bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection Induces Consistent Changes in Circulating MicroRNAs That Are Associated with Nonlytic Hepatocyte Release
Authors: El-Diwany Ramy , Wasilewski Lisa N. , Witwer Kenneth W. , Bailey Justin R. , Page Kimberly , Ray Stuart C. , Cox Andrea L. , Thomas David L. , Balagopal Ashwin
Published: July 2015

Plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) change in abundance in response to disease and have been associated with liver fibrosis severity in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the early dynamics of miRNA release during acute HCV infection are poorly understood. In addition, circulating miRNA signatures have been difficult to reproduce among separate populations. We studied plasma miRNA abundance during acute HCV infection to identify an miRNA signature of early infection. We measured 754 plasma miRNAs by quantitative PCR array in a discovery cohort of 22 individuals before and during acute HCV infection and after spontaneous resolution (
n
= 11) or persistence (
n
= 11) to identify a plasma miRNA signature. The discovery cohort derived from the Baltimore Before and After Acute Study of Hepatitis. During acute HCV infection, increases in miR-122 (
P
< 0.01) and miR-885-5p (
P
corrected
< 0.05) and a decrease in miR-494 (
P
corrected
< 0.05) were observed at the earliest time points after virus detection. Changes in miR-122 and miR-885-5p were sustained in persistent (
P
< 0.001) but not resolved HCV infection. The circulating miRNA signature of acute HCV infection was confirmed in a separate validation cohort that was derived from the San Francisco-based You Find Out (UFO) Study (
n
= 28). As further confirmation, cellular changes of signature miRNAs were examined in a tissue culture model of HCV in hepatoma cells: HCV infection induced extracellular release of miR-122 and miR-885-5p despite unperturbed intracellular levels. In contrast, miR-494 accumulated intracellularly (
P
< 0.05). Collectively, these data are inconsistent with necrolytic release of hepatocyte miRNAs into the plasma during acute HCV infection of humans.

IMPORTANCE
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that emerging research shows can transmit regulatory signals between cells in health and disease. HCV infects 2% of humans worldwide, and chronic HCV infection is a major cause of severe liver disease. We profiled plasma miRNAs in injection drug users before, during, and (in the people with resolution) after HCV infection. We discovered miRNA signatures of acute and persistent viremia and confirmed these findings two ways: (i) in a separate cohort of people with newly acquired HCV infection and (ii) in an HCV cell culture system. Our results demonstrate that acute HCV infection induces early changes in the abundance of specific plasma miRNAs that may affect the host response to HCV infection.
Human and Murine IFIT1 Proteins Do Not Restrict Infection of Negative-Sense RNA Viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Filoviridae Families
Authors: Pinto Amelia K. , Williams Graham D. , Szretter Kristy J. , White James P. , Proença-Módena José Luiz , Liu Gai , Olejnik Judith , Brien James D. , Ebihara Hideki , Mühlberger Elke , Amarasinghe Gaya , Diamond Michael S. , Boon Adrianus C. M.
Published: July 2015

Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1) is a host protein with reported cell-intrinsic antiviral activity against several RNA viruses. The proposed basis for the activity against negative-sense RNA viruses is the binding to exposed 5′-triphosphates (5′-ppp) on the genome of viral RNA. However, recent studies reported relatively low binding affinities of IFIT1 for 5′-ppp RNA, suggesting that IFIT1 may not interact efficiently with this moiety under physiological conditions. To evaluate the ability of IFIT1 to have an impact on negative-sense RNA viruses, we infected

Ifit1
−/−

and wild-type control mice and primary cells with four negative-sense RNA viruses (influenza A virus [IAV], La Crosse virus [LACV], Oropouche virus [OROV], and Ebola virus) corresponding to three distinct families. Unexpectedly, a lack of
Ifit1
gene expression did not result in increased infection by any of these viruses in cell culture. Analogously, morbidity, mortality, and viral burdens in tissues were identical between

Ifit1
−/−

and control mice after infection with IAV, LACV, or OROV. Finally, deletion of the human IFIT1 protein in A549 cells did not affect IAV replication or infection, and reciprocally, ectopic expression of IFIT1 in HEK293T cells did not inhibit IAV infection. To explain the lack of antiviral activity against IAV, we measured the binding affinity of IFIT1 for RNA oligonucleotides resembling the 5′ ends of IAV gene segments. The affinity for 5′-ppp RNA was approximately 10-fold lower than that for non-2′-
O
-methylated (cap 0) RNA oligonucleotides. Based on this analysis, we conclude that IFIT1 is not a dominant restriction factor against negative-sense RNA viruses.

IMPORTANCE
Negative-sense RNA viruses, including influenza virus and Ebola virus, have been responsible for some of the most deadly outbreaks in recent history. The host interferon response and induction of antiviral genes contribute to the control of infections by these viruses. IFIT1 is highly induced after virus infection and reportedly has antiviral activity against several RNA and DNA viruses. However, its role in restricting infection by negative-sense RNA viruses remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the ability of IFIT1 to inhibit negative-sense RNA virus replication and pathogenesis both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Detailed cell culture and animal studies demonstrated that IFIT1 is not a dominant restriction factor against three different families of negative-sense RNA viruses.
Comparative Phylodynamics of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Eden John-Sebastian , Kovaliski John , Duckworth Janine A. , Swain Grace , Mahar Jackie E. , Strive Tanja , Holmes Edward C.
Published: July 2015

The introduction of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) into Australia and New Zealand during the 1990s as a means of controlling feral rabbits is an important case study in viral emergence. Both epidemics are exceptional in that the founder viruses share an origin and the timing of their release is known, providing a unique opportunity to compare the evolution of a single virus in distinct naive populations. We examined the evolution and spread of RHDV in Australia and New Zealand through a genome-wide evolutionary analysis, including data from 28 newly sequenced RHDV field isolates. Following the release of the Australian inoculum strain into New Zealand, no subsequent mixing of the populations occurred, with viruses from both countries forming distinct groups. Strikingly, the rate of evolution in the capsid gene was higher in the Australian viruses than in those from New Zealand, most likely due to the presence of transient deleterious mutations in the former. However, estimates of both substitution rates and population dynamics were strongly sample dependent, such that small changes in sample composition had an important impact on evolutionary parameters. Phylogeographic analysis revealed a clear spatial structure in the Australian RHDV strains, with a major division between those viruses from western and eastern states. Importantly, RHDV sequences from the state where the virus was first released, South Australia, had the greatest diversity and were diffuse throughout both geographic lineages, such that this region was likely a source population for the subsequent spread of the virus across the country.

IMPORTANCEMost studies of viral emergence lack detailed knowledge about which strains were founders for the outbreak or when these events occurred. Hence, the human-mediated introduction of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) into Australia and New Zealand from known starting stocks provides a unique opportunity to understand viral evolution and emergence. Within Australia, we revealed a major phylogenetic division between viruses sampled from the east and west of the country, with both regions likely seeded by viruses from South Australia. Despite their common origins, marked differences in evolutionary rates were observed between the Australian and New Zealand RHDV, which led to conflicting conclusions about population growth rates. An analysis of mutational patterns suggested that evolutionary rates have been elevated in the Australian viruses, at least in part due to the presence of low-fitness (deleterious) variants that have yet to be selectively purged.
Candida
Biofilms: Development, Architecture, and Resistance
Authors: Chandra Jyotsna , Mukherjee Pranab K.
Published: July 2015

Intravascular device–related infections are often associated with biofilms (microbial communities encased within a polysaccharide-rich extracellular matrix) formed by pathogens on the surfaces of these devices.
Candida
species are the most common fungi isolated from catheter-, denture-, and voice prosthesis–associated infections and also are commonly isolated from contact lens–related infections (e.g., fungal keratitis). These biofilms exhibit decreased susceptibility to most antimicrobial agents, which contributes to the persistence of infection. Recent technological advances have facilitated the development of novel approaches to investigate the formation of biofilms and identify specific markers for biofilms. These studies have provided extensive knowledge of the effect of different variables, including growth time, nutrients, and physiological conditions, on biofilm formation, morphology, and architecture. In this article, we will focus on fungal biofilms (mainly
Candida
biofilms) and provide an update on the development, architecture, and resistance mechanisms of biofilms.
Traumatic rupture of the brachialis muscle in a 52-year-old man
Authors: Costa Jorge Homero , Marques Tiago Paiva
Published: July 2015

The authors report an isolated rupture of the brachialis muscle in a 52-year-old man who suffered a hyperextension injury to his left elbow after a fall. Clinical examination combined with conventional radiographs, ultrasound and MRI, confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was treated conservatively and had a return to full function.
Influence of voluntary standards and design modifications on trampoline injury in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Ashby Karen , Eager David , D'Elia Angelo , Day Lesley
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To examine the influence of the voluntary Australian trampoline standard (AS 4989-2006) and market-driven design modifications on relevant trampoline injuries.

Methods

Trend and intervention analysis on frequencies and proportions of hospital-treated trampoline-related injury in Victoria, Australia, extracted from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2013. The injuries relevant to theASwere contact with spring and frame, and multiple-user injury. Falls from trampolines were relevant for netted trampolines, a market-driven modification.

Results

Frequency of all trampoline injuries increased by 11.4% (95% CI 10.0% to 11.7%) on average each year. Spring and frame, and fall injuries increased to a lesser extent (8.7%, 95% CI 6.9% to 9.8% and 7.3%, 95% CI 5.8% to 8.3%, respectively). Multiple-user injuries increased by 21.0% (95% CI 16.3% to 21.9%). As a proportion of all trampoline injuries, spring and frame injury and falls injury decreased, while multiple-user injuries increased. The intervention analysis showed no significant change in spring and frame injuries associated with the AS (p=0.17). A significant increase was found for multiple-user injuries (p=0.01), in particular for the 0-year to 4-year age group (p<0.0001), post 2007.

Conclusions

There was little evidence for an effect of the voluntary standard on spring and frame injury and none for multiple-user injury. Netted trampolines appear to be associated with a decrease in falls from trampolines but an increase in injuries to multiple users. A mandated trampoline safety standard and a safety campaign including warnings about multiple users is recommended. Continued monitoring of injury data will be required.
First‐year student diary
Authors: Perrett Sophie
Published: July 2015

Rosie Perrett has finished her first year of studies at Liverpool and is awaiting her exam results. In the meantime, EMS placements will give her the chance to consolidate what she has learnt.
Proposed trial: safety and efficacy of resveratrol for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and associated insulin resistance in adolescents who are overweight or obese adolescents — rationale and protocol
Authors: Wicklow Brandy , Wittmeier Kristy , t’ Jong Geert W. , McGavock Jonathon , Robert Marni , Duhamel Todd , Dolinsky Vernon W.
Published: July 2015

Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) disease (NAFLD) affects 30% of overweight adolescents and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound with potential to reverse NAFL and its associated insulin resistance in adults. The use of resveratrol to reduce risk for T2D through its effect on NAFL has not been examined to date in youth. This paper provides a literature review and protocol for a 30 day proof of principle trial of resveratrol in a population of adolescents at risk for T2D. This randomized double-blind controlled trial is designed with the primary objective of evaluating a twice daily supplementation of 75 mg of resveratrol for safety and tolerability in overweight and obese adolescent subjects (13 to <18 years of age) with NAFL. Secondary objectives are to determine the effect size of the intervention on hepatic steatosis and whole body insulin sensitivity. Adolescents in the intervention arm (n = 10) will receive oral supplementation of resveratrol 75 mg twice daily (with breakfast and dinner) for a total daily dose of 150 mg for the duration of 30 days. The comparison group (n = 10) will receive a placebo twice daily for 30 days. Both cases and controls will receive a standardized lifestyle intervention program. Subjects in both groups will be followed for an additional 30 days post intervention for total study duration of approximately 60 days. Primary outcome measures include a primary side effect profile determined by participant interview, a side effect profile determined by serum biochemistry and vital signs. Secondary outcome measures include an oral glucose tolerance test, liver and cardiac fat content measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, anthropometric measures of overweight/obesity, inflammatory markers, and cardiac function and morphology measured with ultrasonography. Additional outcome measures include serum concentrations of resveratrol, compliance to protocol, physical activity, and nutritional assessment. This study will determine the safety and tolerability of resveratrol in an overweight adolescent population and inform the design of a larger randomized controlled trial.
Gold nanoparticles alter parameters of oxidative stress and energy metabolism in organs of adult rats
Authors: Ferreira Gabriela Kozuchovski , Cardoso Eria , Vuolo Francieli Silva , Michels Monique , Zanoni Elton Torres , Carvalho-Silva Milena , Gomes Lara Mezari , Dal-Pizzol Felipe , Rezin Gislaine Tezza , Streck Emilio L. , da Silva Paula Marcos Marques
Published: July 2015

This study evaluated the parameters of oxidative stress and energy metabolism after the acute and long-term administration of gold nanoparticles (GNPs, 10 and 30 nm in diameter) in different organs of rats. Adult male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection or repeated injections (once daily for 28 days) of saline solution, GNPs-10 or GNPs-30. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were killed, and the liver, kidney, and heart were isolated for biochemical analysis. We demonstrated that acute administration of GNPs-30 increased the TBARS levels, and that GNPs-10 increased the carbonyl protein levels. The long-term administration of GNPs-10 increased the TBARS levels, and the carbonyl protein levels were increased by GNPs-30. Acute administration of GNPs-10 and GNPs-30 increased SOD activity. Long-term administration of GNPs-30 increased SOD activity. Acute administration of GNPs-10 decreased the activity of CAT, whereas long-term administration of GNP-10 and GNP-30 altered CAT activity randomly. Our results also demonstrated that acute GNPs-30 administration decreased energy metabolism, especially in the liver and heart. Long-term GNPs-10 administration increased energy metabolism in the liver and decreased energy metabolism in the kidney and heart, whereas long-term GNPs-30 administration increased energy metabolism in the heart. The results of our study are consistent with other studies conducted in our research group and reinforce the fact that GNPs can lead to oxidative damage, which is responsible for DNA damage and alterations in energy metabolism.
Preconcentration and determination of ranitidine hydrochloride in real samples by using modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Konoz Elaheh , Sarrafi Amir H.M. , Sahebi Hamed
Published: July 2015

This method shows a novel, fast, and simple magnetic solid-phase extraction (SPE) and spectrophotometric procedure for preconcentration and determination of ranitidine hydrochloride in human plasma and aquatic samples by using Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an extractor. The unique properties of Fe3O4 NPs including high surface area and strong magnetism were utilized effectively in the magnetic SPE process. The determination method is based on the SDS-coated Fe3O4 NPs with extracted ranitidine-HCl, which was subsequently monitored spectrophotometrically at λmax = 320 nm. Effects of different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of ranitidine-HCl including the pH value, amount of SDS, and Fe3O4 NPs, extraction time, desorption solvent, desorption time, and sample volume were optimized. Under optimized conditions, the method was successfully applied to the extraction of ranitidine-HCl from human plasma and aquatic samples. The extraction recovery in human plasma and different matrixes of waters were investigated and values of 89.0%–103.4% were obtained. The calibration graph for the determination of ranitidine-HCl was linear in the range of 0.025–1.50 μg mL−1 with R2 = 0.9946. The limit of detection of the proposed method was 7.5 × 10−3 μg mL−1. The repeatability and reproducibility (relative standard deviation) of the mentioned method were 0.83% and 1.22%, respectively. The experimental results showed that the proposed method was feasible for the analysis of ranitidine-HCl in environmental and biological samples.
Quantification and comparison of carbon emissions for flexible underground pipelines
Authors: Khan Lutfor Rahman , Tee Kong Fah
Published: July 2015

The life cycle assessment of underground gravity and pressured pipeline networks are studied to quantitatively calculate the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The life cycle of a pipeline can be classified into four phases that are fabrication, transportation, installation, and operation. Three typical flexible underground pipe materials, namely, steel, ductile iron (DI), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been considered. The most dominant phase of the life cycle is pipe manufacturing and fabrication process, resulting in large amounts of CO2 emissions. The results indicate that PVC provides the best environmental savings compared to steel and DI pipes in terms of CO2 emission and emission mitigation cost. This methodology in estimating life cycle carbon footprint and cost could be used as managerial decision support tool for management of any underground pipeline networks.
Mechanisms of temperature- and field-dependent effective drift mobilities and impact ionization coefficients in amorphous selenium
Authors: Hijazi Nour , Kabir M.Z.
Published: July 2015

The mechanisms of electric-field- and temperature-dependent effective drift mobility and impact ionization coefficient of both holes and electrons in amorphous selenium (a-Se) are investigated in this paper. An analytical model for the microscopic mobility, momentum relaxation mean free path, and hence the effective drift mobility and impact ionization coefficient of carriers, is proposed in this paper by considering the density of states distribution, field enhancement release rate from the shallow traps, and carrier heating. The results of the model are fitted with the published experimental results on effective mobility and impact ionization coefficient with wide variations of the applied electric field and temperature. A better fitting considering thermally activated tunneling for the field-enhancement release rate indicates that the effective drift mobility at extremely high fields is mainly controlled by the neutral defect states near the band edges. The density of state function near the band edges, consisting of an exponential tail and a Gaussian peak, can successfully describe the electric-field- and temperature-dependent effective drift mobility characteristics in a-Se. The momentum relaxation mean free path decreases with increasing field and decreasing temperature, which is required to describe the electric-field- and temperature-dependent behaviors of impact ionization coefficient in a-Se.
On quasi-periodic wave solutions and asymptotic behaviors to a (2 + 1)-dimensional generalized variable-coefficient Sawada–Kotera equation
Authors: Tu Jian-Min , Tian Shou-Fu , Xu Mei-Juan , Ma Pan-Li
Published: July 2015

In this paper, a [Formula: see text]-dimensional generalized variable-coefficient Sawada–Kotera (gvcSK) equation is investigated, which describes many nonlinear phenomena in fluid dynamics and plasma physics. Based on the properties of binary Bell polynomials, we present a Hirota’s bilinear equation to the gvcSK equation. By virtue of the Hirota’s bilinear equation, we obtain the N-soliton solutions and the quasi-periodic wave solutions of the gvcSK equation, which can be reduced to the ones of several integrable equations such as Sawada–Kotera, modified Caudrey–Dodd–Gibbon–Sawada–Kotera, isospectral BKP equations and etc. Furthermore, we obtain the relationship between the soliton solutions and periodic solutions by considering the asymptotic properties of the periodic solutions.
Elastic scattering analysis of p+40Ca at incident energies from threshold to 48.4 MeV and nuclear matter radius
Authors: Ismail Atef , Lee Yen Cheong , Tammam M
Published: July 2015

Proton elastic scattering at various incident energies is one method to study nuclear density distributions and nuclear radii. Single folding potential describing the p-scattering on 40 Ca over a broad energy range 9–48.4 MeV is constructed. The resulting potential does not need any renormalization to fit the measured elastic scattering angular distributions and total reaction cross-sections. Furthermore, correlation between volume integral and proton incident energy is discussed. Theoretical calculations are in a good agreement with existing experimental data.
Prey–predator model for optimal harvesting with functional response incorporating prey refuge
Authors: Mahapatra G. S. , Santra P.
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a prey–predator model considering the predator interacting with non-refuges prey by class of functional responses. Here we also consider harvesting for only non-refuges prey. We discuss the equilibria of the model, and their stability for hiding prey either in constant form or proportional to the densities of prey population. We also investigate various possibilities of bionomic equilibrium and optimal harvesting policy. Finally we present numerical examples with pictorial presentation of the various effects of the prey–predator system parameter.
The asymptotic stability for an SIQS epidemic model with diffusion
Authors: Li Yanling , Zhang Lijing , Guo Gaihui
Published: July 2015

In this paper, an SIQS epidemic model with constant recruitment and standard incidence is investigated. Quarantine is taken into consideration on the basis of SIS model. The asymptotic stability of the equilibrium to a reaction–diffusion system with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions is considered. Sufficient conditions for the local and global asymptotic stability are given by linearization and the method of upper and lower solutions and its associated monotone iterations. The result shows that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the contact rate is small.
The Adsorption on Nano-Fe3O4 of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Fan Lu , Li Ling , Sun Keke , Mao Lebao , Liang Keke , Liu Li
Published: July 2015

The adsorption of malachite green from an aqueous solution of magnetic Fe 3 O 4 was studied in view of the adsorption isotherm, kinetics and regeneration of the sorbent. The adsorption isotherm of MG on nano- Fe 3 O 4 composite followed the Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption kinetics was determined from the experimental data. The nano- Fe 3 O 4 can be recycled for reuse after regeneration through acetonitrile. The high adsorption capacity and excellent reusability made Fe 3 O 4 attractive for the removal of MG from aqueous solution.
TRADE
Authors: Kestor Gokcen , Unsal Osman S. , Cristal Adrian , Tasiran Serdar
Published: July 2015

As other multithreaded programs, transactional memory (TM) programs are prone to race conditions. Previous work focuses on extending existing definitions of data race for lock-based applications to TM applications, which requires all transactions to be totally ordered “as if” serialized by a global lock. This approach poses implementation constraints on the STM that severely limits TM applications’ performance.

This article shows that forcing total ordering among all running transactions, while sufficient, is not necessary. We introduce an alternative data race definition,
relaxed transactional data race
, that requires ordering of
only
conflicting transactions. The advantages of our relaxed definition are twofold: First, unlike the previous definition, this definition can be applied to a wide range of TMs, including those that do not enforce transaction total ordering. Second, within a single execution, it exposes a higher number of data races, which considerably reduces debugging time. Based on this definition, we propose a novel and precise race detection tool for C/C++ TM applications (TRADE), which detects data races by tracking happens-before edges among conflicting transactions.

Our experiments reveal that TRADE precisely detects data races for STAMP applications running on modern STMs with overhead comparable to state-of-the-art race detectors for lock-based applications. Our experiments also show that in a single run, TRADE identifies several races not discovered by 10 separate runs of a race detection tool based on the previous data race definition.
Vitamin D receptor pathway is required for probiotic protection in colitis
Authors: Wu Shaoping , Yoon Sonia , Zhang Yong-Guo , Lu Rong , Xia Yinglin , Wan Jiandi , Petrof Elaine O. , Claud Erika C. , Chen Di , Sun Jun
Published: July 2015

Low expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and dysfunction of vitamin D/VDR signaling are reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); therefore, restoration of VDR function to control inflammation in IBD is desirable. Probiotics have been used in the treatment of IBD. However, the role of probiotics in the modulation of VDR signaling to effectively reduce inflammation is unknown. We identified a novel role of probiotics in activating VDR activity, thus inhibiting inflammation, using cell models and VDR knockout mice. We found that the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) increased VDR protein expression in both mouse and human intestinal epithelial cells. Using the VDR luciferase reporter vector, we detected increased transcriptional activity of VDR after probiotic treatment. Probiotics increased the expression of the VDR target genes, such as antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin, at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, the role of probiotics in regulating VDR signaling was tested in vivo using a Salmonella-colitis model in VDR knockout mice. Probiotic treatment conferred physiological and histologic protection from Salmonella-induced colitis in VDR+/+mice, whereas probiotics had no effects in the VDR−/−mice. Probiotic treatment also enhanced numbers of Paneth cells, which secrete AMPs for host defense. These data indicate that the VDR pathway is required for probiotic protection in colitis. Understanding how probiotics enhance VDR signaling and inhibit inflammation will allow probiotics to be used effectively, resulting in innovative approaches to the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammation.
Remodeling of left circumflex coronary arterial tree in pacing-induced heart failure
Authors: Huo Yunlong , Kassab Ghassan S.
Published: July 2015

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a very serious heart disease that manifests an imbalance between left ventricle supply and demand. Although the mechanical demand of the failing heart has been well characterized, the systematic remodeling of the entire coronary arterial tree that constitutes the supply of the myocardium is lacking. We hypothesize that the well-known increase in ventricle wall stress during CHF causes coronary vascular rarefaction to increase the vascular flow resistance, which in turn compromises the perfusion of the heart. Morphometric (diameters, length, and numbers) data of the swine left circumflex (LCx) arterial tree were measured in both CHF ( n = 6) and control ( n = 6) groups, from which a computer reconstruction of the entire LCx tree was implemented down to the capillary level to enable a hemodynamic analysis of coronary circulation. The vascular flow resistance was increased by ∼75% due to a significant decrease of vessel numbers (∼45%) and diameters in the first capillary segments (∼10%) of the LCx arterial tree after 3-4 wk of pacing. The structural remodeling significantly changed the wall shear stress in vessel segments of the entire LCx arterial tree of CHF animals. This study enhances our knowledge of coronary arterial tree remodeling in heart failure, which provides a deeper understanding of the deterioration of supply-demand relation in left ventricle.
Mechanical Fault Diagnosis for HV Circuit Breakers Based on Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition Energy Entropy and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Liu Mingliang , Wang Keqi , Sun Laijun
Published: July 2015

During the operation process of the high voltage circuit breaker, the changes of vibration signals can reflect the machinery states of the circuit breaker. The extraction of the vibration signal feature will directly influence the accuracy and practicability of fault diagnosis. This paper presents an extraction method based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). Firstly, the original vibration signals are decomposed into a finite number of stationary intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Secondly, calculating the envelope of each IMF and separating the envelope by equal-time segment and then forming equal-time segment energy entropy to reflect the change of vibration signal are performed. At last, the energy entropies could serve as input vectors of support vector machine (SVM) to identify the working state and fault pattern of the circuit breaker. Practical examples show that this diagnosis approach can identify effectively fault patterns of HV circuit breaker.
Surfactant‐Free Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Fe‐Doped ZnO Nanostars as Photocatalyst for Degradation of Tropaeolin O in Water under Visible Light
Authors: Kwong Tsz-Lung , Yung Ka-Fu
Published: July 2015

Iron‐doped zinc oxide nanostar was synthesized by the microwave‐assisted surfactant‐free hydrolysis method. The as‐synthesized Fe‐doped ZnO nanostars catalyst was fully characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance UV‐vis spectroscopy (UV‐DRA). The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of Tropaeolin O under visible light irradiation. It is observed that the doping of Fe ions enhances the absorption of the visible light and thus the photocatalytic degradation rate of Tropaeolin O would increase. Despite the Taguchi orthogonal experimental design method, the photocatalytic conversion could be achieved at 99.8% in the Fe‐doped ZnO catalyzed photodegradation reaction under the optimal reaction conditions of catalyst loading (30 mg), temperature (60°C), light distance (0 cm), initial pH (pH = 9), and irradiation time (3 h). The Fe‐doped ZnO photocatalyst can also be easily recovered and directly reused for eight cycles with over 70% conversion.
An Update on Surgical versus Expectant Management of Ovarian Endometriomas in Infertile Women
Authors: Keyhan Sanaz , Hughes Claude , Price Thomas , Muasher Suheil
Published: July 2015

Ovarian endometriomas are a common manifestation of endometriosis that can represent a more severe stage of the disease. There is much debate over the treatment of these cysts in infertile women, particularly before use of assisted reproductive technologies. Evidence exists that supports surgical excision of ovarian endometriomas, as well as evidence that cautions against surgical intervention. Certain factors need to be examined closely before proceeding with surgery or continuing with expectant management. These include the patient’s symptoms, age, ovarian reserve, size and laterality of the cyst, prior surgical treatment, and level of suspicion for malignancy. The most recent evidence appears to suggest that certain patient profiles may benefit from proceeding directly to in vitro fertilization (IVF). These include symptomatic infertile patients, especially those that are older, those that have diminished ovarian reserve, those that have bilateral endometriomas, or those that have had prior surgical treatment. Although endometriomas can be detrimental to the ovarian reserve, surgical therapy may further lower a woman’s ovarian reserve. Nevertheless, the presence of an endometrioma does not appear to adversely affect IVF outcomes, and surgical excision of endometriomas does not appear to improve IVF outcomes. Regardless of treatment plan, infertile patients with endometriomas must be counseled appropriately before choosing either treatment path.
Time Savings and Surgery Task Load Reduction in Open Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh Fixation Procedure
Authors: Roy Sanjoy , Hammond Jeffrey , Panish Jessica , Shnoda Pullen , Savidge Sandy , Wilson Mark
Published: July 2015

Background. This study assessed the reduction in surgeon stress associated with savings in procedure time for mechanical fixation of an intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) compared to a traditional suture fixation in open ventral hernia repair. Study Design. Nine general surgeons performed 36 open IPOM fixation procedures in porcine model. Each surgeon conducted two mechanical (using ETHICON SECURESTRAPTM Open) and two suture fixation procedures. Fixation time was measured using a stopwatch, and related surgeon stress was assessed using the validated SURG‐TLX questionnaire. T‐tests were used to compare between‐group differences, and a two‐sided 95% confidence interval for the difference in stress levels was established using nonparametric methodology. Results. The mechanical fixation group demonstrated an 89.1% mean reduction in fixation time, as compared to the suture group (p < 0.00001). Surgeon stress scores measured using SURG‐TLX were 55.5% lower in the mechanical compared to the suture fixation group (p < 0.001). Scores in five of the six sources of stress were significantly lower for mechanical fixation. Conclusions. Mechanical fixation with ETHICON SECURESTRAPTM Open demonstrated a significant reduction in fixation time and surgeon stress, which may translate into improved operating efficiency, improved performance, improved surgeon quality of life, and reduced overall costs of the procedure.
Geometric Properties of a New Integral Operator
Authors: Bucur Roberta , Andrei Loriana , Breaz Daniel
Published: July 2015

We obtain sufficient conditions for the univalence, starlikeness, and convexity of a new integral operator defined on the space of normalized analytic functions in the open unit disk. Some subordination results for the new integral operator are also given. Several corollaries follow as special cases.
Use of Adult Stem Cells for Cartilage Tissue Engineering: Current Status and Future Developments
Authors: Baugé Catherine , Boumédiene Karim
Published: July 2015

Due to their low self-repair ability, cartilage defects that result from joint injury, aging, or osteoarthritis, are the most often irreversible and are a major cause of joint pain and chronic disability. So, in recent years, researchers and surgeons have been working hard to elaborate cartilage repair interventions for patients who suffer from cartilage damage. However, current methods do not perfectly restore hyaline cartilage and may lead to the apparition of fibro- or hypertrophic cartilage. In the next years, the development of new strategies using adult stem cells, in scaffolds, with supplementation of culture medium and/or culture in low oxygen tension should improve the quality of neoformed cartilage. Through these solutions, some of the latest technologies start to bring very promising results in repairing cartilage from traumatic injury or chondropathies. This review discusses the current knowledge about the use of adult stem cells in the context of cartilage tissue engineering and presents clinical trials in progress, as well as in the future, especially in the field of bioprinting stem cells.
An Improved Peak Sidelobe Reduction Method for Subarrayed Beam Scanning
Authors: Hu Hang , Luan Xuepeng , Zhang Guanglei , Song Ke , Liu Weihui , Mou Chenghu
Published: July 2015

This paper focused on PSL (peak sidelobe level) reduction for subarrayed beam scanning in phased array radars. The desired GSP (Gaussian Subarray Patterns) are achieved by creating a subarray weighting network. The GSP-based method could reduce PSL of array pattern; compared with the method based on the desired subarray pattern which is defined by ideal space-domain filter, the PSL reduction performance is improved remarkably. Further, based on the concept adopting superelement patterns to approximately express original subarray patterns, the simplified GSP-based method is proposed. So the dimension of each matrix required for creating the weighting network, which was originally the same as the element number, could be reduced to the same as the subarray number. Consequently, we achieve remarkable reduction of the computation burden; simultaneously, the PSL mitigation performance is degraded slightly. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the introduced methods.
SH-Wave at a Plane Interface between Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Fibre-Reinforced Elastic Half-Spaces
Authors: Zorammuana C. , Singh S. S.
Published: July 2015

The problem of reflection and refraction ofSH-waves at a plane interface between the homogeneous and inhomogeneous fibre-reinforced elastic half-spaces has been investigated. Amplitude and energy ratios corresponding to the reflected and refractedSH-waves are derived using appropriate boundary conditions. These ratios are computed numerically for a particular model and the results are depicted graphically.
In VitroEvaluation of the Effects ofEurycoma longifoliaExtract on CYP-Mediated Drug Metabolism
Authors: Han Young Min , Kim In Sook , Rehman Shaheed Ur , Choe Kevin , Yoo Hye Hyun
Published: July 2015

Eurycoma longifolia(Simaroubaceae) is a popular folk medicine that has traditionally been used in Southeast Asia as an antimalarial, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial and in antipyretic remedies. This study evaluates the effects ofEurycoma longifoliaextract on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme-mediated drug metabolism to predict the potential for herb-drug interactions. Methanolic extract ofE. longifoliaroot was tested at concentrations of 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 µg/mL in human liver microsomes or individual recombinant CYP isozymes. The CYP inhibitory activity was measured using the cocktail probe assay based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.E. longifoliashowed weak, concentration-dependent inhibition of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, and CYP2C19. The inhibitory effects on these CYP isozymes were further tested using individual recombinant CYP isozymes, showing IC50values of 324.9, 797.1, and 562.9 μg/mL, respectively. In conclusion,E. longifoliaslightly inhibited the metabolic activities of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, and CYP2C19 but this issue requires careful attention in taking herbal medicines or dietary supplements containingE. longifoliaextracts.
Engineering New Approaches to Cancer Vaccines
Authors: Mehta Naveen K. , Moynihan Kelly D. , Irvine Darrell J.
Published: July 2015

Recently, a number of promising approaches have been developed using synthetic chemistry, materials science, and bioengineering-based strategies to address challenges in the design of more effective cancer vaccines. At the stage of initial priming, potency can be improved by maximizing vaccine delivery to lymph nodes. Because lymphatic uptake from peripheral tissues is strongly size dependent, antigens and adjuvants packaged into optimally sized nanoparticles access the lymph node with much greater efficiency than unformulated vaccines. Once primed, T cells must home to the tumor site. Because T cells acquire the necessary surface receptors in the local lymph node draining the tissue of interest, vaccines must be engineered that reach organs, such as the lung and gut, which are common sites of tumor lesions but inaccessible by traditional vaccination routes. Particulate vaccine carriers can improve antigen exposure in these organs, resulting in greater lymphocyte priming. Immunomodulatory agents can also be injected directly into the tumor site to stimulate a systemic response capable of clearing even distal lesions; materials have been designed that entrap or slowly release immunomodulators at the tumor site, reducing systemic exposure and improving therapeutic efficacy. Finally, lessons learned from the design of biomaterial-based scaffolds in regenerative medicine have led to the development of implantable vaccines that recruit and activate antigen-presenting cells to drive antitumor immunity. Overall, these engineering strategies represent an expanding toolkit to create safe and effective cancer vaccines. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(8); 836–43. ©2015 AACR.
MiR-142-3p Suppresses SOCS6 Expression and Promotes Cell Proliferation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Qi Xiaoming , Li Jianqiang , Zhou Changbo , Lv Chunlei , Tian Min
Published: July 2015

Background/Aims: An increasing number of studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumorigenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the biological roles and mechanisms of miR-142-3p in NPC. Methods: miR-142-3p expression was examined in NPC specimens and nasopharyngitis biopsy samples by quantitative real-time PCR. The biological functions of miR-142-3p were studied using a series of in vitro and in vivo approaches. Results: miR-142-3p is over-expressed in NPC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of miR-142-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in a mouse model. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) was identified as a direct target of miR-142-3p, and miR-142-3p down-regulated the expression of SOCS6 by directly binding to its 3′untranslated region (UTR). Knockdown of SOCS6 abrogated the effects of miR-142-3p down-regulation. Conclusion: These findings indicate that miR-142-3p regulates NPC development by down-regulating SOCS6 expression and suggest that modulation of miR-142-3p expression could be a therapeutic strategy for NPC.
Effect of an Acute High Carbohydrate Diet on Body Composition Using DXA in Young Men
Authors: Rouillier Marc-Antoine , David-Riel Sarah , Brazeau Anne-Sophie , St-Pierre David H. , Karelis Antony D.
Published: July 2015

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a 3-day high-carbohydrate diet (≥75% of total calories) on body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Twenty non-obese young men (age 22.7 ± 2.6 years, BMI 23.5 ± 2.1 kg/m2) completed the study. Two DXA tests were performed for the measurement of total body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage as well as total, appendicular and central lean body mass (LBM) before and after a high-carbohydrate diet for 3 days. In addition, the participants completed a food diary during the 3-day high-carbohydrate diet to determine the mean percentage of carbohydrates consumed from total kilocalories. Results: The mean percentage of carbohydrate intake over 3 days was 83.7 ± 8.4%. Our results showed a significant increase in total body weight, BMI as well as total and appendicular LBM after the high-carbohydrate diet (p < 0.01). In addition, we observed a strong tendency for lower body fat percentage values after the intervention (p = 0.05). No significant difference was observed for central LBM. Conclusions: These results indicate that the effect of an acute high carbohydrate diet seems to affect body composition values using DXA, such as total LBM. This study may lead to the need of standardizing a diet prior to using DXA.
Protein C system defects inflicted by the malaria parasite protein PfEMP1 can be overcome by a soluble EPCR variant
Authors: Bouwens Eveline A. M. , Tamayo Ibai , Turner Louise , Wang Christian W. , Stins Monique , Theander Thor G. , Petersen Jens E. V. , Hermida José , Mosnier Laurent O. , Lavstsen Thomas
Published: July 2015

The Endothelial Protein C receptor (EPCR) is essential for the anticoagulant and cytoprotective functions of the Protein C (PC) system. Selected variants of the malaria parasite protein, Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) associated with severe malaria, including cerebral malaria, specifically target EPCR on vascular endothelial cells. Here, we examine the cellular response to PfEMP1 engagement to elucidate its role in malaria pathogenesis. Binding of the CIDRα1.1 domain of PfEMP1 to EPCR obstructed activated PC (APC) binding to EPCR and induced a loss of cellular EPCR functions. CIDRα1.1 severely impaired endothelial PC activation and effectively blocked APC-mediated activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and associated barrier protective effects of APC on endothelial cells. A soluble EPCR variant (E86A-sEPCR) bound CIDRα1.1 with high affinity and did not interfere with (A)PC binding to cellular EPCR. E86A-sEPCR used as a decoy to capture PfEMP1, permitted normal PC activation on endothelial cells, normal barrier protective effects of APC, and greatly reduced cytoadhesion of infected erythrocytes to brain endothelial cells. These data imply important contributions of PfEMP1-induced protein C pathway defects in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. Furthermore, the E86A-sEPCR decoy provides a proof-of-principle strategy for the development of novel adjunct therapies for severe malaria.