bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presenting a New Wireless Strain Method for Structural Monitoring: Experimental Validation
Authors: Gregori Amedeo , Di Giampaolo Emidio , Di Carlofelice Alessandro , Castoro Chiara
Published: November 2019

The structural health monitoring (SHM) of large and complex infrastructures as well as laboratory tests of new structures and materials resorts to strain gauge measurements to check mechanical stress. A wireless measurement of the strain gauge response is desirable in many practical applications to avoid the cost and the difficulty of wiring, particularly in large structures requiring several sensors and in complex objects where the measurement points are difficult to access. In this paper, a wireless strain gauge which is a hybrid between an RFID tag and a usual thin-film resistive strain gauge is experimented. Installation and maintenance problems of the wireless sensor networks are overcome allowing a high level of measurement accuracy, comparable to that of wired strain sensors, together with a long measurement distance. A large set of measurements has been performed using reference specimens and readings in order to validate the sensor and to develop a calibration procedure that makes the sensor suitable for a large number of different applications in civil engineering.
Hepatitis B Virus X Protein-Induced RORγ Expression to Promote the Migration and Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Huang Yu , Liang Huasheng , He Chuanxiong , Peng Fang
Published: November 2019

Aberrant expression of RORγ is implicated in cancer development. A previous study identified that RORγ functions as a tumor promoter to drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth. However, its expression and significance in HCC remain unclear. The central finding of this work is that RORγ was overexpressed in HCC due to its dysfunction of promoter methylation, and hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) can remarkably induce the expression of RORγ in hepatocellular carcinoma through enhancing the transcriptional function. Also, the HBx-induced RORγ could promote the migration and proliferation of hepatoma cells. Hence, these results suggest that RORγ was an important regulator in HCC, and our finding provides new insights into the significance of RORγ in HCC.
Study on Transmutation of Minor Actinides as Burnable Poison in VVER-1000 Fuel Assembly
Authors: Tran Vinh Thanh , Tran Hoai-Nam , Nguyen Huu Tiep , Hoang Van-Khanh , Ha Pham Nhu Viet
Published: November 2019

Thermal reactors have been considered as interim solution for transmutation of minor actinides recycled from spent nuclear fuel. Various studies have been performed in recent decades to realize this possibility. This paper presents the neutronic feasibility study on transmutation of minor actinides as burnable poison in the VVER-1000 LEU (low enriched uranium) fuel assembly. The VVER-1000 LEU fuel assembly was modeled using the SRAC code system, and the SRAC calculation model was verified against the MCNP6 calculations and the available published benchmark data. Two models of minor actinide loading in the LEU fuel assembly have been investigated: homogeneous mixing in the UGD (Uranium-Gadolinium) pins and coating a thin layer to the UGD pins. The consequent negative reactivity insertion by minor actinides was compensated by reducing the gadolinium content and boron concentration. The reactivity of the LEU assembly versus burnup and the transmutation of minor actinide nuclides were examined in comparison with the reference case. The results demonstrate that transmutation of minor actinides as burnable poison in the VVER-1000 reactor is feasible as minor actinides could partially replace the functions of gadolinium and boric acid for excess reactivity control.
The Role of Soil pH in Plant Nutrition and Soil Remediation
Authors: Neina Dora
Published: November 2019

In the natural environment, soil pH has an enormous influence on soil biogeochemical processes. Soil pH is, therefore, described as the “master soil variable” that influences myriads of soil biological, chemical, and physical properties and processes that affect plant growth and biomass yield. This paper discusses how soil pH affects processes that are interlinked with the biological, geological, and chemical aspects of the soil environment as well as how these processes, through anthropogenic interventions, induce changes in soil pH. Unlike traditional discussions on the various causes of soil pH, particularly soil acidification, this paper focuses on relationships and effects as far as soil biogeochemistry is concerned. Firstly, the effects of soil pH on substance availability, mobility, and soil biological processes are discussed followed by the biogenic regulation of soil pH. It is concluded that soil pH can broadly be applied in two broad areas, i.e., nutrient cycling and plant nutrition and soil remediation (bioremediation and physicochemical remediation).
Mechanism Underlying Selective Albuminuria in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Tojo Akihiro
Published: November 2019

As water and solutes are filtered through the slit membrane, it is an a priori concept that a slit membrane is an essential filtration barrier for proteins, including albumin. However, in cases of minimal change nephrotic syndrome, the number of slit membranes is reduced by the foot process effacement and tight junction-like cell adhesion. Furthermore, albumin endocytosis is enhanced in the podocytes under condition of minimal change disease, and albumin is selectively transported by the albumin receptor FcRn. Suppressing the endocytosis of albumin with anti-FcRn antibody decreases the urinary protein level. The expression of motor molecules, such as cytoplasmic dynein 1 and myosin IX, is increased in the podocytes under conditions of minimal change nephrotic syndrome, suggesting the enhanced transport of vesicles containing albumin. Podocyte vesicle transport may play an important role in the pathology of selective albuminuria in cases of nephrotic syndrome.
Computational Analysis of nsSNPs of ADA Gene in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Using Molecular Modeling and Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Essadssi Soukaina , Krami Al Mehdi , Elkhattabi Lamiae , Elkarhat Zouhair , Amalou Ghita , Abdelghaffar Houria , Rouba Hassan , Barakat Abdelhamid
Published: November 2019

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is the most severe form of primary immunodeficiency (PID), characterized by fatal opportunistic infections. The ADA gene encodes adenosine deaminase, an enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine in the catabolic pathway of purine. Mutations of the ADA gene have been identified in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency. In this study, we performed a bioinformatics analysis of the human ADA gene to identify potentially harmful nonsynonymous SNPs and their effect on protein structure and stability. Using eleven prediction tools, we identified 15 nsSNPs (H15D, H15P, H17Q, H17Y, D19N, T26I, G140E, C153F, A183D, G216R, H258Y, C262Y, S291L, S291W, and K34OE) as harmful. The results of ConSurf’s analysis revealed that all these nsSNPs are localised in the highly conserved positions and affect the structure of the native proteins. In addition, our computational analysis showed that the H15D, G140E, G216R, and S291L mutations identified as being associated with severe combined immunodeficiency affect protein structure. Similarly, the results of the analyses of Rmsd, Rmsf, and Rg showed that all these factors influence protein stability, flexibility, and compaction with different levels of impact. This study is the first comprehensive computational analysis of nsSNPs of the ADA gene. However, functional analyses are needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms of these polymorphisms in severe combined immunodeficiency.
Performance Analysis of Energy Harvesting-Based Full-Duplex Decode-and-Forward Vehicle-to-Vehicle Relay Networks with Nonorthogonal Multiple Access
Authors: Nguyen Ba Cao , Hoang Tran Manh , Pham Xuan Nghia , Tran Phuong T.
Published: November 2019

In this paper, a combination of energy harvesting (EH) and cooperative nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been proposed for full-duplex (FD) relaying vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) networks with two destination nodes over a Rayleigh fading channel. Different from previous studies, here both source and relay nodes are supplied with the energy from a power beacon (PB) via RF signals, and then use the harvested energy for transmitting the information. For the extensive performance analysis, the closed-form expressions for the performance indicators, including outage probability (OP) and ergodic capacity of both users, have been derived rigorously. Additionally, the effect of various parameters, such as EH time duration, residual self-interference (RSI) level, and power allocation coefficients, on the system performance has also been investigated. Furthermore, all mathematical analytical results are confirmed by Monte-Carlo simulations, which also demonstrate the optimal value of EH time duration to minimize the OP and maximize the ergodic capacity of the proposed system.
Barriers to the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment among Rural Women in Ghana
Authors: Binka Charity , Nyarko Samuel H. , Awusabo-Asare Kofi , Doku David T.
Published: November 2019

Background. This study sought to explore the barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment in the North Tongu district of Ghana. Methods. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted, while three focus group discussions were held among respondents. The data were analysed with the R package for qualitative data analysis using a thematic analytical approach. Results. Low level of knowledge about the disease and screening services, personal or psychological convictions, and cost of screening and treatment coupled with a low level of income were the barriers at the individual level. Perceived health personnel attitude, perceived lack of privacy, and misdiagnosis were the barriers at the institutional level while the sociocultural belief system of the communities about the etiology of the disease was the barrier at the community level. Inadequate education about the disease, lack of funding and access to screening facilities also constrained screening and treatment at the policy level. Conclusions. Cervical cancer screening and treatment are constrained at multiple levels in rural Ghana. This study underscores the need to address the low uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment at the individual, community, institutional, and policy levels simultaneously.
Performance of Ground Clay Brick Mortars in Simulated Chloride and Sulphate Media
Authors: Ngui Musyimi Festus , Wachira Jackson Muthengia , Thiong’o Joseph Karanja , Marangu Joseph Mwiti
Published: November 2019

The durability of cement-based structures majorly depends on their resistivity to the aggressive media in the construction environment. The most aggressive ions commonly encountered in construction environment are chloride (Cl−) and sulphate (SO42−). The interactions of these ions with hydrated cement influence their durability and ultimate service life. This paper reports the experimental findings on an investigation on the diffusivity of Cl− and SO42− ions into mortars made from two mixtures: one made from ground calcined clay bricks (GB) and commercial ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and the other consisting of GB and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). The test media were 3.5% Cl− and 1.75% SO42− solutions. For comparison, commercial OPC and PPC were also investigated. GB was blended with OPC at replacement levels of 25, 35, 45, and 50% to make OPCGB. Similar blends were also made with PPC replacement levels of 15, 20, and 25% to make PPCGB. Mortar prisms measuring 160 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm were cast at the water-to-cement ratios (w/c) of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60 using each category of cement and cured in water for 3, 7, and 28 days. Compressive strength measurements were taken at each of the curing ages. The 28-day cured mortar prisms were subjected to compressive strength analysis and accelerated Cl− and SO42− ingress for 36 hours at 12 V. Ion profiling was done on the mortars, and diffusion coefficients of the Cl− and SO42− ions were approximated. The results showed that there was an increase in compressive strength after exposure to Cl− and SO42− ions. In addition, the ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions decreased with an increase in depth of cover. Blended cement exhibited lower Cl− and SO42− ingress than OPC. The ingress of Cl− was observed to be higher than that of SO42− ions. The ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions increased with an increase in w/c ratio. The results further showed that there was a drop in the ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions with an increase in replacement up to 35 percent for OPC. A 15 percent replacement showed a better compressive strength development compared with 20 and 25 percent replacement for PPC. Blended cement showed lower apparent diffusion coefficients (Dapp) compared with OPC. PPC, OPCGB-35, and PPCGB-15 exhibited similar performance in terms of strength development, aggressive ions ingress, and Dapp. In conclusion, it was found that the test cements, PPCGB-15 and OPCGB-35, can be used in similar tested environments as commercial PPC.
Evidence That the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Rubiadin-1-methyl Ether Has an Immunomodulatory Context
Authors: Mohr Eduarda Talita Bramorski , dos Santos Nascimento Marcus Vinicius Pereira , da Rosa Júlia Salvan , Vieira Guilherme Nicácio , Kretzer Iara Fabricia , Sandjo Louis Pergaud , Dalmarco Eduardo Monguilhott
Published: November 2019

Background. In spite of the latest therapeutic developments, no effective treatments for handling critical conditions such as acute lung injuries have yet been found. Such conditions, which may result from lung infections, sepsis, multiple trauma, or shock, represent a significant challenge in intensive care medicine. Seeking ways to better deal with this challenge, the scientific community has recently devoted much attention to small molecules derived from natural products with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.Aims. In this context, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Rubiadin-1-methyl ether isolated fromPentas schimperi, using anin vitromodel of RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by LPS and anin vivomodel of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by LPS.Methods. The macrophages were pretreated with the compound and induced by LPS (1 μg/mL). After 24 h, using the supernatant, we evaluated the cytotoxicity, NOx, and IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-αlevels, as well as the effect of the compound on macrophage apoptosis. Next, the compound was administered in mice with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by LPS (5 mg/kg), and the pro- and anti-inflammatory parameters were analyzed after 12 h using the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).Results. Rubiadin-1-methyl ether was able to inhibit the pro-inflammatory parameters studied in thein vitroassays (NOx, IL-6, and IL-1β) and, at the same time, increased the macrophage apoptosis rate. In thein vivoexperiments, this compound was capable of decreasing leukocyte infiltration; fluid leakage; NOx; IL-6, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and MCP-1 levels; and MPO activity. In addition, Rubiadin-1-methyl ether increased the IL-10 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).Conclusions. These findings support the evidence that Rubiadin-1-methyl ether has important anti-inflammatory activity, with evidence of an immunomodulatory effect.
Transient Musical Hallucinations in a Young Adult Male Associated with Alcohol Withdrawal
Authors: Blackman Graham , Lim Mao Fong , Mannan Fahmida , David Anthony
Published: November 2019

We present the case of a 25-year-old male who presented to A&E with isolated musical hallucinations, in the absence of audiological or neurological disease. The patient had a history of recreational drug use and a family history of psychosis. Hallucinations, which were preceded by discontinuation of alcohol and reinitiation of citalopram for depression, resolved spontaneously after three days. Aetiological factors are discussed alongside the existing literature. Whilst the underlying mechanisms underpinning musical hallucinations remain elusive, the case illustrates the potential role of alcohol withdrawal, serotonin toxicity, recreational drug use, and genetic vulnerability.
Shear Behavior of Wheat‐Concrete Interface during Monotonic and Cyclic Loading
Authors: Zeng Changnv , Wang Yuke
Published: November 2019

The interface behavior between wheat and concrete plays a decisive role in the design of silo structures. In this paper, a series of strain‐controlled monotonic direct shear (MDS) tests, cyclic direct shear (CDS) tests, and postcyclic direct shear (PCDS) tests were conducted to investigate the wheat‐concrete interface behavior under monotonic and cyclic loading. The influence of cycle numbers, shear displacement amplitude, normal stress, and preloading consolidation was discussed in detail. In particular, the preloading consolidation simulates the partly discharging state of wheat. The values of peak stress increase with increasing displacement amplitude and cycles, and they change slightly after 10 cycles. The interface exhibits an overall contraction deformation during the MDS tests without preloading, but the contraction is suppressed by an alternating dilation during the DCS tests, and an overall small dilation occurs at small normal stress during PCDS tests. It is observed that the cyclic loading and preloading normal stresses result in an increasing peak strength, internal friction angle, and apparent cohesion, whereas a decrease in interface contraction deformation.
The Role of Immunotherapy in Extensive Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Tsiouprou Ioanna , Zaharias Athanasios , Spyratos Dionisios
Published: November 2019

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both sexes worldwide. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a form of neuroendocrine tumor, which is classified into limited and extensive-stage disease and shows excellent initial response to chemotherapy; however, almost all patients relapse later. During the past few years, several clinical trials have evaluated the effect of addition of immunotherapy to conventional chemotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC. Checkpoint inhibitors are currently under investigation, especially the CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Nowadays, evidence show a statistically significant survival benefit of adding atezolizumab, an IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting against PD-L1, to platinum-based chemotherapy plus etoposide in patients who have not received any previous systemic therapy. Furthermore, the role of nivolumab, an IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, is significant for the treatment of relapsed SCLC cases. Recently, pembrolizumab was the first immunotherapeutic agent to be approved by the FDA for patients with metastatic SCLC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of chemotherapy. Nevertheless, prognostic biomarkers to immunotherapy response remain to be discovered.
A Case of Oral Histoplasmosis Concomitant with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: de Freitas Filho Silas Antonio Juvencio , Garcia Natália Galvão , de Souza Mário César , Oliveira Denise Tostes
Published: November 2019

The superficial intraoral lesions of histoplasmosis occurring concomitant to tuberculosis, in a 46-year-old man, are reported. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection test was negative. The immunosuppression caused by tuberculosis in our patient probably had an important role in the development of intraoral lesions of histoplasmosis. Here, we discussed the role of the dentist in the diagnosis of these infectious diseases, highlighting the importance of anamnesis and the histopathology/immunohistochemistry exams.
Fixed Points of Subadditive Maps with an Application to a System of Volterra–Fredholm Type Integrodifferential Equations
Authors: Işık Hüseyin , Moeini Bahman , Aydi Hassen , Mlaiki Nabil
Published: November 2019

In this paper, some fixed‐point theorems are established for strongly subadditive maps on C(Ω, ϒ) (where C(Ω, ϒ) denotes the space of ϒ‐valued continuous functions on a compact Hausdorff space Ω and ϒ is a unital Banach algebra). Finally, the result is applied to prove the existence and uniqueness of a solution for a system of nonlinear integrodifferential equations.
Iron Content of Some Popular Cooked Foods Consumed by the Rural School Children in Sri Lanka
Authors: Perera D. Ruwani G. , Gunawardana Dilantha , Jayatissa Renuka , Silva A. Buddhika G.
Published: November 2019

Iron is an important micronutrient that can be found in different food sources in varying quantities. Iron deficiency is common in populations consuming cereal-based diets with little or no animal-derived food products. Rice is the staple for Sri Lankans, which may not provide sufficient bioavailable iron. Sri Lankan food composition table does not contain data on iron in home-cooked foods. Aim of the present study was to determine the iron content in commonly consumed home-cooked foods (rice, vegetables, green leaves, pulses, fish, etc.) by children aged 15-16 years. The study was carried out in eight schools at the Divisional Secretariat, Horana. The average iron values of cooked rice, vegetables, green leaves, pulses, and fish were 23.29 ± 14.46, 19.34 ± 9.90, 29.56 ± 13.64, 45.16 ± 22.28, and 46.72 ± 14.53 mg/kg, respectively. A serving of cooked red raw rice (rathu kekulu) provided the highest Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of iron. The total EDI per serving for all categories was 6.39 ± 1.06 mg, contributing to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 42.62% of girls and 58.12% of boys as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, based on the Sri Lankan RDA, dietary iron contribution per serving ranges from 16.39% to 17.76% in girls and 16.39% to 21.31% in boys in the 15-16 years age category. Therefore, these home-cooked foods which were prepared using local recipes have high iron content and can replenish a major proportion of recommended quotidian values for iron intake.
Flexural Performance of Cross‐Laminated Bamboo (CLB) Slabs and CFRP Grid Composite CLB Slabs
Authors: Lv Qingfang , Wang Weiyang , Liu Ye
Published: November 2019

In order to accord well with the requirements of sustainable development and green construction, a cross‐laminated bamboo composed of an odd number of orthogonally oriented layers of bamboo scrimber is proposed in this paper. Adjacent bamboo layers are face‐bonded by structural adhesives under pressure. The uniform mechanical and physical properties can be obtained through the orthogonal layup. Flexural performances of three groups of one‐way CLB slabs and two groups of one‐way CLB slabs strengthened with CFRP grids were investigated via four‐point monotonic loading configuration until failure. Experimental parameters of thickness of the layer, number of layers, and manufacturing processes of CFRP grids were taken into consideration. Experimental observations showed that the failure of the CLB slab was brittle, and different failure modes were found in the CLB slab with CFRP grids via different manufacturing processes. Test results showed that the load‐carrying capacity increased with the thickness of the layer, number of layers, and application of CFRP grids pressed in the bamboo layer, but the CFRP grids pressed in the interface of adjacent bamboo layers weakened the load‐carrying capacity. The strain analysis demonstrated that the compression region was utilized with more efficiency via CFRP grids pressed in the bamboo layer, and the plane cross section assumption is suitable for both CLB slab and CLB slab strengthened with CFRP grids. A theoretical calculation method of flexural load‐carrying capacity was proposed for the CLB slab, the accuracy of which was proved.
QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test Conversion Is Associated with Active Tuberculosis Development in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Treated with Biological Agents: An Experience of a Medical Center in Taiwan
Authors: Lai Hsiang-Chun , Chang Chia-Hsi , Cheng Ken-Sheng , Chen Tsung-Wei , Tsai Yuan-Yao , Chou Jen-Wei
Published: November 2019

Taiwan has a lower prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a higher prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection than Western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of latent TB (LTB) and active TB infection in IBD patients treated with biological agents. From January 2000 to September 2018, we retrospectively collected data from IBD patients treated with biological agents at a tertiary referral center. Patients underwent a QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT) to screen for TB infection before and after biological treatment courses. The diagnostic age, sex, body mass index, hepatitis B virus infection, biochemistry profile, treatment regimens, and the results of the QFT were analyzed. Overall, 130 IBD patients who received biological treatment were enrolled. The results of the QFT before biological treatment were determined in 120 patients (92%); of these, 10 were positive (8%), 110 were negative (85%), and 10 were indeterminate (9%). Six patients demonstrated seroconversion after biological treatment, as determined by the QFT. Three patients (2.4%) developed active pulmonary TB after biological treatment. In subgroup analysis, the positive QFT patients had a trend of lower baseline serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels than the negative QFT group. The present study demonstrates that the prevalence of LTB before and after biological treatment is higher in Taiwan than in most Western countries and similar to other Asian countries. Therefore, screening and monitoring of TB infection are necessary for IBD patients before and during biological treatments in Taiwan.
Milling Tool Wear State Recognition by Vibration Signal Using a Stacked Generalization Ensemble Model
Authors: Hui Yang , Mei Xuesong , Jiang Gedong , Tao Tao , Pei Changyu , Ma Ziwei
Published: November 2019

Milling tool wear state recognition plays an important role in controlling the quality of milled parts and reducing machine tool downtime. However, the characteristics of milling process limit the accuracy and stability of tool condition monitoring (TCM) employing vibration signals. To improve this problem, this paper explores the use of vibration signals as sensing approach for recognizing tool wear states during milling operation by using the stacked generalization (SG) ensemble model. In this study, vibration signals collected during the milling process are analyzed through the time domain, frequency domain, and time‐frequency domain to extract signal features. The support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM‐RFE) algorithm is used to select the main features which are most relevant to tool wear states. The SG ensemble model based on SVM, decision tree (DT), naive Bayes (NB), and SG ensemble strategy is constructed to recognize tool wear states. The proposed method is experimental verified, and the results show that the recognition accuracy of the established SG ensemble model is 98.74% and the overall G‐mean and AUC evaluation value of the model is 0.98 and 0.98, respectively. In addition, compared with other ensemble models and single models, the SG ensemble model based on vibration signals has better recognition accuracy and stability than other models.
The Potential Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases 8 and 9 and Myeloperoxidase in Predicting Outcomes of Bacterial Meningitis of Childhood
Authors: Savonius Okko , Roine Irmeli , Alassiri Saeed , Tervahartiala Taina , Helve Otto , Fernández Josefina , Peltola Heikki , Sorsa Timo , Pelkonen Tuula
Published: November 2019

Background. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) contribute to the inflammatory cascade in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during bacterial meningitis. We determined levels of MPO, MMP-8, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase- (TIMP-) 1 in the CSF of children with bacterial meningitis and investigated how these inflammatory mediators relate to each other and to the disease outcomes. Methods. Clinical data and the diagnostic CSF samples from 245 children (median age eight months) with bacterial meningitis were obtained from a clinical trial in Latin America in 1996–2003. MMP-9 levels in the CSF were assessed by zymography, while MMP-8, MPO, and TIMP-1 concentrations were determined with immunofluorometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results. MPO correlated positively with MMP-8 (rho 0.496, P<0.001) and MMP-9 (rho 0.153, P=0.02) but negatively with TIMP-1 (rho -0.361, P<0.001). MMP-8 emerged as the best predictor of disease outcomes: a CSF MMP-8 concentration above the median increased the odds of death 4.9-fold (95% confidence interval 1.8–12.9). Conclusions. CSF MMP-8 presented as an attractive prognostic marker in children with bacterial meningitis.
Tetrandrine Ameliorates Airway Remodeling of Chronic Asthma by Interfering TGF-β1/Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway-Mediated Oxidative Stress
Authors: Lin Yiping , Yao Jingchan , Wu Meiling , Ying Xiaoqian , Ding Mingxing , Wei Yanli , Fu Xiaoyan , Feng Wei , Wang Yunguang
Published: November 2019

Background. Imbalanced oxidative stress and antioxidant defense are involved in airway remodeling in asthma. It has been demonstrated that Tetrandrine has a potent role in antioxidant defense in rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension. However, the correlation between Tetrandrine and oxidative stress in asthma is utterly blurry. This study aimed to investigate the role of Tetrandrine on oxidative stress-mediated airway remolding. Materials and Methods. Chronic asthma was established by ovalbumin (OVA) administration in male Wistar rats. Histopathology was determined by HE staining. Immunofluorescence was employed to detect the expression of α-SMA and Nrf-2. Level of oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases were examined by ELISA kits. Cell viability and cell cycle of primary airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were evaluated by CCK8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Signal molecules were detected using western blot. Results. Tetrandrine effectively impairs OVA-induced airway inflammatory and airway remodeling by inhibiting the expression of CysLT1 and CysLTR1. The increase of oxidative stress and subsequent enhancement of MMP9 and TGF-β1 expression were rescued by the administration of Tetrandrine in the rat model of asthma. In in vitro experiments, Tetrandrine markedly suppressed TGF-β1-evoked cell viability and cell cycle promotion of ASMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Tetrandrine promoted Nrf-2 nuclear transcription and activated its downstream HO-1 in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion. Tetrandrine attenuates airway inflammatory and airway remodeling in rat model of asthma and TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation of ASMCs by regulating oxidative stress in primary ASMCs, suggesting that Tetrandrine possibly is an effective candidate therapy for asthma.
Nonlinear Effects of Governmental and Civil Environmental Regulation on Green Total Factor Productivity in China
Authors: Lei Xubin , Wu Shusheng
Published: November 2019

This paper employs metafrontier Malmquist-Luenberger index to measure green total factor productivity and then builds panel model to investigate the nonlinear effects of both governmental and civil environmental regulation on green total factor productivity in 30 provinces of China in 2007–2016, where the threshold variables are environmental awareness and regulatory foundation. The results show that green total factor productivity takes the characteristic of cyclical fluctuation, and the magnitude and its growth rate in the eastern region are higher than those in the midwestern region. The degrees of the governmental and civil environmental regulation and green total factor productivity display single environmental awareness threshold and regulatory foundation threshold. It should be noted that the sign of governmental and civil environmental regulation on green total factor productivity will transform from negative to positive, if and only if threshold variables ascend and surpass the threshold value. Under the condition of metafrontier technology, governmental environmental awareness threshold value, based on the investigated corruption and malpractice cases by the procuratorates among every hundred thousand people, reaches 0.2158, and civil environmental awareness threshold value based on the per capita education level will attain 12.2330 years, and the corresponding regulatory foundation index threshold values are 0.0163 and 0.0154. These findings show clear policy implications: rather than continually promoting the level of governmental environmental regulation, civil performance, environmental awareness, and regulatory foundation should be considered.
Regional Elastic Properties of the Achilles Tendon Is Heterogeneously Influenced by Individual Muscle of the Gastrocnemius
Authors: Zhou Jiping , Yu Jiafeng , Liu Chunlong , Tang Chunzhi , Zhang Zhijie
Published: November 2019

Background. Anatomical studies and the mechanical property studies showed that there is a strong correlation between Achilles tendon (AT) elasticity and individual gastrocnemius muscle (the medial head of gastrocnemius (MG) and the lateral head of gastrocnemius (LG)) elasticity. Limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion has been correlated with decreased flexibility of the MG/LG/AT complex. However, no studies have been conducted to examine the exact correlation between the Achilles tendon and the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius. Purposes. The purposes of the present study were (1) to evaluate intra- and interoperator reliabilities of elastic property measurements in the gastrocnemius muscle-Achilles tendon complex by using the shear wave elastography (SWE) and (2) to examine the correlation between the regional elastic properties of the AT and the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius. Methods. Twenty healthy subjects (mean age: 22.50 (3.02) years) were recruited in this study. The elastic properties of the AT and the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius were quantified using the SWE. Findings. The SWE has comparatively high reliability in quantifying the elastic properties of the muscle-tendon range from good to excellent. The intraoperator ICC of the gastrocnemius muscle-Achilles tendon complex was 0.77 to 0.95, while the interoperator ICC was 0.76 to 0.94. The minimal detectable change (MDC) of the muscle was 1.72 kPa, while the AT was 32.90 kPa. A significant correlation was found between the elastic modulus of AT and the elastic modulus of the MG (r=0.668 and p=0.001 at the relaxing position and r=0.481 and p=0.032 at the neutral position). Conclusions. The SWE has the potential to assess localized changes in muscle-tendon elastic properties, provide more intuitive relations between elastic properties of the muscle tendon and function, and evaluate the therapeutic effect of the muscle tendon. A significant correlation between the AT and the MG was found, and it may provide a new treatment idea (targeted to the tight muscle heads) for the clinical setting to treat subjects with AT disorders.
Serum Levels of BAFF and APRIL Predict Clinical Response in Anti-PLA2R-Positive Primary Membranous Nephropathy
Authors: Netti Giuseppe Stefano , Infante Barbara , Spadaccino Federica , Godeas Giulia , Corallo Maria Grazia , Prisciandaro Concetta , Croce Laura , Rotondi Mario , Gesualdo Loreto , Stallone Giovanni , Grandaliano Giuseppe , Ranieri Elena
Published: November 2019

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a renal-specific autoimmune disease caused by circulating autoantibodies that target glomerular podocyte antigens (PLA2R/THSD7A). However, very little is known on the molecular mechanisms controlling B cell response in this nephropathy. The present study was aimed at correlating the serum levels of B cell activators BAFF/BLyS and APRIL with the presence of anti-PLA2R antibodies in PMN patients and with long-term clinical outcome. To this aim, 51 patients with anti-PLA2R-positive biopsy-proven PMN and nephrotic range proteinuria (>3.5 g/24 hours) were enrolled between January 2009 and December 2015 and treated with conventional 6-month immunosuppressive therapy. After 6 months, 29 patients (56.9%) cleared circulating anti-PLA2R, while in remaining 22 (43.1%), they persisted. Intriguingly, in the first group, baseline serum levels of BAFF/BLyS and APRIL were significantly lower than those in the second one. Moreover, after 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy, an overall reduction in both cytokine serum levels was observed. However, in PMN patients with anti-PLA2R clearance, this reduction was more prominent, as compared with those with anti-PLA2R persistence. When related to clinical outcome, lower baseline BAFF/BLyS (<6.05 ng/mL) and APRIL (<4.20 ng/mL) serum levels were associated with significantly higher probability to achieve complete or partial remission after 24-month follow-up. After dividing the entire study cohort into three groups depending on both cytokine baseline serum levels, patients with both BAFF/BLyS and APRIL below the cut-off showed a significantly higher rate of complete or partial remission as compared with patients with only one cytokine above the cut-off, while the composite endpoint was achieved in a very low rate of patients with both cytokines above the cut-off. Taken together, these results provide new insights into the role of BAFF/BLyS and APRIL in both the pathogenesis of anti-PLA2R-positive PMN and the response to immunosuppressive therapy.
The Role of Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ma Chunxiang , Vasu Reshma , Zhang Hu
Published: November 2019

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complicated disease involving multiple pathogenic factors. The complex relationships between long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and the morbidity of IBD drive numerous studies to unravel the underlying mechanisms. A better understanding of the role of LCFAs in IBD will substitute or boost the current IBD therapies, thereby obtaining mucosal healing. In this review, we focused on the roles of LCFAs on the important links of inflammatory regulation in IBD, including in the pathogen recognition phase and in the inflammatory resolving phase, and the effects of LCFAs on immune cells in IBD.
An Indistinguishably Secure Function Encryption Scheme
Authors: Zhang Ping , Li Yamin , Liu Muhua
Published: November 2019

In this work, we first design a function encryption scheme by using key encapsulation. We combine public key encryption with symmetric encryption to implement the idea of key encapsulation. In the key encapsulation, we use a key to turn a message (plaintext) into a ciphertext by symmetric encryption, and then we use public key encryption to turn this key into another ciphertext. In the design of function encryption scheme, we use the public key encryption system, symmetric encryption system, noninteractive proof system, indistinguishable obfuscator, and commitment scheme. Finally, we prove the indistinguishable security of our function encryption scheme.
Solid-Phase Preparation of Al-TiO2 for Efficient Separation of Bioderived Product Danshensu
Authors: Chang Fei , He Zhong Bing , Zhou Quan
Published: November 2019

Four kinds of Al-TiO2 solid samples with different Ti/Al ratios of 1 : 0.1, 1 : 0.09, 1 : 0.07, and 1 : 0.05 were synthesized via a solid-phase synthesis method and characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, BET, and other techniques. The prepared solids were used for separation of the bioderived product danshensu, the content of which was determined by UV spectrophotometry. Moreover, the effects of extract concentration, PH value, adsorption time, and ethanol elution volume were investigated. The results showed that these Al-TiO2 samples had good adsorption and desorption ability. Especially, the solid Al-TiO2 with a Ti/Al ratio of 1 : 0.05 is more suitable for the separation of danshensu, exhibiting a higher adsorption (77.70%) under 2 h adsorption time and pH = 3; meanwhile, the high desorption rate (70.29%）was received under 80% ethanol and the sample concentration of 3.0 mg/mL.
Preparation of Highly Stable and Effective N-Doped TiO2@SiO2 Aerogel Catalyst for Degradation of Organic Pollutants by Visible Light Catalysis
Authors: Tang Shiyun , Ran Jingyu , Guo Junjiang , Tang Anjiang
Published: November 2019

To obtain high stable and effective TiO2 photocatalyst, nano-N-doped TiO2@SiO2 (TiO2−xNx@SiO2, 0 ≤ x ≤ 2) composite aerogels were synthesized by the sol-gel method combined with supercritical drying and direct oxidation process. The adsorption/photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TiO2−xNx@SiO2 aerogels was evaluated by the degradation of RhB in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The physiochemical properties of the aerogels were examined by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, TG/DTA, and BET methods. It was found that the specific surface areas of all TiO2−xNx@SiO2 samples exceeded 700 m2/g and exhibited a honeycomb porous structure with fine particulate morphology. Photocatalytic activity tests show that the 500-TiO2@SiO2 composite aerogel exhibits the best adsorption/photocatalytic degradation rate for RhB, which obtained about 80% of the degradation rate in 30 min under visible light and over 95% after 120 min. On the one hand, the SiO2 aerogels can significantly inhibit the phase transition of TiO2, and the nano TiO2 can be highly dispersed in the SiO2 aerogels; On the other hand, if the oxidation temperature is selected properly, the N-doped TiO2−xNx@SiO2 aerogel can be obtained by simple TiN@SiO2 aerogel oxidation.
Anesthesia Practice: Review of Perioperative Management of H-Type Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Authors: Edelman Bret , Selvaraj Bright Jebaraj , Joshi Minal , Patil Uday , Yarmush Joel
Published: November 2019

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a rare congenital developmental anomaly, affecting 1 in 2500–3000 live births. The H-type TEF, consisting of a fistula between the trachea and a patent esophagus, is one of the rare anatomic subtypes, accounting for 4% of all TEFs. The presentation and perioperative management of neonates with H-type TEFs and all other TEFs are very similar to each other. Patients present with congenital heart disease and other defects and are prone to recurrent aspirations. A barium esophagogram or computed tomography of the chest is a common means to the diagnosis, and surgical repair is carried out through either a cervical approach or a right thoracotomy. During operation, anesthetic management is focused on preventing positive pressure ventilation through the fistula in an attempt to minimize gastric distension. For patients with H-type TEFs, because of the patent esophagus, symptoms are often less severe and nonspecific, resulting in subtle yet important differences in their diagnostic workup and management. This review will cover the finer details in the diagnosis and perioperative anesthetic management of TEF patients and clarify how H-type TEF distinguishes itself from the other anatomic subtypes.
Gender Differences in the Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Utilization among Adults with Arthritis in the United States
Authors: Alwhaibi Monira , AlRuthia Yazed , Meraya Abdulkarim M.
Published: November 2019

Objective. To examine the association between sex and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among adults with arthritis. Methods. Data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey on CAM use for adults with arthritis were analyzed. Five different multivariable regression models were used to examine the association between sex and CAM use after adjusting for demographics, socioeconomics, perceived health status, functional limitations, comorbid chronic conditions, body mass index, and personal health practices. Results. The number of subjects who met the eligibility criteria and were eventually included in the study was 7,919 adults with arthritis. Around half of the study sample reported ever using CAM (n = 4,055), and about 27% (n = 2,016) reported using CAM in the past 12 months. Women have a significantly higher rate of ever utilization of CAM compared to their male counterparts (62.2% vs. 37.8%) as well as CAM use over the past 12 months (66.1% vs. 33.9%). After controlling for other covariates that can potentially affect the use of CAM, women had higher odds of ever using CAM (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.55–1.81) as well as the CAM use in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.49–1.78) compared to men. Functional limitation and multiple comorbidities were associated with CAM use among women. Conclusions. The utilization rate of CAM among women with arthritis is significantly higher compared to their male counterparts, which highlights the need to screen adults with arthritis, particularly women, for potential drug-CAM interactions. Also, practicing patient-centered care is important, which should allow the patients to discuss the potential benefits and risks of CAM use with their healthcare providers.
Design and Analysis of a Rigid‐Flexible Parallel Mechanism for a Neck Brace
Authors: Liu Jingfang , Cheng Yanxia , Zhang Shuang , Lu Zhenxin , Gao Guohua
Published: November 2019

A rigid‐flexible parallel mechanism called 3‐RXS mechanism as a neck brace for patients with head drooping symptoms (HDS) is presented. The 3‐RXS neck brace has a simple and light structure coupled with good rotation performance, so it can be used to assist the neck to achieve flexion and extension, lateral bend, and axial torsion. Firstly, to prove that the X‐shaped compliant joint has a rotational degree of freedom (DoF) and can be used in the 3‐RRS spherical parallel mechanism (3‐RRS SPM), the six‐dimensional compliance matrix, axis drift, and DoF of the X‐shaped compliant joint have been systematically calculated. Secondly, the 3‐RXS mechanism and its pseudo‐rigid‐body model (PRBM) are obtained by replacing the revolute pair with the X‐shaped compliant joint in the 3‐RRS SPM. The rotation workspace of the 3‐RXS mechanism is also performed. Finally, to verify the rotation function and effect of 3‐RXS mechanism for neck‐assisted rehabilitation, the kinematics simulations of the 3‐RXS and 3‐RRS mechanisms are carried out and compared with the theoretical result, and a primary experiment for rotation measurement of 3‐RXS mechanism prototype is carried out. All results prove the feasibility of the 3‐RXS mechanism for a neck brace.