bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zika Vírus e o Futuro da Odontologia no Atendimento a Pacientes com Microcefalia
Authors: Pereira Sângela Maria da Silva , Borba Alberto Sabin Moura , Rosa Jaqueline De Fátima Lopes , Carvalho Ceci Nunes , Filho Etevaldo Matos Maia , Ferreira Meire Coelho , Monteiro Cristina De Andrade , Moffa Eduardo Buozi
Published: November 2017

O Zika Vírus (ZIKV) é um arbovírus, que tem o ácido ribonucleico como seu material genético, pertence a família Flaviviridae e é transmitido principalmente pelos mosquitos Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus, tendo-se registros também da sua transmissão por fluídos corporais. Desde Maio de 2015 o Brasil enfrenta um surto do vírus, que se espalhou rapidamente pelas Américas causando preocupação devido a possível relação do vírus com a microcefalia, que foi detectada no líquido amniótico e placenta de mulheres com fetos microcéfalos. Os pacientes acometidos com microcefalia possuem um perímetro cefálico inferior à média para o sexo e idade, e na maioria dos casos está associado à estrutura cerebral alterada, problemas de desenvolvimento e características faciais dismórficas. Estas características afetam não apenas o estado de saúde geral do paciente, mais também o atendimento odontológico, que se torna dificultado devido ao pequeno número de profissionais habilitados para o atendimento a pacientes especiais e ao pouco conhecimento das características craniofaciais e dentárias destes indivíduos. O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar as características craniofaciais que influenciam no atendimento odontológico e uma perspectiva sobre o futuro da odontologia no atendimento dos pacientes acometidos com microcefalia. Palavras-chave: Microcefalia, manifestações orais, Vírus Zika
Изучение свободно-радикального окисления у онкологических больных
Authors: Зуйков С. А.
Published: November 2017

Изучено состояние прооксидантной и антиоксидантной систем у больных раком желудка, в зависимости от стадии заболевания в опухолевых тканях в сравнении с нетрансформированной слизистой желудка, а также проанализирована взаимосвязь обменов антиоксидантной/прооксидантной систем и обмена нуклеотидов. Материалом были опухолевые и смежные ткани желудка 35 больных в возрасте 40-80 лет.

Изучили активность ферментов обмена пуриновых нуклеотидов – аденозиндезаминазу (АДА) и ксантиноксидазу (КО), как показатели прооксидантной системы; антиоксидантную защиту – глутатионпероксидазу (ГПО) и супероксиддисмутазу (СОД); уровень нитратов/нитритов (NOх) и показатели окислительной модификации белков (ОМБ) – 2,4-динитрофенилгидразоны. Методом изучения активностей ферментов, уровня NOх  и  2,4‑динитрофенилгидразонов была спектрофотометрия.

Нами установлено увеличение активности АДА, КО и снижение ГПО как при I-II стадии, так и на III-IV стадиях рака желудка. В обоих случаях отмечено увеличение уровня NOx и ОМБ в опухолевой ткани относительно нетрансформированной слизистой желудка. Изменение СОД имеет разнонаправленный характер – на ранних стадиях рака происходит снижение активности фермента (в 5,2 раза), а на поздних повышение (в 2,4 раза).
¿Hacia dónde van las tendencias en ingeniería?
Authors: Rivera Rodríguez Julio César
Published: November 2017

Sin resumen.
Race and Women of Color in Socialist/Postsocialist Transnational Feminisms in Central and Southeastern Europe
Authors: Todorova Miglena S.
Published: November 2017

Recent scholarship on Black American women and feminists in the radical Left documents how these women's travel to the Soviet Union and other socialist countries in the twentieth century influenced their understanding of racism, imperialism, patriarchy, and capitalism in the United States and abroad. This study draws from a related but ignored archive of documents to examine how the travel and knowledges of these Black women have affected women and feminisms in the socialist/postsocialist countries they were visiting. The study explores these affects in the encounter, in 1972, between a young Muslim girl in socialist Bulgaria and African American feminist Angela Davis. This encounter is linked to postsocialist Romani feminisms explicitly rooted in African American women's epistemologies of intersectionality to confront racism and anti-Gypsyism in the European Union and former socialist states in central and southeastern Europe. Women members of dominant majorities in Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania seek links to women of color in the Global North and South but their bridgework rests upon claims to racial innocence and shared victimization. The study relates these modes of socialist/postsocialist transnational feminisms to global and historical racial formations wherein Western racial sciences, colonial technologies, Marxist-Leninist imaginations, and socialist state policies intertwined to produce socialist women belonging to privileged ethnic majorities attached to racial Whiteness and European civilization, as well as Romani and Muslim women whose Otherness marked them for state-led socialist emancipation or eradication. These women engage with women and feminisms of color from the United States and around the world, and the consequences of these engagements illuminate possibilities for new and extended feminist collectives and political alliances that include women in the so-called “Second World.”
Registration of Spring Wheat Sources of Leaf Rust Resistance Genes Lr53, Lr56, Lr59, and Lr62
Authors: Marais G. F. , McCallum B. , Kolmer J. A. , Pirseyedi S.-M. , Bisek B. R. , Somo M.
Published: November 2017

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm with the alien derived leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss.) resistance genes Lr53, Lr56, Lr59, and Lr62 has been developed over many years, initially at the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), and then at the Cereal Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri‐food Canada), and North Dakota State University (USA). A Thatcher near‐isogenic line carrying Lr53, Thatcher‐Lr53 (Reg. No. GS‐185, PI 682091), was derived, while, following allosyndetic pairing induction, numerous recombinants of the translocations carrying Lr56, Lr59, and Lr62 have been produced and mapped. The shortest and potentially most useful recombinants were identified and named Lr56‐157 (Reg. No. GS‐186, PI 682092), Lr59‐151 (Reg. No. GS‐187, PI 682093) and Lr62‐129 (Reg. No. GS‐188, PI 682094). The four resistance genes may be homeo‐allelic since they have similar locations at the telomeric ends of either chromosome 6AS or 6BS, appear to give strong race‐specific resistance to a wide range of P. triticina races, occur in the proximity of the Xdupw217 simple sequence repeat marker locus, and, except for Lr59 (which is derived from a smaller primary introgression), were loosely associated with a stripe rust (caused by P. striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss.) resistance locus in the original translocations. This study serves to confirm the potential effectiveness of the genes retained in the shortened translocations by testing with 11 representative, current US races of P. triticina.
Hazards of Wearing Diaper among Infants
Authors: Roy Subrata , Mollah Md Abid Hossain , Mannan MA , Khan Zohora Jameela , Amin Abdullah Al , Ghosal Sharmistha , Haque Mahabubul
Published: November 2017

Background: The use of disposable diaper is gradually increasing for the infants in our country. However, the major hazard of diaper is diaper dermatitis. The magnitude of diaper related hazards is unknown in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the frequency of hazards of wearing diaper among infants.Objectives: The study was conducted (i) to observe diaper related hazards among infants and (ii) to assess the factors affecting diaper related hazards.Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted at department of Pediatrics of Dhaka Medical College Hospital & Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University during May to September 2012. Fifty children aged 7 days to 12 months wearing disposable diaper for at least 7 days were enrolled in this study. A face to face interview was taken and finding were recorded on a preset questionnaire. The infants were also examined for presence of diaper rash. Obtained data were analyzed thoroughly by SPSS 21. Results: Among 50 children, 24(48%) male and 26(52%) female infants. Of them 13(26%) infants developed diaper rash in their diaper wearing time. The age distribution of the cases was 3(23.1%) below 01 months; 2(15.3%) 1-6 months and 8(61.6%) 7-12 months. Six (24%) male infant and 7(27%) female infant developed rash in their diaper wearing time. Diapers are mostly used by solvent families as diapers are not cost effective. The frequency 84.6%, increases with increased duration of using a single diaper at a time for more than 4 hours without change whereas those who changed diaper more frequently every 3-4 hours and 1-2 hours have diaper rash 15.4% and 0% respectively.Conclusion: From the result of the present study it can be concluded that the frequency of diaper rash is increased with increasing age of infants and use of diaper for long duration.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2017; 35(4): 170-173
Base Pounding Model and Response Analysis of Base-Isolated Structures under Earthquake Excitation
Authors: Liu Chengqing , Yang Wei , Yan Zhengxi , Lu Zheng , Luo Nan
Published: November 2017

In order to study the base pounding effects of base-isolated structure under earthquake excitations, a base pounding theoretical model with a linear spring-gap element is proposed. A finite element analysis program is used in numerical simulation of seismic response of based-isolated structure when considering base pounding. The effects of the structure pounding against adjacent structures are studied, and the seismic response of a base-isolated structure with lead-rubber bearing and a base-isolated structure with friction pendulum isolation bearing are analyzed. The results indicate that: the model offers much flexibility to analyze base pounding effects. There is a most clearance unfavorable width between adjacent structures. The structural response increases with pounding. Significant amplification of the story shear-force, velocity, and acceleration were observed. Increasing the number of stories in a building leads to an initial increase in impact force, followed by a decrease in such force. As a result, it is necessary to consider base pounding in the seismic design of base-isolated structures.
Targeted Molecular Imaging of Pancreatic Cancer with a Miniature Endoscope
Authors: Dai Xianjin , Qian Weiping , Yang Hao , Yang Lily , Jiang Huabei
Published: November 2017

It is highly desirable to develop novel approaches to improve patient survival rate of pancreatic cancer through early detection. Here, we present such an approach based on photoacoustic and fluorescence molecular imaging of pancreatic tumor using a miniature multimodal endoscope in combination with targeted multifunctional iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). A novel fan-shaped scanning mechanism was developed to minimize the invasiveness for endoscopic imaging of pancreatic tumors. The results show that the enhancements in photoacoustic and fluorescence signals using amino-terminal fragment (ATF) targeted IONPs were ~four to six times higher compared to that using non-targeted IONPs. Our study indicates the potential of the combination of the multimodal photoacoustic-fluorescence endoscopy and targeted multifunctional nanoparticles as an efficient tool to provide improved specificity and sensitivity for pancreatic cancer detection.
d° Ferromagnetism of Magnesium Oxide
Authors: Singh Jitendra Pal , Chae Keun Hwa
Published: November 2017

Magnetism without d-orbital electrons seems to be unrealistic; however, recent observations of magnetism in non-magnetic oxides, such as ZnO, HfO2, and MgO, have opened new avenues in the field of magnetism. Magnetism exhibited by these oxides is known as d° ferromagnetism, as these oxides either have completely filled or unfilled d-/f-orbitals. This magnetism is believed to occur due to polarization induced by p-orbitals. Magnetic polarization in these oxides arises due to vacancies, the excitation of trapped spin in the triplet state. The presence of vacancies at the surface and subsurface also affects the magnetic behavior of these oxides. In the present review, origins of magnetism in magnesium oxide are discussed to obtain understanding of d° ferromagnetism.
The Bioactivity Study of Active Compounds in Wolffia globosa Extract for an Alternative Source of Bioactive Substances
Authors: Tipnee Supannee , Jutiviboonsuk Aranya , Wongtrakul Paveena
Published: November 2017

Wolffia globosa is a small plant found in the lagoons in tropical zones. The aim of our study was to examine the biological compounds found in W. globosa and their activities. The substances in W. globosa were extracted, isolated, and their chemical structures ascertained by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. The extract was tested for bioactivity, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. The results showed that the isolated compounds in fraction two were mainly β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The sterols found in the extract were able to inhibit nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, which implied an anti-inflammatory activity. The extract was found to be non-toxic to human dermal fibroblast cells with an IC50 of 106.38 ± 37.0 µg/mL.
Statistical Measures to Quantify Similarity between Molecular Dynamics Simulation Trajectories
Authors: Farmer Jenny , Kanwal Fareeha , Nikulsin Nikita , Tsilimigras Matthew , Jacobs Donald
Published: November 2017

Molecular dynamics simulation is commonly employed to explore protein dynamics. Despite the disparate timescales between functional mechanisms and molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories, functional differences are often inferred from differences in conformational ensembles between two proteins in structure-function studies that investigate the effect of mutations. A common measure to quantify differences in dynamics is the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) about the average position of residues defined by C α -atoms. Using six MD trajectories describing three native/mutant pairs of beta-lactamase, we make comparisons with additional measures that include Jensen-Shannon, modifications of Kullback-Leibler divergence, and local p-values from 1-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. These additional measures require knowing a probability density function, which we estimate by using a nonparametric maximum entropy method that quantifies rare events well. The same measures are applied to distance fluctuations between C α -atom pairs. Results from several implementations for quantitative comparison of a pair of MD trajectories are made based on fluctuations for on-residue and residue-residue local dynamics. We conclude that there is almost always a statistically significant difference between pairs of 100 ns all-atom simulations on moderate-sized proteins as evident from extraordinarily low p-values.
Langevin Dynamics with Variable Coefficients and Nonconservative Forces: From Stationary States to Numerical Methods
Authors: Sachs Matthias , Leimkuhler Benedict , Danos Vincent
Published: November 2017

Langevin dynamics is a versatile stochastic model used in biology, chemistry, engineering, physics and computer science. Traditionally, in thermal equilibrium, one assumes (i) the forces are given as the gradient of a potential and (ii) a fluctuation-dissipation relation holds between stochastic and dissipative forces; these assumptions ensure that the system samples a prescribed invariant Gibbs-Boltzmann distribution for a specified target temperature. In this article, we relax these assumptions, incorporating variable friction and temperature parameters and allowing nonconservative force fields, for which the form of the stationary state is typically not known a priori. We examine theoretical issues such as stability of the steady state and ergodic properties, as well as practical aspects such as the design of numerical methods for stochastic particle models. Applications to nonequilibrium systems with thermal gradients and active particles are discussed.
Cosine Similarity Entropy: Self-Correlation-Based Complexity Analysis of Dynamical Systems
Authors: Chanwimalueang Theerasak , Mandic Danilo
Published: November 2017

The nonparametric Sample Entropy (SE) estimator has become a standard for the quantification of structural complexity of nonstationary time series, even in critical cases of unfavorable noise levels. The SE has proven very successful for signals that exhibit a certain degree of the underlying structure, but do not obey standard probability distributions, a typical case in real-world scenarios such as with physiological signals. However, the SE estimates structural complexity based on uncertainty rather than on (self) correlation, so that, for reliable estimation, the SE requires long data segments, is sensitive to spikes and erratic peaks in data, and owing to its amplitude dependence it exhibits lack of precision for signals with long-term correlations. To this end, we propose a class of new entropy estimators based on the similarity of embedding vectors, evaluated through the angular distance, the Shannon entropy and the coarse-grained scale. Analysis of the effects of embedding dimension, sample size and tolerance shows that the so introduced Cosine Similarity Entropy (CSE) and the enhanced Multiscale Cosine Similarity Entropy (MCSE) are amplitude-independent and therefore superior to the SE when applied to short time series. Unlike the SE, the CSE is shown to yield valid entropy values over a broad range of embedding dimensions. By evaluating the CSE and the MCSE over a variety of benchmark synthetic signals as well as for real-world data (heart rate variability of three different cardiovascular pathologies), the proposed algorithms are demonstrated to be able to quantify degrees of structural complexity in the context of self-correlation over small to large temporal scales, thus offering physically meaningful interpretations and rigor in the understanding the intrinsic properties of the structural complexity of a system, such as the number of its degrees of freedom.
Extremely Efficient Design of Organic Thin Film Solar Cells via Learning-Based Optimization
Authors: Kaya Mine , Hajimirza Shima
Published: November 2017

Design of efficient thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells require optical power absorption to be computed inside a nano-scale structure of photovoltaics, dielectric and plasmonic materials. Calculating power absorption requires Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations which are solved using numerical methods, such as finite difference time domain (FDTD). The computational cost of thin film PV cell design and optimization is therefore cumbersome, due to successive FDTD simulations. This cost can be reduced using a surrogate-based optimization procedure. In this study, we deploy neural networks (NNs) to model optical absorption in organic PV structures. We use the corresponding surrogate-based optimization procedure to maximize light trapping inside thin film organic cells infused with metallic particles. Metallic particles are known to induce plasmonic effects at the metal–semiconductor interface, thus increasing absorption. However, a rigorous design procedure is required to achieve the best performance within known design guidelines. As a result of using NNs to model thin film solar absorption, the required time to complete optimization is decreased by more than five times. The obtained NN model is found to be very reliable. The optimization procedure results in absorption enhancement greater than 200%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that once a reliable surrogate model such as the developed NN is available, it can be used for alternative analyses on the proposed design, such as uncertainty analysis (e.g., fabrication error).
Campylobacter in Broiler Chicken and Broiler Meat in Sri Lanka: Influence of Semi-Automated vs. Wet Market Processing on Campylobacter Contamination of Broiler Neck Skin Samples
Authors: Kottawatta Kottawattage , Van Bergen Marcel , Abeynayake Preeni , Wagenaar Jaap , Veldman Kees , Kalupahana Ruwani
Published: November 2017

Broiler meat can become contaminated with Campylobacter of intestinal origin during processing. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler flocks and meat contamination at retail shops, and determine the influence of semi-automated and wet market processing on Campylobacter contamination of neck skin samples. Samples were collected from semi-automated plants (n = 102) and wet markets (n = 25). From each batch of broilers, pooled caecal samples and neck skin samples were tested for Campylobacter. Broiler meat purchased from retail outlets (n = 37) was also tested. The prevalence of Campylobacter colonized broiler flocks was 67%. The contamination of meat at retail was 59%. Both semi-automated and wet market processing resulted to contaminate the broiler neck skins to the levels of 27.4% and 48%, respectively. When Campylobacter-free broiler flocks were processed in semi-automated facilities 15% (5/33) of neck skin samples became contaminated by the end of processing whereas 25% (2/8) became contaminated after wet market processing. Characterization of isolates revealed a higher proportion of C. coli compared to C. jejuni. Higher proportions of isolates were resistant to important antimicrobials. This study shows the importance of Campylobacter in poultry industry in Sri Lanka and the need for controlling antimicrobial resistance.
Risk Assessment and Source Identification of 17 Metals and Metalloids on Soils from the Half-Century Old Tungsten Mining Areas in Lianhuashan, Southern China
Authors: Guo Li , Zhao Weituo , Gu Xiaowen , Zhao Xinyun , Chen Juan , Cheng Shenggao
Published: November 2017

Background: Mining activities always emit metal(loid)s into the surrounding environment, where their accumulation in the soil may pose risks and hazards to humans and ecosystems. Objective: This paper aims to determine of the type, source, chemical form, fate and transport, and accurate risk assessment of 17 metal(loid) contaminants including As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ag, B, Bi, Co, Mo, Sb, Ti, V, W and Sn in the soils collected from an abandoned tungsten mining area, and to guide the implementing of appropriate remediation strategies. Methods: Contamination factors (CFs) and integrated pollution indexes (IPIs) and enrichment factors (EFs) were used to assess their ecological risk and the sources were identified by using multivariate statistics analysis, spatial distribution investigation and correlation matrix. Results: The IPI and EF values indicated the soils in the mine site and the closest downstream one were extremely disturbed by metal(loid)s such as As, Bi, W, B, Cu, Pb and Sn, which were emitted from the mining wastes and acid drainages and delivered by the runoff and human activities. Arsenic contamination was detected in nine sites with the highest CF values at 24.70 next to the mining site. The Cd contamination scattered in the paddy soils around the resident areas with higher fraction of bioavailable forms, primarily associated with intense application of phosphorus fertilizer. The lithogenic elements V, Ti, Ag, Ni, Sb, Mo exhibit low contamination in all sampling points and their distribution were depended on the soil texture and pedogenesis process. Conclusions: The long term historical mining activities have caused severe As contamination and higher enrichment of the other elements of orebody in the local soils. The appropriate remediation treatment approach should be proposed to reduce the bioavailability of Cd in the paddy soils and to immobilize As to reclaim the soils around the mining site. Furthermore, alternative fertilizing way and irrigating water sources are urgencies to reduce the input of Cd and As into the local soils effectively.
Health Challenges in Refugee Reception: Dateline Europe 2016
Authors: Blitz Brad , D’Angelo Alessio , Kofman Eleonore , Montagna Nicola
Published: November 2017

The arrival of more than one million migrants, many of them refugees, has proved a major test for the European Union. Although international relief and monitoring agencies have been critical of makeshift camps in Calais and Eidomeni where infectious disease and overcrowding present major health risks, few have examined the nature of the official reception system and its impact on health delivery. Drawing upon research findings from an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project, this article considers the physical and mental health of asylum–seekers in transit and analyses how the closure of borders has engendered health risks for populations in recognised reception centres in Sicily and in Greece. Data gathered by means of a survey administered in Greece (300) and in Sicily (400), and complemented by in-depth interviews with migrants (45) and key informants (50) including representatives of government offices, humanitarian and relief agencies, NGOs and activist organisations, are presented to offer an analysis of the reception systems in the two frontline states. We note that medical provision varies significantly from one centre to another and that centre managers play a critical role in the transmission of vital information. A key finding is that, given such disparity, the criteria used by the UNHCR to grade health services reception do not address the substantive issue that prevent refugees from accessing health services, even when provided on site. Health provision is not as recorded in UNHCR reporting but rather there are critical gaps between provision, awareness, and access for refugees in reception systems in Sicily and in Greece. This article concludes that there is a great need for more information campaigns to direct refugees to essential services.
Volasertib Enhances Sensitivity to TRAIL in Renal Carcinoma Caki Cells through Downregulation of c-FLIP Expression
Authors: Jeon Mi-Yeon , Min Kyoung-jin , Woo Seon , Seo Seung , Kim Shin , Park Jong-Wook , Kwon Taeg
Published: November 2017

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays major roles in cell cycle control and DNA damage response. Therefore, PLK1 has been investigated as a target for cancer therapy. Volasertib is the second-in class dihydropteridinone derivate that is a specific PLK1 inhibitor. In this study, we examined that combining PLK1 inhibitor with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) would have an additive and synergistic effect on induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. We found that volasertib alone and TRAIL alone had no effect on apoptosis, but the combined treatment of volasertib and TRAIL markedly induced apoptosis in Caki (renal carcinoma), A498 (renal carcinoma) and A549 (lung carcinoma) cells, but not in normal cells (human skin fibroblast cells and mesangial cells). Combined treatment induced accumulation of sub-G1 phase, DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase 3 activity in Caki cells. Interestingly, combined treatment induced downregulation of cellular-FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) expression and ectopic expression of c-FLIP markedly blocked combined treatment-induced apoptosis. Therefore, this study demonstrates that volasertib may sensitize TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Caki cells via downregulation of c-FLIP.
Long Non-Coding RNAs in Metabolic Organs and Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Giroud Maude , Scheideler Marcel
Published: November 2017

Single cell organisms can surprisingly exceed the number of human protein-coding genes, which are thus not at the origin of the complexity of an organism. In contrast, the relative amount of non-protein-coding sequences increases consistently with organismal complexity. Moreover, the mammalian transcriptome predominantly comprises non-(protein)-coding RNAs (ncRNA), of which the long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) constitute the most abundant part. lncRNAs are highly species- and tissue-specific with very versatile modes of action in accordance with their binding to a large spectrum of molecules and their diverse localization. lncRNAs are transcriptional regulators adding an additional regulatory layer in biological processes and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we review lncRNAs affecting metabolic organs with a focus on the liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, brain, and adipose organ. In addition, we will discuss the impact of lncRNAs on metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. In contrast to the substantial number of lncRNA loci in the human genome, the functionally characterized lncRNAs are just the tip of the iceberg. So far, our knowledge concerning lncRNAs in energy homeostasis is still in its infancy, meaning that the rest of the iceberg is a treasure chest yet to be discovered.
Effect of Low Temperature Cultivation on the Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivity of Arctic Plants: A Case of Dracocephalum palmatum
Authors: Olennikov Daniil , Chirikova Nadezhda , Kashchenko Nina , Gornostai Tat’yana , Selyutina Inessa , Zilfikarov Ifrat
Published: November 2017

The influence of climatic factors, e.g., low temperature, on the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of the arctic plant Dracocephalum palmatum Steph. ax Willd. (palmate dragonhead), a traditional food and medical herb of Northern Siberia, was investigated. D. palmatum seedlings were grown in a greenhouse experiment at normal (20 °C, NT) and low (1 °C, LT) temperature levels and five groups of components that were lipophilic and hydrophilic in nature were characterized. The analyses indicated that D. palmatum under NT demonstrates high content of photosynthetic pigments, specific fatty acid (FA) profile with domination of saturated FA (53.3%) and the essential oil with trans-pinocamphone as a main component (37.9%). Phenolic compounds were identified using a combination of high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass-spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS) techniques, as well as free carbohydrates and water soluble polysaccharides. For the first time, it was established that the cold acclimation of D. palmatum seedlings resulted in various changes in physiological and biochemical parameters such as membrane permeability, photosynthetic potential, membrane fluidity, leaf surface secretory function, reactive oxygen species–antioxidant balance, osmoregulator content and cell wall polymers. In brief, results showed that the adaptive strategy of D. palmatum under LT was realized on the accumulation of membrane or surface components with more fluid properties (unsaturated FA and essential oils), antioxidants (phenolic compounds and enzymes), osmoprotectants (free sugars) and cell wall components (polysaccharides). In addition, the occurrence of unusual flavonoids including two new isomeric malonyl esters of eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside was found in LT samples. Data thus obtained allow improving our understanding of ecophysiological mechanisms of cold adaptation of arctic plants.
Implementing a Psychotherapy Service for Medically Unexplained Symptoms in a Primary Care Setting
Authors: Cooper Angela , Abbass Allan , Zed Joanna , Bedford Lisa , Sampalli Tara , Town Joel
Published: November 2017

Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are known to be costly, complex to manage and inadequately addressed in primary care settings. In many cases, there are unresolved psychological and emotional processes underlying these symptoms, leaving traditional medical approaches insufficient. This paper details the implementation of an evidence-based, emotion-focused psychotherapy service for MUS across two family medicine clinics. The theory and evidence-base for using Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) with MUS is presented along with the key service components of assessment, treatment, education and research. Preliminary outcome indicators showed diverse benefits. Patients reported significantly decreased somatic symptoms in the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (d = 0.4). A statistically significant (23%) decrease in family physicians’ visits was found in the 6 months after attending the MUS service compared to the 6 months prior. Both patients and primary care clinicians reported a high degree of satisfaction with the service. Whilst further research is needed, these findings suggest that a direct psychology service maintained within the family practice clinic may assist patient and clinician function while reducing healthcare utilization. Challenges and further service developments are discussed, including the potential benefits of re-branding the service to become a ‘Primary Care Psychological Consultation and Treatment Service’.
MUC1: The First Respiratory Mucin with an Anti-Inflammatory Function
Authors: Kato Kosuke , Lillehoj Erik P. , Lu Wenju , Kim Kwang Chul
Published: November 2017

MUC1 is a membrane-bound mucin expressed on the apical surfaces of most mucosal epithelial cells. In normal lung epithelia, MUC1 is a binding site for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen of great clinical importance. It has now been established that MUC1 also serves an anti-inflammatory role in the airways that is initiated late in the course of a bacterial infection and is mediated through inhibition of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. MUC1 expression was initially shown to interfere with TLR5 signaling in response to P. aeruginosa flagellin, but has since been extended to other TLRs. These new findings point to an immunomodulatory role for MUC1 during P. aeruginosa lung infection, particularly during the resolution phase of inflammation. This review briefly summarizes the recent characterization of MUC1’s anti-inflammatory properties in both the respiratory tract and extrapulmonary tissues.
Ethnic Similarities and Differences in the Relationship between Beta Cell Mass and Diabetes
Authors: Inaishi Jun , Saisho Yoshifumi
Published: November 2017

Recent evidence has revealed that a change of functional beta cell mass is an essential factor of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Since beta cell dysfunction is not only present in T2DM but also progressively worsens with disease duration, to preserve or recover functional beta cell mass is important in both prevention of the development of T2DM and therapeutic strategies for T2DM. Furthermore, ethnic difference in functional beta cell mass may also need to be taken into account. Recent evidences suggest that Asians have less beta cell functional capacity compared with Caucasians. Preservation or recovery of functional beta cell mass seems to be further emphasized for Asians because of the limited capacity of beta cell. This review summarizes the current knowledge on beta cell dysfunction in T2DM and discusses the similarities and differences in functional beta cell mass between ethnicities in the face of obesity and T2DM.
What Does “the RNA World” Mean to “the Origin of Life”?
Authors: Ma Wentao
Published: November 2017

Corresponding to life’s two distinct aspects: Darwinian evolution and self-sustainment, the origin of life should also split into two issues: the origin of Darwinian evolution and the arising of self-sustainment. Because the “self-sustainment” we concern about life should be the self-sustainment of a relevant system that is “defined” by its genetic information, the self-sustainment could not have arisen before the origin of Darwinian evolution, which was just marked by the emergence of genetic information. The logic behind the idea of the RNA world is not as tenable as it has been believed. That is, genetic molecules and functional molecules, even though not being the same material, could have emerged together in the beginning and launched the evolution—provided that the genetic molecules can “simply” code the functional molecules. However, due to these or those reasons, alternative scenarios are generally much less convincing than the RNA world. In particular, when considering the accumulating experimental evidence that is supporting a de novo origin of the RNA world, it seems now quite reasonable to believe that such a world may have just stood at the very beginning of life on the Earth. Therewith, we acquire a concrete scenario for our attempts to appreciate those fundamental issues that are involved in the origin of life. In the light of those possible scenes included in this scenario, Darwinian evolution may have originated at the molecular level, realized upon a functional RNA. When two or more functional RNAs emerged, for their efficient cooperation, there should have been a selective pressure for the emergence of protocells. But it was not until the appearance of the “unitary-protocell”, which had all of its RNA genes linked into a chromosome, that Darwinian evolution made its full step towards the cellular level—no longer severely constrained by the low-grade evolution at the molecular level. Self-sustainment did not make sense before protocells emerged. The selection pressure that was favoring the exploration of more and more fundamental raw materials resulted in an evolutionary tendency of life to become more and more self-sustained. New functions for the entities to adapt to environments, including those that are involved in the self-sustainment per se, would bring new burdens to the self-sustainment—the advantage of these functions must overweigh the corresponding disadvantage.
Effects of Trimetaphosphate on Abiotic Formation and Hydrolysis of Peptides
Authors: Sibilska Izabela , Chen Bingming , Li Lingjun , Yin John
Published: November 2017

The primordial Earth probably had most of the factors needed for the emergence and development of life. It is believed that it had not only water, but also simple inorganic and organic materials. While studies since the 1950s on the origins of organic matter have established key roles for amino acids, conditions that would have promoted their condensation to make polymers, such as peptides or proteins, have yet to be fully defined. The condensation of amino acids in a water-rich environment is not thermodynamically favored. Therefore, the efficient formation of peptides requires the presence of a catalyst or the activation of a substrate. In living cells, the biosynthesis of proteins is assisted by enzymes and requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a relatively complex organic polyphosphate, which serves as an energy source. Outside the living organism, simpler inorganic polyphosphates can form active aminoacyl–phosphate anhydrides, which suggests the broader potential of phosphorus for enabling the polymerization of amino acids. However, this has yet to be demonstrated. To address this gap, aqueous solutions containing a simple dipeptide, diglycine, and a simple polyphosphate, trimetaphosphate, were dried, and reaction products were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Different reaction environments, which were defined by the initial solution composition, pH, temperature, and incubation time, were found to affect the distribution and yield of products. Our results collectively provide strong evidence for reactions that both condense and hydrolyze peptides. It is noteworthy that the co-occurrence of reactions that form and cleave peptides are a central feature of Kauffman’s theory for the emergence of autocatalytic sets, which is a key step in the chemical origins of life.
Fabrication and Mechanical Behavior of Ex Situ Mg-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Matrix Composite Reinforced with Electroless Cu-Coated SiC Particles
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Lichen , Hu Ximei , Cheng Yongjian , Liu Shuiqing , Chen Peng , Cui Chunxiang
Published: November 2017

Magnesium-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites (BMGMCs) have better plasticity than the corresponding bulk metallic glasses (BMGs); however, their strength and density are often compromised due to the fact that the effective reinforcement phase is mostly plastic heavy metal. For lightweight SiC-particle reinforced BMGMCs, interface wettability and the sharpness of the particles often reduce the strengthening effect. In this work, SiC particles were coated with a thin Cu coating by electroless plating, and added to Mg54Cu26.5Ag8.5Gd11 melt in an amount of 5 wt % to prepare a BMGMC. The microstructure of the interface, mechanical behavior and fracture morphology of the BMGMC were studied by scanning electron microscopy and quasi-static compression testing. The results showed that the Cu coating improved the wettability between SiC and the matrix alloy without obvious interfacial reactions, leading to the dispersion of SiC particles in the matrix. The addition of Cu-coated SiC particles improved the plastic deformation ability of Mg54Cu26.5Ag8.5Gd11 BMG, proving that electroless plating was an effective method for controlling the interface microstructure and mechanical behavior of BMGMCs.
Small Gold Nanorods: Recent Advances in Synthesis, Biological Imaging, and Cancer Therapy
Authors: An Lu , Wang Yuanyuan , Tian Qiwei , Yang Shiping
Published: November 2017

Over the past few decades, the synthetic development of ultra-small nanoparticles has become an important strategy in nano-medicine, where smaller-sized nanoparticles are known to be more easily excreted from the body, greatly reducing the risk caused by introducing nano-theranostic agents. Gold nanorods are one of the most important nano-theranostic agents because of their special optical and electronic properties. However, the large size (diameter > 6 nm) of most obtained gold nanorods limits their clinical application. In recent years, more and more researchers have begun to investigate the synthesis and application of small gold nanorods (diameter < 6 nm), which exhibit similar optical and electronic properties as larger gold nanorods. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of synthesis of the small gold nanorods and their application for near-infrared light-mediated bio-imaging and cancer therapy.
Cancer Classification Based on Support Vector Machine Optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization and Artificial Bee Colony
Authors: Gao Lingyun , Ye Mingquan , Wu Changrong
Published: November 2017

Intelligent optimization algorithms have advantages in dealing with complex nonlinear problems accompanied by good flexibility and adaptability. In this paper, the FCBF (Fast Correlation-Based Feature selection) method is used to filter irrelevant and redundant features in order to improve the quality of cancer classification. Then, we perform classification based on SVM (Support Vector Machine) optimized by PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) combined with ABC (Artificial Bee Colony) approaches, which is represented as PA-SVM. The proposed PA-SVM method is applied to nine cancer datasets, including five datasets of outcome prediction and a protein dataset of ovarian cancer. By comparison with other classification methods, the results demonstrate the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed PA-SVM method in handling various types of data for cancer classification.
Trend in H2S Biology and Medicine Research—A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Yang Guangdong , Wu Lingyun
Published: November 2017

The biological and medical importance of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized for decades. The aim of this bibliometric study is to analyze the quantity and quality of publications in H2S biology and medicine (H2SBM) based on the databases of Web of Science and Google Scholar. A total of 5881 publications published between 1990 and 2016 were analyzed. The number of H2SBM papers published before 2004 was below 100 annually, but thereafter this number rapidly increased and peaked in 2015 with more than 7-fold increase. All publications related to H2SBM research achieved a total h-index of 136 and were cited 123,074 times. The most published disciplines in H2S biomedicine research were the cardiovascular system (8.5%), neuroscience (6.5%), and gastroenterology hepatology (4.7%). The country with the greatest number of publications in the H2SBM research field was the USA with 1765 (30.0%) publications, followed by China with 995 (16.9%) publications and Japan with 555 (9.4%) publications. The top 3 most published institutes were National University of Singapore, Peking University in China, and University of Groningen in Netherlands. Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry was the most exploited journal for H2SBM publications with 461 articles, followed by FASEB Journal with 200 publications and Antioxidants Redox Signaling with 116 publications. The most highly cited publications and researchers in H2SBM research were also unmasked from this bibliometric analysis. Collectively, H2SBM publications exhibit a continuous trend of increase, reflecting the increased H2SBM research intensity and diversity globally.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Risks of Obesity and Hypertension in Chinese Children and Adolescents: A National Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Gui Zhao-Huan , Zhu Yan-Na , Cai Li , Sun Feng-Hua , Ma Ying-Hua , Jing Jin , Chen Ya-Jun
Published: November 2017

We investigated the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and its association with obesity and hypertension in a national sample of children and adolescents in China, where many low- and middle-income families live. Data were obtained from a 2014 national intervention program against obesity in Chinese children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. Height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Information of SSB consumption, socioeconomic status, dietary intake, screen time, and physical activity were self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of SSB consumption with obesity and hypertension. A total of 66.6% of the 53,151 participants reported consuming SSB. The per capita and per consumer SSB intake were 2.84 ± 5.26 servings/week and 4.26 ± 5.96 servings/week, respectively. Boys, older children, and adolescents, and individuals with long screen time or high physical activity or low parental education level were more likely to consume SSB. Participants who were high SSB consumers had a higher odds ratio (1.133, 95% CI: 1.054–1.217) than non-consumers for having abdominal obesity after adjustment for age, sex, residence, socioeconomic status, diet, screen time, and physical activity. However, SSB consumption was not associated with general obesity or hypertension in children and adolescents. In conclusion, more than half of the children and adolescents in China consumed SSB, which was independently related to a high risk of abdominal obesity. The results of this study indicated that SSB reduction strategies and policies may be useful in preventing obesity among Chinese children and adolescents.
Aging Gut Microbiota at the Cross-Road between Nutrition, Physical Frailty, and Sarcopenia: Is There a Gut–Muscle Axis?
Authors: Ticinesi Andrea , Lauretani Fulvio , Milani Christian , Nouvenne Antonio , Tana Claudio , Del Rio Daniele , Maggio Marcello , Ventura Marco , Meschi Tiziana
Published: November 2017

Inadequate nutrition and physical inactivity are the mainstays of primary sarcopenia–physiopathology in older individuals. Gut microbiota composition is strongly dependent on both of these elements, and conversely, can also influence the host physiology by modulating systemic inflammation, anabolism, insulin sensitivity, and energy production. The bacterial metabolism of nutrients theoretically influences skeletal muscle cell functionality through producing mediators that drive all of these systemic effects. In this study, we review the scientific literature supporting the concept of the involvement of gut microbiota in primary sarcopenia physiopathology. First, we examine studies associating fecal microbiota alterations with physical frailty, i.e., the loss of muscle performance and normal muscle mass. Then, we consider studies exploring the effects of exercise on gut microbiota composition. Finally, we examine studies demonstrating the possible effects of mediators produced by gut microbiota on skeletal muscle, and intervention studies considering the effects of prebiotic or probiotic administration on muscle function. Even if there is no evidence of a distinct gut microbiota composition in older sarcopenic patients, we conclude that the literature supports the possible presence of a “gut–muscle axis”, whereby gut microbiota may act as the mediator of the effects of nutrition on muscle cells.