bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Alternating Magnetic Field on the Behavior of Animals in the Presence of the Geomagnetic Field
Authors: Belova Natalia A. , Acosta-Avalos Daniel
Published: December 2015

It is known that the geomagnetic field can influence animal migration and homing. The magnetic field detection by animals is known as magnetoreception and it is possible due to two different transduction mechanisms: the first one through magnetic nanoparticles able to respond to the geomagnetic field and the second one through chemical reactions influenced by magnetic fields. Another behavior is the magnetic alignment where animals align their bodies to the geomagnetic field. It has been observed that magnetic alignment of cattle can be disrupted near electric power lines around the world. Experimentally, it is known that alternating magnetic fields can influence living beings, but the exact mechanism is unknown. The parametric resonance model proposes a mechanism to explain that effect on living beings and establishes that, in the presence of a constant magnetic field, molecules associated with biochemical reactions inside cells can absorb resonantly alternating magnetic fields with specific frequencies. In the present paper, a review is made about animal magnetoreception and the effects of alternating magnetic fields in living beings. It is suggested how alternating magnetic fields can interfere in the magnetic alignment of animals and a general conclusion is obtained: alternating magnetic field pollution can affect the magnetic sensibility of animals.
Copper-Catalyzed Eglinton Oxidative Homocoupling of Terminal Alkynes: A Computational Study
Authors: Jover Jesús
Published: December 2015

The copper(II) acetate mediated oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes, namely, the Eglinton coupling, has been studied with DFT methods. The mechanism of the whole reaction has been modeled using phenylacetylene as substrate. The obtained results indicate that, in contrast to some classical proposals, the reaction does not involve the formation of free alkynyl radicals and proceeds by the dimerization of copper(II) alkynyl complexes followed by a bimetallic reductive elimination. The calculations demonstrate that the rate limiting-step of the reaction is the alkyne deprotonation and that more acidic substrates provide faster reactions, in agreement with the experimental observations.
The Association of Endothelin-1 with Markers of Arterial Stiffness in Black South African Women: The SABPA Study
Authors: du Plooy Christine Susara , Mels Catharina Martha Cornelia , Huisman Hugo Willem , Kruger Ruan
Published: December 2015

Background. Limited data exist regarding endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoactive contributor in vascular tone, in a population subjected to early vascular deterioration. We compared ET-1 levels and explored its association with markers of arterial stiffness in black and white South Africans. Methodology. This cross-sectional substudy included 195 black (men: n=99; women: n=95) and 197 white (men: n=99; women: n=98) South Africans. Serum ET-1 levels were measured as well as markers of arterial stiffness (blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, and arterial compliance). ET-1 levels were higher in black men and white women compared to their counterparts after adjusting for C-reactive protein. In both single and partial (adjusting for body mass index and gamma glutamyl transferase) regression analyses ET-1 correlated with age, interleukin-6, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and pulse wave velocity in black women. In multivariate regression analyses the independent association of ET-1 with systolic blood pressure (Adj. R2=0.13; β=0.28, p<0.01) and pulse pressure (Adj. R2=0.11; β=0.27, p<0.01) was confirmed in black women only. ET-1 additionally associated with interleukin-6 in black women (p<0.01). Conclusion. Our result suggests that ET-1 and its link with subclinical arteriosclerosis are potentially driven by low-grade inflammation as depicted by the association with interleukin-6 in the black female cohort.
Effect of Particle Size and Ligand on the Tribological Properties of Amino Functionalized Hairy Silica Nanoparticles as an Additive to Polyalphaolefin
Authors: Sui Tianyi , Song Baoyu , Zhang Feng , Yang Qingxiang
Published: December 2015

Hairy nanoparticles, which graft organic chains on nanoparticles, have led to a wide variety of advanced materials and have been applied in many fields over the past two decades. In this paper, effects of nanoparticle size and organic chain on the tribological properties of amino functionalized hairy silica nanoparticles (HSNs) were investigated. Silica nanoparticles with different sizes and amino group organic chains were synthesized and dispersed into polyalphaolefin (PAO) via a modified process. The synthesized HSNs were characterized by variety of methods. The tribology properties of those HSNs were investigated using a four‐ball tribometer. The coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter were measured and analyzed. It was found that the HSNs could form a stable homogeneous solution with PAO. The tribological performance of the PAO 100 was enhanced dramatically by adding the HSNs. The data suggested that HSNs with larger size, longer organic chains, and more amino groups gave better antiwear and friction reduction properties than other nanoparticles.
On Peculiarities of Propagation of a Plane Elastic Wave through a Gradient Anisotropic Layer
Authors: Anufrieva Anastasiia , Chickrin Dmitry , Tumakov Dmitrii
Published: December 2015

The problem of diffraction of a plane elastic wave by an anisotropic layer is studied. The diffraction problem is reduced to a boundary value problem for the layer. The grid method is used for solving the resulting boundary value problem. The diffraction of a plane longitudinal wave by the layer is considered. Some peculiarities of the gain-frequency and the gain-angle characteristics of a normal component of an energy flow of a passed longitudinal wave are numerically studied.
Fractal and Morphological Characteristics of Single Marble Particle Crushing in Uniaxial Compression Tests
Authors: Wang Yidong , Dan Wenjiao , Xu Yongfu , Xi Yue
Published: December 2015

Crushing of rock particles is a phenomenon commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering practice. It is however difficult to study the crushing of rock particles using classical theory because the physical structure of the particles is complex and irregular. This paper aims at evaluating fractal and morphological characteristics of single rock particle. A large number of particle crushing tests are conducted on single rock particle. The force-displacement curves and the particle size distributions (PSD) of crushed particles are analysed based on particle crushing tests. Particle shape plays an important role in both the micro- and macroscale responses of a granular assembly. The PSD of an assortment of rocks are analysed by fractal methods, and the fractal dimension is obtained. A theoretical formula for particle crushing strength is derived, utilising the fractal model, and a simple method is proposed for predicting the probability of particle survival based on the Weibull statistics. Based on a few physical assumptions, simple equations are derived for determining particle crushing energy. The results of applying these equations are tested against the actual experimental data and prove to be very consistent. Fractal theory is therefore applicable for analysis of particle crushing.
Rapid Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis: A Review
Authors: Shah Priyank , Bajaj Sharad , Virk Hartaj , Bikkina Mahesh , Shamoon Fayez
Published: December 2015

Atherosclerosis is chronic disease, the prevalence of which has increased steadily as the population ages. Vascular injury is believed to be critical initiating event in pathogenesis of spontaneous atherosclerosis. Syndrome of accelerated atherosclerosis has been classically described in patients undergoing heart transplantation, coronary artery bypass graft, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In contrast to spontaneous atherosclerosis, denuding endothelial injury followed by thrombus formation and initial predominant smooth muscle cell proliferation is believed to be playing a significant role in accelerated atherosclerosis. There is no universal definition of rapid progression of atherosclerosis. However most studies describing the phenomenon have used the following definition: (i) > or = 10% diameter reduction of at least one preexisting stenosis > or = 50%, (ii) > or = 30% diameter reduction of a preexisting stenosis <50%, and (iii) progression of a lesion to total occlusion within few months. Recent studies have described the role of coronary vasospasm, human immunodeficiency virus, various inflammatory markers, and some genetic mutations as predictors of rapid progression of atherosclerosis. As research in the field of vascular biology continues, more factors are likely to be implicated in the pathogenesis of rapid progression of atherosclerosis.
Efficiency of Sodium Polyacrylate to Improve Durability of Concrete under Adverse Curing Condition
Authors: Manzur Tanvir , Iffat Shohana , Noor Munaz Ahmed
Published: December 2015

The conventional external curing process requires supply of large amount of water in addition to mixing water as well as strict quality control protocol. However, in a developing country like Bangladesh, many local contractors do not have awareness and required knowledge on importance of curing which often results in weaker concrete with durability issues. Moreover, at times it is difficult to maintain proper external curing process due to nonavailability of water and skilled laborer. Internal curing can be adopted under such scenario since this method is simple and less quality intensive. Usually, naturally occurring porous light weight aggregates (LWA) are used as internal curing agent. However, naturally occurring LWA are not available in many countries like Bangladesh. Under these circumstances, Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) can be utilized as an alternative internal curing agent. In this study, sodium polyacrylate (SP) as SAP has been used to produce internally cured concrete. Desorption isotherm of SP has been developed to investigate its effectiveness as internal curing agent. Test results showed that internally cured concrete with SP performed better in terms of both strength and durability as compared to control samples when subjected to adverse curing conditions where supply of additional water for external curing was absent.
Experimental Study on Peak Pressure of Shock Waves in Quasi-Shallow Water
Authors: Wang Zhenxiong , Gu Wenbin , Liu Jianqing
Published: December 2015

Based on the similarity laws of the explosion, this research develops similarity requirements of the small-scale experiments of underwater explosions and establishes a regression model for peak pressure of underwater shock waves under experimental condition. Small-scale experiments are carried out with two types of media at the bottom of the water and for different water depths. The peak pressure of underwater shock waves at different measuring points is acquired. A formula consistent with the similarity law of explosions is obtained and an analysis of the regression precision of the formula confirms its accuracy. Significance experiment indicates that the influence of distance between measuring points and charge on peak pressure of underwater shock wave is the greatest and that of water depth is the least within the range of geometric parameters. An analysis of data from experiments with different media at the bottom of the water reveals an influence on the peak pressure, as the peak pressure of a shock wave in a body of water with a bottom soft mud and rocks is about 1.33 times that of the case where the bottom material is only soft mud.
2D-DOA and Mutual Coupling Estimation in Vehicle Communication System via Conformal Array
Authors: Zou Yan , Xie Hong , Wan Liangtian , Han Guangjie , Li Wei
Published: December 2015

Many direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation algorithms have been proposed recently. However, the effect of mutual coupling among antenna elements has not been taken into consideration. In this paper, a novel DOA and mutual coupling coefficient estimation algorithm is proposed in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) via conformal array. By constructing the spectial mutual coupling matrix (MCM), the effect of mutual coupling can be eliminated via instrumental element method. Then the DOA of incident signals can be estimated based on parallel factor (PARAFAC) theory. The PARAFAC model is constructed in cumulant domain using covariance matrices. The mutual coupling coefficients are estimated based on the former DOA estimation and the matrix transformation between MCM and the steering vector. Finally, due to the drawback of the parameter pairing method in Wan et al., 2014, a novel method is given to improve the performance of parameter pairing. The computer simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Potentially Functional Polymorphisms inPOU5F1Gene Are Associated with the Risk of Lung Cancer in Han Chinese
Authors: Niu Rui , Wang Yuzhuo , Zhu Meng , Wen Yifan , Sun Jie , Shen Wei , Cheng Yang , Zhang Jiahui , Jin Guangfu , Ma Hongxia , Hu Zhibin , Shen Hongbing , Dai Juncheng
Published: December 2015

POU5F1 is a key regulator of self-renewal and differentiation in embryonic stem cells and may be associated with initiation, promotion, and progression in cancer. We hypothesized that functional polymorphisms inPOU5F1may play an important role in modifying the lung cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a case-control study to explore the association between 17 potentially functional SNPs inPOU5F1gene and the lung cancer risk in 1,341 incident lung cancer cases and 1,982 healthy controls in a Chinese population. We found that variant alleles of rs887468 and rs3130457 were significantly associated with increased risk of lung cancer after multiple comparison (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.11–1.51,Pfdr=0.017for rs887468; OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.10–1.51,Pfdr=0.034for rs3130457, resp.). In addition, we detected a significant interaction between rs887468 genotypes and smoking status on lung cancer risk (P=0.017). Combined analysis of these 2 SNPs showed a significant allele-dosage association between the number of risk alleles and increased risk of lung cancer (Ptrend<0.001). These findings indicate that potentially functional polymorphisms inPOU5F1gene may contribute to lung cancer susceptibility in a Chinese population.
Electroporated Antigen-Encoding mRNA Is Not a Danger Signal to Human Mature Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Authors: Hoyer Stefanie , Gerer Kerstin F. , Pfeiffer Isabell A. , Prommersberger Sabrina , Höfflin Sandra , Jaitly Tanushree , Beltrame Luca , Cavalieri Duccio , Schuler Gerold , Vera Julio , Schaft Niels , Dörrie Jan
Published: December 2015

For therapeutic cancer vaccination, the adoptive transfer of mRNA-electroporated dendritic cells (DCs) is frequently performed, usually with monocyte-derived, cytokine-matured DCs (moDCs). However, DCs are rich in danger-sensing receptors which could recognize the exogenously delivered mRNA and induce DC activation, hence influencing the DCs’ immunogenicity. Therefore, we examined whether electroporation of mRNA with a proper cap and a poly-A tail of at least 64 adenosines had any influence on cocktail-matured moDCs. We used 16 different RNAs, encoding tumor antigens (MelanA, NRAS, BRAF, GNAQ, GNA11, and WT1), and variants thereof. None of those RNAs induced changes in the expression of CD25, CD40, CD83, CD86, and CD70 or the secretion of the cytokines IL-8, IL-6, and TNFαof more than 1.5-fold compared to the control condition, while an mRNA encoding an NF-κB-activation protein as positive control induced massive secretion of the cytokines. To determine whether mRNA electroporation had any effect on the whole transcriptome of the DCs, we performed microarray analyses of DCs of 6 different donors. None of 60,000 probes was significantly different between mock-electroporated DCs and MelanA-transfected DCs. Hence, we conclude that no transcriptional programs were induced within cocktail-matured DCs by electroporation of single tumor-antigen-encoding mRNAs.
Lipid Lowering Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Anethum graveolens L. and Dill Tablet in High Cholesterol Fed Hamsters
Authors: Abbasi Oshaghi Ebrahim , Khodadadi Iraj , Saidijam Massoud , Yadegarazari Reza , Shabab Nooshin , Tavilani Heidar , Goodarzi Mohamad Taghi
Published: December 2015

Objective. This study was aimed to determine the effect of Anethum graveolens extract and Anethum graveolens (dill) tablet on lipid profile, liver enzymes, and gene expression and enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase in high cholesterol fed hamsters. Materials and Methods. Golden Syrian male hamsters (130 ± 10 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6) and received daily the following: group 1 received chow + 2% cholesterol + 0.5% cholic acid (HCD), groups 2 and 3 received HCD diet plus 100 and 200 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of dill, respectively, and groups 4 and 5 received HCD diet plus 100 and 200 mg/kg dill tablet, respectively. Group 6 received only chow. After 1 month feeding serum biochemical factors were determined. HMG-CoA reductase mRNA level was measured (real-time PCR) and its activity was determined spectrophotometrically. Results. Compared with hypercholesterolemic group 1, lipid profile, blood glucose, and liver enzymes significantly decreased in all dill tablet or dill extract treated groups (p<0.05). The changes in HMG-CoA reductase gene expression level and enzyme activity significantly reduced in animals that received 200 mg/kg of extract or tablet. Conclusion. Dill extract and dill tablet showed potential hypocholesterolemic properties in hamsters by inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity.
Comparative Study of the Antioxidant Effects of Metformin, Glibenclamide, and Repaglinide in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Chukwunonso Obi Bonaventure , Chinwuba Okoye Theophine , Okpashi Victor Eshu , Nonye Igwe Christiana , Olisah Alumanah Edwin
Published: December 2015

Diabetes mellitus is one of the serious global health problems affecting a significant proportion of both developed and developing countries. Overproduction of free radicals and oxidative stress has been associated with the development of diabetic complications. In the present study, the antioxidant effects of metformin (MET), glibenclamide (GLI), and repaglinide (REP) were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The findings from this study may possibly help in understanding the efficacy of these standard drugs in managing the complications arising from diabetes mellitus (DM). Alloxan (130 mg/kg BW) was administered as a single dose to induce diabetes. Four (4) groups of rats (n=6) were used; group 1 served as diabetic control while groups 2, 3, and 4 were the diabetic test groups that received MET (25 mg/kg), GLI (2.5 mg/kg), and REP (0.5 mg/kg), respectively. The result of the study showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in the altered antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT) and GSH concentration in diabetic treated rats compared with the diabetic control group. MET and REP produced significant effect on the MDA concentration while GLI showed insignificant reduction in the MDA concentration compared with the diabetic control. Findings from this study suggest that the administration of MET, GLI, and REP exerts significant antioxidant effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, thus contributing to the protective effect against oxidative stress-induced damage during diabetic complications.
Mechanism Investigation of the Improvement of Chang Run Tong on the Colonic Remodeling in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Sha Hong , Zhao Dong , Tong Xiaolin , Gregersen Hans , Zhao Jingbo
Published: December 2015

Previous study demonstrated that Chang Run Tong (CRT) could partly restore the colon remodeling in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. Here we investigated the mechanisms of such effects of CRT. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of 40 mg/kg of STZ. CRT was poured into the stomach by gastric lavage once daily for 60 days. The remodeling parameters were obtained from diabetic (DM), CRT treated diabetic (T1, 50 g/kg; T2, 25 g/kg), and normal (Con) rats. Expressions of advanced glycation end product (AGE), AGE receptor, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β1 receptor in the colon wall were immunochemically detected and quantitatively analyzed. The association between the expressions of those proteins and the remodeling parameters was analyzed. The expressions of those proteins were significantly higher in different colon layers in the DM group (P<0.05,P<0.01) and highly correlated to the remodeling parameters. Furthermore, the expressions of those proteins were significantly decreased in the T1 group (P<0.05,P<0.01) but not in the T2 group (P>0.05). The corrective effect on the expressions of those proteins is likely to be one molecular pathway for the improvement of CRT on the diabetes-induced colon remodeling.
Possible Biomarkers in Blood for Crohn’s Disease: Oxidative Stress and MicroRNAs—Current Evidences and Further Aspects to Unravel
Authors: Moret-Tatay Inés , Iborra Marisa , Cerrillo Elena , Tortosa Luis , Nos Pilar , Beltrán Belén
Published: December 2015

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory disorder characterised by a transmural inflammation of the intestinal wall. Although the physiopathology of the disease is not yet fully understood, it is clear that the immune response plays an important role in it. This hyperreactive immune system is accompanied by the presence of unregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS). These elements are modulated in normal conditions by different elements, including enzymes that function as antioxidant defences preventing the harmful effects of ROS. However, in CD there is an imbalance between ROS production and these antioxidant elements, resulting in oxidative stress (OxS) phenomena. In fact, now OxS is being considered more a potential etiological factor for Crohn’s disease rather than a concomitant effect in the disease. The persistence of the OxS can also be influencing the evolution of the disease. Furthermore, the epigenetic mechanisms, above all microRNAs, are being considered key elements in the pathogenesis of CD. These elements and the presence of OxS have also been linked to several diseases. We, therefore, describe in this review the most significant findings related to oxidative stress and microRNAs profiles in the peripheral blood of CD patients.
Protection of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells from Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Cell Damage by Resveratrol
Authors: Jin Xiaolu , Wang Kai , Liu Hongyun , Hu Fuliang , Zhao Fengqi , Liu Jianxin
Published: December 2015

The mammary epithelial cells (MECs) of high‐producing dairy cows are likely to be subject to oxidative stress (OS) due to the intensive cell metabolism. The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytoprotective effects of resveratrol against hydrogen peroxide‐ (H2O2‐) induced OS in cultured bovine MECs (MAC‐T). Pretreatment of MAC‐T cells with resveratrol could rescue the decrease in cell viability and resulted in lower intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation after H2O2 exposure. Resveratrol helped MAC‐T cells to prevent H2O2‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondria‐related cell apoptosis. Moreover, resveratrol induced mRNA expression of multiple antioxidant defense genes in MAC‐T cells under normal/oxidative conditions. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) was required for the cytoprotective effects on MAC‐T cells by resveratrol, as knockdown of Nrf2 significantly abolished resveratrol‐induced cytoprotective effects against OS. In addition, by using selective inhibitors, we further confirmed that the induction of Nrf2 by resveratrol was mediated through the prolonged activation of PI3K/Akt and ERK/MAPK pathways but negatively regulated by p38/MAPK pathway. Overall, resveratrol has beneficial effects on bovine MECs redox balance and may be potentially used as a therapeutic medicine against oxidative insult in lactating animals.
Hydrogen Sulfide Inhibits High‐Salt Diet‐Induced Renal Oxidative Stress and Kidney Injury in Dahl Rats
Authors: Huang Pan , Shen Zhizhou , Liu Jia , Huang Yaqian , Chen Siyao , Yu Wen , Wang Suxia , Ren Yali , Li Xiaohui , Tang Chaoshu , Du Junbao , Jin Hongfang
Published: December 2015

Background. The study was designed to investigate if H2S could inhibit high‐salt diet‐induced renal excessive oxidative stress and kidney injury in Dahl rats. Methods. Male salt‐sensitive Dahl and SD rats were used. Blood pressure (BP), serum creatinine, urea, creatinine clearance rate, and 24‐hour urine protein were measured. Renal ultra‐ and microstructures were observed. Collagen‐I and ‐III contents the oxidants and antioxidants levels in renal tissue were detected. Keap1/Nrf2 association and Keap1 s‐sulfhydration were detected. Results. After 8 weeks of high‐salt diet, BP was significantly increased, renal function and structure were impaired, and collagen deposition was abundant in renal tissues with increased renal MPO activity, H2O2, MDA, GSSG, and •OH contents, reduced renal T‐AOC and GSH contents, CAT, GSH‐PX and SOD activity, and SOD expressions in Dahl rats. Furthermore, endogenous H2S in renal tissues was decreased in Dahl rats. H2S donor, however, decreased BP, improved renal function and structure, and inhibited collagen excessive deposition in kidney, in association with increased antioxidative activity and reduced oxidative stress in renal tissues. H2S activated Nrf2 by inducing Keap1 s‐sulfhydration and subsequent Keap1/Nrf2 disassociation. Conclusions. H2S protected against high‐salt diet‐induced renal injury associated with enhanced antioxidant capacity and inhibited renal oxidative stress.
Xanthine Oxidoreductase‐Derived Reactive Species: Physiological and Pathological Effects
Authors: Battelli Maria Giulia , Polito Letizia , Bortolotti Massimo , Bolognesi Andrea
Published: December 2015

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid and is widely distributed among species. In addition to this housekeeping function, mammalian XOR is a physiological source of superoxide ion, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, which can function as second messengers in the activation of various pathways. This review intends to address the physiological and pathological roles of XOR‐derived oxidant molecules. The cytocidal action of XOR products has been claimed in relation to tissue damage, in particular damage induced by hypoxia and ischemia. Attempts to exploit this activity to eliminate unwanted cells via the construction of conjugates have also been reported. Moreover, different aspects of XOR activity related to phlogosis, endothelial activation, leukocyte activation, and vascular tone regulation, have been taken into consideration. Finally, the positive and negative outcomes concerning cancer pathology have been analyzed because XOR products may induce mutagenesis, cell proliferation, and tumor progression, but they are also associated with apoptosis and cell differentiation. In conclusion, XOR activity generates free radicals and other oxidant reactive species that may result in either harmful or beneficial outcomes.
Altered Local Spontaneous Brain Activity in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: A Preliminary Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Jiang Sisi , Luo Cheng , Liu Zhixuan , Hou Changyue , Wang Pu , Dong Li , Zhong Chengqing , Lai Yongxiu , Xia Yang , Yao Dezhong
Published: December 2015

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the regional synchronization of brain in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).Methods. Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from twenty-one patients with JME and twenty-two healthy subjects. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) was used to analyze the spontaneous activity in whole brain. Two-samplet-test was performed to detect the ReHo difference between two groups. Correlations between the ReHo values and features of seizures were calculated further.Key Findings. Compared with healthy controls, patients showed significantly increased ReHo in bilateral thalami and motor-related cortex regions and a substantial reduction of ReHo in cerebellum and occipitoparietal lobe. In addition, greater ReHo value in the left paracentral lobule was linked to the older age of onset in patients.Significance. These findings implicated the abnormality of thalamomotor cortical network in JME which were associated with the genesis and propagation of epileptiform activity. Moreover, our study supported that the local brain spontaneous activity is a potential tool to investigate the epileptic activity and provided important insights into understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of JME.
Quantification of Multiple Climate Change and Human Activity Impact Factors on Flood Regimes in the Pearl River Delta of China
Authors: Tang Yihan , Xi Shufeng , Chen Xiaohong , Lian Yanqing
Published: December 2015

Coastal flood regimes have been irreversibly altered by both climate change and human activities. This paper aims to quantify the impacts of multiple factors on delta flood. The Pearl River Delta (PRD), with dense river network and population, is one of the most developed coastal areas in China. The recorded extreme water level (m.s.l.) in flood season has been heavily interfered with by varied income flood flow, sea-level rise, and dredged riverbeds. A methodology, composed of a numerical model and the indexR, has been developed to quantify the impacts of these driving factors in the the PRD. Results show that the flood level varied 4.29%–53.49% from the change of fluvial discharge, 3.35%–38.73% from riverbed dredging, and 0.12%–16.81% from sea-level rise. The variation of flood flow apparently takes the most effect and sea-level rise the least. In particular, dense river network intensifies the impact of income flood change and sea-level rise. Findings from this study help understand the causes of the the PRD flood regimes and provide theoretical support for flood protection in the delta region.
Iron‐Mediated Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization in Ethanol‐Induced Hepatic Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis: Protective Effects of Quercetin
Authors: Li Yanyan , Chen Man , Xu Yanyan , Yu Xiao , Xiong Ting , Du Min , Sun Jian , Liu Liegang , Tang Yuhan , Yao Ping
Published: December 2015

Iron, in its free ferrous states, can catalyze Fenton reaction to produce OH∙, which is recognized as a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). As a result of continuous decomposition of iron‐containing compounds, lysosomes contain a pool of redox‐active iron. To investigate the important role of intralysosomal iron in alcoholic liver injury and the potential protection of quercetin, male C57BL/6J mice fed by Lieber De Carli diets containing ethanol (30% of total calories) were cotreated by quercetin or deferoxamine (DFO) for 15 weeks and ethanol‐incubated mice primary hepatocytes were pretreated with FeCl3, DFO, and bafilomycin A1 at their optimal concentrations and exposure times. Chronic ethanol consumption caused an evident increase in lysosomal redox‐active iron accompanying sustained oxidative damage. Iron‐mediated ROS could trigger lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and subsequent mitochondria apoptosis. The hepatotoxicity was attenuated by reducing lysosomal iron while being exacerbated by escalating lysosomal iron. Quercetin substantially alleviated the alcoholic liver oxidative damage and apoptosis by decreasing lysosome iron and ameliorating iron‐mediated LMP, which provided a new prospective of the use of quercetin against ALD.
Study of the Vibration Transmission and Path Recognition of an Underground Powerhouse Using Energy Finite Element Method
Authors: Xu Wei , Ma Zhen-yue
Published: December 2015

Taking the underground powerhouse of a pumped storage power station as the engineering background, this study established a 3D finite element model of the main and auxiliary powerhouse and performed the dynamic harmonica calculation for its fluctuating pressure. Based on the power flow theory, the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) procedure was completed to calculate the power transmission in the powerhouse. The law of dominant path recognition was first proposed to assess the structure’s dominant transmission using a numerical solution on nodes in the model. The conductivity of the closed-cell foam that filled the structure’s joints was examined, as were the dynamic transmission features of the rock around and beneath the powerhouse. The results indicated that, as a structural joint filler, closed-cell foam could actively restrict vibration transmission, and the directions of dynamic transmission were mainly perpendicular to and along the river in the foundation rock. Approximately 20 percent of the foundation rock beneath the auxiliary powerhouse was disturbed by the concrete around the spiral case and induced vibrations in the powerhouse’s lower floors. Vibration in the higher floors was derived from downstream rock, and the dynamic transmission effect had a clear advantage along the horizontal direction.
Prediction of the Fundamental Period of Infilled RC Frame Structures Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Asteris Panagiotis G. , Tsaris Athanasios K. , Cavaleri Liborio , Repapis Constantinos C. , Papalou Angeliki , Di Trapani Fabio , Karypidis Dimitrios F.
Published: December 2015

The fundamental period is one of the most critical parameters for the seismic design of structures. There are several literature approaches for its estimation which often conflict with each other, making their use questionable. Furthermore, the majority of these approaches do not take into account the presence of infill walls into the structure despite the fact that infill walls increase the stiffness and mass of structure leading to significant changes in the fundamental period. In the present paper, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are used to predict the fundamental period of infilled reinforced concrete (RC) structures. For the training and the validation of the ANN, a large data set is used based on a detailed investigation of the parameters that affect the fundamental period of RC structures. The comparison of the predicted values with analytical ones indicates the potential of using ANNs for the prediction of the fundamental period of infilled RC frame structures taking into account the crucial parameters that influence its value.
Relationship between the Peroxidation of Leukocytes Index Ratio and the Improvement of Postprandial Metabolic Stress by a Functional Food
Authors: Peluso Ilaria , Manafikhi Husseen , Reggi Raffaella , Longhitano Yaroslava , Zanza Christian , Palmery Maura
Published: December 2015

For the first time, we investigated the relationship between postprandial dysmetabolism and the Peroxidation of Leukocytes Index Ratio (PLIR), a test that measures the resistance of leukocytes to exogenous oxidative stress and their functional capacity of oxidative burst upon activation. Following a blind, placebo controlled, randomized, crossover design, ten healthy subjects ingested, in two different occasions, a high fat and high carbohydrates meal with Snello cookie (HFHCM‐S) or with control cookies (HFHCM‐C). Snello cookie, a functional food covered by dark chocolate and containing glucomannan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, and Bacillus coagulans strain GanedenBC30, significantly improved postprandial metabolic stress (insulin, glucose, and triglycerides) and reduced the postprandial increase of uric acid. HFHCM‐S improved PLIR of lymphocytes, but not of monocytes and granulocytes. Both meals increased granulocytes’ count and reduced the lipoperoxidation induced by both exogenous free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by oxidative burst. Our results suggest that the healthy status of the subjects could be a limitation of this pilot study for PLIR evaluation on cells that produce ROS by oxidative burst. In conclusion, the relationship between PLIR and postprandial dysmetabolism requires further investigations.
Neuromodulation of Attentional Control in Major Depression: A Pilot DeepTMS Study
Authors: Naim-Feil Jodie , Bradshaw John L. , Sheppard Dianne M. , Rosenberg Oded , Levkovitz Yechiel , Dannon Pinhas , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Isserles Moshe , Zangen Abraham
Published: December 2015

While Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is primarily characterized by mood disturbances, impaired attentional control is increasingly identified as a critical feature of depression. Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (deepTMS), a noninvasive neuromodulatory technique, can modulate neural activity and induce neuroplasticity changes in brain regions recruited by attentional processes. This study examined whether acute and long-term high-frequency repetitive deepTMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can attenuate attentional deficits associated with MDD. Twenty-one MDD patients and 26 matched control subjects (CS) were administered the Beck Depression Inventory and the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) at baseline. MDD patients were readministered the SART and depressive assessments following a single session (n=21) and after 4 weeks (n=13) of high-frequency (20 Hz) repetitive deepTMS applied to the DLPFC. To control for the practice effect, CS (n=26) were readministered the SART a further two times. The MDD group exhibited deficits in sustained attention and cognitive inhibition. Both acute and long-term high-frequency repetitive frontal deepTMS ameliorated sustained attention deficits in the MDD group. Improvement after acute deepTMS was related to attentional recovery after long-term deepTMS. Longer-term improvement in sustained attention was not related to antidepressant effects of deepTMS treatment.
A Highly Selective Colorimetric Sensor for Cysteine in Water Solution and Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Shang Xuefang , Yu Jie , Wei Xiaofang , Li Xin , Feng Yaqian , Xu Xiufang
Published: December 2015

A simple colorimetric sensor, 2-bromonaphthalene-1,4-dione, has been developed for the Cysteine detection. The sensor showed its best performance in a mixture of ethanol and HEPES (5 : 5, v/v) solution at pH of 7.0. The results of UV-vis and fluorescence indicated that 2-bromonaphthalene-1,4-dione was selective and sensitive for Cysteine detection without the interference of other amino acids (Cysteine, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartinie, Glutamine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Tryptophan, and Hydroxyproline). 2-Bromonaphthalene-1,4-dione also showed binding ability for Cysteine in bovine serum albumin and could be used as a potential colorimetric sensor among eighteen kinds of natural amino acids. Importantly, the recognition of CySH could be observed by naked eye.
Awaking Blood Pressure Surge and Progression to Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Normotensive Diabetic Patients
Authors: Barbieri Michelangela , Rizzo Maria Rosaria , Fava Ilaria , Sardu Celestino , Angelico Nicola , Paolisso Pasquale , Abbatecola Angela , Paolisso Giuseppe , Marfella Raffaele
Published: December 2015

Background. We investigated the predictive value of morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) on the development of microalbuminuria in normotensive adults with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.Methods. Prospective assessments of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and urinary albumin excretion were performed in 377 adult patients. Multivariate-adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess hazard ratios (HRs) between baseline and changes over follow-up in MBPS and the risk of microalbuminuria. The MBPS was calculated as follows: mean systolic BP during the 2 hours after awakening minus mean systolic BP during the 1 hour that included the lowest sleep BP.Results. After a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, microalbuminuria developed in 102 patients. An increase in MBPB during follow-up was associated with an increased risk of microalbuminuria. Compared to individuals in the lowest tertile (−0.67±1.10 mmHg), the HR and 95% CI for microalbuminuria in those in the highest tertile of change (24.86±6.92 mmHg) during follow-up were 17.41 (95% CI 6.26–48.42);pfor trend <0.001. Mean SD MBPS significantly increased in those who developed microalbuminuria from a mean [SD] of 10.6[1.4]to 36.8[7.1],p<0.001.Conclusion. An increase in MBPS is associated with the risk of microalbuminuria in normotensive adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
Resting Heart Rate Does Not Predict Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Bartáková Vendula , Klimešová Linda , Kianičková Katarína , Dvořáková Veronika , Malúšková Denisa , Řehořová Jitka , Svojanovský Jan , Olšovský Jindřich , Bělobrádková Jana , Kaňková Kateřina
Published: December 2015

Elevated resting heart rate (RHR) has been associated with increased risk of mortality and cardiovascular events. Limited data are available so far in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects with no study focusing on progressive renal decline specifically. Aims of our study were to verify RHR as a simple and reliable predictor of adverse disease outcomes in T2DM patients. A total of 421 T2DM patients with variable baseline stage of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) were prospectively followed. A history of the cardiovascular disease was present in 81 (19.2%) patients at baseline, and DKD (glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min or proteinuria) was present in 328 (77.9%) at baseline. Progressive renal decline was defined as a continuous rate of glomerular filtration rate loss ≥ 3.3% per year. Resting heart rate was not significantly higher in subjects with cardiovascular disease or DKD at baseline compared to those without. Using time-to-event analyses, significant differences in the cumulative incidence of the studied outcomes, that is, progression of DKD (and specifically progressive renal decline), major advanced cardiovascular event, and all-cause mortality, between RHR </≥65 (arbitrary cut-off) and 75 (median) bpm were not found. We did not ascertain predictive value of the RHR for the renal or cardiovascular outcomes in T2DM subjects in Czech Republic.
A Study on the Characteristics of Microseismic Signal during Deformation and Failure of Different Materials under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Li Chengwu , Xu Xiaomeng , Dong Lihui , Sarmadivaleh Mohammad , Sun Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2015

With the decline of shallow coal reserves and increase in demand of coal consumption, the hazard of coal and rock dynamic disasters is expanding. In this paper, we conducted some laboratory scale tests on coal, cement, and glass materials to figure out the microseismic (MS) characteristic differences among materials. A new method, denoted as WPT-LMD, is proposed to conduct signal denoising and analysis work. A series of basic analyses regarding MS are conducted, including the relationships between MS characteristics and loading rate, coal powder particle size, loading stage, and MS event statistics. Research results show that the damage of all these three materials is accompanied with MS events, abundant with low frequency component (0–200 Hz). But cement and coal specimens produce with relative wide frequency distribution in sample frequency domain, while glass specimens were found to only produce low frequency event. The powder particle sizes have obvious influence on the strength of coal specimen, but the loading rate seems to have no influence on the MS characteristics. The outcome of the paper will further provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of MS activities and has great significance to improve the coal mining safety.
Type 2 Diabetes and ADP Receptor Blocker Therapy
Authors: Samoš Matej , Fedor Marián , Kovář František , Mokáň Michal , Bolek Tomáš , Galajda Peter , Kubisz Peter , Mokáň Marián
Published: December 2015

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with several abnormalities in haemostasispredisposingto thrombosis. Moreover, T2D was recently connected with a failure in antiplatelet response to clopidogrel, the most commonly used ADP receptor blocker in clinical practice. Clopidogrel high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) was repeatedly associated with the risk of ischemic adverse events. Patients with T2D show significantly higher residual platelet reactivity on ADP receptor blocker therapy and are more frequently represented in the group of patients with HTPR. This paper reviews the current knowledge about possible interactions between T2D and ADP receptor blocker therapy.
Allogeneic Platelet Releasate Preparations Derived via a Novel Rapid Thrombin Activation Process Promote Rapid Growth and Increased BMP‐2 and BMP‐4 Expression in Human Adipose‐Derived Stem Cells
Authors: McLaughlin Michael , Gagnet Paul , Cunningham Elizabeth , Yeager Randi , D’Amico Michael , Guski Katie , Scarpone Michael , Kuebler Daniel
Published: December 2015

The administration of human adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) represents a promising regenerative therapy for the treatment of orthopedic injuries. While ASCs can be easily isolated from liposuction‐derived adipose tissue, most clinical applications will likely require in vitro culture expansion of these cells using nonxenogeneic components. In this study, platelet releasate was generated using a novel rapid thrombin activation method (tPR). ASCs grown in media supplemented with tPR proliferated much faster than ASCs grown in media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cells also retained the ability to differentiate along chondrogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic lineages. The tPR cultured ASCs displayed elevated expression of BMP‐4 (5.7 ± 0.97‐fold increase) and BMP‐2 (4.7 ± 1.3‐fold increase) and decreased expression of PDGF‐B (4.0 ± 1.4‐fold decrease) and FGF‐2 (33 ± 9.0‐fold decrease). No significant changes in expression were seen with TGF‐β and VEGF. This pattern of gene expression was consistent across different allogeneic tPR samples and different ASC lines. The use of allogeneic rapidly activated tPR to culture ASCs is associated with both an increased cell yield and a defined gene expression profile making it an attractive option for cell expansion prior to cell‐based therapy for orthopedic applications.
Exercise Modulates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Aging and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Sallam Nada , Laher Ismail
Published: December 2015

Despite the wealth of epidemiological and experimental studies indicating the protective role of regular physical activity/exercise training against the sequels of aging and cardiovascular diseases, the molecular transducers of exercise/physical activity benefits are not fully identified but should be further investigated in more integrative and innovative approaches, as they bear the potential for transformative discoveries of novel therapeutic targets. As aging and cardiovascular diseases are associated with a chronic state of oxidative stress and inflammation mediated via complex and interconnected pathways, we will focus in this review on the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory actions of exercise, mainly exerted on adipose tissue, skeletal muscles, immune system, and cardiovascular system by modulating anti‐inflammatory/proinflammatory cytokines profile, redox‐sensitive transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B, activator protein‐1, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐alpha, antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes, and repair proteins such as heat shock proteins, proteasome complex, oxoguanine DNA glycosylase, uracil DNA glycosylase, and telomerase. It is important to note that the effects of exercise vary depending on the type, intensity, frequency, and duration of exercise as well as on the individual’s characteristics; therefore, the development of personalized exercise programs is essential.