bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneous response of endothelial cells to insulin like growth factor 1 treatment is explained by spatially clustered subpopulations
Authors: Kim Christina , Seedorf Gregory J. , Abman Steven H. , Shepherd Douglas P.
Published: October 2019

A common strategy to measure the efficacy of drug treatment is the in vitro comparison of ensemble readouts with and without treatment, such as proliferation and cell death. A fundamental assumption underlying this approach is there exists minimal cell to cell variability in the response to drug. Here, we demonstrate that ensemble and non-spatial single cell readouts applied to primary cells may lead to incomplete conclusions due to cell to cell variability. We exposed primary fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) isolated from healthy newborn healthy and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) sheep to the growth hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). We found that IGF-1 increased proliferation and branch points in tube formation assays but not angiogenic signaling proteins at the population level for both cell types. We hypothesized that this molecular ambiguity was due to the presence of cellular subpopulations with variable responses to IGF-1. Using high throughput single cell imaging, we discovered a spatially localized response to IGF-1. This suggests localized signaling or heritable cell response to external stimuli may ultimately be responsible for our observations. Discovering and further exploring these rare cells is critical to finding new molecular targets to restore cellular function.
Star-PAP regulates tumor protein D52 through modulating miR-449a/34a in breast cancer
Authors: Duan Aizhu , Kong Lingmei , An Tao , Zhou Hongyu , Yu Chunlei , Li Yan
Published: October 2019

Tumor protein D52 (TPD52) is an oncogene amplified and overexpressed in various cancers. Tumor-suppressive microRNA-449a and microRNA-34a (miR-449a/34a) were recently reported to inhibit breast cancer cell migration and invasion via targeting TPD52. However, the upstream events are not clearly defined. Star-PAP is a non-canonical poly (A) polymerase which could regulate the expression of many miRNAs and mRNAs, but its biological functions are not well elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the regulative roles of Star-PAP in miR-449a/34a and TPD52 expression in breast cancer. We observed a negative correlation between the expression of TPD52 and Star-PAP in breast cancer. Overexpression of Star-PAP inhibited TPD52 expression, while endogenous Star-PAP knockdown led to increased TPD52. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation assay suggested that Star-PAP could not bind to TPD52, independent of the 3’-end processing. RNA pull-down assay showed that Star-PAP could bind to 3’region of miR-449a. In line with these results, blunted cell proliferation or cell apoptosis caused by Star-PAP was rescued by overexpression of TPD52 or downregulation of miR-449a/34a. Our findings identified that Star-PAP regulates TPD52 by modulating miR-449a/34a, which may be an important molecular mechanism underlying the tumorigenesis of breast cancer and provide a rational therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
Molecular profiling of stem cell-like female germ line cells in Drosophila delineates networks important for stemness and differentiation
Authors: Tiwari Manu D. , Zeitler Daniela M. , Meister Gunter , Wodarz Andreas
Published: October 2019

Stem cells can self-renew and also produce daughter cells destined for differentiation. The precise control of the balance between these two outcomes is essential to ensure tissue homeostasis and to prevent uncontrolled proliferation resulting in tumor formation. As self-renewal and differentiation are likely to be controlled by different gene expression programs, unraveling the underlying gene regulatory networks is crucial for understanding the molecular logic of this system. In this study, we have characterized by next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) the transcriptome of germline stem cell (GSC)-like cells isolated from bag of marbles (bam) mutant Drosophila ovaries and compared it to the transcriptome of germ line cells isolated from wild type ovaries. We have complemented this dataset by utilizing an RNA-immunoprecipitation strategy to identify transcripts bound to the master differentiation factor Bam. Protein complex enrichment analysis on these combined datasets allows us to delineate known and novel networks essential for GSC maintenance and differentiation. Further comparative transcriptomics illustrates similarities between GSCs and primordial germ cells and provides a molecular footprint of the stem cell state. Our study represents a useful resource for functional studies on stem cell maintenance and differentiation.
Aortic valve stenosis—multimodality assessment with PET/CT and PET/MRI
Authors: Tzolos Evangelos , Andrews Jack PM , Dweck Marc R.
Published: October 2019

Aortic valve disease is the most common form of heart valve disease in developed countries and a growing healthcare burden with an ageing population. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography remains central to the diagnosis and surveillance of patients with aortic stenosis, providing gold standard assessments of valve haemodynamics and myocardial performance. However, other multimodality imaging techniques are being explored for the assessment of aortic stenosis, including combined PET/CT and PET/MR. Both approaches provide unique information with respect to disease activity in the valve alongside more conventional anatomic assessments of the valve and myocardium in this condition. This review investigates the emerging use of PET/CT and PET/MR to assess patients with aortic stenosis, examining how the complementary data provided by each modality may be used for research applications and potentially in future clinical practice.
Invest in Information or Wing It? A Model of Dynamic Pricing with Seller Learning
Authors: Huang Guofang , Luo Hong , Xia Jing
Published: October 2019

Pricing products such as used cars, houses, and artwork is often challenging, because each item is unique, and the seller, ex ante, lacks information about the demand for individual items. This paper develops a dynamic pricing model for products with significant item-specific demand uncertainty, in which a forward-looking seller learns about the item-specific demand through an initial assessment, as well as during the selling process. The model demonstrates how seller learning, through several mechanisms, can lead to the commonly observed downward trend in the prices of individual items. These mechanisms include the seller’s optimal adjustment of prices over time to account for the dynamic adverse selection of unsold items and the diminishing option value in future learning. The model is estimated using novel panel data of a leading used-car dealership. Counterfactual experiments show that the value of learning in the selling process is $203 per car. Conditional on subsequent learning in the selling process, the initial assessment further improves profit per car by $139. With the dealer’s net profit per car being about $1,150, these estimates suggest a potentially high return to taking an information-based approach toward pricing products with item-specific demand uncertainty.

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Distributionally Robust Mechanism Design
Authors: Koçyiğit Çağıl , Iyengar Garud , Kuhn Daniel , Wiesemann Wolfram
Published: October 2019

We study a mechanism design problem in which an indivisible good is auctioned to multiple bidders for each of whom it has a private value that is unknown to the seller and the other bidders. The agents perceive the ensemble of all bidder values as a random vector governed by an ambiguous probability distribution, which belongs to a commonly known ambiguity set. The seller aims to design a revenue-maximizing mechanism that is not only immunized against the ambiguity of the bidder values, but also against the uncertainty about the bidders’ attitude toward ambiguity. We argue that the seller achieves this goal by maximizing the worst-case expected revenue across all value distributions in the ambiguity set and by positing that the bidders have Knightian preferences. For ambiguity sets containing all distributions supported on a hypercube, we show that the Vickrey auction is the unique mechanism that is optimal, efficient, and Pareto robustly optimal. If the bidders’ values are additionally known to be independent, then the revenue of the (unknown) optimal mechanism does not exceed that of a second-price auction with only one additional bidder. For ambiguity sets under which the bidders’ values are dependent and characterized through moment bounds, on the other hand, we provide a new class of randomized mechanisms, the highest-bidder lotteries, whose revenues cannot be matched by any second-price auction with a constant number of additional bidders. Moreover, we show that the optimal highest-bidder lottery is a 2-approximation of the (unknown) optimal mechanism, whereas the best second-price auction fails to provide any constant-factor approximation guarantee.

This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Market Discipline and Systemic Risk
Authors: Morrison Alan D. , Walther Ansgar
Published: October 2019

We analyze a general equilibrium model in which financial institutions generate endogenous systemic risk. Banks optimally select correlated investments and thereby expose themselves to fire-sale risk so as to sharpen their incentives. Systemic risk is therefore a natural consequence of banks’ fundamental role as delegated monitors. Our model sheds light on recent and historical trends in measured systemic risk. Technological innovations and government-directed lending can cause surges in systemic risk. Strict capital requirements and well-designed government-asset purchase programs can combat systemic risk.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Growth Options, Incentives, and Pay for Performance: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Gryglewicz Sebastian , Hartman-Glaser Barney , Zheng Geoffery
Published: October 2019

Pay–performance sensitivity is a common proxy for the strength of incentives. We show that growth options create a wedge between expected-pay–effort sensitivity, which determines actual incentives, and pay–performance sensitivity, which is the ratio of expected-pay–effort to performance–effort sensitivity. An increase in growth option intensity can increase performance–effort sensitivity more than expected-pay–effort sensitivity so that, as incentives increase, pay–performance sensitivity decreases. We document empirical evidence consistent with this finding. Pay–performance sensitivity, measured by dollar changes in manager wealth over dollar changes in firm value, decreases with proxies for growth option intensity and increases with proxies for growth option exercise.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Using Charity Performance Metrics as an Excuse Not to Give
Authors: Exley Christine L.
Published: October 2019

There is an increasing pressure to give more wisely and effectively. There is, relatedly, an increasing focus on charity performance metrics. Through a series of experiments, this paper provides a caution to such a focus. Although information on charity performance metrics may facilitate more effective giving, it may also facilitate the development of excuses not to give. Managers of nonprofit organizations should carefully assess this tension when determining whether and how to provide information on their performance metrics.

This paper was accepted by Axel Ockenfels, behavioral economics.
A Verification Theorem for Threshold-Indexability of Real-State Discounted Restless Bandits
Authors: Niño-Mora José
Published: October 2019

The Whittle index, which characterizes optimal policies for controlling certain single restless bandit projects (a Markov decision process with two actions: active and passive) is the basis for a widely used heuristic index policy for the intractable restless multiarmed bandit problem. Yet two roadblocks need to be overcome to apply such a policy: the individual projects in the model at hand must be shown to be indexable, so that they possess a Whittle index; and the index must be evaluated. Such roadblocks can be especially vexing when project state spaces are real intervals, as in recent sensor scheduling applications. This paper presents sufficient conditions for indexability (relative to a generalized Whittle index) of general real-state discrete-time restless bandits under the discounted criterion, which are not based on elucidating properties of the optimal value function and do not require proving beforehand optimality of threshold policies as in prevailing approaches. The main contribution is a verification theorem establishing that, if project performance metrics under threshold policies and an explicitly defined marginal productivity (MP) index satisfy three conditions, then the project is indexable with its generalized Whittle index being given by the MP index, and threshold policies are optimal for dynamic project control.
Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive: a new tool for the vascular access toolbox
Authors: Nicholson Jackie , Hill Jocelyn
Published: October 2019

Health professionals are responsible for preventing and minimising complications related to vascular access devices. This is important from the perspectives of both the patient and the health economy. Practitioners have many tools at their disposal and evidence is available to assist in using these tools to enhance best practice. A relatively new tool has been acknowledged as having a role in vascular access as well as previously recognised roles in other areas of healthcare. Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive has been approved for use with vascular access devices and the benefits of this aid to device securement are now being recognised.
A prospective audit evaluating use of urokinase in oncology patients with occluded central venous access devices
Authors: Harrold Karen , Martin Annette , Bhuva Neel
Published: October 2019

This article reports the results of a single-site prospective audit evaluating the safety and effectiveness of urokinase (Syner-Kinase®) to restore patency in central venous access devices (CVADs) for cancer patients. CVADs are routinely inserted to allow the safe and timely administration of systemic anti-cancer therapies; therefore, catheter dysfunction can interrupt the treatment schedule and adversely affect patient outcome. The aim was to contribute to the development of evidence-based, standardised, best practice guidelines. Prospective data were collected from all patients (n=22) identified with an occluded CVAD, requiring use of Syner-Kinase to manage a persistent withdrawal occlusion or total occlusion, over a 6-month period. Findings revealed a single administration of Syner-Kinase for catheter occlusion clearance to be effective in 92% of cases. Results suggest that use of the thrombolytic agent is well-tolerated and an effective means of restoring patency for long-term CVADs in cancer patients.
Simple self-optimization of WDM networks based on probabilistic constellation shaping [Invited]
Authors: Zami Thierry , Lavigne Bruno , de Jauregui Ruiz Ivan Fernandez , Bertolini Marco , Kao Yuan-Hua Claire , Pardo Oriol Bertran , Lefrançois Mathieu , Pulka Florian , Chandrasekhar Sethumadhavan , Cho Junho , Chen Xi , Che Di , Burrows Ellsworth , Winzer Peter , Pesic Jelena , Rossi Nicola
Published: October 2019

With the advent of novel elastic optical transponders allowing for fine rate granularity, network designers can maximize the throughput of current installed and future wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) infrastructures. In this sense, data flow can be properly optimized for each optical connection, while avoiding unnecessary margins. Such a connection mode of operation should rely on a simple mechanism. This paper illustrates how a SNR-driven self-optimization of optical connections is relevant for elastic WDM networks, especially when associated with probabilistic constellation shaping, allowing rate tunability while maximizing spectral efficiency. In addition, we study a WDM North American backbone network to quantify the savings brought by this self-optimization in terms of transponder equipment for 10 years, as compared to conventional planning usually relying upon “end of life” assumptions.
La gestión de políticas públicas sociales en la periferia urbana. Un intento de establecer un modelo explicativo
Authors: Vieira Fernández Michelle
Published: October 2019

El presente análisis investiga la actuación de los agentes sociales en el disfrute de los derechos económicos y sociales en las periferias urbanas de grandes ciudades brasileñas a principios del siglo XXI. Para hacer el análisis de los cambios en el escenario del disfrute de estos derechos entre los años 2000 y 2010 en las periferias urbanas se han llevado a cabo tres estudios de caso en barrios periféricos de las ciudades de Salvador y Recife. La investigación ha sido realizada por medio de la observación de la actuación de los tres actores sociales fundamentales, es decir, las organizaciones de la sociedad, el Estado y el mercado, en políticas y proyectos en favor del disfrute de los derechos económicos y sociales por la población local. Por lo tanto, a partir del modelo de la alianza trisectorial, este estudio propone una nueva variación de la actuación de estos tres actores que favorece el incremento del disfrute de los derechos económicos y sociales en periferias urbanas por medio de las políticas públicas locales: la alianza trisectorial comunitaria.
El papel de Brasil en la Historia de España y Portugal
Authors: Vicente Martín Irene María
Published: October 2019

Esta entrevista a Pedro Cardim, profesor titular de Historia Moderna en la Universidade Nova de Lisboa, fue realizada el 2 de mayo de 2018. En ella el historiador hace un interesante repaso a sus actividades profesionales, académicas y de investigación, desde su formación universitaria hasta los resultados de sus últimos estudios. El objetivo principal de la entrevista es reflexionar sobre la importancia de Brasil e Hispanoamérica para entender tanto del pasado como del presente de Portugal y España. Para ello, tomando como guía la trayectoria profesional de Pedro Cardim, en esta entrevista se analizan temas como la atención que presta Portugal a su pasado común con Brasil y España, la creciente variedad de desafíos que la historiografía americanista tiene por delante, y la necesidad de entender estos tres países a partir de sus conexiones e intercambios a lo largo de la Historia. De este modo, esta entrevista con Pedro Cardim contribuye a reflexionar sobre la importancia de estudiar el pasado para entender el presente, así como al importante rol de Brasil para comprender España y Portugal.
Presentación de los Directores
Authors: Santos Pérez José Manuel , Beçak Rubens
Published: October 2019

Texto de presentación del número 10 (volumen 5) de la Revista de Estudios Brasileños.
Nostalgia de los militares: las peticiones de la vuelta al poder de las Fuerzas Armadas en Brasil
Authors: De Angelo Vitor
Published: October 2019

El artículo discute las peticiones de intervención de las Fuerzas Armadas en el contexto de las manifestaciones de derecha ocurridas en Brasil en 2015. Para ello, se utilizan, principalmente, datos disponibles en surveys realizados en aquel año junto a manifestantes de capitales de estados de la región Sudeste. Las consideraciones presentes en el artículo se organizan en torno a dos puntos. Por un lado, la reflexión acerca de la construcción de una memoria positiva sobre el período de la dictadura. Desde esa perspectiva, los años comprendidos entre 1964 y 1985 podrían ser vistos como un período cuya herencia, perdida en el presente, sólo podría ser restablecida por los mismos actores políticos que dejaron tal legado - en este caso, los militares. Por otro lado, la reflexión acerca del papel salvacionista de las Fuerzas Armadas. Desde ese punto de vista, los militares podrían ser considerados como los únicos capaces de extirpar los problemas creados o alimentados exclusiva o casi exclusivamente por la élite política entonces establecida en el poder.
Movimientos sociales, sociedad civil y la democratización del procedimiento judicial en el Supremo Tribunal Federal
Authors: De Castro Catharina Alexandre
Published: October 2019

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo reflejar, a partir de datos empíricos, la democratización del proceso judicial, la actuación de los movimientos sociales y de la sociedad civil en el campo jurídico y, principalmente, discutir en qué medida la actuación de esos actores interfiere en la formación de la decisión judicial. Teniendo en cuenta la compleja estructura del Poder Judicial brasileño, la investigación se centró en el análisis de la democratización del proceso judicial en el ámbito del Supremo Tribunal Federal por entender que es en ese tribunal superior donde la sociedad civil se hace representar de forma intensa. Sin embargo, los resultados obtenidos nos permiten reflexionar sobre la democratización del proceso judicial que se manifiesta en diversas dimensiones del Poder Judicial brasileño.
De la crisis de gobernabilidad a la crisis de legitimidad: los impactos de la crisis política sobre la política externa brasileña
Authors: De Oliveira Fabiana , Pennaforte Charles , Fávaro Martins Marcos Antônio
Published: October 2019

Durante el gobierno de Dilma Rousseff, la política exterior brasileña heredó muchos elementos de la política implementada en el período anterior, pero, aun así, terminó por perder el dinamismo y la proactividad, convirtiéndose en una política reactiva. El declive no fue mayor debido a la presencia que el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) poseía en los espacios multilaterales, regionales y globales, manteniendo la observancia de los principios e intereses valorados por la diplomacia brasileña. Michel Temer asumió el poder prometiendo retomar el crecimiento económico y la desideologización de la política externa, en medio de la repercusión negativa generada por el cuestionamiento de la legalidad del proceso de impeachment que destituyó a Rousseff y las innumerables acusaciones de corrupción que pesan sobre él. Con la política externa “altiva y activa” cada vez más en el pasado, Brasil ha pasado a sufrir una significativa pérdida de relevancia en el plano internacional, así como el surgimiento de disidencias dentro del propio MRE.
La división sexual del trabajo y las diferentes composiciones familiares en el Brasil urbano: lo que ha cambiado entre 2001 y 2014
Authors: Oliveira Cantieri Larissa , Rodrigues Ferro Andrea
Published: October 2019

El presente estudio investiga la División Sexual del Trabajo en el Brasil urbano entre los años 2001 y 2014, teniendo en cuenta las diferentes composiciones familiares en las que se insieren hombres y mujeres. La hipótesis de trabajo es que existen disparidades en la división del traba-jo: a pesar de los cambios acaecidos en la sociedad durante años, las mujeres aún tienen mayor participación en actividades típicas del cuidado de la familia y la casa. Se realizó un análisis exploratorio de los microdatos de las PNADs (Encuesta Nacional por Muestreo de Domici-lios) de 2001 y 2014, comparando ocupaciones, jornada de trabajo, remuneración del trabajo y educación, de hombres y mujeres, casados y no casados, con o sin hijos, jefes y cónyuges. Se comprobó que no ha habido una reducción de las disparidades, sino solo una reconfiguración de la División Sexual del Trabajo de tal modo que se mantiene un sistema de género, confirmando la hipótesis de la investigación.
El rostro en la imagen, la imagen sin rostro: pobreza y precariedad en fotografías periodísticas sobre el programa Bolsa-Familia
Authors: Salgueiro Marques Angela Cristina Salgueiro
Published: October 2019

El objetivo de este texto es reflexionar sobre la noción de rostro como evidencia de la vulnerabilidad y de la vocalización de una agonía y una demanda ética hecha por el otro, implicándonos en una relación de responsabilidad. Tal concepto, derivado del pensamiento de Emmanuel Lévinas y retomado por Judith Butler, es aquí utilizado como hilo conductor del análisis de imágenes fotoperiodísticas referentes al programa Bolsa-Familia. El corpus de la investigación cuenta con un total de 120 imágenes, recogidas entre los años 2003 y 2015 en periódicos de gran circulación nacional, como Folha de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo y O Globo. Para investigar la dimensión política y ética de esas imágenes, fueron agrupadas en dos ejes principales de significación: a) imágenes sin rostro: en ellas el rostro no logra hacer su aparición aunque la cara humana esté retratada; b) el rostro en la imagen / el rostro de la imagen: en ellas el rostro se presenta como un llamamiento que nos es dirigido y nos alerta sobre la precariedad y vulnerabilidad de la vida del otro y de nuestra propia vida. Concluimos que, en estos dos conjuntos de imágenes, el rostro habla y demanda ser escuchado, es una vocalización del sufrimiento, de un lamento y de una demanda que aproxima la estética a la política a partir del modo en el que las fotografías intervienen en la construcción de cuadros de interpretación para las relaciones éticas con la alteridad.
El dispositivo de violencia en los discursos de odio en torno a las manifestaciones brasileñas
Authors: Regis Duarte Karinne , Kind Do Nascimento Luciana , íñigo Rueda Lupicinio
Published: October 2019

La propuesta de este trabajo es la de describir el dispositivo de la violencia, a través del análisis de los discursos de odio producidos en torno a las manifestaciones ocurridas entre los años 2013 y 2016 en Brasil, presentando como método la cartografía. El material de análisis son recortes periodísticos de dos diarios brasileños sobre las manifestaciones y comentarios del reportaje por los lectores. La apuesta es que el texto potencie otras lecturas sobre la violencia, sobre el escenario político-económico brasileño y sobre la emergencia de los discursos de odio, en este contexto.
The effect of avocado seed powder (Persea americana Mill.) on the liver and kidney functions and meat quality of culled female quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
Authors: Tugiyanti Elly , Iriyanti Ning , Apriyanto Yosua Sujud
Published: October 2019

Background and Aim: High temperatures have a detrimental effect on quail performance, even disrupting the immune system and function of the internal organs. This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of avocado seed powder supplements on meat quality and the liver and kidney functions of culled female quails. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 six-month-old culled female quail were allotted to four dietary treatments, i.e., R0: Basal feed without avocado seed powder supplement and R1, R2, and R3 with basal feed + 3%, 6%, and 9% avocado seed powder supplement, respectively. The observed variables included meat quality (protein, fat, cholesterol and meat collagen, water holding capacity, and tenderness), liver function (liver weight, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT], and serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]), and kidney function (urea level, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, and glucose). Results: Analysis of variance showed that avocado seed powder supplements significantly affected the level of SGOT, urea, creatinine, protein, fat, cholesterol, meat tenderness, and cooking loss. A non-significant effect was found on liver weight, SGPT, uric acid, albumin and glucose blood level, collagen, or water holding capacity level. Conclusion: Avocado seed powder supplements improved meat quality as well as the liver and kidney functions of the culled female quail.
Functional and radiographic evaluation of an interspinous device as an adjunct for lumbar interbody fusion procedures
Authors: Spicher Anna , Schmoelz Werner , Schmid Rene , Stofferin Hannes , Craig Niall J.A.
Published: October 2019

In the last decades, several interspinous process devices were designed as a minimally invasive treatment option for spinal stenosis. In order to minimise surgical trauma, interspinous process devices were recently discussed as an alternative posterior fixation in vertebral interbody fusions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a newly designed interspinous device with polyester bands (PBs) on range of motion (RoM) and centre of rotation (CoR) of a treated motion segment in comparison with an established interspinous device with spikes (SC) as well as with pedicle screw instrumentation in lumbar fusion procedures. Flexibility tests with an applied pure moment load of 7.5 Nm were performed in six monosegmental thoracolumbar functional spinal units (FSUs) in the following states: (a) native, (b) native with PB device, (c) intervertebral cage with PB device, (d) cage with SC and (e) cage with internal fixator. The resulting RoM was normalised to the native RoM. The CoR was determined of X-ray images taken in maximal flexion and extension during testing. In flexion and extension, the PB device without and with the cage reduced the RoM of the native state to 58% [standard deviation (SD) 17.8] and 53% (SD 15.7), respectively. The SC device further reduced the RoM to 27% (SD 16.8), while the pedicle screw instrumentation had the most reducing effect to 17% (SD 17.2) (p < 0.01). In lateral bending and axial rotation, the interspinous devices had the least effect on the RoM. Compared to the native state, for all instrumentations the CoR showed a small shift towards cranial. In the anterior-posterior direction, the SC device and the pedicle screw instrumentation shifted the CoR towards the posterior wall. The interspinous devices significantly reduced the RoM in flexion/extension, while in axial rotation and lateral bending only the internal fixator had a significant effect on the RoM.
Performance Evaluation of Bidirectional Wavelength Division Multiple Access Broadband Optical Passive Elastic Networks Operation Efficiency
Authors: Sivaranjani S. , Sampathkumar A. , Rashed Ahmed Nabih Zaki , Sundararajan T.V.P. , Amiri Iraj S.
Published: October 2019

The study has outlined the performance evaluation of bidirectional wavelength division multiple access broadband optical passive elastic networks operation efficiency. Signal power level, Q coefficient parameter, and minimum data error rates are measured numerically in both downstream and upstream directions based on broadband passive optical networks (BPONs). The transmission data rate available in the downstream direction is 10 Gb/s, while its value in the upstream direction is 2 Gb/s. The suitable operating wavelength is selected in the near-infrared region around 1550 nm for minimum losses. The bits sequence length of the optical transmitter is taken in to account for testing the optical network performance efficiency. The proposed model has presented better performance than the previous model by 25.76 % in downstream direction and by 12.28 % in upstream direction. As well as the bidirectional wavelength division multiple access broadband passive optical elastic networks performance efficiency is measured.
Charcoal Prepared from Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves as Low Cost Adsorbent: Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies for Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Nazir Arif , Zahra Farwa , Sabri Muhammad Usman , Ghaffar Abdul , Ather Abdul Qayyum , Khan Muhammad Iftikhar , Iqbal Munawar
Published: October 2019

Biosorption is one of the effective technique for removal of metals from aqueous solutions/industrial effluents. Present work is aimed to use low cost and ecofriendly material to remove the iron metal from aqueous solution which could possibly be used at industrial level. For this purpose, Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves were used for the production of charcoal. This charcoal was activated using HCl and HNO3. The AC shows promising efficiency for the adsorption of Fe II as a function of medium pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and temperature. Maximum adsorption was observed with 0.5–0.9 g adsorbent dose, 30 min contact time and at pH 3. Adsorption showed independence of temperature in the range of 30–70 °C. Among, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, the adsorbate followed Langmuir isothermal model. Among kinetics models, adsorbate followed pseudo second order kinetic model with R2 values of 0.9985 and 0.9996 for HCl treated and HNO3 treated AC, respectively. These data suggest that AC synthesized from Bougainvillea leaves proved to be an excellent adsorbent for the removal of iron metal from aqueous solution.
Antiplasmodial activity of methanol leaf extract of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle
Authors: Ettebong Ette , Ubulom Peace , Etuk Aniekeme
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) is a plant used for the treatment of various ailments including malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial efficacy of methanol leaf extract of C. aurantifolia in Swiss albino mice. Methods: The median lethal dose (LD50) was determined by intraperitoneal administration of different doses of the extract (100–4000 mg/kg) to 6 groups of 3 mice each and the animals were observed for 24 hours for physical signs of toxicity. To evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of the extract, three models were used: suppressive, curative and repository. Doses of the extract used were 320, 640 and 960 mg/kg/d in mice, with Chloroquine (5 mg/kg/d) as standard drug. Pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg/d) was used as the standard drug for the repository test and distilled water (10 mL/kg/d) as control in all models. Results: In all models, the low dose (320 mg/kg) of the extract produced the highest chemosuppressive effects in all models (P < 0.001). Mice treated with extract lived longer than those in the control group (P < 0.001). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides and the LD50 of 3280 mg/kg ± 0.01 shows that the extract has low toxicity. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that C. aurantifolia has antiplasmodial properties which support its use in ethnomedicine in the treatment of malaria.
Bronchodilator effect of apigenin and luteolin, two components of Dracocephalum kotschyi on isolated rabbit trachea
Authors: Sadraei Hassan , Ghanadian Seyed Mostapha , Asghari Gholamreza , Gavahian Aminreza
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Dracocephalum kotschyi is a native Iranian plant with antispasmodic activities on smooth muscles such as ileum and uterus. However, so far antispasmodic effect of D. kotschyi on tracheal smooth muscle has not been reported. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate antispasmodic activity of D. kotschyi extract and two of its components luteolin and apigenin on rabbit tracheal contraction in vitro. Methods: Rabbits were euthanized by carbon dioxide and the trachea was dissected and immersed in a Tyrode’s solution. Tracheal rings were prepared and mounted vertically in an organ bath at 37°C and gassed continuously with O2. The tracheal ring preparations were contracted with acetylcholine (ACh) and KCl. The isotonic tension was recorded before and after addition of aminophylline, apigenin, luteolin or flavonoids rich extract of D. kotschyi. Flavonoids rich extract were prepared from D. kotschyi using solvent-solvent fractionation technique. Results: Standard drug aminophylline, prevented tracheal ring preparation contracted with ACh. Cumulative addition of aminophylline also attenuated tonic contraction induced by KCl on tracheal smooth muscle. D. kotschyi extract at concentration ranges of 32-512 μg/mL in a concentration dependent manner inhibited KCl and ACh induced tracheal contraction. Apigenin and luteolin (range 16–512 μg/mL) relaxed KCl and ACh-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that D. kotschyi extract is a relaxant of tracheal smooth muscle. The relaxant effect of D. kotschyi extract could be due to its flavonoids component such as apigenin and luteolin.
Evaluating the production efficiency, purity and chemical compounds of the Vicia ervilia protein isolates produced by different methods of extraction
Authors: Hatamikia Masoom , Abbaszadeh Saber , Elhamirad Amir Hossein , Azarpazhooh Elham , Sharayei Parvin
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Vicia ervilia, known as bitter vetch is an ancient grain legume crop from Poaceae family. Due to its low cost and production capability in Iran and having high protein content, the resulted flour and its protein products can be evaluated in terms of usability in the food industry. This study was aimed to evaluate the production efficiency, purity and chemical compounds of the V. ervilia protein isolates produced by different methods of alkali and acid extraction–sedimentation at isoelectric point, dialysis –salt extraction and miscella sedimentation Methods: In this study, V. ervilia was provided from the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Lorestan province and the protein isolates of V. ervilia were produced using different methods of protein extraction such as Acidic extraction-sedimentation at isoelectric point, Alkaline extraction-sedimentation at the isoelectric point, dialysis-salt extraction and extraction by miscella sedimentation. Results: The results showed that saline extraction methods (salt-dialysis and miscella) were significantly more effective than the isoelectric sedimentation methods (alkaline and acidic) on increasing the efficiency, purity and protein content of isolates and decreasing the impurities and carbohydrates. Conclusion: The results of this research show that the salt extraction methods (salt-dialysis and miscella) are significantly more effective in increasing the efficiency, purity and protein rate of isolates and in decreasing impurities and carbohydrates than the isoelectric sedimentation methods (alkaline and acidic).
Effect of curcumin on hippocampus dentate gyrus injury induced by nicotine in rats
Authors: Jalili Cyrus , Arji Rodsari Babak , Roshankhah Shiva , Salahshoor Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Nicotine is the most important alkaloid compound in tobacco and is a major risk factor in the development of functional disorder of several organ systems. Some plants produce Curcumin, which has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of curcumin against nicotine injury on the hippocampus CA1 region of rats. Methods: In this study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to eight groups: Normal control (saline) group, Nicotine control group (0.5 mg/kg); Curcumin groups (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) and Nicotine + Curcumin groups (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg). Treatments were administered intraperitoneally daily for 28 days. Golgi staining technique investigated the number of dendritic spines. Cresyl violet staining method was used to determine the number of neurons in hippocampal region CA1. Griess technique was assessed to determine serum nitrite oxide level. Also, the Ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method was applied to determine the total antioxidant capacity. Results: Nicotine administration significantly increased nitrite oxide level and decreased total antioxidant capacity as well as the number of neuronal dendritic spines and neurons compared to the normal control group (P < 0.01). In all Curcumin and Nicotine + Curcumin groups, the number of neurons, neuronal dendritic spines, and total antioxidant capacity increased significantly compared to the nicotine control group, while nitrite oxide level decreased significantly compared to the nicotine control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Curcumin administration can improve hippocampal CA1 region injury induced by nicotine.
Potentiation of in vitro apoptotic effects of δ-Tocotrienol and Jerantinine A on human lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Abubakar Ibrahim Babangida , Loh Hwei-San
Published: October 2019

Introduction: The apoptotic effects of single-compound and combined sub-effective concentrations of δ-tocotrienol and jerantinine A on human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were investigated. Methods: Assays including cell viability, histochemical and immunofluorescence staining techniques, flow cytometry and enzyme activity were used. Results: The combination of δ-tocotrienol with jerantinine A at sub-effective concentrations induced a synergistic effect and improved selective toxicity towards cancerous A549 cells over normal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells compared to the single-compound jerantinine. Morphological features of apoptosis were evident on treated A549 cells. Combined sub-effective concentrations of δ-tocotrienol with jerantinine A induced a predominantly G2/M cell cycle arrest and characterised by a disruption of microtubular networks mediated via caspase 8, 9 and 3 enzymatic activities. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated improved potency in vitro and reduced dose-related toxicity of jerantinine A to normal cells through prospective combined treatment between low-concentration δ-tocotrienol and jerantinine A for lung cancer.
Icelandic Cake Fight: History of an Immigrant Recipe
Authors: Bertram Laurie K.
Published: October 2019

This article explores the history of vínarterta, a striped fruit torte imported by Icelandic immigrants to North America in the late nineteenth century and obsessively preserved by their descendants today. When roughly 20–25 percent of the population of Iceland relocated to North America between 1870 and 1914, they brought with them a host of culinary traditions, the most popular and enduring of which is this labor-intensive, spiced, layered dessert. Considered an essential fixture at any important gathering, including weddings, holidays, and funerals, vínarterta looms large in Icelandic–North American popular culture. Family recipes are often closely guarded, and any alterations to the “correct recipe,” including number of layers, inclusion or exclusion of cardamom or frosting, and the use of almond extract, are still hotly debated by community members who see changes to “original” recipes as a controversial, even offensive sign of cultural degeneration. In spite of this dedication to authenticity, this torte is an unusual ethnic symbol with a complex past. The first recipes for “Vienna torte” were Danish imports via Austria, originally popular with the Icelandic immigrant generation in the late nineteenth century because of their glamorous connections to continental Europe. Moreover, the dessert fell out of fashion in Iceland roughly at the same time as it ascended as an ethnic symbol in wartime and postwar North American heritage spectacles. Proceeding from recipe books, oral history interviews, memoirs, and Icelandic and English language newspapers, this article examines the complex history of this particular dessert.
Right Atrial Mass Mimicking a Myxoma as a First Presentation of Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Al-Sarraf Nael , Abdelmoaty Abouelmakarem , Abu alam Sameh , Al-Fadhli Jamal
Published: October 2019

Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by recurrent spontaneous abortion, recurrent arterial/venous thrombosis, and thrombocytopenia. The presentation of an atrial mass mimicking a myxoma in this syndrome is exceedingly rare, leading to misdiagnosing of the condition and further risking recurrence due to lack of anticoagulation. In this report, we present such a case that was mistakenly thought to be a myxoma.
Staging Surgery for The Treatment of Aortic Arch Aneurysm Combined with Aberrant Bilateral Subclavian Artery, Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava and Airway Compression: A Case Report
Authors: Fu Jiayu , Shen Chunjian , Gao Shun , Liu Chao , Liu Wei , Nan Yang , Qu Sheng , Wu Wenzhe , Ge Yao , Lv Xiaonan
Published: October 2019

Background: To describe staging surgery for the treatment of a patient with aortic arch aneurysm combined with aberrant bilateral subclavian artery, persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC), and airway compression.
Case report: A 42-year-old female was hospitalized for aortic arch aneurysm involving aberrant bilateral subclavian artery, PLSVC, and airway compression. The patient's aneurysm was successfully treated by stage I surgery, including total aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk procedure and stage II surgery, including tracheal stenting and tracheotomy. Aortic CTA examination showed an unobstructed lumen and a good stent position without tracheal stent migration. Regular postoperative follow-up showed no complications, such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum, or other discomfort symptoms.
Conclusions: Total aortic arch replacement, elephant trunk surgery, and second-stage tracheal stent surgery are effective and safe for the treatment of aortic arch aneurysm combined with aberrant bilateral subclavian artery, PLSVC, and airway compression.
The Genome Sequence of the Eastern Woodchuck (Marmota monax) – A Preclinical Animal Model for Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Alioto Tyler S , Cruz Fernando , Gómez-Garrido Jèssica , Triyatni Miriam , Gut Marta , Frias Leonor , Esteve-Codina Anna , Menne Stephan , Kiialainen Anna , Kumpesa Nadine , Birzele Fabian , Schmucki Roland , Gut Ivo G , Spleiss Olivia
Published: October 2019

The Eastern woodchuck (Marmota monax) has been extensively used in research of chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer because its infection with the woodchuck hepatitis virus closely resembles a human hepatitis B virus infection. Development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches requires genetic information on immune pathway genes in this animal model. The woodchuck genome was assembled with a combination of high-coverage whole-genome shotgun sequencing of Illumina paired-end, mate-pair libraries and fosmid pool sequencing. The result is a 2.63 Gigabase (Gb) assembly with a contig N50 of 74.5 kilobases (kb), scaffold N50 of 892 kb, and genome completeness of 99.2%. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from seven different tissues aided in the annotation of 30,873 protein-coding genes, which in turn encode 41,826 unique protein products. More than 90% of the genes have been functionally annotated, with 82% of them containing open reading frames. This genome sequence and its annotation will enable further research in chronic hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma and contribute to the understanding of immunological responses in the woodchuck.
Machine Learning Enables High-Throughput Phenotyping for Analyses of the Genetic Architecture of Bulliform Cell Patterning in Maize
Authors: Qiao Pengfei , Lin Meng , Vasquez Miguel , Matschi Susanne , Chamness James , Baseggio Matheus , Smith Laurie G , Sabuncu Mert R , Gore Michael A , Scanlon Michael J
Published: October 2019

Bulliform cells comprise specialized cell types that develop on the adaxial (upper) surface of grass leaves, and are patterned to form linear rows along the proximodistal axis of the adult leaf blade. Bulliform cell patterning affects leaf angle and is presumed to function during leaf rolling, thereby reducing water loss during temperature extremes and drought. In this study, epidermal leaf impressions were collected from a genetically and anatomically diverse population of maize inbred lines. Subsequently, convolutional neural networks were employed to measure microscopic, bulliform cell-patterning phenotypes in high-throughput. A genome-wide association study, combined with RNAseq analyses of the bulliform cell ontogenic zone, identified candidate regulatory genes affecting bulliform cell column number and cell width. This study is the first to combine machine learning approaches, transcriptomics, and genomics to study bulliform cell patterning, and the first to utilize natural variation to investigate the genetic architecture of this microscopic trait. In addition, this study provides insight toward the improvement of macroscopic traits such as drought resistance and plant architecture in an agronomically important crop plant.