bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of milk on recovery from repeat-sprint cycling in female team-sport athletes
Authors: Rankin Paula , Lawlor Michael J. , Hills Frank A. , Bell Phillip G. , Stevenson Emma J. , Cockburn Emma
Published: October 2017

The consumption of milk following eccentric exercise attenuates the effects of muscle damage in team-sport athletes. However, participation in team sport involves both concentric–eccentric loading and metabolic stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of postexercise milk consumption on recovery from a cycling protocol designed to simulate the metabolic demands of team sport. Ten female team-sport athletes participated in a randomised crossover investigation. Upon completion of the protocol participants consumed 500 mL of milk (MILK) or 500 mL of an energy-matched carbohydrate (CHO) drink. Muscle function (peak torque, rate of force development, countermovement jump, 20-m sprint), muscle soreness and tiredness, serum creatine kinase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and measures of oxidative stress (protein carbonyls and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio) were determined at pre-exercise and 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postexercise. MILK had a possible beneficial effect in attenuating losses in peak torque (180°/s) from baseline to 24 h (3.2% ± 7.8% vs. –6.2% ± 7.5%, MILK vs. CHO) and a possible beneficial effect in minimising soreness (baseline-48 h; baseline-72 h) and tiredness (baseline-24 h; baseline-72 h). There was no change in oxidative stress following the exercise protocol, though a likely benefit of milk was observed for GSH/GSSG ratio at baseline-24 h (0.369 ×/÷ 1.89, 1.103 ×/÷ 3.96, MILK vs. CHO). MILK had an unclear effect on all other variables. Consumption of 500 mL of milk after repeat sprint cycling had little to no benefit in minimising losses in peak torque or minimising increases in soreness and tiredness and had no effect on serum markers of muscle damage and inflammation.
Testosterone-related and seasonal changes in sebaceous glands in the back skin of adult male brown bears (Ursusarctos)
Authors: Tomiyasu Jumpei , Yanagawa Yojiro , Sato Yoshikazu , Shimozuru Michito , Nagano Masashi , Sasaki Motoki , Sakamoto Hideyuki , Matsumoto Naoya , Kobayashi Kohei , Kayano Mitsunori , Haneda Shingo , Matsui Motozumi
Published: October 2017

Adult male brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) display tree-marking behavior to chemically signal their dominance throughout the nondenning period, and this behavior peaks during the breeding season. Within the scent-marking sequence, back rub is a core marking posture. The present study investigated (i) seasonal changes in sebaceous glands in the back skin of brown bears and (ii) the relationship between those changes and testosterone levels. Back skin tissue samples and blood were collected from captive adult intact and castrated males during prebreeding, transitional, breeding, and postbreeding seasons, which were concurrent with back skin observations. In intact males, during the transitional and breeding seasons, an oily secretion from the back skin was observed along with enlarged sebaceous glands. The plasma testosterone concentrations during the transitional and breeding seasons were increased compared with the pre- and post-breeding seasons. Secretions and enlarged sebaceous glands were not found in castrated males, and the plasma testosterone concentrations remained at baseline levels. Oily secretions of the back skin glands that appear more abundant during the breeding season are rubbed against trees. Changes in size and volume of sebaceous glands, and thus their secreting capacity, are likely testosterone-regulated.
Low-temperature tolerances of tropical fish with potential transgenic applications in relation to winter water temperatures in Canada
Authors: Leggatt R.A. , Dhillon R.S. , Mimeault C. , Johnson N. , Richards J.G. , Devlin R.H.
Published: October 2017

Application of fluorescent protein transgenes in tropical freshwater fish is used in research (e.g., in zebrafish) and in the commercial ornamental aquarium trade. To assess the overwinter potential of such fish in Canada, we examined the minimum temperature tolerance of three wild-type species (zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822); black tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Boulenger, 1895); tiger barb, Puntius tetrazona (Bleeker, 1855)) used as fluorescent models in the aquarium trade, as well as four lines of green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic and wild-type zebrafish used in research. Both tetra and barb had lower temperature tolerance limits that were higher than surveyed winter temperatures in Canada, and the lower tolerance limits of zebrafish lines was only within the range of a few surveyed lakes in some years. One line of GFP zebrafish had a lower temperature tolerance limit that was significantly higher than those of other lines, suggesting that some fluorescent transgene constructs may alter tolerance to extreme temperatures. When lines of zebrafish were reared at 8, 10, or 28 °C for 4 months, all lines were capable of producing viable embryos after cold rearing. These results indicate that tropical transgenic fish models used in research and in the aquarium trade are not expected to persist over winter in Canadian water systems.
Henricia spp. (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Echinasteridae) of the White Sea: morphology, morphometry, and synonymy
Authors: Bratova Olga A. , Paskerova Gita G.
Published: October 2017

Though sea stars of the genus Henricia Gray, 1840 are widely used in biological studies, their species diversity in the Arctic is poorly understood. We conducted a taxonomic revision of the genus Henricia from the White Sea and examined 381 specimens of Henricia sea stars deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg), the type collection founded by A.M. Djakonov, and our own collection. Following the 1987 study by F.J. Madsen and the 1950 study by A.M. Djakonov, we identified six species in the White Sea: Henricia eschrichti (J. Müller and Troschel, 1842), Henricia perforata (O.F. Müller, 1776), Henricia scabrior (Michailovskij, 1903), Henricia solida Djakonov, 1950, Henricia sanguinolenta (O.F. Müller, 1776), and Henricia pertusa (O.F. Müller, 1776). Updated descriptions, identification keys, and distribution data of these species are provided. Statistical analysis based on the set of individual characters confirmed the validity of the species H. scabrior. Synonymy of Henricia species according to the 1950 study by A.M. Djakonov and the 1987 study by F.J. Madsen is discussed.
DNA barcoding a nightmare taxon: assessing barcode index numbers and barcode gaps for sweat bees
Authors: Gibbs Jason
Published: October 2017

There is an ongoing campaign to DNA barcode the world’s >20 000 bee species. Recent revisions of Lasioglossum (Dialictus) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) for Canada and the eastern United States were completed using integrative taxonomy. DNA barcode data from 110 species of L. (Dialictus) are examined for their value in identification and discovering additional taxonomic diversity. Specimen identification success was estimated using the best close match method. Error rates were 20% relative to current taxonomic understanding. Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) assigned using Refined Single Linkage Analysis (RESL) and barcode gaps using the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) method were also assessed. RESL was incongruent for 44.5% of species, although some cryptic diversity may exist. Forty-three of 110 species were part of merged BINs with multiple species. The barcode gap is non-existent for the data set as a whole and ABGD showed levels of discordance similar to the RESL. The viridatum species-group is particularly problematic, so that DNA barcodes alone would be misleading for species delimitation and specimen identification. Character-based methods using fixed nucleotide substitutions could improve specimen identification success in some cases. The use of DNA barcoding for species discovery for standard taxonomic practice in the absence of a well-defined barcode gap is discussed.
Cosmology via thermodynamics of polytropic gas
Authors: Askin Muzaffer , Salti Mustafa , Aydogdu Oktay
Published: October 2017

We study cosmological scenarios of the polytropic gas (PG) dark matter-energy proposal in a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) Universe. As a first step, we obtain an exact expression for the energy density of PG model by making use of the thermodynamics. Later, we investigate some cosmological quantities and perform neo-classical analyzes. Finally, we implement a connection between the PG and a homogenous minimally coupled scalar field by introducing its self-interacting potential.
Nonlinear optical properties in the laser-dressed two-level AlxGa1−xN/GaN single quantum well
Authors: Panda Monalisa , Das Tapaswini , Panda B. K.
Published: October 2017

The electronic states in the laser-dressed hexagonal and cubic Al[Formula: see text]Ga[Formula: see text]N/GaN single quantum wells are calculated using the effective mass equation. The hexagonal single quantum well contains an internal electric field due to spontaneous and piezoelectric polarizations. The effective mass equation is solved by the finite difference method. The energy levels in both cubic and hexagonal laser-dressed wells are found to increase with increase in laser dressing as the effective well widths in both the wells increase. The intersubband energy spacing between first excited state and ground state increases in the cubic quantum well, whereas it decreases in the hexagonal well due to the presence of internal electric field in it. Using the compact density matrix method with iterative procedure, first-, second- and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities in the laser-dressed quantum well are calculated taking only two levels. While the susceptibilities in the hexagonal well are found to get red shifted, the susceptibilities in the cubic well are blue shifted.
Age and petrogenesis of the Lundy granite: Paleocene intraplate peraluminous magmatism in the Bristol Channel, UK
Authors: Charles J.-H. , Whitehouse M. J. , Andersen J. C. Ø. , Shail R. K. , Searle M. P.
Published: October 2017

The Lundy granite forms part of the Lundy Igneous Complex, which is the southernmost substantive expression of magmatism within both the British Cenozoic Igneous Province and the wider North Atlantic Igneous Province. Its Qz + Pl + Kfs + Bt ± Grt ± Tpz mineralogy and peraluminous character contrast with other British Cenozoic Igneous Province granites farther north but are similar to the granites of the adjacent Early Permian Cornubian Batholith. We present the results of mapping, petrographical and mineral chemical analysis, and the first U–Pb zircon ages for the granite (59.8 ± 0.4 – 58.4 ± 0.4 Ma) and cross-cutting basic dykes (57.2 ± 0.5 Ma), which confirm a Paleocene age for magmatism. Zircon inheritance is limited but two cores imply the presence of Early Palaeozoic igneous rocks in the unexposed basement of SW England. The anomalous southerly location of the Lundy Igneous Complex is a consequence of mantle melting arising from the superimposition of localized lithospheric extension, related to intraplate strike-slip tectonics, with the distal ancestral Icelandic plume. Granite generation primarily reflects crustal partial melting during the emplacement of mantle-derived melts. The change in geochemical character between the Lundy granite (peraluminous) and other British Cenozoic Igneous Province granites (metaluminous or subalkaline) indicates a fundamental crustal source control between contrasting peri-Gondwanan and Laurentian basement provinces.

Supplementary material:
Sample locations, petrographic summaries, mineral chemistry data and secondary ionization mass spectrometry U–Pb analytical data are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3886783
The origin and evolution of waters in the Jurassic formations of the Marginal Trough area (Poland)
Authors: Uliasz-Misiak Barbara , Winid Bogumiła
Published: October 2017

The Permian–Mesozoic cover of the Western European Platform includes numerous aquifers containing mineralized water. An attempt has been made to determine both the genesis of water from the Jurassic formations of the Marginal Trough (tectonic unit in the Zechstein–Mesozoic structural floor, located in central Poland) and the processes to which they were subjected. The results of archival chemical analysis of waters from deep boreholes located in the Marginal Trough have been studied. Hydrogeochemical ratios of Na/Cl, Cl/Br, (SO
4
 × 100)/Cl, HCO
3
/Cl and Na/(Ca + Mg), together with their variability depending on water depth, were presented and discussed.

The majority of waters from the Jurassic formations are Na–Cl waters, typical for areas isolated from hypergene zones. Their mineralization is closely related to the depths of the Jurassic formations.

The analyses of hydrochemical parameters of the Jurassic waters have shown that the vast majority of these waters are brines or chloride waters, genetically related to seawater. The diversity in mineralization and hydrochemical parameters, together with their dependence on the depth of occurrence of the analysed waters, indicate that waters from the Lower Jurassic formations originate from isolated geological structures, while the Middle and Upper Jurassic waters are/or were affected by infiltration waters.
Influence of thickness on flexural strength under concentrated load of natural stone in relation to EN 12372
Authors: Marini Paola , Bellopede Rossana , Luodes Nike Maria
Published: October 2017

On the basis of previous research, the stone size effect is not always ruled by well-known statistical laws such as the Weibull or Bazant law because of the intrinsic complex structure and features of the materials analysed. According to the EN 12372 test method for flexural strength under concentrated load on natural stones, the suggested dimensions are 50 × 50 × 300 mm. Other dimensions are possible, but some dimensional requirements (on thickness, width and distance between supporting rollers) need to be fulfilled. In this research, to investigate the thickness effect further, in relation to stone structure and heterogeneity, eight different stones were tested: four with anisotropic features and four homogeneous. The distance between the supporting rollers was proportional to the specimens' length. The thickness effect on the flexural strength of most of the materials tested is negligible considering the uncertainty (except for gneiss). From the data obtained some remarks have been made on the test method and on the specimens' thickness. Moreover, with the aim of obtaining reliable results with low uncertainty by means of a flexural strength test, a minimum thickness specimen both for fine- and coarse-grained stones has been determined (respectively 15 and 20 mm).
TBX4 is involved in the super-enhancer-driven transcriptional programs underlying features specific to lung fibroblasts
Authors: Horie Masafumi , Miyashita Naoya , Mikami Yu , Noguchi Satoshi , Yamauchi Yasuhiro , Suzukawa Maho , Fukami Takeshi , Ohta Ken , Asano Yoshihide , Sato Shinichi , Yamaguchi Yoko , Ohshima Mitsuhiro , Suzuki Hiroshi I. , Saito Akira , Nagase Takahide
Published: October 2017

Lung fibroblasts participate in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. Although fibroblasts are ubiquitous constituents of various organs, their cellular diversity among different organs has been poorly characterized. Here, we aimed to investigate the distinct gene signature of lung fibroblasts that represents its pulmonary origin and the underlying gene regulatory networks. Promoter-level differential expression analysis by cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) sequencing revealed distinct gene expression patterns of fibroblasts derived from different anatomical sites and identified 88 coding genes with higher expression in lung fibroblasts relative to other fibroblasts. Multiple key transcription factors important for lung mesenchyme development, including the T-box transcription factors TBX2, TBX4, and TBX5 were enriched in this lung-specific signature and were associated with super-enhancers. TBX4 showed highly specific expression in lung fibroblasts and was required for cell proliferation and collagen gel contraction capacity. Transcriptome analysis revealed that TBX4 could broadly regulate fibroblast-related pathways and partly contribute to super-enhancer-mediated transcriptional programs. Of pathological importance, lung fibroblast-specific genes were globally downregulated in lung cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Notably, TBX2, TBX4, and TBX5 were downregulated and hypermethylated in lung CAFs, suggesting an association between epigenetic silencing of these factors and phenotypic alteration of lung fibroblasts in cancer. Our study highlights the importance of T-box transcription factors, especially TBX4, and super-enhancers in the roles of lung fibroblasts in pulmonary physiology and pathogenesis.
Human lung branching morphogenesis is orchestrated by the spatiotemporal distribution of ACTA2, SOX2, and SOX9
Authors: Danopoulos Soula , Alonso Irving , Thornton Matthew E. , Grubbs Brendan H. , Bellusci Saverio , Warburton David , Al Alam Denise
Published: October 2017

Lung morphogenesis relies on a number of important processes, including proximal-distal patterning, cell proliferation, migration and differentiation, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. In mouse lung development, SOX2+ cells are localized in the proximal epithelium, whereas SOX9+ cells are present in the distal epithelium. We show that, in human lung, expression of these transcription factors differs, in that during the pseudoglandular stage distal epithelial progenitors at the tips coexpress SOX2 and SOX9. This double-positive population was no longer present by the canalicular stages of development. As in mouse, the human proximal epithelial progenitors express solely SOX2 and are surrounded by smooth muscle cells (SMCs) both in the proximal airways and at the epithelial clefts. Upon Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 inhibition, we noted decreased branching, as well as increased SMC differentiation, attenuated peristalsis, and a reduction in the distal double-positive SOX2/SOX9 progenitor cell population. Thus, the presence of SOX2/SOX9 double-positive progenitor cells in the distal epithelium during the pseudoglandular stage of human lung development appears to be critical to proximal-distal patterning and lung branching. Moreover, SMCs promote a SOX2 proximal phenotype and seem to suppress the SOX9+ population.
Targeted γ-secretase inhibition of Notch signaling activation in acute renal injury
Authors: Wyss Jean-Christophe , Kumar Rajesh , Mikulic Josip , Schneider Manfred , Aebi Johannes D. , Juillerat-Jeanneret Lucienne , Golshayan Dela
Published: October 2017

The Notch pathway has been reported to control tissue damage in acute kidney diseases. To investigate potential beneficial nephroprotective effects of targeting Notch, we developed chemically functionalized γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) targeting γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) and/or γ-glutamylcyclotransferase (γ-GCT), two enzymes overexpressed in the injured kidney, and evaluated them in in vivo murine models of acute tubular and glomerular damage. Exposure of the animals to disease-inducing drugs together with the functionalized GSIs improved proteinuria and, to some extent, kidney dysfunction. The expression of genes involved in the Notch pathway, acute inflammatory stress responses, and the renin-angiotensin system was enhanced in injured kidneys, which could be downregulated upon administration of functionalized GSIs. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blots demonstrated enhanced activation of Notch1 as detected by its cleaved active intracellular domain during acute kidney injury, and this was downregulated by concomitant treatment with the functionalized GSIs. Thus targeted γ-secretase-based prodrugs developed as substrates for γ-GT/γ-GCT have the potential to selectively control Notch activation in kidney diseases with subsequent regulation of the inflammatory stress response and the renin-angiotensin pathways.
Comparative transcriptome and histological analyses provide insights into the prenatal skin pigmentation in goat (Capra hircus)
Authors: Ren Hangxing , Wang Gaofu , Jiang Jing , Li Jie , Fu Lin , Liu Liangjia , Li Nianfu , Zhao Jinhong , Sun Xiaoyan , Zhang Li , Zhang Haiyan , Zhou Peng
Published: October 2017

The Youzhou dark goat is a natural mutant with dark skin over the whole body including the visible mucous membranes. In the present study, we characterized 100-day-old fetal skin at the histomorphological and transcriptomic levels in dark-skinned (Youzhou dark goat) and white-skinned (Yudong white goat) goats with deep RNA sequencing, quantitative PCR, and histological methods. Histological analysis indicated that there were marked differences in both melanin distribution and epidermal ultrastructure between the hyperpigmented and normal skin in two breeds of goat. Subsequent analyses suggested that a presumed structure variation (duplication or insertion) in ASIP might be responsible for its lower expression in the hyperpigmented skin (Youzhou dark goat) by determining the distribution of melanocytes across the body at early development stage. Analyses for genes with differential expression between the dark-skinned and white-skinned goats indicated the network composed of ASIP-MC1R, ECM-receptor interaction, and MAPK signaling might play crucial roles in the determination of skin pigmentation in fetal goats. Moreover, we also identified 1,616 novel transcripts in goat skin by RNA sequencing, which may represent two distinct groups of transcript based on their characteristics. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the characteristics of global gene expression in early-stage skin pigmentation and development and describe an animal model for human diseases associated with pigmentation.
Simple Meets Single: The Application of CRISPR/Cas9 in Haploid Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Yin Zixi , Chen Lingyi
Published: October 2017

The CRISPR/Cas9 system provides a powerful method for the genetic manipulation of the mammalian genome, allowing knockout of individual genes as well as the generation of genome-wide knockout cell libraries for genetic screening. However, the diploid status of most mammalian cells restricts the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in genetic screening. Mammalian haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) have only one set of chromosomes per cell, avoiding the issue of heterozygous recessive mutations in diploid cells. Thus, the combination of haESCs and CRISPR/Cas9 facilitates the generation of genome-wide knockout cell libraries for genetic screening. Here, we review recent progress in CRISPR/Cas9 and haPSCs and discuss their applications in genetic screening.
Deterioration of Cerebral Oxygenation by Aortic Arch Calcification Progression in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ito Kiyonori , Ookawara Susumu , Okochi Tomohisa , Ueda Yuichiro , Kofuji Masaya , Hayasaka Hideyuki , Uchida Takayuki , Miyazawa Haruhisa , Yanai Katsunori , Ishii Hiroki , Kitano Taisuke , Shindo Mitsutoshi , Hirai Keiji , Kaku Yoshio , Hoshino Taro , Tanaka Osamu , Tabei Kaoru , Morishita Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2017

Background. Near-infrared spectroscopy revealed that the regional saturation of oxygen (rSO2) in cerebral tissue is lower in hemodialysis (HD) patients than in healthy subjects. However, no study has examined the changes in cerebral oxygenation by aortic arch calcification (AAC) progression in HD patients. Methods. A total of 104 HD patients were divided into four groups by AAC grade determined using chest radiography: 23 patients at grade 0, 24 at grade 1, 30 at grade 2, and 27 at grade 3. Differences in clinical parameters, including cerebral rSO2, among AAC grades were investigated and atherosclerotic parameters affecting cerebral rSO2 values were identified. Results. Cerebral rSO2 significantly decreased as AAC progressed (AAC grade 3 versus grade 0, p<0.01 versus grade 1, p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using parameters with p values < 0.20 in univariate analysis between cerebral rSO2 values less than the mean and atherosclerotic parameters. AAC grades 2 and 3, serum phosphate level, and history of smoking were factors associated with the cerebral rSO2 decrease. Conclusions. Cerebral rSO2 significantly decreased as AAC progressed and was independently associated with higher AAC grade, serum phosphate level, and history of smoking.
Pathological Brain Detection Using Weiner Filtering, 2D-Discrete Wavelet Transform, Probabilistic PCA, and Random Subspace Ensemble Classifier
Authors: Jha Debesh , Kim Ji-In , Choi Moo-Rak , Kwon Goo-Rak
Published: October 2017

Accurate diagnosis of pathological brain images is important for patient care, particularly in the early phase of the disease. Although numerous studies have used machine-learning techniques for the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of pathological brain, previous methods encountered challenges in terms of the diagnostic efficiency owing to deficiencies in the choice of proper filtering techniques, neuroimaging biomarkers, and limited learning models. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of providing enhanced information regarding the soft tissues, and therefore MR images are included in the proposed approach. In this study, we propose a new model that includes Wiener filtering for noise reduction, 2D-discrete wavelet transform (2D-DWT) for feature extraction, probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) for dimensionality reduction, and a random subspace ensemble (RSE) classifier along with theK-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm as a base classifier to classify brain images as pathological or normal ones. The proposed methods provide a significant improvement in classification results when compared to other studies. Based on5×5cross-validation (CV), the proposed method outperforms 21 state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for all four datasets used in the study.
Association between Sex Hormone and Blood Uric Acid in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cao Wen , Zheng Ren-Dong , Xu Shu-Hang , Fan Yao-Fu , Sun Hong-Ping , Liu Chao
Published: October 2017

The association between serum uric acid (SUA) level and sexual dysfunction in patients with diabetes is not well characterized. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes metabolic disorders, including abnormal serum uric acid (SUA) levels. In this study, we enrolled 205 male patients with T2DM and investigated the relationship between sex hormone levels and SUA. Patients were divided into four groups based on SUA quartiles. On the other hand, based on the total testosterone (TT) level, patients were divided into three groups; SUA and other laboratory indices were determined. Increase in SUA level was significantly associated with decreased levels of TT, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and increased levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glycated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and HOMA-IR levels. SUA, waist circumference, BMI, and HOMA-IR showed a negative correlation with TT level, while age showed a positive correlation with TT level. SUA and body mass index were found to be risk factors for gonadal dysfunction. Therefore, we conclude that hypogonadism of male patients with T2DM is related to SUA level.
Hierarchical Feature Extraction Assisted with Visual Saliency for Image Quality Assessment
Authors: Deng Ruizhe , Zhao Yang , Ding Yong
Published: October 2017

Image quality assessment (IQA) is desired to evaluate the perceptual quality of an image in a manner consistent with subjective rating. Considering the characteristics of hierarchical visual cortex, a novel full reference IQA method is proposed in this paper. Quality-aware features that human visual system is sensitive to are extracted to describe image quality comprehensively. Concretely, log Gabor filters and local tetra patterns are employed to capture spatial frequency and local texture features, which are attractive to the primary and secondary visual cortex, respectively. Moreover, images are enhanced before feature extraction with the assistance of visual saliency maps since visual attention affects human evaluation of image quality. The similarities between the features extracted from distorted image and corresponding reference images are synthesized and mapped into an objective quality score by support vector regression. Experiments conducted on four public IQA databases show that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in terms of both accuracy and robustness; that is, it is highly consistent with subjective evaluation and is robust across different databases.
Numerical Simulation to Air Pollution Emission Control near an Industrial Zone
Authors: Oyjinda Pravitra , Pochai Nopparat
Published: October 2017

A rapid industrial development causes several environment pollution problems. One of the main problems is air pollution, which affects human health and the environment. The consideration of an air pollutant has to focus on a polluted source. An industrial factory is an important reason that releases the air pollutant into the atmosphere. Thus a mathematical model, an atmospheric diffusion model, is used to estimate air quality that can be used to describe the sulfur dioxide dispersion. In this research, numerical simulations to air pollution measurement near industrial zone are proposed. The air pollution control strategies are simulated to achieve desired pollutant concentration levels. The monitoring points are installed to detect the air pollution concentration data. The numerical experiment of air pollution consisted of different situations such as normal and controlled emissions. The air pollutant concentration is approximated by using an explicit finite difference technique. The solutions of calculated air pollutant concentration in each controlled and uncontrolled point source at the monitoring points are compared. The air pollutant concentration levels for each monitoring point are controlled to be at or below the national air quality standard near industrial zone index.
Experimental Study and Engineering Practice of Pressured Water Coupling Blasting
Authors: Yang J. X. , Liu C. Y.
Published: October 2017

Overburden strata movement in large space stope is the major reason that induces the appearance of strong mining pressure. Presplitting blasting for hard coal rocks is crucial for the prevention and control of strong pressure in stope. In this study, pressured water coupling blasting technique was proposed. The process and effect of blasting were analyzed by orthogonal test and field practice. Results showed that the presence of pressure-bearing water and explosive cartridges in the drill are the main influence factors of the blasting effect of cement test block. The high load-transmitting performance of pore water and energy accumulation in explosive cartridges were analyzed. Noxious substances produced during the blasting process were properly controlled because of the moistening, cooling, and diluting effect of pore water. Not only the goal of safe and static rock fragmentation by high-explosive detonation but also a combination of superdynamic blast loading and static loading effect of the pressured water was achieved. Then the practice of blasting control of hard coal rocks in Datong coal mine was analyzed to determine reasonable parameters of pressured water coupling blasting. A good presplitting blasting control effect was achieved for the hard coal rocks.
Research on the Strength Variation of Root-Clay Systems under Freeze-Thaw Action
Authors: Yang Lin , Wang Hengxing , Han Chunpeng , Guo Hong , Gong Yafeng , He Yulong
Published: October 2017

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of an effective root system of rhizome plants on the reinforcement of slope soil under freeze-thaw conditions. This study focused on the mechanical properties between roots and clay in the root system of four plant species from different regions of China (northeast, northern, central, and southern areas): Setaria viridis, Eleusine indica, Zoysia japonica, and Carex leucochlora. Based on the interfacial friction effects between the plant roots and the soil, pull-out tests and unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted on the reinforced soil system for varying numbers of freeze-thaw cycles. Several stages of the pull-out process of the root system in clay are explicitly proposed based on the interfacial friction test results. The results showed that the friction effect between Zoysia japonica roots and the soil was the most significant and that these roots had the best reinforcement effect. In contrast, the friction and reinforcement effects between Setaria viridis roots and the soil were the worst, and the resulting unconfined compressive strength was the smallest. However, the freeze-thaw resistance ability of the Setaria viridis and soil system was stronger than that of the Zoysia japonica system.
A Severe Case of Tuberculosis Radiologically and Endoscopically Mimicking Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Authors: Rath Timo , Atreya Raja , Geißdörfer Walter , Lang Roland , Nägel Andreas , Neurath Markus F.
Published: October 2017

Although generally rising in incidence, intestinal tuberculosis is still rare in western countries and due to unspecific manifestations mainly as ulcerations on endoscopy, diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is challenging. Within this report, we describe a case of severe intestinal tuberculosis radiologically and endoscopically masquerading as colorectal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Our case exemplifies that intestinal tuberculosis needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients at risk and that undelayed and sensitive diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is of central importance for avoiding unfavorable disease outcome.
Modeling of Non-WSSUS Double-Rayleigh Fading Channels for Vehicular Communications
Authors: Gutiérrez Carlos A. , Jaime-Rodríguez J. J. , Luna-Rivera J. M. , Campos-Delgado Daniel U. , Vázquez Castillo Javier
Published: October 2017

This paper deals with the modeling of nonstationary time-frequency (TF) dispersive multipath fading channels for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems. As a main contribution, the paper presents a novel geometry-based statistical channel model that facilitates the analysis of the nonstationarities of V2V fading channels arising at a small-scale level due to the time-varying nature of the propagation delays. This new geometrical channel model has been formulated following the principles of plane wave propagation (PWP) and assuming that the transmitted signal reaches the receiver antenna through double interactions with multiple interfering objects (IOs) randomly located in the propagation area. As a consequence of such interactions, the first-order statistics of the channel model’s envelope are shown to follow a worse-than-Rayleigh distribution; specifically, they follow a double-Rayleigh distribution. General expressions are derived for the envelope and phase distributions, four-dimensional (4D) TF correlation function (TF-CF), and TF-dependent delay and Doppler profiles of the proposed channel model. Such expressions are valid regardless of the underlying geometry of the propagation area. Furthermore, a closed-form solution of the 4D TF-CF is presented for the particular case of the geometrical two-ring scattering model. The obtained results provide new theoretical insights into the correlation and spectral properties of small-scale nonstationary V2V double-Rayleigh fading channels.
Effects of Neuropeptide Y on Stem Cells and Their Potential Applications in Disease Therapy
Authors: Peng Song , Zhou You-li , Song Zhi-yuan , Lin Shu
Published: October 2017

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino acid peptide, is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and other peripheral tissues. It takes part in regulating various biological processes including food intake, circadian rhythm, energy metabolism, and neuroendocrine secretion. Increasing evidence indicates that NPY exerts multiple regulatory effects on stem cells. As a kind of primitive and undifferentiated cells, stem cells have the therapeutic potential to replace damaged cells, secret paracrine molecules, promote angiogenesis, and modulate immunity. Stem cell-based therapy has been demonstrated effective and considered as one of the most promising treatments for specific diseases. However, several limitations still hamper its application, such as poor survival and low differentiation and integration rates of transplanted stem cells. The regulatory effects of NPY on stem cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation may be helpful to overcome these limitations and facilitate the application of stem cell-based therapy. In this review, we summarized the regulatory effects of NPY on stem cells and discussed their potential applications in disease therapy.
Recent Developments for Remediating Acidic Mine Waters Using Sulfidogenic Bacteria
Authors: Nancucheo Ivan , Bitencourt José A. P. , Sahoo Prafulla K. , Alves Joner Oliveira , Siqueira José O. , Oliveira Guilherme
Published: October 2017

Acidic mine drainage (AMD) is regarded as a pollutant and considered as potential source of valuable metals. With diminishing metal resources and ever-increasing demand on industry, recovering AMD metals is a sustainable initiative, despite facing major challenges. AMD refers to effluents draining from abandoned mines and mine wastes usually highly acidic that contain a variety of dissolved metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in much greater concentration than what is found in natural water bodies. There are numerous remediation treatments including chemical (lime treatment) or biological methods (aerobic wetlands and compost bioreactors) used for metal precipitation and removal from AMD. However, controlled biomineralization and selective recovering of metals using sulfidogenic bacteria are advantageous, reducing costs and environmental risks of sludge disposal. The increased understanding of the microbiology of acid-tolerant sulfidogenic bacteria will lead to the development of novel approaches to AMD treatment. We present and discuss several important recent approaches using low sulfidogenic bioreactors to both remediate and selectively recover metal sulfides from AMD. This work also highlights the efficiency and drawbacks of these types of treatments for metal recovery and points to future research for enhancing the use of novel acidophilic and acid-tolerant sulfidogenic microorganisms in AMD treatment.
Fraction n‐Butanol of Radix Notoginseng Protects PC12 Cells from Aβ25–35‐Induced Cytotoxicity and Alleviates Cognitive Deficits in SAMP8 Mice by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Aβ Accumulation
Authors: Huang Jin-Lan , Feng Ying-Qin , Bai Li-Ru , Qin Mei-Chun , Xu Zhe-Hao , Liu Zhao-Rong , Chen Wen-Bing , Wu Deng-Pan , Zhong Zhen-Guo
Published: October 2017

Chinese medicine has been used for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment for thousands of years with more effective and fewer side effects. Therefore, developing effective potential candidates from Chinese medicine against AD would be considered as critical and efficient therapy for AD treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the neuronal protective effect of fraction n‐butanol (NB) of Radix Notoginseng on Aβ25–35‐induced PC12 cells, explore the effect of the tested fraction on spatial learning and memory, and characterize the impacts of fraction NB on antioxidant enzymes, Aβ production, and APP and BACE1 expressions. The results revealed that fraction NB could promote proliferation of PC12 cells and protect and rescue PC12 cells from Aβ25–35‐induced cell death. Moreover, fraction NB could improve spatial learning and memory impairments of senescence‐accelerated prone8 (SAMP8) mice and attenuate oxidative stress and reduce the production of Aβ by inhibiting the expressions of APP and BACE1 in the brains of SAMP8 mice. The result of single dose acute toxicity assay showed that fraction NB had a mild toxicity in vivo. The pronounced actions against AD and in vivo low toxicity of fraction NB suggest that fraction NB may be a useful alternative to the current AD treatment.
Mechanism of Mechanical Trauma‐Induced Extracellular Matrix Remodeling of Fibroblasts in Association with Nrf2/ARE Signaling Suppression Mediating TGF‐β1/Smad3 Signaling Inhibition
Authors: Tang Jianming , Li Bingshu , Liu Cheng , Li Yang , Li Qiannan , Wang Linlin , Min Jie , Hu Ming , Hong Shasha , Hong Li
Published: October 2017

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common hygienic problem affecting the quality of women’s life worldwide. In this research, we revealed the involvement and regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, oxidative damage, and TGF‐β1 signaling in the pathological mechanisms of mechanical trauma‐induced SUI. We found that excessive mechanical strain significantly increased apoptosis rate, decreased cell viability and ECM production, and broke the balance of MMPs/TIMPs compared with the nonstrain control (NC) group. The expression levels of TGFβ1, p‐Smad3, Nrf2, GPx1, and CAT were downregulated, the production of ROS, 8‐OHdG, 4‐HNE, and MDA was increased, and the nuclear translocation of Smad2/3 was suppressed after 5333 μstrain’s treatment. Both mTGF‐β1 pretreatment and Nrf2 overexpression could reverse mechanical injury‐induced TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling inhibition and ECM remodeling, whereas mTGF‐β1 had no effect on Nrf2 expression. Nrf2 overexpression significantly alleviated mechanical injury‐induced ROS accumulation and oxidative damage; in contrast, Nrf2 silencing exhibited opposite effects. Besides, vaginal distention‐ (VD‐) induced in vivo SUI model was used to confirm the in vitro results; Nrf2 knockout aggravates mechanical trauma‐induced LPP reduction, ECM remodeling, oxidative damage, and TGF‐β1/Smad3 suppression in mice. Therefore, we deduce that mechanical injury‐induced ECM remodeling might be associated with Nrf2/ARE signaling suppression mediating TGF‐β1/Smad3 signaling inhibition. This might reflect a new molecular target for SUI researches.
SKP2 Activation by Thyroid Hormone Receptor β2 Bypasses Rb-Dependent Proliferation in Rb-Deficient Cells
Authors: Xu Xiaoliang L. , Li Zhengke , Liu Aihong , Fan Xianqun , Hu Dan-ning , Qi Dong-Lai , Chitty David W. , Jia Renbing , Qui Jianping , Wang Justin Q. , Sharaf Jake , Zou Jun , Weiss Rebecca , Huang Hongyan , Joseph Walter J. , Ng Lily , Rosen Richard , Shen Binghui , Reid Mark W. , Forrest Douglas , Abramson David H. , Singer Samuel , Cobrinik David , Jhanwar Suresh C.
Published: October 2017

Germline RB1 mutations strongly predispose humans to cone precursor–derived retinoblastomas and strongly predispose mice to pituitary tumors, yet shared cell type–specific circuitry that sensitizes these different cell types to the loss of RB1 has not been defined. Here we show that the cell type–restricted thyroid hormone receptor isoform TRβ2 sensitizes to RB1 loss in both settings by antagonizing the widely expressed and tumor-suppressive TRβ1. TRβ2 promoted expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SKP2, a critical factor for RB1-mutant tumors, by enabling EMI1/FBXO5–dependent inhibition of SKP2 degradation. In RB1 wild-type neuroblastoma cells, endogenous Rb or ectopic TRβ2 was required to sustain SKP2 expression as well as cell viability and proliferation. These results suggest that in certain contexts, Rb loss enables TRβ1-dependent suppression of SKP2 as a safeguard against RB1-deficient tumorigenesis. TRβ2 counteracts TRβ1, thus disrupting this safeguard and promoting development of RB1-deficient malignancies. Cancer Res; 77(24); 6838–50. ©2017 AACR.
Secretory Autophagy in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Head and Neck Cancer Progression and Offers a Novel Therapeutic Target
Authors: New Jacob , Arnold Levi , Ananth Megha , Alvi Sameer , Thornton Mackenzie , Werner Lauryn , Tawfik Ossama , Dai Hongying , Shnayder Yelizaveta , Kakarala Kiran , Tsue Terance T. , Girod Douglas A. , Ding Wen-Xing , Anant Shrikant , Thomas Sufi Mary
Published: October 2017

Despite therapeutic advancements, there has been little change in the survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recent results suggest that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) drive progression of this disease. Here, we report that autophagy is upregulated in HNSCC-associated CAFs, where it is responsible for key pathogenic contributions in this disease. Autophagy is fundamentally involved in cell degradation, but there is emerging evidence that suggests it is also important for cellular secretion. Thus, we hypothesized that autophagy-dependent secretion of tumor-promoting factors by HNSCC-associated CAFs may explain their role in malignant development. In support of this hypothesis, we observed a reduction in CAF-facilitated HNSCC progression after blocking CAF autophagy. Studies of cell growth media conditioned after autophagy blockade revealed levels of secreted IL6, IL8, and other cytokines were modulated by autophagy. Notably, when HNSCC cells were cocultured with normal fibroblasts, they upregulated autophagy through IL6, IL8, and basic fibroblast growth factor. In a mouse xenograft model of HNSCC, pharmacologic inhibition of Vps34, a key mediator of autophagy, enhanced the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin. Our results establish an oncogenic function for secretory autophagy in HNSCC stromal cells that promotes malignant progression. Cancer Res; 77(23); 6679–91. ©2017 AACR.
Clonality, Heterogeneity, and Evolution of Synchronous Bilateral Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Yin Xia , Jing Ying , Cai Mei-Chun , Ma Pengfei , Zhang Yi , Xu Cong , Zhang Meiying , Di Wen , Zhuang Guanglei
Published: October 2017

Synchronous bilateral ovarian cancer (SBOC) represents a relatively frequent occurrence and clinically relevant diagnostic dilemma. Delineation of its clonal architecture, genetic heterogeneity, and evolutionary trajectories may have important implications for prognosis and management of patients with SBOC. Here, we describe the results of next-generation whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing of specimens from 12 SBOC cases and report that bilateral tumors from each individual display a comparable number of genomic abnormalities and similar mutational signatures of single-nucleotide variations. Clonality indices based on tumor-specific alterations supported monoclonal origins of SBOC. Each of the ovarian lesions was nevertheless oligoclonal, with inferred metastatic tumors harboring more subclones than their primary counterparts. The phylogenetic structure of SBOC indicated that most cancer cell dissemination occurred early, when the primary carcinoma was still relatively small (<100 million cells). Accordingly, the mutation spectra and mutational signatures of somatic variants exhibited pronounced spatiotemporal differences in each patient. Overall, these findings suggest that SBOCs are clonally related and form through pelvic spread rather than independent multifocal oncogenesis. Metastatic dissemination is often an early event, with dynamic mutational processes leading to divergent evolution and intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity, ultimately contributing substantially to phenotypic plasticity and diverse clinical course in SBOC. Cancer Res; 77(23); 6551–61. ©2017 AACR.