bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blasting-Induced Permeability Enhancement of Ore Deposits Associated with Low-Permeability Weakly Weathered Granites Based on the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar
Authors: Yan Lei , Yi Wenhua , Liu Liansheng , Liu Jiangchao , Zhang Shenghui
Published: December 2018

By utilizing the improved split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test device, uniaxial, constant-speed cyclic, and variable-speed cyclic impact compression tests were conducted on weakly weathered granite samples. By combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and triaxial seepage tests, this study investigated the change laws in the mechanical properties, porosity evolution, and permeability coefficients of the samples under cyclic impacts. The results showed that in constant-speed cyclic impacts with increasing impact times, deformation modulus decreased, whilst porosity firstly decreased and then increased. Furthermore, dynamic peak strength firstly increased and then decreased whereas peak strain constantly increased before failure of the samples. In the variable-speed cyclic impacts, as impact times increased, deformation modulus firstly increased and then declined with damage occurring after four impact times. The compaction process weakened and even disappeared with increasing initial porosity. Three types of pores were found in the samples that changed in multiscale under cyclic loading. In general, small pores extended to medium- and large-sized pores. After three variable-speed cyclic impacts, the porosity of the samples was larger than the initial porosity and the permeability coefficient was greater than its initial value. The results demonstrate that the purpose of enhancing permeability and keeping the ore body stable can be achieved by conducting three variable-speed cyclic impacts on the samples.
Characterization of Follicular Atresia Responsive to BPA in Zebrafish by Morphometric Analysis of Follicular Stage Progression
Authors: Migliaccio M. , Chioccarelli T. , Ambrosino C. , Suglia A. , Manfrevola F. , Carnevali O. , Fasano S. , Pierantoni R. , Cobellis G.
Published: December 2018

Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical compound, pervasively polluting the environment and diet, classified as an endocrine disruptor because of its interference effects on the endocrine system. In zebrafish, BPA exposure induces follicular atresia. To acquire knowledge on this atretic effect, using a qualitative and quantitative histomorphological approach, we studied zebrafish ovarian follicular stage development in response to low BPA concentrations. Results show that BPA interferes with follicular progression by affecting the previtellogenic and vitellogenic phases. In particular, BPA exposure (i) increases follicular recruitment by acting on primary stage follicles, (ii) forces the follicular transition from stage III to stage IV producing enlarged stage IV follicles, and (iii) induces atresia by producing atretic follicles that are peculiarly enlarged (i.e., big atretic follicles). We suggest that BPA induces atresia by the primary effect on recruitment of stage I follicles. This forces follicular progression and produces stage IV follicles that are peculiarly enlarged that undertake the atretic development.
Phenotypic and Functional Diversities of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Ma Huijuan , Xia Chang-Qing
Published: December 2018

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are identified as a heterogeneous population of cells with the function to suppress innate as well as adaptive immune responses. The initial studies of MDSCs were primarily focused on the field of animal tumor models or cancer patients. In cancer, MDSCs play the deleterious role to inhibit tumor immunity and to promote tumor development. Over the past few years, an increasing number of studies have investigated the role of MDSCs in autoimmune diseases. The beneficial effects of MDSCs in autoimmunity have been reported by some studies, and thus, immunosuppressive MDSCs may be a novel therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases. There are some controversial findings as well. Many questions such as the activation, differentiation, and suppressive functions of MDSCs and their roles in autoimmune diseases remain unclear. In this review, we have discussed the current understanding of MDSCs in autoimmune diseases.
Characterization of a Microalgal UV Mutant for CO2 Biofixation and Biomass Production
Authors: Qi Feng , Wu Daoji , Mu Ruimin , Zhang Shuo , Xu Xinyi
Published: December 2018

The mutagenesis is an emerging strategy for screening microalgal candidates for CO2 biofixation and biomass production. In this study, by 96-well microplates-UV mutagenesis, a mutant stemmed from Scenedesmus obliquus was screened and named as SDEC-1M. To characterize SDEC-1M, it was cultivated under air and high level CO2 (15% v/v), and its parental strain (PS) was considered as control. Growth characterizations showed that SDEC-1M grew best in high level CO2. It indicated that the mutant had high CO2 tolerance (HCT) and growth potential under high level CO2. Richer total carbohydrate content (37.26%) and lipid content (24.80%) demonstrated that, compared to its parental strain, SDEC-1M was apt to synthesize energy storage materials, especially under high CO2 level. Meanwhile, the highest light conversion efficiency (approximately 18 %) was also obtained. Thus, the highest overall biomass productivities were achieved in SDEC-1M under high level CO2, largely attributed to that the highest productivities of total lipid, total carbohydrate, and crude protein were also achieved in the meantime. By modified UV, therefore, mutagenized SDEC-1M was the better candidate for CO2 biofixation and biofuel production than its parental strain.
Working Cannula-Based Endoscopic Foraminoplasty: A Technical Note
Authors: Gu Suxi , Hou Kedong , Jian Wei , Du Jianwei , Xiao Songhua , Zhang Xifeng
Published: December 2018

Purpose. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive disc surgery that can be performed under local anesthesia and requires only an eight-mm skin incision. For the patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis, the migrated disc is difficult to remove with a simple transforaminal approach. In such cases, the foraminoplasty techniques can be used. However, obtaining efficient foramen enlargement while minimizing radiation exposure and protecting the nerves can be challenging. Methods. In this study, we propose a new technique called the Kiss-Hug maneuver. Under endoscopic viewing, we used the bevel tip of a working cannula as a bone reamer to enlarge the foramen. This allowed us to efficiently enlarge the lumbar foramen endoscopically without the redundancy and complications associated with reamers or trephines. Results. Details of the four steps of the Kiss-Hug maneuver are reported along with adverse events. The advantages of this new technique include minimizing radiation exposure to both the surgeon and the patient and decreasing the overall operation time. Conclusion. The endoscopic Kiss-Hug maneuver is a useful and reliable foraminoplasty technique that can enhance the efficiency of foraminoplasty while ensuring patient safety and reducing radiation exposure.
Acute Exercise as an Intervention to Trigger Motor Performance and EEG Beta Activity in Older Adults
Authors: Hübner Lena , Godde Ben , Voelcker-Rehage Claudia
Published: December 2018

Acute bouts of exercise have been shown to improve fine motor control performance and to facilitate motor memory consolidation processes in young adults. Exercise effects might be reflected in EEG task-related power (TRPow) decreases in the beta band (13–30 Hz) as an indicator of active motor processing. This study aimed to investigate those effects in healthy older adults. Thirty-eight participants (65–74 years of age) were assigned to an experimental (EG, acute exercise) or a control group (CG, rest). Fine motor control was assessed using a precision grip force modulation (FM) task. FM performance and EEG were measured at (1) baseline (immediately before acute exercise/rest), (2) during practice sessions immediately after, (3) 30 minutes, and (4) 24 hours (FM only) after exercise/rest. A marginal significant effect indicated that EG revealed more improvement in fine motor performance immediately after exercise than CG after resting. EG showed enhanced consolidation of short-term and long-term motor memory, whereas CG revealed only a tendency for short-term motor memory consolidation. Stronger TRPow decreases were revealed immediately after exercise in the contralateral frontal brain area as compared to the control condition. This finding indicates that acute exercise might enhance cortical activation and thus, improves fine motor control by enabling healthy older adults to better utilize existing frontal brain capacities during fine motor control tasks after exercise. Furthermore, acute exercise can act as a possible intervention to enhance motor memory consolidation in older adults.
The Effectiveness of Physical Exercise on Bone Density in Osteoporotic Patients
Authors: Benedetti Maria Grazia , Furlini Giulia , Zati Alessandro , Letizia Mauro Giulia
Published: December 2018

Physical exercise is considered an effective means to stimulate bone osteogenesis in osteoporotic patients. The authors reviewed the current literature to define the most appropriate features of exercise for increasing bone density in osteoporotic patients. Two types emerged: (1) weight-bearing aerobic exercises, i.e., walking, stair climbing, jogging, and Tai Chi. Walking alone did not appear to improve bone mass; however it is able to limit its progressive loss. In fact, in order for the weight-bearing exercises to be effective, they must reach the mechanical intensity useful to determine an important ground reaction force. (2) Strength and resistance exercises: these are carried out with loading (lifting weights) or without (swimming, cycling). For this type of exercise to be effective a joint reaction force superior to common daily activity with sensitive muscle strengthening must be determined. These exercises appear extremely site-specific, able to increase muscle mass and BMD only in the stimulated body regions. Other suggested protocols are multicomponent exercises and whole body vibration. Multicomponent exercises consist of a combination of different methods (aerobics, strengthening, progressive resistance, balancing, and dancing) aimed at increasing or preserving bone mass. These exercises seem particularly indicated in deteriorating elderly patients, often not able to perform exercises of pure reinforcement. However, for these protocols to be effective they must always contain a proportion of strengthening and resistance exercises. Given the variability of the protocols and outcome measures, the results of these methods are difficult to quantify. Training with whole body vibration (WBV): these exercises are performed with dedicated devices, and while it seems they have effect on enhancing muscle strength, controversial findings on improvement of BMD were reported. WBV seems to provide good results, especially in improving balance and reducing the risk of falling; in this, WBV appears more efficient than simply walking. Nevertheless, contraindications typical of senility should be taken into account.
A Review of Metal Exposure and Its Effects on Bone Health
Authors: Rodríguez Juliana , Mandalunis Patricia Mónica
Published: December 2018

The presence of metals in the environment is a matter of concern, since human activities are the major cause of pollution and metals can enter the food chain and bioaccumulate in hard and soft tissues/organs, which results in a long half-life of the metal in the body. Metal intoxication has a negative impact on human health and can alter different systems depending on metal type and concentration and duration of metal exposure. The present review focuses on the most common metals found in contaminated areas (cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, mercury, chromium, lead, aluminum, titanium, and iron, as well as metalloid arsenic) and their effects on bone tissue. Both the lack and excess of these metals in the body can alter bone dynamics. Long term exposure and short exposure to high concentrations induce an imbalance in the bone remodeling process, altering both formation and resorption and leading to the development of different bone pathologies.
High Seroprevalence of Autoantibodies Typical of Autoimmune Liver Disease in Eastern Ethiopia: Is Chewing of Khat (Catha edulis) a Triggering Factor?
Authors: Orlien Stian Magnus Staurung , Ahmed Tekabe Abdosh , Ismael Nejib Yusuf , Berhe Nega , Lauritzen Trine , Gundersen Svein Gunnar , Johannessen Asgeir
Published: December 2018

Background. Recent studies have identified chewing of khat (Catha edulis) as an independent risk factor for liver injury; however, the pathogenetic mechanism remains poorly understood. Case series have found markers of autoimmune hepatitis in patients with khat-related liver disease, suggesting that khat chewing might trigger an autoimmune response. The aims of the present study were (i) to assess the prevalence of autoantibodies typical for autoimmune liver diseases in a healthy population in Ethiopia and (ii) to explore the hypothesis that khat usage triggers autoimmunity. Methods. Consenting adults (≥18 years) without known autoimmune disease or manifest liver disease were included. One-hundred-and-sixty-nine individuals with current khat use were compared to 104 individuals who never used khat. Seroprevalence of antinuclear (ANA), antismooth muscle (SMA), and antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) were determined and compared between the groups using logistic regression models to adjust for age and sex. Results. Overall, 2.6% of the study subjects were positive for ANA, 15.4% for SMA, and 25.6% for AMA. When comparing khat users to nonusers, ANA was detected in 4.1% vs. 0% (p=0.047), SMA in 16.0% vs. 14.4% (p=0.730), and AMA in 24.9% vs. 26.9% (p=0.704). ANA was excluded from multivariable analysis since there was no seropositive in the reference group. After adjusting for sex and age, no significant association between khat use and SMA or AMA was found. Conclusions. No association between khat usage and the seropresence of SMA or AMA was found, weakening the hypothesis that khat-related liver injury is mediated through autoimmune mechanisms. However, the seroprevalences of AMA and SMA were strikingly high in this Ethiopian population compared to global estimates, suggesting that diagnostic algorithms for autoimmune liver diseases developed in Europe and North America might lead to misdiagnosis of patients on the African continent.
Kirschner Wire Temporary Intramedullary Fixation Combined with a Locking Anatomical Plate versus a Reconstruction Plate in the Treatment of Comminuted Clavicular Fractures: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Xie Jianxin , Xu Danfeng , Zheng Xiaofei , Zhou Mingdi , Ouyang Wei , Zhang Tao , Lu Lei
Published: December 2018

We investigate the clinical efficacy of Kirschner wire temporary intramedullary fixation combined with a locking anatomical plate for the treatment of comminuted clavicular fractures. We retrospectively studied 112 patients [80 (71%) men] treated between February 2007 and February 2014. The patients were allocated to treatment with Kirschner wire temporary intramedullary fixation combined with a locking anatomical plate [minimally invasive group (GM)] or a reconstruction plate [traditional group (GT)]. The 112 patients were followed up for 12–48 months (mean, 14 months). The operation time was significantly shorter inGMthan inGT. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less inGMthan inGT. The total incision length was significantly shorter and the visual analog scale pain score 24 h after surgery was significantly lower inGMthan inGT. Fracture healing time was significantly shorter and the complication rate was significantly lower inGMthan inGT. No significant difference in shoulder function score was observed between groups. We recommend Kirschner wire temporary intramedullary fixation combined with a locking anatomical plate as the treatment of choice for comminuted clavicular fractures because of the shorter operation time, lesser intraoperative blood loss, easier reduction of the operation, quicker fracture healing, and lower postoperative complication rate.
Ambulatory Surgery for Perianal Crohn’s Disease: Study of Feasibility
Authors: Sibio S. , Di Giorgio A. , Campanelli M. , Di Carlo S. , Divizia A. , Fiorani C. , Scaramuzzo R. , Arcudi C. , Del Vecchio Blanco G. , Biancone L. , Sica G.
Published: December 2018

Background. One-third of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients present perianal fistula. The gold standard in the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic perianal disease (PAD) in CD is the exploration of the anal canal and distal rectum under anesthesia (EUA). This procedure is mainly conducted as a day case surgery. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to proceed within the ideal timing and any delay may well represent a relevant clinical issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of outpatient treatment of symptomatic perianal fistulas in CD patients. Methods. All CD patients under regular follow-up at our inflammatory bowel disease referral center, presenting with symptomatic perianal fistulas, were offered surgical consultation. The data of patients were prospectively collected for three years (February 2014 to February 2017) for the purpose of the study. All clinical information, including previous EUA and/or records from MRI and endoscopic ultrasound, was included. Outpatient anal canal and distal rectum exploration and treatment (OE) were undertaken during the specialist surgical consultation. Fistulas were classified according to Parks’s classification; the type of outpatient treatment and compliance of patients were recorded. Pain was assessed by VAS at the time of the procedure and during the first control. Patients were followed up in the surgical clinic in relation to the study. Results. Ninety-two CD patients with symptomatic perianal fistulas had surgical consultation during the study period. OE was offered to all but 18 patients who fulfilled the exclusion criteria or had an extremely severe disease; six patients refused the OE (8.11%). Of the 68 patients undergoing OE, eleven (16.18%) had previous surgery for perianal disease. The OE was accomplished in sixty-one patients (89.71%), while in 7 patients, it was abandoned for scarce compliance. Nine patients (14.75%) underwent drainage of perianal abscess; in 3 of them, it was possible to probe the fistula tract, find the internal orifice, and pass a loose seton. Overall, setonage was performed in 50 patients (81.97%). Rectovaginal setons were placed in 3 patients and more than one seton (up to 3) in 6 cases. Fistulotomy was performed in 4 simple subcutaneous fistulous tracts. Concordance with the preoperative findings was found in 54 out of 61 patients. EUA was scheduled at the time of OE for the 7 patients who did not complete the procedure. All sixty-one patients who had the OE were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. Conclusions. This preliminary study indicates that OE in CD patients with symptomatic perianal fistulas is safe and feasible in a high-volume referral center. It might provide several benefits, including patients’ logistics, reduce or remove patients’ symptoms and discomfort, allow for a timely start of medical therapy, and avoid further complications.
Reactive Oxygen Species from NADPH Oxidase and Mitochondria Participate in the Proliferation of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells from a Model of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: López-Acosta Ocarol , de los Angeles Fortis-Barrera María , Barrios-Maya Miguel Angel , Ramírez Angélica Ruiz , Aguilar Francisco Javier Alarcón , El-Hafidi Mohammed
Published: December 2018

In metabolic diseases, the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) represents one of the pathogenic mechanisms for vascular disease probably by promoting vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation that contributes to the development of arterial remodeling and stenosis, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Therefore, this work was undertaken to evaluate the participation of ROS from NADPH oxidase and mitochondria in the proliferation of SMCs from the aorta in a model of metabolic syndrome induced by sucrose feeding in rats. After 24 weeks, sucrose‐fed (SF) rats develop hypertension, intra‐abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia. In addition SMCs from SF rats had a higher growth rate and produce more ROS than control cells. The treatment of SMCs with DPI and apocynin to inhibit NADPH oxidase and with tempol to scavenge superoxide anion significantly blocked the proliferation of both SF and control cells suggesting the participation of NADPH oxidase as a source of superoxide anion. MitoTEMPO, which targets mitochondria within the cell, also significantly inhibited the proliferation of SMCs having a greater effect on cells from SF than from the control aorta. The higher rate of cell growth from the SF aorta is supported by the increased content of cyclophilin A and CD147, proteins involved in the mechanism of cell proliferation. In addition, caldesmon, α‐actin, and phosphorylated myosin light chain, contractile phenotype proteins, were found significantly lower in SF cells in no confluent state and increased in confluent state but without difference between both cell types. Our results suggest that ROS from NADPH oxidase and mitochondria significantly participate in the difference found in the rate of cell growth between SF and control cells.
Derivation of Universal Curves for Nonlinear Soil Consolidation with Potential Constitutive Dependences
Authors: García-Ros Gonzalo , Alhama Iván , Cánovas Manuel , Alhama Francisco
Published: December 2018

Nonlinear consolidation scenarios, based on potential type constitutive dependences—like those proposed by Juárez-Badillo—and eliminating the more restrictive hypothesis of 1+e and dz constant, were characterized by the nondimensionalization process of the governing equations, providing the independent dimensionless groups that rule the main unknowns of interest. From these, universal curves have been depicted for both the characteristic time and the average degree of consolidation. The solutions were verified by numerical simulations and successfully compared in a case study, showing the simplicity of use of the curves and the high reliability of the solutions they provide.
Gene Expression Patterns Analysis in the Supraspinatus Muscle after a Rotator Cuff Tear in a Mouse Model
Authors: Lee Yong-Soo , Kim Ja-Yeon , Kim Hyo-Nam , Lee Dhong-Won , Chung Seok Won
Published: December 2018

Rotator cuff tear is a muscle-tendinous injury representative of various musculoskeletal disorders. In general, rotator cuff tear occurs in the tendon, but it causes unloading of the muscle resulting in muscle degeneration including fatty infiltration. These muscle degenerations lead to muscle weakness, pain, and loss of shoulder function and are well known as important factors for poor functional outcome after rotator cuff repair. Given that rotator cuff tear in various animal species results in similar pathological changes seen in humans, the animal model can be considered a good approach to understand the many aspects of the molecular changes in injured muscle. To comprehensively analyze changes in gene expression with time following a rotator cuff tear, we established a rotator cuff tear in mouse supraspinatus tendon of shoulder. At weeks 1 and 4 after the tear, the injured muscles were harvested for RNA isolation, and microarray analysis was performed. Expression patterns of genes belonging to 10 muscle physiology-related categories, including aging, apoptosis, atrophy, and fatty acid transport, were analyzed and further validated using real-time PCR. A total of 39,429 genes were analyzed, and significant changes in expression were observed for 12,178 genes at 1 week and 2,370 genes at 4 weeks after the tear. From the list of top 10 significantly up- and downregulated genes at the 2 time periods and the network evaluation of relevant genes according to the 10 categories, several important genes in each category were observed. In this study, we found that various genes are significantly altered after rotator cuff tear, and these genes may play key roles in controlling muscle degeneration after a rotator cuff tear.
Renal Dysfunction after Living-Donor Liver Transplantation: Experience with 500 Cases
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ehab E. , Alrefaey Alrefaey K. , Yassen Amr M. , Monier Ahmed , Elgouhari Hesham M. , Habl Mohamed Samy , Tawfik Gehad , Elzayat Thuraya , Zayed Reham Adly , Abdel-Wahab Mohamed
Published: December 2018

Introduction.The possible risk factors for chronic kidney disease in transplant recipients have not been thoroughly investigated after living-donor liver transplantation.Material and Methods.A retrospective cohort study of consecutive adults who underwent living-donor liver transplantation between May 2004 and October 2016, in a single center, was conducted. Kidney function was investigated successively for all the patients throughout the study period, with 12 months being the shortest follow-up. Postoperative renal dysfunction was defined in accordance with the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration criteria. The patients’ demographic data, preoperative and intraoperative parameters, and outcomes were recorded. A calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive regimen, either tacrolimus or cyclosporine, was used in all the patients.Results.Of the 413 patients included in the study, 33 (8%) who survived for ≥1 year experienced chronic kidney disease 1 year after living-donor liver transplantation. Twenty-seven variables were studied to compare between the patients with normal kidney functions and those who developed chronic kidney disease 1 year after living-donor liver transplantation. Univariate regression analysis for predicting the likelihood of chronic kidney disease at 1 year revealed that the following 4 variables were significant: operative time,P< 0.0005; intraoperative blood loss,P< 0.0005; preoperative renal impairment,P= 0.001; and graft-to-recipient weight ratio (as a negative predictor),P< 0.0005. In the multivariate regression analysis, only 2 variables remained as independent predictors of chronic kidney disease at 1 year, namely, operative time with a cutoff value of ≥714 minutes and graft-to-recipient weight ratio as a negative predictor with a cutoff value of <0.91.Conclusion.In this study, prolonged operative time and small graft-to-recipient weight ratio were independent predictors of chronic kidney disease at 1 year after living-donor liver transplantation.
Fertility Limiting Intention and Contraceptive Use among Currently Married Men in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016
Authors: Paudel Yuba Raj , Acharya Kiran
Published: December 2018

Introduction. Less is known about fertility intention of men and family planning (FP) use pattern among men or their spouses who do not want to have more children in Nepal. The objective of the current research was to assess whether number and sex composition of living children determine contraceptive use and method mix among Nepalese men who expressed not wanting to have more children. Methods. We used couple dataset from NDHS 2016 for the analysis. The sample consisted of 1551 (weighted) men aged 20 or older who had at least one living child and said they wanted no more children. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify determinants of sterilization, traditional, temporary contraceptive use. Analysis was conducted considering clustering and stratification in NDHS 2016 survey. Results. Of the total respondents, more than 80% mentioned they do not want to have any more children. However, only one-third of the men or their spouses who expressed desire not to have children were using sterilization methods at the time of survey. Contraceptive use showed a strong association with number and sex composition of children with men favouring to have at least 1 or 2 sons. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that use of sterilization method (especially female sterilization) was strongly associated with having at least 1 or 2 sons. Men with daughters only and one son with daughters were more likely to use temporary methods. Conclusion. Among men who do not want to have more children, FP use was associated with number and sex composition of living children. Use of sterilization methods was associated with having at least 1 or 2 sons. Nepal’s family planning program can be further strengthened by joining hands with initiatives aimed at promoting the value of girl child.
Peptide Extract from Olivancillaria hiatula Exhibits Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Gasu Edward Ntim , Ahor Hubert Senanu , Borquaye Lawrence Sheringham
Published: December 2018

Increasing reports of infectious diseases worldwide have become a global concern in recent times. Depleted antibiotic pipelines, rapid and complex cases of antimicrobial resistance, and emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease have necessitated an urgent need for the development of new antimicrobial therapeutics, preferably with novel modes of action. Due to their distinct mode of action, antimicrobial peptides offer an interesting alternative to conventional antibiotics to deal with the problems enumerated. In this study, the antimicrobial potential of the peptide extract from the marine mollusc, Olivancillaria hiatula, was evaluated in vitro. Agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques were used to evaluate microbial susceptibility to the peptide extract. Microplate-based assays were also used to investigate time-dependent growth inhibition profiles of microbes in the presence of peptide and evaluate the peptide’s ability to modulate the activities of standard antibiotics. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were inhibited by the peptide extract in the agar diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of peptide against test microorganisms was between 0.039 and 2.5 mg/mL. At the MIC, the peptide extract was bacteriostatic towards all tested microorganisms but bactericidal to Staphylococcus aureus. In the presence of the peptide extract, a prolonged lag phase was observed for all microbes, similar to standard ciprofloxacin. When administered together, peptide extracts enhanced the activities of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime and were antagonistic towards erythromycin but indifferent towards metronidazole. Taken together, these results show the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of peptide extract from Olivancillaria hiatula and demonstrate that antimicrobial peptides can be employed in combination with some conventional antibiotics for improved effects.
Short-Term Effects of Overnight Orthokeratology on Corneal Sensitivity in Chinese Children and Adolescents
Authors: Jin Wanqing , Ye Jiangping , Zhang Jiafan , Zhu Yu , Thorn Frank , Liu Ningning , Deng Ruzhi
Published: December 2018

Purpose. To assess the effects of the 3-month period of orthokeratology (OK) treatment on corneal sensitivity in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods. Thirty subjects wore overnight OK lenses in both eyes for 3 months and were assessed at baseline, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the treatment. Changes in corneal sensitivity were measured by the Cochet–Bonnet (COBO) esthesiometer at the corneal apex and approximately 2 mm from the temporal limbus. Changes in refraction and corneal topography were also measured. Results. Central corneal sensitivity suffered a significant reduction within the first month of the OK treatment period but returned to the baseline level at three months (F = 3.009, P=0.039), while no statistically significant difference occurred in temporal sensitivity (F = 2.462, P=0.074). The baseline of central corneal sensitivity correlated with age (r = −0.369, P=0.045). A marked change in refraction (uncorrected visual acuity, P<0.001; spherical equivalent, P<0.001) and corneal topographical condition (mean keratometry reading, P<0.001; eccentricity value, P<0.001; Surface Regularity Index, P<0.001) occurred, but none of these measurements were correlated with corneal sensitivity. Conclusions. A 3-month period OK treatment causes a reduction in central corneal sensitivity in Chinese children and adolescents but with a final recovery to the baseline level, which might be because neuronal adaptation occurred earlier in children and adolescents than in adults.
Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of the Six-Axis Force/Torque Sensor
Authors: Fu Liyue , Song Aiguo
Published: December 2018

In this study, dynamic characteristics of a robot six-axis wrist force/torque (F/T) sensor with crossbeam elastomer are analyzed by two methods of model identification, a method for simultaneous identification of order and parameters of the model (SIM) and a method based on the differential evolution (DE) algorithm. Firstly, by establishing the simplified mechanical model and finite element (FE) model, respectively, natural frequency of the six-axis wrist F/T sensor is calculated. Secondly, dynamic calibration experiment is conducted. Lastly, two dynamic models of the sensor are identified by SIM and DE methods and the dynamic characteristics of the sensor, such as natural frequency and working band, are further analyzed. Comparing experimental values with the theoretical values, the results show that this sensor has a wide dynamic range with the first natural frequency at more than 1600 Hz, working bands (±5%) are more than 400 Hz, and the step response oscillation is intense. This study can provide a reference for the application of the six-axis F/T sensor in the field of dynamic measurement.
A Reweighted Scheme to Improve the Representation of the Neural Autoregressive Distribution Estimator
Authors: Wang Zheng , Wu Qingbiao
Published: December 2018

The neural autoregressive distribution estimator(NADE) is a competitive model for the task of density estimation in the field of machine learning. While NADE mainly focuses on the problem of estimating density, the ability for dealing with other tasks remains to be improved. In this paper, we introduce a simple and efficient reweighted scheme to modify the parameters of the learned NADE. We make use of the structure of NADE, and the weights are derived from the activations in the corresponding hidden layers. The experiments show that the features from unsupervised learning with our reweighted scheme would be more meaningful, and the performance of the initialization for neural networks has a significant improvement as well.
Sarcoidosis Presenting as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Lashari Bilal Haider , Raza Ahmad , Chan Vincent , Ward William
Published: December 2018

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown origin. It typically involves the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes in a chronic fashion. However, acute syndrome has been reported possibly in response to systemic release of proinflammatory cytokines. Acute pulmonary manifestations, especially acute respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome, remain extremely uncommon in individuals without a prior diagnosis. We present the case of a 41-year-old African American female, who presented with ARDS. An extensive workup into the cause of her illness remained negative, and she subsequently succumbed to her illness. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made upon autopsy, after exclusion of other granulomatous illness. The case highlights the need to consider this uncommon diagnosis in patients with unexplained ARDS to guide therapy.
Essential Oils and Their Major Compounds in the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation: A Review of Antioxidant Potential in Preclinical Studies and Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: de Lavor Érica Martins , Fernandes Antônio Wilton Cavalcante , de Andrade Teles Roxana Braga , Leal Ana Ediléia Barbosa Pereira , de Oliveira Júnior Raimundo Gonçalves , Gama e Silva Mariana , de Oliveira Ana Paula , Silva Juliane Cabral , de Moura Fontes Araújo Maria Tais , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , de Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar , Picot Laurent , da Silva Almeida Jackson Roberto Guedes
Published: December 2018

Inflammatory diseases result from the body’s response to tissue damage, and if the resolution is not adequate or the stimulus persists, there will be progression from acute inflammation to chronic inflammation, leading to the development of cancer and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. Due to the complexity of events that occur in inflammation associated with the adverse effects of drugs used in clinical practice, it is necessary to search for new biologically active compounds with anti‐inflammatory activity. Among natural products, essential oils (EOs) present promising results in preclinical studies, with action in the main mechanisms involved in the pathology of inflammation. The present systematic review summarizes the pharmacological effects of EOs and their compounds in in vitro and in vivo models for inflammation. The research was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, BIREME, Scielo, Open Grey, and Science Direct. Based on the inclusion criteria, 30 articles were selected and discussed in this review. The studies listed revealed a potential activity of EOs and their compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, especially in chronic inflammatory conditions, with the main mechanism involving reduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species associated with an elevation of antioxidant enzymes as well as the reduction of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, this review suggests that EOs and their major compounds are promising tools for the treatment of chronic inflammation.
Experimental Investigations and Field Applications of Chemical Suppressants for Dust Control in Coal Mines
Authors: Liao Qi , Feng Guorui , Fan Yurong , Hu Shengyong , Shao He , Huang Yisheng
Published: December 2018

It is known that high dust concentrations are severely hazardous to health of miners and the safe operations of coal mines. The results of the suppressions of coal dust via chemical dust suppressant methods have been of critical significance, and these methods have been widely applied in coal mines. In this research study, a type of complex dust suppressant composed of surfactants, synergists, and cellulose was prepared. The prepared suppressant was characterized by a high wetting ability and adhesive capacity. The results of the performance tests of this study’s proposed complex dust suppressant showed that its dust sedimentation time was only four seconds, which was observed to be much shorter than that of water alone. Also, the proposed suppressant displayed a viscosity which was 25 times that of water. In this study’s field tests, the proposed complex dust suppressant was used for dust control in a mining roadway of the Zhangcun Coal Mine. The field test results revealed that the average suppression efficiencies of the total dust and respirable dust had reached 89.2% and 87.7%, respectively. Furthermore, a 44.5% increase in the control of the total dust had been observed, and a 65.6% increase in the control of the respirable dust had been achieved with the proposed method, when compared with the results of the previously used water curtain technology.
Gait-Specific Optimization of Composite Footwear Midsole Systems, Facilitated through Dynamic Finite Element Modelling
Authors: Drougkas Dimitris , Karatsis Evagelos , Papagiannaki Maria , Chatzimoisiadis Serafeim , Arabatzi Fotini , Maropoulos Stergios , Tsouknidas Alexander
Published: December 2018

Objective. During the last century, running shoes have been subject to drastic changes with incremental however improvements as to injury prevention. This may be, among others, due to the limited insight that experimental methodologies can provide on their 3D in situ response. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of finite element (FE) modelling techniques, in optimizing a midsole system as to the provided cushioning capacity. Methods. A commercial running shoe was scanned by means of micro computed tomography and its gel-based midsole, reverse-engineered to a 200 μm accuracy. The resulting 3D model was subjected to biorealistic loading and boundary conditions, in terms of time-varying plantar pressure distribution and shoe-ground contact constraints. The mesh grid of the FE model was verified as to its conceptual soundness and validated against velocity-driven impact tests. Nonlinear material properties were assigned to all entities and the model subjected to a dynamic FE analysis. An optimization function (based on energy absorption criteria) was employed to determine the optimum gel volume and position, as to accommodate sequential cushioning in the rear-, mid-, and forefoot, of runner during stance phase. Results. The in situ developing stress fields suggest that the shock dissipating properties of the midsole could be significantly improved. Altering the position of the gel pads and varying their volume led to different midsole responses that could be tuned more efficiently to the specific strike and pronation pattern. Conclusions. The results suggest that midsole design can be significantly improved through biorealistic FE modelling, thus providing a new platform for the conceptual redesign and/or optimization of modern footwear.
Pharmacological Inhibition of Caspase-1 Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity through Suppression of Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Mice
Authors: Kim Jung-Yeon , Park Jae-Hyung , Kim Kiryeong , Jo Jungmin , Leem Jaechan , Park Kwan-Kyu
Published: December 2018

Caspase-1 is a proinflammatory caspase responsible for the proteolytic conversion of the precursor forms of interleukin-1β to its active form and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. It was reported that genetic deficiency of caspase-1 prevented cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. However, whether pharmacological inhibition of caspase-1 also has a preventive effect against cisplatin-induced kidney injury has not been evaluated. In this study, we examined the effect of Ac-YVAD-cmk, a potent caspase-1-specific inhibitor, on renal function and histology in cisplatin-treated mice and explored its underlying mechanisms. We found that administration of Ac-YVAD-cmk effectively attenuated cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, as evidenced by reduced plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, and histological abnormalities, such as tubular cell death, dilatation, and cast formation. Administration of Ac-YVAD-cmk inhibited caspase-3 activation as well as caspase-1 activation and attenuated apoptotic cell death, as assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, in the kidneys of cisplatin-treated mice. Cisplatin-induced G2/M arrest of renal tubular cells was also reduced by caspase-1 inhibition. In addition, administration of Ac-YVAD-cmk reversed increased oxidative stress and depleted antioxidant capacity after cisplatin treatment. Moreover, increased macrophage accumulation and elevated expression of cytokines and chemokines were attenuated by caspase-1 inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that caspase-1 inhibition by Ac-YVAD-cmk protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through inhibition of renal tubular cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Our findings support the idea that caspase-1 may be a promising pharmacological target for the prevention of cisplatin-induced kidney injury.
Impaired Glucose Metabolisms of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Zhang Ye , Xing Yanpeng , Yuan Haibo , Gang Xiaokun , Guo Weiying , Li Zhuo , Wang Guixia
Published: December 2018

Aims. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common disorder which is associated with metabolic comorbidities. The aims of this study were to analyze clinical data of patients with OSA and evaluate influence of sleep-disordered breathing on glycometabolism and its underlying mechanisms. Methods. We designed a cross-sectional study involving 53 OSA patients in The First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2015 to March 2016. They underwent a full-night polysomnography, measurement of fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profiles. Besides, we chose 20 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a subgroup for an in-depth study. This group additionally underwent a steamed bread meal test and measurement of HbA1c, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, morning plasma cortisol, and growth hormone. Results. The two groups which with or without T2DM showed no significant differences in baseline characteristics. As for OSA patients with T2DM, the severe OSA group had higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P=0.013) than the mild-to-moderate OSA group, whereas had lower morning plasma cortisol levels (P=0.005) than the mild-to-moderate OSA group. AHI was positive correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.523, P=0.018), yet negative correlated with morning plasma cortisol (r=−0.694, P=0.001). However, nadir SpO2 was positive correlated with morning plasma cortisol (rs=0.646, P=0.002), while negative correlated with HOMA-IR (rs=−0.489, P=0.029). Conclusions. Our study showed that sleep-disordered breathing exerted negative influence on glucose metabolisms. The impairment of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity may be one of the underlying mechanisms of the glycometabolic dysfunctions in OSA with T2DM patients.
Modulation of the Gut Microbiota in Rats by Hugan Qingzhi Tablets during the Treatment of High‐Fat‐Diet‐Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Tang Waijiao , Yao Xiaorui , Xia Fan , Yang Miaoting , Chen Zhijuan , Zhou Benjie , Liu Qiang
Published: December 2018

Background. Accumulative evidence showed that gut microbiota was important in regulating the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hugan Qingzhi tablet (HQT), a lipid‐lowering and anti‐inflammatory medicinal formula, has been used to prevent and treat NAFLD. However, its mechanism of action is unknown. The aim of this study was to confirm whether HQT reversed the gut microbiota dysbiosis in NAFLD rats. Methods. We established an NAFLD model of rats fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD), which was given different interventions, and measured the level of liver biochemical indices and inflammatory factors. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin‐eosin and oil red O. Changes in the gut microbiota composition were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results. The hepatic histology and biochemical data displayed that HQT exhibited protective effects on HFD‐induced rats. Moreover, HQT also reduced the abundance of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in HFD‐fed rats and modified the gut microbial species at the genus level, increasing the abundances of gut microbiota which were reported to have an effect on relieving NAFLD, such as Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Bifidobacteria, Alistipes, and Anaeroplasma, and significantly inhibiting the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, Holdemanella, Allobaculum, and Blautia, which were reported to be potentially related to NAFLD. Spearman’s correlation analysis found that [Ruminococcus]_gauvreauii_group, Lachnoclostridium, Blautia, Allobaculum, and Holdemanella exhibited significant (p < 0.001) positive correlations with triglyceride, cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and body weight and negative correlations with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). The norank_f__Bacteroidales_S24-7_group and Alistipes showed an opposite trend. Moreover, the HQT could promote flavonoid biosynthesis compared with the HFD group. Conclusion. In summary, the HQT has potential applications in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD, which may be closely related to its modulatory effect on the gut microbiota.