bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexural Capacity Calculation Approach for Precast Grouted Shear Wall Influenced by Joint Interface Displacements
Authors: Wu Dong-yue , Liang Shu-ting , Guo Zheng-xing , Zhu Xiao-jun
Published: October 2015

The grouted precast buildings have great economic superiorities and application potentials. With excessively utilized confinement steels, connecting steels, and steel sleeves, their mechanical properties satisfied the strength requirements. But the capacity calculation approach still remains uncertain due to the complexity caused by the joint interface slip and joint gap opening displacement, which can hardly be avoided and lead to an excessive steel configuration. In order to make the design approach of precast grouted shear wall convenient and to achieve economic superiorities and properties advances, this paper proposed a new flexural capacity calculation approach considering joint interface displacements influences and properties improvement by confinement steels. The calculated capacities of example precast shear wall are 553.8 kN, 501.0 kN, and 536.4 kN when only considering confinement improvement, interface slip reduction, and both the improvement and reduction, respectively. By comparing the calculated results with the experimental tested results of 589.4 kN, the accuracy and reasonability of this new calculation approach were verified. Afterward, some requirements on application conditions of this new calculation approach were suggested depending on different precast structure type and seismic area.
Archaeal Enzymes and Applications in Industrial Biocatalysts
Authors: Littlechild Jennifer A.
Published: October 2015

Archaeal enzymes are playing an important role in industrial biotechnology. Many representatives of organisms living in “extreme” conditions, the so-called Extremophiles, belong to the archaeal kingdom of life. This paper will review studies carried by the Exeter group and others regarding archaeal enzymes that have important applications in commercial biocatalysis. Some of these biocatalysts are already being used in large scale industrial processes for the production of optically pure drug intermediates and amino acids and their analogues. Other enzymes have been characterised at laboratory scale regarding their substrate specificity and properties for potential industrial application. The increasing availability of DNA sequences from new archaeal species and metagenomes will provide a continuing resource to identify new enzymes of commercial interest using both bioinformatics and screening approaches.
Evaluation of the Influence Caused by Tunnel Construction on Groundwater Environment: A Case Study of Tongluoshan Tunnel, China
Authors: Liu Jian , Liu Dan , Song Kai
Published: October 2015

Problems related to water inflow during tunnel construction are challenging to designers, workers, and management departments, as they can threaten tunneling project from safety, time, and economic aspects. Identifying the impacts on groundwater environment resulting from tunnel drainage and making a correct assessment before tunnel construction is essential to better understand troubles that would be encountered during tunnel excavation and helpful to adopt appropriate countermeasures to minimize the influences. This study presents an indicator system and quantifies each indicator of Tongluoshan tunnel, which is located in southwest China with a length of 5.2 km and mainly passes through carbonate rocks and sandstones, based on field investigation and related technological reports. Then, an evaluation is made using fuzzy comprehensive assessment method, with a result showing that it had influenced the local groundwater environment at a moderate degree. Information fed back from environmental investigation and hydrologic monitoring carried out during the main construction period proves the evaluation, as the flow of some springs and streams located beside the tunnel route was found experiencing an apparent decline.
Helicobacter pyloriAntibody Titer and Gastric Cancer Screening
Authors: Kishikawa Hiroshi , Kimura Kayoko , Takarabe Sakiko , Kaida Shogo , Nishida Jiro
Published: October 2015

The “ABC method” is a serum gastric cancer screening method, and the subjects were divided based onH. pyloriserology and atrophic gastritis as detected by serum pepsinogen (PG): Group A [H. pylori(−) PG (−)], Group B [H. pylori(+) PG (−)], Group C [H. pylori(+) PG (+)], and Group D [H. pylori(−) PG (+)]. The risk of gastric cancer is highest in Group D, followed by Groups C, B, and A. Groups B, C, and D are advised to undergo endoscopy, and the recommended surveillance is every three years, every two years, and annually, respectively. In this report, the reported results with respect to further risk stratification by anti-H. pyloriantibody titer in each subgroup are reviewed: (1) high-negative antibody titer subjects in Group A, representing posteradicated individuals with high risk for intestinal-type cancer; (2) high-positive antibody titer subjects in Group B, representing active inflammation with high risk for diffuse-type cancer; and (3) low-positive antibody titer subjects in Group C, representing advanced atrophy with increased risk for intestinal-type cancer. In these subjects, careful follow-up with intervals of surveillance of every three years in (1), every two years in (2), and annually in (3) should be considered.
Logical Inference for Model-Based Reconstruction of Ultrasonic Nonlinearity
Authors: Rus Carlos , Rus Guillermo
Published: October 2015

Quantifying the constitutive nonlinearity parameterβin fluids is of key interest for understanding ultrasonic propagation and its wide implications in medical and industrial applications. However, current methods for ultrasonically measuring it show large limitations in that the signal is only valid at a reduced and unjustified spatial range away from the transducer. This is not consistent with the fact thatβshould be constant everywhere in the fluid and independently of the ultrasonic experimental setup. To overcome this, the nonlinear wave propagation equations are rigorously derived and the ensuing differential equation is numerically solved. As a second contribution, the experimental and model information sources are treated under the information theory context to probabilistically reconstructβ, providing not only its value, but also the degree of confidence on it given both sources of data. This method is satisfactorily validated testing the repeatability ofβin water varying distances, energies, frequencies, and transducer setups, yielding values compatible withβ= 3.5.
Retained Placenta Accreta Mimicking Choriocarcinoma
Authors: Kohi Maureen P. , Rizzuto Gabrielle A. , Fidelman Nicholas , Lucero Jennifer , Thiet Mari-Paule
Published: October 2015

This case demonstrates a rare event of retained invasive placenta masquerading as choriocarcinoma. The patient presented with heavy vaginal bleeding following vaginal delivery complicated by retained products of conception. Ultrasound and computed tomography demonstrated a vascular endometrial mass, invading the uterine wall and raising suspicion for choriocarcinoma. Hysterectomy revealed retained invasive placenta.
Survival Analysis of Factors Influencing Cyclic Fatigue of Nickel-Titanium Endodontic Instruments
Authors: Fišerová Eva , Chvosteková Martina , Bělašková Silvie , Bumbálek Michal , Joska Zdeněk
Published: October 2015

Objective. The aim of this study was to validate a survival analysis assessing the effect of type of rotary system, canal curvature, and instrument size on cyclic resistance.Materials and Methods. Cyclic fatigue testing was carried out in stainless steel artificial canals with radii of curvature of 3 or 5 mm and the angle of curvature of 60 degrees. All the instruments were new and 25 mm in working length, and ISO colour coding indicated the instrument size (yellow for size 20; red for size 25).Wizard Navigatorinstruments,Mtwoinstruments,ProTaperinstruments, andRevo-Sinstruments were passively rotated at 250 rotations per minute, and the time fracture was being recorded. Subsequently, fractographic analysis of broken tips was performed by scanning electron microscope. The data were then analysed by the Kaplan-Meier estimator of the survival function, the Cox proportional hazards model, the Wald test for regression covariates, and the Wald test for significance of regression model.Conclusion. The lifespan registered for the tested instruments wasMtwo>Wizard Navigator>Revo-S>ProTaper; 5 mm radius > 3 mm radius; and yellow > red in ISO colour coding system.
Influence of Aggregate Wettability with Different Lithology Aggregates on Concrete Drying Shrinkage
Authors: Guo Yuanchen , Qian Jueshi , Wang Xue , Yan Zhengyi , Zhong Huadong
Published: October 2015

The correlation of the wettability of different lithology aggregates and the drying shrinkage of concrete materials is studied, and some influential factors such as wettability and wetting angle are analyzed. A mercury porosimeter is used to measure the porosities of different lithology aggregates accurately, and the pore size ranges that significantly affect the drying shrinkage of different lithology aggregate concretes are confirmed. The pore distribution curve of the different coarse aggregates is also measured through a statistical method, and the contact angle of different coarse aggregates and concrete is calculated according to the linear fitting relationship. Research shows that concrete strength is determined by aggregate strength. Aggregate wettability is not directly correlated with concrete strength, but wettability significantly affects concrete drying shrinkage. In all types’ pores, the greatest impacts on wettability are capillary pores and gel pores, especially for the pores of the size locating 2.5–50 nm and 50–100 nm two ranges.
Concrete Image Segmentation Based on Multiscale Mathematic Morphology Operators and Otsu Method
Authors: Zhou Sheng-Bo , Shen Ai-Qin , Li Geng-Fei
Published: October 2015

The aim of the current study lies in the development of a reformative technique of image segmentation for Computed Tomography (CT) concrete images with the strength grades of C30 and C40. The results, through the comparison of the traditional threshold algorithms, indicate that three threshold algorithms and five edge detectors fail to meet the demand of segmentation for Computed Tomography concrete images. The paper proposes a new segmentation method, by combining multiscale noise suppression morphology edge detector with Otsu method, which is more appropriate for the segmentation of Computed Tomography concrete images with low contrast. This method cannot only locate the boundaries between objects and background with high accuracy, but also obtain a complete edge and eliminate noise.
Chemical Analysis of Suspected Unrecorded Alcoholic Beverages from the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Negri Giuseppina , Soares Neto Julino Assunção Rodrigues , de Araujo Carlini Elisaldo Luiz
Published: October 2015

Our study analyzed 152 samples of alcoholic beverages collected from the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The methanol content varied from 20 to 180 ppm in 28 samples, and the limit of the accepted level of 200 ppm was exceeded in only one sample. High content of cyanide derivatives and ethyl carbamate, above the accepted level of 150 ppb, was observed in 109 samples. Carbonyl compounds were also observed in 111 samples, showing hydroxy 2-propanone, 4-methyl-4-hepten-3-one, furfural, and 2-hydroxyethylcarbamate as main constituents. Copper was found at concentrations above 5 ppm in 26 samples; the maximum value observed was 28 ppm. This work evaluated the human health risk associated with the poor quality of suspected unrecorded alcohols beverages.
Behavior and Performance of GFRP Reinforced Concrete Columns with Various Types of Stirrups
Authors: Prachasaree Woraphot , Piriyakootorn Sitthichai , Sangsrijun Athawit , Limkatanyu Suchart
Published: October 2015

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are gaining acceptance in concrete structural applications due to their high ratio of strength/stiffness to self-weight and corrosion resistance. This study focused on the structural behavior and the performance of concrete columns internally reinforced with glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) rebars. Twelve series of concrete columns with varied longitudinal reinforcement, cross section, concrete cover, and type of lateral reinforcement were tested under compression loading. The results show that the amount of GFRP longitudinal and lateral reinforcement slightly affects the column strength. The lateral reinforcement affects the confining pressure and inelastic deformation, and its contribution to the confined compressive strength increases with the GFRP reinforcement ratio. In addition, the confining pressure increases both concrete strength and deformability in the inelastic range. The confinement effectiveness coefficient varied from 3.0 to 7.0 with longitudinal reinforcement. The average deformability factors were 4.2 and 2.8 with spirals and ties, respectively. Lateral reinforcement had a more pronounced effect on deformability than on column strength.
A Review on Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite and Its Applications
Authors: Mohammed Layth , Ansari M. N. M. , Pua Grace , Jawaid Mohammad , Islam M. Saiful
Published: October 2015

Natural fibers are getting attention from researchers and academician to utilize in polymer composites due to their ecofriendly nature and sustainability. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive review of the foremost appropriate as well as widely used natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) and their applications. In addition, it presents summary of various surface treatments applied to natural fibers and their effect on NFPCs properties. The properties of NFPCs vary with fiber type and fiber source as well as fiber structure. The effects of various chemical treatments on the mechanical and thermal properties of natural fibers reinforcements thermosetting and thermoplastics composites were studied. A number of drawbacks of NFPCs like higher water absorption, inferior fire resistance, and lower mechanical properties limited its applications. Impacts of chemical treatment on the water absorption, tribology, viscoelastic behavior, relaxation behavior, energy absorption flames retardancy, and biodegradability properties of NFPCs were also highlighted. The applications of NFPCs in automobile and construction industry and other applications are demonstrated. It concluded that chemical treatment of the natural fiber improved adhesion between the fiber surface and the polymer matrix which ultimately enhanced physicomechanical and thermochemical properties of the NFPCs.
Treated Coconut Coir Pith as Component of Cementitious Materials
Authors: Koňáková Dana , Vejmelková Eva , Čáchová Monika , Siddique Jamal Akhter , Polozhiy Kirill , Reiterman Pavel , Keppert Martin , Černý Robert
Published: October 2015

The presented paper deals with utilization of raw and treated coir pith as potential component of cementitious composites. The studied material is coir pith originating from a coconut production. Its applicability as cement mixture component was assessed in terms of the physical properties of concrete containing different amount of coir pith. Basic physical properties, compressive and bending strength, and hygric transport characteristics as well as thermal properties belong among the studied characteristics. It was proved that the concrete with 5% (by mass of cement) of this waste material shows appropriate physical properties and it gives rise to an applicable material for building structures. Generally, the coir pith can be regarded as lightening additive. When 10% of coir pith was added, it has led to higher deterioration of properties than what is acceptable since such dosing is greatly increasing the total porosity. The influence of chemical treatment of coir pith was evaluated as well; both tested treatment methods improved the performance of cementitious composites while the acetylation was somewhat more effective the treatment by NaOH.
Sibjotang Increases Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Secretion in Beating Rabbit Atria
Authors: Kwon Oh Jeong , Oh Hyun Cheol , Lee Yun Jung , Kim Hye Yoom , Tan Rui , Kang Dae Gill , Lee Ho Sub
Published: October 2015

Sibjotang (Shizaotang), traditional herbal medicine formula, which was first documented in the Shanghanlun, has long been prescribed for the treatment of impairment of the body fluid homeostasis. The purpose of the present study was to identify the effects of Sibjotang on the secretion of a cardiac hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), one of the main hormones involved in the regulation of the body fluid and blood pressure homeostasis. Water extract of Sibjotang increased ANP secretion concomitantly with an increase in atrial dynamics in a concentration-dependent manner. Sibjotang-induced increase in ANP secretion and positive inotropic effect were attenuated by GO6976 and LY333531, selective inhibitors of conventional protein kinase C, but not Rottlerin, an inhibitor of novelPKCδ. Similarly to the effect of Sibjotang, extracts of components of Sibjotang,Euphorbia kansui, andDaphne genkwa, but notEuphorbia pekinensisandZiziphus jujuba, increased ANP secretion and atrial dynamics. Ingredients of Sibjotang, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, and salvianolic acid B decreased ANP secretion and atrial dynamics. These findings suggest that Sibjotang increases ANP secretion and atrial dynamics via activation of conventional protein kinase C signaling. This finding provides experimental evidence for the rationale in the use of Sibjotang in the treatment of impairment of the regulation of body fluid and blood pressure homeostasis.
Control of Synchronization and Stability for Nonlinear Complex Dynamical Networks with Different Dimensional Similar Nodes and Coupling Time-Varying Delay
Authors: Yi-ping Luo , Xin Luo , Fei Deng , Jun-qiang Hu
Published: October 2015

This paper discusses the stability and synchronization for the nonlinear coupled complex networks with different dimensional nodes, and the external coupling satisfies the condition of dissipation. The definition of synchronization of the complex dynamical networks is proposed as the manifold. By Lyapunov stability theorem, the decentralized controllers with similar parameters are designed to synchronize such dynamical networks asymptotically in which the characteristics are variable delayed. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed method.
Mesoscopic Numerical Computation of Compressive Strength and Damage Mechanism of Rubber Concrete
Authors: Xie Z. H. , Guo Y. C. , Yuan Q. Z. , Huang P. Y.
Published: October 2015

Evaluations of both macroscopic and mesoscopic strengths of materials have been the topic of a great deal of recent research. This paper presents the results of a study, based on the Walraven equation of the production of a mesoscopic random aggregate structure containing various rubber contents and aggregate sizes. On a mesoscopic scale, the damage mechanism in the rubber concrete and the effects of the rubber content and aggregate-mortar interface on the rubber concrete’s compressive resistance property were studied. The results indicate that the random aggregate structural model very closely approximates the experimental results in terms of the fracture distribution and damage characteristics under uniaxial compression. The aggregate-mortar interface mechanical properties have a substantial impact on the test sample’s strength and fracture distribution. As the rubber content increases, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the test sample decrease proportionally. This paper presents graphics of the entire process from fracture propagation to structural failure of the test piece by means of the mesoscopic finite-element method, which provides a theoretical reference for studying the damage mechanism in rubber concrete and performing parametric calculations.
MATLAB Simulation of UPQC for Power Quality Mitigation Using an Ant Colony Based Fuzzy Control Technique
Authors: Kumarasabapathy N. , Manoharan P. S.
Published: October 2015

This paper proposes a fuzzy logic based new control scheme for the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) for minimizing the voltage sag and total harmonic distortion in the distribution system consequently to improve the power quality. UPQC is a recent power electronic module which guarantees better power quality mitigation as it has both series‐active and shunt‐active power filters (APFs). The fuzzy logic controller has recently attracted a great deal of attention and possesses conceptually the quality of the simplicity by tackling complex systems with vagueness and ambiguity. In this research, the fuzzy logic controller is utilized for the generation of reference signal controlling the UPQC. To enable this, a systematic approach for creating the fuzzy membership functions is carried out by using an ant colony optimization technique for optimal fuzzy logic control. An exhaustive simulation study using the MATLAB/Simulink is carried out to investigate and demonstrate the performance of the proposed fuzzy logic controller and the simulation results are compared with the PI controller in terms of its performance in improving the power quality by minimizing the voltage sag and total harmonic distortion.
Reduction of the Early Autogenous Shrinkage of High Strength Concrete
Authors: Saje Drago
Published: October 2015

The results of a laboratory investigation on the early autogenous shrinkage of high strength concrete, and the possibilities of its reduction, are presented. Such concrete demonstrates significant autogenous shrinkage, which should, however, be limited in the early stages of its development in order to prevent the occurrence of cracks and/or drop in the load-carrying capacity of concrete structures. The following possibilities for reducing autogenous shrinkage were investigated: the use of low-heat cement, a shrinkage-reducing admixture, steel fibres, premoistened polypropylene fibres, and presoaked lightweight aggregate. In the case of the use of presoaked natural lightweight aggregate, with a fraction from 2 to 4 mm, the early autogenous shrinkage of one-day-old high strength concrete decreased by about 90%, with no change to the concrete's compressive strength in comparison with that of the reference concrete.
Prophylactic Treatment with Adlay Bran Extract Reduces the Risk of Severe Acute Radiation Dermatitis: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study
Authors: Huang Chih-Jen , Hou Ming-Feng , Kan Jung-Yu , Juan Chiung-Hui , Yuan Shyng-Shiou F. , Luo Kuei-Hau , Chuang Hung-Yi , Hu Stephen Chu-Sung
Published: October 2015

Acute radiation dermatitis is a frequent adverse effect in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, but there are only a small number of studies providing evidence-based interventions for this clinical condition. Adlay is a cereal crop that has been previously shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of oral prophylactic treatment with adlay bran extract in reducing the risk of severe acute radiation dermatitis. A total of 110 patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy were analyzed. Using a prospective, randomized, double-blind design, 73 patients received oral treatment with adlay bran extract and 37 patients received olive oil (placebo). Treatment was started at the beginning of radiation therapy and continued until the termination of radiation treatment. Our results showed that the occurrence of severe acute radiation dermatitis (RTOG grade 2 or higher) was significantly lower in patients treated with oral adlay bran extract compared to placebo (45.2% versus 75.7%, adjusted odds ratio 0.24). No serious adverse effects from adlay bran treatment were noted. In conclusion, prophylactic oral treatment with adlay bran extract reduces the risk of severe acute radiation dermatitis and may have potential use in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Virological Mechanisms in the Coinfection between HIV and HCV
Authors: Liberto Maria Carla , Zicca Emilia , Pavia Grazia , Quirino Angela , Marascio Nadia , Torti Carlo , Focà Alfredo
Published: October 2015

Due to shared transmission routes, coinfection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is common in patients infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The immune‐pathogenesis of liver disease in HIV/HCV coinfected patients is a multifactorial process. Several studies demonstrated that HIV worsens the course of HCV infection, increasing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, HCV might increase immunological defects due to HIV and risk of comorbidities. A specific cross‐talk among HIV and HCV proteins in coinfected patients modulates the natural history, the immune responses, and the life cycle of both viruses. These effects are mediated by immune mechanisms and by a cross‐talk between the two viruses which could interfere with host defense mechanisms. In this review, we focus on some virological/immunological mechanisms of the pathogenetic interactions between HIV and HCV in the human host.
Nanofiltration in Transforming Surface Water into Healthy Water: Comparison with Reverse Osmosis
Authors: Naidu L. D. , Saravanan S. , Chidambaram M. , Goel Mukesh , Das Ashutosh , Babu J. Sarat Chandra
Published: October 2015

The natural surface water, especially available through rivers, is the main source of healthy water for the living beings throughout the world from ancient days as it consists of all essential minerals. With the advent of industrialization, gradually even the most prominent rivers have been polluted in all parts of the world. Although there are lots of technologies, nanofiltration (NF) has been chosen to transform river water into healthy water due to its unique advantages of retaining optimum TDS (with essential minerals required for human body), consuming of lower energy, and no usage of any chemicals. The prominent parameters of surface water and macro/microminerals of treated water have been analyzed. It is shown that NF is better in producing healthy water with high flux by consuming low energy.
A New Approach for Coverage Analysis of Multihop Cooperative Networks Subject to Lognormal-Rice Fading
Authors: Haroon Muhammad Bilal , Hassan Syed Ali
Published: October 2015

A strip-shaped sensor network is considered, where randomly placed nodes communicate cooperatively by forming an opportunistic large array (OLA). The transmission from a group of cooperating nodes to another group of nodes is modeled with a quasi-stationary Markov chain, where the transmission channel is assumed to experience lognormal shadowing and Rice fading. The distribution of received power at a node is calculated as a three-step process, which includes finding the distribution of random distance between nodes in addition to other channel impairments, that is, fading and shadowing. It is shown that, in the presence of all three channel impairments, the received power at a node follows a lognormal distribution. This approximation uses a series of steps that involves techniques such as moment matching and moment generating function (MGF). Using the underlying Markov chain properties, the one-hop success probability of the network is derived. The system performance and coverage range of the network are quantified as a function of various network parameters and node topologies. The theoretical results are validated by performing computer simulations.
Luteolin Ameliorates Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling through Inhibiting the Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Su Jie , Xu Han-Ting , Yu Jing-Jing , Gao Jian-Li , Lei Jing , Yin Qiao-Shan , Li Bo , Pang Min-Xia , Su Min-Xia , Mi Wen-Jia , Chen Su-Hong , Lv Gui-Yuan
Published: October 2015

Objectives. Preliminary researches showed that luteolin was used to treat hypertension. However, it is still unclear whether luteolin has effect on the hypertensive complication such as vascular remodeling. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of luteolin on the hypertensive vascular remodeling and its molecular mechanism.Method and Results. We evaluated the effect of luteolin on aorta thickening of hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) and found that luteolin could significantly decrease the blood pressure and media thickness of aortain vivo. Luteolin could inhibit angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining result showed that luteolin reduced Ang II-stimulated ROS production in VSMCs. Furthermore, western blot and gelatin zymography results showed that luteolin treatment leaded to a decrease in ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-p38, MMP2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein level.Conclusion. These data support that luteolin can ameliorate hypertensive vascular remodeling by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of Ang II-induced VSMCs. Its mechanism is mediated by the regulation of MAPK signaling pathway and the production of ROS.
DecentralizedH∞Control for Large-Scale Systems with Uncertain Missing Measurements Probabilities
Authors: Zhou Ying , Zang Qiang , Fan Chunxia
Published: October 2015

For large-scale systems which are modeled as interconnection ofNnetworked control systems with uncertain missing measurements probabilities, a decentralized state feedbackH∞controller design is considered in this paper. The occurrence of missing measurements is assumed to be a Bernoulli random binary switching sequence with an unknown conditional probability distribution in an interval. A state feedbackH∞controller is designed in terms of linear matrix inequalities to make closed-loop system exponentially mean square stable and a prescribedH∞performance is guaranteed. Sufficient conditions are derived for the existence of such controller. A numerical example is also provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed design approach.
Nanomodified Peek Dental Implants: Bioactive Composites and Surface Modification—A Review
Authors: Najeeb Shariq , Khurshid Zohaib , Matinlinna Jukka Pekka , Siddiqui Fahad , Nassani Mohammad Zakaria , Baroudi Kusai
Published: October 2015

Purpose. The aim of this review is to summarize and evaluate the relevant literature regarding the different ways how polyetheretherketone (PEEK) can be modified to overcome its limited bioactivity, and thereby making it suitable as a dental implant material.Study Selection. An electronic literature search was conducted via the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the keywords “PEEK dental implants,” “nano,” “osseointegration,” “surface treatment,” and “modification.” A total of 16in vivoandin vitrostudies were found suitable to be included in this review.Results. There are many viable methods to increase the bioactivity of PEEK. Most methods focus on increasing the surface roughness, increasing the hydrophilicity and coating osseoconductive materials.Conclusion. There are many ways in which PEEK can be modified at a nanometer level to overcome its limited bioactivity. Melt-blending with bioactive nanoparticles can be used to produce bioactive nanocomposites, while spin-coating, gas plasma etching, electron beam, and plasma-ion immersion implantation can be used to modify the surface of PEEK implants in order to make them more bioactive. However, more animal studies are needed before these implants can be deemed suitable to be used as dental implants.
Pain-Induced Pulsograph Changes in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Pilot Study
Authors: Chen Wan-hong , Zhao Yan , Zeng Chang-chun , Zhang Dao-ning , Wang Yan-ping , Tang Ling , Zhang Xiao-mei , Wang Tian-fang
Published: October 2015

Objectives. To investigate changes in pulsograph caused by pain in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients.Methods. Pulsograph and pain level of PD patients were detected using electropulsograph and Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, at four time points, 7–10 days before menstruation(T0), maximal pain during menstruation(T1), immediately after acupuncture analgesia(T2), and 30 mins after acupuncture analgesia(T3). Parameters (t,h,w) and normalized time parameters (t′) of pulsograph were analyzed.Results. VAS pain scores decreased from 6.40 ± 1.13 atT1to 0.70 ± 0.75 atT2to 0.11 ± 0.32 atT3(P<0.001and 0.001). AtT1, compared with those atT0,w1,h3, andh4significantly increased (P<0.01), andt2,t2′,t3′, andh(d) significantly decreased (P<0.01, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.001). AtT2, compared with those atT1,t1,w1,w2,h2,h3,t1′, andt4′ significantly decreased (P<0.05, 0.01, 0.01, 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.05), andh(d) significantly increased (P<0.001). There was no difference betweenT2andT3.Conclusions. There are almost opposite changing trends in pulsographic parameters when pain occurs and when it is relieved in PD patients.
Guided Tissue Regeneration in Heart Valve Replacement: From Preclinical Research to First-in-Human Trials
Authors: Iop L. , Gerosa G.
Published: October 2015

Heart valve tissue-guided regeneration aims to offer a functional and viable alternative to current prosthetic replacements. Not requiring previous cell seeding and conditioning in bioreactors, such exceptional tissue engineering approach is a very fascinating translational regenerative strategy. Afterin vivoimplantation, decellularized heart valve scaffolds drive their same repopulation by recipient’s cells for a prospective autologous-like tissue reconstruction, remodeling, and adaptation to the somatic growth of the patient. With such a viability, tissue-guided regenerated conduits can be delivered as off-the-shelf biodevices and possess all the potentialities for a long-lasting resolution of the dramatic inconvenience of heart valve diseases, both in children and in the elderly. A review on preclinical and clinical investigations of this therapeutic concept is provided with evaluation of the issues still to be well deliberated for an effective and safe in-human application.
Sparse Approximation for Nonrigid Structure from Motion
Authors: Wang Yaming , Yan Xiaomeng , Zheng Junbao , Jiang Mingfeng
Published: October 2015

This paper introduces applying a novel sparse approximation method into solving nonrigid structure from motion problem in trajectory space. Instead of generating a truncated traditional trajectory basis, this method uses an atom dictionary which includes a set of overcomplete bases to estimate the real shape of the deformable object. Yet, it still runs reliably and can get an optimal result. On the other hand, it does not need to consider the size of predefined trajectory bases; that is to say, there is no need to truncate the trajectory basis. The mentioned method is very easy to implement and the only trouble which needs to be solved is anL1-regularized least squares problem. This paper not only presents a new thought, but also gives out a simple but effective solution for the nonrigid structure from motion problem.
Full GMP-Compliant Validation of Bone Marrow-Derived Human CD133+Cells as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product for Refractory Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Belotti Daniela , Gaipa Giuseppe , Bassetti Beatrice , Cabiati Benedetta , Spaltro Gabriella , Biagi Ettore , Parma Matteo , Biondi Andrea , Cavallotti Laura , Gambini Elisa , Pompilio Giulio
Published: October 2015

According to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) regulatory frameworks, Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) represent a new category of drugs in which the active ingredient consists of cells, genes, or tissues. ATMP-CD133 has been widely investigated in controlled clinical trials for cardiovascular diseases, making CD133+cells one of the most well characterized cell-derived drugs in this field. To ensure high quality and safety standards for clinical use, the manufacturing process must be accomplished in certified facilities following standard operative procedures (SOPs). In the present work, we report the fully compliant GMP-grade production of ATMP-CD133 which aims to address the treatment of chronic refractory ischemic heart failure. Starting from bone marrow (BM), ATMP-CD133 manufacturing output yielded a median of 6.66 × 106of CD133+cells (range 2.85 × 106–30.84 × 106), with a viability ranged between 96,03% and 99,97% (median 99,87%) and a median purity of CD133+cells of 90,60% (range 81,40%–96,20%). Based on these results we defined our final release criteria for ATMP-CD133: purity ≥ 70%, viability ≥ 80%, cellularity between 1 and 12 × 106cells, sterile, and endotoxin-free. The abovementioned criteria are currently applied in our Phase I clinical trial (RECARDIO Trial).
ISMAC: An Intelligent System for Customized Clinical Case Management and Analysis
Authors: You Mingyu , Chen Chong , Li Guo-Zheng , Yan Shi-Xing , Sun Sheng , Zeng Xue-Qiang , Zhao Qing-Ce , Xu Liao-Yu , Huang Su-Ying
Published: October 2015

Clinical cases are primary and vital evidence for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinical research. A great deal of medical knowledge is hidden in the clinical cases of the highly experienced TCM practitioner. With a deep Chinese culture background and years of clinical experience, an experienced TCM specialist usually has his or her unique clinical pattern and diagnosis idea. Preserving huge clinical cases of experienced TCM practitioners as well as exploring the inherent knowledge is then an important but arduous task. The novel system ISMAC (Intelligent System for Management and Analysis of Clinical Cases in TCM) is designed and implemented for customized management and intelligent analysis of TCM clinical data. Customized templates with standard and expert‐standard symptoms, diseases, syndromes, and Chinese Medince Formula (CMF) are constructed in ISMAC, according to the clinical diagnosis and treatment characteristic of each TCM specialist. With these templates, clinical cases are archived in order to maintain their original characteristics. Varying data analysis and mining methods, grouped as Basic Analysis, Association Rule, Feature Reduction, Cluster, Pattern Classification, and Pattern Prediction, are implemented in the system. With a flexible dataset retrieval mechanism, ISMAC is a powerful and convenient system for clinical case analysis and clinical knowledge discovery.
Efficacy of Epley’s Maneuver in Treating BPPV Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Gaur Sushil , Awasthi Sanjeev Kumar , Bhadouriya Sunil Kumar Singh , Saxena Rohit , Pathak Vivek Kumar , Bisht Mamta
Published: October 2015

Vertigo and balance disorders are among the most common symptoms encountered in patients who visit ENT outpatient department. This is associated with risk of falling and is compounded in elderly persons with other neurologic deficits and chronic medical problems. BPPV is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo. BPPV is a common vestibular disorder leading to significant morbidity, psychosocial impact, and medical costs. The objective of Epley’s maneuver, which is noninvasive, inexpensive, and easily administered, is to move the canaliths out of the canal to the utricle where they no longer affect the canal dynamics. Our study aims to analyze the response to Epley’s maneuver in a series of patients with posterior canal BPPV and compares the results with those treated exclusively by medical management alone. Even though many studies have been conducted to prove the efficacy of this maneuver, this study reinforces the validity of Epley’s maneuver by comparison with the medical management.
Modeling and Simulation of a Novel Relay Node Based Secure Routing Protocol Using Multiple Mobile Sink for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Perumal Madhumathy , Dhandapani Sivakumar
Published: October 2015

Data gathering and optimal path selection for wireless sensor networks (WSN) using existing protocols result in collision. Increase in collision further increases the possibility of packet drop. Thus there is a necessity to eliminate collision during data aggregation. Increasing the efficiency is the need of the hour with maximum security. This paper is an effort to come up with a reliable and energy efficient WSN routing and secure protocol with minimum delay. This technique is named as relay node based secure routing protocol for multiple mobile sink (RSRPMS). This protocol finds the rendezvous point for optimal transmission of data using a “splitting tree” technique in tree‐shaped network topology and then to determine all the subsequent positions of a sink the “Biased Random Walk” model is used. In case of an event, the sink gathers the data from all sources, when they are in the sensing range of rendezvous point. Otherwise relay node is selected from its neighbor to transfer packets from rendezvous point to sink. A symmetric key cryptography is used for secure transmission. The proposed relay node based secure routing protocol for multiple mobile sink (RSRPMS) is experimented and simulation results are compared with Intelligent Agent‐Based Routing (IAR) protocol to prove that there is increase in the network lifetime compared with other routing protocols.
A Retrospective Audit of Clinically Significant Maternal Bacteraemia in a Specialist Maternity Hospital from 2001 to 2014
Authors: Drew Richard John , Fonseca-Kelly Zara , Eogan Maeve
Published: October 2015

Maternal sepsis is a significant problem in obstetrics, with almost one in four maternal deaths related to severe sepsis. We carried out a retrospective review of clinically significant bacteraemia in obstetric patients attending Rotunda Hospital over 14 years. From 2001 to 2014, there were 252 clinically significant positive blood culture episodes in obstetric patients. There were 112,361 live births >500 g during the study period giving an overall rate of 2.24 clinically significant positive maternal blood culture episodes per 1000 live births >500 g. The median rate over the 14 years was 2.12 episodes per 1000 live births >500 g, with an interquartile range of 1.74–2.43 per 1000 live births >500 g. There was no discernable increasing or decreasing trend over the 14 years.E. coliwas the most commonly isolated organism (n= 92/252, 37%), followed by group BStreptococcus(n= 64/252, 25%),Staphylococcus aureus(n= 28/252, 11%), and anaerobes (n= 11/252, 4%). These top four organisms represented three-quarters of all positive blood culture episodes (n= 195/252, 77.3%). Of note, there were only five cases of listeriosis, representing a rate of 4.4 cases per 100,000 live births >500 g. The rate of invasive group A streptococcal infection was also very low at 5.3 cases per 100,000 live births >500 g.
Glutamine: An Obligatory Parenteral Nutrition Substrate in Critical Care Therapy
Authors: Stehle Peter , Kuhn Katharina S.
Published: October 2015

Critical illness is characterized by glutamine depletion owing to increased metabolic demand. Glutamine is essential to maintain intestinal integrity and function, sustain immunologic response, and maintain antioxidative balance. Insufficient endogenous availability of glutamine may impair outcome in critically ill patients. Consequently, glutamine has been considered to be a conditionally essential amino acid and a necessary component to complete any parenteral nutrition regimen. Recently, this scientifically sound recommendation has been questioned, primarily based on controversial findings from a large multicentre study published in 2013 that evoked considerable uncertainty among clinicians. The present review was conceived to clarify the most important questions surrounding glutamine supplementation in critical care. This was achieved by addressing the role of glutamine in the pathophysiology of critical illness, summarizing recent clinical studies in patients receiving parenteral nutrition with intravenous glutamine, and describing practical concepts for providing parenteral glutamine in critical care.
Micro and Macro Element Composition ofKalanchoe integraLeaves: An Adjuvant Treatment for Hypertension in Ghana
Authors: Frimpong-Manso S. , Asiedu-Gyekye I. J. , Naadu J. P. , Magnus-Aryitey G. T. , Nyarko A. K. , Boamah D. , Awan M.
Published: October 2015

Two samples, water extract and blended whole leaves, of freshKalanchoe integraleaves (Crassulaceae), a traditional antihypertensive medicine used in Ghana, were analyzed with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF). Analysis revealed 12 macro and 26 micro elements in both extracts. Further quantitative assessment of the results for amounts of elements that are pharmacologically significant revealed that the amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium present in the extracts could be correlated to its traditional usage in managing hypertension and arrhythmias. However, heavy metals (lead and inorganic arsenic) detected in the extracts may pose a threat at doses normally used traditionally for the treatment of hypertension.
Theoretical Approach to the Gauge Invariant Linear Response Theories for Ultracold Fermi Gases with Pseudogap
Authors: Guo Hao , He Yan
Published: October 2015

Recent experimental progress allows for exploring some important physical quantities of ultracold Fermi gases, such as the compressibility, spin susceptibility, viscosity, optical conductivity, and spin diffusivity. Theoretically, these quantities can be evaluated from suitable linear response theories. For BCS superfluid, it has been found that the gauge invariant linear response theories can be fully consistent with some stringent consistency constraints. When the theory is generalized to stronger than BCS regime, one may meet serious difficulties to satisfy the gauge invariance conditions. In this paper, we try to construct density and spin linear response theories which are formally gauge invariant for a Fermi gas undergoing BCS-Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC) crossover, especially below the superfluid transition temperatureTc. We adapt a particulart-matrix approach which is close to theG0Gformalism to incorporate noncondensed pairing in the normal state. We explicitly show that the fundamental constraints imposed by the Ward identities andQ-limit Ward identity are indeed satisfied.
Equilateral Triangular Dielectric Resonator Nantenna at Optical Frequencies for Energy Harvesting
Authors: Sethi Waleed Tariq , Vettikalladi Hamsakutty , Fathallah Habib , Himdi Mohamed
Published: October 2015

The last decade has witnessed a remarkable growth in the telecommunication industry. With the introduction of smart gadgets, the demand for high data rate and bandwidth for wireless applications have increased exponentially at the cost of exponential consumption of energy. The latter is pushing the research and industry communities to devise green communication solutions that require the design of energy saving devices and techniques in one part and ambient energy harvesting techniques in the other part. With the advent of nanocomponents fabrication technology, researchers are now able to tap into the THz frequency regime and fabricate optical low profile antennas at a nanoscale. Optical antennas have proved their potential and are revolutionizing a class of novel optical detectors, interconnectors, sensors, and energy harvesting related fields. Authors in this paper propose an equilateral triangular dielectric resonator nantenna (ETDRNA) working at 193.5 THz standard optical frequency. The simulated antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth from 192.3 THz to 197.3 THz with an end-fire directivity of 8.6 dBi, covering the entire standard optical window of C-band. Numerical demonstrations prove the efficiency of the nantenna at the frequencies of interest, making it a viable candidate for future green energy harvesting and high speed optical applications.