bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-1β mediates macrophage-induced impairment of insulin signaling in human primary adipocytes
Authors: Gao Dan , Madi Mohamed , Ding Cherlyn , Fok Matthew , Steele Thomas , Ford Christopher , Hunter Leif , Bing Chen
Published: June 2014

Adipose tissue expansion during obesity is associated with increased macrophage infiltration. Macrophage-derived factors significantly alter adipocyte function, inducing inflammatory responses and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Identification of the major factors that mediate detrimental effects of macrophages on adipocytes may offer potential therapeutic targets. IL-1β, a proinflammatory cytokine, is suggested to be involved in the development of insulin resistance. This study investigated the role of IL-1β in macrophage-adipocyte cross-talk, which affects insulin signaling in human adipocytes. Using macrophage-conditioned (MC) medium and human primary adipocytes, we examined the effect of IL-1β antagonism on the insulin signaling pathway. Gene expression profile and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules were determined, as was the production of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokines. We also examined whether IL-1β mediates MC medium-induced alteration in adipocyte lipid storage. MC medium and IL-1β significantly reduced gene expression and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules, including insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85α, and glucose transporter 4 and phosphorylation of Akt. In contrast, the expression and release of the proinflammatory markers, including IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 by adipocytes were markedly increased. These changes were significantly reduced by blocking IL-1β activity, its receptor binding, or its production by macrophages. MC medium-inhibited expression of the adipogenic factors and -stimulated lipolysis was also blunted with IL-1β neutralization. We conclude that IL-1β mediates, at least in part, the effect of macrophages on insulin signaling and proinflammatory response in human adipocytes. Blocking IL-1β could be beneficial for preventing obesity-associated insulin resistance and inflammation in human adipose tissue.
Two interconnected kernels of reciprocally inhibitory interneurons underlie alternating left-right swim motor pattern generation in the mollusk Melibe leonina
Authors: Sakurai Akira , Gunaratne Charuni A. , Katz Paul S.
Published: June 2014

The central pattern generator (CPG) underlying the rhythmic swimming behavior of the nudibranch Melibe leonina (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) has been described as a simple half-center oscillator consisting of two reciprocally inhibitory pairs of interneurons called swim interneuron 1 (Si1) and swim interneuron 2 (Si2). In this study, we identified two additional pairs of interneurons that are part of the swim CPG: swim interneuron 3 (Si3) and swim interneuron 4 (Si4). The somata of Si3 and Si4 were both located in the pedal ganglion, near that of Si2, and both had axons that projected through the pedal commissure to the contralateral pedal ganglion. These neurons fulfilled the criteria for inclusion as members of the swim CPG: 1) they fired at a fixed phase in relation to Si1 and Si2, 2) brief changes in their activity reset the motor pattern, 3) prolonged changes in their activity altered the periodicity of the motor pattern, 4) they had monosynaptic connections with each other and with Si1 and Si2, and 5) their synaptic actions helped explain the phasing of the motor pattern. The results of this study show that the motor pattern has more complex internal dynamics than a simple left/right alternation of firing; the CPG circuit appears to be composed of two kernels of reciprocally inhibitory neurons, one consisting of Si1, Si2, and the contralateral Si4 and the other consisting of Si3. These two kernels interact with each other to produce a stable rhythmic motor pattern.
The Extended Multiple (G′/G)‐Expansion Method and Its Application to the Caudrey‐Dodd‐Gibbon Equation
Authors: Yang Huizhang , Li Wei , Yang Biyu
Published: June 2014

An extended multiple (G′/G)‐expansion method is used to seek the exact solutions of Caudrey‐Dodd‐Gibbon equation. As a result, plentiful new complexiton solutions consisting of hyperbolic functions, trigonometric functions, rational functions, and their mixture with arbitrary parameters are effectively obtained. When some parameters are properly chosen as special values, the known double solitary‐like wave solutions are derived from the double hyperbolic function solutions.
Oscillatory Behavior of Second-Order Nonlinear Neutral Differential Equations
Authors: Li Tongxing , Rogovchenko Yuriy V.
Published: June 2014

We study oscillatory behavior of solutions to a class of second-order nonlinear neutral differential equations under the assumptions that allow applications to differential equations with delayed and advanced arguments. New theorems do not need several restrictive assumptions required in related results reported in the literature. Several examples are provided to show that the results obtained are sharp even for second-order ordinary differential equations and improve related contributions to the subject.
A DR Loaded Substrate Integrated Waveguide Antenna for 60 GHz High Speed Wireless Communication Systems
Authors: Ashraf Nadeem , Vettikalladi Hamsakutty , Alkanhal Majeed A. S.
Published: June 2014

The concept of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology along with dielectric resonators (DR) is used to design antenna/array for 60 GHz communication systems. SIW is created in the substrate of RT/duroid 5880 having relative permittivityεr=2.23and loss tangenttan⁡δ=0.003. H-shaped longitudinal slot is engraved at the top metal layer of the substrate. Two pieces of the DR are placed on the slot without any air gap. The antenna structures are modeled using CST Microwave Studio and then the results are verified using another simulation software HFSS. Simulation results of the two designs are presented; first a single antenna element and then to enhance the gain of the system a broadside array of1×4is presented in the second design. For the single antenna element, the impedance bandwidth is 10.33% having a gain up to 5.5 dBi. Whereas in an array of1×4elements, the impedance bandwidth is found to be 10.70% with a gain up to 11.20 dBi. For the single antenna element and1×4antenna array, the simulated radiation efficiency is found to be 81% and 78%, respectively.
Case of Acute Graft Failure during Suspected Humoral Rejection with Preserved Ejection Fraction, but Severely Reduced Longitudinal Deformation Detected by 2D-Speckle Tracking
Authors: Clemmensen Tor Skibsted , Eiskjær Hans , Kofoed-Nielsen Pernille B. , Høyer Søren , Poulsen Steen Hvitfeldt
Published: June 2014

This case displays limited utility of left ventricular ejection fraction to detect acute graft failure due to microvascular vasculopathy and suspected humoral rejection. Despite severe and progressive graft failure, clinically and by right heart catheterizations, left ventricular ejection fraction remained unchanged, indicating need of more reliable noninvasive methods for graft function surveillance. Global longitudinal strain relates to clinical heart failure, filling pressure, and cardiac index during suspected humoral rejection and microvascular dysfunction in this HTX patient. We suggest routine monitoring of graft function by global longitudinal strain as supplement to routine left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic Doppler measurements.
A Solution Quality Assessment Method for Swarm Intelligence Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Zhang Zhaojun , Wang Gai-Ge , Zou Kuansheng , Zhang Jianhua
Published: June 2014

Nowadays, swarm intelligence optimization has become an important optimization tool and wildly used in many fields of application. In contrast to many successful applications, the theoretical foundation is rather weak. Therefore, there are still many problems to be solved. One problem is how to quantify the performance of algorithm in finite time, that is, how to evaluate the solution quality got by algorithm for practical problems. It greatly limits the application in practical problems. A solution quality assessment method for intelligent optimization is proposed in this paper. It is an experimental analysis method based on the analysis of search space and characteristic of algorithm itself. Instead of “value performance,” the “ordinal performance” is used as evaluation criteria in this method. The feasible solutions were clustered according to distance to divide solution samples into several parts. Then, solution space and “good enough” set can be decomposed based on the clustering results. Last, using relative knowledge of statistics, the evaluation result can be got. To validate the proposed method, some intelligent algorithms such as ant colony optimization (ACO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFS) were taken to solve traveling salesman problem. Computational results indicate the feasibility of proposed method.
Structural Damage Identification Based on Rough Sets and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Liu Chengyin , Wu Xiang , Wu Ning , Liu Chunyu
Published: June 2014

This paper investigates potential applications of the rough sets (RS) theory and artificial neural network (ANN) method on structural damage detection. An information entropy based discretization algorithm in RS is applied for dimension reduction of the original damage database obtained from finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed approach is tested with a 14-bay steel truss model for structural damage detection. The experimental results show that the damage features can be extracted efficiently from the combined utilization of RS and ANN methods even the volume of measurement data is enormous and with uncertainties.
Study on Typhoon Characteristic Based on Bridge Health Monitoring System
Authors: Wang Xu , Chen Bin , Sun Dezhang , Wu Yinqiang
Published: June 2014

Through the wind velocity and direction monitoring system installed on Jiubao Bridge of Qiantang River, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, a full range of wind velocity and direction data was collected during typhoon HAIKUI in 2012. Based on these data, it was found that, at higher observed elevation, turbulence intensity is lower, and the variation tendency of longitudinal and lateral turbulence intensities with mean wind speeds is basically the same. Gust factor goes higher with increasing mean wind speed, and the change rate obviously decreases as wind speed goes down and an inconspicuous increase occurs when wind speed is high. The change of peak factor is inconspicuous with increasing time and mean wind speed. The probability density function (PDF) of fluctuating wind speed follows Gaussian distribution. Turbulence integral scale increases with mean wind speed, and its PDF does not follow Gaussian distribution. The power spectrum of observation fluctuating velocity is in accordance with Von Karman spectrum.
Robust Inventory Financing Model with Partial Information
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhou Jixiang , Sun Hailei , Jiang Lin
Published: June 2014

Given current fast-changing market conditions and difficulty in obtaining financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises, this paper studies the robust inventory financing model under partial information, that is, where the demand distribution is partly known. Two demand information cases are discussed: (1) the mean and variance and (2) the support of the demand distribution. In this setting, the robust method that maximizes the worst-case profit and minimizes the firm’s maximum possible regret of not acting optimally would be used to formulate the optimal sales quantity. We show that the approach used in this paper is tractable, and we provide an explicit expression for the robust optimal policy. We then use numerical examples to compare the firm’s losses under two demand information cases with those occurring under demand certainty. More importantly, the numerical examples indicate that our robust inventory financing model can obtain a robust but not conservative solution.
Evaluation of Ferric and Ferrous Iron Therapies in Women with Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Authors: Berber Ilhami , Diri Halit , Erkurt Mehmet Ali , Aydogdu Ismet , Kaya Emin , Kuku Irfan
Published: June 2014

Introduction. Different ferric and ferrous iron preparations can be used as oral iron supplements. Our aim was to compare the effects of oral ferric and ferrous iron therapies in women with iron deficiency anaemia.Methods. The present study included 104 women diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia after evaluation. In the evaluations performed to detect the aetiology underlying the iron deficiency anaemia, it was found and treated. After the detection of the iron deficiency anaemia aetiology and treatment of the underlying aetiology, the ferric group consisted of 30 patients treated with oral ferric protein succinylate tablets (2 × 40 mg elemental iron/day), and the second group consisted of 34 patients treated with oral ferrous glycine sulphate tablets (2 × 40 mg elemental iron/day) for three months. In all patients, the following laboratory evaluations were performed before beginning treatment and after treatment.Results. The mean haemoglobin and haematocrit increases were 0.95 g/dL and 2.62% in the ferric group, while they were 2.25 g/dL and 5.91% in the ferrous group, respectively. A significant difference was found between the groups regarding the increase in haemoglobin and haematocrit values (P<0.05).Conclusion. Data are submitted on the good tolerability, higher efficacy, and lower cost of the ferrous preparation used in our study.
Platelet Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: Personal Experience and Review of the Literature
Authors: Longo F. , Guida A. , Aversa C. , Pavone E. , Di Costanzo G. , Ramaglia L. , Ionna F.
Published: June 2014

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a class of synthetic drugs commonly used to treat bone metastasis and various bone diseases that cause osseous fragility (such as osteoporosis). Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a common complication in patients who received BPs, especially intravenously. Recently, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) caused by chemotherapeutic not belonging to BPs drug class has been reported. For this reason, it has been proposed recently to rename BRONJ in antiresorptive agents related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ), to include a wider spectrum of drugs that may cause osteonecrosis of the jaw. The most debated topic about ARONJ/BRONJ is therapy. The most adequate procedure is far from being standardized and prevention seems to play a pivotal role. In our study, we considered 72 patients with BRONJ with nonsurgical therapy, surgical therapy, and surgical therapy with platelet rich plasma (PRP) gel to evaluate its therapeutic effect in promoting ONJ wounds healing. Good results showed by PRP in improving wound healing give away to case-control randomized studies that could give definitive evidence of its effectiveness.
Differential Neural Networks for Identification and Filtering in Nonlinear Dynamic Games
Authors: García Emmanuel , Murano Daishi Alfredo
Published: June 2014

This paper deals with the problem of identifying and filtering a class of continuous‐time nonlinear dynamic games (nonlinear differential games) subject to additive and undesired deterministic perturbations. Moreover, the mathematical model of this class is completely unknown with the exception of the control actions of each player, and even though the deterministic noises are known, their power (or their effect) is not. Therefore, two differential neural networks are designed in order to obtain a feedback (perfect state) information pattern for the mentioned class of games. In this way, the stability conditions for two state identification errors and for a filtering error are established, the upper bounds of these errors are obtained, and two new learning laws for each neural network are suggested. Finally, an illustrating example shows the applicability of this approach.
In VitroCadmium-Induced Alterations in Growth and Oxidative Metabolism of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.)
Authors: Daud M. K. , Mei Lei , Najeeb Ullah , Khan Muhammad Azim , Deeba Farah , Raza Irum , Batool Aliya , Zhu S. J.
Published: June 2014

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic pollutant, which cause both dose- and time-dependent physiological and biochemical alterations in plants. The presentin vitrostudy was undertaken to explore Cd-induced physiological and biochemical changes in cotton callus culture at 0, 550, 700, 850, and 1000 μM Cd for four different stress periods (7, 14, 21, and 28 days). At 1000 μM Cd, mean growth values were lower than their respective control. The cell protein contents decreased only after 7-day and 14-day stress treatment. At 550 μM Cd, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents decreased after various stress periods except 21-day period. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 1000 μM Cd improved relative to its respective controls in the first three stress regimes. Almost a decreasing trend in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxidase (POD) activities at all Cd levels after different stress periods was noticed. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity descended over its relevant controls in the first three stress regimes except at 700 μM Cd after 14- and 21-day stress duration. Moreover, catalase (CAT) mean values significantly increased as a whole. From this experiment, it can be concluded that lipid peroxidation as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was relatively higher as has been revealed by higher MDA contents and greater SOD, CAT activities.
Comorbid Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia: Insight into Pathomechanisms Facilitates Treatment
Authors: Zink Mathias
Published: June 2014

Insight into the biological pathomechanism of a clinical syndrome facilitates the development of effective interventions. This paper applies this perspective to the important clinical problem of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) occurring during the lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia. Up to 25% of schizophrenia patients suffer from OCS and about 12% fulfil the diagnostic criteria of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is accompanied by marked subjective burden of disease, high levels of anxiety, depression and suicidality, increased neurocognitive impairment, less favourable levels of social and vocational functioning, and greater service utilization. Comorbid patients can be assigned to heterogeneous subgroups. It is assumed that second generation antipsychotics (SGAs), most importantly clozapine, might aggravate or even induce second-onset OCS. Several epidemiological and pharmacological arguments support this assumption. Specific genetic risk factors seem to dispose patients with schizophrenia to develop OCS and risk-conferring polymorphisms has been defined inSLC1A1,BDNF,DLGAP3, and GRIN2B and in interactions between these individual genes. Further research is needed with detailed characterization of large samples. In particular interactions between genetic risk constellations, pharmacological and psychosocial factors should be analysed. Results will further define homogeneous subgroups, which are in need for differential causative interventions. In clinical practise, schizophrenia patients should be carefully monitored for OCS, starting with at-risk mental states of psychosis and longitudinal follow-ups, hopefully leading to the development of multimodal therapeutic interventions.
Power Quality Improvement by Unified Power Quality Conditioner Based on CSC Topology Using Synchronous Reference Frame Theory
Authors: Dharmalingam Rajasekaran , Dash Subhransu Sekhar , Senthilnathan Karthikrajan , Mayilvaganan Arun Bhaskar , Chinnamuthu Subramani
Published: June 2014

This paper deals with the performance of unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) based on current source converter (CSC) topology. UPQC is used to mitigate the power quality problems like harmonics and sag. The shunt and series active filter performs the simultaneous elimination of current and voltage problems. The power fed is linked through common DC link and maintains constant real power exchange. The DC link is connected through the reactor. The real power supply is given by the photovoltaic system for the compensation of power quality problems. The reference current and voltage generation for shunt and series converter is based on phase locked loop and synchronous reference frame theory. The proposed UPQC-CSC design has superior performance for mitigating the power quality problems.
The Influence of Hypoxia during Different Pregnancy Stages on Cardiac Collagen Accumulation in the Adult Offspring
Authors: Wang Lingxing , Li Meimei , Huang Ziyang , Wang Zhenhua
Published: June 2014

We evaluated whether the timing of maternal hypoxia during pregnancy influenced cardiac extracellular matrix accumulation in the adult offspring. Rats in different periods of pregnancy were assigned to maternal hypoxia or control groups. Maternal hypoxia from day 3 to 21 of pregnancy or day 9 to 21 of pregnancy increased collagen I and collagen III expression in the left ventricle of adult offspring (bothP<0.05). Maternal hypoxia from day 15 to 21 of pregnancy had no effect on adult collagen levels. Our results indicate that maternal hypoxia at critical windows of cardiovascular development can induce pathological cardiac remodeling in the adult rat offspring.
In VitroStudy on the Antioxidant Potentials of the Leaves and Fruits ofNauclea latifolia
Authors: Ayeleso Ademola O. , Oguntibeju Oluwafemi O. , Brooks Nicole L.
Published: June 2014

This study was carried out to investigate thein vitroantioxidant potentials of the leaves and fruits ofNauclea latifolia, a straggling shrub or small tree, native to tropical Africa and Asia. Hot water extracts of the leaves and fruits ofNauclea latifoliawere assessed for their total polyphenolic, flavanol, and flavonol contents as well as 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. The aqueous extract of the leaves was found to contain higher level of total polyphenols (11.63±0.023 mg GAE/g), flavanol (1.45±0.10 mg CE/g), and flavonol (2.22±0.37 mg QE/g) than the extract of the fruits with values of1.75±0.02 mg GAE/g (total polyphenol),0.15±0.01 mg CE/g (flavanol), and1.00±0.13 mg QE/g (flavonol). Similarly, the aqueous extract of the leaves also exhibited higher DPPH (IC5020.64 mg/mL), FRAP (86.10±3.46 μmol AAE/g), TEAC (94.83±3.57 μmol TE/g), and ORAC (196.55±0.073 μmol TE/g) than the extract of the fruits with DPPH (IC50120.33 mg/mL), FRAP (12.23±0.40 μmol AAE/g), TEAC (12.48±0.21 μmol TE/g), and ORAC (58.88±0.073 μmol TE/g). The present study showed thatNauclea latifoliahas strong antioxidant potentials with the leaves demonstrating higherin vitroantioxidant activities than the fruits.
Effect of Isopropanol on Microstructure and Activity of TiO2Films with Dominant {001} Facets for Photocatalytic Degradation of Bezafibrate
Authors: Sayed Murtaza , Pingfeng Fu , Khan Hasan M. , Zhang Pengyi
Published: June 2014

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) films with dominant {001} facets coated on a titanium sheet (Ti) were synthesized with the simple hydrothermal method by using Ti as the precursor and substrate. The effect of addition of isopropanol into the hydrothermal solution on the structure, photocatalytic activity, and stability of as-synthesized TiO2films was investigated. The presence of isopropanol obviously influenced the microstructure of as-synthesized TiO2films, which was converted from microspheres into irregular close stack of truncated tetrahedrons. And the percentage of exposed {001} facets calculated from the Raman spectra increased from 48.2% to 57%. Accordingly, the TiO2films prepared with addition of isopropanol showed high and stable photocatalytic activity, which is nearly 2.6 times as that of the conventional P25 TiO2coated on Ti-substrate. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized TiO2films was greatly enhanced after calcination treatment at 600°C, which can be attributed to removal of fluoride ions and organic residuals adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst. Photoluminescence (PL) technique was used for the detection of produced hydroxyl radicals (•OH) on the surface of UV-illuminated TiO2using terephthalic acid as probe molecule. The photocatalytic degradation intermediates of bezafibrate were analyzed by an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and accordingly the degradation pathways were proposed.
Study on Construction of a Medical X-Ray Direct Digital Radiography System and Hybrid Preprocessing Methods
Authors: Ren Yong , Wu Sheng , Wang Mijian , Cen Zhongjie
Published: June 2014

We construct a medical X-ray direct digital radiography (DDR) system based on a CCD (charge-coupled devices) camera. For the original images captured from X-ray exposure, computer first executes image flat-field correction and image gamma correction, and then carries out image contrast enhancement. A hybrid image contrast enhancement algorithm which is based on sharp frequency localization-contourlet transform (SFL-CT) and contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE), is proposed and verified by the clinical DDR images. Experimental results show that, for the medical X-ray DDR images, the proposed comprehensive preprocessing algorithm can not only greatly enhance the contrast and detail information, but also improve the resolution capability of DDR system.
Study of Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters in HIV-1 Male Patients
Authors: Gundurao Sreekantamurthy Gurudath , Singh N Biplab , Singh Th Bhimo , Singh Th Suraj , Singh Karam Romeo
Published: June 2014

Background. HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) containing protease inhibitors (PIs) had been often associated with lipodystrophy. However, there are only few studies on association of nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI and NNRTI) with lipodystrophy.Study Design. One hundred and one HIV male patients were categorised into ART naïve (n=22), zidovudine (n=22), stavudine (n=18), tenofovir (n=15), and PIs (n=24) based HAART. Their clinicoepidemiological data had been entered in preformed pro forma. The body composition, using TANITA machine and metabolic parameters like lipid profile, blood sugars was analysed.Results. Clinically, lipoatrophy of face was most prevalent in HIV patients on stavudine (15 patients, 83.3%) and PIs (20 patients, 83.3%) based HAART. The mean BMI among study population was in normal range. Excess visceral fat was most prevalent among patients on PIs, 4 patients (16.7%). The waist-hip ratio was significantly higher in PIs (P=0.01) based HAART. There was no significant difference among different study populations in terms of BMI (P=0.917), body water (P=0.318), body fat (P=0.172), bone mass (P=0.200), and muscle mass (P=0.070). Hypertriglyceridiemia was found in stavudine, tenofovir, and protease inhibitors regimens. Low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was found zidovudine, stavudine, and PIs regimens. Fasting and postprandial hyperglycaemia was found PIs and impaired glucose tolerance in stavudine regimen.Conclusion. Patients on PIs were associated with truncal obesity and lipoatrophy of face, along with dyslipidemia and hyperglycaemia. Stavudine based regimen is associated with hypertriglyceridiemia and low HDL along with lipoatrophy of face.
Fault‐Tolerant Region‐Based Control of an Underwater Vehicle with Kinematically Redundant Thrusters
Authors: Ismail Zool H. , Faudzi Ahmad ’A. , Dunnigan Matthew W.
Published: June 2014

This paper presents a new control approach for an underwater vehicle with a kinematically redundant thruster system. This control scheme is derived based on a fault‐tolerant decomposition for thruster force allocation and a region control scheme for the tracking objective. Given a redundant thruster system, that is, six or more pairs of thrusters are used, the proposed redundancy resolution and region control scheme determine the number of thruster faults, as well as providing the reference thruster forces in order to keep the underwater vehicle within the desired region. The stability of the presented control law is proven in the sense of a Lyapunov function. Numerical simulations are performed with an omnidirectional underwater vehicle and the results of the proposed scheme illustrate the effectiveness in terms of optimizing the thruster forces.
Signal Processing for Nondifferentiable Data Defined on Cantor Sets: A Local Fractional Fourier Series Approach
Authors: Chen Zhi-Yong , Cattani Carlo , Zhong Wei-Ping
Published: June 2014

From the signal processing point of view, the nondifferentiable data defined on the Cantor sets are investigated in this paper. The local fractional Fourier series is used to process the signals, which are the local fractional continuous functions. Our results can be observed as significant extensions of the previously known results for the Fourier series in the framework of the local fractional calculus. Some examples are given to illustrate the efficiency and implementation of the present method.
Prophylactic Antioxidant Potential of Gallic Acid in Murine Model of Sepsis
Authors: Maurya Harikesh , Mangal Vaishali , Gandhi Sanjay , Prabhu Kathiresan , Ponnudurai Kathiresan
Published: June 2014

Present study is to investigate the effect of Gallic acid pretreatment on survival of septic animals and oxidative stress in different organs like lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, and vascular dysfunction of mice. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in healthy adult male albino mice (25–30 g) and was divided into 3 groups each consisting of 6 animals, that is, sham-operated (SO group (Group I), SO + sepsis (Group II), and Gallic acid + sepsis (Group III)). Group III animals were pretreated with Gallic acid at the dose rate of 20 mg/kg body weight for 2 days before induction of sepsis. Animals were sacrificed on 8th day and the tissue samples were obtained for further investigation on lipid peroxidation (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GSH). Gallic acid pretreatment significant (P<0.05) reduces kidney, spleen, liver, and lungs’ malondialdehyde level in septic mice. However, it fails to improve reduced glutathione level in all given organs, while, Gallic acid pretreated mice showed significant improvement in SOD activity of kidney and spleen when compared to septic mice. Finally, the beneficial effects of Gallic acid pretreatment in sepsis are evident from the observations that Gallic acid partially restored SOD and catalase activity and completely reversed lipid peroxidation. Further studies are required to find out the possible mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of Gallic acid on large population.
Adipose Tissue and Adrenal Glands: Novel Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Applications
Authors: Kargi Atil Y. , Iacobellis Gianluca
Published: June 2014

Hormones produced by the adrenal glands and adipose tissues have important roles in normal physiology and are altered in many disease states. Obesity is associated with changes in adrenal function, including increase in adrenal medullary catecholamine output, alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, elevations in circulating aldosterone together with changes in adipose tissue glucocorticoid metabolism, and enhanced adipocyte mineralocorticoid receptor activity. It is unknown whether these changes in adrenal endocrine function are in part responsible for the pathogenesis of obesity and related comorbidities or represent an adaptive response. In turn, adipose tissue hormones or “adipokines” have direct effects on the adrenal glands and interact with adrenal hormones at several levels. Here we review the emerging evidence supporting the existence of “cross talk” between the adrenal gland and adipose tissue, focusing on the relevance and roles of their respective hormones in health and disease states including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and primary disorders of the adrenals.
Compositional Abstraction Refinement for Component-Based Systems
Authors: Zhang Lianyi , Meng Qingdi , Lo Kueiming
Published: June 2014

The efficiency of the compositional verification of invariants depends on the abstraction, which may lead to verification incompleteness. The invariant strengthening and state partitioning techniques are proposed in this paper. The former could refine the overapproximation by removing the unreachable states, and the latter is a variant of counterexample-guided abstraction refinement. Integrated with these two refinement techniques, a unified compositional verification framework is presented to strengthen the abstraction and find counterexamples. Some examples are included to show that the verification of the safety properties in component-based systems has been achieved by our framework.
Effect of theZataria multifloraon Systemic Inflammation of Experimental Animals Model of COPD
Authors: Boskabady Mohammad Hossein , Gholami Mhtaj Lilla
Published: June 2014

The effects ofZataria multiflora(Z. multiflora) on systemic inflammation in guinea pigs model of COPD were examined. Control animals, COPD (induced by exposing animals to cigarette smoke), COPD + drinking water containing three concentrations of the extract ofZ. multiflora,and COPD + dexamethasone were studied (n=6for each group). Serum levels of IL-8 and malondialdehyde (MDA), total blood WBC (P<0.01for all cases), and eosinophil counts (P<0.05) were higher and weight changes (P<0.05) were lower in the COPD group compared to controls. IL-8 level (P<0.001) and weight changes (P<0.01toP<0.001) in all treated groups withZ. multifloraand total WBC number and MDA level in treated groups with two higher concentrations of the extract and lymphocytes percentage (P<0.05) in the highest concentration ofZ. multifloraand dexamethasone (P<0.05toP<0.001) were significantly improved compared to the COPD group. Results showed a preventive effect of hydroethanolic extract fromZ. multifloraon all measured parameters in animals model of COPD which was comparable or even higher (in the highest concentration) compared to the effect of dexamethasone at the concentration used.
Novel Epoxy Activated Hydrogels for Solving Lactose Intolerance
Authors: Elnashar Magdy M. M. , Hassan Mohamed E.
Published: June 2014

“Lactose intolerance” is a medical problem for almost 70% of the world population. Milk and dairy products contain 5–10% w/v lactose. Hydrolysis of lactose by immobilized lactase is an industrial solution. In this work, we succeeded to increase the lactase loading capacity to more than 3-fold to 36.3 U/g gel using epoxy activated hydrogels compared to 11 U/g gel using aldehyde activated carrageenan. The hydrogel’s mode of interaction was proven by FTIR, DSC, and TGA. The high activity of the epoxy group was regarded to its ability to attach to the enzyme’s –SH, –NH, and –OH groups, whereas the aldehyde group could only bind to the enzyme’s –NH2group. The optimum conditions for immobilization such as epoxy chain length and enzyme concentration have been studied. Furthermore, the optimum enzyme conditions were also deliberated and showed better stability for the immobilized enzyme and the Michaelis constants,KmandVmax, were doubled. Results revealed also that both free and immobilized enzymes reached their maximum rate of lactose conversion after 2 h, albeit, the aldehyde activated hydrogel could only reach 63% of the free enzyme. In brief, the epoxy activated hydrogels are more efficient in immobilizing more enzymes than the aldehyde activated hydrogel.
Control of Discrete Event Systems by Means of Discrete Optimization and Disjunctive Colored PNs: Application to Manufacturing Facilities
Authors: Latorre-Biel Juan-Ignacio , Jiménez-Macías Emilio , Pérez de la Parte Mercedes , Blanco-Fernández Julio , Martínez-Cámara Eduardo
Published: June 2014

Artificial intelligence methodologies, as the core of discrete control and decision support systems, have been extensively applied in the industrial production sector. The resulting tools produce excellent results in certain cases; however, the NP-hard nature of many discrete control or decision making problems in the manufacturing area may require unaffordable computational resources, constrained by the limited available time required to obtain a solution. With the purpose of improving the efficiency of a control methodology for discrete systems, based on a simulation-based optimization and the Petri net (PN) model of the real discrete event dynamic system (DEDS), this paper presents a strategy, where a transformation applied to the model allows removing the redundant information to obtain a smaller model containing the same useful information. As a result, faster discrete optimizations can be implemented. This methodology is based on the use of a formalism belonging to the paradigm of the PN for describing DEDS, the disjunctive colored PN. Furthermore, the metaheuristic of genetic algorithms is applied to the search of the best solutions in the solution space. As an illustration of the methodology proposal, its performance is compared with the classic approach on a case study, obtaining faster the optimal solution.
Optimal Tracking for a Divergent-Type Parabolic PDE System in Current Profile Control
Authors: Li S. , Jiang H. , Ren Z. , Xu C.
Published: June 2014

We consider the optimal tracking problem for a divergent-type parabolic PDE system, which can be used to model the spatial-temporal evolution of the magnetic diffusion process in a tokamak plasma. With the feedforward trajectories generated by numerical optimization, we derive a linear system to describe the error evolution. The weak variation approach is then extended to cylindrical coordinates to obtain a Riccati-type PDE for feedback kernel synthesis. Then, a finite difference method is used to give numerical solutions for the Riccati-type PDE. The obtained feedback kernel is finally used to simulate the closed-loop system. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed tracking method can attenuate the tracking error effectively.
Favorable Prognostic Impact in Loss of TP53 and PIK3CA Mutations after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
Authors: Jiang Yi-Zhou , Yu Ke-Da , Bao Jing , Peng Wen-Ting , Shao Zhi-Ming
Published: June 2014

We investigated the loss of somatic mutations in TP53 and PIK3CA in breast cancer tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and the clinical relevance of the observed mutation profiles. Samples were derived from three cohorts: Cohort 1 consisting of 206 patients undergoing NCT with matched pre- and postchemotherapy tumor tissues; Cohort 2 consisting of 158 additional patients undergoing NCT; and Cohort 3, consisting of 81 patients undergoing chemotherapy with prechemotherapy tumor tissues. In the first cohort, somatic mutations in TP53 or PIK3CA were identified in 24.8% of the pre-NCT tumor samples but in only 12.1% of the post-NCT tumor samples (P < 0.001). Patients with initial TP53 and PIK3CA mutations who became negative for the mutations after NCT had a higher Miller–Payne score (P = 0.008), improved disease-free survival, and improved overall survival than those with no change or the opposite change. The association of loss of mutations in TP53 and PIK3CA and improved survival was successfully validated in the second cohort. In addition, 28.4% of the tumors showed intratumoral heterogeneity of somatic mutations in TP53 or PIK3CA, whereas 71.6% were homogeneous, either with or without the mutations. Our data reveal the novel concept that chemotherapy may reduce mutation frequency in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, the loss of somatic mutations in TP53 and PIK3CA may be translated to biomarkers for prognosis via further verification, which may optimize the choice of sequential therapy and improve patient survival. Cancer Res; 74(13); 3399–407. ©2014 AACR.
CLIC4, ERp29, and Smac/DIABLO Derived from Metastatic Cancer Stem–like Cells Stratify Prognostic Risks of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Deng Yong-Jian , Tang Na , Liu Chao , Zhang Jiang-Yu , An Sheng-Li , Peng Yin-Li , Ma Li-Li , Li Guang-Qiu , Jiang Qiang , Hu Chun-Ting , Wang Ya-Nan , Liang Yao-Ze , Bian Xiu-Wu , Fang Wei-Gang , Ding Yan-Qing
Published: June 2014

Purpose: Cancer stem–like cells have been well accepted to be involved in recurrence and metastasis of cancers, but the prognostic potential of biomarkers integrating with metastasis and cancer stem–like cells for colorectal cancer is unclear.

Experimental Design: We identified three proteins, CLIC4, ERp29, and Smac/DIABLO, from metastatic cancer stem–like cells of colorectal cancer and verified the proteins' role in metastatic behaviors. The proteins were detected by IHC in colorectal cancer tumors and matched colonic mucosa from patients with colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery in the training cohort. The associations between proteins expression levels and five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) were evaluated to predict the survival probability in the training cohort of 421 cases and the validation cohort of 228 cases.

Results: A three-protein panel including CLIC4, ERp29, and Smac/DIABLO, which was generated from multivariate analysis by excluding clinicopathologic characteristics from the training cohort, distinguished patients with colorectal cancer into very low-, low-, middle-, and high-risk groups with significant differences in five-year DSS probability (88.6%, 63.3%, 30.4%, 11.4%; P < 0.001). The panel is independent from tumor–node–metastasis staging system and histologic grading to predict prognosis, and also enables classification of validation cohort into four risk stratifications (five-year DSS probability is 98.2%, 80.2%, 25.6%, and 2.7%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: CLIC4, ERp29, and Smac/DIABLO integrated into a novel panel based on cancer stem–like cells in association with metastasis stratify the prognostic risks of colorectal cancer. Prediction of risks with molecular markers will benefit clinicians to make decisions of individual management with postoperative colorectal cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res; 20(14); 3809–17. ©2014 AACR.
Kidney Cancer Is Characterized by Aberrant Methylation of Tissue-Specific Enhancers That Are Prognostic for Overall Survival
Authors: Hu Caroline Y. , Mohtat Davoud , Yu Yiting , Ko Yi-An , Shenoy Niraj , Bhattacharya Sanchari , Izquierdo Maria C. , Park Ae Seo Deok , Giricz Orsolya , Vallumsetla Nishanth , Gundabolu Krishna , Ware Kristin , Bhagat Tushar D. , Suzuki Masako , Pullman James , Liu X. Shirley , Greally John M. , Susztak Katalin , Verma Amit
Published: June 2014

Purpose: Even though recent studies have shown that genetic changes at enhancers can influence carcinogenesis, most methylomic studies have focused on changes at promoters. We used renal cell carcinoma (RCC), an incurable malignancy associated with mutations in epigenetic regulators, as a model to study genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation at a high resolution.

Experimental Design: Analysis of cytosine methylation status of 1.3 million CpGs was determined by the HELP assay in RCC and healthy microdissected renal tubular controls.

Results: We observed that the RCC samples were characterized by widespread hypermethylation that preferentially affected gene bodies. Aberrant methylation was particularly enriched in kidney-specific enhancer regions associated with H3K4Me1 marks. Various important underexpressed genes, such as SMAD6, were associated with aberrantly methylated, intronic enhancers, and these changes were validated in an independent cohort. MOTIF analysis of aberrantly hypermethylated regions revealed enrichment for binding sites of AP2a, AHR, HAIRY, ARNT, and HIF1 transcription factors, reflecting contributions of dysregulated hypoxia signaling pathways in RCC. The functional importance of this aberrant hypermethylation was demonstrated by selective sensitivity of RCC cells to low levels of decitabine. Most importantly, methylation of enhancers was predictive of adverse prognosis in 405 cases of RCC in multivariate analysis. In addition, parallel copy-number analysis from MspI representations demonstrated novel copy-number variations that were validated in an independent cohort of patients.

Conclusions: Our study is the first high-resolution methylome analysis of RCC, demonstrates that many kidney-specific enhancers are targeted by aberrant hypermethylation, and reveals the prognostic importance of these epigenetic changes in an independent cohort. Clin Cancer Res; 20(16); 4349–60. ©2014 AACR.
Gene Expression Changes in Spleens and Livers of Tumour-Bearing Mice Suggest Delayed Inflammation and Attenuated Cachexia in Response to Oil Palm Phenolics
Authors: Leow Soon-Sen , Sekaran Shamala Devi , Sundram Kalyana , Tan YewAi , Sambanthamurthi Ravigadevi
Published: June 2014

Background/Aim: Plant phenolics can inhibit, retard or reverse carcinogenesis, and may thus help prevent or treat cancer. Oil palm phenolics (OPP) previously showed anti-tumour activities in vivo via a cytostatic mechanism at 1,500 ppm gallic acid equivalent. Here, we report other possible molecular mechanisms by which this extract attenuates cancer, especially those concerning the immune response. Methods: We subcutaneously injected J558 myeloma cells in BALB/c mice and supplemented OPP orally at 1,500 ppm gallic acid equivalent. We observed the physiology parameters of these animals and harvested their spleens and livers after 18 h, 1 week and 4 weeks for microarray gene expression analysis using Illumina MouseRef-8 BeadChips. Results: Time course microarray analysis on spleens after injecting J558 myeloma cells in mice revealed that the immune response of tumour-bearing mice supplemented with OPP was lower compared to controls, thus suggesting delayed inflammation in response to OPP. In livers, cholesterol biosynthesis genes were upregulated while inflammatory genes were downregulated through time, further suggesting attenuation of systemic inflammation and cachexia. These effects correlated with the delayed in vivo development of syngeneic tumours in mice given OPP. Conclusions: This study suggests the possible utilisation of OPP as an anti-tumour and anti-cachexia agent.
Fetal Growth Restriction at the Limits of Viability
Authors: Visser Gerard H.A. , Bilardo Caterina M. , Lees Christopher
Published: June 2014

The outcome of early small-for-gestational age and/or intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses is reviewed. In these fetuses the outcome appears to be considerably poorer than that of appropriately grown fetuses and this seems mainly to be caused by intrauterine malnutrition rather than by hypoxemia. Active management of intrauterine growth restriction at the limits of viability may not be commenced before 26 weeks of gestation.
Allopurinol as a Kidney-Protective, Cardioprotective, and Antihypertensive Agent: Hype or Reality?
Authors: Kanbay Mehmet , Solak Yalcin , Gaipov Abduzhappar , Takir Mumtaz , Weiner Daniel E.
Published: June 2014

Numerous experimental and clinical studies suggest that uric acid might have pathobiologic implications in the development and progression of hypertension, kidney disease, and coronary heart disease, among others, resulting in renewed interest in uric acid as a potential pathogenic mediator in these clinical conditions. Despite encouraging animal studies showing beneficial roles of allopurinol, clinical studies and randomized controlled trials remain scarce, and, despite available clinical evidence supporting a therapeutic role for allopurinol, multiple issues remain before routine use of allopurinol can be recommended for use in patients with hyperuricemia and hypertension, kidney disease, or coronary heart disease. These include a need for more robust clinical trial data that evaluate efficacy on hard clinical outcomes, optimal dose, duration of treatment, and the potential for serious allergic reactions. In this article we review the current available evidence describing the effects of allopurinol in hypertension, kidney disease, and coronary heart disease, highlighting unresolved issues surrounding allopurinol use for uric acid lowering in individuals without gout.