bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How can HPV-induced cervical cancer be controlled by a combination of drug therapy? A mathematical study
Authors: Chakraborty Sudip , Li Xue-Zhi , Roy Priti Kumar
Published: July 2019

This paper deals with a control strategy through impulsive drug treatment to study the effect of Chemotherapy and CTL activator drug to eradicate the cervical cancer. CTL kills the HPV infected cells and helps to prevent cervical cancer. Dendritic cell (DC) plays a crucial role in this disease dynamics in enhancing the activity of CTL. To explore these effects, we have formulated a mathematical model consisting of six compartments to describe the interactions between HPV and three classes of cervical cells (susceptible, infected, cancerous), with DC and CTL. Calculating the basic reproduction ratio, we find that there exists a disease-free equilibrium point and an endemic equilibrium point. In our study, we have shown that though DC enhances the activity of CTL, it is not sufficient to eradicate the disease totally. How we could restrict the cancer development by using double drug in an impulsive way with particular drug doses is being reflected in the results. To illustrate our results, numerical simulations are also presented.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and its applications in skin cancer diagnosis
Authors: Liu Lixin , Yang Qianqian , Zhang Meiling , Wu Zhaoqing , Xue Ping
Published: July 2019

Fluorescence lifetime (FLT) of fluorophores is sensitive to the changes in their surrounding microenvironment, and hence it can quantitatively reveal the physiological characterization of the tissue under investigation. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) provides not only morphological but also functional information of the tissue by producing spatially resolved image of fluorophore lifetime, which can be used as a signature of disorder and/or malignancy in diseased tissues. In this paper, we begin by introducing the basic principle and common detection methods of FLIM. Then the recent advances in the FLIM-based diagnosis of three different skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma (MM) are reviewed. Furthermore, the potential advantages of FLIM in skin cancer diagnosis and the challenges that may be faced in the future are prospected.
Feasibility Study of a Multi-Purpose Aircraft Concept with a Leading-Edge Embedded Cross-Flow Fan
Authors: Karpuk Stanislav , Gudmundsson Snorri , Golubev Vladimir
Published: July 2019

The research presented focuses on investigating the use of Cross-Flow Fan (CFF) as a high-lift device for a Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. The wing-embedded fan performance analysis is mostly addressed from an aerodynamic perspective and focuses on using such Active Flow Control (AFC) technology in the conceptual aircraft design process. In particular, the design trade study of an aircraft featuring the fan as a high-lift device applied to a conceptual design of a medium-range multi-purpose aircraft is performed. A sensitivity analysis is employed to investigate the impact of the technology on the aircraft weight, aerodynamics, stability and control, and fight performance. The aircraft design modifications are introduced to maximize the aircraft mission performance given the fan specifications and constraints. Results indicate a reduction of the take-of field length by 18% with the payload penalty of 14%. The aircraft ferry range is also decreased by 7% compared to the baseline aircraft design. The scaling analysis of the aircraft concept is performed to determine the potential market for such technology. The results show that a light General Aviation (GA) airplane or a medium-large size Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) could benefit more from the wing-embedded CFF compared to more heavy airplanes.
LipoFNT: Lipoylation Sites Identification with Flexible Neural Tree
Authors: Bao Wenzheng , Yang Bin , Bao Rong , Chen Yuehui
Published: July 2019

Lysine lipoylation is a special type of posttranslational modification in both prokaryotes’ and eukaryotes’ proteomics researches. Such a modification takes part in several significant biological processions and plays a key role in the cellular level. In order to construct and design an accurate classification algorithm for identifying lipoylation sites in the protein level, the computational approaches should be taken into account in this field. Meanwhile, several factors plays different role in the identification of modification sites. Considering such a situation, the foundational elements of the effective identification of modification sites are the available feature description and the high effective classification. With these two elements, the distinguishing between the lipoylation samples and the nonlipoylation samples can be treated as a typical classification issue in the field of machine learning. In this work, we have proposed a method named LipoFNT, which employed the two featuring sets, including the Position‐Specific Scoring Matrix and bi‐profile Bayesian, as the classification features. And then, the flexible neural tree algorithm is utilized to deal with the imbalance classification issue in lipoylation modification sample dataset. The proposed method can achieve 81.07% in sn%, 80.29% in sp, 80.68% in Acc, 0.8076 in F1, and 0.6136 in MCC, respectively. Meanwhile, we have demonstrated the relationship between the lengths of peptide and identification of modification sites.
A Rare Case of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis due to Florida Red Tide
Authors: Reddy Raju , Verma Nupur , Mohammed Tan-Lucien
Published: July 2019

Florida red tides occur annually due to proliferation of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which produces neurotoxins known as brevotoxins. Inhalational exposure to brevotoxins usually results in upper airway symptoms only. Rarely does exposure lead to lower respiratory tract symptoms as in our case. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who presented with a 4-week history of dyspnea after exposure to the red tide. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities and interstitial thickening. Bronchoalveolar lavage cultures and cytology were negative. The patient was started on steroids. Over the next few weeks, the patient’s symptoms resolved. Repeat CT chest showed complete resolution of the ground glass opacities. Steroids were then tapered. Most patients who are exposed to algal blooms have self-limiting symptoms. Patients with asthma are particularly susceptible to worsening respiratory symptoms after exposure to brevotoxin aerosols. This case highlights that, in rare cases, exposure to red tide can results in severe lower respiratory tract symptoms.
Climate Change Characteristics of Extreme Temperature in the Minjiang River Basin
Authors: Chen Ting , Ao Tianqi , Zhang Xu , Li Xiaodong , Yang Kebi
Published: July 2019

Based on the daily temperature data from 26 meteorological stations in the Minjiang River Basin, for 1961 to 2016, the temporal trend and spatial distribution of extreme temperature in this region were analyzed using 16 extreme temperature indices. The results show that in terms of time variation, determined using linear trend analysis and a Mann–Kendall trend test, the warm and day indices mainly show an upward trend while the cold and night indices mainly show a downward trend in the entire basin. Among them, FD0, TN10, and CSDI significantly decrease at −1.3, −2.9, and −1.1 d/10a, respectively. TN90, TX90, SU25, and TR20 significantly increase at 3.0, 2.6, 2.1, and 2.2 d/10a, respectively. The crop growth period in the basin showed a significant increasing trend at 1.4 days/decade, while the diurnal temperature range showed a nonsignificant increasing trend at 0.03 days/decade. On comparing the change range of each index, it was found that the change range of the warm index is greater than that of the cold index, while the change range of the day index is smaller than that of the night index; thus, the change trends of the maximum and minimum temperatures in the whole basin are not obvious. Analysis of the changing trend at each station showed that the relative index of the extreme temperature in the basin has good climatic consistency in terms of spatial distribution. The distributions of the absolute and extreme indices are not uniform, which is consistent with the change in elevation in the basin. Further, the diurnal temperature range in the upper reaches of the basin is greater than that in the middle and lower reaches. However, because of the more obvious upward trends of the day and warm indices in the middle and lower reaches, and the more obvious downward trends of the night and cold indices in the upper reaches, the daily temperature differences in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Minjiang River Basin tend to be consistent. Therefore, the precipitation in the Minjiang River Basin shows a significant decreasing trend; thus, the basin shows a trend of drying and warming.
A Real-Time Fire Detection Method from Video with Multifeature Fusion
Authors: Gong Faming , Li Chuantao , Gong Wenjuan , Li Xin , Yuan Xiangbing , Ma Yuhui , Song Tao
Published: July 2019

The threat to people’s lives and property posed by fires has become increasingly serious. To address the problem of a high false alarm rate in traditional fire detection, an innovative detection method based on multifeature fusion of flame is proposed. First, we combined the motion detection and color detection of the flame as the fire preprocessing stage. This method saves a lot of computation time in screening the fire candidate pixels. Second, although the flame is irregular, it has a certain similarity in the sequence of the image. According to this feature, a novel algorithm of flame centroid stabilization based on spatiotemporal relation is proposed, and we calculated the centroid of the flame region of each frame of the image and added the temporal information to obtain the spatiotemporal information of the flame centroid. Then, we extracted features including spatial variability, shape variability, and area variability of the flame to improve the accuracy of recognition. Finally, we used support vector machine for training, completed the analysis of candidate fire images, and achieved automatic fire monitoring. Experimental results showed that the proposed method could improve the accuracy and reduce the false alarm rate compared with a state-of-the-art technique. The method can be applied to real-time camera monitoring systems, such as home security, forest fire alarms, and commercial monitoring.
Load Identification Method Based on Interval Analysis and Tikhonov Regularization and Its Application
Authors: Liu Chunsheng , Ren Chunping , Wang Nengjian
Published: July 2019

In order to study the dynamic force identification method of an end-plate pick of shearer, a dynamic force identification technique based on interval theory was proposed. The dynamic force interval identification model is established by describing and quantifying the identified parameters. By using the interval analysis method of the first-order Taylor expansion, the dynamic force identification is transformed into two kinds of deterministic inverse problems at the midpoint of the uncertain parameter and its gradient identification. The Tikhonov regularization method is used to solve two kinds of deterministic problems, and the upper and lower boundaries of dynamic force of the end-plate pick are determined. The results show that the deviations between the identified dynamic force and the actual dynamic force are basically within 2% and 5%, and the average uncertainties are up to 7% and 10%. Therefore, the proposed method can effectively determine the upper and lower boundaries of dynamic force of the end-plate pick, improve the solving efficiency, and provide a new research method for studying the coal rock mechanism of the pick cutting load.
Immunopathology of Airway Surface Liquid Dehydration Disease
Authors: Lewis Brandon W. , Patial Sonika , Saini Yogesh
Published: July 2019

The primary purpose of pulmonary ventilation is to supply oxygen (O2) for sustained aerobic respiration in multicellular organisms. However, a plethora of abiotic insults and airborne pathogens present in the environment are occasionally introduced into the airspaces during inhalation, which could be detrimental to the structural integrity and functioning of the respiratory system. Multiple layers of host defense act in concert to eliminate unwanted constituents from the airspaces. In particular, the mucociliary escalator provides an effective mechanism for the continuous removal of inhaled insults including pathogens. Defects in the functioning of the mucociliary escalator compromise the mucociliary clearance (MCC) of inhaled pathogens, which favors microbial lung infection. Defective MCC is often associated with airway mucoobstruction, increased occurrence of respiratory infections, and progressive decrease in lung function in mucoobstructive lung diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF). In this disease, a mutation in thecystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) gene results in dehydration of the airway surface liquid (ASL) layer. Several mice models ofCftrmutation have been developed; however, none of these models recapitulate human CF-like mucoobstructive lung disease. As an alternative, theScnn1btransgenic (Scnn1b-Tg+) mouse model overexpressing a transgene encodingsodium channel nonvoltage-gated 1,beta subunit(Scnn1b) in airway club cells is available. TheScnn1b-Tg+ mouse model exhibits airway surface liquid (ASL) dehydration, impaired MCC, increased mucus production, and early spontaneous pulmonary bacterial infections. High morbidity and mortality among mucoobstructive disease patients, high economic and health burden, and lack of scientific understanding of the progression of mucoobstruction warrants in-depth investigation of the cause of mucoobstruction in mucoobstructive disease models. In this review, we will summarize published literature on theScnn1b-Tg+ mouse and analyze various unanswered questions on the initiation and progression of mucobstruction and bacterial infections.
Investigations on Amphoteric Chitosan/TiO2 Bionanocomposites for Application in Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic Degradation
Authors: Bahal M. , Kaur N. , Sharotri Nidhi , Sud Dhiraj
Published: July 2019

The present investigation reports the greener synthesis and characterization of novel acrylic acid grafted amphoteric chitosan/TiO2 (CAT) bionanocomposites using ultrasonic radiations. This was done by grafting of acrylic acid onto chitosan in the presence of potassium persulfate by free radical polymerization reaction. The uniform distribution of metal oxide in CA/TiO2 nanocomposites was achieved on grafted acrylic acid/chitosan which contains a weak anionic group (-COOH) using ultrasonication technique. Physiochemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize synthesized CAT. Nanocomposite CAT was applied for degradation of industrial dye. Malachite green (MG) often presents in the waste waters. The degradation kinetics were studied by monitoring the photocatalytic reaction for degradation of MG under visible light, and the rate constant of the reaction was found to be 7.13x10−3min−1. The current research work opens vistas for the new dimensions in the area of water treatment by solving the issues related to degradation reaction efficiency in visible light and cost effectiveness.
Reducing Xerostomia by Comprehensive Protection of Salivary Glands in Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy with Helical Tomotherapy Technique for Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Teng Feng , Fan Wenjun , Luo Yanrong , Ju Zhongjian , Gong Hanshun , Ge Ruigang , Tong Fang , Zhang Xinxin , Ma Lin
Published: July 2019

Objective. This study aimed to analyze the effects of comprehensive protection of bilateral parotid glands (PG-T), contralateral submandibular gland (cSMG), and accessory salivary glands in the oral cavity (OC) by helical tomotherapy for head-and-neck cancer patients. Methods. Totally 175 patients with histologically confirmed head-and-neck cancer treated with helical tomotherapy were recruited. The doses delivered to PG-T, cSMG, and OC were constrained to be as low as possible in treatment planning. The saliva flow rates and xerostomia questionnaire were evaluated. Correlation between xerostomia and other clinical factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate models. The impact of salivary gland dose on locoregional (LR) recurrence was assessed by Cox analysis. ROC curve was used to determine the threshold of mean dose for each gland. Results. The median follow-up was 25 (19–36) months. The OC mean dose, PG-T mean dose, cSMG mean dose, age, clinical stage (II and III versus IV), and both unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rates were significantly correlated with xerostomia. The OC mean dose, cSMG mean dose, age, and clinical stage were predictors of xerostomia after adjusting PG-T mean dose, and unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rates. Xerostomia was significantly decreased when the mean doses of PG-T, cSMG, and OC were kept below 29.12Gy, 29.29Gy, and 31.44Gy, respectively. At 18 months after radiation therapy, early LR recurrence rate was only 4%. Conclusion. Comprehensive protection of salivary glands minimized xerostomia in head-and-neck cancer patients treated by helical tomotherapy, without increasing early LR recurrence risk.
Effect of Ap-Index of Geomagnetic Activity on S&P 500 Stock Market Return
Authors: Peng Lifang , Li Ning , Pan Jingwen
Published: July 2019

Geomagnetic activity with global influence is an essential object of space weather research and is a significant link in the section of the solar wind-magnetospheric coupling process. Research so far provides strong evidence that geomagnetic activity affects stock investment decisions by influencing human health, mood, and human behaviours. Therefore, this research investigates the empirical association between geomagnetic activity and stock market return. Overall, we find that geomagnetic activity exerts a negative influence on the return of the US stock market. Further, market liquidity effectively magnifies the effect of geomagnetic activity. Inconsistent with previous literature, this effect is not mainly caused by the semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity. Our research contributes to the introduction of geomagnetic indices to financial economics studies on the impact of geomagnetic activity influence on stock market return.
Potential of Microbial Diversity of Coastal Sand Dunes: Need for Exploration in Odisha Coast of India
Authors: Nayak Shubhransu , Behera Satyaranjan , Dash Prasad Kumar
Published: July 2019

Coastal sand dunes are hips and strips formed by sand particles which are eroded and ground rock, derived from terrestrial and oceanic sources. This is considered as a specialized ecosystem characterized by conditions which are hostile for life forms like high salt, low moisture, and low organic matter content. However, dunes are also inhabited by diverse groups of flora, fauna, and microorganisms specifically adapted to these situations. Microbial groups like fungi, bacteria, and actinobacteria are quite abundant in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and inside plants which are very much essential for the integration of dunes. Microorganisms in this ecosystem have been found to produce a number of bioactive metabolites which are of great importance to agriculture and industries. Many species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobia associated with the roots of dune flora are prolific producers of plant growth promoting biochemicals like indole acetic acid. In addition to that bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas sp., Gammaproteobacteria have been found to have antagonistic activity towards plant pathogens like Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Botrytis cinerea. Many neutrophilic and alkaliphilic eubacterial species, endophytic fungi from dunes have proved their ability for the production of extracellular enzymes like cellulase, pectinase, amylase, protease, tannase, chitinase, etc., which are of great importance to various industries. In this context, it is relevant to observe that the state of Odisha in India has a 480km long coast having numerous sand dunes. These dunes are rich in floral and faunal diversity. However, a comprehensive study is yet to be taken up to explore the microbial diversity and their bioactive potential in this region. The current review sheds light on the enormous potential of sand dune microorganisms in the coast and surfaced the idea and need for such exploration in the state of Odisha, India.
A State Feedback Controller Based on GCC Algorithm against Wind‐Induced Motion for High‐Rise Buildings with Parametric Uncertainties
Authors: Li Zuohua , Chen Chaojun , Teng Jun , Dong Junkai , Lin Beichun
Published: July 2019

High‐rise buildings with an active mass damper/driver (AMD) system generally use a simplified mathematical model. The result leads to parametric uncertainties including the stiffness and mass variations exist, and the accuracy of its controller is seriously affected. In view of the above uncertainties, based on a Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, a state feedback controller based on the guaranteed cost control (GCC) algorithm is proposed in this paper. A ten‐storey frame with an AMD system is taken as a numerical example, and its control effect and AMD parameters are viewed as the control indexes. The performance of the proposed robust controller is compared with a conventional controller based on the classical LQR algorithm. The analysis results show that the new controller effectively suppresses the dynamic responses of high‐rise buildings with parametric uncertainties and keeps the AMD parameters stable. Finally, a four‐storey steel experimental frame with an AMD system is used to verify the correctness of the conclusions.
Hemodynamic and Lesion Characteristics Associated with Discordance between the Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio and Fractional Flow Reserve
Authors: Arashi Hiroyuki , Satomi Natsuko , Ishida Issei , Soontorndhada Kanintorn , Ebihara Suguru , Tanaka Kazuki , Otsuki Hisao , Nakao Masashi , Jujo Kentaro , Yamaguchi Junichi , Hagiwara Nobuhisa
Published: July 2019

Background. The instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is an invasive coronary physiological index that is not inferior to fractional flow reserve- (FFR-) guided revascularization. The indexes of iFR and FFR are similar and closely correlated, but there are a few key differences. Previous studies suggested that patient characteristics and lesion severity could induce discordance between iFR and FFR. This study aimed to clarify the hemodynamics and lesion characteristics that influence discordance between iFR and FFR. Methods. In this retrospective study, we enrolled 225 patients (304 lesions) who underwent clinically indicated invasive coronary angiography and both iFR and FFR examinations between 2012 and 2017. We included only patients who underwent right heart catheterization and had blood pressure and heart rates recorded immediately prior to iFR and FFR. Results. Discordance (iFR ≤0.89 and FFR >0.8 or iFR >0.89 and FFR ≤0.8) was observed in 80 lesions (26.3%). The heart rate, rate-pressure product, and cardiac index tended to be higher in the iFR ≤0.89 group than in the iFR >0.89 group. These trends were not seen between the FFR ≤0.8 group and FFR >0.8 group. A multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of iFR ≤0.89 and FFR >0.8 discordance were female sex and higher rate-pressure product. iFR >0.89 and FFR ≤0.8 discordance was rare in hemodialysis patients. Conclusion. Even if iFR is functionally significant in intermediate stenosis, additional FFR evaluations should be considered for women, especially those with a high rate-pressure product, to avoid unnecessary percutaneous coronary intervention. If iFR is not functionally significant with intermediate stenosis in hemodialysis patients, then further FFR evaluations are unnecessary.
Driving Fatigue Detection from EEG Using a Modified PCANet Method
Authors: Ma Yuliang , Chen Bin , Li Rihui , Wang Chushan , Wang Jun , She Qingshan , Luo Zhizeng , Zhang Yingchun
Published: July 2019

The rapid development of the automotive industry has brought great convenience to our life, which also leads to a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic accidents. A large proportion of traffic accidents were caused by driving fatigue. EEG is considered as a direct, effective, and promising modality to detect driving fatigue. In this study, we presented a novel feature extraction strategy based on a deep learning model to achieve high classification accuracy and efficiency in using EEG for driving fatigue detection. EEG signals were recorded from six healthy volunteers in a simulated driving experiment. The feature extraction strategy was developed by integrating the principal component analysis (PCA) and a deep learning model called PCA network (PCANet). In particular, the principal component analysis (PCA) was used to preprocess EEG data to reduce its dimension in order to overcome the limitation of dimension explosion caused by PCANet, making this approach feasible for EEG-based driving fatigue detection. Results demonstrated high and robust performance of the proposed modified PCANet method with classification accuracy up to 95%, which outperformed the conventional feature extraction strategies in the field. We also identified that the parietal and occipital lobes of the brain were strongly associated with driving fatigue. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to practically apply the modified PCANet technique for EEG-based driving fatigue detection.
Macrophages Are Key Regulators of Stem Cells during Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Diseases
Authors: Dort Junio , Fabre Paul , Molina Thomas , Dumont Nicolas A.
Published: July 2019

Muscle regeneration is a closely regulated process that involves a variety of cell types such as satellite cells, myofibers, fibroadipogenic progenitors, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells. Among these different cell types, macrophages emerged as a central actor coordinating the different cellular interactions and biological processes. Particularly, the transition of macrophages from their proinflammatory to their anti-inflammatory phenotype was shown to regulate inflammation, myogenesis, fibrosis, vascularization, and return to homeostasis. On the other hand, deregulation of macrophage accumulation or polarization in chronic degenerative muscle disorders was shown to impair muscle regeneration. Considering the key roles of macrophages in skeletal muscle, they represent an attractive target for new therapeutic approaches aiming at mitigating various muscle disorders. This review aims at summarizing the novel insights into macrophage heterogeneity, plasticity, and functions in skeletal muscle homeostasis, regeneration, and disease.
Community Contribution to Tuberculosis Care in the Krachi West District of Ghana: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Addy Samuel Agbenyegah , Osei Eric , Komesuor Joyce , Acquah Evelyn , Anku Prince Justin , Tarkang Elvis Enowbeyang , Saah Farrukh Ishaque , Amu Hubert
Published: July 2019

Background. Eradicating tuberculosis (TB) is one of the targets of the recently constituted Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Three. In the light of limitations inherent in prevailing tuberculosis care and the global urgency to improve TB care, decentralising TB care beyond health facilities by harnessing the contribution of communities is essential in ensuring effective tuberculosis care. In this paper, we explored community contribution to TB care in the Krachi West District of Ghana. Methods. In this qualitative study, 24 TB stakeholders made up of 7 health workers, 9 tuberculosis patients, 4 community health volunteers, 2 treatment supporters, and 2 opinion leaders were interviewed. Data collected were analysed manually, but thematically. Statements of the participants were presented as quotes to substantiate issues discussed. Results. Community contribution to TB care was low. Most of the community members were not aware of any community level activity towards tuberculosis care. Though patients were mainly the ones responsible for the selection of their treatment supporters, there were instances where health workers selected supporters for them without their consent. Some treatment supporters were also not given any education concerning their roles in supporting their patients, resulting in some patients defaulting treatment and others taking their medications wrongfully. Conclusion. Our study revealed low community involvement in tuberculosis care in the Krachi West District of Ghana. Community sensitisation on the World Health Organisation’s Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (which Ghana adopted in 1994) to increase community involvement in tuberculosis activities is, therefore, recommended.
Evaluation of the Biological Effects of Lyophilized Hydrophilic Extract of Rhus coriaria on Myeloperoxidase (MPO) Activity, Wound Healing, and Microbial Infections of Skin Wound Tissues
Authors: Gabr Sami A. , Alghadir Ahmad H.
Published: July 2019

Impaired wound healing was mainly associated with severe microbial infections which significantly affect diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Thus, in this study, the potential wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity of an aqueous extract of Rhus coriaria extract (AERc) were evaluated by wound contraction, scar formation, period of epithelization, MPO enzyme activity, collagenase-2 (MMP-8), hydroxyproline (HPX), and collagen deposition as markers of wound healing at different days of postwound. Phytoconstituents, microbial activity, and fibrogenic markers were screened by HPLC, disc-diffusion, and colorimetric assays. The animals were treated with Rhus coriaria extract (AERc) concentrations at doses of 5 mg.kg−1and 10 mg.kg−1, respectively. On days 6 and 9, the AERc-treated animals at doses of 5 mg.mL−1 and 10 mg.mL−1 exhibited a significant reduction in the wound area, increased deposition of collagen, HPX, and reduction in MMP-8, and MPO enzyme activity when compared with controls. Scar formation and epithelization were completed in 10 days compared to controls. In addition, in wounds infected separately with Staph. aureus or P. aeruginosa, the AERc extract significantly improved wound contraction, deposition of collagen, and HPx and reduced MMP-8 and MPO concentrations, with complete epithelization of wounds in 10-13 days compared to the saline-treated group. Hydrolyzable tannins, gallic acid, quercetin, and myricetin were the most common active components of AERc. In vitro, the AERc and its components were effective against a set of microbes especially Staph. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Staph. aureus (MRSA). In conclusion, the results showed that antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of Rhus coriaria extract suggested its importance as a target for formulation of novel drugs against many microbial infections with minimal side effects and could play a good potential role in accelerating wound healing activity via promoting myofibroblast activity, increase of hydroxyproline and collagen deposition, and regulation of MMP-8 and MPO enzyme activities.
Simulation Study on Friction and Wear Law of Brake Pad in High‐Power Disc Brake
Authors: Zhang S. , Hao Q. , Liu Y. , Jin L. , Ma F. , Sha Z. , Yang D.
Published: July 2019

For the serious and uneven wear of the brake pad in the high‐power disc brake during braking, the dynamic variation of the brake disc and the brake pad interface variable is considered, the wear calculation model is established based on the friction and wear mechanism, and the wear depth and volume of the brake pad can be calculated by equations. A finite element model of the brake disc and the brake pad is established by DEFORM software which can analyze wear of the brake pad directly. The variation trend of wear during braking is studied, and influences of braking load and initial braking speed on the wear are analyzed. The results show that the amount of the wear increases rapidly in the early wear stage of braking, and it becomes slow in the later stage; the wear of the brake pad is serious at the friction inlet and outlet, and the middle area of the brake pad is lightly worn; heavy braking load and high initial braking speed can exacerbate the wear of the brake pad.
Existence and Global Exponential Stability of Almost Automorphic Solution for Clifford‐Valued High‐Order Hopfield Neural Networks with Leakage Delays
Authors: Li Bing , Li Yongkun
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we study the existence and global exponential stability of almost automorphic solutions for Clifford‐valued high‐order Hopfield neural networks by direct method. That is to say, we do not decompose the systems under consideration into real‐valued systems, but we directly study Clifford‐valued systems. Our methods and results are new. Finally, an example is given to illustrate our main results.
Visualization of Component Status Information of Prefabricated Concrete Building Based on Building Information Modeling and Radio Frequency Identification: A Case Study in China
Authors: Ma Guofeng , Jiang Jun , Shang Shanshan
Published: July 2019

In view of the problems such as the basic properties, usage, and location of prefabricated concrete building components, which are easy to be omitted, missed, and difficult to query in the field management, this study introduces building information modeling (BIM) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies to visualize the state information of prefabricated concrete components, such as component type, manufacturer, location, and temperature. In the design stage, a new RFID family can be built in the actual model in order to solve the lack of definition of RFID family through the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) standard, and the databases of BIM and RFID can be connected with C# language, realizing the effective integration of the two engineering technologies. In the application stage, through the secondary development of Revit, the information connection between PC terminal and RFID equipment is completed, and the component data collected by RFID tags are transmitted to the BIM model to realize the integration and visualization of prefabricated component state information. In this study, the traceability of prefabricated components of prefabricated concrete buildings can be improved, providing a basis for quality responsibility tracking in the later period, reducing unnecessary waste of human and material resources and helping to maximize economic benefits.
Imaging Internal Defects with Synthetic and Experimental Data
Authors: Zhou Hongwei , Hu Guanghui , Ma Ling
Published: July 2019

This work concerns an inverse time-dependent electromagnetic scattering problem of imaging internal defects in a homogeneous isotropic medium. The position and cross section of the defects are detected by transient electromagnetic pulses in the case of TE polarization. We apply the Kirchhoff migration scheme to locate the position of small objects from both synthetic and experimental data. The multiple-input-multiple-out scheme is used to recover extended scatterers from the data generated by the software GprMax. Numerical experiments show that the Kirchhoff migration method is not only efficient but also robust with respect to polluted data at high noise levels. Experimental results show good quantitative agreement with numerical simulations.
Qualitative and Quantitative Microbiological Studies of Paediatric Artemether-Lumefantrine Dry Powders and Paracetamol Syrups Obtained from Selected Drug Stores in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Opoku Solomon , Nyanor Isaac
Published: July 2019

Infants and children under five years generally have high susceptibility to pathogenic and opportunistic infections due to immaturity and inexperience of their immune responses. The lives of these young children are threatened when they consume pharmaceutical preparations of poor microbiological quality. Considering the widespread use of artemether-lumefantrine dry powder and paracetamol syrup among the general population in Ghana, there is a need to investigate the microbiological quality and safety of these paediatric pharmaceutical preparations. The study investigated the microbiological quality of 180 samples comprising 90 artemether-lumefantrine dry powders and 90 paracetamol syrups. The samples were tested for presence of specified indicator pathogens, Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC), and Total Yeasts and Moulds Count (TYMC) using compendial procedures. Results from the study indicated that 16 (17.78%) of the paracetamol syrup samples showed bioburden levels above United States Pharmacopeia (USP) maximum acceptable limit, but none of the artemether-lumefantrine dry powder samples recorded microbial load above the limit of USP. Four samples of paracetamol syrup and 4 samples of artemether-lumefantrine dry powder showed presence of P. aeruginosa, whereas 5 samples of paracetamol syrup were found to be contaminated with Salmonella spp. Overall, 4.44% of the artemether-lumefantrine dry powders and 25.56% of the paracetamol syrups were found to be noncompliant with USP specifications for nonsterile pharmaceutical preparations for oral use. This study has revealed the existence of substandard paediatric pharmaceutical products in the Ghanaian market, hence the need for regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring and postmarketing surveillance programmes to help get rid of these products from the market.
Acute Epiploic Appendagitis: A Nonsurgical Abdominal Pain
Authors: Di Serafino Marco , Iacobellis Francesca , Trovato Piero , Stavolo Ciro , Brillantino Antonio , Pinto Antonio , Romano Luigia
Published: July 2019

Epiploic appendagitis is a relatively rare disease characterized by an inflammation of fat-filled serosal outpouchings of the large intestine, called epiploic appendices. Diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis is made challenging by the lack of pathognomonic clinical features and should therefore be considered as a potential diagnosis by exclusion first of all with appendicitis or diverticulitis which are the most important causes of lower abdominal pain. Currently, with the increasing use of ultrasound and computed tomography in the evaluation of acute abdominal pain, epiploic appendagitis can be diagnosed by characteristic diagnostic imaging features. We present a case of epiploic appendagitis with objective of increasing knowledge of this disease and its diagnostic imaging findings, in order to reduce harmful and unnecessary surgical interventions.
Polymorphisms in NLRP1 Gene Are Associated with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Xia Ying , Liu Yue , Wang Yanfei , Luo Shuoming , Lin Jian , Huang Gan , Li Xia , Xie Zhiguo , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: July 2019

Objective. The aim of this study was to clarify the association of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs11651270 and rs2670660) in the NLRP1 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 1) gene with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Chinese Han population. We hypothesize that mutations in the NLRP1 gene may affect the susceptibility to T1D. Materials and Methods. A case control study was designed, and participants fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of classical T1D as well as nondiabetic controls were enrolled in the study. The polymorphisms rs11651270 and rs2670660 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were performed to compare the distributions of the allele and genotype between cases and controls. Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA was used to compare the characteristics of different genotypes in participants with T1D. Results. A total of 510 participants with classical T1D as well as 531 nondiabetic controls were enrolled in the study. The two groups were matched in sex (p=0.418). The age (p<0.001) and BMI (p<0.001) were significantly lower in cases compared to controls. Significantly higher values were observed for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p<0.001) and 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) (p<0.001) in individuals with T1D. Regarding the allelic model, the minor allele C of rs11651270 was significantly associated with lower risk of T1D compared with the T allele (OR=0.714, 95% CI=0.579-0.882). Both rs11651270 and rs2670660 polymorphisms were associated with T1D in the Chinese Han population under a dominant model (OR=0.648, 95% CI=0.503-0.834 and OR=0.716, 95% CI=0.549-0.934, respectively) and an overdominant model (OR=0.663, 95% CI=0.511-0.860 and OR=0.711, 95% CI=0.541-0.935, respectively). Additionally, the polymorphism rs11651270 was also related to T1D in an additive model (OR=0.719, 95% CI=0.583-0.887). Most importantly, when we analyzed the clinical characteristics of T1D individuals with different genotypes, we found that the age of onset with the TT genotype at rs11651270 was younger than those with the other two genotypes (p=0.001). Conclusions. SNPs in the NLRP1 gene were associated with T1D, as well as the age of onset in the Chinese Han T1D individuals. Our study indicated that the NLRP1 gene might play a pivotal role in the etiopathogenesis of T1D and could be applied to genetic screening of T1D in the Chinese Han population.
Determination of the Molecular Mechanism of Torularhodin against Hepatic Oxidative Damage by Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Li Jiayi , Guo Yahui , Cheng Yuliang , Pi Fuwei , Yao Weirong , Xie Yunfei , Qian He
Published: July 2019

Torularhodin, extracted from Sporidiobolus pararoseus, is a significant carotenoid that is similar to lycopene in structure. Some studies have indicated torularhodin as having antioxidative activities. However, it has not been thoroughly studied with respect to its antioxidative activity and molecular mechanisms in liver injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the antioxidative activity of torularhodin against hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced damage and the mechanism involved through transcriptome analysis and to explore its antioxidant potential. BRL cells were first subjected to H2O2 damage and then treated with torularhodin. The results showed that at 10-5 g/ml, torularhodin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Morphological and immunofluorescence staining showed that torularhodin could maintain cell integrity and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the cells. According to transcriptome analysis, 2808 genes were significantly differentially expressed (1334 upregulated and 1474 downregulated) after torularhodin treatment. These genes were involved in three major Gene Ontology categories (biological process, cellular component, and molecular function). Moreover, torularhodin was involved in some cellular pathways, such as cancer inhibition, antioxidation, and aging delay. Our data highlighted the importance of multiple pathways in the antioxidative damage of liver treated with torularhodin and will contribute to get the molecular mechanisms of torularhodin inhibition of hepatic oxidative damage.
Nanoparticles Containing Hyaluronan Acid and Astragalus Polysaccharides for Treating Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lu Gongbiao , Du Lin , Lu Jishou , Jin Liuzhong
Published: July 2019

The pathogeny of osteoarthritis (OA) is very complicated and still is one of the difficulties in a treating procedure. Here, we constructed nanoparticles using hyaluronan acid (HA) and astragalus polysaccharides (APS) for OA therapy. We assessed OA biomarkers and IL-1β-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expressions. Nanoparticles of 100 nm showed high drug loading of 28.6% (w/w) and extended drug release of 59% over 1 month. Our results demonstrated that nano treatment significantly improved IL-1β-induced cell viability of chondrocytes. Induction of MMP-9, MMP-13, and TNF-α was alleviated by nanoparticles. Furthermore, nano elevated the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and attenuated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Our data indicated the protective role of HA and APS-capsuled nanoparticles in OA treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment of Ankylosed Maxillary Incisor through Osteogenic Distraction and Simplified Biomechanics
Authors: Tocolini Daniel Gheur , Silva Priscila de Oliveira , Grabowski Iduilton , Carelli Julia , Morais Nathaly Dias , Correr Gisele Maria , Topolski Francielle , Moro Alexandre
Published: July 2019

Ankylosed teeth may have a significant esthetic and functional impact especially at the anterior segment of the upper arch. Treatment of ankylosed teeth is challenging. The objective of this case report is to describe a clinical case in which an ankylosed tooth was treated with the use of osteogenic distraction associated with simplified orthodontic biomechanics. A 17-year-old female Caucasian patient presented with a Class II malocclusion, severe maxillary dental crowding, moderate mandibular dental crowding, anterior open bite, upper midline deviation to the right, and upper right central incisor in infraocclusion due to ankylosis. Treatment involved the use of the ankylosed tooth as anchorage for the distalization of the right upper segment to correct the Class II malocclusion and to create space prior to surgery. After one week of surgical osteotomy, traction of the tooth and bone segment was initiated with the use of intermaxillary elastics. The ankylosed tooth was moved to the desired position. Bone formation and mucogingival tissue adaptation were observed. Thus, esthetic and functional improvement was achieved. Osteogenic distraction associated with simplified orthodontic biomechanics is an alternative to the treatment of ankylosed teeth which can replace the use of distractor screws, making treatment simpler and more accessible.
Regular Music Exposure in Juvenile Rats Facilitates Conditioned Fear Extinction and Reduces Anxiety after Foot Shock in Adulthood
Authors: Chen Si , Liang Tuo , Zhou Fiona H. , Cao Ye , Wang Chao , Wang Fei-Yifan , Li Fang , Zhou Xin-Fu , Zhang Jian-Yi , Li Chang-Qi
Published: July 2019

Music exposure is known to play a positive role in learning and memory and can be a complementary treatment for anxiety and fear. However, whether juvenile music exposure affects adult behavior is not known. Two-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to music for 2 hours daily or to background noise (controls) for a period of 3 weeks. At 60 days of age, rats were subjected to auditory fear conditioning, fear extinction training, and anxiety-like behavior assessments or to anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) assays. We found that the music-exposed rats showed significantly less freezing behaviors during fear extinction training and spent more time in the open arm of the elevated plus maze after fear conditioning when compared with the control rats. Moreover, the BDNF levels in the ACC in the music group were significantly higher than those of the controls with the fear conditioning session. This result suggests that music exposure in juvenile rats decreases anxiety-like behaviors, facilitates fear extinction, and increases BDNF levels in the ACC in adulthood after a stressful event.