bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supportive Care: Comprehensive Conservative Care in End-Stage Kidney Disease
Authors: Murtagh Fliss E.M. , Burns Aine , Moranne Olivier , Morton Rachael L. , Naicker Saraladevi
Published: August 2016

Comprehensive conservative (nondialytic) kidney care is widely recognized and delivered but until recently, has not been clearly defined. We provide a clear definition of comprehensive conservative care. This includes interventions to delay progression of kidney disease and minimize complications as well as detailed communication, shared decision making, advance care planning, and psychologic and family support. It does not include dialysis. Limited epidemiologic evidence from Australia and Canada indicates that, for every new person diagnosed with ESRD who receives dialysis or transplant, there is one new person who is managed conservatively (either actively or not). For older patients (those >75 or 80 years old) who have higher levels of comorbidity (such as diabetes and heart disease) and poorer functional status, the survival advantage of dialysis may be limited, and comprehensive conservative management may be considered; however, robust comparative evidence remains limited. Considerations of symptoms, quality of life, and hospital-free days are as or sometimes more important for patients and families than survival. There is some evidence that communication about possible conservative management options is generally insufficient, even where comprehensive conservative care pathways are already established. Symptom control and the cost-effectiveness of interventions are addressed in the companion papers within this Moving Points in Nephrology series. There is almost no evidence about which models of care and which interventions might be most beneficial in this population; future research on these areas is much needed. Meanwhile, consistency in definition of comprehensive conservative care and basing interventions on existing evidence about survival, symptoms, quality of life, and experience will maximize patient-centered and holistic care.
Influence of skeletal class in the morphology of cervical vertebrae: A study using cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Aranitasi Luela , Tarazona Beatriz , Zamora Natalia , Gandía Jose Luis , Paredes Vanessa
Published: August 2016

Objectives:

To quantify the prevalence of cervical vertebrae anomalies and to analyze any association between them and skeletal malocclusions or head posture positions in the same study.

Materials and Methods:

Two hundred forty patients who were attending the Department of Orthodontics of the University of Valencia for orthodontic treatment were selected and divided into three groups: skeletal Class I (control group, 0° <ANB < 4°), Class II (ANB ≥ 4°), and Class III (ANB ≤ 0°) according to ANB Steiner angle. The morphology of the first five cervical vertebrae was analyzed with cone beam computed tomography to identify any anomalies. Intra- and interobserver error methods were calculated.

Results:

Dehiscence and fusion of one unit (both 23.3%) and partial cleft (11.7%) were the most frequent anomalies, while occipitalization was the least common (3.3%). Dehiscence anomaly was observed when the control group was compared with Classes II and III and partial cleft anomaly when Class I was compared with Class III. Furthermore, NSBa and ss-N-sm/ANB angles were associated with partial cleft anomaly, while NSL/NL angle and extended head posture were associated with fusion anomaly.

Conclusions:

Fusion, dehiscence, and partial cleft were the most frequent cervical vertebrae anomalies. Dehiscence and partial cleft were found to present statistically significant differences between Class I and Classes II and III. Cervical vertebrae anomalies and head posture were associated with fusion.
Using Forest Resources to Develop High Performance Plastic Compounds for the Automotive Industry
Authors: Campos A. R. , Lima P. , Ledo R. , Ventosinos V. , Pedras F. , Piñeiro G.
Published: August 2016

This study explores new applications for wood fibres through their incorporation on plastic matrices, developing high performance compounds for the automotive interior. Different automotive grades of polypropylene were reinforced with pine and eucalyptus fibres, in order to compare their properties with the specifications of different vehicle parts. The composites were produced using conventional plastics processing technologies, namely compounding with twin-screw extruder and injection molding. Mechanical properties, density, heat deflection temperature and Vicat softening point were determined. Other specific tests were carried to understand the feasibility of these composites use in automotive parts, namely fogging and flammability and also the determination of the tensile properties after climatic aging tests. The fibres morphology and its distribution and dispersion in the polymer matrices were evaluated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that it is possible to reinforce the raw-materials using wood and achieve the high standards of the automotive industry, producing environmentally friendlier materials, through the effective reduction of the use of plastic. This work enabled important conclusions regarding the incorporation of wood into PP matrices without compromising the specifications of certain dashboard parts and it also allowed evaluating the processability of these composites.
Influence of Blending Protocol on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of HDPE/LLDPE Blend-Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Passador F. R. , Ruvolo-Filho A. C. , Pessan L. A.
Published: August 2016

Nanocomposites based on high density polyethylene (HDPE)/linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend were prepared by melt compounding in a twin-screw extruder using an organoclay (montmorillonite) as nano-filler and maleic anhydride-grafted linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE-g-MA) as compatibilizer. The effects of two blending protocols were also investigated. In the first blending protocol LLDPE and LLDPE-g-MA were first reinforced with organoclay and then this nanocomposite was later blended with HDPE, and the second blending protocol LLDPE-g-MA was mixed with organoclay first and then this masterbatch was diluted with HDPE and LLDPE. The preparation of the masterbatch resulted in the degradation of polyethylene, with crosslinking formation which increase the viscosity of the polymer and facilitated the dispersion of the organoclay in the polymeric matrix. WAXD and TEM were used to determine the effect of blending protocol and organoclay content on the intercalation and mechanical properties. The introduction of a maleated polyethylene was required to improve the organoclay dispersion in the nanocomposites. Thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were affected by blending protocols and the content of organoclay. The degree of crystallinity of the materials prepared using the first blending protocol decreased upon the intercalation of clay platelets whereas for the materials obtained using the second blending protocol the degree of crystallinity decreased due the crosslinking which further restricted mobility and diffusion of polymer chains. The nanocomposites show higher values of tensile modulus, flexural modulus and HDT compared to the blend without the addition of organoclay. The OMMT content added to the polymer blend results in significant and well correlated improvements in tensile and flexural moduli.
Effect of Brominated Epoxy Resins on the Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Long-Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polyamide 6
Authors: Zhou D.-F. , Qi F. , Chen X.-L. , Guo J.-B. , Zuo X.-L. , Shao H.-J.
Published: August 2016

In this work, the compounds of brominated epoxy resins and antimony trioxide (BER/Sb2O3) additives are analyzed and added into long-glass-fiber reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6/LGF) composites in order to solve the “candle-wick effect” caused by glass fibers. The thermal stability, flammability, and morphology of charred residues of the flame retardant PA6/LGF composites are investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test, cone calorimeter test (CCT), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results show the addition of BER/Sb2O3 provides improvements in flame retardancy by increasing the LOI values, enhancing UL-94 rating, and reducing the heat release rate, total heat release and effective heat of combustion due to the formation of consolidated and thick charred residual structures on the surfaces of the LGF reinforced PA6 composites. When the content of BER/Sb2O3 is increased to 12 wt%, the LOI value and UL-94 rating of BER/PA6/LGF composites reach 24.8 and V-0, respectively. The TGA results exhibit that the decomposition temperature of the PA6/LGF composites decreases with the addition of BER/Sb2O3 additive, resulting in forming some high quality residual char layer. A possible flame retardant mechanism is proposed to illustrate the effect of the gaseous and condensed phases on the flame retardancy of the PA6/LGF composites.
Matrix Degradation during High Speed Extrusion of Polypropylene/Clay Nanocomposites – Influence on Filler Dispersion
Authors: Normand G. , Peuvrel-Disdier E. , Vergnes B.
Published: August 2016

We prepared polypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites by melt blending in a twin-screw extruder, exploring the domain of high screw speeds (up to 1 100 min−1). The samples were characterized at both microscale (size of agglomerates) and nanoscale (level of exfoliation). We show that, despite a satisfactory exfoliation, the polymer matrix suffered important thermomechanical degradation by chain scission. We propose a way to correct this degradation on the viscosity curves and we confirm that high screw speeds are not necessarily favorable to clay exfoliation, essentially because of the too high melt temperatures encountered during the process.
Plasma D-dimer may predict poor functional outcomes through systemic complications after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Fukuda Hitoshi , Lo Benjamin , Yamamoto Yu , Handa Akira , Yamamoto Yoshiharu , Kurosaki Yoshitaka , Yamagata Sen
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Plasma D-dimer levels elevate during acute stages of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and are associated with poor functional outcomes. However, the mechanism in which D-dimer elevation on admission affects functional outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study is to clarify whether D-dimer levels on admission are correlated with systemic complications after aneurysmal SAH, and to investigate their additive predictive value on conventional risk factors for poor functional outcomes.

METHODS

A total of 187 patients with aneurysmal SAH were retrospectively analyzed from a single-center, observational cohort database. Correlations of plasma D-dimer levels on admission with patient characteristics, initial presentation, neurological complications, and systemic complications were identified. The authors also evaluated the additive value of D-dimer elevation on admission for poor functional outcomes by comparing predictive models with and without D-dimer.

RESULTS

D-dimer elevation on admission was associated with increasing age, female sex, and severity of SAH. Patients with higher D-dimer levels had increased likelihood of nosocomial infections (OR 1.22 [95% CI 1.07–1.39], p = 0.004), serum sodium disorders (OR 1.11 [95% CI 1.01–1.23], p = 0.033), and cardiopulmonary complications (OR 1.20 [95% CI 1.04–1.37], p = 0.01) on multivariable analysis. D-dimer elevation was an independent risk factor of poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale Score 3–6, OR 1.50 [95% CI 1.15–1.95], p = 0.003). A novel prediction model with D-dimer had significantly better discrimination ability for poor outcomes than conventional models without D-dimer.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated D-dimer levels on admission were independently correlated with systemic complication, and had an additive value for outcome prediction on conventional risk factors after aneurysmal SAH.
Comparing clinical outcomes of repeat discectomy versus fusion for recurrent disc herniation utilizing the N2QOD
Authors: Guan Jian , Ravindra Vijay M. , Schmidt Meic H. , Dailey Andrew T. , Hood Robert S. , Bisson Erica F.
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) is a significant cause of morbidity in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy and has been reported to occur in up to 18% of cases. While repeat discectomy is often successful in treating these patients, concern over repeat RLDH may lead surgeons to advocate instrumented fusion even in the absence of instability. The authors' goal was to compare clinical outcomes for patients undergoing repeat discectomy versus instrumented fusion for RLDH.

METHODS

The authors used the National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (N2QOD) to assess outcomes of patients who underwent repeat discectomy versus instrumented fusion at a single institution from 2012 to 2015. Primary outcomes included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) measures. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, discharge status, and hospital charges.

RESULTS

The authors identified 25 repeat discectomy and 12 instrumented fusion patients with 3- and 12-month follow-up records. The groups had similar ODI and VAS scores and QALY measurements at 3 and 12 months. Patients in the instrumented fusion group had significantly longer hospitalizations (3.7 days vs 1.0 days, p < 0.001) and operative times (229.6 minutes vs 82.7 minutes, p < 0.001). They were also more likely to be female (p = 0.020) and to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation instead of home (p = 0.036). Hospital charges for the instrumented fusion group were also significantly higher ($54,458.29 vs $11,567.05, p < 0.001). Rates of reoperation were higher in the repeat discectomy group (12% vs 0%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.211).

CONCLUSIONS

Repeat discectomy and instrumented fusion result in similar clinical outcomes at short-term follow-up. Patients undergoing repeat discectomy had significantly shorter operative times and length of stay, and they incurred dramatically lower hospital charges. They were also less likely to require acute rehabilitation postoperatively. Further research is needed to compare these two management strategies.
Flavonoid and Steroids from Polygonum viscosum
Authors: Datta Bidyut Kanti , Iasmin Tahamina , Rashid Mohammad A
Published: August 2016

Repeated chromatographic separation and purification of the n-hexane-ethyl acetate (3:1) extract of aerial parts of Polygonum viscosum provided a flavonoid- ternatin (1) and two steroids- stigmasterol (2) and stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (3). The structure of these compounds were determined on the basis of extensive NMR and other spectroscopic techniques and comparison with published data. The identity of steroids 2 and 3 was confirmed by co-TLC with authentic sample.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 19(2): 166-169, 2016
Computational Study of Geometry, IR Spectrum and Molecular Properties of Acetanilide
Authors: Khan Mohammad Firoz , Razan Rahatullah , Rashid Ridwan Bin , Tahia Faiza , Rashid Mohammad A
Published: August 2016

In this paper an effort has made to conduct and repot the computational study of geometry, IR spectrum and different molecular properties like Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MESP), Mulliken Charge Distribution, Global Reactivity Descriptors such as chemical hardness, softness, chemical potential, electronegativity, and electrophilicity index of acetanilide. All calculations were performed on Hartee-Fock (HF), Becke and 3-parameter, Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d) and 6-31+G(d,p) basis sets. The calculated geometries (bond length, bond angle and dihedral angle) were in a good agreement with the experimental data for both level of theories and basis sets. In case of IR frequencies the scaled calculated frequencies agreed reasonably well with the experimental results.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 19(2): 170-178, 2016
Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Studies of Schiff Base Ligand-Derived from Amoxicillin and Benzaldehyde
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Hoque Farhana
Published: August 2016

Advanced research into synthetic chemistry has pointed out several organic compounds with antimicrobial potential. Schiff bases are one of such compounds. This research aims at the synthesis of a Schiff base out of a fairly common antibiotic amoxicillin and benzaldehyde. The synthesized compound was characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. It was also subjected to melting point determination, TLC and solubility tests. The Schiff base was screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities in-vitro by disc diffusion method.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 19(2): 211-214, 2016
Applying social network analysis, centrality measures in identification of climate change adaptation opinion leaders
Authors: Joseph Othieno , Fred Mugivane I , Philip Nyaga , William Ogara , Gerald Muchemi
Published: August 2016

Climate change is negatively affecting livelihoods dependent on rain fed agriculture in Kenya. Adaptation through adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies is necessary. Communication plays a critical role in dissemination of climate change information and adaptation. The study applied social network analysis (SNA) using NodeXL computer programme to generate socio-grams that showed patterns of information flow from which important network and individual characteristic of the opinion leaders were described. This study shows that SNA is applicable in climate change communication to identify opinion leaders by mapping out information flow patterns and using measures of centrality.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 1-7, June, 2016
The role of short rotation coppice technology in fuelwood supply in Rungwe district, Tanzania
Authors: Karwani GM , Lulandala LLL , Kimaro A , Msigwa ZP
Published: August 2016

The roles of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) Technology in fuelwood supply and offsetting CO2 emissions in the Tanzania and most African countries remain poorly understood. This study was carried in Rungwe District, Mbeya region in Tanzania, to determine trends, extent and drivers of adoption of SRC; identify various sources of household energy and assess the contribution of SRC to the total household fuelwood needs, and trees and shrub species used as sources of fuelwood. Data were collected using reconnaissance, field and social surveys and was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that, 97.5% of local community adopted the SRC technology since 1960s. Eucalyptus spp. are mostly planted in woodlots and field boundaries while Persea americana and Leucaena leucocephala are intercropped in farmlands. The survey indicated that out of 176 tons of fuelwood used annually, 73% comes from SRC technology, 25% from non-SRC technology, and only 2% is purchased to supplement household fuelwood shortage. Local communities depend heavily on biomass energy from woodlots and farmlands where tree species like Eucalyptus spp. plays a key role in meeting the energy demand. This study demonstrates that SRC technologies like woodlots, boundary planting, and intercropping in farmland hold high promise to meet the household energy demand. If promoted and backed with strong policies and supportive land tenure, these technologies may reduce the harvesting pressure on native forests for energy demand and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 41-46, June, 2016
Sign Function Based Sparse Adaptive Filtering Algorithms for Robust Channel Estimation under Non-Gaussian Noise Environments
Authors: Zhang Tingping , Gui Guan
Published: August 2016

Robust channel estimation is required for coherent demodulation in multipath fading wireless communication systems which are often deteriorated by non-Gaussian noises. Our research is motivated by the fact that classical sparse least mean square error (LMS) algorithms are very sensitive to impulsive noise while standard SLMS algorithm does not take into account the inherent sparsity information of wireless channels. This paper proposes a sign function based sparse adaptive filtering algorithm for developing robust channel estimation techniques. Specifically, sign function based least mean square error (SLMS) algorithms to remove the non-Gaussian noise that is described by a symmetric α-stable noise model. By exploiting channel sparsity, sparse SLMS algorithms are proposed by introducing several effective sparse-promoting functions into the standard SLMS algorithm. The convergence analysis of the proposed sparse SLMS algorithms indicates that they outperform the standard SLMS algorithm for robust sparse channel estimation, which can be also verified by simulation results.
Optical and Transport Properties of Ni-MoS2
Authors: Ko Tsung-Shine , Huang Cheng-Ching , Lin Der-Yuh
Published: August 2016

In this paper, MoS2 and Ni-MoS2 crystal layers were fabricated by the chemical vapor transport method with iodine as the transport agent. Two direct band edge transitions of excitons at 1.9 and 2.1 eV were observed successfully for both MoS2 and Ni-MoS2 samples using temperature-dependent optical reflectance (R) measurement. Hall effect measurements were carried out to analyze the transport behavior of carriers in MoS2 and Ni-MoS2, which indicate that the Ni-MoS2 sample is n-type and has a higher resistance and lower mobility than the MoS2 sample has. A photoconductivity spectrum was performed which shows an additional Ni doping level existing at 1.2 eV and a higher photocurrent generating only for Ni-MoS2. The differences between MoS2 and Ni-MoS2 could be attributed to the effect of Ni atoms causing small lattice imperfections to form trap states around 1.2 eV. The temperature-dependent conductivity shows the presence of two shallow levels with activation energies (84 and 6.7 meV in MoS2; 57 and 6.5 meV in Ni-MoS2). Therefore, the Ni doping level leads to high resistance, low mobility and small activation energies. A series of experimental results could provide useful guidance for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices using MoS2 structures.
Effect of Surface Copper Species on NO + CO Reaction over xCuO-Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 Catalysts: In Situ DRIFTS Studies
Authors: Li Pengying , Feng Lu , Yuan Fulong , Wang Dong , Dong Yongli , Niu Xiaoyu , Zhu Yujun
Published: August 2016

In this work, the activity of xCuO-Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 catalysts for the reaction of NO + CO was investigated. Especially, in situ DRIFTS was applied to investigate the surface species under the adsorption of NO and/or CO and the reaction of NO and CO to understand the key intermediates species and reaction process of NO + CO. The results suggest that the copper oxide species are well dispersed on the surface of the catalysts, which can be easily reduced to form Cu+ species. The Cu+ species are proposed to be important activity species. The results of this work also suggest that N2O22− is likely an intermediate species that plays an important role in NO reduction by CO. Thus, more Cu+ and highly dispersed copper oxide species are expected to be beneficial for the reaction of CO + NO over the xCuO-Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 catalysts.
Temporal Predictability of Online Behavior in Foursquare
Authors: Chen Wang , Gao Qiang , Xiong Huagang
Published: August 2016

With the widespread use of Internet technologies, online behaviors play a more and more important role in humans’ daily lives. Knowing the times when humans perform their next online activities can be quite valuable for developing better online services, which prompts us to wonder whether the times of users’ next online activities are predictable. In this paper, we investigate the temporal predictability in human online activities through exploiting the dataset from the social network Foursquare. Through discretizing the inter-event times of users’ Foursquare activities into symbols, we map each user’s inter-event time sequence to a sequence of inter-event time symbols. By applying the information-theoretic method to the sequences of inter-event time symbols, we show that for a user’s Foursquare activities, knowing the time interval between the current activity and the previous activity decreases the entropy of the time interval between the next activity and current activity, i.e., the time of the user’s next Foursquare activity is predictable. Much of the predictability is explained by the equal-interval repeat; that is, users perform consecutive Foursquare activities with approximately equal time intervals. On the other hand, the unequal-interval preference, i.e., the preference of performing Foursquare activities with a fixed time interval after another given time interval, is also an origin for predictability. Furthermore, our results reveal that the Foursquare activities on weekdays have a higher temporal predictability than those on weekends and that users’ Foursquare activity is more temporally predictable if his/her previous activity is performed in a location that he/she visits more frequently.
Methodologies Developed for EcoCity Related Projects: New Borg El Arab, an Egyptian Case Study
Authors: Antuña-Rozado Carmen , García-Navarro Justo , Reda Francesco , Tuominen Pekka
Published: August 2016

The aim of the methodologies described here is to propose measures and procedures for developing concepts and technological solutions, which are adapted to the local conditions, to build sustainable communities in developing countries and emerging economies. These methodologies are linked to the EcoCity framework outlined by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. for sustainable community and neighbourhood regeneration and development. The framework is the result of a long experience in numerous EcoCity related projects, mainly Nordic and European in scope, which has been reformulated in recent years to respond to the local needs in the previously mentioned countries. There is also a particular emphasis on close collaboration with local partners and major stakeholders. In order to illustrate how these methodologies can support EcoCity concept development and implementation, results from a case study in Egypt will be discussed. The referred case study relates to the transformation of New Borg El Arab (NBC), near Alexandria, into an EcoCity. The viability of the idea was explored making use of different methodologies (Roadmap, Feasibility Study, and Residents Energy Survey and Building Consumption Assessment) and considering the Residential, Commercial/Public Facilities, Industrial, Services/Utilities, and Transport sectors.
Parental Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms as Predictors of Psychosocial Problems in Children Treated for Cancer
Authors: Nakajima-Yamaguchi Ryoko , Morita Nobuaki , Nakao Tomohei , Shimizu Takashi , Ogai Yasukazu , Takahashi Hideto , Saito Tamaki , Nakatani Yoji , Fukushima Takashi
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between psychosocial functioning of children treated for cancer and that of their parents. Factors associated with psychosocial functioning were also examined. The present study was a cross-sectional survey of 33 mothers and one father (mean age: 37.9), each of whom had a child that had been treated for cancer. The participants answered a package of questionnaires consisting of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Information about the children’s illnesses was collected from medical records. The CBCL total problems T score was correlated with the parental IES-R total scores. Intensity of treatment independently predicted the variance of parental long-term uncertainty. In conclusion, psychosocial problems of children with cancer were associated with parental post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Provision of early, adequate support to parents who are vulnerable to PTSS will help not only the parents, but also their children with cancer.
Quantitative Detection of Trace Malachite Green in Aquiculture Water Samples by Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Fang Xiaowei , Yang Shuiping , Chingin Konstantin , Zhu Liang , Zhang Xinglei , Zhou Zhiquan , Zhao Zhanfeng
Published: August 2016

Exposure to malachite green (MG) may pose great health risks to humans; thus, it is of prime importance to develop fast and robust methods to quantitatively screen the presence of malachite green in water. Herein the application of extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) has been extended to the trace detection of MG within lake water and aquiculture water, due to the intensive use of MG as a biocide in fisheries. This method has the advantage of obviating offline liquid-liquid extraction or tedious matrix separation prior to the measurement of malachite green in native aqueous medium. The experimental results indicate that the extrapolated detection limit for MG was ~3.8 μg·L−1 (S/N = 3) in lake water samples and ~0.5 μg·L−1 in ultrapure water under optimized experimental conditions. The signal intensity of MG showed good linearity over the concentration range of 10–1000 μg·L−1. Measurement of practical water samples fortified with MG at 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg·L−1 gave a good validation of the established calibration curve. The average recoveries and relative standard deviation (RSD) of malachite green in lake water and Carassius carassius fish farm effluent water were 115% (6.64% RSD), 85.4% (9.17% RSD) and 96.0% (7.44% RSD), respectively. Overall, the established EESI-MS/MS method has been demonstrated suitable for sensitive and rapid (<2 min per sample) quantitative detection of malachite green in various aqueous media, indicating its potential for online real-time monitoring of real life samples.
Using the Job Burden-Capital Model of Occupational Stress to Predict Depression and Well-Being among Electronic Manufacturing Service Employees in China
Authors: Wang Chao , Li Shuang , Li Tao , Yu Shanfa , Dai Junming , Liu Xiaoman , Zhu Xiaojun , Ji Yuqing , Wang Jin
Published: August 2016

Background: This study aimed to identify the association between occupational stress and depression-well-being by proposing a comprehensive and flexible job burden-capital model with its corresponding hypotheses. Methods: For this research, 1618 valid samples were gathered from the electronic manufacturing service industry in Hunan Province, China; self-rated questionnaires were administered to participants for data collection after obtaining their written consent. The proposed model was fitted and tested through structural equation model analysis. Results: Single-factor correlation analysis results indicated that coefficients between all items and dimensions had statistical significance. The final model demonstrated satisfactory global goodness of fit (CMIN/DF = 5.37, AGFI = 0.915, NNFI = 0.945, IFI = 0.952, RMSEA = 0.052). Both the measurement and structural models showed acceptable path loadings. Job burden and capital were directly associated with depression and well-being or indirectly related to them through personality. Multi-group structural equation model analyses indicated general applicability of the proposed model to basic features of such a population. Gender, marriage and education led to differences in the relation between occupational stress and health outcomes. Conclusions: The job burden-capital model of occupational stress-depression and well-being was found to be more systematic and comprehensive than previous models.
The Significance of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition for Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Kölbl Alexandra , Jeschke Udo , Andergassen Ulrich
Published: August 2016

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involved in embryonic development, but it also plays a role in remote metastasis formation in tumor diseases. During this process cells lose their epithelial features and adopt characteristics of mesenchymal cells. Thereby single tumor cells, which dissolve from the primary tumor, are enabled to invade the blood vessels and travel throughout the body as so called “circulating tumor cells” (CTCs). After leaving the blood stream the reverse process of EMT, the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) helps the cells to seed in different tissues, thereby generating the bud of metastasis formation. As metastasis is the main reason for tumor-associated death, CTCs and the EMT process are in the focus of research in recent years. This review summarizes what was already found out about the molecular mechanisms driving EMT, the consequences of EMT for tumor cell detection, and suitable markers for the detection of CTCs which underwent EMT. The research work done in this field could open new roads towards combating cancer.
Apoptotic Pathways Linked to Endocrine System as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Minutoli Letteria , Rinaldi Mariagrazia , Marini Herbert , Irrera Natasha , Crea Giovanni , Lorenzini Cesare , Puzzolo Domenico , Valenti Andrea , Pisani Antonina , Adamo Elena , Altavilla Domenica , Squadrito Francesco , Micali Antonio
Published: August 2016

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic condition common in older men that can result in bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms. The molecular mechanisms and networks underlying the development and the progression of the disease are still far from being fully understood. BPH results from smooth muscle cell and epithelial cell proliferation, primarily within the transition zone of the prostate. Apoptosis and inflammation play important roles in the control of cell growth and in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Disturbances in molecular mechanisms of apoptosis machinery have been linked to BPH. Increased levels of the glycoprotein Dickkopf-related protein 3 in BPH cause an inhibition of the apoptosis machinery through a reduction in B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 associated X protein (Bax) expression. Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins influence cell death by direct inhibition of caspases and modulation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB. Current pharmacotherapy targets either the static component of BPH, including finasteride and dutasteride, or the dynamic component of BPH, including α-adrenoceptor antagonists such as tamsulosin and alfuzosin. Both these classes of drugs significantly interfere with the apoptosis machinery. Furthermore, phytotherapic supplements and new drugs may also modulate several molecular steps of apoptosis.
Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Parrish Alan
Published: August 2016

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by renal dysfunction that is present for more than 3 months; it is also associated with a number of comorbidities [1,2].[...]
Development of a Modular Assay for Detailed Immunophenotyping of Peripheral Human Whole Blood Samples by Multicolor Flow Cytometry
Authors: Rühle Paul , Fietkau Rainer , Gaipl Udo , Frey Benjamin
Published: August 2016

The monitoring of immune cells gained great significance in prognosis and prediction of therapy responses. For analyzing blood samples, the multicolor flow cytometry has become the method of choice as it combines high specificity on single cell level with multiple parameters and high throughput. Here, we present a modular assay for the detailed immunophenotyping of blood (DIoB) that was optimized for an easy and direct application in whole blood samples. The DIoB assay characterizes 34 immune cell subsets that circulate the peripheral blood including all major immune cells such as T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. In addition, it evaluates their functional state and a few non-leukocytes that also have been associated with the outcome of cancer therapy. This DIoB assay allows a longitudinal and close-meshed monitoring of a detailed immune status in patients requiring only 2.0 mL of peripheral blood and it is not restricted to peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It is currently applied for the immune monitoring of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (IMMO-GLIO-01 trial, NCT02022384), pancreatic cancer (CONKO-007 trial, NCT01827553), and head and neck cancer (DIREKHT trial, NCT02528955) and might pave the way for immune biomarker identification for prediction and prognosis of therapy outcome.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase Polymorphisms in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Chang Jason , Stanfill Ansley , Pourmotabbed Tayebeh
Published: August 2016

Stroke remains the fifth leading cause of mortality in the United States with an annual rate of over 128,000 deaths per year. Differences in incidence, pathogenesis, and clinical outcome have long been noted when comparing ischemic stroke among different ethnicities. The observation that racial disparities exist in clinical outcomes after stroke has resulted in genetic studies focusing on specific polymorphisms. Some studies have focused on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs are a ubiquitous group of proteins with extensive roles that include extracellular matrix remodeling and blood-brain barrier disruption. MMPs play an important role in ischemic stroke pathophysiology and clinical outcome. This review will evaluate the evidence for associations between polymorphisms in MMP-1, 2, 3, 9, and 12 with ischemic stroke incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical outcome. The role of polymorphisms in MMP genes may influence the presentation of ischemic stroke and be influenced by racial and ethnic background. However, contradictory evidence for the role of MMP polymorphisms does exist in the literature, and further studies will be necessary to consolidate our understanding of these multi-faceted proteins.
Protective Effects of Berberine on Renal Injury in Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Zhang Xiuli , He Hui , Liang Dan , Jiang Yan , Liang Wei , Chi Zhi-Hong , Ma Jianfei
Published: August 2016

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious diabetic complication with renal hypertrophy and expansion of extracellular matrices in renal fibrosis. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells may be involved in the main mechanism. Berberine (BBR) has been shown to have antifibrotic effects in liver, kidney and lung. However, the mechanism of cytoprotective effects of BBR in DN is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the curative effects of BBR on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and the high glucose (HG)-induced EMT in NRK 52E cells. We found that BBR treatment attenuated renal fibrosis by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in the diabetic kidneys. Further revealed that BBR abrogated HG-induced EMT and oxidative stress in relation not only with the activation of Nrf2 and two Nrf2-targeted antioxidative genes (NQO-1 and HO-1), but also with the suppressing the activation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Importantly, knockdown Nrf2 with siRNA not only abolished the BBR-induced expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 but also removed the inhibitory effect of BBR on HG-induced activation of TGF-β/Smad signaling as well as the anti-fibrosis effects. The data from present study suggest that BBR can ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by activating Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting TGF-β/Smad/EMT signaling activity.
High Pressure Properties of a Ba-Cu-Zn-P Clathrate-I
Authors: Dolyniuk Juli-Anna , Kovnir Kirill
Published: August 2016

The high pressure properties of the novel tetrel-free clathrate, Ba8Cu13.1Zn3.3P29.6, were investigated using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. The pressure was applied using a diamond anvil cell. No structural transitions or decomposition were detected in the studied pressure range of 0.1–7 GPa. The calculated bulk modulus for Ba8Cu13.1Zn3.3P29.6 using a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state is 65(6) GPa at 300 K. This bulk modulus is comparable to the bulk moduli of Ge- and Sn-based clathrates, like A8Ga16Ge30 (A = Sr, Ba) and Sn19.3Cu4.7P22I8, but lower than those for the transition metal-containing silicon-based clathrates, Ba8TxSi46−x, T = Ni, Cu; 3 ≤ x ≤ 5.
Study of a Microfluidic Chip Integrating Single Cell Trap and 3D Stable Rotation Manipulation
Authors: Huang Liang , Tu Long , Zeng Xueyong , Mi Lu , Li Xuzhou , Wang Wenhui
Published: August 2016

Single cell manipulation technology has been widely applied in biological fields, such as cell injection/enucleation, cell physiological measurement, and cell imaging. Recently, a biochip platform with a novel configuration of electrodes for cell 3D rotation has been successfully developed by generating rotating electric fields. However, the rotation platform still has two major shortcomings that need to be improved. The primary problem is that there is no on-chip module to facilitate the placement of a single cell into the rotation chamber, which causes very low efficiency in experiment to manually pipette single 10-micron-scale cells into rotation position. Secondly, the cell in the chamber may suffer from unstable rotation, which includes gravity-induced sinking down to the chamber bottom or electric-force-induced on-plane movement. To solve the two problems, in this paper we propose a new microfluidic chip with manipulation capabilities of single cell trap and single cell 3D stable rotation, both on one chip. The new microfluidic chip consists of two parts. The top capture part is based on the least flow resistance principle and is used to capture a single cell and to transport it to the rotation chamber. The bottom rotation part is based on dielectrophoresis (DEP) and is used to 3D rotate the single cell in the rotation chamber with enhanced stability. The two parts are aligned and bonded together to form closed channels for microfluidic handling. Using COMSOL simulation and preliminary experiments, we have verified, in principle, the concept of on-chip single cell traps and 3D stable rotation, and identified key parameters for chip structures, microfluidic handling, and electrode configurations. The work has laid a solid foundation for on-going chip fabrication and experiment validation.
Insecticidal Properties of a Highly Potent Wax Isolated from Dolichandra cynanchoides Cham
Authors: Díaz Napal Georgina , Carpinella María , Palacios Sara
Published: August 2016

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Dolichandra cynanchoides Cham. (Bignoniaceae) led to the isolation of a natural wax with anti-insect activity against Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae) and Epilachna paenulata (Coleptera). The compound was identified spectroscopically as an ester of a C27 fatty acid and a C25 alcohol, pentacosyl heptacosanoate (1). The effective doses of 1 for 50% feeding inhibition (ED50) of S. frugiperda and E. paenulata were 0.82 and 8.53 µg/cm2, respectively, in a choice test, while azadirachtin showed ED50 of 0.10 and 0.59 µg/cm2, respectively. In a no-choice test, both insects refused to feed on leaves treated with 1 at doses of 0.1 µg/cm2 or greater inhibiting larval growth and dramatically reducing survival. The lethal doses 50 (LD50) of 1 were 0.39 and 0.68 µg/cm2 for S. frugiperda and E. paenulata, respectively. These results indicate that 1 has potential for development as botanical insecticides. Similar esters might be obtainable in large quantities as many edible crops produce wax esters that are discarded during food processing. Research on these materials could lead to the detection of similar waxes with insecticidal activity.
Synthesis of Hydroxymethylenebisphosphonic Acid Derivatives in Different Solvents
Authors: Nagy Dávid , Grün Alajos , Garadnay Sándor , Greiner István , Keglevich György
Published: August 2016

The syntheses of hydroxymethylenebisphosphonic acid derivatives (dronic acid derivatives) starting from the corresponding substituted acetic acids and P-reagents, mainly phosphorus trichloride and phosphorous acid are surveyed according to the solvents applied. The nature of the solvent is a critical point due to the heterogeneity of the reaction mixtures. This review sheds light on the optimum choice and ratio of the P-reactants, and on the optimum conditions.
Plant Resources, 13C-NMR Spectral Characteristic and Pharmacological Activities of Dammarane-Type Triterpenoids
Authors: Ruan Jingya , Zheng Chang , Qu Lu , Liu Yanxia , Han Lifeng , Yu Haiyang , Zhang Yi , Wang Tao
Published: August 2016

Dammarane-type triterpenoids (DTT) widely distribute in various medicinal plants. They have generated a great amount of interest in the field of new drug research and development. Generally, DTT are the main bioactive ingredients abundant in Araliaceae plants, such as Panax ginseng, P. japonicas, P. notoginseng, and P. quinquefolium. Aside from Araliaceae, DTT also distribute in other families, including Betulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Meliaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Scrophulariaceae. Until now, about 136 species belonging to 46 families have been reported to contain DTT. In this article, the genus classifications of plant sources of the botanicals that contain DTT are reviewed, with particular focus on the NMR spectral features and pharmacological activities based on literature reports, which may be benefit for the development of new drugs or food additives.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of 6,8-Diprenyl-7,4′-dihydroxyflavanone from Sophora tonkinensis on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells
Authors: Chae Hee-Sung , Yoo Hunseung , Kim Young-Mi , Choi Young , Lee Chang , Chin Young-Won
Published: August 2016

The anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanism of 6,8-diprenyl-7,4′-dihydroxyflavanone (DDF), one of the flavanones found in Sophora tonkinensis, were assessed in vitro through macrophage-mediated inflammation in the present study. The anti-inflammatory effects of DDF were not previously reported. DDF inhibited the production of nitric oxide and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages was suppressed by treatment with DDF. Therefore, DDF demonstrated potentially anti-inflammatory effects via the blockade of NF-κB and ERK activation in macrophages.
In Vitro Inhibition of Human UDP-Glucuronosyl-Transferase (UGT) Isoforms by Astaxanthin, β-Cryptoxanthin, Canthaxanthin, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin: Prediction of in Vivo Dietary Supplement-Drug Interactions
Authors: Zheng Yu , Min Jee , Kim Doyun , Park Jung , Choi Sung-Wook , Lee Eun , Na Kun , Bae Soo
Published: August 2016

Despite the widespread use of the five major xanthophylls astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin as dietary supplements, there have been no studies regarding their inhibitory effects on hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Here, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of these xanthophylls on the seven major human hepatic UGTs (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B7 and UGT2B15) in vitro by LC-MS/MS using specific marker reactions in human liver microsomes (except UGT2B15) or recombinant supersomes (UGT2B15). We also predicted potential dietary supplement-drug interactions for β-cryptoxanthin via UGT1A1 inhibition. We demonstrated that astaxanthin and zeaxanthin showed no apparent inhibition, while the remaining xanthophylls showed only weak inhibitory effects on the seven UGTs. β-Cryptoxanthin mildly inhibited UGT1A1, UGT1A3, and UGT1A4, with IC50 values of 18.8 ± 2.07, 28.3 ± 4.40 and 34.9 ± 5.98 μM, respectively. Canthaxanthin weakly inhibited UGT1A1 and UGT1A3, with IC50 values of 38.5 ± 4.65 and 41.2 ± 3.14 μM, respectively; and lutein inhibited UGT1A1 and UGT1A4, with IC50 values of 45.5 ± 4.01 and 28.7 ± 3.79 μM, respectively. Among the tested xanthophyll-UGT pairs, β-cryptoxanthin showed the strongest competitive inhibition of UGT1A1 (Ki, 12.2 ± 0.985 μM). In addition, we predicted the risk of UGT1A1 inhibition in vivo using the reported maximum plasma concentration after oral administration of β-cryptoxanthin in humans. Our data suggests that these xanthophylls are unlikely to cause dietary supplement-drug interactions mediated by inhibition of the hepatic UGTs. These findings provide useful information for the safe clinical use of the tested xanthophylls.