIR), and glucose disposition index (GDI) (all P<0.05). Multiple logistical regression analyses revealed that plasma asprosin concentrations were significantly correlated with IGR and nT2DM after controlling for age, sex, BMI, and WHR. Conclusions. Circulating asprosin might be a predictor of early diagnosis in DM and might be a potential therapeutic target for prediabetes and T2DM.
Plk1-Mediated Phosphorylation of TSC1 Enhances the Efficacy of Rapamycin
Authors: Li Zhiguo , Kong Yifan , Song Longzhen , Luo Qian , Liu Jinghui , Shao Chen , Hou Xianzeng , Liu Xiaoqi
Published: March 2018

The AKT/TSC/mTOR axis is an important pathway controlling cell growth, survival, and proliferation in response to extracellular cues. Recently, it was reported that AKT activity fluctuates across the cell cycle. However, it remains unclear whether downstream targets of AKT are also regulated by the cell cycle. Here, we report that mTORC1 activity inversely correlates with AKT activity during the cell cycle. Mechanistically, Plk1 phosphorylation of TSC1 at S467 and S578 interfered with TSC1/TSC2 binding, destabilized TSC1, promoted dissociation of the TSC complex from the lysosome, and eventually led to mTORC1 activation. Tumors derived from cancer cells expressing the TSC1-S467E/S578E mutant exhibited greater sensitivity to rapamycin than those expressing WT TSC1. Collectively, our data support a model in which Plk1, instead of AKT, regulates the TSC/mTORC1 pathway during mitosis, eventually regulating the efficacy of rapamycin.

Significance: This seminal report shows that activation of mTORC1 can be independent of AKT during mitosis. Cancer Res; 78(11); 2864–75. ©2018 AACR.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Momordica charantia Extract in the Prevention of Oral Cancer
Authors: Rao Chinthalapally V.
Published: March 2018

In recent times, bitter melon extract (BME) has gained significant attention for its anticancer efficacy against various malignancies. In this issue, Sur and colleagues show that BME prevents the development of 4-nitronitroquinoline 1-oxide–induced oral dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in an immunocompetent mouse model. Importantly, gene ontology and pathway analyses revealed an elevated expression of s100a9, IL23a, IL1β, and PDCD1/PD1 of immune system during oral cancer development, which was significantly suppressed by BME. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential clinical benefits of BME in preventing and delaying the progression of oral dysplasia to SCC. Cancer Prev Res; 11(4); 185–6. ©2018 AACR.

See related article by Sur et al., p. 191
lncRNA UCA1 Is a Novel Regulator in Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy through Targeting the miR-184/HOXA9 Axis
Authors: Zhou Gaoliang , Li Chao , Feng Jun , Zhang Jing , Fang Yanyan
Published: March 2018

Cardiac hypertrophy is closely associated with a series of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and sudden death in particular. An in-depth comprehension of the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy will improve the diagnosis and therapy of cardiac hypertrophy. It has been acknowledged that long noncoding RNAs/microRNAs (lncRNAs/miRNAs) are crucial regulators in diverse biological processes, including various cardiovascular diseases, in multiple manners. Nevertheless, the biological roles of lncRNA UCA1 and miR-184 in cardiac hypertrophy are scarcely reported. In this paper, qRT-PCR analysis exhibited that lncRNA UCA1 was highly expressed in mice heart treated with transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and the cardiomyocytes treated with phenylephrine (PE). On the contrary, miR-184 was downregulated under the same conditions. In addition, it was deduced that lncRNA UCA1 was reversely related with miR-184 in PE-triggered hypertrophic cardiomyocytes, confirmed by the Spearman correlation analysis. The knockdown of UCA1 or the overexpression of miR-184 lessened the enlarged surface area of cardiomyocytes and the elevated expressions of fetal genes (ANP and BNP) induced by PE. Later, it was determined that miR-184 was a direct target of UCA1, whereas the mRNA HOXA9 was a target of miR-184. Rescue assays indicated that UCA1 promoted the progression of cardiac hypertrophy through competitively binding with miR-184 to enhance the expression of HOXA9.
Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Study
Authors: Alkhunizan Muath , Alkhenizan Abdullah , Basudan Loay
Published: March 2018

Introduction: The age of the population in Saudi Arabia is shifting toward elderly, which can lead to an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment (MCI and dementia) among elderly patients in a community-based setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included patients aged 60 years and above who were seen in the Family Medicine Clinics affiliated with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Patients with delirium, active depression, and patients with a history of severe head trauma in the past 3 months were excluded. Patients were interviewed during their regular visit by a trained physician to collect demographic data and to administer the validated Arabic version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Results: One hundred seventy-one Saudi patients were recruited based on a calculated sample size for the aim of this study. The mean age of included sample was 67 ± 6 years. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 45%. The prevalence of MCI was 38.6% and the prevalence of dementia was 6.4%. Age, low level of education, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were risk factors for cognitive impairment. Conclusion: Prevalence of MCI and dementia in Saudi Arabia using MoCA were in the upper range compared to developed and developing countries. The high rate of risk factors for cognitive impairment in Saudi Arabia is contributing to this finding.
Fabry Nephropathy: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review
Authors: del Pino María , Andrés Amado , Bernabéu Ana Ávila , de Juan-Rivera Joaquín , Fernández Elvira , de Dios García Díaz Juan , Hernández Domingo , Luño José , Fernández Isabel Martínez , Paniagua José , Posada de la Paz Manuel , Rodríguez-Pérez José Carlos , Santamaría Rafael , Torra Roser , Ambros Joan Torras , Vidau Pedro , Torregrosa Josep-Vicent
Published: March 2018

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare, X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding the enzyme α-galactosidase A. Complete or partial deficiency in this enzyme leads to intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and other glycosphingolipids in many cell types throughout the body, including the kidney. Progressive accumulation of Gb3 in podocytes, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and tubular cells contribute to the renal symptoms of FD, which manifest as proteinuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate leading to renal insufficiency. A correct diagnosis of FD, although challenging, has considerable implications regarding treatment, management, and counseling. The diagnosis may be confirmed by demonstrating the enzyme deficiency in males and by identifying the specific GLA gene mutation in male and female patients. Treatment with enzyme replacement therapy, as part of the therapeutic strategy to prevent complications of the disease, may be beneficial in stabilizing renal function or slowing its decline, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Emergent treatments for FD include the recently approved chaperone molecule migalastat for patients with amenable mutations. The objective of this report is to provide an updated overview on Fabry nephropathy, with a focus on the most relevant aspects of its epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment options.
Stimulation of Intestinal Cl- Secretion Through CFTR by Caffeine Intake in Salt-Sensitive Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Wei Xiao , Lu Zongshi , Yang Tao , Gao Peng , Chen Sijiao , Liu Daoyan , Zhu Zhiming
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: High salt consumption is a major risk factor for hypertension, and sodium homeostasis is regulated by both intestinal sodium absorption and urinary sodium excretion. Chronic caffeine intake has been reported to attenuate salt-sensitive hypertension by promoting urinary sodium excretion; however, its exact role in intestinal sodium absorption remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether and how chronic caffeine consumption antagonizes salt-sensitive hypertension by inhibiting intestinal sodium absorption. Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive rats were fed 8% NaCl chow and 0.1% caffeine in their drinking water for 15 days. The blood pressure and fecal sodium content were measured. The effect of caffeine on the movement of Cl- in enterocyte cells was determined with the Ussing chamber assay. Results: Rats that were treated with caffeine displayed significantly lower mean blood pressure and higher fecal sodium content than the controls. Consistent with these findings, caffeine intake decreased fluid absorption by the intestine in the fluid perfusion experiment. Further, the results from the Ussing chamber assay indicated that caffeine promoted Cl- secretion through enterocyte apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and thus inhibited sodium absorption. Moreover, depletion of cAMP or inhibition of CFTR completely abolished the effect of caffeine on Cl- secretion. Conclusion: The results indicate that chronic caffeine consumption reduces sodium absorption by promoting CFTR-mediated Cl- secretion in the intestine, which contributes to the anti-hypertensive effect of caffeine in salt-sensitive rats.
Dossiê Leitores e leituras na contemporaneidade – aspectos e questões
Authors: Hossne Andrea Saad , Nakagome Patrícia Trindade
Published: March 2018

O conjunto de textos que se segue advém de um trabalho coletivo promovido pelo Grupo de Pesquisa Leitores e Leituras na Contemporaneidade, coordenado por nós, e que se desdobra em várias frentes, uma delas sendo a promoção de Jornadas nas quais se busca criar um espaço de diálogo e intercâmbio de ideias, propostas e experiências entre docentes (da educação básica ao ensino superior), pesquisadores, formadores de leitores e mediadores de leitura em instâncias diversas (bibliotecas, editores etc.), e leitores, tendo por eixo questões como a formação de leitores, a leitura, o ensino de literatura, a educação básica, a formação de professores, a crítica, o contexto digital, entre outras. Até o momento, ocorreram três Jornadas Leitores e Leituras na Contemporaneidade (novembro de 2016, maio e outubro de 2017), nas quais formatos já consagrados, como mesas-redondas temáticas, palestras, mesas simultâneas de apresentação de trabalhos inscritos conviveram com propostas inovadoras de formatos de debates, sempre congregando vozes oriundas de diferentes experiências – professores universitários, críticos, youtubers, escritores, docentes da educação básica, editores – na busca de um efetivo espaço plural, de diálogo, intercâmbios e dissensos produtivos.
“May Her Breasts Satisfy You at All Times” (Prov 5:19)
Authors: Schellenberg Annette
Published: March 2018

Pointing to erotic passages in some of the wisdom books, a growing number of scholars argue that the Song of Songs is sapiential. As an alternative explanation for the similarities between the Song and Proverbs 1-9 and Sirach, this article argues that verses like Prov 5:19 might have originated as a critical reaction to the Song’s eroticism. Beyond explaining the erotic passages in Proverbs and Sirach, this thesis is significant in that it implies that the authors of Proverbs and Sirach still understood the Song “literally” rather than allegorically, as did later interpreters.
Grendizer Leaves for Sweden
Authors: Al-Ghazzi Omar
Published: March 2018

Exploring the post-March 2011 Syrian online sphere, in this article I focus on nostalgic videos and memes inspired by Arabic-dubbed Japanese anime series originally broadcast on Arab government TV stations in the 1980s. As part of a dissident social media culture, amateur videos that redubbed and edited childhood cartoons have appeared on YouTube since 2011—tackling themes of revolution, war and exile. These videos defied and mocked the Al-Assad regime, as well as the Islamic State. I argue that they are to be understood as empowering media practices for how they project political meaning onto childhood cartoons which are associated with a generational identity shared by now-adult Syrians. Highlighting an understudied aspect of media globalization—the influence of Japanese anime on Arab popular culture—in this article I examine a diverse body of social media clips and memes that recycle Japanese anime. I analyze their re-appropriation by Syrians, by offering a typology of nostalgic online practices in the contexts of war and the uprising. These can be summed up in three categories of nostalgic mediation: nostalgic defiance, as expressed in calls for political action; nostalgic mockery, as reflected in subversive nostalgic humor targeting authority; and nostalgic anguish, in reaction to the trauma of war and exile, for example, in relation to the Syrian refugee crisis.
The hydrochorous Amazonian genus Glandonia (Malpighiaceae): new records, morphoanatomy updates and taxonomic contributions
Authors: GUESDON ISABEL REIS , AMORIM ANDRÉ MÁRCIO , MEIRA RENATA MARIA STROZI ALVES
Published: March 2018

Glandonia is a rare genus comprising three species confined to Amazonian rainforest. Glandonia macrocarpa has been documented in some localities of the lower Rio Negro, in the municipality of Manaus, Brazil. Glandonia prancei is represented by only a few herbarium specimens, which were collected along the Madeira and Purus rivers in the 1960s and 70s. A recent record of G. prancei was discovered while analyzing collections of G. macrocarpa, providing a new locality where we found and collected G. prancei. Glandonia williamsii, which had not been recorded in Brazil for the past three decades, was collected in the upper Rio Negro in this study. This work reexamines the taxonomy of the genus, based on fieldwork and herbarium specimens, and includes notes on morpho-anatomy, distribution and phenology. New morpho-anatomical characters are provided to better describe the species (e.g., outline of epidermal cell walls of the leaf, arrangement of petiolar vascular system, bracteole gland surface, and distribution of glands on the leaf blade and petals).
Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe lespedezae (including Pseudoidium caesalpiniacearum, syn. nov.) on Bauhinia blakeana and B. purpurea in China
Authors: XU BIAO , BRAUN UWE , ZHANG SHANHE , YANG HUI , CAO ZHI , GUO YAXU , SONG JIAGE
Published: March 2018

Bauhinia species are popular ornamental and medicinal plants with a pantropical distribution. In December 2016, powdery mildew symptoms were found on B. blakeana and B. purpurea in Guangdong, China. Based on ITS and 28S rDNA sequences, as well as morphological characters, the powdery mildew was identified as Erysiphe lespedezae. Previous records of powdery mildews on Bauhinia spp. are discussed. Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of type material, Pseudoidium caesalpiniacearum is reduced to synonymy with E. lespedezae. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of E. lespedezae causing powdery mildew on B. purpurea in China, and B. blakeana as a new host. A detailed morphological description and molecular data are provided herein.
A new species of Psacalium (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) from the state of Guerrero, Mexico
Authors: VILLASEÑOR JOSÉ LUIS , HINOJOSA OSCAR , REDONDA-MARTÍNEZ ROSARIO
Published: March 2018

Psacalium villosum is described from the central mountainous region of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. This novelty belongs to the peltate group of Psacalium and is distinguished primarily by its densely villose capitulescence axis and branches. In addition, the capitulescence lacks bracts. The heads are obscurely calyculate, bear up to 44 florets, and have a glandular-stipitate receptacle. Here, we describe and illustrate this new species. We also provide a distribution map and a comparison with similar taxa.
Taxonomy of a predaceous springtail: the revision of the Palaearctic species of Metisotoma Maynard, 1951
Authors: POTAPOV MIKHAIL , BABENKO ANATOLY , FJELLBERG ARNE , SCHULZ HANS-JÜRGEN
Published: March 2018

Metisotoma grandiceps (Reuter, 1891), the only veritable predator among springtails, is redescribed from materials collected near the type locality (Taimyr) and from Siberia and Far East. Its distribution in Holarctic is stated and the taxonomic position is discussed. A syntype of M. macnamarai (Folsom, 1918) (Canada) and the holotype of M. ursi (Yosii, 1972) (Japan) were redescribed as far as was possible. Two new species, M. stebaevae sp. nov. and M. bermani sp. nov., from the Altai Mountains and Magadan Region are described. Labial palp, number of s-setae, macrochaetotaxy, and ventral chaetotaxy of body are considered to be of diagnostic value separating the species. Some observations of predator behavior in laboratory conditions are presented.
Daily Weather Types in February–June (1979–2016) and Temperature Variations in Tropical North Africa
Authors: Moron Vincent , Oueslati Boutheina , Pohl Benjamin , Janicot Serge
Published: March 2018

This study investigates to what extent weather types (WTs) computed over tropical North Africa and the tropical North Atlantic Ocean (40°W–40°E, 0°–30°N) are relevant for documenting intraseasonal and interannual temperature variability in tropical North Africa (west of 37°E, 2°–27°N). Nine WTs are extracted by using clustering analysis of the daily anomalies of sea level pressure and low-level 925-hPa winds from two reanalyses (NCEP–DOE and ERA-Interim) from 1979 to 2016. The analyses are carried out separately for February–March and for April–June, when temperatures reach their annual peak across most of the region. The WT patterns mix the effects of different multiscale phenomena, including the extratropical Rossby waves that travel on the northern edge of the domain (and are partly related to the North Atlantic Oscillation), the Madden–Julian oscillation, and Kelvin waves in the subequatorial zone. For each WT, warm (cold) minimum (TN) and maximum (TX) daily temperature anomalies tend to be systematically located east of cyclonic (anticyclonic) low-level circulation anomalies associated with the WT patterns. By modulating the greenhouse effect, the water vapor anomalies exert a major influence, leading to warm (cold) TX and TN anomalies associated with moister (drier) air, through advection from the tropical Atlantic or equatorial latitudes (the Sahara or northern latitudes) toward tropical North Africa. WTs are also useful for monitoring interannual variability of TX/TN anomalies mostly north of 10°N in February–March, even if they greatly underestimate the long-term warming trend. Most WTs significantly raise or lower the probability of regional-scale heat peaks, defined as the crossing of the 90th percentile of daily TX or TN.