bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on pore water and disaster prevention in China coalmines
Authors: Gui Herong , Lin Manli , Song Xiaomei
Published: September 2016

This article introduces the evaluation of mining conditions under pore aquifer and presents four control techniques on pore water, i.e. retaining safety coal (rock) pillars to resist water, sand, and collapse; draining bottom pore aquifer in Quaternary strata to lower underground water level; presplitting hard overlying rock by blasting to inhibit growths of water-conductive fissures; manually caving the roof strata over the steep sloping coal seam by extruding blast to prevent water-resistant coal pillars from caving. This article is to provide references for countries confronting similar problems and to facilitate international discussions on pore water control.
The effects of traffic loads on drinking water main failure frequencies in the Netherlands
Authors: Moerman A. , Wols B. A. , Diemel R.
Published: September 2016

Understanding pipe failure is essential for effective asset management. Buried drinking water pipes are exposed to several types of external loads, e.g. soil weight, loads due to soil settling differences and traffic loads. The hypothesis that traffic loads positively affects the number of failures was statistically tested. For three out of four studied water companies significant higher failure frequencies than average were found at road crossings. Frequencies equal to average were found for pipes which are installed under other road sections. Frequencies higher than average–but not statistically significant–were found around speed bumps. The results of the multiple regression analyses show that the overall contribution of the parameter ‘road classification’ to pipe failure is small compared to the influence of pipe diameter, pipe material and year of installation.
Irrigation water saving through adoption of direct rice sowing technology in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: empirical evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Ali Akhter , Rahat Dil Bahadur , Erenstein Olaf
Published: September 2016

The main purpose of this article is to estimate the impact of the direct rice sowing (DRS) technology on irrigation water saving in the Indo-Gangetic plains. For this study, a comprehensive data set was collected from the rice-wheat area of the Pakistani Punjab. In total, 238 farmers were interviewed from the three major rice-producing districts i.e. Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Hafizabad. The empirical analysis was carried out by employing the propensity score matching approach to correct for potential sample selection bias that may arise due to systematic differences between the participants and non-participants. The empirical results indicate that the DRS technology is a water saving technology and, on average, the adopters need four less irrigation as compared to the traditional transplanting method. The DRS technology is also labour saving and requires less labour than the conventional rice sowing technology. The water productivity of the DRS technology is also higher as compared to the conventional transplanting method. The DRS technology also has a beneficial yield impact on the subsequent wheat crop. However, the major problem with the DRS technology is weed infestation which needs to be addressed. Farm size analysis indicates that DRS technology has a positive impact for all farmers and particularly on the small and medium scale farmers.
Self-esteem mediates the relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety among Chinese undergraduate students
Authors: Tan Jianfeng , Lo Pouchan , Ge Nie , Chu Chengjing
Published: September 2016

We examined self-esteem as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety in a Chinese cultural context. Participants comprised 508 Chinese undergraduate students, who completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Interaction
Anxiousness Scale. Results showed that social anxiety was negatively correlated with mindfulness and self-esteem, and that mindfulness was positively correlated with self-esteem. Mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem partially mediated the association between mindfulness and social
anxiety. Thus, we suggest that mindfulness decreases social anxiety because high mindfulness fosters high self-esteem. Mindfulness practice, for example, meditation, can be used as a preventive therapy to help Chinese adults to reduce their social anxiety, and can also enhance the self-esteem
of socially anxious Chinese adults.
Effects of public-service employee age and performance of emotional labor on job pride
Authors: Lee Hyun Jung
Published: September 2016

There is a growing number of older individuals seeking entry-level public service positions; jobs that may not be physically demanding, but may require emotional exertion. Older individuals are more experienced in interpersonal interactions and may be able to manage their emotions better
than can their younger counterparts. However, factors of age and performance of work requiring emotional labor are lacking in public administration research. I conducted a survey with 167 public-service employees in USA, classifying them as younger adults (25 to 44 years old) and older adults
(45 to 65 years old), and examined how performance of work requiring emotional labor mediates employee age by using an individual's pride in their job as a criterion variable. The findings suggested that an employee's age was positively related to pride in the job and better performance of
work requiring emotional labor, and, unless they are mediated by higher level of false face acting, these two variables are significantly related. These findings lead to several suggestions for organizations: first, that public service organizations should open up work opportunities to older
individuals; and second, because of lower wages in the public sector, organizations should offer generous fringe benefits.
A Common Gene Variant in Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Interacts With Glucose Metabolism on Diabetic Dyslipidemia: the Combined CODAM and Hoorn Studies
Authors: Simons Nynke , Dekker Jacqueline M. , van Greevenbroek Marleen M.J. , Nijpels Giel , ’t Hart Leen M. , van der Kallen Carla J.H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Schaper Nicolaas C. , Stehouwer Coen D.A. , Brouwers Martijn C.G.J.
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE

Small molecules that disrupt the binding between glucokinase and glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP) are potential new glucose-lowering targets. They stimulate hepatic glucose disposal by increasing glucokinase activity in the liver. It can, however, be anticipated that increased hepatic glucokinase activity might be accompanied by the development of hypertriglyceridemia, particularly in type 2 diabetes. We examined whether the strength of association between rs1260326, a common, functional gene variant in GKRP, and plasma lipids is affected by glucose metabolism.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

rs1260326 was genotyped in subjects with normal glucose metabolism (n = 497), subjects with impaired glucose metabolism (n = 256), and patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 351) in the combined Hoorn and Cohort on Diabetes and Atherosclerosis Maastricht (CODAM) studies.

RESULTS

The strength of association between the rs1260326 minor T allele and plasma triglycerides increased from normal glucose metabolism to impaired glucose metabolism to type 2 diabetes (P for interaction = 0.002). The inverse relation between rs1260326 and plasma HDL cholesterol was again most prominent in type 2 diabetes (P for interaction = 0.004). Similar trends were observed when the Hoorn and CODAM cohorts were analyzed separately. Comparable results were obtained when glucose metabolism strata were replaced by continuous indices of glucose metabolism, i.e., HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings illustrate that common gene variants, such as rs1260326, can have substantial effect sizes when they are studied in specific populations, such as type 2 diabetes. Moreover, our results shed light on potential side effects of small molecule disruptors of the GKRP-glucokinase complex, especially when glucose control is suboptimal.
National survey of colistin resistance among carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and outbreak caused by colistin-resistant OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, France, 2014
Authors: Jayol Aurélie , Poirel Laurent , Dortet Laurent , Nordmann Patrice
Published: September 2016

From January 2014 to December 2014, 972 consecutive non-replicate carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates from colonised or infected patients were collected at the Associated French National Reference Centre as part of the French national survey on antimicrobial resistance. It included 577 Klebsiella spp. (59%), 236 Escherichia coli (24%), 108 Enterobacter spp. (11%), 50 Citrobacter spp. (5%), and a single Salmonella spp. isolate (0.1%). Of 561 K. pneumoniae isolates, 35 were found to be resistant to colistin (6.2%). PFGE analysis revealed a clonal outbreak involving 15 K. pneumoniae isolates belonging to sequence type ST11, recovered in a single hospital in the Picardie region in northern France. Those clonally related isolates showed variable levels of resistance to colistin, ranging from 4 to 64 mg/L. They harboured the bla
OXA-48 carbapenemase gene and the bla
CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene. Among the 91 Enterobacter cloacae isolates, seven were resistant to colistin and produced different types of carbapenemases. Surprisingly, none of the E. coli and Citrobacter spp. isolates showed resistance to colistin. This national survey including carbapenemase-producing isolates recovered in 2014 reported a high rate of colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae (6.2% and 7.7%, respectively) in France.
The Status of Freshwater Fish Fauna in Bangladesh
Authors: Choudhury Gawsia Wahidunnessa
Published: September 2016

Available with fulltext.EcoprintAn International Journal of EcologyVol. 14, 2007Page: 19-44Uploaded date: 31 May, 2011
Assessing Ecosystem Health: An Analysis of Tourism related Change and Impact in Khumbu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Caravello G. U. , Boselli A. M. , Bertollo P. , Baroni A.
Published: September 2016

Available with fulltext.Key words: Sagarmatha National Park; Tourism; Water quality; Biotic index; Human healthEcoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 14, 2007 Page:45-64 Uploaded date: 31 May, 2011
Biodiversity Profile of Charkishoreganj Munshiganj, Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury G. W. , Ruma F. , Sarker N. B. , Yasmin A. , Mobassera W. , Jahan I , Chowdhury M. , Islam Md. A.
Published: September 2016

Available with fulltext.Key words: People's Biodiversity RegisterEcoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 14, 2007 Page: 73-77 Uploaded date: 31 May, 2011
Comparison of Population and Feeding Ecology of Two Endangered Varanid Lizards of Bangladesh
Authors: Jaman M. Firoj , Begun M. Anisa , Mahmud H.
Published: September 2016

Available with fulltext.Key words: Population; Feeding ecology; Endangered varanids; ConservationEcoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 14, 2007 Page: 79-88 Uploaded date: 31 May, 2011
Effects of stimulant pH, light and soil moisture on Orobanche solmsii seed germination
Authors: Bista Anjana
Published: September 2016

In order to investigate effect of soil moisture, Orobanche seeds were pre-conditioned in three different soil moisture conditions. The germination percentage was found to be highest (48.31%) in normal soil moisture condition and lowest (4.6%) in flooded soil moisture condition. This indicates that Orobanche seeds are unable to survive for a long period in water logged conditions. In response to stimulant pH, Orobanche solmsii seeds showed significantly a high germination percentage (65.27%) at pH value 6.5 and it declined progressively with the increase of acidic and alkaline conditions. However, seeds appeared to be more sensitive to alkaline rather than acidic condition. The study of effect of light showed that exposure of seeds to continuous light during pre and postconditioning period inhibited seed germination. The inhibition was more effective when seeds were exposed to light during post conditioning phase rather than during pre- conditioning phase.ECOPRINT 22: 57-62, 2015
Associating Physical Activity Levels with Motor Performance and Physical Function in Childhood Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Hung Stanley H. , Rankin Anne , Virji-Babul Naznin , Pritchard Sheila , Fryer Christopher , Campbell Kristin L.
Published: September 2016

Purpose: This cross-sectional, observational study investigated whether physical activity (PA) levels are associated with motor performance and physical function in children after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Method: Participants aged 8–13 years who had completed treatment for ALL (3–36 months post-treatment) were tested at their oncology long-term follow-up appointment at the British Columbia Children's Hospital. PA level was measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Short Form (BOT-2 SF), and physical function was measured using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: Thirteen children completed testing. PAQ-C scores were not associated with BOT-2 SF or 6MWT performance. Eleven children (85%) performed below the norm for the 6MWT. Children with elevated body mass index had poorer 6MWT but similar PAQ-C scores. Conclusion: PA was not found to be associated with motor performance and physical function. Participants who were overweight or obese had poorer 6MWT performance, which may indicate the need for closer monitoring of post-treatment weight status and physical function in the oncology follow-up setting.
A Thermoacoustic Model for High Aspect Ratio Nanostructures
Authors: Loeian Masoud , Cohn Robert , Panchapakesan Balaji
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we have developed a new thermoacoustic model for predicting the resonance frequency and quality factors of one-dimensional (1D) nanoresonators. Considering a nanoresonator as a fix-free Bernoulli-Euler cantilever, an analytical model has been developed to show the influence of material and geometrical properties of 1D nanoresonators on their mechanical response without any damping. Diameter and elastic modulus have a direct relationship and length has an inverse relationship on the strain energy and stress at the clamp end of the nanoresonator. A thermoacoustic multiphysics COMSOL model has been elaborated to simulate the frequency response of vibrating 1D nanoresonators in air. The results are an excellent match with experimental data from independently published literature reports, and the results of this model are consistent with the analytical model. Considering the air and thermal damping in the thermoacoustic model, the quality factor of a nanowire has been estimated and the results show that zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver-gallium (Ag2Ga) nanoresonators are potential candidates as nanoresonators, nanoactuators, and for scanning probe microscopy applications.
Fuzzy Tracking and Control Algorithm for an SSVEP-Based BCI System
Authors: Chen Yeou-Jiunn , Chen Shih-Chung , Zaeni Ilham , Wu Chung-Min
Published: September 2016

Subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consistently experience decreasing quality of life because of this distinctive disease. Thus, a practical brain-computer interface (BCI) application can effectively help subjects with ALS to participate in communication or entertainment. In this study, a fuzzy tracking and control algorithm is proposed for developing a BCI remote control system. To represent the characteristics of the measured electroencephalography (EEG) signals after visual stimulation, a fast Fourier transform is applied to extract the EEG features. A self-developed fuzzy tracking algorithm quickly traces the changes of EEG signals. The accuracy and stability of a BCI system can be greatly improved by using a fuzzy control algorithm. Fifteen subjects were asked to attend a performance test of this BCI system. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was adopted to compare the proposed approach, and the average recognition rates are 96.97% and 94.49% for proposed approach and CCA, respectively. The experimental results showed that the proposed approach is preferable to CCA. Overall, the proposed fuzzy tracking and control algorithm applied in the BCI system can profoundly help subjects with ALS to control air swimmer drone vehicles for entertainment purposes.
Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Bann Darrin , Deschler Daniel , Goyal Neerav
Published: September 2016

The immune system plays a key role in preventing tumor formation by recognizing and destroying malignant cells. For over a century, researchers have attempted to harness the immune response as a cancer treatment, although this approach has only recently achieved clinical success. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is associated with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, betel nut use, and human papillomavirus infection. Unfortunately, worldwide mortality from HNSCC remains high, partially due to limits on therapy secondary to the significant morbidity associated with current treatments. Therefore, immunotherapeutic approaches to HNSCC treatment are attractive for their potential to reduce morbidity while improving survival. However, the application of immunotherapies to this disease has been challenging because HNSCC is profoundly immunosuppressive, resulting in decreased absolute lymphocyte counts, impaired natural killer cell function, reduced antigen-presenting cell function, and a tumor-permissive cytokine profile. Despite these challenges, numerous clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches to HNSCC treatment are currently underway, many of which have produced promising results. This review will summarize immunotherapeutic approaches to HNSCC that are currently undergoing clinical trials.
Cloud Fraction of Liquid Water Clouds above Switzerland over the Last 12 Years
Authors: Hocke Klemens , Navas Guzmán Francisco , Cossu Federico , Mätzler Christian
Published: September 2016

Cloud fraction (CF) plays a crucial role in the Earth’s radiative energy budget and thus in the climate. Reliable long-term measurements of CF are rare. The ground-based TROpospheric WAter RAdiometer (TROWARA) at Bern, Switzerland continuously measures integrated liquid water and infrared brightness temperature with a time resolution of 6–11 s since 2004. The view direction of TROWARA is constant (zenith angle 50 ∘ ), and all radiometer channels see the same volume of the atmosphere. TROWARA is sensitive to liquid water clouds while the microwave signal of ice clouds is negligible. By means of the measurement data we derived CF of thin liquid water clouds (1); thick supercooled liquid water clouds (2); thick warm liquid water clouds (3) and all liquid water clouds (4). The article presents the time series and seasonal climatologies of these four classes of CF. CF of thick supercooled liquid water clouds is larger than 15% from November to March. A significant negative trend of − 0 . 29 % ± 0 . 10 %/yr is found for CF of thin liquid water clouds. No trends are found for the other classes (2, 3, 4) since their strong natural variability impedes a significant trend. However, CF of warm liquid water clouds increased by about + 0 . 51 % ± 0 . 27 %/yr from 2004 to 2015. Finally, we performed a Mann-Kendall analysis of seasonal trends which gave several significant trends in the classes 1, 2 and 3.
Consumer Travel Behaviors and Transport Carbon Emissions: A Comparative Study of Commercial Centers in Shenyang, China
Authors: Li Jing , Lo Kevin , Zhang Pingyu , Guo Meng
Published: September 2016

Current literature highlights the role of commercial centers in cities in generating shopping trips and transport carbon emissions. However, the influence of the characteristics of commercial centers on consumer travel behavior and transport carbon emissions is not well understood. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining shopping trips to eight commercial centers in Shenyang, China, and the CO2 emissions of these trips. We found that the locations and types of commercial centers strongly influence CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions per trip to commercial centers in the suburbs of Shenyang were on average 6.94% and 26.92% higher than those to commercial centers in the urban core and the inner city, respectively. CO2 emissions induced by wholesale centers were nearly three times higher than the lowest CO2 emissions of commercial centers in the inner city. These empirical results enhance our understanding of shopping-related transport carbon emissions and highlight the importance of optimizing urban space structure, in particular, the layout of commercial centers.
Socioeconomic Drivers of PM2.5 in the Accumulation Phase of Air Pollution Episodes in the Yangtze River Delta of China
Authors: Lou Cai-Rong , Liu Hong-Yu , Li Yu-Feng , Li Yu-Ling
Published: September 2016

Recent studies in PM2.5 sources show that anthropogenic emissions are the main contributors to haze pollution. Due to their essential roles in establishing policies for improving air quality, socioeconomic drivers of PM2.5 levels have attracted increasing attention. Unlike previous studies focusing on the annual PM2.5 concentration (Cyear), this paper focuses on the accumulation phase of PM2.5 during the pollution episode (PMAE) in the Yangtze River Delta in China. This paper mainly explores the spatial variations of PMAE and its links to the socioeconomic factors using a geographical detector and simple linear regression. The results indicated that PM2.5 was more likely to accumulate in more developed cities, such as Nanjing and Shanghai. Compared with Cyear, PMAE was more sensitive to socioeconomic impacts. Among the twelve indicators chosen for this study, population density was an especially critical factor that could affect the accumulation of PM2.5 dramatically and accounted for the regional difference. A 1% increase in population density could cause a 0.167% rise in the maximal increment and a 0.214% rise in the daily increase rate of PM2.5. Additionally, industry, energy consumption, and vehicles were also significantly associated with PM2.5 accumulation. These conclusions could serve to remediate the severe PM2.5 pollution in China.
Acetamiprid Accumulates in Different Amounts in Murine Brain Regions
Authors: Terayama Hayato , Endo Hitoshi , Tsukamoto Hideo , Matsumoto Koichi , Umezu Mai , Kanazawa Teruhisa , Ito Masatoshi , Sato Tadayuki , Naito Munekazu , Kawakami Satoshi , Fujino Yasuhiro , Tatemichi Masayuki , Sakabe Kou
Published: September 2016

Neonicotinoids such as acetamiprid (ACE) belong to a new and widely used single class of pesticides. Neonicotinoids mimic the chemical structure of nicotine and share agonist activity with the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAchR). Neonicotinoids are widely considered to be safe in humans; however, they have recently been implicated in a number of human health disorders. A wide range of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders associated with high doses of neonicotinoids administered to animals have also been reported. Consequently, we used a mouse model to investigate the response of the central nervous system to ACE treatment. Our results show that exposure to ACE-containing water for three or seven days (decuple and centuple of no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL)/day) caused a decrease in body weight in 10-week old A/JJmsSlc (A/J) mice. However, the treatments did not affect brain histology or expression of CD34. ACE concentrations were significantly higher in the midbrain of ACE-treated mice than that of the normal and vehicle groups. Expression levels of α7, α4, and β2 nAChRs were found to be low in the olfactory bulb and midbrain of normal mice. Furthermore, in the experimental group (centuple ACE-containing water for seven days), β2 nAChR expression decreased in many brain regions. Information regarding the amount of accumulated ACE and expression levels of the acetylcholine receptor in each region of the brain is important for understanding any clinical symptoms that may be associated with ACE exposure.
Characterization of a β-Adrenergic-Like Octopamine Receptor in the Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)
Authors: Li Hui-Min , Jiang Hong-Bo , Gui Shun-Hua , Liu Xiao-Qiang , Liu Hong , Lu Xue-Ping , Smagghe Guy , Wang Jin-Jun
Published: September 2016

The biogenic amine octopamine plays a critical role in the regulation of many physiological processes in insects. Octopamine transmits its action through a set of specific G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), namely octopamine receptors. Here, we report on a β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor gene (BdOctβR1) from the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), a destructive agricultural pest that occurs in North America and the Asia-Pacific region. As indicated by RT-qPCR, BdOctβR1 was highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and Malpighian tubules (MT) in the adult flies, suggesting it may undertake important roles in neural signaling in the CNS as well as physiological functions in the MT of this fly. Furthermore, its ligand specificities were tested in a heterologous expression system where BdOctβR1 was expressed in HEK-293 cells. Based on cyclic AMP response assays, we found that BdOctβR1 could be activated by octopamine in a concentration-dependent manner, confirming that this receptor was functional, while tyramine and dopamine had much less potency than octopamine. Naphazoline possessed the highest agonistic activity among the tested agonists. In antagonistic assays, mianserin had the strongest activity and was followed by phentolamine and chlorpromazine. Furthermore, when the flies were kept under starvation, there was a corresponding increase in the transcript level of BdOctβR1, while high or low temperature stress could not induce significant expression changes. The above results suggest that BdOctβR1 may be involved in the regulation of feeding processes in Bactrocera dorsalis and may provide new potential insecticide leads targeting octopamine receptors.
Silver Nanoparticle-Mediated Cellular Responses in Various Cell Lines: An in Vitro Model
Authors: Zhang Xi-Feng , Shen Wei , Gurunathan Sangiliyandi
Published: September 2016

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted increased interest and are currently used in various industries including medicine, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, particularly as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Recently, several studies have reported both beneficial and toxic effects of AgNPs on various prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. To develop nanoparticles for mediated therapy, several laboratories have used a variety of cell lines under in vitro conditions to evaluate the properties, mode of action, differential responses, and mechanisms of action of AgNPs. In vitro models are simple, cost-effective, rapid, and can be used to easily assess efficacy and performance. The cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and biocompatibility of AgNPs depend on many factors such as size, shape, surface charge, surface coating, solubility, concentration, surface functionalization, distribution of particles, mode of entry, mode of action, growth media, exposure time, and cell type. Cellular responses to AgNPs are different in each cell type and depend on the physical and chemical nature of AgNPs. This review evaluates significant contributions to the literature on biological applications of AgNPs. It begins with an introduction to AgNPs, with particular attention to their overall impact on cellular effects. The main objective of this review is to elucidate the reasons for different cell types exhibiting differential responses to nanoparticles even when they possess similar size, shape, and other parameters. Firstly, we discuss the cellular effects of AgNPs on a variety of cell lines; Secondly, we discuss the mechanisms of action of AgNPs in various cellular systems, and try to elucidate how AgNPs interact with different mammalian cell lines and produce significant effects; Finally, we discuss the cellular activation of various signaling molecules in response to AgNPs, and conclude with future perspectives on research into AgNPs.
A Novel Tetraenoic Fatty Acid Isolated from Amaranthus spinosus Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Human Liver Cancer Cells
Authors: Mondal Arijit , Guria Tanmoy , Maity Tapan , Bishayee Anupam
Published: September 2016

Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Family: Amaranthaceae) has been shown to be useful in preventing and mitigating adverse pathophysiological conditions and complex diseases. However, only limited information is available on the anticancer potential of this plant. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of a novel fatty acid isolated from A. spinosus—(14E,18E,22E,26E)-methyl nonacosa-14,18,22,26 tetraenoate—against HepG2 human liver cancer cells. We used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to determine cell viability, flow cytometry assay for cell cycle analysis, and Western blot analysis to measure protein expression of Cdc2), cyclin B1, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). The MTT assay showed that the fatty acid markedly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dosage-dependent fashion, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 25.52 µmol/L. This antiproliferative result was superior to that of another known fatty acid, linoleic acid (IC50 38.65 µmol/L), but comparable to that of standard anticancer drug doxorubicin (IC50 24.68 µmol/L). The novel fatty acid also induced apoptosis mediated by downregulation of cyclin B1, upregulation of Bax, and downregulation of Bcl-2, resulting in the G2/M transition arrest. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that a novel fatty acid isolated from A. spinosus exhibits significant antiproliferative activity mediated through the induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These encouraging results may facilitate the development of A. spinosus fatty acid for the prevention and intervention of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Synergistic Anticancer Effect of Tocotrienol Combined with Chemotherapeutic Agents or Dietary Components: A Review
Authors: Eitsuka Takahiro , Tatewaki Naoto , Nishida Hiroshi , Nakagawa Kiyotaka , Miyazawa Teruo
Published: September 2016

Tocotrienol (T3), unsaturated vitamin E, is gaining a lot of attention owing to its potent anticancer effect, since its efficacy is much greater than that of tocopherol (Toc). Various factors are known to be involved in such antitumor action, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, antiangiogenesis, anti-metastasis, nuclear factor-κB suppression, and telomerase inhibition. Owing to a difference in the affinity of T3 and Toc for the α-tocopherol transfer protein, the bioavailability of orally ingested T3 is lower than that of Toc. Furthermore, cellular uptake of T3 is interrupted by coadministration of α-Toc in vitro and in vivo. Based on this, several studies are in progress to screen for molecules that can synergize with T3 in order to augment its potency. Combinations of T3 with chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., statins, celecoxib, and gefitinib) or dietary components (e.g., polyphenols, sesamin, and ferulic acid) exhibit synergistic actions on cancer cell growth and signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the current status of synergistic effects of T3 and an array of agents on cancer cells, and discuss their molecular mechanisms of action. These combination strategies would encourage further investigation and application in cancer prevention and therapy.
Prenatal Dexamethasone and Postnatal High-Fat Diet Decrease Interferon Gamma Production through an Age-Dependent Histone Modification in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Yu Hong-Ren , Tain You-Lin , Sheen Jiunn-Ming , Tiao Mao-Meng , Chen Chih-Cheng , Kuo Ho-Chang , Hung Pi-Lien , Hsieh Kai-Sheng , Huang Li-Tung
Published: September 2016

Overexposure to prenatal glucocorticoid (GC) disturbs hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis-associated neuroendocrine metabolism and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. A high-fat (HF) diet is a major environmental factor that can cause metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate whether prenatal GC plus a postnatal HF diet could alter immune programming in rat offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given intraperitoneal injections of dexamethasone or saline at 14–21 days of gestation. Male offspring were then divided into four groups: vehicle, prenatal dexamethasone exposure, postnatal HF diet (VHF), and prenatal dexamethasone exposure plus a postnatal HF diet (DHF). The rats were sacrificed and adaptive immune function was evaluated. Compared to the vehicle, the DHF group had lower interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production by splenocytes at postnatal day 120. Decreases in H3K9 acetylation and H3K36me3 levels at the IFN-γ promoter correlated with decreased IFN-γ production. The impaired IFN-γ production and aberrant site-specific histone modification at the IFN-γ promoter by prenatal dexamethasone treatment plus a postnatal HF diet resulted in resilience at postnatal day 180. Prenatal dexamethasone and a postnatal HF diet decreased IFN-γ production through a site-specific and an age-dependent histone modification. These findings suggest a mechanism by which prenatal exposure to GC and a postnatal environment exert effects on fetal immunity programming.
Straightforward Synthesis of 2(5H)-Furanones as Promising Cross-Coupling Partners: Direct Furanone Annulation Utilizing Ti-Mediated Aldol Addition
Authors: Ban Yuki , Ashida Yuichiro , Nakatsuji Hidefumi , Tanabe Yoo
Published: September 2016

Direct 2(5H)-furanone annulation produces promising cross-coupling partners incorporating m- or p-bromo- and p-tosyloxyphenyl groups into the 5-position of a notable 2(5H)-furanone pharmacore. The present one-pot annulation method involves two distinctive reactions: (i) a powerful and crossed Ti-direct aldol addition and (ii) an acid-induced characteristic cyclo-condensation, leading to 2(5H)-furanones. Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of 5-(4-bromophenyl)-furan-2(5H)-ones, 5-(4-tosyloxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-ones and a furan derivative successfully afforded the corresponding products with the 2(5H)-furanone skeleton.
Comparative Study on Crack Initiation and Propagation of Glass under Thermal Loading
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Qingsong , Chen Haodong , Sun Jinhua , He Linghui
Published: September 2016

This paper explores the fracture process based on finite element simulation. Both probabilistic and deterministic methods are employed to model crack initiation, and several commonly used criteria are utilized to predict crack growth. It is concluded that the criteria of maximum tensile stress, maximum normal stress, and maximum Mises stress, as well as the Coulomb-Mohr criterion are able to predict the initiation of the first crack. The mixed-mode criteria based on the stress intensity factor (SIF), energy release rate, and the maximum principal stress, as well as the SIF-based maximum circumferential stress criterion are suitable to predict the crack propagation.
Improved Tribological Performance of Amorphous Carbon (a-C) Coating by ZrO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Tang Jinzhu , Ding Qi , Zhang Songwei , Wu Guizhi , Hu Litian
Published: September 2016

Nanomaterials, such as Graphene, h-BN nanoparticles and MoS2 nanotubes, have shown their ability in improving the tribological performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) coatings. In the current study, the effectiveness of ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) in lubricating the self-mated nonhydrogenated a-C contacts was investigated in boundary lubrication regime. The results showed that 13% less friction and 50% less wear compared to the base oil were achieved by employing ZrO2-NPs in the base oil in self-mated a-C contacts. Via analyzing the ZrO2-NPs and the worn a-C surface after tests, it was found that the improved lubrication by ZrO2-NPs was based on “polishing effects”, which is a new phenomenon observed between a-C and nanoparticles. Under the “polishing effect”, micro-plateaus with extremely smooth surface and uniform height were produced on the analyzed a-C surface. The resulting topography of the a-C coating is suitable for ZrO2-NPs to act as nano-bearings between rubbing surfaces. Especially, the ZrO2-NPs exhibited excellent mechanical and chemical stability, even under the severe service condition, suggesting that the combination of nonhydrogenated a-C coating with ZrO2-NPs is an effective, long lasting and environment-friendly lubrication solution.
Strong and Stable Nanocomposites Prepared by High-Pressure Torsion of Cu-Coated Fe Powders
Authors: Müller Timo , Bachmaier Andrea , Neubauer Erich , Kitzmantel Michael , Pippan Reinhard
Published: September 2016

Segregation and chemical inhomogeneity are well-known problems in powder metallurgy and are also an issue for new applications of powder mixtures, for example as starting materials for severe plastic deformation. In this study, Cu-coated Fe powder was prepared via immersion deposition, inductively hot-pressed and subsequently deformed using high-pressure torsion. The homogeneity of the pressed material was found to be much better than that of powder mixtures that were prepared for comparison. During severe plastic deformation, higher hardness was observed for the coated powder as compared to powder mixtures even after low strains. In the saturation state, the coated powder was found to result in a hardness of about 600 HV, which is significantly harder than for the powder mixtures. This is attributed to the greater amount of impurities introduced by the coating process. It is shown that coated powders are promising starting materials for severe plastic deformation in order to reduce the amount of strain necessary to reach the saturation state and to obtain high strength and more homogeneous mechanical alloying.
Optimized Method for Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Peterson Amanda , Walker Adam , Sloan Erica , Creek Darren
Published: September 2016

Cancer cells often have dysregulated metabolism, which is largely characterized by the Warburg effect—an increase in glycolytic activity at the expense of oxidative phosphorylation—and increased glutamine utilization. Modern metabolomics tools offer an efficient means to investigate metabolism in cancer cells. Currently, a number of protocols have been described for harvesting adherent cells for metabolomics analysis, but the techniques vary greatly and they lack specificity to particular cancer cell lines with diverse metabolic and structural features. Here we present an optimized method for untargeted metabolomics characterization of MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells, which are commonly used to study metastatic breast cancer. We found that an approach that extracted all metabolites in a single step within the culture dish optimally detected both polar and non-polar metabolite classes with higher relative abundance than methods that involved removal of cells from the dish. We show that this method is highly suited to diverse applications, including the characterization of central metabolic flux by stable isotope labelling and differential analysis of cells subjected to specific pharmacological interventions.
Efficacy of Pre- and Post-Treatment by Topical Formulations Containing Dissolved and Suspended Silybum marianum against UVB-Induced Oxidative Stress in Guinea Pig and on HaCaT Keratinocytes
Authors: Fehér Pálma , Ujhelyi Zoltán , Váradi Judit , Fenyvesi Ferenc , Róka Eszter , Juhász Béla , Varga Balázs , Bombicz Mariann , Priksz Dániel , Bácskay Ildikó , Vecsernyés Miklós
Published: September 2016

Plants with high amounts of antioxidants may be a promising therapy for preventing and curing UV-induced oxidative skin damage. The objective of this study was to verify the efficacy of topical formulations containing dissolved and suspended Silybum marianum extract against UVB-induced oxidative stress in guinea pig and HaCaT keratinocytes. Herbal extract was dissolved in Transcutol HP (TC) and sucrose-esters were incorporated as penetration enhancers in creams. Biocompatibility of compositions was tested on HeLa cells and HaCaT keratinocytes as in vitro models. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) tests were performed to prove the safety of formulations in vivo. Drug release of different compositions was assessed by Franz diffusion methods. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) activities were evaluated before and after UVB irradiation in a guinea pig model and HaCaT cells. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme activity was measured in the epidermis of guinea pigs treated by different creams before and after UVB irradiation. Treatment with compositions containing silymarin powder (SM) dissolved in TC and sucrose stearate SP 50 or SP 70 resulted in increased activities of all reactive oxygen species (ROS) eliminating enzymes in the case of pre- and post-treatment as well. Reduction in the levels of lipid peroxidation end products was also detected after treatment with these two compositions. Post-treatment was more effective as the increase of the activity of antioxidants was higher. Lower HO-1 enzyme levels were measured in the case of pre- and post-treatment groups compared to control groups. Therefore, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of topical formulations containing silymarin in inhibiting UVB irradiation induced oxidative stress of the skin.
Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Doxorubicin-Valine Amide Prodrug
Authors: Park Yohan , Park Ju-Hwan , Park Suryeon , Lee Song , Cho Kwan , Kim Dae-Duk , Shim Won-Sik , Yoon In-Soo , Cho Hyun-Jong , Maeng Han-Joo
Published: September 2016

In this study, we synthesized the valine (Val)-conjugated amide prodrug of doxorubicin (DOX) by the formation of amide bonds between DOX and Val. The synthesis of the DOX-Val prodrug was identified by a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) assay. In the MCF-7 cells (human breast adenocarcinoma cell; amino acid transporter–positive cell), the cellular accumulation efficiency of DOX-Val was higher than that of DOX according to the flow cytometry analysis data. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging, it was confirmed that DOX-Val as well as DOX was mainly distributed in the nucleus of cancer cells. DOX-Val was intravenously administered to rats at a dose of 4 mg/kg, and the plasma concentrations of DOX-Val (prodrug) and DOX (formed metabolite) were quantitatively determined. Based on the systemic exposure (represented as area under the curve (AUC) values) of DOX-Val (prodrug) and DOX (formed metabolite), approximately half of DOX-Val seemed to be metabolized into DOX. However, it is expected that the remaining DOX-Val may exert improved cellular uptake efficiency in cancer cells after its delivery to the cancer region.
Reference Beam Pattern Design for Frequency Invariant Beamforming Based on Fast Fourier Transform
Authors: Zhang Wang , Su Tao
Published: September 2016

In the field of fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based frequency invariant beamforming (FIB), there is still an unsolved problem. That is the selection of the reference beam to make the designed wideband pattern frequency invariant (FI) over a given frequency range. This problem is studied in this paper. The research shows that for a given array, the selection of the reference beam pattern is determined by the number of sensors and the ratio of the highest frequency to the lowest frequency of the signal (RHL). The length of the weight vector corresponding to a given reference beam pattern depends on the reference frequency. In addition, the upper bound of the weight length to ensure the FI property over the whole frequency band of interest is also given. When the constraints are added to the reference beam, it does not affect the FI property of the designed wideband beam as long as the symmetry of the reference beam is ensured. Based on this conclusion, a scheme for reference beam design is proposed.
Six-Port Based Interferometry for Precise Radar and Sensing Applications
Authors: Koelpin Alexander , Lurz Fabian , Linz Sarah , Mann Sebastian , Will Christoph , Lindner Stefan
Published: September 2016

Microwave technology plays a more important role in modern industrial sensing applications. Pushed by the significant progress in monolithic microwave integrated circuit technology over the past decades, complex sensing systems operating in the microwave and even millimeter-wave range are available for reasonable costs combined with exquisite performance. In the context of industrial sensing, this stimulates new approaches for metrology based on microwave technology. An old measurement principle nearly forgotten over the years has recently gained more and more attention in both academia and industry: the six-port interferometer. This paper reviews the basic concept, investigates promising applications in remote, as well as contact-based sensing and compares the system with state-of-the-art metrology. The significant advantages will be discussed just as the limitations of the six-port architecture. Particular attention will be paid to impairment effects and non-ideal behavior, as well as compensation and linearization concepts. It will be shown that in application fields, like remote distance sensing, precise alignment measurements, as well as interferometrically-evaluated mechanical strain analysis, the six-port architecture delivers extraordinary measurement results combined with high measurement data update rates for reasonable system costs. This makes the six-port architecture a promising candidate for industrial metrology.
ReliefF-Based EEG Sensor Selection Methods for Emotion Recognition
Authors: Zhang Jianhai , Chen Ming , Zhao Shaokai , Hu Sanqing , Shi Zhiguo , Cao Yu
Published: September 2016

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals recorded from sensor electrodes on the scalp can directly detect the brain dynamics in response to different emotional states. Emotion recognition from EEG signals has attracted broad attention, partly due to the rapid development of wearable computing and the needs of a more immersive human-computer interface (HCI) environment. To improve the recognition performance, multi-channel EEG signals are usually used. A large set of EEG sensor channels will add to the computational complexity and cause users inconvenience. ReliefF-based channel selection methods were systematically investigated for EEG-based emotion recognition on a database for emotion analysis using physiological signals (DEAP). Three strategies were employed to select the best channels in classifying four emotional states (joy, fear, sadness and relaxation). Furthermore, support vector machine (SVM) was used as a classifier to validate the performance of the channel selection results. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of our methods and the comparison with the similar strategies, based on the F-score, was given. Strategies to evaluate a channel as a unity gave better performance in channel reduction with an acceptable loss of accuracy. In the third strategy, after adjusting channels’ weights according to their contribution to the classification accuracy, the number of channels was reduced to eight with a slight loss of accuracy (58.51% ± 10.05% versus the best classification accuracy 59.13% ± 11.00% using 19 channels). In addition, the study of selecting subject-independent channels, related to emotion processing, was also implemented. The sensors, selected subject-independently from frontal, parietal lobes, have been identified to provide more discriminative information associated with emotion processing, and are distributed symmetrically over the scalp, which is consistent with the existing literature. The results will make a contribution to the realization of a practical EEG-based emotion recognition system.