newly available online.Studi Italici

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.8 No.2

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The new issue is now available.Researches in Organic Geochemistry

Vol.4

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The new issue is now available.Researches in Organic Geochemistry

Vol.5

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The new issue is now available.Researches in Organic Geochemistry

Vol.3

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The new issue is now available.Researches in Organic Geochemistry

Vol.2

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The new issue is now available.Information Bulletin of The Union of National Economic Associations in Japan

Vol.35

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newly available online.Information Bulletin of The Union of National Economic Associations in Japan

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The new issue is now available.Medical Imaging Technology

Vol.35 No.2

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.9 No.2

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.25 No.1

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.18 No.3

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.24 No.2

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The new issue is now available.The Hokuriku Crop Science

Vol.50

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.21 No.2

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The new issue is now available.International Journal of Oral-Medical Sciences

Vol.15 No.3-4

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.17 No.1

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The new issue is now available.Journal of the Japan Association for Developmental Education

Vol.11 No.2

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The new issue is now available.Journal of Japanese Society of Child Health Nursing

Vol.20 No.1

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The new issue is now available.Japanese Journal of Transfusion and Cell Therapy

Vol.63 No.1

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Normalization of Bilateral Adrenal Gland Enlargement after Treatment for Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis usually occurs in immunocompromised patients and can cause enlargement of the adrenal glands, although the morphologic changes after treatment have not been reported in detail. We report the case of 24-year-old man with fevers, headaches, and impaired consciousness who had been treated with glucocorticoids for a protein-losing gastroenteropathy. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed cryptococcal meningitis. Computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal enlargement. A retrospective analysis revealed that the enlargement had been detected 5 months before admission and gradually increased. The enlargement was improved with antifungal therapy and normalized 6 months later. This is the first report describing morphological changes in the adrenal glands associated with cryptococcal meningitis. Adrenal enlargement by cryptococcosis can be improved without any abnormal findings, including calcifications, which may be a unique characteristic from other diseases, including tuberculosis.

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Research on Crude Oil Demulsification Using the Combined Method of Ultrasound and Chemical Demulsifier

In this paper, experiments of crude oil demulsification using ultrasound, chemical demulsifier, and the combined method of ultrasound and chemical demulsifier, respectively, at different temperatures (40°C, 60°C, and 70°C) are carried out. The photos of water droplet distribution in crude oil, taken with microscopic imaging system, before and after demulsification using the above methods at 70°C are given. Research results show that the combined method of ultrasound and chemical demulsifier has the best demulsification effect, followed by chemical demulsifier. Ultrasound without using chemical demulsifier has the least demulsification effect. Furthermore, the impact of ultrasonic power, treatment time, and temperature on crude oil demulsification using the combined method of ultrasound and chemical demulsifier is studied. Results indicate that the final dehydration rate increases with the increase of temperatures and ultrasonic power and almost does not change with the increase of ultrasonic treatment time. These important conclusions will provide the foundation for an extensive application of the combined method of ultrasound and chemical demulsifier.

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Translocation of a Polymer through a Crowded Channel under Electrical Force

The translocation of a polymer chain through a crowded cylindrical channel is studied using the Langevin dynamics simulations. The influences of the field strength , the chain length , and the crowding extent on the translocation time are evaluated, respectively. Scaling relation is observed. With the crowding extent increasing, the scaling exponent becomes large. It is found that, for noncrowded channel, translocation probability drops when the field strength becomes large. However, for high-crowded channel, it is the opposite. Moreover, the translocation time and the average translocation time for all segments both have exponential growth with the crowding extent. The investigation of shape factor shows maximum value with increasing of the number of segments outside . At last, the number of segments inside channel in the process of translocation is calculated and a peak is observed. All the information from the study may benefit protein translocation.

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Intestinal Obstruction in a Patient with Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis “Cocoon Syndrome”

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare disorder that is characterized by encapsulation of bowel loops by thick fibrinogenous case. Most patients present with vague abdominal symptoms. It is challenging to diagnose the condition preoperatively. Surgical management is preserved for patients with small bowel obstruction with no improvement on conservative measures or for those with signs of bowel ischemia (Li et al., 2014; Habib et al. 2011). Herein, we discuss the clinical signs and symptoms, the radiological features, the surgical management, and outcome of SEP based on a patient who underwent surgery in our hospital.

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Localization of Massive and Massless Fermions on Two-Field Branes

We study fermion localization and resonances on a special type of brane-world model supporting brane splitting. In such models one can construct multiwall branes which cause considerable simplification in the field equations. We use a polynomial superpotential to construct this brane. The suitable Yukawa coupling between the background scalar field and the localized fermion is determined. The massive fermion resonance spectrum is obtained. The number of resonances is increased for higher values of Yukawa coupling.

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Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Thermal Laser Combination Therapy for Peripapillary Choroidal Neovascular Membranes

Objective. This is a retrospective interventional case series describing the results of 5 eyes from 5 patients with symptomatic peripapillary choroidal neovascularization (CNVM) receiving initial bevacizumab treatment followed by thermal laser and bevacizumab combination therapy. Methods. Patients received intravitreal bevacizumab injections until the lesions were well-defined. Thermal laser ablation was then administered and followed by an additional bevacizumab injection after one week. Visual outcomes, OCT changes, and rates of recurrence were recorded and analyzed. Results. Median visual outcomes improved from 20/50 to 20/30 (). Median central macular thickness decreased from 347 μm to 152 μm (). The mean visual improvement was 3 lines. An average of 3.8 bevacizumab injections per patient were given overall. Patients were followed for an average of 24 months, during which all eyes were absent for recurrence. Conclusion. Symptomatic peripapillary CNVM may be successfully managed with bevacizumab followed by a combination of thermal laser and bevacizumab without the need for frequent retreatment. The area requiring treatment may be better defined using bevacizumab, limiting the ablation of the healthy retina and improving treatment margins. With this treatment regimen, the patients experience improved visual outcomes and have a low rate of recurrence.

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Total Flavonoids Extracted from Oxytropis falcata Bunge Improve Insulin Resistance through Regulation on the IKKβ/NF-κB Inflammatory Pathway

Background. Insulin resistance (IR) is the main etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been known that total flavonoid extracts can markedly improve the hypoglycemic symptoms caused by IR. Nevertheless, the relevant molecular mechanism remains unclarified. Aim. This study aimed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effects and mechanism of the total flavonoid extract from Oxytropis falcata Bunge. Methods. STZ-induced T2DM rats () were divided into 5 groups: model, low-, medium-, and high-dose total flavonoids, and pioglitazone groups. Ten healthy rats were used as controls. The serum insulin and inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6) level was measured by ELISA. The concentration of IRS-1, p-IRS-1, PKB p-PKB, PI3Kp85, and p-PI3K in skeletal muscles was determined by Western blot. The mRNA level of GLUT4, IκB, and NF-κB in skeletal muscle was detected by qRT-PCR. Results. The treatment of medium- and high-dose total flavonoids significantly reduced the FPG and P2hPG and enhanced insulin level in T2DM rats (). When compared with controls, the serum level of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IRS-1, and p-IRS-1 was significantly increased in T2DM rats, but the level of PKB, p-PKB, PI3Kp85, and p-PI3K expression was reduced (). The GLUT4 and IκB mRNA expression were significantly decreased, and NF-κB mRNA level was increased (). The treatment of low-, medium-, or high-dose total flavonoids markedly reversed the changes above (). Conclusion. Our study has confirmed the therapeutic effects of total flavonoids from Oxytropis falcata Bunge on IR. The flavonoids might reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines through downregulation of NF-κB expression in inflammatory pathway and regulate the IRS-1-PI3-K-PKB/Akt insulin pathway and thereby increased the GLUT4 expression.

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A Review on Real-Time 3D Ultrasound Imaging Technology

Real-time three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) has attracted much more attention in medical researches because it provides interactive feedback to help clinicians acquire high-quality images as well as timely spatial information of the scanned area and hence is necessary in intraoperative ultrasound examinations. Plenty of publications have been declared to complete the real-time or near real-time visualization of 3D ultrasound using volumetric probes or the routinely used two-dimensional (2D) probes. So far, a review on how to design an interactive system with appropriate processing algorithms remains missing, resulting in the lack of systematic understanding of the relevant technology. In this article, previous and the latest work on designing a real-time or near real-time 3D ultrasound imaging system are reviewed. Specifically, the data acquisition techniques, reconstruction algorithms, volume rendering methods, and clinical applications are presented. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of state-of-the-art approaches are discussed in detail.

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Is Nuclear War the Only Cure for Inequality?

Historian claims only apocalyptic destruction can close the gap between rich and poor.

-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

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An Analysis of Tropical Cold-Point Tropopause Warming in 1999

Using reanalysis datasets, the warming of the tropical tropopause in 1999 and its evolution are investigated. It is found that there is a strong rate of increase in tropical cold-point tropopause temperature (CPTT) in June 1999, with negative CPTT anomalies before June (March-April-May) and large positive anomalies after June (July-August-September). Multiple linear regression analysis shows that deep convection, the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), and tropical upwelling associated with the Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC) largely explain the variations of CPTT in 1999. Before June, enhanced deep convection resulting from increased sea surface temperature (SST) over the western Pacific and enhanced tropical upwelling of the BDC lead to a higher and colder tropopause. Those two factors explain 22% and 17% of the variance in CPTT, respectively. In June, the transformation of the east phase of QBO to the west phase contributes up to more than 50% of the variance in CPTT changes. After June, reduced tropical upwelling induced by weakened wave activity results in the warmer tropical tropopause temperatures to a large extent.

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Challenges and Opportunities of Network Virtualization over Wireless Mobile Networks

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Bond-Slip Behavior of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bar in Concrete Subjected to Simulated Marine Environment: Effects of BFRP Bar Size, Corrosion Age, and Concrete Strength

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars have bright potential application in concrete structures subjected to marine environment due to their superior corrosion resistance. Available literatures mainly focused on the mechanical properties of BFRP concrete structures, while the bond-slip behavior of BFRP bars, which is a key factor influencing the safety and service life of ocean concrete structures, has not been clarified yet. In this paper, effects of BFRP bars size, corrosion age, and concrete strength on the bond-slip behavior of BFRP bars in concrete cured in artificial seawater were investigated, and then an improved Bertero, Popov, and Eligehausen (BPE) model was employed to describe the bond-slip behavior of BFRP bars in concrete. The results indicated that the maximum bond stress and corresponding slip decreased gradually with the increase of corrosion age and size of BFRP bars, and ultimate slip also decreased sharply. The ascending segment of bond-slip curve tends to be more rigid and the descending segment tends to be softer after corrosion. A horizontal end in bond-slip curve indicates that the friction between BFRP bars and concrete decreased sharply.

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Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise: A Systematic Review

Although a substantial body of literature has explored the relationship between sleep and exercise, comprehensive reviews and definitive conclusions about the impact of exercise interventions on sleep are lacking. Electronic databases were searched for articles published between January 2013 and March 2017. Studies were included if they possessed either objective or subjective measures of sleep and an exercise intervention that followed the guidelines recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine. Thirty-four studies met these inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies concluded that exercise improved sleep quality or duration; however, four found no difference and one reported a negative impact of exercise on sleep. Study results varied most significantly due to participants’ age, health status, and the mode and intensity of exercise intervention. Mixed findings were reported for children, adolescents, and young adults. Interventions conducted with middle-aged and elderly adults reported more robust results. In these cases, exercise promoted increased sleep efficiency and duration regardless of the mode and intensity of activity, especially in populations suffering from disease. Our review suggests that sleep and exercise exert substantial positive effects on one another; however, to reach a true consensus, the mechanisms behind these observations must first be elucidated.

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IFC/ Editorial Board

Publication date: 1 April 2017
Source:Experimental Cell Research, Volume 353, Issue 1





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Fast Density Clustering Algorithm for Numerical Data and Categorical Data

Data objects with mixed numerical and categorical attributes are often dealt with in the real world. Most existing algorithms have limitations such as low clustering quality, cluster center determination difficulty, and initial parameter sensibility. A fast density clustering algorithm (FDCA) is put forward based on one-time scan with cluster centers automatically determined by center set algorithm (CSA). A novel data similarity metric is designed for clustering data including numerical attributes and categorical attributes. CSA is designed to choose cluster centers from data object automatically which overcome the cluster centers setting difficulty in most clustering algorithms. The performance of the proposed method is verified through a series of experiments on ten mixed data sets in comparison with several other clustering algorithms in terms of the clustering purity, the efficiency, and the time complexity.

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Comparison of DNA Methylation in Schwann Cells before and after Peripheral Nerve Injury in Rats

This study aims to find the difference of genomewide DNA methylation in Schwann cells (SCs) before and after peripheral nerve system (PNS) injury by Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) and seek meaningful differentially methylated genes related to repairment of injured PNS. SCs harvested from sciatic nerve were named as activated Schwann cells (ASCs), and the ones harvested from brachial plexus were named as normal Schwann cells (NSCs). Genomic DNA of ASCs and NSCs were isolated and MeDIP-Seq was conducted. Differentially methylated genes and regions were discovered and analyzed by bioinformatic methods. MeDIP-Seq analysis showed methylation differences were identified between ASCs and NSCs. The distribution of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) peaks in different components of genome was mainly located in distal intergenic regions. GO and KEGG analysis of these methylated genes were also conducted. The expression patterns of hypermethylated genes (Dgcr8, Zeb2, Dixdc1, Sox2, and Shh) and hypomethylated genes (Gpr126, Birc2) detected by qRT-PCR were opposite to the MeDIP analysis data with significance (p

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Papillary Fibroelastoma as a Cause of Cardiogenic Embolic Stroke in a β-Thalassemia Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

We describe a case of a young male without stroke risk factors who presented with a sudden onset of left-sided weakness, left hand numbness, and left eye blurriness. CT scan of the head without contrast and diffusion-weighted MRI of the brain with contrast revealed an ischemic stroke in the right middle cerebral artery distribution. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a mobile pedunculated mass on the posterior surface of the mitral valve. This mass was resected and pathology showed a cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPFE), which was determined to be the cause of the patient’s cardioembolic stroke. Further workup also found that patient had microcytic anemia secondary to β-thalassemia intermedia, a rare hematologic disorder due to defective hemoglobin synthesis. Recently, another case report suggested β-thalassemia major may underlie the pathogenesis of CPFE. β-Thalassemia major causes a state of chronic inflammation and endothelial damage, which can mediate CPFE formation. Based on literature review, this is the first case report of a CPFE in a patient with β-thalassemia intermedia. This hypothesis-generating case report calls attention to the need for elucidating the relationship between CPFE and β-thalassemia in future studies to better understand the diagnosis and management of a rare cardiac tumor.

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TM4SF5-Mediated Roles in the Development of Fibrotic Phenotypes

Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) can form tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TERMs) on the cell’s surface. TERMs contain protein-protein complexes comprised of tetraspanins, growth factor receptors, and integrins. These complexes regulate communication between extracellular and intracellular spaces to control diverse cellular functions. TM4SF5 influences the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), aberrant multilayer cellular growth, drug resistance, enhanced migration and invasion, circulation through the bloodstream, tumor-initiation property, metastasis, and muscle development in zebrafish. Here, current data on TM4SF5’s roles in the development of fibrotic phenotypes are reviewed. TM4SF5 is induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling via a collaboration with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. TM4SF5, by itself or in concert with other receptors, transduces signals intracellularly. In hepatocytes, TM4SF5 expression regulates cell cycle progression, migration, and expression of extracellular matrix components. In CCl4-treated mice, TM4SF5, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I expression are observed together along the fibrotic septa regions of the liver. These fibrotic phenotypes are diminished by anti-TM4SF5 reagents, such as a specific small compound [TSAHC, 4′-(p-toluenesulfonylamido)-4-hydroxychalcone] or a chimeric antibody. This review discusses the antifibrotic strategies that target TM4SF5 and its associated protein networks that regulate the intracellular signaling necessary for fibrotic functions of hepatocytes.

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Shear Stress Counteracts Endothelial CX3CL1 Induction and Monocytic Cell Adhesion

Flow conditions critically regulate endothelial cell functions in the vasculature. Reduced shear stress resulting from disturbed blood flow can drive the development of vascular inflammatory lesions. On endothelial cells, the transmembrane chemokine CX3CL1/fractalkine promotes vascular inflammation by functioning as a surface-expressed adhesion molecule and by becoming released as soluble chemoattractant for monocytic cells expressing the receptor CX3CR1. Here, we report that endothelial cells from human artery, vein, or microvasculature constitutively express CX3CL1 when cultured under static conditions. Stimulation with TNFα under static or very low shear stress conditions strongly upregulates CX3CL1 expression. By contrast, CX3CL1 induction is profoundly reduced when cells are exposed to higher shear stress. When endothelial cells were grown and subsequently stimulated with TNFα under low shear stress, strong adhesion of monocytic THP-1 cells to endothelial cells was observed. This adhesion was in part mediated by transmembrane CX3CL1 as demonstrated with a neutralizing antibody. By contrast, no CX3CL1-dependent adhesion to stimulated endothelium was observed at high shear stress. Thus, during early stages of vascular inflammation, low shear stress typically seen at atherosclerosis-prone regions promotes the induction of endothelial CX3CL1 and monocytic cell recruitment, whereas physiological shear stress counteracts this inflammatory activation of endothelial cells.

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Coutilization of D-Glucose, D-Xylose, and L-Arabinose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Coexpressing the Metabolic Pathways and Evolutionary Engineering

Efficient and cost-effective fuel ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials requires simultaneous cofermentation of all hydrolyzed sugars, mainly including D-glucose, D-xylose, and L-arabinose. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a traditional D-glucose fermenting strain and could utilize D-xylose and L-arabinose after introducing the initial metabolic pathways. The efficiency and simultaneous coutilization of the two pentoses and D-glucose for ethanol production in S. cerevisiae still need to be optimized. Previously, we constructed an L-arabinose-utilizing S. cerevisiae BSW3AP. In this study, we further introduced the XI and XR-XDH metabolic pathways of D-xylose into BSW3AP to obtain D-glucose, D-xylose, and L-arabinose cofermenting strain. Benefits of evolutionary engineering: the resulting strain BSW4XA3 displayed a simultaneous coutilization of D-xylose and L-arabinose with similar consumption rates, and the D-glucose metabolic capacity was not decreased. After 120 h of fermentation on mixed D-glucose, D-xylose, and L-arabinose, BSW4XA3 consumed 24% more amounts of pentoses and the ethanol yield of mixed sugars was increased by 30% than that of BSW3AP. The resulting strain BSW4XA3 was a useful chassis for further enhancing the coutilization efficiency of mixed sugars for bioethanol production.

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Planar Smooth Path Guidance Law for a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Parameter Tuned by Fuzzy Logic

A guidance law has been designed to guide the small unmanned aerial vehicle towards the predefined horizontal smooth path. The guidance law only needs the mathematical expression for the predefined path, the positions, and the velocities of the vehicle in the horizontal inertial frame. The stability of the guidance law has been demonstrated by the Lyapunov stability arguments. In order to improve the path following performance, one of the parameters of the guidance law is tuned by using the fuzzy logic which will still keep its stability. The simulation experiments in the Matlab/Simulink environment to realize the square-, circular-, and the athletics track-style paths following are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The simulation results show that the path following performance will be improved with smaller overshoot and oscillation amplitude and shorter arrival time with the parameter tuned.

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Uncommon Odontogenic Orocutaneous Fistula of the Jaw Treated with Platelet-Rich Fibrin

Orocutaneous fistula (OCF) of dental origin is a relatively rare condition and continues to be a challenging diagnosis. Misdiagnosis of OCF usually leads to unnecessary and noneffective treatment. A 21-year-old male referred with a complaint of a lesion on the chin which was misdiagnosed as a carbuncle (lesion of nonodontogenic origin) by a physician. After radiological examination, there was a lesion around the apical region of right central incisor. These findings indicated a sinus tract associated with dental origin. After root canal treatment, apical surgery was performed and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was administered to the cavity of the lesion as a gel form to improve healing and also used as a membrane form to cut off the relation between infected area and the skin. All procedures were performed intraorally; no extraoral intervention was performed. Three months later, clinical and radiological examination showed total healing without scar formation. The key to successful treatment of OCF is accurate diagnosis. Additionally, the use of PRF after surgical interventions is an effective and innovative therapy to improve healing.

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Can a new history of vaccination silence doubters?

Controversies and scandals cannot obscure the self-evident success story of vaccines told by Meredith Wadman in The Vaccination Race

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Can a new history of vaccination silence doubters?

Controversies and scandals cannot obscure the self-evident success story of vaccines told by Meredith Wadman in The Vaccination Race

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Antibacterial Efficacy of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Functionalized with the Ubiquicidin (29–41) Antimicrobial Peptide

Recent studies have demonstrated that drug antimicrobial activity is enhanced when metallic nanoparticles are used as an inorganic support, obtaining synergic effects against microorganisms. The cationic antimicrobial peptide ubiquicidin 29–41 (UBI) has demonstrated high affinity and sensitivity towards fungal and bacterial infections. The aim of this research was to prepare and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of engineered multivalent nanoparticle systems based on silver or gold nanoparticles functionalized with UBI. Spectroscopy techniques demonstrated that NPs were functionalized with UBI mainly through interactions with the -NH2 groups. A significant increase in the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was obtained with the conjugate AgNP-UBI with regard to that of AgNP. No inhibition of bacterial growth was observed with AuNP and AuNP-UBI using a nanoparticle concentration of up to 182 μg mL−1. Nonetheless, silver nanoparticles conjugated to the UBI antimicrobial peptide may provide an alternative therapy for topical infections.

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A Prototypical First-Generation Electronic Cigarette Does Not Reduce Reports of Tobacco Urges or Withdrawal Symptoms among Cigarette Smokers

It is unknown whether first-generation electronic cigarettes reduce smoking urges and withdrawal symptoms following a 24 h deprivation period. This study tested whether a first-generation electronic cigarette reduces smoking urges and withdrawal symptoms in cigarette smokers. Following 24 h of tobacco deprivation, using a within-subjects design, eight nontreatment seeking tobacco cigarette smokers (3 females) administered 10 puffs from a conventional cigarette or a first-generation electronic cigarette containing liquid with 0, 8 or 16 mg/ml nicotine. Conventional cigarettes ameliorated smoking urges and electronic cigarettes did not, regardless of nicotine concentration. First-generation electronic cigarettes may not effectively substitute for conventional cigarettes in reducing smoking urges, regardless of nicotine concentration.

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Isotretinoin as a Possible Environmental Trigger to Autoimmunity in Genetically Susceptible Patients

Introduction. Isotretinoin is commonly used to treat cystic acne. Definitive mechanisms of action for isotretinoin are not known though despite many side effects having been documented. Various case reports have noted autoimmune diseases succeeding isotretinoin treatment. Case Report. A 16-year-old female presents with symptoms of tremors, lack of focus, sleeplessness, emotional liability, bulging eyes, loose stools, heat intolerance, and missed menstrual periods. Symptoms manifested shortly after the patient finished a course of oral isotretinoin treatment for acne. Physical exam showed resting tremors, bilateral proptosis, hyperactivity, and rapid speech. A diagnosis of Graves’ Disease was made by correlating symptoms, physical exam findings, ultrasound, and positive family history of autoimmune thyroid disease. Conclusion. Emergence of autoimmune thyroid diseases depends upon genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Mechanism of action for isotretinoin is not known but the drug may play a role in triggering autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals.

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Syndrome Differentiation of IgA Nephropathy Based on Clinicopathological Parameters: A Decision Tree Model

Background. IgA nephropathy is the most common cause of primary glomerulonephritis in China, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a vital treatment strategy. However, not all doctors prescribing TCM medicine have adequate knowledge to classify the syndrome accurately. Aim. To explore the feasibility of differentiation of TCM syndrome types among IgA nephropathy patients based on clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods. The cross-sectional study enrolled 464 biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy adult patients from 2010 to 2016. The demographic data, clinicopathological features, and TCM syndrome types were collected, and the decision tree models based on classification and regression tree were built to differentiate between the syndrome types. Results. 370 patients of training dataset were 32 years old with serum creatinine of 79 μmol/L, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 97.2 mL/min/1.73 m2, and proteinuria of 1.0 g/day. The scores of Oxford classifications were as follows: M1 = 97.6%, E1 = 14.6%, S1 = 50.0%, and T1 = 52.2%/T2 = 18.4%. The decision trees without or with MEST scores achieved equal precision in training data. However, the tree with MEST scores performed better in validation dataset, especially in classifying the syndrome of qi deficiency of spleen and kidney. Conclusion. A feasible method to deduce TCM syndromes of IgA nephropathy patients by common parameters in routine clinical practice was proposed. The MEST scores helped in the differentiation of TCM syndromes with clinical data.

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Comparison of Muscle and Subcutaneous Tissue Fatty Acid Composition of Bangladeshi Nondescript Deshi Bulls Finished on Pasture Diet

The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the tissue-associated differences in the fatty acid profiles of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat from pasture fed nondescript deshi breed bulls of Bangladesh. The average chemical composition of the longissimus muscle was as follows: moisture %, protein %, intramuscular fat %, and ash %. There was significant evidence that the lipids of longissimus muscle from the nondescript deshi bulls had a lower content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) compared to subcutaneous fat. Intramuscular fat also showed the highest PUFA/SFA and fatty acids ratios and total n-3 and n-6 PUFAs compared to subcutaneous tissue depots. Overall findings suggest that the meat from pasture fed nondescript deshi breed can be considered as lean meat and healthy for human consumption.

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An Exceptional Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

We present a case of diabetic ketoacidosis, known as one of the most serious metabolic complications of diabetes. We were confronted with rapid neurological deterioration and unseen glycaemic values, which reached almost 110 mmol/L, subsequently resulting in hyperkalaemia and life-threatening dysrhythmias. This is the first reported live case with such high values of blood glucose and a favourable outcome.

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The Effect of Geometric Configurations on the Elastic Behavior of an Edge-Cracked Bonded Strip

Interface cracks often initiate around the bonding free-edge corner due to the high-stress concentration. In this research, the elastic behavior of an edge-cracked dissimilar bonded strip subjected to remote tensile load is investigated using the proportional crack tip opening displacement method based on FE analysis for arbitrary material combinations. The stress intensity factor, energy release rate, and mode mixity are computed and compared systematically with varying geometrical configurations and material combinations. Then, the combined effects of the relative height of the bonded component and material combination are discussed for the typical engineering materials.

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Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum: A Case Report of Successful Arthroscopic Treatment

Introduction. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum is a localized disorder of the subchondral bone, in a region with limited healing capacity. Although its aetiology is still unknown, it has been associated with repetitive microtrauma. The natural history of this disease involves the evolution for degenerative joint disease in approximately half of the patients, with early identification and treatment being critical to optimizing the outcome. Case Presentation. We present a rare case in our practice, illustrating a capitellar OCD in a fifteen-year-old White male without an identified cause of repetitive microtrauma. Conclusion. In this case prompt diagnosis and arthroscopic-assisted treatment led to a successful result.

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IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 706: Functional Analysis of the Ser149/Thr149 Variants of Human Aspartylglucosaminidase and Optimization of the Coding Sequence for Protein Production

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) is a lysosomal hydrolase that participates in the breakdown of glycoproteins. Defects in the AGA gene result in a lysosomal storage disorder, aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), that manifests mainly as progressive mental retardation. A number of AGU missense mutations have been identified that result in reduced AGA activity. Human variants that contain either Ser or Thr in position 149 have been described, but it is unknown if this affects AGA processing or activity. Here, we have directly compared the Ser149/Thr149 variants of AGA and show that they do not differ in terms of relative specific activity or processing. Therefore, Thr149 AGA, which is the rare variant, can be considered as a neutral or benign variant. Furthermore, we have here produced codon-optimized versions of these two variants and show that they are expressed at significantly higher levels than AGA with the natural codon-usage. Since optimal AGA expression is of vital importance for both gene therapy and enzyme replacement, our data suggest that use of codon-optimized AGA may be beneficial for these therapy options.

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IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 705: Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbioses

Most species in the Leguminosae (legume family) can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) via symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) in root nodules. Here, the literature on legume-rhizobia symbioses in field soils was reviewed and genotypically characterised rhizobia related to the taxonomy of the legumes from which they were isolated. The Leguminosae was divided into three sub-families, the Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae. Bradyrhizobium spp. were the exclusive rhizobial symbionts of species in the Caesalpinioideae, but data are limited. Generally, a range of rhizobia genera nodulated legume species across the two Mimosoideae tribes Ingeae and Mimoseae, but Mimosa spp. show specificity towards Burkholderia in central and southern Brazil, Rhizobium/Ensifer in central Mexico and Cupriavidus in southern Uruguay. These specific symbioses are likely to be at least in part related to the relative occurrence of the potential symbionts in soils of the different regions. Generally, Papilionoideae species were promiscuous in relation to rhizobial symbionts, but specificity for rhizobial genus appears to hold at the tribe level for the Fabeae (Rhizobium), the genus level for Cytisus (Bradyrhizobium), Lupinus (Bradyrhizobium) and the New Zealand native Sophora spp. (Mesorhizobium) and species level for Cicer arietinum (Mesorhizobium), Listia bainesii (Methylobacterium) and Listia angolensis (Microvirga). Specificity for rhizobial species/symbiovar appears to hold for Galega officinalis (Neorhizobium galegeae sv. officinalis), Galega orientalis (Neorhizobium galegeae sv. orientalis), Hedysarum coronarium (Rhizobium sullae), Medicago laciniata (Ensifer meliloti sv. medicaginis), Medicago rigiduloides (Ensifer meliloti sv. rigiduloides) and Trifolium ambiguum (Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii). Lateral gene transfer of specific symbiosis genes within rhizobial genera is an important mechanism allowing legumes to form symbioses with rhizobia adapted to particular soils. Strain-specific legume rhizobia symbioses can develop in particular habitats.

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