bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Latex glove industry: Prevalence of heat‐related illness among Malaysian workers
Authors: Kassim Nurazirah , Karuppiah Karmegam , Abidin Emilia Zainal , Tamrin Shamsul Bahri M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGlove production involves work processes with a high temperature. However, few studies have been conducted on the hazards of high temperature among workers. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of heat‐related illness among glove industry workers under heat stress conditions. This cross‐sectional study was conducted in a glove factory at Selangor. The total number of workers (n = 82) were interviewed using adapted questionnaires. The highest prevalent heat‐related illnesses in respondents were dehydration (82.2%), followed by heat exhaustion (81.1%), heat cramps (23.2%), heat rashes (22.2%), heat stroke (5.6%), and heat syncope (4.4%). The workers are highly exposed to dehydration and heat exhaustion illness. Therefore, prevention of heat stress is very important in this industry. It is the duty of the employers to implement suitable prevention measures to protect the health and safety of their workers. As a recommendation, personal protective equipment such as a cool vest also helps in protection from the hot working environment. The cool vest has inserted frozen liquid placed between the fabrics and is worn on the upper trunk. This helps in giving workers freedom to move around, as it has no attached lines. This suit has a constant and steady cooling effect on the whole body. Besides this, training on heat stress and on the ways of controlling heat stress should be provided by employers. This training program can help in educating and creating awareness among workers on the symptoms of heat‐related illness, which can help in preventing any worst case of heat stress from occurring. The training program may include the description of heat stress, including the symptoms of heat‐related illness and the first‐aid measures for each disorder.
The moderating role of just‐in‐time on sociotechnical practices' effect over quality and workers' health
Authors: Tortorella Guilherme L. , Fettermann Diego C. , Piñeres Aurora , Gaiardelli Paolo 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSociotechnical (ST) theory emphasizes the notion that the design and performance of new systems can be improved, and can only work satisfactorily within an organization if the social and the technical aspects are brought together and treated as interdependent aspects of a work system. The implementation of lean manufacturing (LM) principles and practices has become popular, despite increasing demand on the current and emerging workforce to achieve higher levels of quality and flexibility with lower costs. Exploratory studies that investigate how LM practices influence the effect of ST practices on performance are still scarce, and a holistic view of such a relationship is needed. In this context, this study aims at verifying the moderating effect of just‐in‐time (JIT) practices on the relationship between ST practices and the performance of quality and workers' health. We carried out a survey with 144 different companies from Southern Brazil that are undergoing a lean implementation. Results indicate that ST practices have a positive significant relationship with such performance, and the concurrent adoption of JIT does not undermine quality and workers' health.
Examining the reliability, correlation, and validity of commonly used assessment tools to measure balance
Authors: Dawson Nicole , Dzurino Darcy , Karleskint Melissa , Tucker Jennifer 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectivesThe Biodex SD Stability System has been shown to be a reliable assessment tool for postural stability. However, its ability to provide an accurate representation of balance has not been compared with functional performance measures such as the four‐square step test (FSST) and timed‐up‐and‐go test (TUG). The purpose of this study was to investigate reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of FSST, TUG, and Biodex SD (limits of stability [LOS] and modified Clinical Test of Sensory Organization and Balance [m‐CTSIB]).MethodsAn observational reliability and validity study was conducted. A convenience sample of 105 healthy adults, 77 females and 28 males, mean age 24.5 years old (± 4.66 SD) performed balance assessments including the FSST, TUG, Biodex SD LOS, and m‐CTSIB. For LOS, the overall percentage and test duration were recorded. For m‐CTSIB, the overall Sway Index was recorded. Condition 1 of the m‐CTSIB represented simple postural stability.ResultsThe Biodex SD LOS overall percentage, TUG, and FSST showed strong to excellent test‐retest reliability (ICC [3, 1] = .83 [mean 1: 58.14, mean 2: 60.54], .88 [mean 1: 6.98 seconds, mean 2: 6.91 seconds], .92 [mean 1: 6.29 seconds, mean 2: 6.14 seconds], respectively), while the Biodex SD m‐CTSIB overall percentage demonstrated strong test‐retest reliability (ICC [3, 1] = .75 [mean 1: 1.18, mean 2: 1.18]). The LOS test duration showed moderate test‐retest reliability (ICC [3, 1] = .58 [mean 1: 38.55 seconds, mean 2: 37.10 seconds]), while the m‐CTSIB condition 1 showed poor test‐retest reliability (ICC [3, 1] = .24 [mean 1: 0.63, mean 2: 0.66]). Weak construct validity was found between TUG, FSST, and Biodex SD measures of LOS and m‐CTSIB (r values = −0.15‐0.22).ConclusionIt is suggested that clinicians use more than one measure to assess different aspects of a patient's balance deficits to better guide treatment and intervention.
Plaque modification of severely calcified coronary lesions via orbital atherectomy: Single‐center observations from a complex Veterans Affairs cohort
Authors: Desai Rupak , Mirza Omer , Martinsen Brad J. , Kumar Gautam 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundOrbital atherectomy (OA) is a known alternative to other atherectomy devices. However, some complex patient demographics (eg, left ventricular ejection fraction <25%) were excluded from the first‐in‐human trial (ORBIT I) and the pivotal FDA device approval trial (ORBIT II) which evaluated the safety and efficacy of OA in severely calcified de novo coronary lesions. This single‐operator cohort study aimed to examine the impact of OA on a real‐world complex Veterans Affairs patient subset.MethodsRetrospective analysis was completed on 40 consecutive patients with severely calcified coronary lesions who underwent OA prior to drug‐eluting stent placement at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center from January 2015 to June 2017.ResultsOrbital atherectomy plus drug‐eluting stent placement was successful in all 40 cases. Chocolate focal force balloon angioplasty was the most commonly used post‐atherectomy balloon (N = 34, 85%). Few complications were observed, including one case (2.5%) of perforation and one case (2.5%) of no‐reflow. Neither acute stent thrombosis nor emergent coronary artery bypass grafting was observed. The intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)‐determined median [IQR] pre‐procedure minimum lumen area and post‐procedure minimum stent area (MSA) were 2.8 [2.2, 3.0] mm2 and 8.7 [7.7, 10.0] mm2, respectively (P < 0.0001, Mann‐Whitney test). Major adverse cardiovascular events, including all‐cause mortality, at 30 days and at a median [IQR] follow‐up of 197.5 [35.5, 461.3] days, was 5% and 10%, respectively. During that period, one target vessel revascularization (2.5%) was observed.ConclusionsThis study indicates that OA is a useful tool in performing high‐risk percutaneous coronary intervention effectively in VA patients with severely calcified coronary lesions. OA plaque modification in combination with a high utilization rate of IVUS and Chocolate focal force angioplasty facilitates stent delivery and optimal stent expansion, resulting in a large MSA.
A numerical approach for a comparative study of laser drilling process under single and repetitive pulse
Authors: Sukumar Siladitya , Kar Satya Prakash 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAn axisymmetric model is developed to study laser drilling process under a single pulse as well as repetitive laser pulse. The laser pulse irradiated on the surface of the workpiece is volumetric and Gaussian in nature. The laser irradiated surface is subjected to convective‐radiative boundary condition while rest of the surfaces are insulated. Finite volume method is used to discretize the domain under consideration. The resulting algebraic equations are solved with the help of the tridiagonal matrix algorithm to find temperature distribution throughout the domain. The enthalpy‐porosity method is used to track the solid‐liquid interface generated during the laser melting process. Convective heat transfer occurs inside the generated melt pool. The current model is first used to validate the results of the existing literature and as the results agreed well, further studies are made to find out the advantages of using repetitive laser pulse over single pulse laser source for laser drilling process for the same laser energy and total heating duration. Vaporization has been avoided during the process and metal removal occurs through melting only. The present numerical model can provide some insight for practical laser drilling process.
A novel prognosis and segmentation of necrosis (dead cells) in contrast enhanced T1‐weighted glioblastoma tumor with automatic contextual clustering
Authors: Arunachalam Murugan , Savarimuthu Sabeenian Royappan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn recent years, mortality rate with high‐grade tumor has been increased significantly especially with glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumor while compared to other malignant brain tumor. Here, the amount of dead cells accommodated with the tumor tissue in GBM brain tumor play a vital task and necessitate an earlier diagnosis of malignancy with the GBM tumor. It inspires to implement new automatic diagnosis system which detects the dead cells and tumor tissue with the GBM brain tumor, such that the survival rate of the diseased can easily be prognosis by the Radiologist and Neurosurgeon. The main objective of this article is to detect the amount of dead cells with respect to tumor tissue associated with the GBM brain tumor which desires the impact factor of the brain tumor. In this framework, initially, the new contrast enhancement modality is incorporated to enhance the gray information over the dead cells and the tumor tissue with the T1‐weighted MRI GBM brain tumor. In this enhancement, the edges of the tumor cells and its dead cells are magnified efficiently. As the noises and outliers with MR image is unpredictable and it experiences the variable amount of noises over the local window, the contextual information over each pixel of the image is adaptively modified with respect to the amount of noise over local window using adaptive contextual clustering. The performance evaluation of the framework is investigated which exhibits the overwhelming result compared to conventional detection techniques.
Tailoring degradation rates of silk fibroin scaffolds for tissue engineering
Authors: Zhang Luzhong , Liu Xin , Li Guicai , Wang Peiyuan , Yang Yumin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn tissue regenerative medicine, developing tunable degradation rate of biomaterials for predictive functional outcomes remains critical. The implanted scaffolds should degrade gradually along with the tissue regeneration, and the optimal degradation rate of scaffold depends on the tissue type to be regenerated. Herein, the tunable degradation rates of silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds were fabricated through controlling dissolution, hydrolyzing conditions, and freeze‐drying. The pore size, water adsorption capacity, and mechanical properties of scaffolds were associated with their average molecular weights. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity tests demonstrated that rapid degradation of SF scaffolds would facilitate the Schwann cells proliferation. Furthermore, in vitro enzymatic degradation and in vivo subcutaneous implantation experiments illustrated that SF scaffolds degradation behaviors could be well regulated. Immunohistochemistry staining experiments suggested that SF scaffold‐degradation products could promote the endothelial cells proliferation. These results indicate that SF tunable degradation rates are promising candidates in regenerative medicine. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 104–113, 2019.
Biocompatibility of common implantable sensor materials in a tumor xenograft model
Authors: Gray Mark E. , Meehan James , Blair Ewen O. , Ward Carol , Langdon Simon P. , Morrison Linda R. , Marland Jamie R. K. , Tsiamis Andreas , Kunkler Ian H. , Murray Alan , Argyle David 
Published: October 2018

AbstractReal‐time monitoring of tumor microenvironment parameters using an implanted biosensor could provide valuable information on the dynamic nature of a tumor's biology and its response to treatment. However, following implantation biosensors may lose functionality due to biofouling caused by the foreign body response (FBR). This study developed a novel tumor xenograft model to evaluate the potential of six biomaterials (silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, Parylene‐C, Nafion, biocompatible EPOTEK epoxy resin, and platinum) to trigger a FBR when implanted into a solid tumor. Biomaterials were chosen based on their use in the construction of a novel biosensor, designed to measure spatial and temporal changes in intra‐tumoral O2, and pH. None of the biomaterials had any detrimental effect on tumor growth or body weight of the murine host. Immunohistochemistry showed no significant changes in tumor necrosis, hypoxic cell number, proliferation, apoptosis, immune cell infiltration, or collagen deposition. The absence of biofouling supports the use of these materials in biosensors; future investigations in preclinical cancer models are required, with a view to eventual applications in humans. To our knowledge this is the first documented investigation of the effects of modern biomaterials, used in the production of implantable sensors, on tumor tissue after implantation. © 2018 The Authors.Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterialspublished by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1620–1633, 2019.
Citronellal prevents endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in rats
Authors: Lu Jun‐X. , Guo Chao , Ou Wen‐S. , Jing Yun , Niu Hui‐F. , Song Ping , Li Quan‐Z. , Liu Zhan , Xu Jian , Li Peng , Zhu Mo‐L. , Yin Ya‐L. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundAtherosclerosis is a chronical inflammatory disease in arterial walls, which is involved in oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies that use essential oils as the major therapeutic agents to treat several diseases. Citronellal (CT) is a monoterpene predominantly formed by the secondary metabolism of plants, producing antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and antihypertensive activities.AimThe aim of the present study is to explore whether aromatherapy with CT improves endothelial function to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in vivo.MethodsAn AS model in carotid artery was induced by balloon injury and vitamin D3 injection in rats fed with a high‐fat diet. The size of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque was determined by ultrasound, oil red, and hematoxylin‐eosin staining. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring acetylcholine‐induced vessel relaxation in an organ chamber.ResultsAdministrations of CT (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) as well as lovastatin dramatically reduced the size of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in rats in a dose‐dependent manner, compared with atherosclerotic rats fed with a high‐fat diet plus balloon injury and vitamin D3. Mechanically, CT improved endothelial dysfunction, increased cell migration, and suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation in vascular endothelium in rats feeding on the high‐fat diet plus balloon injury. Further, CT downregulated the protein levels of sodium‐hydrogen exchanger 1 in rats with atherosclerosis.ConclusionCT improves endothelial dysfunction and prevents the growth of atherosclerosis in rats by reducing oxidative stress. Clinically, CT is potentially considered as a medicine to treat patients with atherosclerosis.
Erbin plays a critical role in human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration and tubular structure formation via the Smad1/5 pathway
Authors: Jin Xiaodong , Li Bo , Zhao Yunhe , Liu Xiqiang , Li Yuhua , Song Lina , Cui Lifang , Xie Dan , Li Tao , Zhang Xiufang , Guo Yuan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAngiogenesis is an important process in atherosclerosis. ErbB2 was proved to have an important role in vascular development, but it is still unclear whether Erbin expresses in vessels as well as its location and function in the vessels. In the current study, we investigated the location and function of Erbin in human umbilical veins. The human umbilical veins were prepared, and immunofluorescent analysis was performed to determine the expression of Erbin. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and the lentivirus (LV) containing Erbin RNAi was also prepared. After transfection with the lentivirus, CCK‐8 assay and Annexin V‐PI assay were used for cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Cell migration was studied using the scratch wound healing assay and the transwell assay. The capillary‐like tube formation assay was performed to illustrate the effect of Erbin on HUVEC tube formation. Expression of signaling pathway molecules was assessed with Western blot. The immunofluorescent analysis suggested that Erbin expressed in human umbilical veins and the majority of the Erbin is strongly colocalized in endothelial cells. Although knockdown of Erbin did not affect HUVEC proliferation and apoptosis, it significantly suppressed HUVEC migration and tubular structure formation. Erbin knockdown showed no effect on the ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 signaling pathways but significantly promoted Smad1/5 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Ablation of the Smad1/5 pathway decreased the effects of Erbin on endothelial cells. Erbin is mainly localized in endothelial cells in human umbilical veins and plays a critical role in endothelial cell migration and tubular formation via the Smad1/5 pathway.
Phosphatidylethanolamine‐binding protein 4 promotes the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in non–small cell lung cancer cells by activating the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway
Authors: Jian Wen , Bai Yinlan , Li Xin , Kang Jian , Lei Yingfeng , Xue Ying 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPhosphatidylethanolamine‐binding protein 4 (PEBP4), a member of the PEBP family, has been reported to play a pivotal role in tumor progression. However, its role in epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanism of PEBP4 in NSCLC EMT. Three human NSCLC cell lines (A549, H1299, and H460) were transfected with pcDNA3.1‐PEBP4 or PEBP4‐targeting small interfering RNA. Then, cell proliferation was analyzed by the MTT assay, and cell migration and invasion were analyzed by the transwell chamber assay. Protein and messenger RNA expression of the related genes and proteins were assessed by Western blot analysis and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results showed that PEBP4 was highly expressed in the human lung cancer tissues and three human NSCLC cell lines. Pretreatment with pcDNA3.1‐PEBP4 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells and increased EMT in vitro and lung tumor metastasis in vivo. Whereas knockdown of PEBP4 suppressed NSCLC cell migration, PEBP4, and invasion with prevented EMT. Furthermore, PEBP4 overexpression significantly promoted the transcriptional activity of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in NSCLC cells. Further analysis showed that using cyclopamine to inhibit Shh signaling significantly ameliorated the effect on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, as well as EMT triggered by PEBP4 overexpression. Together, these results suggest that PEBP4 may promote tumorigenesis in NSCLC by regulating cell proliferation and EMT via activation of the Shh signaling pathway.
Neural stem cell‐derived factors inhibit the growth and invasion of U87 stem‐like cells in vitro
Authors: Li Xingxing , Tan Ruolan , Hu Xiaoxuan , Jiao Qian , Rahman Md Saidur , Chen Xinlin , Zhang Pengbo , An Jing , Lu Haixia , Liu Yong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGlioma is one of the most common and aggressive tumors in the brain. Significant attention has been paid to the potential use of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) as delivery vehicles to cure gliomas. However, whether the NSCs/NPCs or the factors they produced could make a contribution still remains to be seen. In this study, we focused on the inhibitory effects of the factors produced by NSCs/NPCs on the biological behavior of the glioma stem‐like cell in vitro. The human glioma cell line U87 was selected and the U87 stem‐like cells were addressed. After being cultured in the NSC condition medium (NSC‐CM), the viability and proliferation of U87 stem‐like cells were significantly reduced. The invasion of U87 stem‐like cells and the migration of U87 cells were also significantly decreased. However, no significant change was observed in regard to the astrocytic differentiation of U87 stem‐like cells. These indicated that NSCs/NPCs produced some factors and had an inhibitory effect on the growth and invasion but not the terminal differentiation of U87 stem‐like cells. It is worth paying attention to NSCs/NPCs as a high‐potential candidate for glioma treatment.
Preventative tracheal administration of interleukin‐27 attenuates allergic asthma by improving the lung Th1 microenvironment
Authors: Liu Xiaojing , Li Shanqun , Jin Jianjun , Zhu Tao , Xu Kan , Liu Cheng , Zeng Yuzhen , Mao Ruolin , Wang Xiangdong , Chen Zhihong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackground: Interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) modulates CD4+ T‐cell differentiation and function. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of IL‐27 on the development of asthma.Methods: IL‐27 was intranasally administered in an ovalbumin‐induced asthma model, and lung mononuclear cells and different Th cell classes were detected by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. The effect and mechanisms of IL‐27 on human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells were investigated by measuring changes in chemotactic factors, cytokines, transcription factors, and signaling pathways.Results: We found that intranasal administration of IL‐27 could attenuate airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, upregulate the type 1 T helper (Th1)‐T memory (Tm) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells subgroups of lung tissue lymphocytes, and diminish the levels of type 2 T helper (Th2) cytokines. IL‐27 upregulated the expression of C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL3, and CCL4 in HBE cells and promoted the production of chemotactic factors to attract monocyte recruitment. Recruited monocytes secondarily secreted IL‐27 to influence HBE cells in a positive feedback cycle. After IL‐27 intervention, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) phosphorylation increased, while STAT4 and STAT6 phosphorylation declined.Conclusions: Preventative intranasal administration of IL‐27 can recruit more IL‐27‐secreted monocytes to the airway and change the different T‐cell classes in lung. The improved Th1 environment helps to alleviate Th2‐mediated allergic asthma by repairing the STAT1 pathway but not the STAT4 pathway.