bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Air–water interfacial assembly of all-aromatic-substituted double-decker phthalocyanine forms aligned nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Xiqian , Liu Chenxi , Wang Tianyu , Jiang Jianzhuang
Published: June 2018

In this manuscript, unexpected supramolecular assembly of [Formula: see text]-conjugated molecules containing complex aromatic substituents was investigated. The air–water interfacial assembly of double-decker phthalocyanines containing sixteen phenol substituents (Ce(Pc2)[Formula: see text] and Y(Pc2)[Formula: see text] form aligned nanoparticles. Depending on the different surface pressure, the Ce(Pc2)[Formula: see text] self-assembled nanostructures can be regulated thoroughly. Although Ce(Pc2)[Formula: see text] and Y(Pc2)[Formula: see text] have only aromatic substituent groups, no H- or J-aggregation of [Formula: see text]-conjugated systems can be detected from the UV-vis spectra of the assemblies of these double-decker phthalocyanines. When the nanostructures of these assemblies were changed greatly, no corresponding changes of UV-vis spectra and FT-IR spectra could be detected. These unusual results can be understood from the balance between the hydrophilicity of aromatic substituents and the ether linkages of double-decker phthalocyanines and the surface pressure, and open new. approaches for supramolecular assembly of complex [Formula: see text]-conjugated systems.
Handling Forecasting Problems Based on Combining High-Order Time-Variant Fuzzy Relationship Groups and Particle Swam Optimization Technique
Authors: Van Tinh Nghiem , Dieu Nguyen Cong
Published: June 2018

Numerous fuzzy time series (FTS) forecasting methods have been proposed in scientific literature and has achieved growing attention in practice. Most of them are based on modeling fuzzy relationships(FRs) of the past data. In this paper, a new hybrid forecasting model based on the concept of time-variant FR group (TV-FRG), particle swarm optimization technique (PSO) and refinement technique in the defuzzization stage is presented to forecast the enrolments of the University and the stock market. PSO technique is utilized to adjust for obtaining the effective length of each interval in the universe of discourse for the forecasting model. Most of the existing forecasting models simply ignore the repeated FRs without any proper justification or accept the number of recurrence of the FRs without considering the appearance history of these FRs in the grouping FRs process. Therefore, the appearance history of the fuzzy sets on the right-hand side of the FRs is considered to establish the FR groups, called the TV-FRGs. Furthermore, the high-order TV-FRGs are used in order to obtain more accurate forecasting results in the defuzzication stage. To calculate these high-order TV-FRGs values, a refined defuzzication technique is developed, and incorporated in the proposed model. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed model, two numerical simulations are examined with the case of University enrollments and Taiwan futures exchange (TAIFEX). The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves good forecasting results compared to other existing forecasting models based on the high-order FTS. These promising results bring a significant meaning for the future work on the development of FTS and PSO algorithm in real-world forecasting applications.
Electrical and thermal properties of a (Ba1-x-ySrxCay)TiO3-based PTC thermistor for preheating light oil
Authors: Kim Joonsoo
Published: June 2018

The electrical properties of a (Ba[Formula: see text]SrxCay)TiO3-based positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor were determined by measuring resistivity with increasing temperature, and its thermal properties were measured with a cartridge heater made of a (Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text]Ca[Formula: see text])TiO3-based PTC thermistor. The (Ba[Formula: see text]SrxCay)TiO3-based PTC thermistor were fabricated by a conventional solid-state reaction method with Sb2O3, BaTiO3, SrTiO3, SiO2, and CaTiO3. Their electrical properties were determined by room temperature resistivity ([Formula: see text]C), minimum resistivity ([Formula: see text]), maximum resistivity ([Formula: see text]), resistivity jump rate (log [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]), Curie temperature ([Formula: see text]), and withstanding voltage. The effect of the microstructure on the electrical properties was investigated to improve the withstand voltage. The cartridge heater was fabricated with the (Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text]Ca[Formula: see text])TiO3-based PTC thermistor and its thermal properties were determined by the temperature of light oil in a 100 cc beaker. The temperature of light oil was maintained at 60[Formula: see text]C without fluctuations in temperature after reaching 60[Formula: see text]C at 220[Formula: see text]V, and thus (Ba[Formula: see text]SrxCay)TiO3-based PTC thermistor was able to operate as a self-regulating heater element for preheating light oil.
马来西亚华语口语中“巴生”、“峇株巴辖”字音的声调变异
Authors: 邱 克威
Published: May 2018

马来西亚华语在多语多方言的环境下形成，其华语字音也因此受到多方面的影响而产生各种不同类型的特殊变异。本文以“巴生”、“峇株巴辖”当中“巴”、“峇”、“株”等字音之特殊变异为例，解释其中的变异现象，并探讨其中声调特殊变异的性质及其产生原因。我们总结这是方言与华语间的两个声调系统相互叠置而造成的变异，即典型的“叠置式音变”，因此笼统称之为“声调叠置现象”。
Trimmed estimators for large dimensional sparse covariance matrices
Authors: Yang Guangren , Cui Xia
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we will propose two new estimators for sparse covariance matrix. Our starting point is to make the estimator of each element of covariance matrix more robust. More precisely, we will trim the observations for each pairwise product of components of population as a first step. Then we form the sample covariance matrices based on the trimmed data. Finally, we apply the thresholding to the derived sample covariance matrices. These two new estimators will be shown to achieve the optimal convergence rate.
Reform of China's Housing and Land Systems: The Development Process and Outlook of the Real Estate Industry in China
Authors: DONG Xin
Published: June 2018

Since the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, its real estate has closely followed reforms in economic, land and housing systems. There have been two critical junctures since the advent of the Reform and Opening-Up policy in 1978: the introduction of housing monetization in 1998 and the reinstatement of low-income housing in 2007. Those two junctures divide the development of China's real estate industry into three stages, namely the embryonic period of housing marketization (1978–1997), rapid development period (1998–2006) and integrated development period (2007–2016). Report delivered at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017 affirms that “housing is for living in, not for speculation,” marking a new development stage for China's real estate industry. It is expected that innovations in land system, housing system and macro-control will promote the development of China's real estate in the future.
Automatic Extraction of Behavioral Patterns for Elderly Mobility and Daily Routine Analysis
Authors: Li Chen , Cheung William K. , Liu Jiming , Ng Joseph K.
Published: June 2018

The elderly living in smart homes can have their daily movement recorded and analyzed. As different elders can have their own living habits, a methodology that can automatically identify their daily activities and discover their daily routines will be useful for better elderly care and support. In this article, we focus on automatic detection of behavioral patterns from the trajectory data of an individual for activity identification as well as daily routine discovery. The underlying challenges lie in the need to consider longer-range dependency of the sensor triggering events and spatiotemporal variations of the behavioral patterns exhibited by humans. We propose to represent the trajectory data using a behavior-aware flow graph that is a probabilistic finite state automaton with its nodes and edges attributed with some local behavior-aware features. We identify the underlying subflows as the behavioral patterns using the kernel
k
-means algorithm. Given the identified activities, we propose a novel nominal matrix factorization method under a Bayesian framework with Lasso to extract highly interpretable daily routines. For empirical evaluation, the proposed methodology has been compared with a number of existing methods based on both synthetic and publicly available real smart home datasets with promising results obtained. We also discuss how the proposed unsupervised methodology can be used to support exploratory behavior analysis for elderly care.
The DevOps Paradigm with Cloud Data Analytics for Green Business Applications
Authors: Pawlish Michael J. , Varde Aparna S.
Published: May 2018

This paper reviews the emergence of the DevOps (development and operations) paradigm in the industry and the influence it has along with cloud based data management and analytics in the greening of business applications. It considers the geoscience domain as an example discussing usefulness in a GIS (geographic information system). Similar claims can be applied to other domains. Investigating the emergence of DevOps technologies and examining the dramatic shift in IT towards cloud and hybrid models for data analytics, the paper paints a picture of systems that have the ability to green their impact on society. It also addresses concerns from a privacy and security perspective and concludes with open issues for further research.
The Tectonics of the Altaids: Crustal Growth During the Construction of the Continental Lithosphere of Central Asia Between ∼750 and ∼130 Ma Ago
Authors: Şengör A.M. Celâl , Natal'in Boris A. , Sunal Gürsel , van der Voo Rob
Published: May 2018

The largest mountain belt in Central Asia (∼9 million km2) is called the Altaids. It was assembled between ∼750 and ∼130 Ma ago around the western and southern margins of the Siberian Craton, partly on an older collisional system (the “Urbaykalides”). Geological, geophysical, and geochemical data—mostly high-resolution U-Pb ages—document the growth of only three arc systems in Central and Northwest Asia during this time period, an interval throughout which there were no major arc or continental collisions in the area. While the Altaids were being constructed as a Turkic-type orogen, continental crust grew in them by 1/3 of the global total. The Altaids thus added some 3 million km2 to the continental crust over a period of 0.6 billion years, typical of Phanerozoic crustal growth rates.
Microglia in the Retina: Roles in Development, Maturity, and Disease
Authors: Silverman Sean M. , Wong Wai T.
Published: May 2018

Microglia, the primary resident immune cell type, constitute a key population of glia in the retina. Recent evidence indicates that microglia play significant functional roles in the retina at different life stages. During development, retinal microglia regulate neuronal survival by exerting trophic influences and influencing programmed cell death. During adulthood, ramified microglia in the plexiform layers interact closely with synapses to maintain synaptic structure and function that underlie the retina's electrophysiological response to light. Under pathological conditions, retinal microglia participate in potentiating neurodegeneration in diseases such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related neurodegeneration by producing proinflammatory neurotoxic cytokines and removing living neurons via phagocytosis. Modulation of pathogenic microglial activation states and effector mechanisms has been linked to neuroprotection in animal models of retinal diseases. These findings have led to the design of early proof-of-concept clinical trials with microglial modulation as a therapeutic strategy.
Melanotan II causes hypothermia in mice by activation of mast cells and stimulation of histamine 1 receptors
Authors: Jain Shalini , Panyutin Anna , Liu Naili , Xiao Cuiying , Piñol Ramón A. , Pundir Priyanka , Girardet Clémence , Butler Andrew A. , Dong Xinzhong , Gavrilova Oksana , Reitman Marc L.
Published: May 2018

Intraperitoneal administration of the melanocortin agonist melanotan II (MTII) to mice causes a profound, transient hypometabolism/hypothermia. It is preserved in mice lacking any one of melanocortin receptors 1, 3, 4, or 5, suggesting a mechanism independent of the canonical melanocortin receptors. Here we show that MTII-induced hypothermia was abolished in KitW-sh/W-shmice, which lack mast cells, demonstrating that mast cells are required. MRGPRB2 is a receptor that detects many cationic molecules and activates mast cells in an antigen-independent manner. In vitro, MTII stimulated mast cells by both MRGPRB2-dependent and -independent mechanisms, and MTII-induced hypothermia was intact in MRGPRB2-null mice. Confirming that MTII activated mast cells, MTII treatment increased plasma histamine levels in both wild-type and MRGPRB2-null, but not in KitW-sh/W-sh, mice. The released histamine produced hypothermia via histamine H1receptors because either a selective antagonist, pyrilamine, or ablation of H1receptors greatly diminished the hypothermia. Other drugs, including compound 48/80, a commonly used mast cell activator, also produced hypothermia by both mast cell-dependent and -independent mechanisms. These results suggest that mast cell activation should be considered when investigating the mechanism of drug-induced hypothermia in mice.
Parkin is required for exercise-induced mitophagy in muscle: impact of aging
Authors: Chen Chris Chin Wah , Erlich Avigail T. , Crilly Matthew J. , Hood David A.
Published: May 2018

The maintenance of muscle health with advancing age is dependent on mitochondrial homeostasis. While reductions in mitochondrial biogenesis have been observed with age, less is known regarding organelle degradation. Parkin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in mitophagy, but few studies have examined Parkin’s contribution to mitochondrial turnover in muscle. Wild-type (WT) and Parkin knockout (KO) mice were used to delineate a role for Parkin-mediated mitochondrial degradation in aged muscle, in concurrence with exercise. Aged animals exhibited declines in muscle mass and mitochondrial content, paralleled by a nuclear environment endorsing the transcriptional repression of mitochondrial biogenesis. Mitophagic signaling was enhanced following acute endurance exercise in young WT mice but was abolished in the absence of Parkin. Basal mitophagy flux of the autophagosomal protein lipidated microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 was augmented in aged animals but did not increase additionally with exercise when compared with young animals. In the absence of Parkin, exercise increased the nuclear localization of Parkin-interacting substrate, corresponding to a decrease in nuclear peroxisome proliferator gamma coactivator-1α. Remarkably, exercise enhanced mitochondrial ubiquitination in both young WT and KO animals. This suggested compensation of alternative ubiquitin ligases that were, however, unable to restore the diminished exercise-induced mitophagy in KO mice. Under basal conditions, we demonstrated that Parkin was required for mitochondrial mitofusin-2 ubiquitination. We also observed an abrogation of exercise-induced mitophagy in aged muscle. Our results demonstrate that acute exercise-induced mitophagy is dependent on Parkin and attenuated with age, which likely contributes to changes in mitochondrial content and quality in aging muscle.
Remote control of glucose-sensing neurons to analyze glucose metabolism
Authors: Alvarsson Alexandra , Stanley Sarah A.
Published: May 2018

The central nervous system relies on a continual supply of glucose, and must be able to detect glucose levels and regulate peripheral organ functions to ensure that its energy requirements are met. Specialized glucose-sensing neurons, first described half a century ago, use glucose as a signal and modulate their firing rates as glucose levels change. Glucose-excited neurons are activated by increasing glucose concentrations, while glucose-inhibited neurons increase their firing rate as glucose concentrations fall and decrease their firing rate as glucose concentrations rise. Glucose-sensing neurons are present in multiple brain regions and are highly expressed in hypothalamic regions, where they are involved in functions related to glucose homeostasis. However, the roles of glucose-sensing neurons in healthy and disease states remain poorly understood. Technologies that can rapidly and reversibly activate or inhibit defined neural populations provide invaluable tools to investigate how specific neural populations regulate metabolism and other physiological roles. Optogenetics has high temporal and spatial resolutions, requires implants for neural stimulation, and is suitable for modulating local neural populations. Chemogenetics, which requires injection of a synthetic ligand, can target both local and widespread populations. Radio- and magnetogenetics offer rapid neural activation in localized or widespread neural populations without the need for implants or injections. These tools will allow us to better understand glucose-sensing neurons and their metabolism-regulating circuits.
Biomechanical relevance of the microstructure in artery walls with a focus on passive and active components
Authors: Holzapfel Gerhard A. , Ogden Ray W.
Published: May 2018

The microstructure of arteries, consisting, in particular, of collagen, elastin, and vascular smooth muscle cells, plays a very significant role in their biomechanical response during a cardiac cycle. In this article, we highlight the microstructure and the contributions of each of its components to the overall mechanical behavior. We also describe the changes of the microstructure that occur as a result of abdominal aortic aneurysms and disease, such as atherosclerosis. We also focus on how the passive and active constituents are incorporated into a mathematical model without going into detail of the mathematical formulation. We conclude by mentioning open problems toward a better characterization of the biomechanical aspects of arteries that will be beneficial for a better understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiology.
Derangement of open-loop static and dynamic characteristics of the carotid sinus baroreflex in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats
Authors: Kawada Toru , Shimizu Shuji , Hayama Yohsuke , Yamamoto Hiromi , Saku Keita , Shishido Toshiaki , Sugimachi Masaru
Published: May 2018

Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, changes in open-loop static and dynamic characteristics of the arterial baroreflex in the early phase of DM remain to be clarified. We performed an open-loop systems analysis of the carotid sinus baroreflex in type 1 DM rats 4 to 5 wk after intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection ( n = 9) and we compared the results with control rats ( n = 9). The operating-point baroreflex gain was maintained in the DM rats compared with the control rats (2.07 ± 0.67 vs. 2.66 ± 0.22 mmHg/mmHg, P = 0.666). However, the range of arterial pressure (AP) control was narrower in the DM than in the control group (48.0 ± 5.0 vs. 77.1 ± 4.5 mmHg, P = 0.001), suggesting that the reserve for AP buffering is lost in DM. Although baroreflex dynamic characteristics were relatively preserved, coherences were lower in the DM than in the control group. The decreased coherence in the neural arc may be related to the narrowed quasi-linear range in the static relationship between carotid sinus pressure and sympathetic nerve activity in the DM group. Although the reason for the decreased coherences in the peripheral arc and the total reflex arc was inconclusive, the finding may indicate a loss of integrity of the baroreflex-mediated sympathetic AP control in the DM group. The derangement of the baroreflex dynamic characteristics is progressing occultly in this early stage of type 1 DM in a manner where dynamic gains are relatively preserved around the normal operating point.
A model of calcium transport and regulation in the proximal tubule
Authors: Edwards Aurélie , Bonny Olivier
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to examine theoretically how Ca2+ reabsorption in the proximal tubule (PT) is modulated by Na+ and water fluxes, parathyroid hormone (PTH), Na+-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitors, and acetazolamide. We expanded a previously published mathematical model of water and solute transport in the rat PT (Layton AT, Vallon V, Edwards A. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 308: F1343–F1357, 2015) that did not include Ca2+. Our results indicate that Ca2+ reabsorption in the PT is primarily driven by the transepithelial Ca2+ concentration gradient that stems from water reabsorption, which is itself coupled to Na+ reabsorption. Simulated variations in permeability or transporter activity elicit opposite changes in paracellular and transcellular Ca2+ fluxes, whereas a simulated decrease in filtration rate lowers both fluxes. The model predicts that PTH-mediated inhibition of the apical Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 reduces Na+ and Ca2+ transport to a similar extent. It also suggests that acetazolamide- and SGLT2 inhibitor-induced calciuria at least partly stems from reduced Ca2+ reabsorption in the PT. In addition, backleak of phosphate (PO4) across tight junctions is predicted to reduce net PO4 reabsorption by ~20% under normal conditions. When transcellular PO4 transport is substantially reduced by PTH, paracellular PO4 flux is reversed and contributes significantly to PO4 reabsorption. Furthermore, PTH is predicted to exert an indirect impact on PO4 reabsorption via its inhibitory action on NHE3. This model thus provides greater insight into the mechanisms that modulate Ca2+ and PO4 reabsorption in the PT.
Functional implications of sexual dimorphism of transporter patterns along the rat proximal tubule: modeling and analysis
Authors: Li Qianyi , McDonough Alicia A. , Layton Harold E. , Layton Anita T.
Published: May 2018

The goal of this study is to investigate the functional implications of the sexual dimorphism in transporter patterns along the proximal tubule. To do so, we have developed sex-specific computational models of solute and water transport in the proximal convoluted tubule of the rat kidney. The models account for the sex differences in expression levels of the apical and basolateral transporters, in single-nephron glomerular filtration rate, and in tubular dimensions. Model simulations predict that 70.6 and 38.7% of the filtered volume is reabsorbed by the proximal tubule of the male and female rat kidneys, respectively. The lower fractional volume reabsorption in females can be attributed to their smaller transport area and lower aquaporin-1 expression level. The latter also results in a larger contribution of the paracellular pathway to water transport. Correspondingly similar fractions (70.9 and 39.2%) of the filtered Na+ are reabsorbed by the male and female proximal tubule models, respectively. The lower fractional Na+ reabsorption in females is due primarily to their smaller transport area and lower Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 and claudin-2 expression levels. Notably, unlike most Na+ transporters, whose expression levels are lower in females, Na+-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) expression levels are 2.5-fold higher in females. Model simulations suggest that the higher SGLT2 expression in females may compensate for their lower tubular transport area to achieve a hyperglycemic tolerance similar to that of males.
Aponeurosis influences the relationship between muscle gearing and force
Authors: Eng Carolyn M. , Roberts Thomas J.
Published: May 2018

Aponeuroses are connective tissues found on the surface of pennate muscles and are in close association with muscle fascicles. In addition to transmitting muscle forces to the external tendon, aponeurosis has been hypothesized to influence the direction of muscle shape change during a contraction. Muscle shape changes affect muscle contractile force and velocity because they influence the gear ratio with which muscle fascicles transmit force and velocity to the tendon. If aponeurosis modulates muscle shape changes, altering the aponeurosis’ radial integrity with incisions should alter gearing. We tested the hypothesis that incising the aponeurosis would lead to decreased gearing across force conditions with an in situ preparation of the turkey lateral gastrocnemius muscle. We found that multiple full-length incisions in the aponeurosis altered the relationship between gearing and force relative to the intact aponeurosis condition. Specifically, after multiple aponeurosis incisions, gear ratio decreased by 19% in the high-force contractions compared with the intact condition. These results suggest that aponeuroses influence muscle shape change and can alter muscle contractile force and speed through their effect on muscle gearing.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Muscle gearing is determined by muscle shape change during a contraction and varies with the force of contraction. Variable gearing influences muscle force and speed, but how gearing is modulated is not well understood. Incising the aponeurosis before and after contractions demonstrates that aponeurosis plays a role in modulating gearing.
Case Studies in Neuroscience: Evidence of motor thalamus reorganization following bilateral forearm amputations
Authors: Whatley Benjamin P. , Chopek Jeremy W. , Hill Ron , Brownstone Robert M.
Published: May 2018

Following injury, functional improvement can result from central nervous system plasticity. Use-dependent plasticity of motor systems is evident, for example, in recovery of function resulting from rehabilitative interventions. Here, we present a single patient who underwent bilateral microelectrode-guided stereotactic implantation of deep brain stimulating leads for the treatment of essential tremor 52 yr following bilateral arm amputations. The tremor affected his upper extremities and had rendered him unable to perform fine motor tasks with his prostheses, significantly reducing his independence. We found a large territory of neurons in the ventral intermediate nucleus of his thalamus that responded to shoulder protraction, the movement that he used to control fine motor movements of his terminal hook prostheses. We propose that reorganization of this motor nucleus may have occurred secondary to a use-dependent gain of function in neurons that were previously involved in hand movement.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We had a unique opportunity to record neurons in the ventrointermediate (Vim) motor nucleus of thalamus in a patient with essential tremor, decades following bilateral forearm amputations. We demonstrate that a large region of Vim is active during shoulder protraction—the movement used to operate the patient’s mechanical prostheses. We suggest that this provides evidence of human motor thalamic plasticity.
Alterations in the cortical control of standing posture during varying levels of postural threat and task difficulty
Authors: Tokuno Craig D. , Keller Martin , Carpenter Mark G. , Márquez Gonzalo , Taube Wolfgang
Published: May 2018

Cortical excitability increases during the performance of more difficult postural tasks. However, it is possible that changes in postural threat associated with more difficult tasks may in themselves lead to alterations in the neural strategies underlying postural control. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether changes in postural threat are responsible for the alterations in corticospinal excitability and short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) that occur with increasing postural task difficulty. Fourteen adults completed three postural tasks (supported standing, free standing, or standing on an unstable board) at two surface heights (ground level or 3 m above ground). Single- and paired-pulse magnetic stimuli were applied to the motor cortex to compare soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) test motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and SICI between conditions. SOL and TA test MEPs increased from 0.35 ± 0.29 to 0.82 ± 0.41 mV (SOL) and from 0.64 ± 0.51 to 1.96 ± 1.45 mV (TA), respectively, whereas SICI decreased from 52.4 ± 17.2% to 39.6 ± 15.4% (SOL) and from 71.3 ± 17.7% to 50.3 ± 19.9% (TA) with increasing task difficulty. In contrast to the effects of task difficulty, only SOL test MEPs were smaller when participants stood at high (0.49 ± 0.29 mV) compared with low height (0.61 ± 0.40 mV). Because the presence of postural threat did not lead to any additional changes in the excitability of the motor corticospinal pathway and intracortical inhibition with increasing task difficulty, it seems unlikely that alterations in perceived threat are primarily responsible for the neurophysiological changes that are observed with increasing postural task difficulty.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We examined how task difficulty and postural threat influence the cortical control of posture. Results indicated that the motor corticospinal pathway and intracortical inhibition were modulated more by task difficulty than postural threat. Furthermore, because the presence of postural threat during the performance of various postural tasks did not lead to summative changes in motor-evoked potentials, alterations in perceived threat are not responsible for the neurophysiological changes that occur with increasing postural task difficulty.
Release of taurine and glutamate contributes to cell volume regulation in human retinal Müller cells: differences in modulation by calcium
Authors: Netti Vanina , Pizzoni Alejandro , Pérez-Domínguez Martha , Ford Paula , Pasantes-Morales Herminia , Ramos-Mandujano Gerardo , Capurro Claudia
Published: May 2018

Neuronal activity in the retina generates osmotic gradients that lead to Müller cell swelling, followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response, partially due to the isoosmotic efflux of KCl and water. However, our previous studies in a human Müller cell line (MIO-M1) demonstrated that an important fraction of RVD may also involve the efflux of organic solutes. We also showed that RVD depends on the swelling-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Here we investigate the contribution of taurine (Tau) and glutamate (Glu), the most relevant amino acids in Müller cells, to RVD through the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), as well as their Ca2+ dependency in MIO-M1 cells. Swelling-induced [3H]Tau/[3H]Glu release was assessed by radiotracer assays and cell volume by fluorescence videomicroscopy. Results showed that cells exhibited an osmosensitive efflux of [3H]Tau and [3H]Glu (Tau > Glu) blunted by VRAC inhibitors 4-(2-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentylindan-1-on-5-yl)-oxybutyric acid and carbenoxolone reducing RVD. Only [3H]Tau efflux was mainly dependent on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. RVD was unaffected in a Ca2+-free medium, probably due to Ca2+-independent Tau and Glu release, but was reduced by chelating intracellular Ca2+. The inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase reduced [3H]Glu efflux but also the Ca2+-insensitive [3H]Tau fraction and decreased RVD, providing evidence of the relevance of this Ca2+-independent pathway. We propose that VRAC-mediated Tau and Glu release has a relevant role in RVD in Müller cells. The observed disparities in Ca2+ influence on amino acid release suggest the presence of VRAC isoforms that may differ in substrate selectivity and regulatory mechanisms, with important implications for retinal physiology.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The mechanisms for cell volume regulation in retinal Müller cells are still unknown. We show that swelling-induced taurine and glutamate release mediated by the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) largely contributes the to the regulatory volume decrease response in a human Müller cell line. Interestingly, the hypotonic-induced efflux of these amino acids exhibits disparities in Ca2+-dependent and -independent regulatory mechanisms, which strongly suggests that Müller cells may express different VRAC heteromers formed by the recently discovered leucine-rich repeat containing 8 (LRRC8) proteins.
CLC Chloride Channels and Transporters: Structure, Function, Physiology, and Disease
Authors: Jentsch Thomas J. , Pusch Michael
Published: May 2018

CLC anion transporters are found in all phyla and form a gene family of eight members in mammals. Two CLC proteins, each of which completely contains an ion translocation parthway, assemble to homo- or heteromeric dimers that sometimes require accessory β-subunits for function. CLC proteins come in two flavors: anion channels and anion/proton exchangers. Structures of these two CLC protein classes are surprisingly similar. Extensive structure-function analysis identified residues involved in ion permeation, anion-proton coupling and gating and led to attractive biophysical models. In mammals, ClC-1, -2, -Ka/-Kb are plasma membrane Cl−channels, whereas ClC-3 through ClC-7 are 2Cl−/H+-exchangers in endolysosomal membranes. Biological roles of CLCs were mostly studied in mammals, but also in plants and model organisms like yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans. CLC Cl−channels have roles in the control of electrical excitability, extra- and intracellular ion homeostasis, and transepithelial transport, whereas anion/proton exchangers influence vesicular ion composition and impinge on endocytosis and lysosomal function. The surprisingly diverse roles of CLCs are highlighted by human and mouse disorders elicited by mutations in their genes. These pathologies include neurodegeneration, leukodystrophy, mental retardation, deafness, blindness, myotonia, hyperaldosteronism, renal salt loss, proteinuria, kidney stones, male infertility, and osteopetrosis. In this review, emphasis is laid on biophysical structure-function analysis and on the cell biological and organismal roles of mammalian CLCs and their role in disease.
Vaginal Bleeding as Initial Presentation of an Aggressive Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jimenez Antonio R. , Rivera Rolon Maria del Mar , Eyzaguirre Eduardo , Clement Cecilia
Published: June 2018

Introduction. Renal cell carcinoma is the third most common urogenital cancer. In some patients, it can metastasize to distant organs. Metastasis to the vagina is extremely rare. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old female with unremarkable history presented to the clinic with a chief complaint of vaginal bleeding. Further examination identified a pedunculated mass on the vaginal wall. Histologic examination revealed a metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Radiological studies then revealed a left renal mass and bilateral adrenal masses. The patient underwent a nephrectomy, adrenalectomy, and resection of the vaginal mass. The mass in the vagina has since recurred. Conclusion. We report the first known case of vaginal metastasis as initial presentation of a renal cell carcinoma with rhabdoid features. Postmenopausal women with renal cell carcinoma who present with vaginal bleeding should undergo a thorough inspection of the vaginal wall for the potential of metastatic neoplasms.
Effect of Thermocycling, Teeth, and Polymerization Methods on Bond Strength Teeth-Denture Base
Authors: Andrade de Freitas Sandra Lúcia , Brandt William Cunha , Miranda Milton Edson , Vitti Rafael Pino
Published: June 2018

Objective. To evaluate the shear bond strength between different artificial teeth and denture base polymerized by two polymerization methods submitted to thermocycling. Materials and Methods. Two acrylic resins were selected according to the polymerization method (water-bath and microwave), and four different artificial teeth (Biotone, Dentsply; Trilux, Vipi Dent; Premium 8, Heraeus Kulzer; Soluut PX, Yamahachi) were also tested. The polymerization of the acrylic resin was performed by using conventional cycle (8 h at 74°C) in water-bath and using two cycles (20 min at 270 W + 5 min at 360 W) by the microwave method. The shear bond strength was evaluated after 24 h of water storage at 37°C (immediately) and after the thermocycling test (5,000 cycles, 5–55°C). The shear bond strength (n=10) was performed using a universal testing machine (Instron 4411) at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Modes of failures were classified as cohesive and adhesive. The data (MPa) were statistically analyzed by three-way ANOVA, and the mean values were compared by the Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results. In general, the polymerization by microwave showed the highest shear bond strength values, and Trilux artificial teeth had the lowest bond strength values (p<0.05). Thermocycling did not affect the shear bond strength (p<0.05). There was a predominance of cohesive failures for all groups. Conclusions. The chemical composition of the artificial teeth affects the bond strength, and the microwave method is preferable to perform the acrylic resin polymerization.
Hypoxic Signaling and Cholesterol Lipotoxicity in Fatty Liver Disease Progression
Authors: Tirosh Oren
Published: May 2018

Cholesterol is the only lipid whose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is limited by gate‐keeping transporters and efflux mechanisms, preventing its rapid absorption and accumulation in the liver and blood vessels. In this review, I explored the current data regarding cholesterol accumulation in liver cells and key mechanisms in cholesterol‐induced fatty liver disease associated with the activation of deleterious hypoxic and nitric oxide signal transduction pathways. Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects both obese and nonobese individuals, the mechanism of NAFLD progression in lean individuals with healthy metabolism is puzzling. Lean NAFLD individuals exhibit normal metabolic responses, implying that liver damage is not associated with impaired metabolism per se and that direct lipotoxic effects are crucial for disease progression. Several redox and oxidant signaling pathways involving cholesterol are at play in fatty liver disease development. These include impairment of the mitochondrial and lysosomal function by cholesterol loading of the inner‐cell membranes; formation of cholesterol crystals and hepatocyte degradation; and crown‐like structures surrounding degrading hepatocytes, activating Kupffer cells, and evoking inflammation. The current review focuses on the induction of liver inflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis by free cholesterol via the hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α), a main oxygen‐sensing transcription factor involved in all stages of NAFLD. Cholesterol loading in hepatocytes can result in chronic HIF‐1α activity because of the decreased oxygen availability and excessive production of nitric oxide and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.
De Novo Postinfectious Glomerulonephritis Secondary to Nephritogenic Streptococci as the Cause of Transplant Acute Kidney Injury: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bullen Alexander , Shah Mita M.
Published: May 2018

Acute kidney injury is common among kidney transplant recipients. Postinfectious glomerulonephritis secondary to nephritogenic streptococci is one of the oldest known etiologies of acute kidney injury in native kidneys but rarely reported among kidney transplant recipients. This report is of a biopsy-proven case of acute kidney injury in a renal allograft recipient caused by de novo poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Research on the Prewarning Method for the Safety of South-to-North Water Transfer Project Driven by Monitoring Data
Authors: Liu Yang , Fan Yaoling , Yan Xinqing , Liu Xuemei , Yang Bin
Published: June 2018

In order to solve the prewarning problem of South-to-North Water Transfer Project safety, an intelligent cooperative prewarning method based on machine learning was proposed under the framework of intelligent information processing. Driven by the monitoring data of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, the single sensor in typical scenes was studied, and the security threshold was predicted along the vertical axis of time, firstly. With the support of the data correlation calculation, the sensors in the typical scene were intelligently grouped, and the study objectives were changed into sensor grouping, secondly. Then, the nonlinear regression model between the single sensor and the multisensors was built on the time cross section, and the model was used to dynamically calculate the safety threshold of the current sensor for the second time. Finally, in the framework of intelligent information processing, a double verification mechanism was proposed to support the construction of the intelligent prewarning method for the safety of South-to-North Water Transfer Project. The paper collected the monitoring data from November 2015 to September 2016 in the typical scenarios. The experimental results showed that the methods constructed in the paper can be able to identify the abnormal causes of data sudden jump effectively and give the different level prewarning. The method provides a strong theoretical support for further manual investigation work.
Anti-PD-1 Therapy-Associated Perforating Colitis
Authors: Celli Romulo , Kluger Harriet M. , Zhang Xuchen
Published: May 2018

Inhibition of immune checkpoint T cell regulatory molecules by using programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), or its ligand (PDL-1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) has been increasingly used to treat advanced malignancies. The immune-related adverse effects associated with these treatments such as diarrhea, colitis, and CTLA-4 treatment-associated perforating colitis have been reported. However, anti-PD-1/PD-L1-associated perforating colitis has rarely been reported. We report a case of colonic perforation in a patient recently treated with pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor for metastatic melanoma. Awareness of anti-PD-1/PD-L1-associated colitis and perforation will facilitate a timely diagnosis and management as they are increasingly used in oncology.
Efficacy and Safety of Auricular Acupuncture for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kwon Chan-Young , Lee Boram , Suh Hyo-Weon , Chung Sun-Yong , Kim Jong Woo
Published: May 2018

Objectives. To analyze the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture (AA) in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods. Twelve electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating effects of AA in patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementia, from their inception to August 2017. The primary outcome was cognitive function, and secondary outcomes were self‐care ability, quality of life, clinical efficacy rate, and incidences of adverse events. Results. Nine studies were included, and five involving 677 participants were analyzed quantitatively. Compared with Western medications (WM), AA had mixed effects on cognitive functions (Mini‐Mental State Examination [MMSE], mean difference [MD] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.02 to 1.48; Hierarchic Dementia Scale [HDS], MD 2.21, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.33); there was no significant improvement in the activities of daily living (ADL) score (MD 0.20, 95% CI −3.51 to 3.91) in patients with vascular dementia (VD). Compared to WM, AA combined with WM showed better clinical efficacy rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.91) in patients with VD; there was no significant improvement in cognitive functions (MMSE, MD 0.97, 95% CI −0.44 to 2.38; Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], MD 0.22, 95% CI −1.83 to 2.27) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Compared to herbal medicine (HM), AA plus HM showed significant improvements in cognitive function (MMSE, MD 1.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 2.49) in patients with MCI and patients with vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (VCIND) and in ADL score (MD −6.70, 95% CI −8.78 to −4.62) in patients with MCI. No adverse event associated with AA was reported. Conclusion. The evidence reveals mixed efficacy of AA in patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementia. However, the results were inconclusive because of the small number and poor methodological quality of the included studies.
Evaluating Affective User-Centered Design of Video Games Using Qualitative Methods
Authors: Ng Yiing Y’ng , Khong Chee Weng , Nathan Robert Jeyakumar
Published: June 2018

In recent years, researchers and practitioners in the human-computer interaction (HCI) community have placed a lot of focus in developing methods and processes for use in the gaming field. Affective user-centered design (AUCD) plays an important role in the game industry because it promotes emotional and mental communication, hence improving the interaction modes between users and video games. This paper looks at the development of a suitable AUCD guideline to determine if the expressed emotion, semantics, and mental concept of a tangible and intangible video gaming interface are well received by its intended users. Approaching AUCD in video games requires investigating multiple data to obtain a reliable data especially when assessing and interpreting affect and emotion. They present a challenge due to many ambiguities related to affect definition and measuring affective emotion can be very tedious due to its complexity and unpredictability. In this paper, we describe the methods and techniques used to assess affective user-centered design in video games. We also discuss our approaches within the context of existing affective gaming and user-centered design theory and data gathering procedures, including the factors affecting internal and external validity and the data analysis techniques.
Hepatic Iron Overload following Liver Transplantation from a C282Y/H63D Compound Heterozygous Donor
Authors: Veitsman E. , Pras E. , Pappo O. , Arish A. , Eshkenazi R. , Feray C. , Calderaro J. , Azoulay D. , Ari Z. Ben
Published: May 2018

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a genetic disease associated with progressive iron overload, eventually leading in some cases to damage of parenchymal organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and heart. Although the gene had been identified (HFE), HH pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. We report here, for the first time, a case of inadvertent transplantation of a liver from a donor with C282Y/H63D compound heterozygosity into a nonhemochromatotic 19-year-old Caucasian male recipient with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Progressive iron overload occurred over 1.5 years, as observed in liver biopsies and iron studies, after ruling out secondary causes of iron overload. This case strengthens the hypothesis that the liver, rather than the small intestine, plays a primary role in the maintenance of iron homeostasis.
An Interesting Case and Literature Review of a Coronary Stent Fracture in a Current Generation Platinum Chromium Everolimus-Eluting Stent
Authors: Aung Sammy San Myint , Latt Htun , Kyaw Kyaw , Roongsritong Chanwit
Published: June 2018

Coronary interventions are the mainstay of treatment for stenotic coronary vascular lesions. New stent designs are constantly being evaluated to improve stent performances and clinical outcomes. Coronary stent fracture is uncommon; however, it is associated with potential major consequences including acute coronary syndrome and the need for repeated target vessel revascularization due to in-stent restenosis or stent thrombosis. We report a case of a 66-year-old man with an extensive cardiac disease history, who presented with intractable angina and was found to have a fracture of a current generation, platinum chromium everolimus-eluting stent (Synergy, Boston Scientific Inc.).