bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pressure‐based unified solver for gas‐liquid two‐phase flows where compressible and incompressible flows coexist
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Takatani Kouji 
Published: June 2018

SummaryWe propose a pressure‐based unified solver for gas‐liquid two‐phase flows where compressible and incompressible flows coexist. Unlike the original thermo–Cubic Interpolated Propagation Combined Unified Procedure (CIP‐CUP) method proposed by Himeno et al (Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Series B, 2003), we split the advection term of the governing equations into a conservation part and into the rest. The splitting of advection term has two advantages. One is the high degree of freedom in choosing discretization schemes such as central‐difference schemes, upwind schemes, and Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) schemes. The other is the ease of implementation on unstructured grids. The advantages enable the analyses of various flows such as turbulent and supersonic ones in actual complicated boundaries. Therefore, the solver is useful for practical analyses. The solver was validated on the following test cases: subsonic single‐phase flows, incompressible single‐phase turbulent flows, and incompressible gas‐liquid two‐phase flows. With unstructured grids, we obtained the equivalent results as the ones with structured grids. After the validations, subsonic jet impinging on a water pool was calculated and compared with experimental results. It was confirmed that the calculated results were consistent with the experimental ones.
Modeling of starter cultures growth for improved Thai sausage fermentation and cost estimating for sausage preparation and transportation
Authors: Sriphochanart Wiramsri , Skolpap Wanwisa 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to improve Thai fermented sausage flavor by adding starter cultures (i.e., Pediococcus pentosaceus, Pediococcus acidilactici, Weissella cibaria, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Lactobacillus sakei) as compared with naturally fermented sausage. The predictive mathematical models for growth of P. acidilactici and natural lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in Thai fermented sausage were developed to obtain specific prepared sausage quality. Furthermore, comparisons of sausage preparation and transportation cost between nonrefrigerated and refrigerated trucks were studied. The concentration of 3‐methyl‐butanoic acid synthesized from LAB inoculated sausage was higher than in the control sample which contributed to the flavor forming. Moreover, the proposed unstructured kinetic models of Thai fermented sausage substrates and products describing the consumption of total protein and glucose, and the production of nonprotein nitrogen responsible for flavor enhancer, lactic acid and formic acid concentration were successfully fitted with two selected experimental data sets of the in situ fermentation of Thai fermented sausage. Finally, the transportation of inoculated sausages in a nonrefrigerated truck by combining fermentation process and transportation was more cost efficient for delivering sausages in a long distance.
Nuclear nonmetastatic protein 23‐H1 expression and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma: A pilot investigation
Authors: Marioni Gino , Cappellesso Rocco , Ottaviano Giancarlo , Fasanaro Elena , Marchese‐Ragona Rosario , Favaretto Niccolò , Giacomelli Luciano , Guzzardo Vincenza , Martini Alessandro , Fassina Ambrogio , Blandamura Stella 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, epithelial cells lose their features, acquiring a mesenchymal‐like phenotype. Nm23‐H1 protein relates to tumor cells' metastatic potential, its low expression in carcinomas often meaning a poor prognosis. This study newly investigated the role of nuclear nm23‐H1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition.MethodsImmunohistochemical analyses of nuclear nm23‐H1, E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, Snail, Zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox (ZEB)1, and ZEB2 were performed in 33 consecutive patients with laryngeal SCC.ResultsMean nuclear nm23‐H1 expression was lower in patients whose disease recurred (P = .0046). Disease‐free survival (DFS) was longer for patients whose nuclear nm23‐H1 expression was ≥10% (P = .0083). Nuclear nm23‐H1 and E‐cadherin expressions correlated directly (P = .018). Mean E‐cadherin expression was lower in patients whose disease recurred (P = .03). The DFS was shorter in patients with ZEB2 expression ≥5% (P = .006).ConclusionsNuclear nm23‐H1 expression warrants further investigation in laryngeal SCC as a prognostic marker identifying patients at higher risk of recurrence. nm23‐H1 targeted treatments may be capable of regulating epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition.
Positive correlation between vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism and colorectal cancer susceptibility in South‐Khorasan of Iran
Authors: Moossavi Maryam , Parsamanesh Negin , Mohammadoo‐Khorasani Milad , Moosavi Mahsa , Tavakkoli Tahmineh , Fakharian Tahereh , Naseri Mohsen 
Published: June 2018

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a global public health problem. Despite the major milestone in early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, the prevalence of CRC rates is still rising. The etiology of CRC is still unknown but we know CRC is influenced by both of environment and genetic factors. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphic regions; FokI and TaqI single nucleotide polymorphisms, in increasing the risk of colorectal cancer in Birjand population. One hundred patients with CRC and 100 healthy controls recruited to the study. Genotyping was performed by PCR‐RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) method technique for all individuals. There were statistically significant differences between ff genotype and f allele of FokI SNP in case and control groups. Our results manifested positive correlation between ff genotype and f allele of FokI SNP with colorectal cancer predisposition (P = 0.035, P = 0.0001 respectively) in South Khorasan population. The present study showed that FokI polymorphism but not TaqI polymorphism may contribute to CRC susceptibility. In addition, ff genotype of FokI polymorphism was associated with CRC risk.
Diazoxide ameliorates severity of experimental osteoarthritis by activating autophagy via modulation of the osteoarthritis‐related biomarkers
Authors: Meng ZhuLong , Shen BiXin , Gu YunTao , Wu ZiQuan , Yao JiangLing , Bian YangYang , Zeng DeLu , Chen KeWei , Cheng ShaoWen , Fu Jian , Peng Lei , Zhao YingZheng 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAccumulating evidence suggests that autophagy plays a protective role in chondrocytes and prevents cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diazoxide on chondrocyte death and cartilage degeneration and to determine whether these effects are correlated to autophagy in experimental OA. In this study, a cellular OA model was established by stimulating SW1353 cells with interleukin 1β. A rat OA model was generated by transecting the anterior cruciate ligament combined with the resection of the medial menisci, followed by treatment with diazoxide or diazoxide combination with 3‐methyladenine. The percentage of viable cells was evaluated using calcein‐acetoxymethyl/propidium iodide double staining. The messenger RNA expression levels of collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP‐1), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) were determined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The cartilage thickness and joint space were evaluated using ultrasound. SW1353 cell degeneration and autophagosomes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), beclin‐1, P62, COL2A1, and MMP‐13 were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. Diazoxide significantly attenuated articular cartilage degeneration and SW1353 cell death in experimental OA. The restoration of autophagy was observed in the diazoxide‐treated group. The beneficial effects of diazoxide were markedly blocked by 3‐methyladenine. Diazoxide treatment also modulated the expression levels of OA‐related biomarkers. These results demonstrated that diazoxide exerted a chondroprotective effect and attenuated cartilage degeneration by restoring autophagy via modulation of OA‐related biomarkers in experimental OA. Diazoxide treatment might be a promising therapeutic approach to prevent the development of OA.
Expression characteristics of long noncoding RNA uc.322 and its effects on pancreatic islet function
Authors: Zhao Xiaoqin , Rong Can , Pan Fenghui , Xiang Lizhi , Wang Xinlei , Hu Yun 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIncreasing evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) perform special biological functions by regulating gene expression through multiple pathways and molecular mechanisms. The aim of this study was to explore the expression characteristics of lncRNA uc.322 in pancreatic islet cells and its effects on the secretion function of islet cells. Bioinformatics analysis was used to detect the lncRNA uc.322 sequence, location, and structural features. Expression of lncRNA uc.322 in different tissues was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, adenosine triphosphate determination, glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate the effects of lncRNA uc.322 on insulin secretion. The results showed that the full‐length of lncRNA uc.322 is 224 bp and that it is highly conserved in various species. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that lncRNA uc.322 is located on chr7:122893196‐122893419 (GRCH37/hg19) within the SRY‐related HMG‐box 6 gene exon region. Compared with other tissues, lncRNA uc.322 is highly expressed in pancreatic tissue. Upregulation of lncRNA uc.322 expression increases the insulin transcription factors pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 and Forkhead box O1 expression, promotes insulin secretion in the extracellular fluid of Min6 cells, and increases the adenosine triphosphate concentration. On the other hand, knockdown of lncRNA uc.322 has opposite effects on Min6 cells. Overall, this study showed that upregulation of lncRNA uc.322 in islet β‐cells can increase the expression of insulin transcription factors and promote insulin secretion, and it may be a new therapeutic target for diabetes.
Downregulation of IL‐22 can be considered as a risk factor for onset of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Asadikaram Gholamreza , Akbari Hamed , Safi Zohreh , Shadkam Mitra , Khaksari Mohammad , Shahrokhi Nader , Najafipour Hamid , Sanjari Mojgan , Arababadi Mohammad Kazemi 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThere is some controversy as for the roles played by tumor growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and IL‐22 in the onset process of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The main aim of this project was to examine serum levels of TGF‐β, IL‐1β, and IL‐22 in the new cases and long period T2D patients as well as healthy controls. In this study, 115 new T2D patient cases (group 1), 434 T2D patients who have suffered from the disease more than 2 years (group 2), and 104 healthy controls have been selected from 6240 (3619 females) patients who were under study population from Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factor Study. Serum levels of TGF‐β, IL‐1β, and IL‐22 have been evaluated using commercial kits. Serum levels of TGF‐β and IL‐1β significantly increased, while IL‐22 decreased in 2 groups in comparison to healthy controls. Serum levels of IL‐22, but not TGF‐β and IL‐1β, were significantly decreased in group 1 in comparison to healthy controls. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 as for the cytokine levels. Serum levels of IL‐22 increased in the females in group 2 when compared to females in group 1. It appears that TGF‐β and IL‐1β participate in the induction of inflammation after establishment of T2D, while decrease in IL‐22 may be considered as a key factor for onset of the disease. Gender can also be considered as the main risk factor for variation in cytokine levels.
MicroRNA‐19 restores vascular endothelial cell function in lower limb ischemia‐reperfusion injury through the KLF10‐dependent TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway in rats
Authors: Xu Yong‐Le , Zhang Min‐Hong , Guo Wei , Xue Yan , Du Xin , Zhang Tao , Wu Na , Wu Ye 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIschemia‐reperfusion injury (IRI) is a severe problem patients diagnosed with acute limb ischemia. Recently, microRNAs (miR) have emerged as regulators of IRI as well as ischemic preconditioning and ischemic postconditioning. Therefore, using rat models, this study aims to explore all of the possible mechanisms that miR‐19 exhibits with its relation to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β1)/Smad signaling pathway in the lower limb IRI. An immunofluorescence staining method was used to identify the Krueppel‐like factor 10 (KLF10) positive expression and the location of KLF10 expression. The targeting relationship that miR‐19 has with KLF10 was verified by the dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) were treated with elevated or suppressed miR‐19 or KLF10 knockdown. A 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to test cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was employed to detect both cell cycle and apoptosis. The KLF10‐positive expression in the VECs (both in cytoplasm and nucleus) was found to be elevated in the IRI rats. We found that miR‐19 was downregulated, KLF10 upregulated, and the TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway activated in the vascular epithelial tissues of IRI rats. KLF10 is a target gene of miR‐19. Overexpression of miR‐19 decreased the expression of KLF10, TGF‐β1, and Smad2/3. Decreased miR‐19 inhibited VEC proliferation, arrested VECs at the G1 phase, and promoted the apoptosis of VECs following their lower limb I/R injury. These results indicate miR‐19 as being an inhibitor in the VEC injury of IRI via the TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway by suppression of KLF10.
Work and Family Identities and Engineering Identity
Authors: Koul Ravinder 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundWomen are underrepresented in engineering. Furthermore, those who enter engineering fields are less likely than men to persist. Although conflict between work and family roles has been a major explanation for this gender gap, there has been little examination of how work and family identities fit with the engineering identity of undergraduate students preparing for careers in engineering.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the associations between direct and indirect measures of work and family identities and engineering identity among undergraduate students in Thailand.Design/MethodA survey methodology was used to assess work‐ and family‐focused hoped‐for and feared possible selves, anticipated conflict between work and family roles, engineering self‐concept, and intention to pursue engineering professionally. Regression analyses were used to find relationships among these measures.ResultsFindings indicate that women with balanced hoped‐for and feared possible selves in both life domains of work and family reported significantly higher engineering self‐concept than other women in the study. In addition, the salience of work identity and family identity was significantly and more positively related with engineering identity for women than for men.ConclusionThe findings indicate strong compatibility of family, work, and engineering identities for women who intended to pursue the profession. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for gender‐based equity are discussed.
The state of nanomedicine in Sri Lanka: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Manatunga Danushika C. , de Silva Rohini M. , de Silva K.M. Nalin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractNanomedicine is rapidly expanding in the world due to its potential impact in alleviating various critical problems related to health. In this short review, we highlight the developments in nanomedicine in Sri Lanka through the work carried out by various scientists within the country. Potential challenges in the field and obstacles for conversion to clinical products will also be discussed. Even though there are limited contributions in relation to nano‐drug carriers, antibacterial agents, and bone prostheses, the research focused on vaccine development, diagnosis, and imaging tools, and high‐throughput screening platforms have not been developed. The main emphasis has been on therapeutic applications and anticancer drug delivery. Many hybrid biocompatible materials have been developed for drug delivery applications; however, work has been limited to in vitro studies due to various reasons. These findings can be extended to in vivo studies by strengthening the collaboration between nanotechnologists and health‐related scientists, whose contribution at the clinical stages is paramount. Because of the slow pace of infrastructure development and related policies for clinical trials, many discoveries are terminated at the publication stage. Therefore, product development and commercialization are very challenging in the Sri Lankan context. The attraction of venture capitalists, investors, and government commitment represent current challenges for the product development and implementation of nanomedicine applications within the country.
Time and cell‐dependent effects of endocytosis inhibitors on the internalization of biomolecule markers and nanomaterials
Authors: Sasso Luana , Purdie Laura , Grabowska Anna , Jones Arwyn Tomos , Alexander Cameron 
Published: June 2018

AbstractEndocytosis is an essential function of cells, with key roles in the internalisation of nutrients, signal molecules and also drugs. Endocytic processes are therefore widely investigated in the context of drug delivery, and inhibitors of endocytic pathways have been used to provide information regarding uptake mechanisms of drug carrier materials. Here we describe studies in which two established inhibitors of clathrin dependent and independent endocytosis, chlorpromazine and methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin respectively, were employed to probe endocytic pathways of three cell lines chosen to represent tumour‐relevant or associated phenotypes: 3 T3 (fibroblasts), HCT 116 (colon cancer) and MGLVA‐1 (gastric cancer). For clathrin mediated endocytosis the data highlight that chlorpromazine inhibition of transferrin internalization, via clathrin dependent endocytosis, is cell and time dependent. We also show that inhibition of uptake is transient with a resumption of transferrin internalization after a maximal inhibition period. The same endocytosis inhibitors were used to probe the internalization of 50 and 100 nm carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles (C‐PS‐NPs) as model drug delivery carriers. Flow cytometry data indicated that internalisation of C‐PS‐NPs varied considerably with the incubation time of cells with chlorpromazine or methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, and that the effects were also markedly cell‐line dependent. These data highlight that the effects of endocytosis inhibitors on the internalisation pathways even of relatively simple nanoparticles are complex and interdependent. We suggest that mechanistic investigations of the endocytic processes which govern practical applications of nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications should be considered on a cell, time and concentration basis.
Novel nanosuspension‐based dissolving microneedle arrays for transdermal delivery of a hydrophobic drug
Authors: Vora Lalit K. , Vavia Pradeep R. , Larrañeta Eneko , Bell Steven E.J. , Donnelly Ryan F. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA nanosuspension (NS) was formulated from the lipophilic molecule cholecalciferol (CL) for enhanced transdermal delivery by embedding this NS into hydrophilic polymer‐based dissolving microneedles (DMNs). First, the NS was prepared by sonoprecpitation with different molecular weights of poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) as stabilizers and using two different solvents for particle size and zeta potential optimization. DMN arrays were then prepared by centrifugation‐assisted micromoulding and subsequently dried. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (10 kDa) produced a NS with the lowest particle size ( ̴ 300 nm). These particles yielded DMN with good mechanical properties when combined with aqueous blends of high molecular weight poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (360 kDa). The particle size remained similar before and after MN preparation, as confirmed by scanning electron microscope. The CL was in the amorphous state in the free particles as well as in the DMN and, hence, no characteristic CL peak was observed in differential scanning calorimetry or X‐ray diffraction. DMN arrays were found to be strong enough to bear a 32 N force, showed efficient skin insertion, and penetrated down to the third layer (depth ≈ 375 μm) of the validated skin model Parafilm M®. An ex vivo porcine skin permeation study using Franz diffusion cells compared the permeation of CL from CL‐NS‐loaded DMN arrays and MN‐free CL‐NS patches. It was observed that CL‐NS‐loaded DMN arrays showed significantly higher (498.19 μg ± 89.3 μg) ex vivo skin permeation compared with MN‐free CL‐NS patches (73.2 μg ± 26.5 μg) over 24 h. This is the first time a NS of a hydrophobic drug has been successfully incorporated into dissolving MN and suggest that NS‐containing DMN systems could be a promising strategy for transdermal delivery of hydrophobic drugs.
Dietary betaine improves meat quality and oxidative status of broilers under heat stress
Authors: Wen Chao , Chen Yueping , Leng Zhixian , Ding Liren , Wang Tian , Zhou Yanmin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn order to investigate the effects of dietary betaine on meat quality and oxidative status of broilers under heat stress (HS), a total of 144 Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allocated to three groups with six replicates of eight broilers per replicate from 21 to 42 days of age. The broilers in the control group were raised at 22 °C and received a basal diet, and the broilers in the other two groups were raised at 34 °C from 9:00 to 17:00 and at 22 °C for the rest of the time and fed a basal diet with or without 1000 mg kg−1 betaine.RESULTSDietary betaine supplementation tended (P < 0.1) to reverse the decreased body weight gain and feed intake of broilers induced by HS. The decreased redness (a* value) of breast muscle in broilers under HS was restored (P < 0.05) by betaine, which tended (P < 0.1) to decrease drip loss of breast muscle. The broilers fed betaine‐supplemented diets had a tendency (P < 0.1) to increase moisture content but decrease crude protein content of breast muscle in broilers under HS. Moreover, betaine resulted in higher (P < 0.05) glutathione content and activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase but lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde content in breast muscle of broilers exposed to HS.CONCLUSIONDietary betaine supplementation alleviated the negative effects of HS on some traits of meat quality and oxidative status of broilers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry