bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shiga Toxin Therapeutics: Beyond Neutralization
Authors: Hall Gregory , Kurosawa Shinichiro , Stearns-Kurosawa Deborah
Published: September 2017

Ribotoxic Shiga toxins are the primary cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in patients infected with Shiga toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (STEC), a pathogen class responsible for epidemic outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease around the globe. HUS is a leading cause of pediatric renal failure in otherwise healthy children, resulting in a mortality rate of 10% and a chronic morbidity rate near 25%. There are currently no available therapeutics to prevent or treat HUS in STEC patients despite decades of work elucidating the mechanisms of Shiga toxicity in sensitive cells. The preclinical development of toxin-targeted HUS therapies has been hindered by the sporadic, geographically dispersed nature of STEC outbreaks with HUS cases and the limited financial incentive for the commercial development of therapies for an acute disease with an inconsistent patient population. The following review considers potential therapeutic targeting of the downstream cellular impacts of Shiga toxicity, which include the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the ribotoxic stress response (RSR). Outcomes of the UPR and RSR are relevant to other diseases with large global incidence and prevalence rates, thus reducing barriers to the development of commercial drugs that could improve STEC and HUS patient outcomes.
New Insights into the Genome Organization of Yeast Killer Viruses Based on “Atypical” Killer Strains Characterized by High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Ramírez Manuel , Velázquez Rocío , López-Piñeiro Antonio , Naranjo Belén , Roig Francisco , Llorens Carlos
Published: September 2017

Viral M-dsRNAs encoding yeast killer toxins share similar genomic organization, but no overall sequence identity. The dsRNA full-length sequences of several known M-viruses either have yet to be completed, or they were shorter than estimated by agarose gel electrophoresis. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze some M-dsRNAs previously sequenced by traditional techniques, and new dsRNAs from atypical killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Torulaspora delbrueckii. All dsRNAs expected to be present in a given yeast strain were reliably detected and sequenced, and the previously-known sequences were confirmed. The few discrepancies between viral variants were mostly located around the central poly(A) region. A continuous sequence of the ScV-M2 genome was obtained for the first time. M1 virus was found for the first time in wine yeasts, coexisting with Mbarr-1 virus in T. delbrueckii. Extra 5′- and 3′-sequences were found in all M-genomes. The presence of repeated short sequences in the non-coding 3′-region of most M-genomes indicates that they have a common phylogenetic origin. High identity between amino acid sequences of killer toxins and some unclassified proteins of yeast, bacteria, and wine grapes suggests that killer viruses recruited some sequences from the genome of these organisms, or vice versa, during evolution.
An Atypical Local Vesicular Reaction to the Yellow Fever Vaccine
Authors: Wauters Robert , Hernandez Camellia , Petersen Maureen
Published: September 2017

Yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated viral inoculation indicated for patients traveling to endemic areas. The vaccine is generally well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. Typical side effects include malaise, pain at the injection site, and, albeit rarely, immediate hypersensitivity reactions. We present a case of a rare adverse reaction to yellow fever vaccine in which a patient developed vesicular lesions resulting in bullae and circumferential hyperpigmentation.
Targeting Host Cell Surface Nucleolin for RSV Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Mastrangelo Peter , Norris Michael , Duan Wenming , Barrett Edward , Moraes Theo , Hegele Richard
Published: September 2017

Nucleolin (NCL) has been reported as a cellular receptor for the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We studied the effects of re-purposing AS1411, an anti-cancer compound that binds cell surface NCL, as a possible novel strategy for RSV therapy in vitro and in vivo. AS1411 was administered to RSV-infected cultures of non-polarized (HEp-2) and polarized (MDCK) epithelial cells and to virus-infected mice and cotton rats. Results of in vitro experiments showed that AS1411, used in micromolar concentrations, was associated with decreases in the number of virus-positive cells. Intranasal administration of AS1411 (50 mg/kg) to RSV-infected mice and cotton rats was associated with partial reductions in lung viral titers, decreased virus-associated airway inflammation, and decreased IL-4/IFN-γ ratios when compared to untreated, infected animals. In conclusion, our findings indicate that therapeutic use of AS1411 has modest effects on RSV replication and host response. While the results underscore the challenges of targeting cell surface NCL as a potential novel strategy for RSV therapy, they also highlight the potential of cell surface NCL as a therapeutic target.
Enabling Efficient and Sustainable Transitions of Water Distribution Systems under Network Structure Uncertainty
Authors: Zischg Jonatan , Mair Michael , Rauch Wolfgang , Sitzenfrei Robert
Published: September 2017

This paper focuses on the performance of water distribution systems (WDSs) during long-term city transitions. A transition describes the pathway from an initial to a final planning stage including the structural and functional changes on the infrastructure over time. A methodology is presented where consecutive WDSs under changing conditions are automatically created, simulated and then analyzed at specific points in time during a transition process of several decades. Consequential WDS analyses include (a) uncertain network structure, (b) temporal and spatial demand variation and (c) network displacement. With the proposed approach, it is possible to identify robust WDS structures and critical points in time for which sufficient hydraulic and water quality requirements cannot be ensured to the customers. The approach is applied to a case study, where a WDS transition of epic dimensions is currently taking place due to a city relocation. The resulting necessity of its WDS transition is modelled with automatically created planning options for consecutive years of the transition process. For the investigated case study, we tested a traditional “doing-all-at-the-end” approach, where necessary pipe upgrades are performed at the last stages of the transition process. Results show that the sole design of the desired final-stage WDS is insufficient. Owing to the drastic network deconstruction and the stepwise “loss of capacity”, critical pipes must be redesigned at earlier stages to maintain acceptable service levels for most of the investigated future scenarios.
Bedload and Suspended Load Transport in the 140-km Reach Downstream of the Mississippi River Avulsion to the Atchafalaya River
Authors: Joshi Sanjeev , Xu Y. Jun
Published: September 2017

The Mississippi River Delta has been continuously losing land since the 1930s due to several factors, chief of which is the reduced sediment supply. A few recent studies have estimated individual components of short-term sediment transport, i.e., bedload and suspended load, separately for some locations along the Lowermost Mississippi River (LmMR, commonly considered as the last 500-km reach of the Mississippi River before entering the Gulf of Mexico). However, the combined effects of both components on the long-term sediment supply along the river reach are still unclear. One of the major obstacles here hindering our understanding is that it is difficult and impractical to accurately measure bedloads in large alluvial rivers, such as the Mississippi. In this study, we estimated bedloads of three medium grain sizes (D50 = 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mm) for three locations along the uppermost 140-km reach of the LmMR: Tarbert Landing (TBL) at river kilometer (rk) 493, St Francisville (St F) at rk 419, and Baton Rouge (BTR) at rk 367.5 during 2004–2015. We also estimated suspended loads at St F during 1978–2015 and at BTR during 2004–2015 in order to discern the interactive relationship between bedloads and suspended loads. We found gradually increasing bedloads for all the three medium grain sizes from TBL (83, 41.5 and 20.75 million tons (MT), respectively) to BTR (96, 48 and 24 MT). We also found that suspended loads at TBL (reported previously) were significantly higher than those at St F and BTR during corresponding overlapping periods. Bedloads increased almost linearly with suspended loads, river discharge and river stage at the upstream locations (TBL and St F); however, such a relationship was not evident downstream at BTR. The total sediment load (bedload + suspended sediment load) was substantially higher at TBL (931 MT), while lower and nearly equal at other two downstream locations (550 MT at St F and 544 MT at BTR) during 2004–2010 (the matching period of availability of both loads). These findings indicate that the uppermost 20–25 km LmMR reach (covering TBL) has potentially entrapped substantial suspended load over the last three to four decades, while bedload transport prevails in the lower reach (covering St F and BTR). We suggest that future sediment management in the river should seek engineering solutions for moving trapped coarse sediments downstream towards the coast for the Mississippi River Delta restoration
Water Policy Reforms in South Korea: A Historical Review and Ongoing Challenges for Sustainable Water Governance and Management
Authors: Choi Ik-Chang , Shin Hio-Jung , Nguyen Trung , Tenhunen John
Published: September 2017

This study aims to provide an opinion on the state-of-the-art of changes and reforms of water policies in South Korea, as well as the challenges along with their implications for sustainable water governance and management. In parallel with change in water resource characteristics generated by physical, environmental and socio-economic challenges such as: (1) uncertainties about climate change (flooding and drought) including seasonal and regional variation in precipitation; (2) significant increase in water use caused by rapid urbanization and population growth in industrialized urban areas; (3) inadequate water pricing mechanism which covers only around 80% of the production cost and makes it harder to maintain water systems; and (4) recursive water quality degradation and conflicts over water rights between regions resulting from non-point source pollution in highland versus lowland areas, Korean water policies have been developed through diverse reforms over 100 years. Nevertheless, new challenges for sustainable water management are continuously emerging. To meet those challenges we provide two ideas: (i) provider-gets-principle (payment for ecosystem services) of cost-benefit sharing among stakeholders who benefit from water use; and (ii) water pricing applying full-cost pricing-principle internalizing environmental externalities caused by the intensive water use. Funds secured from the application of those methods would facilitate: (1) support for upstream (rural) low income householders suffering from economic restrictions; (2) improvement in water facilities; and (3) efficient water use and demand management in South Korea’s water sectors. We expect that this paper can examine the lessons relevant to challenges that South Korea faces and offer some implications on the formulation of new integration and further reforms of the institutions, laws and organizations responsible for managing water resources in South Korea.
WHY WE NEED TO “GRASP” OUR SURROUNDINGS: OBJECT AFFORDANCE AND PREHENSION IN ARCHITECTURE
Authors: SALINGAROS Nikos
Published: September 2017

This paper argues for a basic need for graspable “handles” to be physically present, or merely suggested in our immediate environment. Yet two of the most characteristic elements of industrial-modernist architecture, plate-glass curtain walls and minimalist surfaces, fail to match this aspect of our body’s biology. The absence of graspable components from the formal architecture of the 20th Century leads to psychological disconnection on the part of the user, and could possibly be a cause for stress and anxiety. Physical built elements and designs suggestive of grasping arise in traditional and vernacular methods of construction as ubiquitous moldings, ornament, and trim in response to both human psychology and tectonics.
Transport Modelling During Preparation of General Plans
in Big Cities: Reasons and Challenges
Authors: Beria Paolo , Ušpalytė-Vitkūnienė Rasa
Published: September 2017

Rapidly growing mobility of people in European cities attaches greater importance to the sustainable development
concept. The dynamics of European cities are however different. Cites such as Lithuanian, Slovakian and Polish
ones will rapidly increase traffic flows and car ownership at fast pace. Also in most of Western Europe, even if at lower
rates, private mobility is increasing. In some cities, however, car use and car ownership are finally decreasing, also
thanks to policies implemented. Of course, an increase of traffic flows poses problems in terms of street space, pollution
and liveability of cities. Sustainable integration of all kinds of transport into the urban development process is one of
the most effective actions in the hands of city planners. The coordination between the planning of residential and business
development areas and the expansion of public transport and its hierarchical integration is however a difficult but
necessary exercise. Transport modelling tools, in particular, need important advancements to integrate transport and
land use in simulations. This article analyses the main challenges in the use of transport models to support the construction
of city plans by means of two case studies of Milan and Vilnius. The analysis deals both with traditional aspects,
such as the proper simulation of multimodal choices, the level of detail of zoning, the issues associated to the simulation
of traffic management policies. Then, we will focus on two aspects still open: the integration of transport modelling and
economic assessment or ranking of actions, and the inclusion of land use changes in the modelling.
Comparison of Polish and Danish Approach to
Promotion of Cycling
Authors: Okraszewska Romanika , Jagielska Zofia
Published: September 2017

The article describes two different approaches to promotion of cycling from Denmark and Poland. In the former the
promotion locally from 2009 to 2015 has been supported financially by the national government and where initiatives partly
have been financed by the national level. In Poland, the promotion has been implemented often as a result of bottom up
initiatives and financed solely on local level often with the support of EU funds. Authors will indicate the strengths of each
approach and will formulate recommendations for promoting bike strategy based on the best practices.
Multi-Criteria Analysis in Assessment of the Degree of Degradation Pavement Elements Functional Airports Made of Cement Concrete
Authors: Wesołowski Mariusz , Blacha Krzysztof , Barszcz Piotr
Published: September 2017

An important factor that affects the safety of flight operations is the proper management of airports, which should be based on the obtained in systematic way information about the state of the surface of the functional elements. One of the characteristic quantities of the technical condition of airport indicator is the assessment of the degree of degradation. It should be noted that the degradation is a slow process extended in time and is the lowering of the properties of the structure by external influences, which in turn generates the changes in their structure. Rating degrade surface should be conducted periodically, which period shall be estimated on the basis of information obtained from the process of the operation of aircraft. Demotions surface is determined on the basis of the type and quantity survey found damage and made repairs. The basis for evaluating the degree of surface degradation is to obtain data from surveys conducted using the method of visual and inventory of them. Research by visual method, despite its apparent simplicity, it is difficult to implement. Qualification of damage or repairs to the appropriate group is often not clear, and therefore the inventory process is described in the documentation of quality management system. The multi-criteria analysis is a method of evaluating the weighted supporting estimating the degree of degradation airfield pavements based on data obtained through inspections performed. Its base is included in the determination of a number of criteria for the selection variant, taking into account different weights to each criterion. The value of the indicator characterizing the degree of surface degradation in relation to estimated criteria allows you to schedule the necessary resources needed to carry out repairs and rational planning of repairs.
Challenges, Opportunities and Barriers to Sustainable Transport Development in Functional Urban Areas
Authors: Wolny Ada , Ogryzek Marek , Źróbek Ryszard
Published: September 2017

The process of identifying urban areas in OECD countries uses population density to identify urban cores, and travel-to-work flows to identify the hinterlands as the “worker catchment area” of the urban labour market, outside the densely inhabited core. As the travel-to-work analysis seems to be an important issue for creating coherent functional urban areas, the main determinants of daily commuting in a sub-regional scale should be investigated. There is a common opinion, that residents of the suburbs are bound to use individual forms of transportation, and public transport does not meet their needs. That is why the aim of this research is to identify the main challenges, opportunities and barriers to sustainable transport development in functional urban areas, in order to avoid the adverse effects of urbanisation. For the purpose of the article, a comparative analysis for selected Polish functional urban areas was conducted, and both shortterm and long-term prospects of transport development are depicted. The article includes statistical, spatial and descriptive analyses based on Central Statistical Office data, Regional Operational Programmes for 2014–2020, made for the Polish provinces, as well as selected development strategies, due to inter-municipal cooperation within delimited functional urban areas. As a result, on the basis of the compared and transformed information, the sustainable development scenarios for a selected functional urban area are built.
A Method for Estimating the Area of Damaged Croplands and Woodlands with the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)
Authors: Podciborski Tomasz , Kil Jacek
Published: September 2017

Growing social demand for access to spatial information spurs the rapid development of measurement methods and systems for registering the results of spatial evaluations and analyses (Kwietniewski 2008). Any assessment of spatial development is carried out on the basis of information obtained from specific sources (Kowalczyk 2007). The main objective of this study was to propose a method for assessing the extent of damage caused by natural disasters to croplands and woodlands with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). The main aim was achieved through detailed goals, including determination of the causes of natural disasters, description of the field inspection procedure and development of loss assessment principles. The proposed method was verified in selected research sites, and the resulting damage report detailing cropland losses is presented in the study.
Development of an Oral Assessment Sheet for Evaluating Older Adults in Nursing Homes
Authors: Yanagisawa Shizuko , Nakano Masanori , Goto Takaharu , Yoshioka Masami , Shirayama Yasuhiko
Published: September 2017

A new general use oral assessment sheet (OAS), comprising three items each in three categories (i.e., oral hygiene, biting and chewing, and oral function), was developed to improve the oral health of older adults requiring nursing care. Seventy-nine care workers used the assessment sheet to evaluate oral conditions in 188 institutionalized older adults. Forty-five care workers and three dental professionals then assessed oral conditions in 45 institutionalized older adults using the test–retest method before and after dental professional guidance. Cronbach's alpha of the OAS was 0.72, and 0.65, 0.57, and 0.82 for the three subcategories of oral hygiene, biting and chewing, and oral function, respectively. After dental professional intervention, absolute and relative agreement coefficients increased to more than 0.6 and 0.89, respectively. Reliability and validity of the OAS were verified, and difficulties in oral assessment experienced by care workers were identified.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(5):234–239.]
Trilobites from the Rickard Hill facies of the Saugerties Member of the Schoharie Formation, eastern New York (upper Emsian and Lower Devonian): a case study in taphonomy and sequence stratigraphy from glacial erratics
Authors: Becker Martin A. , Chamberlain Rebecca B. , Maisch Harry M. , Bartholomew Alex , Chamberlain John A.
Published: September 2017

Glacial erratics belonging to the Rickard Hill facies (RHF) of the Saugerties Member of the Schoharie Formation (upper Emsian: Lower Devonian) occur scattered throughout the Piedmont of northern New Jersey and Lower Hudson Valley of New York. These RHF glacial erratics contain an assemblage of trilobites belonging to: Anchiopella anchiops, Burtonops cristatus, Calymene platys, Terataspis grandis, cf. Trypaulites sp. and cf. Coniproetus sp. This RHF glacial erratic trilobite assemblage consists predominately of disarticulated cephala and pygidia that were originally preserved as part of a localized, third-order eustatic sea level lag deposit in the Helderberg Mountains region of central New York State and subsequently transported in glacially plucked blocks by the Hudson-Champlain Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet southward into New Jersey. Physical and chemical weathering during glacial erosion, transportation and deposition of the RHF glacial erratics has revealed some anatomical features of these trilobites in high detail along with other invertebrates. This unique sequence of weathering reveals additional characteristics that bear upon issues of bathymetric controls on upper Schoharie Formation lithology, trilobite faunal abundance and taphonomy during the upper Emsian (Lower Devonian) of eastern New York State.
Risk Factors for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage among Patients at Admission to the Surgical Ward in a Resource-Limited Hospital in Indonesia
Authors: Santosaningsih Dewi , Santoso Sanarto , Verbrugh Henri A. , Severin Juliëtte A.
Published: September 2017

This study aimed to identify risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among patients at admission to the surgery ward in a resource-limited hospital in Indonesia. A case–control study was performed including 65 MRSA carriage patients and 132 non-MRSA carriage patients screened at admission to surgery wards in a hospital in Malang, East Java. For MRSA screening, swabs were obtained from nares and throat, cultured in an enrichment broth followed by subculturing onto CHROMagar™ MRSA; suspected colonies were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Patients referred from other hospitals, patients transferred from the surgical acute care unit, patients that had a surgical procedure within 3 months before admission, and immunocompromised patients were more likely to be MRSA carriers at admission to the surgery wards. Selective MRSA screening of patients according to such risk factors at admission would efficiently detect MRSA carriers and may help control MRSA dissemination in surgery wards in limited-resource settings.
Tumor Budding in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Anand Rahul , Deshmukh Revati
Published: September 2017

How to cite this article

Sarode GS, Sarode SC, Deshmukh R, Anand R, Patil S. Tumor Budding in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(9):743-744.
Stigma and Discrimination faced by HIV-infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy for more than 1 Year in Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India
Authors: Muralidharan Shrikanth , Acharya Arun Kumar , Margabandu Shanthi , Purushotaman Shalini , Kannan Ranjit , Mahendrakar Sangeeta
Published: September 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress and discrimination faced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-affected adult patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for more than 1 year.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 170 adults on ART, reporting to the ART center of the District Civil Hospital, for more than 1 year in Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India. Convenience sampling technique was followed. Descriptive statistics was performed (Chi-square test) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0.

Results

A total of 156 (91.8%) patients’ families had knowledge about their seropositive status. Seventeen (10.9%) HIV-positive patients reported of change in the attitude of their family members. The main reasons for not revealing the HIV status were the internalized stigma and fear of rejection. Women faced greater discrimination from family, friends, and neighbors than men.

Conclusion

It is necessary to not undermine the effect of rejection due to HIV. It is the only infection that has so many associated social and psychological norms which we need to tend at the earnest. Till date, there is an existence of condescendence toward treatment approach.

Clinical significance

The presence of stigma and the fear of being discriminated could be a major hurdle in the rehabilitation of these patients into the mainstream society. Furthermore, it serves as an existing challenge to ascertain these individuals to achieve overall health.

How to cite this article

Muralidharan S, Acharya AK, Margabandu S, Purushotaman S, Kannan R, Mahendrakar S, Kulkarni D. Stigma and Discrimination faced by HIV-infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy for more than 1 Year in Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017; 18(9):765-770.
Measurement of Crestal Cortical Bone Thickness at Implant Site: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Gupta Ajai , Rathee Suprabha , Agarwal Jaihans , Pachar Renu B
Published: September 2017

Aim

Dental implants have emerged as a new treatment modality for the majority of patients complaining of missing teeth. Bone quantity and bone quality are among various factors which ensure the longevity of dental implant in the patient's mouth. The assessment of cortical bone thickness of the outer layer and the cancellous bone density by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has proved beneficial for the patient. This study aimed at presurgical measurement of crestal bone thickness at various implant sites using CBCT images.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics in the year 2015. It included 218 patients who wanted to replace missing teeth. Patients were subjected to CBCT scan using NewTom CBCT machine operating at 120 kVp and 5 mA with a resolution of 0.1 × 0.1 × 0.1 mm3. New Net Technologies (NNT) software with a slice thickness of 0.1 mm was used in this study. A total of 780 implant sites were identified on images of 218 patients. In all patients, the measurement of crestal bone thickness in the region of implant site was performed with NNT software. The buccolingual measurement of crestal bone was done in cross sections obtained after CBCT.

Results

Out of 218 patients, males were 110 and females were 108. The difference between gender was nonsignificant (p > 0.05). Out of 780 implant sites, 370 were in the maxilla and 410 were in mandible. The difference was nonsignificant (p > 0.05). Out of 780 implant sites, 210 were in anterior maxilla and 160 were in the posterior maxilla. Totally, 235 sites were in anterior mandible and 175 were in the posterior mandible. The distribution was nonsignificant (p = 0.15). The mean crestal bone thickness in anterior maxilla was 0.82 mm, in posterior maxilla was 0.76 mm, in anterior mandible was 1.08 mm, and in posterior mandible was 1.18 mm. The difference among regions was significant (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The highest thickness of cortical bone was observed in posterior mandible followed by anterior mandible, anterior maxilla, and posterior maxilla. Thus, considering the less cortical thickness in the posterior maxillary region, the implant placement should be done with proper attention.

Clinical significance

Dental implant is the need of the hour. It is beneficial to patients in terms of longer survival rates. With CBCT, all measurements, such as bone quality and quantity have become easy because of three-dimensional nature. This has proved to be beneficial in the analysis of cortical bone thickness as well as measuring the distance from anatomical structures.

How to cite this article

Gupta A, Rathee S, Agarwal J, Pachar RB. Measurement of Crestal Cortical Bone Thickness at Implant Site: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(9):785-789.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Cathepsin D in Primary and Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Satelur Krishnanand P , Kumar GS
Published: September 2017

Aim

The aim of this study is to analyze and compare the immunohistochemical expression of cathepsin B in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and recurrent OSCC.

Materials and methods

A total of 50 cases were studied immunohistochemically for rabbit polyclonal antihuman cathepsin D expression. A total of 10 cases of breast carcinoma were taken as positive controls. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using labeled streptavidin–biotin technique.

Results

All the 45 cases of OSCC, both primary and recurrent cases included, showed varying grades of cathepsin D immunoreactivity. Statistical significance at 5% level was observed in cathepsin D expression between the different grades of well, moderate, and poorly differentiated primary squamous cell carcinomas. In the comparison of cathepsin D staining intensity among primary squamous cell carcinomas with and without recurrence, a statistical significance between the groups was observed when the p-value was at 10%, but the same comparison was not significant when the p-value was at 5%.

Conclusion

Cathepsin D expression in primary squamous cell carcinomas with recurrences was very variable as compared with primary squamous cell carcinomas without recurrences. Comparison of cathepsin D expression in primary with their recurrent counterparts showed mostly similar intensity of expression in recurrent carcinomas, thus suggesting its limited usefulness in predicting recurrence.

Clinical significance

Although cathepsin D might have shown limited usefulness in predicting cancer recurrence, it, however, is a proven valuable tool to detect the aggressiveness of other tumors, and if corroborated with a larger sample may hold the key to early, more effective, and more specific treatment modalities for cases of oral cancer also.

How to cite this article

Satelur KP, Kumar GS. Immunohistochemical Expression of Cathepsin D in Primary and Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(9): 795-801.
Comparison of Proinflammatory Cytokine Levels in Gingival Crevicular Fluid around Dental Implants with Ceramic and Titanium Abutments
Authors: Negahdari Ramin , Rahbar Mahdi , Fakhrzadeh Vahid , Eslami Hosein , Akbari Taleb , Bohluli Sepideh
Published: September 2017

Background

Considering the high success rate of osseointegration, there is ever-increasing use of dental implants. The mechanisms and biologic response of peri-implant tissues are different depending on the biocompatibility of the implant material. The aim of this study was to compare the proinflammatory cytokine levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) around dental implants with ceramic and titanium abutments.

Materials and methods

All the patients with dental implants referring to two private offices of two prosthodontists from June to August 2016 were examined in relation to implant health, and eligible subjects, based on inclusion criteria, were included in this study with a slit-mouth design. In this context, on one side titanium implants and, on the other side, ceramic implants were used. Samples were collected from the peri-implant sulcus in each patient and sent to the immunology laboratory for determination of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β proinflammatory cytokine levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

The results showed lower levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the GCF around ceramic abutments compared with titanium implants. In addition, statistical comparison between IL-6 and IL-1β levels showed higher levels of IL-6 around titanium and ceramic abutments compared with IL-1β levels.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, the human body immune response to ceramic abutments is much better than that to titanium implants.

Clinical significance

Considering that proinflammatory cytokine levels in GCF around ceramic abutments are lower than titanium ones, ceramic abutments are preferred for clinical usage.

How to cite this article

Negahdari R, Rahbar M, Fakhrzadeh V, Eslami H, Akbari T, Bohluli S. Comparison of Proinflammatory Cytokine Levels in Gingival Crevicular Fluid around Dental Implants with Ceramic and Titanium Abutments. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(9):831-836.
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Various Concentrations of Bamboo Salt against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans: An in vitro Study
Authors: Santosh Kumar P , Vidhya S , Mahalaxmi S
Published: September 2017

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) remains the gold standard against which any new endodontic irrigant is compared. But, its inadvertent extrusion beyond the confines of the root canal can be caustic to vital periapical or periodontal tissues. There has been an increase in the use of herbal medicines as irrigants over the last two decades. Bamboo salt is a Korean folk medicine, which shows promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this in vitro study was to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of 1, 3, and 5% bamboo salt against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans using agar diffusion test; 4% NaOCl was used as control. The experiment was performed in triplicate and the zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured. The results of the present study showed that 4% NaOCl and 5% bamboo salt showed significantly higher mean ZOI than the other groups against E. faecalis; 4% NaOCl showed significantly higher mean ZOI than the other groups against C. albicans, followed by 5 and 3% bamboo salt. Hence, it can be concluded that 4% NaOCl proved to be the most effective antimicrobial against both the species; 5% bamboo salt was as effective as 4% NaOCl against E. faecalis, but significantly less effective against C. albicans.

How to cite this article

Santosh Kumar P, Vidhya S, Mahalaxmi S. Antimicrobial Efficacy of Various Concentrations of Bamboo Salt against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans: An in vitro Study. J Oper Dent Endod 2017;2(2):65-68.
Considerations for the Design of UWB Antennas for Mobile and Consumer Equipment
Authors: Manteuffel Dirk
Published: September 2017

This paper presents some considerations on the design, characterization and optimization of UWB (Ultra WideBand) antennas for consumer communication equipment. As a first step a method to extract the spatio-temporal UWB antenna characterization from a FDTD simulation is given. Thereafter, the shape of a planar monopole is optimized to provide broadband matching. This is followed by the integration of latter antenna into a model of a DVD player and the impact of this integration on the antenna performance is evaluated. Finally, the transfer function of the complete system is extracted and used for indoor propagation modeling in an exemplary living home environment. The results show that the antenna integration into the DVD-chassis results into a directive radiation pattern that shows a significant frequency dependency. When this antenna is used for the propagation modeling, a single frequency ray-tracing simulation shows significant variation in the radiated power distribution in the room as a result of the directive pattern. When the received power is averaged over a larger bandwidth, the coverage becomes more smooth mainly due to the frequency dependency of the radiation pattern and frequency dependent propagation effects. Indeed, comparing the results of the integrated antenna to the case of the ideal isotropic radiator, no major disadvantages can be discerned anymore.
Generic Model and Architecture for Cooperating Objects in Sensor Network Environments
Authors: Marron Pedro Jose , Minder Daniel , Lachenmann Andreas , Saukh Olga , Rothermel Kurt
Published: September 2017

The complexity and heterogeneity of cooperating object applications in ubiquitous environments or of applications in the sensor network domain require the use of generic models and architectures. These architectures should provide support for the following three key issues: flexible installation, management and reconfiguration of components in the system; optimization strategies whose implementation usually involves the proper management of cross-layer information; and proper adaptation techniques that allow for the self-configuration of nodes and components in the system with minimal human intervention. In this paper, we present one possible instance of such a generic model and architecture and show its applicability using Sustainable Bridges, a sensor network application that requires the analysis of complex sensor data to achieve its goal of effectively monitoring bridges for the detection of structural defects.
An Applicable GSM Network Model for Networking in Rural Environments
Authors: Li Yang , Agbinya Johnson I , Chan H Anthony
Published: September 2017

Wide rural areas are often short of basic communication facilities and suffer from harsh geographic and climatic environments. Wireless networks which offer ease of operation and low maintenance cost appears to be a fast and feasible choice for service operators to install their individual networks. We first propose a refined wireless networking method to foster communication construction in rural areas. A one-pipefour-layer wireless simulation model, called Service Model, is highlighted in the paper to implement the network planning method. The Service Model collects raw data from given rural areas and abstracts these data by flowing them through four technical layers to form the predicted technical wireless network. Thereafter, a software simulation environment, BrwsLi, is coded in freeware Scilab to realize the Service Model for the sake of instantiation. This simulation environment is able to set up a specified rural network by constructing topology for the network on the depicted areas, simulate the network traffic, and evaluate network performance and economic efficiency. The Newcastle region in KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa is chosen as the sample of real-world cases to demonstrate how to practically apply Service Model and present how to operate BrwsLi properly.
Extensions to the IEEE 802.11 TSF for Efficient and Reliable Network Synchronization in Large Scale MANETs
Authors: Rauschert Peter , Honarbacht Arasch , Kummert Anton
Published: September 2017

Designing new protocols for Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) is a great challenge due to their distributed and self organized nature. Though, aspects of approved algorithms for hierarchical topographies may be carried over to these flat networks. The IEEE 802.11 protocol supports ad hoc networks in small scale applications, but its performance in large scale environments is still under investigation. Besides the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF), the Timer Synchronization Function (TSF) can be significantly improved in order to increase the performance in large scale multihop networks. This article presents systematic extensions to the TSF that allow increasing the overall reliability and disburdening the network at the same time. The presented scheme may be tailored to specific applications and even supports mobile stations and herewith MANETs.
Compact Reflectometers for a Wideband Microwave Breast Cancer Detection System
Authors: Bialkowski Marek , Seman Norhudah , Abbosh Amin , Khor Wee Chang
Published: September 2017

The design of compact wideband microwave reflectometers for the purpose of inclusion in a breast cancer detection system is presented. In this system, a wideband frequency source is used to synthesize a narrow pulse via the step-frequency synthesis method. The reflectometer undertakes measurements in the frequency domain and the collected data is transformed into the time/space domain using IFFT. In order to accomplish reflection coefficient measurements over a large frequency band, compact wideband couplers and power dividers are used to form the reflectometer. Two compact six-port reflectometer configurations are investigated. One uses the Lange coupler and the Gysel power divider and the other one employs a 3dB slot-coupled microstrip coupler and a 2-stage Wilkinson power divider. The reflectometer employing the slot-coupled coupler and the Wilkinson divider provides a wider operational bandwidth, as shown by simulation results performed with Agilent ADS.
Optimal Packetization Interval for VoIP Applications Over IEEE 802.16 Networks
Authors: Perera Shehan , Sirisena Harsha , Pawlikowski Krzysztof
Published: September 2017

An analysis of the impact of the packetization interval for constant bit rate traffic has been done in the context of the IEEE 802.16 MAC layer. Bandwidth used for overheads which include lower layer headers as well as retransmissions at the MAC layer is considered. An optimal packetization interval selection method for delay sensitive applications such as VoIP is proposed. Enhancements to the Unsolicited Grant Service retransmission strategy are proposed to further improve delay and minimize packet loss while making efficient use of the limited bandwidth resource.
Timing Recovery for Ultra Wideband Systems
Authors: Ghavami Mohammad
Published: September 2017

This paper examines the problems of symbol

timing estimation and timing recovery for ultra wideband impulse radio signals. Two different approaches based onthe maximum likelihood technique are investigated. The first approach is based on derivative matched filter and the second one takes advantage of the early-late technique.

Furthermore, two non-coherent timing recovery circuits are proposed and discussed. The first circuit is a digital delay-locked loop (DDLL) and the second circuit is based on early-late technique. Finally, performance analysis of the proposed techniques for IEEE 802.15.3a channel models in terms of the minimum squared error (MSE) is

provided.
Copyright Form
Authors: Board Editorial
Published: September 2017

This is the copyright form which all authors of papers accepted for publication in the AJICT must fill and send to the Editor of the AJICT prior to publication of their accepted papers.
Speaker Recognition Systems: A Tutorial
Authors: Fisusi Abimbola , Yesufu Thomas
Published: September 2017

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of speaker recognition systems. Speaker recognition is the task of automatically recognizing who is speaking by identifying an unknown speaker among several reference speakers using speaker-specific information included in speech waves. The different classification of speaker recognition and speech processing techniques required for performing the recognition task are discussed. The basic modules of a speaker recognition system are outlined and discussed. Some of the techniques required to implement each module of the system were discussed and others are mentioned. The methods were also compared with one another. Finally, this paper concludes by giving a few research trends in speaker recognition for some year to come.
Author Guidelines
Authors: Board Editorial
Published: September 2017

These instructions give you guidelines for preparing papers for AJICT. This version is a slight adaptation of an IEEE version. Use this document as a template if you are using Microsoft Word 6.0 or later. Otherwise, use this document as an instruction set. Define all symbols used in the abstract. Do not cite references in the abstract. Do not delete the blank line immediately above the abstract; it sets the footnote at the bottom of this column. Do not insert page numbers. Page numbers will be inserted by the editors. Once your paper is accepted final copies must be submitted online as Rich Text AND pdf as well.
Performance Analysis for QoS Provisioning at Connection-Level in Cellular WCDMA Networks
Authors: Soliman Saied Mohammed
Published: September 2017

In this paper we propose a new connection admission control (CAC) scheme namely dynamic bandwidth reservation (DBR) algorithm at the network layer in order to provision connection-level QoS in cellular WCDMA network. DBR scheme supports Multirate services for new and handover (HO) connections traffic by employing orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF). However, to exploit the wireless time-varying channel, we employed a prediction criterion of wireless channel for each mobile connection. Therefore, we impact the wireless channel characteristics in the new/HO traffic distribution. The teletraffic analysis of the proposed scheme is analyzed using a novel multistep Markov chain model. We compare our proposed scheme with multiple leaf code reservation (MLCR) schemes without code reassignment [4]. The performance of the proposed scheme is measured in terms of handover connection dropping probability (HCDP), new connection blocking probability (NCBP), forced termination probability (FTP) and channel utilization.
Power Amplifiers for Next Generation Wireless Platforms
Authors: Tom Kevin
Published: September 2017

Class-E amplifier has the potential to

deliver high efficiency required for the next

generation wireless systems. In this journal, we

discuss a novel load pull analysis technique to

characterize the efficiency performance of Class-E

amplifier in an outphasing power combining

scheme. Class-E amplifier is not an ideal current

or voltage source as is required for the traditional

analysis of outphasing structures. It requires a

phase modulated input signal and has a non-linear

transfer characteristic which is a function of load

impedance. Here we define an operating load

locus based on the load pull analysis which can be

used to predict the non-linear transfer function,

efficiency, output power, input drive phase and

many other factors associated with the outphasing

class-E amplifier. This scheme could also be used

to characterize any amplifier class in an

outphasing structure. Finally modulation

performance of Class-E amplifier using PWM

technique is also presented.