bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The efficacy and safety of tirofiban for patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Niu Jiali , Ding Yunlong , Zhai Tingting , Ju Feng , Lu Tong , Xue Ting , Yin Dengyang , Fang Dong , Chen Hongjun , Zhao Guangyu
Published: February 2019

Background:

The clinical use of tirofiban remains controversial for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), we aimed to conduct a meta- analysis of cohort studies to assess the efficacy and safety of tirofiban for AIS patients.

Methods:

All apparently unconfounded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case-controlled studies, with or without blinding, of tirofiban in individuals with AIS will be included in this review. We will conduct a literature search in 2 databases Pubmed and Embase, using indexing terms related to cerebral infarctions and tirofiban to include articles indexed as of Jan 31, 2019 in the English language only. Two reviewers will independently select trials for inclusion and assess trial quality. Two pairs of review authors will independently extract information for each included trials. Primary outcomes are any intracerebral hemorrhage (aICH), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), fatal ICH, recanalization rate and long-term outcome. The risk of bias of the included studies will be evaluated based on Cochrane assessment tool. Revman 5.3 will be used for heterogeneity assessment, generating funnel-plots, data synthesis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis.

Result:

We will provide practical and targeted results assessing the efficacy and safety of tirofiban for AIS patients, to provide reference for clinical use of tirofiban.

Conclusion:

The stronger evidence about the efficacy and safety of tirofiban for AIS patients will be provided for clinicians.
Effect of Perivascular Injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A versus Lidocaine in Survival of Random Pattern Flaps in a Rat Model
Authors: El Shaer Wael M. , Ahmed Ahmed E. E. , Sakr Wael M. , Hawas Emad M. , Fathi Mohamed Z.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Botulinum toxin type A has gained popularity in many clinical fields, for a variety of aesthetic and therapeutic purposes. In addition, there have been reports regarding the positive effect of botulinum toxin type A on flap survival by various mechanisms. This study examines the role of botulinum toxin type A and lidocaine in augmentation of flap survival and decreasing the rate of necrosis in random pattern cutaneous flaps.

Methods:

In 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats, random pattern skin flaps with different width-to-length ratios were elevated. Botulinum toxin type A, lidocaine, or saline was administered to the base and whole length of the flap. Flap survival was evaluated on day 10 after surgery. The area of flap survival was determined grossly on the basis of its appearance, color, and texture.

Results:

The botulinum toxin type A group had a greater survival area (p < 0.05) compared with the lidocaine or saline group in flaps with width-to-length ratios of 1:2 and 1:3; however, compared with a width-to-length ratio of 1:1, the flap survival rate shows no statistically significant variations.

Conclusion:

Injection of botulinum toxin type A in random pattern skin flaps improves tissue perfusion and increases the rate of flap survival more than lidocaine in flaps with width-to-length ratios of 1:2 and 1:3.
Opioid Prescribing and Consumption Patterns following Outpatient Plastic Surgery Procedures
Authors: Rose Katherine R. , Christie Brian M. , Block Lisa M. , Rao Venkat K. , Michelotti Brett F.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Opioid overprescribing is a nationwide problem contributing to the current epidemic. This study evaluated opioid consumption, physician prescribing, and patient satisfaction with pain control following outpatient plastic surgery procedures.

Methods:

Patients completed a questionnaire during their first postoperative visit. The authors queried about procedure type, quantity of opioids prescribed and consumed, days to opioid cessation, prescription refills, pain scores, use of nonopioid analgesics, and satisfaction with pain control.

Results:

One hundred seventy patients were included. On average, 26 tablets were prescribed and 13 were consumed. Eighty percent of patients stopped opioids by postoperative day 5. Patients rated their worst pain at 6.1 and follow-up pain at 1.9. Approximately 50 percent of patients consumed nonopioid analgesics. Ninety-six percent of patients were satisfied with their pain control. Similar findings were observed across procedure subcategories. The number of pills prescribed was not correlated with satisfaction but was predictive of worst pain level (p = 0.014). Reduction mammaplasty and abdominoplasty patients consumed the most opioids at 17 and 18.6 pills, respectively; however, first-stage alloplastic breast reconstruction had the largest percentage of patients consuming opioids at the time of follow-up (25 percent) and requiring refills (7 percent). Patients who underwent revision of their reconstructed breast reported the earliest opioid cessation, rated their pain the lowest, and were prescribed the most excess tablets.

Conclusions:

Plastic surgeons are prescribing almost double the amount of opioids consumed by patients after outpatient plastic surgery procedures. The results of this study may help guide prescribing practices.
Two-surgeon Model in Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Cai Yunqiang , Chen Sirui , Peng Bing
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is one of the most challenging gastrointestinal surgeries. Herein, we propose a new laparoscopic surgical conception called the 2-surgeon model and share our experience in LPD.

Materials and Methods:

We began performing LPD using the 2-surgeon model in October 2015. To December 2017, we have performed 203 cases of LPDs using 2-surgeon model. Data associated with demographic characteristics, operative outcomes, and postoperative results were prospectively collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Results:

Only 1 patient in our series required to conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was 318 minute. The estimated blood loss was 108 mL. The overall complication was 26.1%. In total, 41 patients (20.2%) suffered from pancreatic fistula, including 33 cases of grade A, 7 cases of grade B, and 1 case of grade C. The 90-day mortality was 0.5%.

Conclusions:

The 2-surgeon model is safe and feasible for LPD.
Persistence of neuronal representations through time and damage in the hippocampus
Authors: Gonzalez Walter G. , Zhang Hanwen , Harutyunyan Anna , Lois Carlos
Published: February 2019

Memories can persist for decades but how they are stably encoded in individual and groups of neurons is not known. To investigate how a familiar environment is encoded in CA1 neurons over time we implanted bilateral microendoscopes in transgenic mice to image the activity of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus over weeks. Most of the neurons (90 %) are active every day, however, the response of neurons to specific cues changes across days. Approximately 40 % of place and time cells lose fields between two days; however, on timescales longer than two days the neuronal pattern changes at a rate of 1 % for each additional day. Despite continuous changes, field responses are more resilient, with place/time cells recovering their fields after a 10-day period of no task or following CA1 damage. Recovery of these neuronal patterns is characterized by transient changes in firing fields which ultimately converge to the original representation. Unlike individual neurons, groups of neurons with inter and intrahemispheric synchronous activity form stable place and time fields across days. Neurons whose activity was synchronous with a large group of neurons were more likely to preserve their responses to place or time across multiple days. These results support the view that although task-relevant information stored in individual neurons is relatively labile, it can persist in networks of neurons with synchronized activity spanning both hemispheres.

One Sentence Summary

Neuronal representations in networks of neurons with synchronized activity are stable over weeks, even after lack of training or following damage.
Optogenetic olfactory behavior depends on illumination characteristics
Authors: Tumkaya Tayfun , Stewart James , Burhanudin Safwan B. , Claridge-Chang Adam
Published: February 2019

Optogenetics has become an important tool for the study of behavior, enabling neuroscientists to infer causations by examining behavior after activating genetically circumscribed neurons with light. Light-induced neural activity is affected by illumination parameters used in experiments, such as intensity, duration, and frequency. Here, we hypothesized that the intensity of light and the presence of oscillations in illumination would alter optogenetically induced olfactory behaviours. To test this, we activated olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in Drosophila by using either static or pulsed light stimuli across a range of light intensities. The various regimes elicited distinct behavioral valence responses (attraction, aversion, indifference) from several ORN types. Our results demonstrate the importance of both frequency and intensity for interpreting optogenetic behavioral experiments accurately; successfully generalizing optogenetic results requires the use of more than a single illumination regime.
Novel Function of Bluetongue Virus NS3 Protein in Regulation of the MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kundlacz Cindy , Pourcelot Marie , Fablet Aurore , Moraes Rayane Amaral Da Silva , Léger Thibaut , Morlet Bastien , Viarouge Cyril , Sailleau Corinne , Turpaud Mathilde , Gorlier Axel , Breard Emmanuel , Lecollinet Sylvie , Rijn Piet A. van , Zientara Stephan , Vitour Damien , Caignard Grégory
Published: February 2019

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus transmitted by blood-feeding midges to a wide range of wild and domestic ruminants. In this report, we showed that BTV, through its virulence non-structural protein NS3 (BTV-NS3), is able to activate the MAPK/ERK pathway. In response to growth factors, the MAPK/ERK pathway activates cell survival, differentiation, proliferation and protein translation but can also lead to the production of several inflammatory cytokines. By combining immunoprecipitation of BTV-NS3 and mass spectrometry analysis from both BTV-infected and NS3-transfected cells, we identified the serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF), a crucial player of the MAPK/ERK pathway, as a new cellular interactor of BTV-NS3. BRAF silencing led to a significant decrease of the MAPK/ERK activation by BTV supporting a model where BTV-NS3 interacts with BRAF to activate this signaling cascade. Furthermore, the intrinsic ability of BTV-NS3 to bind BRAF and activate the MAPK/ERK pathway is conserved throughout multiple serotypes/strains but appears to be specific to BTV compared to other members ofOrbivirusgenus. Inhibition of MAPK/ERK pathway with U0126 reduced viral titers, suggesting that BTV manipulates this pathway for its own replication. Therefore, the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway by BTV-NS3 could benefit to BTV replication by promoting its own viral protein synthesis but could also explain the deleterious inflammation associated with tissue damages as already observed in severe cases of BT disease. Altogether, our data provide molecular mechanisms to explain the role of BTV-NS3 as a virulence factor and determinant of pathogenesis.

Importance

Bluetongue Virus (BTV) is responsible of the non-contagious arthropod-borne disease Bluetongue (BT) transmitted to ruminants by blood-feeding midges. Despite the fact that BTV has been extensively studied, we still have little understanding of the molecular determinants of BTV virulence. In this report, we found that the virulence protein NS3 interacts with BRAF, a key component of the MAPK/ERK pathway. In response to growth factors, this pathway promotes cell survival, increases protein translation but also contributes to the production of inflammatory cytokines. We showed that BTV-NS3 enhances the MAPK/ERK pathway and this activation is BRAF-dependent. Our results demonstrate, at the molecular level, how a single virulence factor has evolved to target a cellular function to ensure its viral replication. On the other hand, our findings could also explain the deleterious inflammation associated with tissue damages as already observed in severe cases of BT disease.
3-(4-Iodophenyl)pentanedinitrile
Authors: Nanpo Yuuki , Okuno Tsunehisa
Published: February 2019

In the title pentanedinitrile derivative, C11H9IN2, the iodophenyl group is connected at the 3-position. The central propylene chain of the pentanedinitrile moiety contains one gauche conformation as a result of steric repulsion with the phenyl ring. Intermolecular close contacts in the crystal comprise a weak Csp
3—H...N hydrogen bond and a C—I...N halogen bond.
Visual and microscopic examination of the rocket engine combustion chamber
Authors: Wisniewski Adam , Malicki Maciej , Manaj Wojciech
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to enhance the selection of the best material of the rocket engine combustion chamber. The chamber has been destroyed during dynamometer tests, and the goal of this inspection is to verify the nature of the damage in the context of checking the usefulness of this type of graphite for the combustion chamber construction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the results of visual and microscopic inspection of the rocket engine combustion chamber of Ø50 × 165 mm in dimension, which was made of R type graphite.

Findings

An analysis of the fracture surface shows that in the inspected combustion chamber voids and inclusions are present. EDS analysis of the fracture surface shows that in the inspected combustion chamber inclusions are present which have a relatively high amount of elements like: Ti, C, S, V, Si, O and a relatively small amount of Fe and Ni.

Research limitations/implications

Research limitations is concerned the failure analysis by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) Zeiss EVO 25 MA with EDS detector: BrÃ¼ker X Flash Detector 5010 125 eV and Espirit 1.9.0.2176 EDS software.

Practical implications

Designing of the engine combustion chamber the researches can select the best of the rocket engine combustion chamber, made of R type graphite, with the minimum voids and inclusions to decrease the possibility of bursting of this chamber.

Originality/value

The most dangerous issues in the inspected combustion chamber during an outflow are hot gases as a result of high fuel combustion temperature, so it causes the nozzle heating and the engine stress increase of visible inclusions in cross-sections.
Australian and New Zealand women teachers in the First World War
Authors: Morris Matthews Kay , Whitehead Kay
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the contributions of women teachers to the war effort at home in Australia and New Zealand and in Egypt and Europe between 1914 and 1918.

Design/methodology/approach

Framed as a feminist transnational history, this research paper drew upon extensive primary and secondary source material in order to identify the women teachers. It provides comparative analyses using a thematic approach providing examples of women teachers war work at home and abroad.

Findings

Insights are offered into the opportunities provided by the First World War for channelling the abilities and leadership skills of women teachers at home and abroad. Canvassed also are the tensions for German heritage teachers; ideological differences concerning patriotism and pacifism and issues arising from government attitudes on both sides of the Tasman towards women’s war service.

Originality/value

This is likely the only research offering combined Australian–New Zealand analyses of women teacher’s war service, either in support at home in Australia and New Zealand or working as volunteers abroad. To date, the efforts of Australian and New Zealand women teachers have largely gone unrecognised.
What Do We Know About the Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Policy? A Brief Survey of the Literature on Fiscal Multipliers
Authors: Castelnuovo Efrem , Lim Guay
Published: February 2019

This article discusses recent research on the macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy—the theme of the 2018 edition of the Melbourne Institute Macroeconomic Policy Meeting. We review recent research findings on the effects of fiscal multipliers in normal times, during booms/busts, and in the presence of the zero lower bound. Studies on the effects of fiscal policy in open economy settings as well as contributions on the fiscal‐monetary policy mix are also considered. We conclude by outlining a few research avenues that are particularly relevant from a policy standpoint.
The First Step to a Nation? The Irish Postal Service and the Home Rule Crisis
Authors: FITZPATRICK CLAIRE
Published: February 2019

This article examines the fate of the proposition in the original third Home Rule bill of 1912 to grant control of the Post Office to the Irish government and the implications this had on debates about the future government of Ireland. It places this within the broader context of calls made by Irish Nationalists for control of the Post Office, disagreements between the Gaelic League and the Post Office, and the choice of the GPO as a rebel target in 1916. A reading of the debates at a parliamentary and popular level reveals wider concerns about the nature of the Home Rule settlement, threats to imperial authority, status, security and financial interests and Ulster. It discusses how national identity and aspirations for sovereignty were expressed through control over this symbolic, vital organ of the state. A study of the Post Office reveals much about communications, questions of patronage and employment and how the state in the nineteenth century became more engaged in people's lives. The fate of the Post Office in Ireland reflected the country's fate. That the Home Rule act of 1914 was suspended during the course of the war and never came into operation opened up possibilities for alternative action. Irish Nationalists understood the importance of institutions for the building of national character. As a space of power, the GPO in Dublin was a physical expression of the British state in Ireland. Its choice as a rebel target in 1916 was a key assertion of identity, power and nation.
Bidirectional regulation between 1st trimester HTR8/SVneo trophoblast cells and in vitro differentiated Th17/Treg cells suggest a fetal‐maternal regulatory loop in human pregnancy
Authors: Wang Songcun , Qian Jinfeng , Sun Fengrun , Li Mengdie , Ye Jiangfeng , Li Mingqing , Du Meirong , Li Dajin
Published: February 2019

Problem

During normal pregnancy, delicate crosstalk is established between fetus‐derived trophoblasts and maternal immune cells to ensure maternal‐fetal tolerance and successful placentation. Dysfunction in these interactions has been highly linked to certain pregnancy complications.

Method of study

Naïve CD4+T cells were cultivated with or without 1st trimester derived trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo cells in the absence or presence of T helper 17 (Th17) or regulatory (Treg)cell‐inducing differentiation conditions. After 5 days of co‐culture, HTR8/SVneo cells and CD4+T cells were harvested and analyzed using flow cytometry.

Results

CD4+T cells exposed to HTR8/SVneo cells showed enhanced induction of CD4+Foxp3+Treg cells with strong expression of TGF‐β1 and inhibitory molecules (cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 [CTLA‐4], T‐cell immunoglobulin mucin‐3 [Tim‐3], and programmed cell death‐1 [PD‐1]). Though not effecting Th17 differentiation, exposure to HTR8/SVneo cells promoted increased expression of proliferative and apoptotic markers on Th17 cells. Co‐culture with Th0 cells, or differentiated Th17 or Treg cells, down‐regulated Caspase‐3 and MMP‐9 (but not MMP‐2) expression in HTR8/SVneo cells, while promoting Ki67 expression.

Conclusions

HTR8/SVneo cells regulated maternal CD4+T‐cell differentiation, resulting in the expansion of immunosuppressive Treg cells, while CD4+T cells might promote the growth, and control the invasiveness of HTR8/SVneo cells. Thus, a bidirectional regulatory loop might exist between trophoblasts and maternal immune cell subsets, thereby promoting harmonious maternal‐fetal crosstalk.
Protective effects of coffee consumption following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis
Authors: Wiltberger Georg , Wu Yan , Lange Undine , Hau Hans‐Michael , Tapper Elliot , Krenzien Felix , Atanasov Georgi , Benzing Christian , Feldbrügge Linda , Csizmadia Eva , Broschewitz Johannes , Bartels Michael , Seehofer Daniel , Jonas Sven , Berg Thomas , Hessel Phillip , Ascherl Rudi , Neumann Ulf P. , Pratschke Johann , Robson Simon C. , Schmelzle Moritz
Published: February 2019

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that coffee consumption might protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis‐associated death risk. Caffeine is a natural antagonist to extracellular adenosine and exhibits experimental tumoricidal activity.

Aim

To evaluate if coffee consumption has beneficial effects on HCC recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

Coffee consumption of patients before and after OLT for HCC was assessed and correlated with HCC recurrence. HepG2 cells were analysed for proliferation and metastasis potential after treatment with adenosine, in the presence or absence of adenosine receptor antagonists. Expression of adenosine receptors was determined, and known adenosine‐mediated cancer pathways inclusive of MAPK and NF‐kappa B were tested.

Results

Ninety patients underwent OLT for HCC. Sixteen (17.8%) patients experienced HCC recurrence after median time of 11.5 months (range 1‐40.5). For overall survival postoperative coffee intake emerged as major factor of hazard reduction in a multivariate analysis (HR = 0.2936, 95% CI = 0.12‐0.71, P = 0.006). Those with such postoperative coffee intake (≥3 cups per day) had a longer overall survival than those who consumed less or no coffee: M = 11.0 years, SD = 0.52 years vs. M = 7.48 years, SD = 0.76 years = 4.7, P = 0.029).

Conclusions

Coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of HCC recurrence and provides for increased survival following OLT. We suggest that these results might be, at least in part, associated with the antagonist activity of caffeine on adenosine‐A2AR mediated growth‐promoting effects on HCC cells.
Editorial: ascitic cholesterol – is it superior to serum‐ascites albumin gradient? Authors’ reply
Authors: Du Li , Zhu Shenghua , Hou Xiaohua , Song Yuhu
Published: February 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Du et al and Patel and Siddiqui papers. To
view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15042 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15078.
60th Anniversary of the Seminal Paper on Interval Analysis and Computations by T. Sunaga
Authors: Anguelov Roumen , Markov Svetoslav
Published: February 2019

Sunaga considered all computational procedures, which had beenВ  traditionally defined on real numbers, as being too ideal andВ proposed to replace them by the procedures on real intervals inВ order to make everything "more realistic". Sunaga studied manyВ different kinds of numerical procedures including the Taylor-seriesВ interval solution of the initial-value problem of ordinaryВ differential equations.The purpose of the present note is to mark the 60-th anniversary of the publication of the seminal work by the Japan mathematician Teruo Sunaga. The paper summarizes the results of his Master Thesis. Sunaga's work sets the foundation of the contemporary interval analysis and reliable computing. This is an interdisciplinary field, combining abstract mathematical theories and practical applications related to computer science, numerical analysis and mathematical modeling in the natural, engineering and social-economic sciences.
Looking after the bull: guide to management and assessment of fertility
Authors: Statham Jonathan , Burton Katie , Spilman Mark
Published: February 2019

Despite commanding such an important role in both achieving reproductive success and introducing new genetics, the bull remains an often overlooked part of the cattle herd. Fertility performance remains central to profitable beef and dairy production. Although artificial insemination (AI) is used extensively in the UK dairy industry, natural service with ‘sweeper bulls’ is still common, either exclusively or as an adjunct to AI. The UK beef suckler industry remains dominated by natural service, although the use of AI is rising. Bull performance is highly significant in both sectors, but with very few suckler herds actually in profit (EBLEX 2009), the beef sector, in particular, can ill‐afford poor reproductive results. This is of particular significance when considering the uncertainty in this sector associated with exit from the European Union (EU) and thus the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This article discusses the role of the bull and provides a guide to managing the different aspects of bull production, including assessing a bull's fertility.
Low frequency of pre‐treatment and post‐treatment haematological abnormalities in dogs with non‐infectious meningoencephalitis treated with cytosine arabinoside and prednisolone
Authors: Keegan Sarah , Rose Jeremy H , Khan Zohra , Liebel Francois‐Xavier
Published: February 2019

Background

Cytosine arabinoside (CA) and prednisolone are drugs commonly used together in the management of canine non‐infectious meningoencephalitis (NIME). The aim of this study was to report the haematological findings before and after CA and prednisolone treatment and identify any adverse haematological events in this clinical setting, following the veterinary cooperative oncology group established common terminology criteria for recording adverse events following administration of chemotherapy or biological antineoplastic therapy.

Results

While 48 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of NIME had pretreatment haematology results, only 12 patients met the inclusion criteria of also having post‐treatment haematology results available for review after being treated with prednisolone and CA at a standard dose (200 mg/m2) in a single referral hospital in the UK. Forty‐nine post‐treatment haematology results were available for these 12 patients.

Conclusions

Four adverse haematological events were identified in four patients. None of these events were convincingly attributable to CA administration.
Influence of heat generation on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow using a theory of kinetics for liquids
Authors: Hussain Azad , Javed Fouzia , Malik M.Y. , Ameer Sumaira
Published: February 2019

In the present article, the influence of heat generation on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of an Eyring–Powell fluid along a permeable plate has been explored. The influence of heat generation or absorption on a steady flow of non-Newtonian fluid over a surface is investigated. The governing equations obtained from Eyring–Powell fluid model are transubstantiated into ordinary differential equations using suitable transformations. Along with the Runge–Kutta method, we attained a numerical solution of the present problem by explicating the shooting technique. Influences of distinct parameters on temperature and the velocity field profiles are highlighted in graphs and tables. The acceleration in the value of γ, velocity profile shows decreasing behavior, but recovery occurs with an increase in M. The streamlines and three-dimensional results have been shown graphically for a selection of different parameters. Numerical results of the present work have been discussed with the support of tables.
Effects of the isoscalar and isovector interaction on the ground-state magnetic moments of odd-mass 137–145Ce nuclei
Authors: Yakut H. , Tabar E. , Hoşgör G.
Published: February 2019

A systematic study of the magnetic properties of deformed odd-neutron 137–145Ce isotopes using the microscopic quasiparticle phonon nuclear model (QPNM) has been presented. The QPNM includes residual spin–spin interaction in both isoscalar and isovector channels. The analysis shows that in the isoscalar channel contributions to the magnetic moment coming from the neutron and proton systems practically cancel out each other. On the other hand, in the isovector channel, the coherent contribution coming from the quasiparticle–phonon interactions leads to a spin polarization (core polarization), which is important for determination of the quenched spin gyromagnetic factors (gs). The quenched spin gyromagnetic factors so called [Formula: see text] have been found to range from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] in the odd-mass 137–145Ce isotopic chain, which is similar to its phenomenological value ([Formula: see text] between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). By taking into consideration the core polarization effects, the available experimental data are satisfactorily reproduced with an accuracy of 0.01μN–0.1μN.
Distinguishing the generalized knot groups of square and granny knot analogues
Authors: Al Fran Howida , Tuffley Christopher
Published: February 2019

Given a knot [Formula: see text], we may construct a group [Formula: see text] from the fundamental group of [Formula: see text] by adjoining an [Formula: see text]th root of the meridian that commutes with the corresponding longitude. For [Formula: see text] these “generalized knot groups” determine [Formula: see text] up to reflection.

The second author has shown that for [Formula: see text], the generalized knot groups of the square and granny knots can be distinguished by counting homomorphisms into a suitably chosen finite group. We extend this result to certain generalized knot groups of square and granny knot analogues [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], constructed as connected sums of [Formula: see text]-torus knots of opposite or identical chiralities. More precisely, for coprime [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] satisfying a coprimality condition with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we construct an explicit finite group [Formula: see text] (depending on [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be distinguished by counting homomorphisms into [Formula: see text]. The coprimality condition includes all [Formula: see text] coprime to [Formula: see text]. The result shows that the difference between these two groups can be detected using a finite group.
ARIMA-Based Time Series Model of Cutting Temperature in Facing Process
Authors: Dahbi Samya , Ezzine Latifa , El Moussami Haj
Published: February 2019

During machining processes, cutting temperature directly affects cutting performances, such as surface quality, dimensional precision, tool life, etc. Thus, evaluation of cutting temperature rise in the tool–chip interface by reliable techniques can lead to improved cutting performances. In this paper, we present the modeling of cutting temperature during facing process by using time series approach. The experimental data were collected by conducting facing experiments on a Computer Numerical Control lathe and by measuring the cutting temperature by an infrared camera. The collected data were used to test several Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models by using Box–Jenkins time series procedure. Then, the adequate model was selected according to four performance criteria: Akaike criterion, Schwarz Bayesian criterion, maximum likelihood, and standard error. The selected model corresponded to the ARIMA (1, 1, 1) and it was tested by conducting a new facing operation under the same cutting conditions (spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and nose radius). It was clearly seen that there is a good agreement between experimental and simulated temperatures, which reveals that this approach simulates the evolution of cutting temperature in facing process with high accuracy (average percentage error [Formula: see text] 0.57%).
Module Free White Noise Flows
Authors: Ayed Wided
Published: February 2019

The main result of this paper is to extend to Hilbert module level the proof of the inclusion of (non-Hamiltonian) stochastic differential equations based on free noise into the class of Hamiltonian equations driven by free white noise. To achieve this goal, free white noise calculus is extended to a trivial Hilbert module. The white noise formulation of the Ito table is radically different from the usual Itô tables, both classical and quantum and, combined with the Accardi–Boukas approach to Ito algebra, allows to drastically simplify calculations. Infinitesimal generators of Hilbert module free flows are characterized in terms of stochastic derivations from an initial algebra into a white noise Itô algebra. We prove that any such derivation is the difference of a ⋆-homomorphism and a trivial embedding.
Baihui Point Laser Acupuncture Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment, Motor Deficit, and Neuronal Loss Partly via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in an Animal Model of Focal Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jittiwat Jinatta
Published: February 2019

Stroke is recognized as one of the most dangerous killer diseases in Thailand and other countries worldwide. The development of a novel strategy for treating stroke patients is therefore urgently required. The present study investigated the effect of laser acupuncture at the Baihui point on cognitive and functional recovery, neuronal loss, antioxidant enzyme activities, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity in the hippocampus in an animal model of focal ischemic stroke. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham operation; permanent occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (Rt.MCAO); Rt.MCAO with sham laser acupuncture; and Rt.MCAO with Baihui point laser acupuncture. Laser acupuncture at the Baihui point and sham acupuncture at a nonacupoint were performed once daily (10 min at each point) for 14 days after Rt.MCAO. Half of the rats in each group were examined to determine neuron density by Cresyl violet staining, while the other half were examined by biochemical assays to measure glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the hippocampus, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mitochondria and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity in the hippocampus. Laser acupuncture treatment was found to significantly enhance memory and neuron density in CA1 and CA3. Improved neurological score, improved GSH-Px and SOD activities, and decreased density ratio of IL-6 toβ-actin were also observed in the hippocampus. In conclusion, Baihui point laser acupuncture alleviates cognitive impairment and motor deficits via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in focal ischemic rats. Further study is warranted to investigate other possible mechanisms of action.
A Geometrical‐Information‐Assisted Approach for Local Feature Matching
Authors: Shi Buhai , Zhang Qingming , Xu Haibo
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a geometrical‐information‐assisted approach for matching local features. With the aid of Bayes’ theorem, it is found that the posterior confidence of matched features can be improved by introducing global geometrical information given by distances between feature points. Based on this result, we work out an approach to obtain the geometrical information and apply it to assist matching features. The pivotal techniques in this paper include (1) exploiting elliptic parameters of feature descriptors to estimate transformations that map feature points in images to points in an assumed plane; (2) projecting feature points to the assumed plane and finding a reliable referential point in it; (3) computing differences of the distances between the projected points and the referential point. Our new approach employs these differences to assist matching features, reaching better performance than the nearest neighbor‐based approach in precision versus the number of matched features.
Plantar Pressure Changes and Their Relationships with Low Back Pain during Pregnancy Using Instrumented Insoles
Authors: Martínez-Martí Fernando , Ocón-Hernández Olga , Martínez-García María Sofía , Torres-Ruiz Francisco , Martínez-Olmos Antonio , Carvajal Miguel A. , Banqueri Jesús , Palma Alberto J.
Published: February 2019

Low back pain affects around 50% of pregnant women and presents significant morbidity and persistence for years in 20% of postpartum women who report that pain. Numerous studies have documented gait alterations during pregnancy and postpartum. Therefore, an analysis of the relationship between certain gait parameters and low back pain was attempted using low-cost validated instrumented insoles. This work presents a longitudinal cohort study carried out during routine gynecological follow-up visits in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy at an Obstetrics and Gynecology Service. Sample size was 62. Plantar pressure data were collected with specially designed instrumented insoles containing four force sensors to measure peak pressure, center of pressure, and stance phase time in each foot and in each pregnancy trimester. The analysis was carried out on a two-dimensional level, simultaneously considering the data from both feet using Hotelling’s T2 test. This longitudinal study detected relationships between certain gait parameter changes and low back pain during pregnancy. It revealed a cyclic tendency of low back pain prevalence with a maximum in the second trimester and a decrease in the third trimester, which was correlated with alterations of the pregnant gait: excessive foot pronation and rearfoot pressure increase.
Benzocaine-Induced Methemoglobinemia in a Postoperative Bariatric Patient following Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Authors: Khan Khuram , White-Gittens Irwin , Saeed Saqib , Ahmed Leaque
Published: February 2019

Methemoglobinemia is a rare complication in clinical practice. It is most commonly seen in patients undergoing endoscopic procedures, including EGDs, laryngoscopies, bronchoscopies, and nasogastric tube insertions. This is thought to be a disease seen almost exclusively in patients with genetic predispositions to develop it; the increasing use of topical anesthetics during procedures has made methemoglobinemia a disease entity that every clinical provider should be able to recognize and treat. Clinically, patients become cyanotic with mild oxygen derangements on pulse oximetry, in the range of 84 to 90%. Paradoxically, these patients demonstrate normal to supranormal oxygen levels in the blood on blood gas analysis. We report a case of 34-year-old female postoperative Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patient who developed hypoxia and cyanosis after a routine EGD procedure to relieve a food impaction. Differentials of aspiration and pulmonary embolism were plausible; stat blood gas analysis clinched the diagnosis and managed with intravenous methylene blue.
Performance Analysis of AF Relays with Maximal Ratio Combining in Nakagami-m Fading Environments
Authors: Qin Dong , Wang Yuhao , Zhou Tianqing
Published: February 2019

This paper investigates the maximal ratio combining (MRC) performance of an amplify and forward (AF) relay system in Nakagami-m fading environments. The study considers a general scenario with distinct m fading parameters for the following three links, source to relay link, and source to destination link and relay to destination link. We derive new closed form expressions for the statistics of important performance metrics, including the moment generating function, outage probability, higher order moments of equivalent signal to noise ratio (SNR), ergodic capacity, and average symbol error probability (SEP) of common modulation types. In particular, we focus on analytical SEP expressions in the context of an additive white generalized Gaussian noise (AWGGN). As an active area of research, generalized noise receives much attention for its flexible model. However, analytical performance of modulation scheme in generalized noise type has not been found in open literature for AF relaying with MRC despite its practical usefulness. Without the help of analytical solutions, the SEP in generalized noise can only be obtained by a large number of repeated simulation experiments. Therefore, we present the general SEP expression by using special Fox’s H function. Simulation results verify the accuracy of our theoretical analysis and show that the diversity order of MRC criterion linearly depends upon Nakagami parameters of three links.
CEMP-1 Levels in Periodontal Wound Fluid during the Early Phase of Healing: Prospective Clinical Trial
Authors: Dellavia Claudia , Canciani Elena , Rasperini Giulio , Pagni Giorgio , Malvezzi Matteo , Pellegrini Gaia
Published: February 2019

Objectives. Cementogenesis seems to be significantly compromised during tissue inflammation. In dental practice, surgical procedures are performed with the aim to regenerate periodontium including cementum. However, inflammation that occurs during the initial healing phases after surgery may impair regeneration of this tissues. The aim of the present study was to assess if surgical procedures designed to regenerate periodontium might affect levels of cementum protein-1 (CEMP-1) in periodontal wound fluid during early phase of healing. Materials and Methods. In 36 patients, 18 intrabony periodontal defects were treated with regenerative therapy (REG group) and 18 suprabony periodontal defects were treated with open flap debridement (OFD group). In the experimental sites, gingival crevicular fluid was collected immediately before surgery, and periodontal wound fluid was collected 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. CEMP-1 levels were detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results. At the analysis, it resulted that there was a significant average difference in CEMP-1 values between the REG and OFD groups at baseline (p=0.041), the CEMP-1-modeled average in the OFD group was lower by 0.45 ng/ml. There was a significant trend in CEMP-1 over time, and this trend was different among the 2 groups: the REG group showed a statistically significant rising CEMP-1 trend (0.18 ng/ml a week p=0.012), while the OFD had a trend that was significantly lower (-0.22 ng/ml a week compared to the REG group trend p=0.023), the OFD group lost on average 0.05 ng/ml a week. In REG sites, GCF protein levels resulted also related to clinical parameters. Conclusions. During the initial inflammatory phase of periodontal healing, CEMP-1 levels decrease regardless of the surgical protocol applied. The surgical procedures used to regenerate periodontal tissue are able to reverse this trend and to induce significant increase of CEMP-1 in periodontal wound fluid after the first week postop.
Spontaneous Bilateral Hemothorax as a Case of Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE)
Authors: AlGhunaim Essa M. , AlNajem Hafsa , AlShehab Derar S.
Published: February 2019

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare tumor that is vascular in origin, arising from the endothelial or preendothelial cells. It can occur at different sites of the body, commonly in the liver, lungs, and bone. Pulmonary EHE is usually symptomatic, sometimes presenting with a cough, dyspnea, or chest pain. Rarely, it presents with pleural effusion. Here, we are presenting a case of pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma presenting as a case of spontaneous bilateral hemothorax.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the ALOG Domain Genes in Rice
Authors: Li Na , Wang Yang , Lu Jing , Liu Chuan
Published: February 2019

The ALOG domain genes, named after the Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1 (ALOG) proteins, have frequently been reported as key developmental regulators in rice and Arabidopsis. However, the investigation of the ALOG gene family is limited. Here, we conducted a genome-wide investigation of the ALOG gene family in rice and six other species. In total, eighty-four ALOG domain genes were identified from the seven species, of which fourteen ALOG domain genes (OsG1/G1Ls) were identified in the rice genome. The fourteen OsG1/G1Ls were unevenly distributed on eight chromosomes, and we found that eight segmental duplications contributed to the expansion of OsG1/G1Ls in the rice genome. The eighty-four ALOG family genes from seven species were classified into six clusters, and the ALOG domain-defined motifs 1, 2, and 3 were highly conserved across species according to the phylogenetic and structural analysis. However, the newly identified motifs 4 and 5 were only present in monocots, indicating a specified function in monocots. Moreover, OsG1/G1Ls exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns. Coexpression analysis suggested that OsG1 integrates OsMADS50 and the downstream MADS-box genes, such as OsMADS1, to regulate the development of rice inflorescence; OsG1L7 potentially associates with OsMADS22 and OsMADS55 to regulate stem elongation. In addition, comparative expression analysis revealed the conserved biological functions of ALOG family genes among rice, maize, and Arabidopsis. These results have shed light on the functional study of ALOG family genes in rice and other plants.
Tripchlorolide May Improve Spatial Cognition Dysfunction and Synaptic Plasticity after Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion
Authors: Yao Zhao-Hui , Yao Xiao-li , Zhang Shao-feng , Hu Ji-chang , Zhang Yong
Published: February 2019

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a common pathophysiological mechanism that underlies cognitive decline and degenerative processes in dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Low cerebral blood flow (CBF) during CCH leads to disturbances in the homeostasis of hemodynamics and energy metabolism, which in turn results in oxidative stress, astroglia overactivation, and synaptic protein downregulation. These events contribute to synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction after CCH. Tripchlorolide (TRC) is an herbal compound with potent neuroprotective effects. The potential of TRC to improve CCH-induced cognitive impairment has not yet been determined. In the current study, we employed behavioral techniques, electrophysiology, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and Golgi staining to investigate the effect of TRC on spatial learning and memory impairment and on synaptic plasticity changes in rats after CCH. Our findings showed that TRC could rescue CCH-induced spatial learning and memory dysfunction and improve long-term potentiation (LTP) disorders. We also found that TRC could prevent CCH-induced reductions in N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B, synapsin I, and postsynaptic density protein 95 levels. Moreover, TRC upregulated cAMP-response element binding protein, which is an important transcription factor for synaptic proteins. TRC also prevented the reduction in dendritic spine density that is caused by CCH. However, sham rats treated with TRC did not show any improvement in cognition. Because CCH causes disturbances in brain energy homeostasis, TRC therapy may resolve this instability by correcting a variety of cognitive-related signaling pathways. However, for the normal brain, TRC treatment led to neither disturbance nor improvement in neural plasticity. Additionally, this treatment neither impaired nor further improved cognition. In conclusion, we found that TRC can improve spatial learning and memory, enhance synaptic plasticity, upregulate the expression of some synaptic proteins, and increase the density of dendritic spines. Our findings suggest that TRC may be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive impairment induced by CCH.