bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Perspective of Acupuncture: The Interaction among Three Networks Leads to Neutralization
Authors: Li Ning-cen , Li Ming-yue , Chen Bo , Guo Yi
Published: February 2019

Acupuncture has been used to treat multiple medical conditions, but whether the diverse effects of acupuncture are intrinsically linked and how they might be connected have yet to be determined. More and more researches have shown that acupuncture is a kind of nociceptive stimulus, which can cause inflammatory reaction in the sites of acupuncture and then further activate the nerve-endocrine-immune systems to cause the cascade amplification of the acupuncture effect. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive summary of the existing literature concerning the role of “acupoint-meridian-disease network” in various effects of acupuncture and suggest a novel notion that acupuncture may restore homeostasis under different pathological conditions by regulating this network, resulting in the activation of different reaction cascades in response to pathological injury. We think that acupuncture acts on acupoints, first activating the small network of acupoints (Acupoint Network). The information of acupuncture is amplified by cascade, and the nerve endocrine immune system (NEI) is activated through the large network of meridians (Meridian Network) of the body itself. The nerve-endocrine-immune system (NEI) further outputs the effect information to the target organ through multilevel and multisystems and finally acts on the disease network (Disease Network) to produce acupuncture effect.
Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers for Use as Nonaqueous Electrolyte in Electric Double-Layer Capacitor
Authors: Kotatha Ditpon , Hirata Masaharu , Ogino Mayuko , Uchida Satoshi , Ishikawa Masashi , Furuike Tetsuya , Tamura Hiroshi
Published: February 2019

A novel nanofibrous gel electrolyte was prepared via gelatin electrospinning for use as a nonaqueous electrolyte in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). An electrospinning technique with a 25 wt% gelatin solution was applied to produce gelatin electrospun (GES) nanofiber electrolytes. Structural analysis of the GES products showed a clearly nanofibrous structure with fiber diameters in the 306.2–428.4 nm range and exhibiting high thermal stability, high tensile strength, and a stable form of nanofibrous structure after immersion in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF4). After testing over a range of spinning times, GES electrolytes that were produced at 25 min (GES-25) had a suitable thickness for the assembly of EDLC with the optimized tensile properties and were used to fabricate EDLC test cells with EMImBF4. These test cells were compared to those with pure EMImBF4 and a separator as an electrolyte. The electrochemical properties of the test cells were characterized by charge-discharge testing, discharge capacitance, and alternative current (AC) impedance measurements. AC impedance measurements showed that the test cell with the GES-25/EMImBF4 gel electrolyte showed slightly poorer contact with the electrode when compared to that with pure EMImBF4, whereas exhibited comparable IR drop and discharge capacitance (calculated capacitance retention was 56.6%). The results demonstrated that this novel gel electrolyte can be used as a nonaqueous electrolyte in order to improve the safety in EDLCs.
The Effect of Modified Sini Decoction on Survival Rates of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Luo Jian-Xing , Zhang Yang , Hu Xiao-Yu , Yu Chang
Published: February 2019

Aim of the Study.To verify the effect of modified sini decoction on patients with hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure.Materials and Methods.A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who had been treated with modified sini decoction and standard comprehensive internal medicine were assigned to an observation group, and patients who had been treated with standard comprehensive internal medicine were selected as a control group. The total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), prothrombin activity (PTA), CTP, and MELD scores were analyzed at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, the 12-week survival rate was analyzed.Results.The levels of TBIL and ALT were remarkably decreased, while the levels of ALB and PTA were remarkably increased in both groups at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment, respectively, but the effects in the observation group were greater (P < 0.05). The CTP and MELD scores at 8-week and 12-week were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks, the mean survival times of the observation group and the control group were 66.7 and 45.5 d, respectively. Significant improvement of 12-week survival rate [39/62 (62.9%) versus 18/50 (36.0%), P = 0.001] was observed in the observation group after treatment.Conclusions.Modified sini decoction could protect the liver function and improve the survival rates of patients with hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure.
PI Controller of Speed Regulation of Brushless DC Motor Based on Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Improved Inertia Weights
Authors: Xie Wei , Wang Jie-Sheng , Wang Hai-Bo
Published: February 2019

The brushless director current (DC) motor is a new type of mechatronic motor that has been developed rapidly with the development of power electronics technology and the emergence of new permanent magnet materials. Based on the speed regulation characteristics, speed regulation strategy, and mathematical model of brushless DC motor, a parameter optimization method of proportional‐integral (PI) controller on speed regulation for the brushless DC motor based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with variable inertia weights is proposed. The parameters of PI controller are optimized by PSO algorithm with five inertia weight adjustment strategies (linear descending inertia weight, linear differential descending inertia weight, incremental‐decremented inertia weight, nonlinear descending inertia weight with threshold, and nonlinear descending inertia weight with control factor). The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the simulation experiments and the related simulation results.
Shear Wave Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hand Tumours
Authors: Schivo Debora , Gjika Ergys , Traverso Aurélien , Durand Sébastien
Published: February 2019

Diagnosis of hand tumours by conventional imaging remains difficult. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a noninvasive method used to quantitatively assess the mechanical properties of tissues. We provide the first report of “histoelastographic” data concerning a finger tumour. Our data support the notion of ultrasound assessment using multiple parameters including morphology, elasticity, viscosity, and microflow vascularization likely contributing towards a more precise diagnosis in the future.
Alterations of the Brain Microstructure and Corresponding Functional Connectivity in Early-Blind Adolescents
Authors: Zhou Zhifeng , Xu Jinping , Shi Leilei , Liu Xia , Hou Fen , Zhou Jingyi , Luo Jinpei , Hu Qingmao , Li Hengguo
Published: February 2019

Although evidence from studies on blind adults indicates that visual deprivation early in life leads to structural and functional disruption and reorganization of the brain, whether young blind people show similar patterns remains unknown. Therefore, this study is aimed at exploring the structural and functional alterations of the brain of early-blind adolescents (EBAs) compared to normal-sighted controls (NSCs) and investigating the effects of residual light perception on brain microstructure and function in EBAs. We obtained magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 23 EBAs (8 with residual light perception (LPs), 15 without light perception (NLPs)) and 21 NSCs (age range 11-19 years old). Whole-brain voxel-based analyses of diffusion tensor imaging metrics and region-of-interest analyses of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) were performed to compare patterns of brain microstructure and the corresponding RSFC between the groups. The results showed that structural disruptions of LPs and NLPs were mainly located in the occipital visual pathway. Compared with NLPs, LPs showed increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior frontal gyrus and reduced diffusivity in the caudate nucleus. Moreover, the correlations between FA of the occipital cortices or mean diffusivity of the lingual gyrus and age were consistent with the development trajectory of the brain in NSCs, but inconsistent or even opposite in EBAs. Additionally, we found functional, but not structural, reorganization in NLPs compared with NSCs, suggesting that functional neuroplasticity occurs earlier than structural neuroplasticity in EBAs. Altogether, these findings provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying the neural reorganization of the brain in adolescents with early visual deprivation.
Synchronization Control in Reaction‐Diffusion Systems: Application to Lengyel‐Epstein System
Authors: Ouannas Adel , Abdelli Mouna , Odibat Zaid , Wang Xiong , Pham Viet-Thanh , Grassi Giuseppe , Alsaedi Ahmed
Published: February 2019

Synchronization and control in high dimensional spatial‐temporal systems have received increasing interest in recent years. In this paper, the problem of complete synchronization for reaction‐diffusion systems is investigated. Linear and nonlinear synchronization control schemes have been proposed to exhibit synchronization between coupled reaction‐diffusion systems. Synchronization behaviors of coupled Lengyel‐Epstein systems are obtained to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control techniques.
Deep Parotid Lobe Abscess Presenting with Dysphagia and Trismus
Authors: Grinnell Madison , Logeman Andrew , Knudsen Timothy , Sayed Zafar
Published: February 2019

An abscess of the deep parotid lobe is an uncommon complication of acute parotitis. Characterized by warm erythematous facial skin and ipsilateral cheek swelling, parotid abscesses have often been associated with decreased saliva production and immunodeficiency. We offer a case of a large deep parotid lobe abscess presenting similarly to a peritonsillar mass, causing significant odynophagia and difficulty swallowing. Computed tomography scan revealed an infected deep parotid lobe sialocele which was surgically drained transorally and treated expectantly with antibiotics.
Characterization of Warm Mix Agent and Its Influence on Properties of SBS-Modified Asphalt
Authors: Zhang Jiantong , Li Kai
Published: February 2019

Warm mix agent is the key factor to restrict the performance of warm mix asphalt. In this paper, methods of X-ray diffraction, thermal stability test, and laser particle size analysis were used to test and analyze the internal structure, composition, and properties of three kinds of warm mix agents. In order to study the performance impact of the warm mix agent on SBS-modified asphalt, the warm mix agents of Advera®, LTA synthetic zeolite, and 13X synthetic zeolite were added to SBS-modified asphalt in different contents. The three kinds of warm mix asphalt were tested by the experiments of softening point, penetration, and ductility to analyze their physical properties. The testing results showed that the softening point of three kinds of warm mix SBS-modified asphalt is greater than the softening point of SBS-modified asphalt without adding warm agents, which indicate the warm mix additives can improve the high-temperature stability of SBS-modified asphalt. The three kinds of the warm mix agent make SBS-modified asphalt hard, and the consistency and the ability of resisting deformation increase. The low temperature performance of SBS-modified asphalt decreased in different degrees with mixing different zeolite warm mix agents.
Study on Modification of Alkali-Free Liquid Accelerator of Mine-Used Wet-Mix Shotcrete
Authors: Lianjun Chen , Pengcheng Li , Gang Pan , Wenhui Bian
Published: February 2019

Compound properties of an alkali-free liquid accelerator are the mainstream of accelerator research and development in the present. Combined with the technical characteristics of wet-mix shotcrete in coal mines, organic high-polymer SWF is used to modify the accelerator because of improving the bond strength of the material and increasing the performance of antisagging. The mechanism of filling and thickening of SWF was analyzed from the aspects of pore characteristics and spatial structure of concrete. Through the determination of setting time, strength, and dispersibility, the optimum dose was determined, and a new style accelerator WIT-1 suitable for wet-mix shotcrete in coal mines was developed and applied on-site. The experimental results show that the addition of SWF increases the dispersibility of the accelerator product and the cohesiveness of concrete under the condition of ensuring strength and setting time, and the effect of modifying the accelerator to reduce the rebound of the wet-mix shotcrete is obvious.
A Survey on Vehicular Edge Computing: Architecture, Applications, Technical Issues, and Future Directions
Authors: Raza Salman , Wang Shangguang , Ahmed Manzoor , Anwar Muhammad Rizwan
Published: February 2019

A new networking paradigm, Vehicular Edge Computing (VEC), has been introduced in recent years to the vehicular network to augment its computing capacity. The ultimate challenge to fulfill the requirements of both communication and computation is increasingly prominent, with the advent of ever-growing modern vehicular applications. With the breakthrough of VEC, service providers directly host services in close proximity to smart vehicles for reducing latency and improving quality of service (QoS). This paper illustrates the VEC architecture, coupled with the concept of the smart vehicle, its services, communication, and applications. Moreover, we categorized all the technical issues in the VEC architecture and reviewed all the relevant and latest solutions. We also shed some light and pinpoint future research challenges. This article not only enables naive readers to get a better understanding of this latest research field but also gives new directions in the field of VEC to the other researchers.
Perspectives of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem-Cell Transplantation in Macular Hole Surgery: A Review of Current Findings
Authors: Nuzzi Raffaele , Tridico Federico
Published: February 2019

The main treatment available for idiopathic macular holes is represented by pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling. However, late-stage macular holes are affected by a higher risk of surgical failure. Although adjuvant techniques can be employed, a satisfactory functional recovery is difficult to achieve in refractory macular holes. Given their neuroprotective and antiapoptotic properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may represent an appealing approach to treat these extreme cases. The purpose of this review is to highlight the findings regarding healing mechanisms exerted by mesenchymal stem cells and preliminary application in cases of refractory macular holes. When compared with MSCs, MSC-derived exosomes may represent a feasible alternative, given their reduced risk of undesired proliferation and easiness of use.
Simulation and Analysis of the Complex Behavior of Supply Chain Inventory System Based on Third‐Party Logistics Management Inventory Model with No Accumulating of Unsatisfied Demand
Authors: Zhang Zusheng , Wang Xu , Guo Qianqian , Li Zhenrui , Wu Yingbo
Published: February 2019

Under the third‐party logistics management inventory model, the system dynamics method is used to establish a nonlinear supply chain system model with supply capacity limitation and nonpermissible return, which is based on unsatisfied demand nonaccumulation. The theory of singular value and the Jury Test are used to derive the stable interval of the model which is simplified. The Largest Lyapunov Exponent (LLE) of the system is calculated by the Wolf reconstruction method and used to analyze the influence of different parameters of system’s stability. Then, the most reasonable and unreasonable combination of decision parameters under different demand environment is found out. Next, this paper compared and analyzed the change of inventory or transportation volume of system members under the combination of rational and irrational decision parameters. All of these provided guidance for decision making, which shows an important practical significance.
The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Treating Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Yang Xinyu , He Tianmai , Han Songjie , Zhang Xiaoyu , Sun Yang , Xing Yanwei , Shang Hongcai
Published: February 2019

Oxidative stress has been closely related with coronary artery disease. In coronary heart disease (CHD), an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production generates endothelial cell and smooth muscle functional disorders, leading to a disequilibrium between the antioxidant capacity and prooxidants. ROS also leads to inflammatory signal activation and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, which can promote and increase the occurrence and development of CHD. There are several kinds of antioxidative and small molecular systems of antioxidants, such asβ-carotene, ascorbic acid,α-tocopherol, and reduced glutathione (GSH). Studies have shown that antioxidant treatment was effective and decreased the risk of CHD, but the effect of the treatment varies greatly. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been utilized for thousands of years in China and is becoming increasingly popular all over the world, especially for the treatments of cardiovascular diseases. This review will concentrate on the evidence of the action mechanism of TCM in preventing CHD by modulating oxidative stress-related signaling pathways.
A Prospective Randomized Trial to Assess the Antireflux Effect of Antireflux Mucosectomy in the Porcine Model
Authors: Li Xuan , Zhang Weifeng , Chen Meihong , Wei Shuchun , Zhao Xiangyang , Zhang Guoxin
Published: February 2019

Background. Both long-term proton pump inhibitor use and surgical fundoplication have potential drawbacks as treatments for chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our aim was to investigate the potential efficacy of antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS) in porcine and determine the optimal circumference of resection in relation to gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Methods. Nine pigs were allocated into the following 3 groups by computerized randomization: group A: control, group B: 1/3 circumference of the esophagus, and group C: 2/3 circumference of the esophagus. We performed mucosectomy with a crescentic mucosal resection at 3 cm above the GEJ and 1 cm below the GEJ. The animals were kept on a liquid diet for 24 h prior to endoscopy. At 6 weeks, animals underwent esophagoscopy, barium radiography, gastric yield pressure (GYP), and gastric yield volume (GYV) determination. Results. The weight of swines has no significant difference, and all pigs had maintained their weight after the procedure. We both found scar formation at the GEJ in group B and C. Compared with group A and B, group C produced significantly higher GYP (24.23±3.42 mmHg, p=0.004) and significantly smaller GYV (2200.0±238.96 mL, p=0.028) after 6 weeks. Barium radiography showed that the width of the cardia was narrower (13.73±1.19 mm, p=0.032) in group C after 6-week postprocedure. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated the potential antireflux effect of ARMS. We also recommend the 2/3 circumference resection of mucosa at 3 cm distance from the GEJ.
LoRa (Long-Range) High-Density Sensors for Internet of Things
Authors: Lavric Alexandru
Published: February 2019

Over the past few years, there has been a growing awareness regarding the concept of Internet of Things (IoT), which involves connecting to the Internet various objects surrounding us in everyday life. The main purpose of this concept closely connected to the smart city issue is increasing the quality of life by contributing to streamlining resource consumption and protecting the environment. The LoRa communication mechanism is a physical layer of the LoRaWAN protocol, defined by the LoRa Alliance. Compared to other existing technologies, LoRa is a modulation technique enabling the transfer of information over a range of tens of kilometers. The main contribution this paper brings to the field is analyzing the scalability of the LoRa technology and determining the maximum number of sensors which can be integrated into this type of monitoring and control architecture. The sensor architecture is specific to the smart city concept that involves the integration of a large number of high-density sensors distributed on a large-scale geographic area. The reason behind this study is the need to assess the scalability of the LoRa technology, taking into consideration other factors, such as the packet payload size, the duty circle parameter, the spreading factor, and the number of nodes. The experimental results reveal that the maximum number of LoRa sensors that can communicate on the same channel is 1,500; furthermore, in order to obtain a high performance level, it is necessary to schedule and plan the network as carefully as possible. The spreading factor must be allocated according to the distance at which the sensor is placed from the gateway.
Exploring Reasons for Low Attendance of Mothers to Growth Monitoring and Promotion Program at Loka Abaya District, Southern Ethiopia: Exploratory Qualitative Study
Authors: Tekle Mesfin , Tariku Befikadu , Alagaw Amsalu , Zerihun Eshetu , Bekele Habtamu Wondiye
Published: February 2019

Background. Different organizations in Ethiopia are currently working on prevention and promotion activities to fight malnutrition among children through a community-based nutrition program. One of these activities with little success is growth monitoring and promotion (GMP). Exploring the reason and better understanding of low attendance of mothers to the GMP program can help to improve the program by incorporating finding. The aim of the study was to explore reasons for low attendance to the GMP program among mothers of under-two children. Method. An exploratory qualitative study design was used to unearth reasons for low attendance of mothers with under-2-year-old child to the GMP program. In-depth interviews were carried out with 13 mothers. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis approach. Result. Mothers perceived that GMP is (meant) for unhealthy children (only). Again mothers mentioned community dishonor of mothers with wasted children and method of weighing a child as a community-related reason for low attendance to the GMP program. They also indicated that there was no community conversation and weak counseling of the mothers about child feeding and growth. Perception about “evil eye” was also indicated as a reason for lower attendance of the program. Conclusion. Mothers showed that there was lack of knowledge about GMP. Limited community conversation and weak counseling about child nutrition as a GMP program were explored reasons for low attendance. Other reasons mentioned by the mothers were consideration of “evil eye” and method of weighing a child. Further research is needed to explore the implementation of GMP by health workers and to evaluate the extent of the identified reasons for low attendance to the GMP program by the mother.
EMT: Ensemble Meta-Based Tree Model for Predicting Student Performance
Authors: Almasri Ammar , Celebi Erbug , Alkhawaldeh Rami S.
Published: February 2019

In recent decades, predicting the performance of students in the academic field has revealed the attention by researchers for enhancing the weaknesses and provides support for future students. In order to facilitate the task, educational data mining (EDM) techniques are utilized for constructing prediction models built from student academic historical records. These models present the embedded knowledge that is more readable and interpretable by humans. Hence, in this paper, the contributions are presented in three folds that include the following: (i) providing a thorough analysis about the selected features and their effects on the performance value using statistical analysis techniques, (ii) building and studying the performance of several classifiers from different families of machine learning (ML) techniques, (iii) proposing an ensemble meta-based tree model (EMT) classifier technique for predicting the student performance. The experimental results show that the EMT as the ensemble technique gained a high accuracy performance reaching 98.5% (or 0.985). In addition, the proposed EMT technique obtains a high performance, which is a superior result compared to the other techniques.
Comparison of Chromium and Iron Distribution in Serum and Urine among Healthy People and Prediabetes and Diabetes Patients
Authors: Zhou Qi , Guo Wenjia , Jia Yanan , Xu Jiancheng
Published: February 2019

The effect of chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) on prevalence of diabetes has received great attention. This study investigated serum and urinary Cr and Fe levels among patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Northeast Chinese population. From January 2010 to October 2011, patients with IFG (n=12), IGT (n=15), T1D (n=25), T2D (n=137) and healthy controls (n=50) were enrolled in the First Hospital of Jilin University. Trace elements were detected using an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. Serum Cr levels decreased in T2D without complications, diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and diabetic nephropathy (DN) (P<0.05). The urinary Cr level in T1D was the highest of all, which significantly exceeded those of the T2D groups with and without complications. No significant differences of serum Fe levels were found among all groups. The urinary Fe level of T1D was significantly increased (P<0.05). The correlation between serum Cr and serum Fe in T2D was obviously positive (P<0.05). One month of simvastatin therapy exerted no effects on serum or urinary Cr and Fe levels. These results suggest the potential role of Cr and Fe in diabetes should receive attention.
Can We Increase the Resection Rate by Minimally Invasive Approach? Experience from 100 Minimally Invasive Esophagectomies
Authors: Helminen Olli , Mrena Johanna , Sihvo Eero
Published: February 2019

Background. Whether we can increase the resection rate of esophageal cancer by minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is unknown. The aim was to report the number and results of MIE in high-risk patients considered unsuitable for open surgery and compare these results to other operated patients and to high-risk patients not undergoing surgery. Methods. At Central Finland Central Hospital, between September 2012 and July 2018, the number of operated MIEs was 100. Of these, 10 patients were prospectively considered unfit for open approach. Nineteen additional high-risk patients with operable disease were ruled out of surgery. The short- and long-term outcomes of these 3 groups were compared. Results. In patients eligible for any approach (n=90), MIE only (n=10), and no surgery (n=19), WHO performance status Grade 0 was observed in 66.7%, 20.0%, and 5.3%, respectively; stair climbing with ≥4 stairs was successfully completed in 77.8%, 50%, and 36.8%, respectively. Between any approach and MIE only groups, rate of major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3a) was 6.7% vs. 50.0% (p<0.001) without a difference in median hospital stay (9 vs. 10 days, p=0.542). Readmission rates were 4.4% vs. 30.0% (p=0.003). Survival rates were 100% vs. 80% (p<0.001) at 90-days, 91.5% vs. 66.7% (p=0.005) at 1-year, and 68.9% vs. 53.3% (p=0.024) at 3-years, respectively. In comparison between MIE only and no surgery groups, these survival rates from day of diagnosis were 80% vs. 100%, 68.6% vs. 67.1%, and 45.7% vs. 32.0% (p=0.290), respectively. Conclusions. By operating patients unsuitable for open approach with MIE, the resection rate increased 11.1%. These high-risk patients had, however, higher early morbidity and reduced long-term survival compared to other operated patients. Though there seems to be long-term benefit of surgery compared to nonsurgical patients, we have to be cautious when offering surgery to those considered unfit for open surgery.
Netrin Family: Role for Protein Isoforms in Cancer
Authors: Bruikman Caroline Suzanne , Zhang Huayu , Kemper Anneli Maite , van Gils Janine Maria
Published: February 2019

Netrins form a family of secreted and membrane-associated proteins. Netrins are involved in processes for axonal guidance, morphogenesis, and angiogenesis by regulating cell migration and survival. These processes are of special interest in tumor biology. From the netrin genes various isoforms are translated and regulated by alternative splicing. We review here the diversity of isoforms of the netrin family members and their known and potential roles in cancer.
Association of Ulcerative Colitis with FOXP3 Gene Polymorphisms and Its Colonic Expression in Chinese Patients
Authors: Xia Sheng-Long , Ying Shi-Jie , Lin Qian-Ru , Wang Xiao-Qi , Hong Wei-Jun , Lin Zi-Jian , Luo Jia-Kai , Jiang Yi
Published: February 2019

Abnormalities of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) are implicated in various autoimmune diseases. This study is aimed at investigating the association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with FOXP3 polymorphisms and its colonic expression in Chinese patients. Polymorphisms of rs3761548, rs2232365, rs2294021, and rs3761547 were examined in 472 UC patients and 525 healthy controls using the SNaPshot method. The colonic expression of FOXP3 mRNA and protein was assayed in inflammatory mucosa of 34 UC patients and normal mucosa of 36 patients with benign sigmoid polyps (normal controls) using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis. All data were handled separately for females and males. As a result, the carrier frequencies with at least one variant allele of rs3761548, rs2232365, and rs229402 increased in female and male UC patients compared with healthy controls. Significant differences in these carrier frequencies were also observed between patients with mild and moderate UC and patients with severe UC. The expression of FOXP3 was higher in UC patients (both males and females), especially those with severe UC, than in normal controls. The expression of FOXP3 was downregulated in UC patients having at least one variant allele compared with UC patients having no variant allele of rs3761548, rs2232365, and rs2294021. Male gender (β=−0.341), rs2294021 variation (β=−0.503), and severe UC (β=0.361) were independently related to the mRNA expression of FOXP3 in UC patients. Together, our findings indicated that FOXP3 (rs3761548, rs2232365, and rs2294021) variations increased the risk of UC and were associated with the lower colonic expression of FOXP3 in UC patients.
A Single Dose of Goji Berries Does Not Affect Postprandial Energy Expenditure and Substrate Oxidation in Healthy, Overweight Men
Authors: van den Driessche José J. , Plat Jogchum , Plasqui Guy , Mensink Ronald P.
Published: February 2019

Background and Aim. Increasing energy expenditure is an effective strategy for the prevention of obesity. In this respect, Lycium barbarum (goji berry) is of interest, as it has been shown to increase postprandial oxygen consumption. Although this suggests that energy expenditure was also increased, energy expenditure and substrate oxidation can only be assessed accurately when both oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production are measured. We therefore investigated the effects of a single dose of Lycium barbarum fruit on postprandial energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in a randomized, double-blind crossover trial. In addition, markers of lipid and glucose metabolism were measured. Methods. Seventeen healthy, overweight men received in a random order a meal containing 25 grams of dried Lycium barbarum fruit or a control meal matched for caloric content and macronutrient composition. Energy expenditure and the respiratory quotient were determined using indirect calorimetry before and up to 4 hours after meal intake. Blood was sampled before and after meal intake at regular intervals for analyses of plasma glucose, serum triacylglycerol, and free fatty acid concentrations. Results. Energy expenditure significantly increased after the Lycium barbarum and control meal, but no differences were found between the meals (p=0.217). Postprandial changes in respiratory quotient (p=0.719) and concentrations of glucose (p=0.663), triacylglycerol (p=0.391), and free fatty acids (p=0.287) were also not affected by Lycium barbarum intake. Conclusions. A single dose of Lycium barbarum does not affect postprandial energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and markers for lipid and glucose metabolism in healthy, overweight men.
Choriocarcinoma Syndrome: A Potentially Fatal Complication of Testicular Cancer
Authors: Zeitjian Vicken Sarkis , Arslan Waqas , Borja-Alvarez Andres , Amar Surabhi
Published: February 2019

Choriocarcinoma syndrome is a rare clinical entity with advanced, high volume choriocarcinomatous tumors and markedly elevated B-hCG (>50,000 IU/L). Recognition is important because the diagnosis of this syndrome identifies poor prognosis without mortality-proven management options. We present a case of a male in his twenties with metastatic choriocarcinoma who developed choriocarcinoma syndrome acutely after chemotherapy commencement. The patient deceased after hypoxic respiratory failure due to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage as a result of death of vascular tumors. While the prognosis for early diagnosis and treatment is excellent, the prognosis for late diagnosis is grim. Unfortunately, despite surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention, this syndrome has poor outcome.
Dynamic Regulation of Level Set Parameters Using 3D Convolutional Neural Network for Liver Tumor Segmentation
Authors: Deng Zhuofu , Guo Qingzhe , Zhu Zhiliang
Published: February 2019

Segmentation of liver tumors plays an important role in the choice of therapeutic strategies for liver disease and treatment monitoring. In this paper, we generalize the process of a level set with a novel algorithm of dynamic regulation to energy functional parameters. The presented method is fully automatic once the tumor has been detected. First, a 3D convolutional neural network with dense layers for classification is used to estimate current contour location relative to the tumor boundary. Second, the output 3D CNN probabilities can dynamically regulate parameters of the level set functional over the process of segmentation. Finally, for full automation, appropriate initializations and local window size are generated based on the current contour position probabilities. We demonstrate the proposed method on the dataset of MICCAI 2017 LiTS Challenge and 3DIRCADb that include low contrast and heterogeneous tumors as well as noisy images. To illustrate the strength of our method, we evaluated it against the state-of-the-art methods. Compared with the level set framework with fixed parameters, our method performed better significantly with an average DICE improvement of 0.15. We also analyzed a challenging dataset 3DIRCADb of tumors and obtained a competitive DICE of 0.85±0.06 with the proposed method.
Acoustooptic Diffraction of Three-Color Radiation on a Single Acoustic Wave
Authors: Kotov V. M. , Averin S. V.
Published: February 2019

Bragg diffraction which provides effective acoustooptic interaction of three-color radiation with a single acoustic wave at a high frequency of sound is proposed and tested in a single crystal of paratellurite at the wavelengths of λ= 0.488, 0.514, and 0.633 μm. Maximal diffraction efficiency of radiation with λ=0.633 μm at acoustic frequency of 150 MHz is 88% and that with λ= 0.488 μm and λ=0.514 μm is 60%. In diffraction efficiency range from 0 to 40% the dependence of all beams on acoustic power is the same.
Antileishmanial Evaluation of the Leaf Latex ofAloe macrocarpa, Aloin A/B, and Its Semisynthetic Derivatives against TwoLeishmaniaSpecies
Authors: Tewabe Yitagesu , Kefarge Belete , Belay Habtamu , Bisrat Daniel , Hailu Asrat , Asres Kaleab
Published: February 2019

The currently available antileishmanial drugs are either toxic or too expensive for routine use in developing countries where the disease is most common. Local people in the Somalia region of Ethiopia use the leaves ofAloe macrocarpaTodaro for the treatment of malaria, jaundice, and skin diseases. In our ongoing search for new, efficient, and safe antileishmanial drugs, we investigated the leaf latex ofAloe macrocarpaand its acid-hydrolyzed product aloin A/B (1), as well as the semisynthesized derivatives of aloin A/B, namely, aloe-emodin (2) and rhein (3) against promastigotes and axenically cultured amastigotes ofLeishmania aethiopicaandL. donovaniclinical isolates. Activity study was carried out based on the fluorescence characteristic of resazurin added to drug-treated cultures. Oxidative hydrolysis of aloin A/B by ferric chloride and concentrated hydrochloric acid afforded aloe-emodin (2), which was further oxidized using sodium nitrite and concentrated sulfuric acid to furnish rhein (3). Cytotoxicity study of test substances was performed against humanmonocyticcell lineTHP-1 usingAlamar Blue and cell viability was measured fluorometrically. The test compounds showed lower activity (IC50= 6.7 to 12.1μM for promastigotes and IC50= 3.6 to 10.2μM for axenic amastigotes) than the reference drug amphotericin B (IC50= 1.3 to 2.7μM). However, amphotericin B (LC50= 11.1μM) was much more toxic than the test compounds (LC50= 369.2 – 611.6μM) towards human monocytic cell line (THP-1) despite its efficiency. As demonstrated in the current study, high selectivity indices (SIs) of the test compounds represent a remarkable advantage over the reference drug and highlight their potential use as templates for further development of safe leishmanicidal drugs.
Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Microrobotics Applications of Polyvinyl Chloride- (PVC-) Based PANI/PEDOT: PSS/ZrP Composite Cation-Exchange Membrane
Authors: Ahamed Mohd Imran , Inamuddin  , Asiri Abdullah M. , Luqman Mohammad , Lutfullah
Published: February 2019

Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) zirconium(IV) phosphate (ZrP) based ionomeric membrane was prepared by a solution-casting method. Subsequently, aniline polymerization was carried out on the surface of the membrane by oxidative chemical polymerization. It was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis/differential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The membrane was also characterized by ion-exchange properties. The tip displacement investigation of the ionomeric membrane was also carried out. The outcomes demonstrated that the manufactured ionomeric membrane could produce generative strengths (tip powers), and consequently create good displacement. In this manner, the proposed ionomeric membrane was found proper for bending movement actuator that will give a successful and promising stage for smaller-scale mechanical applications.
Two-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Well-Dispersed (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 Spherical Powders
Authors: Shi Zhuo , Sun Lianlai , Liu Kun , Zhang Yingying , Wang Weiyuan , Jiang Wei
Published: February 2019

(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 (NBT) powders that have well-dispersed, uniform particle size and well-developed spherical shape were successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal synthesis method. Nanosized TiO2 powders were firstly synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and then the TiO2 particles are used as a raw material to synthesize NBT powders. It was found that by using the TiO2 nanoparticles as Ti source, the well-dispersed spherical NBT powders with about 200 nm in size could be obtained at 200°C for 4 h with a low mineralizer concentration of 6 mol/L NaOH in the second step. The formation of spherical NBT powders can be explained by first generating nuclei on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles via in situ crystallization mechanism and then crystal growing and agglomerating by dissolution-recrystallization mechanism.
A Novel Index Method for K Nearest Object Query over Time‐Dependent Road Networks
Authors: Yang Yajun , Li Hanxiao , Wang Junhu , Hu Qinghua , Wang Xin , Leng Muxi
Published: February 2019

K nearest neighbor (kNN) search is an important problem in  location-based services (LBS) and has been well studied on static road networks. However, in real world, road networks are often time‐dependent; i.e., the time for traveling through a road always changes over time. Most existing methods for kNN query build various indexes maintaining the shortest distances for some pairs of vertices on static road networks. Unfortunately, these methods cannot be used for the time‐dependent road networks because the shortest distances always change over time. To address the problem of kNN query on time‐dependent road networks, we propose a novel voronoi‐based index in this paper. Furthermore, we propose a novel balanced tree, named ‐, which is a secondary level index on voronoi‐based index to make our querying algorithm more efficient. Moreover, we propose an algorithm for preprocessing time‐dependent road networks such that the waiting time is not necessary to be considered. We confirm the efficiency of our method through experiments on real‐life datasets.
Impact of a Student-Led Rheumatology Interest Group on Medical Student Interest in Rheumatology
Authors: Silinsky Krupnikova Sonia , Brady Timothy , Sheppard Michael , LaCombe N. Andrew , Jones Derek , Shanmugam Victoria K.
Published: February 2019

Objectives. This observational study was designed to evaluate the impact of a student-led Rheumatology Interest Group on medical student interest in rheumatology. Methods. The mean numbers of student-rheumatology interactions per six months were assessed for elective enrollment, abstract submissions, and manuscripts, in the pre- and postinterest group period. Results. Enrollment in the rheumatology elective increased from 2.0 ± 0.36 per six months in the preintervention period to 6.2 ± 1.24 per six months in the postintervention period (p=0.0064). Abstract submissions increased from 0.5 ± 0.34 to 5.86 ± 1.49 (p=0.0077), and manuscript submissions from 0.16 ± 0.16 to 1.57 ± 0.37 (p=0.074). Conclusion. The Rheumatology Interest Group significantly increased medical student engagement in rheumatology.
Unexpected Tension Pneumothorax-Hemothorax during Induction of General Anaesthesia
Authors: Amaniti Ekaterini , Provitsaki Chrysoula , Papakonstantinou Panagiota , Tagarakis George , Sapalidis Konstantinos , Dalakakis Ioannis , Gkinas Dimitrios , Grosomanidis Vasilios
Published: February 2019

Tension pneumothorax during general anaesthesia is a rare but possibly deleterious event, especially where predisposing factors are absent or unknown, making diagnosis even challenging. We describe a case of a healthy middle-aged woman, who was planned to receive general anaesthesia for total thyroidectomy. After intubation, the patient experienced marked hypoxemia (SpO2=75%), hypotension, and tachycardia. Manual positive pressure ventilation seemed to worsen hypoxemia and tachycardia, while apnoeic oxygenation through circle system with valve open slightly improved cardiorespiratory collapse. The effect of positive ventilation, along with the absence of breath sounds in the right hemithorax and cardiorespiratory collapse, established the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax, managed immediately with emergency thoracentesis and placement of a thoracostomy tube. The patient was improved and pneumothorax was confirmed with chest X-ray and CT. The latter also confirmed the presence of bilateral multiple bullae. The operation was postponed and the patient was extubated a few hours later, in good condition. After thorough evaluation for any systemic disease, which was negative, the patient underwent two-stage thoracotomy for bullectomy.
On Moore‐Penrose Pseudoinverse Computation for Stiffness Matrices Resulting from Higher Order Approximation
Authors: Klimczak Marek , Cecot Witold
Published: February 2019

Computing the pseudoinverse of a matrix is an essential component of many computational methods. It arises in statistics, graphics, robotics, numerical modeling, and many more areas. Therefore, it is desirable to select reliable algorithms that can perform this operation efficiently and robustly. A demanding benchmark test for the pseudoinverse computation was introduced. The stiffness matrices for higher order approximation turned out to be such tough problems and therefore can serve as good benchmarks for algorithms of the pseudoinverse computation. It was found out that only one algorithm, out of five known from literature, enabled us to obtain acceptable results for the pseudoinverse of the proposed benchmark test.
Effective Approach for an Order-of-Magnitude-Accurate Evaluation of the Electron Mobility in Colloidal Quantum Dot Films
Authors: Gómez-Campos Francisco M. , Rodríguez-Bolívar Salvador , Califano Marco
Published: February 2019

Being able to estimate the electron mobility of colloidal quantum dot films is of great importance for determining their suitability to specific applications and would lead to huge savings in terms of time and resources that may otherwise be wasted trying to build and optimize a device whose transport characteristics can be predicted to be poor from the outset. This task is however complicated by the complexity of the system and the large number of parameters that can potentially affect the final result. Here, we derive a simple, fitting-parameter-free, order-of-magnitude-accurate expression to estimate the dark mobility of such 2D structures and validate it by applying it to real systems and comparing its predictions with those of other recently proposed approaches and with available experimental data. The results quantify the superiority of our expression to estimate mobilities in colloidal quantum dot films.