bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Capacity of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
To Survive Iron Starvation Might Enable It To Persist in Iron-Deprived Microenvironments of Human Granulomas
Authors: Kurthkoti Krishna , Amin Hamel , Marakalala Mohlopheni J. , Ghanny Saleena , Subbian Selvakumar , Sakatos Alexandra , Livny Jonathan , Fortune Sarah M. , Berney Michael , Rodriguez G. Marcela
Published: August 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the role of iron deprivation in the persistence of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. We present evidence of iron restriction in human necrotic granulomas and demonstrate that under iron starvation
M. tuberculosis
persists, refractive to antibiotics and capable of restarting replication when iron is made available. Transcriptomics and metabolomic analyses indicated that the persistence of
M. tuberculosis
under iron starvation is dependent on strict control of endogenous Fe utilization and is associated with upregulation of pathogenicity and intrinsic antibiotic resistance determinants.
M. tuberculosis
mutants compromised in their ability to survive Fe starvation were identified. The findings of this study advance the understanding of the physiological settings that may underpin the chronicity of human tuberculosis (TB) and are relevant to the design of effective antitubercular therapies.

IMPORTANCE
One-third of the world population may harbor persistent
M. tuberculosis
, causing an asymptomatic infection that is refractory to treatment and can reactivate to become potentially lethal tuberculosis disease. However, little is known about the factors that trigger and maintain
M. tuberculosis
persistence in infected individuals. Iron is an essential nutrient for
M. tuberculosis
growth. In this study, we show, first, that in human granulomas the immune defense creates microenvironments in which
M. tuberculosis
likely experiences drastic Fe deprivation and, second, that Fe-starved
M. tuberculosis
is capable of long-term persistence without growth. Together, these observations suggest that Fe deprivation in the lung might trigger a state of persistence in
M. tuberculosis
and promote chronic TB. We also identified vulnerabilities of iron-restricted persistent
M. tuberculosis
, which can be exploited for the design of new antitubercular therapies.
Inhibitors of the Histone Methyltransferases EZH2/1 Induce a Potent Antiviral State and Suppress Infection by Diverse Viral Pathogens
Authors: Arbuckle Jesse H. , Gardina Paul J. , Gordon David N. , Hickman Heather D. , Yewdell Jonathan W. , Pierson Theodore C. , Myers Timothy G. , Kristie Thomas M.
Published: August 2017

Epigenetic regulation is based on a network of complexes that modulate the chromatin character and structure of the genome to impact gene expression, cell fate, and development. Thus, epigenetic modulators represent novel therapeutic targets used to treat a range of diseases, including malignancies. Infectious pathogens such as herpesviruses are also regulated by cellular epigenetic machinery, and epigenetic therapeutics represent a novel approach used to control infection, persistence, and the resulting recurrent disease. The histone H3K27 methyltransferases EZH2 and EZH1 (EZH2/1) are epigenetic repressors that suppress gene transcription via propagation of repressive H3K27me3-enriched chromatin domains. However, while EZH2/1 are implicated in the repression of herpesviral gene expression, inhibitors of these enzymes suppressed primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Furthermore, these compounds blocked lytic viral replication following induction of HSV reactivation in latently infected sensory ganglia. Suppression correlated with the induction of multiple inflammatory, stress, and antipathogen pathways, as well as enhanced recruitment of immune cells to
in vivo
infection sites. Importantly, EZH2/1 inhibitors induced a cellular antiviral state that also suppressed infection with DNA (human cytomegalovirus, adenovirus) and RNA (Zika virus) viruses. Thus, EZH2/1 inhibitors have considerable potential as general antivirals through the activation of cellular antiviral and immune responses.

IMPORTANCE
A significant proportion of the world’s population is infected with herpes simplex virus. Primary infection and subsequent recurrent reactivation can result in diseases ranging from mild lesions to severe ocular or neurological damage. Herpesviruses are subject to epigenetic regulation that modulates viral gene expression, lytic replication, and latency-reactivation cycles. Thus, epigenetic pharmaceuticals have the potential to alter the course of infection and disease. Here, while the histone methyltransferases EZH2/1 are implicated in the suppression of herpesviruses, inhibitors of these repressors unexpectedly suppress viral infection
in vitro
and
in vivo
by induction of key components of cellular innate defense pathways. These inhibitors suppress infection by multiple viral pathogens, indicating their potential as broad-spectrum antivirals.
TIFA Signaling in Gastric Epithelial Cells Initiates thecagType 4 Secretion System-Dependent Innate Immune Response toHelicobacter pyloriInfection
Authors: Gall Alevtina , Gaudet Ryan G. , Gray-Owen Scott D. , Salama Nina R.
Published: August 2017

Helicobacter pyloriis a bacterial pathogen that colonizes the human stomach, causing inflammation which, in some cases, leads to gastric ulcers and cancer. The clinical outcome of infection depends on a complex interplay of bacterial, host genetic, and environmental factors. AlthoughH. pyloriis recognized by both the innate and adaptive immune systems, this rarely results in bacterial clearance. Gastric epithelial cells are the first line of defense againstH. pyloriand alert the immune system to bacterial presence. Cytosolic delivery of proinflammatory bacterial factors through thecagtype 4 secretion system (cag-T4SS) has long been appreciated as the major mechanism by which gastric epithelial cells detectH. pylori. Classically attributed to the peptidoglycan sensor NOD1, recent work has highlighted the role of NOD1-independent pathways in detectingH. pylori; however, the bacterial and host factors involved have remained unknown. Here, we show that bacterially derived heptose-1,7-bisphosphate (HBP), a metabolic precursor in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, is delivered to the host cytosol through thecag-T4SS, where it activates the host tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)-interacting protein with forkhead-associated domain (TIFA)-dependent cytosolic surveillance pathway. This response, which is independent of NOD1, drives robust NF-κB-dependent inflammation within hours of infection and precedes NOD1 activation. We also found that the CagA toxin contributes to the NF-κB-driven response subsequent to TIFA and NOD1 activation. Taken together, our results indicate that the sequential activation of TIFA, NOD1, and CagA delivery drives the initial inflammatory response in gastric epithelial cells, orchestrating the subsequent recruitment of immune cells and leading to chronic gastritis.

IMPORTANCEH. pyloriis a globally prevalent cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers and cancer.H. pyloriantibiotic resistance is rapidly increasing, and a vaccine remains elusive. The earliest immune response toH. pyloriis initiated by gastric epithelial cells and sets the stage for the subsequent immunopathogenesis. This study revealed that host TIFA andH. pylori-derived HBP are critical effectors of innate immune signaling that account for much of the inflammatory response toH. pyloriin gastric epithelial cells. HBP is delivered to the host cell via thecag-T4SS at a time point that precedes activation of the previously described NOD1 and CagA inflammatory pathways. Manipulation of the TIFA-driven immune response in the host and/or targeting of ADP-heptose biosynthesis enzymes inH. pylorimay therefore provide novel strategies that may be therapeutically harnessed to achieve bacterial clearance.
PaperBLAST: Text Mining Papers for Information about Homologs
Authors: Price Morgan N. , Arkin Adam P.
Published: August 2017

With the recent explosion of genome sequencing data, there are now millions of uncharacterized proteins. If a scientist becomes interested in one of these proteins, it can be very difficult to find information as to its likely function. Often a protein whose sequence is similar, and which is likely to have a similar function, has been studied already, but this information is not available in any database. To help find articles about similar proteins, PaperBLAST searches the full text of scientific articles for protein identifiers or gene identifiers, and it links these articles to protein sequences. Then, given a protein of interest, it can quickly find similar proteins in its database by using standard software (BLAST), and it can show snippets of text from relevant papers. We hope that PaperBLAST will make it easier for biologists to predict proteins’ functions.
Ureaplasma parvumcausing life-threatening disease in a susceptible patient
Authors: Korytny Alexander , Nasser Roni , Geffen Yuval , Friedman Tom , Paul Mical , Ghanem-Zoubi Nesrin
Published: August 2017

A 56-year-old man with lymphoma developed orchitis followed by septic arthritis of his right glenohumeral joint. Synovial fluid cultures were negative but PCR amplification test was positive forUreaplasmaparvum.The patient was treated with doxycycline. Two and a half years later, the patient presented with shortness of breath and grade III/IV diastolic murmur on auscultation. Echocardiography revealed severely dilated left heart chambers, severe aortic regurgitation and several mobile masses on the aortic valve cusps suspected to be vegetations. He underwent valve replacement; valve tissue culture was negative but the 16S rRNA gene amplification test was positive forU. parvum.

He was treated again with doxycycline. In an outpatient follow-up 1 year and 3 months later, the patient was doing well. Repeated echocardiography showed normal aortic prosthesis function.
Fever and generalised lymphadenopathy in an HIV-positive patient: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Neves Bernardo , Raimundo Pedro , Farinha Pedro
Published: August 2017

Fever and generalised lymphadenopathy is a common presentation of a variety of diseases and a thorough investigation is often necessary for appropriate diagnosis.

We present a 53-year-old male patient admitted with fever, weight loss of 15 kg in 3 months and abdominal discomfort. Examination was only remarkable for axillary and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Blood tests showed normocytic normochromic anaemia, cholestasis and a previously unknown HIV-1 infection with lymphocyte CD4 +count of 239 cells/mm3and viral load 3.172.370 copies/mL. A body CT scan showed multiple axillary, mediastinal, lumbar, aortic, iliac and pelvic lymphadenopathy as well as hepatosplenomegaly. An excisional biopsy of the left axillary lymphadenopathy was performed and histology ultimately revealed multicentric Castleman’s disease associated with Human Herpes Virus-8. After initiation of antiretroviral therapy, rituximab was given and progressive clinical improvement occurred.
Characteristics of primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma in Korea: conjunctiva versus other ocular adnexa
Authors: Nam Seung Wan , Woo Kyung In , Kim Yoon-Duck
Published: August 2017

Aims

To compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary conjunctival versus other ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (EMZL).

Methods

Retrospective review of clinical records for all consecutive patients with primary ocular adnexal EMZL treated from March 1995 to December 2015.

Results

198 patients were evaluated including 81 with primary conjunctival and 117 with other ocular adnexal EMZL. Conjunctival EMZL was found at a younger age (40.3±10.3vs 54.3±13.4 years, p<0.0001) with a female predilection (75.3%vs35.9%, p<0.0001) and had a higher rate of bilaterality (40.7%vs11.1%, p<0.0001) and a lower rate of systemic involvement (1.2%vs9.4%, p=0.030) compared with other ocular adnexal EMZLs. Conjunctival EMZL also showed a higher rate of complete response to primary treatment (98.8%vs89.5%, p=0.016) than other ocular adnexal EMZLs; however, recurrence and lymphoma-related death rates were not different between the two groups (p>0.05). Kaplan-Meier estimates for disease-specific survival at 5 and 10 years were 98.2% and 98.2% in conjunctival and 98.6%, respectively, and 95.2% in other ocular adnexal EMZLs. Univariate analysis showed that systemic involvement was negatively associated with conjunctival tumour location and positively associated with age (OR=0.35 and OR=1.05, p=0.045 and p=0.012, respectively), and treatment response was positively associated with conjunctival tumour location and negatively associated with age (OR=3.02 and OR=0.95, p=0.035 and p=0.009, respectively).

Conclusions

Conjunctival EMZL shows unique demographic characteristic compared with other ocular adnexal EMZLs. Long-term follow-up is required due to late recurrence in ocular adnexal EMZL.
Left Of Bang Interventions in Trauma: ethical implications for military medical prophylaxis
Authors: Eisenstein Neil , Naumann David , Burns Daniel , Stapley Sarah , Draper Heather
Published: August 2017

Advances in medical capability should be accompanied by discussion of their ethical implications. In the military medical context there is a growing interest in developing prophylactic interventions that will mitigate the effects of trauma and improve survival. The ethics of this novel capability are currently unexplored. This paper describes the concept of trauma prophylaxis (Left Of Bang Interventions in Trauma) and outlines some of the ethical issues that need to be considered, including within concept development, research and implementation. Trauma prophylaxis can be divided into interventions that do not (type 1) and those that do (type 2) have medical enhancement as an unintended side effect of their prophylactic action. We conclude that type 1 interventions have much in common with established military medical prophylaxis, and the potentially enhancing qualities of type 2 interventions raise different issues. We welcome further debate on both interventions.
A case study in bifurcation theory
Authors: Khmou Youssef
Published: August 2017

This short paper is focused on the bifurcation theory found in map functions called evolution functions that are used in dynamical systems. The most well-known example of discrete iterative function is the logistic map that puts into evidence bifurcation and chaotic behavior of the topology of the logistic function. We propose a new iterative function based on Lorentizan function and its generalized versions, based on numerical study, it is found that the bifurcation of the Lorentzian function is of second-order where it is characterized by the absence of chaotic region.
Second-order equation of motion for electromagnetic radiation back-reaction
Authors: Matolcsi T. , Fülöp T. , Weiner M.
Published: August 2017

We take the viewpoint that the physically acceptable solutions of the Lorentz–Dirac equation for radiation back-reaction are actually determined by a second-order equation of motion, the self-force being given as a function of spacetime location and velocity. We propose three different methods to obtain this self-force function. For two example systems, we determine the second-order equation of motion exactly in the non-relativistic regime via each of these three methods, leading to the same result. We reveal that, for both systems considered, back-reaction induces a damping proportional to velocity and, in addition, it decreases the effect of the external force.
Chiral symmetry breaking by monopole condensation
Authors: Iwazaki Aiichi
Published: August 2017

Under the assumption of Abelian dominance in QCD, we have shown that chiral condensate is locally present around each QCD monopole. The essence is that either charge or chirality of a quark is not conserved, when the low energy massless quark collides with QCD monopole. In reality, the charge is conserved so that the chirality is not conserved. Reviewing the presence of the local chiral condensate, we show by using chiral anomaly that chiral nonsymmetric quark pair production takes place when a color charge is putted in a vacuum with monopole condensation, while chiral symmetric pair production takes place in a vacuum with no monopole condensation. Our results strongly indicate that the chiral symmetry is broken by the monopole condensation.
Synergetic effects of interfacial and spatial confinement in polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Zhao Weiwei , Su Yunlan , Wang Dujin
Published: August 2017

Dispersing three-dimensional (3D) nanoparticles as the filler into a polymeric component is known to significantly improve the physicochemical properties of the materials and makes them attractive for industrial applications. There are two main contributions to the underlying enhancement mechanism of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). The first contribution is linked to the interfacial effect, originating from the interaction between polymer and nanoparticles. The packing density, conformation and orientation of adsorbed chains are significantly altered, which results in an interfacial region with different properties from the bulk. The second contribution is attributed to the spatial effect, introduced by confining polymer chains in a restricted space between/among nanoparticles. These two effects are often correlated. The characteristic behavior of polymer chains confined by nanoparticles has already shown to be quite complicated and hence interesting as compared with that of pure polymers. The broad range of influencing factors including the size, content and surface chemistry of nanoparticles as well as the molecular weight and chain ends of polymers were discussed in this review. The controversial issues such as the segmental dynamics at interface, interfacial architecture and the extent of its impact on the bulk phase were summarized, wishing to produce further understanding of PNCs.
FRAM for Systemic Accident Analysis: A Matrix Representation of Functional Resonance
Authors: Riccardo Patriarca , Gianluca Del Pinto , Giulio Di Gravio , Francesco Costantino
Published: August 2017

Due to the inherent complexity of nowadays Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, standard methods looking at an event as a linear sequence of failures might become inappropriate. For this purpose, adopting a systemic perspective, the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) originally developed by Hollnagel, helps in identifying nonlinear combinations of events and interrelationships. This paper aims to enhance the strength of FRAM-based accident analyses, discussing the Resilience Analysis Matrix (RAM), a user-friendly tool that supports the analyst during the analysis, in order to reduce the complexity of representation of FRAM. The RAM offers a two-dimensional representation which systematically highlights the connections among couplings, and thus even the highly connected group of couplings. As an illustrative case study, this paper develops a systemic accident analysis for the runway incursion happened in February 1991 at LAX airport, involving SkyWest Flight 5569 and USAir Flight 1493. FRAM confirms itself a powerful method to characterize the variability of the operational scenario, identifying the dynamic couplings with a critical role during the event and helping in discussing the systemic effects of variability at different level of analysis.
Maximal non-commuting set in 2-generated p-groups of class two
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Jain Vivek Kumar
Published: August 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a group. A set [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] is said to be non-commuting if [Formula: see text] for any two distinct elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] for any other non-commuting set [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] is said to be a maximal non-commuting set. In this paper, we obtain the cardinality of a maximal non-commuting set in [Formula: see text]-generated [Formula: see text]-groups of class two having finite commutator subgroup.
A study on the bouncing behavior of modified Chaplygin gas in presence of bulk viscosity and its consequences in the modified gravity framework
Authors: Chattopadhyay Surajit
Published: August 2017

The present paper reports a study on the bouncing behavior of the viscous modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) in Einstein as well as modified gravity framework. For a bouncing scale factor proposed by Cai et al., Class. Quantum Grav. 28 (2011) 215011, we have studied the cosmology of MCG in presence of bulk viscosity. In Einstein gravity framework, we have studied the equation of state parameter and it has been found to cross [Formula: see text] indicating the end of the early accelerated expansion and it has also been observed that for flat FRW universe the presence of bulk viscosity induces the crossing of phantom boundary. Role of the model parameters of the MCG has also been investigated before and after the bounce. A Hubble flow dynamics has been carried out and, it was revealed that MCG is capable of realizing inflationary phase as well as an exit from inflation. A [Formula: see text] gravitational paradigm has also been considered, where the MCG density has been reconstructed in presence of bulk viscosity. Role of [Formula: see text] of the bouncing scale factor, describing how fast the bounce takes place, has also been studied in this framework.
Some Recent Developments in Turbulence Closure Modeling
Authors: Durbin Paul A.
Published: August 2017

Turbulence closure models are central to a good deal of applied computational fluid dynamical analysis. Closure modeling endures as a productive area of research. This review covers recent developments in elliptic relaxation and elliptic blending models, unified rotation and curvature corrections, transition prediction, hybrid simulation, and data-driven methods. The focus is on closure models in which transport equations are solved for scalar variables, such as the turbulent kinetic energy, a timescale, or a measure of anisotropy. Algebraic constitutive representations are reviewed for their role in relating scalar closures to the Reynolds stress tensor. Seamless and nonzonal methods, which invoke a single closure model, are reviewed, especially detached eddy simulation (DES) and adaptive DES. Other topics surveyed include data-driven modeling and intermittency and laminar fluctuation models for transition prediction. The review concludes with an outlook.
SIAE Rare Variants in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Primary Antibody Deficiencies
Authors: Sevdali Eirini , Tsitsami Elena , Tsinti Maria , Farmaki Evangelia , Papadopoulou-Alataki Efimia , Germenis Anastasios E. , Speletas Matthaios
Published: August 2017

Sialic acid acetylesterase (SIAE) deficiency was suggested to lower the levels of ligands for sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like receptors, decreasing the threshold for B-cell activation. In humans, studies of rare heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in SIAE gene in common autoimmune diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), yielded inconsistent results. Considering the distinct pathogenesis of the two main subtypes of JIA, autoinflammatory systemic (sJIA) and autoimmune oligo/polyarticular (aJIA), and a predisposition to autoimmunity displayed by patients and families with primary antibody deficiencies (PADs), the aim of our study was to analyze whether SIAE rare variants are associated with both the phenotype of JIA and the autoimmunity risk in families with PADs. A cohort of 69 patients with JIA, 117 healthy children, 54 patients, and family members with PADs were enrolled in the study. Three novel SIAE variants (p.Q343P, p.Y495X, and c.1320+33T>C) were found only in patients with aJIA but interestingly also in their healthy relatives without autoimmunity, while none of PAD patients or their relatives carried SIAE defects. Our results show that SIAE rare variants are not causative of autoimmunity as single defects.
Effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale Extracts on Excisional Wound Healing in Rats
Authors: Yang Wan-Ting , Ke Chun-Yen , Wu Wen-Tien , Harn Horng-Jyh , Tseng Yi-Hsiung , Lee Ru-Ping
Published: August 2017

The main objective of wound treatments is to restore the functional skin properties and prevent infection. Traditional Chinese medicine provides alternative anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing therapies. Both Angelica dahurica extract (AE) and Rheum officinale extract (RE) possess antimicrobial activity. In this study, AE and RE were applied in wound treatment to investigate their healing effects. Thirty Sprague‐Dawley rats with dorsal full‐thickness skin excision were divided into normal saline (NS), AE, RE, AE plus RE (ARE), and Biomycin (BM) groups. The treatment and area measurement of wounds were applied daily for 21 days. Wound biopsies and blood samples were obtained for histology examinations and cytokine analysis. Results showed that wound contraction in ARE group was significantly higher than that in NS and BM groups (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that more inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibers, and myofibroblasts were observed in ARE treated group than those in NS group on days 3–5. In ARE group, plasma IL‐6 levels were elevated during days 3–5 (P > 0.05), and plasma TGF‐β1 levels were significantly lower than those in the NS group on days 3‐4 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ARE accelerates wound healing during inflammation and proliferation phases.
Mitochondrial Function and Mitophagy in the Elderly: Effects of Exercise
Authors: Moreira Osvaldo C. , Estébanez Brisamar , Martínez-Florez Susana , Paz José A. de , Cuevas María J. , González-Gallego Javier
Published: August 2017

Aging is a natural, multifactorial and multiorganic phenomenon wherein there are gradual physiological and pathological changes over time. Aging has been associated with a decrease of autophagy capacity and mitochondrial functions, such as biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy. These processes are essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial structural integrity and, therefore, for cell life, since mitochondrial dysfunction leads to an impairment of energy metabolism and increased production of reactive oxygen species, which consequently trigger mechanisms of cellular senescence and apoptotic cell death. Moreover, reduced mitochondrial function can contribute to age‐associated disease phenotypes in model organisms and humans. Literature data show beneficial effects of exercise on the impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics and on the decrease in the mitophagic capacity associated to aging. Thus, exercise could have effects on the major cell signaling pathways that are involved in the mitochondria quality and quantity control in the elderly. Although it is known that several exercise protocols are able to modify the activity and turnover of mitochondria, further studies are necessary in order to better identify the mechanisms of interaction between mitochondrial functions, aging, and physical activity, as well as to analyze possible factors influencing these processes.
Bilateral Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Chest Wall in a 3-Month-Old Boy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Alfaraidi Mona , Alaradati Hossam , Mamoun Irfan , Mohammed Shamayel
Published: August 2017

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall is a well-recognized but extremely rare entity. This entity is believed to be benign with no propensity for invasion or metastasis. Although the lesion manifests with alarming aggressive clinical, radiological, and histological features, it is considered benign and carries an excellent outcome. Therefore it is important to recognize this benign entity to avoid the possible misdiagnosis of malignancy and the unnecessary use of chemotherapy. We present a case of bilateral multifocal mesenchymal hamartomas of the chest wall in a male infant and a literature review of this entity. Our aim is to improve the awareness of this condition and highlight its benign behavior and satisfactory outcome following complete surgical resection.
A Survey of Sound Source Localization Methods in Wireless Acoustic Sensor Networks
Authors: Cobos Maximo , Antonacci Fabio , Alexandridis Anastasios , Mouchtaris Athanasios , Lee Bowon
Published: August 2017

Wireless acoustic sensor networks (WASNs) are formed by a distributed group of acoustic-sensing devices featuring audio playing and recording capabilities. Current mobile computing platforms offer great possibilities for the design of audio-related applications involving acoustic-sensing nodes. In this context, acoustic source localization is one of the application domains that have attracted the most attention of the research community along the last decades. In general terms, the localization of acoustic sources can be achieved by studying energy and temporal and/or directional features from the incoming sound at different microphones and using a suitable model that relates those features with the spatial location of the source (or sources) of interest. This paper reviews common approaches for source localization in WASNs that are focused on different types of acoustic features, namely, the energy of the incoming signals, their time of arrival (TOA) or time difference of arrival (TDOA), the direction of arrival (DOA), and the steered response power (SRP) resulting from combining multiple microphone signals. Additionally, we discuss methods not only aimed at localizing acoustic sources but also designed to locate the nodes themselves in the network. Finally, we discuss current challenges and frontiers in this field.
Serum and Brain Metabolomic Variations Reveal Perturbation of Sleep Deprivation on Rats and Ameliorate Effect of Total Ginsenoside Treatment
Authors: Gou Xiao-jun , Cen Fang , Fan Zi-quan , Xu Ying , Shen Hong-yi , Zhou Ming-mei
Published: August 2017

Sleep loss or sleep deprivation (SD) refers to shorter sleep than average baseline need, and SD has been a serious problem of modern societies which affects health and well-being.Panax ginsengis a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Our previous study has demonstrated that total ginsenosides (GS), the extracts fromPanax ginseng, could effectively improve cognition and behavior on SD rats. However, little is known about its metabolomic study. In this study, serum and brain metabolomic method based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed to evaluate the efficacy and study the mechanism of GS on a rat model of SD. With pattern recognition analysis of serum and brain tissue metabolite profile, a clear separation of the model group and control group was acquired for serum and brain tissue samples; the MGS (model + GS) group showed a tendency of recovering when compared to control group, which was consistent with behavioral and biochemical parameters. 39 and 40 potential biomarkers of brain tissues and serum samples, respectively, were identified and employed to explore the possible mechanism. Our work revealed that GS has significant protective effects on SD, and metabolomics is a useful tool for evaluating efficacy and elucidating mechanism in TCM.
Optimal Signal Design for Mixed Equilibrium Networks with Autonomous and Regular Vehicles
Authors: Jiang Nan
Published: August 2017

A signal design problem is studied for efficiently managing autonomous vehicles (AVs) and regular vehicles (RVs) simultaneously in transportation networks. AVs and RVs move on separate lanes and two types of vehicles share the green times at the same intersections. The signal design problem is formulated as a bilevel program. The lower-level model describes a mixed equilibrium where autonomous vehicles follow the Cournot-Nash (CN) principle and RVs follow the user equilibrium (UE) principle. In the upper-level model, signal timings are optimized at signalized intersections to allocate appropriate green times to both autonomous and RVs to minimize system travel cost. The sensitivity analysis based method is used to solve the bilevel optimization model. Various signal control strategies are evaluated through numerical examples and some insightful findings are obtained. It was found that the number of phases at intersections should be reduced for the optimal control of the AVs and RVs in the mixed networks. More importantly, incorporating AVs into the transportation network would improve the system performance due to the value of AV technologies in reducing random delays at intersections. Meanwhile, travelers prefer to choose AVs when the networks turn to be congested.
Single-Cell Phosphospecific Flow Cytometric Analysis of Canine and Murine Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Itoh Harumichi , Nishikawa Shimpei , Haraguchi Tomoya , Arikawa Yu , Hiyama Masato , Iseri Toshie , Itoh Yoshiki , Nakaichi Munekazu , Taura Yasuho , Tani Kenji , Itamoto Kazuhito
Published: August 2017

This study aimed to demonstrate single-cell phosphospecific flow cytometric analysis of canine and murine adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs). ADSCs were obtained from clinically healthy laboratory beagles and C57BL/6 mice. Cell differentiation into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes was observed for the cultured canine ADSCs (cADSCs) and murine ADSCs (mADSCs) to determine their multipotency. We also performed single-cell phosphospecific flow cytometric analysis related to cell differentiation and stemness. Cultured cADSCs and mADSCs exhibited the potential to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. In addition, single-cell phosphospecific flow cytometric analysis revealed similar β-catenin and Akt phosphorylation between mADSCs and cADSCs. On the other hand, it showed the phosphorylation of different Stat proteins. It was determined that cADSCs and mADSCs show the potential to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Furthermore, a difference in protein phosphorylation between undifferentiated cADSCs and mADSCs was identified.
Chagas Cardiomyopathy Presenting as Symptomatic Bradycardia: An Underappreciated Emerging Public Health Problem in the United States
Authors: Durrance Richard Jesse , Ullah Tofura , Atif Zulekha , Frumkin William , Doshi Kaushik
Published: August 2017

Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) is traditionally considered a disease restricted to areas of endemicity. However, an estimated 300,000 people living in the United States today have CCM, of which its majority is undiagnosed. We present a case of CCM acquired in an endemic area and detected in its early stage. A 42-year-old El Salvadoran woman presented with recurrent chest pain and syncopal episodes. Significant family history includes a sister in El Salvador who also began suffering similar episodes. Physical exam and ancillary studies were only remarkable for sinus bradycardia. The patient was diagnosed with symptomatic sinus bradycardia and a pacemaker was placed. During her hospital course, Chagas serology was ordered given the epidemiological context from which she came. With no other identifiable cause, CCM was the suspected etiology. This case highlights the underrecognized presence of Chagas in the United States and the economic and public health importance of its consideration in the etiological differential diagnosis of electrocardiographic changes among Latin American immigrants. While the United States is not considered an endemic area for Chagas disease, the influx of Latin American immigrants has created a new challenge to identify at-risk populations, diagnose suspected cases, and provide adequate treatment for this disease.
Photophysical Behavior of Modified Xanthenic Dyes Embedded into Silsesquioxane Hybrid Films: Application in Photooxidation of Organic Molecules
Authors: Waiman Carolina V. , Palacios Rodrigo E. , Montejano Hernán A. , Chesta Carlos A. , Gómez María Lorena
Published: August 2017

Polymeric materials based on a bridged silsesquioxane with pendant dodecyl chains were synthesized and modified with different xanthenic dyes with the aim of developing a material with potential application in photooxidation of organic compounds. The employed dyes constitute a family of novel xanthenic chromophores with outstanding properties as singlet oxygen photosensitizers. The hybrid matrix was chosen for its enhanced properties such as flexibility and chemical resistance. The employed dyes were easily incorporated into the hybrid polymer obtaining homogeneous, transparent, and low-refractive-index materials. The polymeric films were characterized using UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, and laser flash photolysis techniques. The ability of these materials to produce singlet oxygen was tested following the photooxidation of 9,10-dimethylanthracene which is a well-known chemical trap for singlet oxygen. High photooxidation efficiencies were observed for these materials, which present the advantage of being easily removed/collected from the solution where photooxidation takes place. While photobleaching of the incorporated dyes is commonly observed in the solution, it takes place very slowly when dyes are embedded in the hybrid matrix. These properties bode well for the potential use of these materials in novel wastewater purification strategies.
Comparative Genomic In Situ Hybridization and the Possible Role of Retroelements in the Karyotypic Evolution of Three Akodontini Species
Authors: Araújo Naiara Pereira , Kuhn Gustavo Campos Silva , Vieira Flávia Nunes , Morcatty Thaís Queiroz , Paglia Adriano Pereira , Svartman Marta
Published: August 2017

South American Akodontini rodents are characterized by a large number of chromosome rearrangements. Among them, the genusAkodonhas been extensively analyzed with classical and molecular cytogenetics, which allowed the identification of a large number of intra- and interspecific chromosomal variation due to Robertsonian rearrangements, pericentric inversions, and heterochromatin additions/deletions. In order to shed some light on the cause of these rearrangements, we comparatively analyzed the karyotypes of three Akodontini species,Akodon cursor(2n = 14, FN = 19),A. montensis(2n = 24, FN = 42), andNecromys lasiurus(2n = 34, FN = 34), after GTG- and CBG-banding. The karyotypes differed by Robertsonian rearrangements, pericentric inversions, centromere repositioning, and heterochromatin variation. Genome comparisons were performed through interspecific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with total genomic DNAs of each species as probes (GISH). Our results revealed considerable conservation of the euchromatic portions among the three karyotypes suggesting that they mostly differ in their heterochromatic regions. FISH was also performed to assess the distribution of telomeric sequences, long and short interspersed repetitive elements (LINE-1 and B1 SINE) and of the endogenous retrovirus mysTR in the genomes of the three species. The results led us to infer that transposable elements have played an important role in the enormous chromosome variation found in Akodontini.
What Is the Value of the Learning Curve in Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of the Major Papilla?
Authors: Tavio-Hernandez Eduardo , Vazquez-Sequeiros Enrique , Rodriguez-Santiago Enrique , Gonzalez-Martin Juan Angel , Foruny-Olcina Jose Ramón , Benita-Leon Vicente , Defarges-Pons Victor , Boixeda-Miquel Daniel , Albillos-Martínez Agustin
Published: August 2017

Introduction. Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation (EPLBD) is an alternative for the treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones. Existing evidence of factors associated with its outcomes is contradictory.Objective. To identify predictors (including the experience of an endoscopist) of success and adverse events in EPLBD.Methods. We reviewed the first 200 EPLBD with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) performed at our center. Demographic, clinical, and anatomic variables were studied, as well as the performance characteristics, correlating them with individual and group experience.Results. Global success was obtained in 87% of cases, and adverse events occurred in 16% of cases. Success was associated with stone size, CBD diameter, and the need to perform mechanical lithotripsy (ML). Despite that adverse events were not univariately associated with any factor, severe adverse events were more likely to occur in stones > 13.5 mm. Multivariate analysis which disclosed success was higher when ML was not required and stones were < 13.5 mm. It also showed that no factor was associated with adverse events or their severity. No differences were found on success or adverse events that could be directly related to experience.Conclusions. Success of EPLBD-EST is higher in stones < 13.5 mm and when ML is not required. Experience does not appear to play a major role.
Arterial Stiffness Is More Associated with Albuminuria than Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The REBOUND Study
Authors: Kim Jong Ho , Kim Sang Soo , Kim In Joo , Kim Bo Hyun , Park Ja Young , Lee Chang Won , Suk Ji Hye , Shin Sun Hae , Son Sung Pyo , Kim Min Chul , Ahn Jun Hyeob , Lee Kwang Jae , Kwon Min Jung , Lee Soon Hee , Park Jeong Hyun
Published: August 2017

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods. This multicenter cohort study analyzed 2613 patients with type 2 diabetes. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness. Additionally, the patients were categorized into four groups according to their albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR, normoalbuminuria versus albuminuria) and estimated GFR (eGFR, <60 mL/min/1.73 m2versus ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2).Results. A univariate analysis revealed that maximal baPWV was significantly associated with both the ACR (r=0.297,P<0.001) and eGFR (r=−0.220,P<0.001). A multivariate analysis adjusted for significant clinical variables and eGFR showed that baPWV remained significantly correlated with the ACR (r=0.150,P<0.001). Also, baPWV was correlated positively with the ACR in patients with an eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2(r=0.146,P<0.001). However, baPWV was not correlated with eGFR after adjustment for significant clinical variables.Conclusions. The present findings indicate that arterial stiffness is more associated with albuminuria than a decrease in GFR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Determination and Quantification of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Vinegars and Soy Sauces
Authors: Zhang Li-Li , Sun Ying , Zhang Yu-Yu , Sun Bao-Guo , Chen Hai-Tao
Published: August 2017

The organic compound 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can be formed from sugars under Maillard reaction and caramelization. In order to study the formation regular of HMF in sugary liquid condiment, vinegar and soy sauce were selected. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the HMF concentrations of various brands of soy sauce and vinegar. The result showed that HMF concentrations were in a range of 0.42 to 115.43 mg/kg for vinegar samples and 0.43 to 5.85 mg/kg for soy sauce samples. The concentrates of HMF were expressed in zero-order kinetics model at 100°C before the maximum HMF generation in all of the tested samples. Longer heating treatment time would reduce the HMF content in tested samples. In addition, HMF content had obviously positive correlation with sugar contents in vinegar samples, but no similar rule was found in soy sauces.
Emotion Recognition from EEG Signals Using Multidimensional Information in EMD Domain
Authors: Zhuang Ning , Zeng Ying , Tong Li , Zhang Chi , Zhang Hanming , Yan Bin
Published: August 2017

This paper introduces a method for feature extraction and emotion recognition based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD). By using EMD, EEG signals are decomposed into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) automatically. Multidimensional information of IMF is utilized as features, the first difference of time series, the first difference of phase, and the normalized energy. The performance of the proposed method is verified on a publicly available emotional database. The results show that the three features are effective for emotion recognition. The role of each IMF is inquired and we find that high frequency component IMF1 has significant effect on different emotional states detection. The informative electrodes based on EMD strategy are analyzed. In addition, the classification accuracy of the proposed method is compared with several classical techniques, including fractal dimension (FD), sample entropy, differential entropy, and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Experiment results on DEAP datasets demonstrate that our method can improve emotion recognition performance.
Resveratrol‐Enriched Rice Attenuates UVB‐ROS‐Induced Skin Aging via Downregulation of Inflammatory Cascades
Authors: Subedi Lalita , Lee Taek Hwan , Wahedi Hussain Mustatab , Baek So-Hyeon , Kim Sun Yeou
Published: August 2017

The skin is the outermost protective barrier between the internal and external environments in humans. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major cause of skin aging. UVB radiation penetrates the skin and induces ROS production that activates three major skin aging cascades: matrix metalloproteinase‐ (MMP‐) 1‐mediated aging; MAPK‐AP‐1/NF‐κB‐TNF‐α/IL‐6, iNOS, and COX‐2‐mediated inflammation‐induced aging; and p53‐Bax‐cleaved caspase‐3‐cytochrome C‐mediated apoptosis‐induced aging. These mechanisms are collectively responsible for the wrinkling and photoaging characteristic of UVB‐induced skin aging. There is an urgent requirement for a treatment that not only controls these pathways to prevent skin aging but also avoids the adverse effects often encountered when applying bioactive compounds in concentrated doses. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of genetically modified normal edible rice (NR) that produces the antiaging compound resveratrol (R) as a treatment for skin aging. This resveratrol‐enriched rice (RR) overcomes the drawbacks of R and enhances its antiaging potential by controlling the abovementioned three major pathways of skin aging. RR does not exhibit the toxicity of R alone and promisingly downregulates the pathways underlying UVB‐ROS‐induced skin aging. These findings advocate the use of RR as a nutraceutical for antiaging purposes.
Twin SVM-Based Classification of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Complex Dual-Tree Wavelet Principal Coefficients and LDA
Authors: Alam Saruar , Kwon Goo-Rak , Kim Ji-In , Park Chun-Su
Published: August 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia, which causes serious health and socioeconomic problems. A progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s causes the structural change in the brain, thereby affecting behavior, cognition, emotions, and memory. Numerous multivariate analysis algorithms have been used for classifying AD, distinguishing it from healthy controls (HC). Efficient early classification of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from HC is imperative as early preventive care could help to mitigate risk factors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a noninvasive biomarker, displays morphometric differences and cerebral structural changes. A novel approach for distinguishing AD from HC using dual-tree complex wavelet transforms (DTCWT), principal coefficients from the transaxial slices of MRI images, linear discriminant analysis, and twin support vector machine is proposed here. The prediction accuracy of the proposed method yielded up to 92.65 ± 1.18 over the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, with a specificity of 92.19 ± 1.56 and sensitivity of 93.11 ± 1.29, and 96.68 ± 1.44 over the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) dataset, with a sensitivity of 97.72 ± 2.34 and specificity of 95.61 ± 1.67. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity achieved using the proposed method are comparable or superior to those obtained by various conventional AD prediction methods.