bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the Velocities of Coals of Diverse Rank under Water- or Gas-Saturated Conditions for Application in Coalbed Methane Recovery
Authors: Xu Jizhao , Zhai Cheng , Ranjith Pathegama Gamage , Sun Yong , Guo Jisheng , Ma Zheng , Ma Huiteng , Qin Lei
Published: May 2019

Coalbed methane recovery enhanced by hydraulic or nonaqueous fracturing methods has been studied for decades, and it is of significance to evaluate fracturing results and scope for field applications. Monitoring variation in velocity is one way to explain fracturing effects. However, the existence of residual water or gas within cracks or pores may affect velocity measurements, and the correlation between velocity and inherent coal attributes (such as density and porosity) has not been studied comprehensively. In this paper, coal of different ranks (lignite, bituminite, and anthracite) was prepared under water and gas saturation to approximately simulate the residual water and gas in cracks under field applications. Correlations between the velocity and coal attributes were studied. For both water- and gas-saturated cores, the diverse velocity distributions were highly correlated to rank and saturation media. The longitudinal ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPVp) and transverse ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPVs) of different cores were distributed differently. For coal saturated with water or gas, the UPVp values of lignite, bituminite, and anthracite had positive linear correlations with the corresponding UPVs values. The discrete velocity ratio data were fit as negative linear correlations with UPVs, and different coals had different declining degrees, the difference of which might be attributed to the characteristics of structural cracks and the inherent properties of the coal, such as grain size and pore shape, which result in decreasing coal integrity and strength. Moreover, the difference in acoustic resistance between coal and fluids might have an inverse impact on the acoustic energy, and a larger difference might cause a large amount of energy to dissipate and finally cause the velocity to decrease. Under water and gas saturation conditions, the UPVp showed a positive linear correlation with density and a negative linear correlation with porosity. Finally, a potential field application was designed on the relations between the velocity and the elastic parameters to estimate fracturing effects by monitoring the petrophysical parameters of coal lithologies.
Alpha7 nAChR Expression Is Correlated with Arthritis Development and Inhibited by Sinomenine in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rats
Authors: Peng Chong , Shi Qing-ping , Liu Jia-yan , Lv Yan-jun , Li Jing , Yi Lang , Bai Sha-sha , Liu Liang , Wang Pei-xun , Zhou Hua , Huang Ke-er , Dong Yan
Published: May 2019

Sinomenine (SIN) is the active ingredient of the Chinese herb Sinomenium acutum that has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for about 30 years in China. Marked expression of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in the joint synovium of RA patients suggested a relationship between α7nAChR and RA. This study investigated the relationship between α7nAChR and RA development and the effects of SIN on α7nAChR expression in vivo and in vitro. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with complete Freund’s adjuvant to induce arthritis and then treated with SIN or methotrexate (MTX) from day 0 to day 30. Four clinical parameters—paw volume, arthritic index (AI), serum TNF-α concentration, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)—were measured. Splenic lymphocytes were isolated for Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) stimulation. α7nAChR expression in tissues and cells was examined by RT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay. The relationship between α7nAChR expression and the four clinical parameters was analyzed by single-factor correlation analysis. Our results showed that the paw volume, AI, TNF-α concentration, and ESR in adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) rats were reduced by SIN or MTX treatment. SIN decreased α7nAChR expression in tissues and cells compared to the model group, while MTX had no significant effect on α7nAChR expression. Moreover, there was a positive relationship between α7nAChR expression and paw swelling, AI, and TNF-α concentration. Splenic lymphocyte activation was accompanied by increased α7nAChR expression, while SIN treatment inhibited cell activation and downregulated α7nAChR expression. α7nAChR expression showed a positive correlation with the progression of RA in AIA rats that may involve lymphocyte activation. Different from MTX, the inhibition of SIN on α7nAChR expression might contribute to its antiarthritic effect, suggesting that SIN could be an important supplement to the treatment strategy for RA.
Omnivorous Behaviour of the Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina): A Neotropical Rodent with the Potential for Domestication
Authors: Jones Kegan Romelle , Lall Kavita Ranjeeta , Garcia Gary Wayne
Published: May 2019

The agouti is a Neotropical rodent which is mainly utilized for its meat in rural communities. Recently, captive rearing of these animals by wildlife farmers have increased in the Neotropics. This short communication consists of observation of feeding behaviour of captive reared agoutis at the University of the West Indies Field Station in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the first time in Trinidad and Tobago that meat consumption and the omnivorous behaviour of the agouti have been documented in the literature. The consumption of chicken (Gallus domesticus) eggs, dead chickens, and a brown dove (Zenaida macroura) by captive reared agoutis was noted. This document described the omnivorous behaviour of the agouti which is primarily considered a frugivorous animal. Similar studies in South America have shown that wild and captive reared agoutis consumed animal matter. Further work must be done on the dietary needs and nutrient requirements of the agouti at different physiological states.
The Rheology and Performance of Geothermal Spring Water-Based Drilling Fluids
Authors: Avci Emine , Mert Bayram Ali
Published: May 2019

In this study, the rheological properties and performances of mud prepared with geothermal spring water to be used by geothermal drilling operators were examined at ambient and elevated temperatures. In this context, mud samples were prepared in the compositions detailed in the API specification by using five different geothermal spring water types and a distilled water type. Afterwards, density, apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, fluid loss, pH, and filter cake thickness of these samples were measured. The drilling muds were analyzed by means of rheological tests in accordance with the standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API). The experimental results have revealed that the mud prepared with geothermal water have lower viscosity and yield point compared to those prepared with freshwater at elevated temperatures. The stability of the muds decreases, especially at temperatures higher than 250°F, and they start to become flocculated. It was concluded that geothermal water-based muds have higher API fluid loss and cake thickness than the freshwater-based one. Therefore, it could be interpreted that the muds prepared with geothermal spring water will exhibit lower flow performance and lower ability of hole cleaning and rate of penetration compared to the freshwater muds. Hence, it is recommended that this kind of water should not be used to prepare drilling mud.
ANXA2 Silencing Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration in Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Xie Rui , Liu Jia , Yu Xuefeng , Li Chunfeng , Wang Yufeng , Yang Wei , Hu Jiahe , Liu Ping , Sui Hong , Liang Peiqiang , Huang Xinyan , Wang Lijuan , Bai Yuxian , Xue Yingwei , Zhu Jiuxin , Fang Tianyi
Published: May 2019

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) has been well known to associate with the progress of malignant tumor. However, the biological behavior of ANXA2 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. We made a hypothesis in transcriptome level from TCGA datasets. Then, we used immunohistochemical staining to quantify the expression level of ANXA2 protein in GC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used for analyzing ANXA2 expression in human GC (SGC-7901, MKN-45, BGC-823, and AGS) cell lines. We investigated the effect of a lentivirus-mediated knock-down of ANXA2 on the proliferation, invasion and migration of gastric cancer AGS cells. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT and colony formation tests. Cell apoptosis and cycle were measured by flow cytometry. Migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. We found that high expression of ANXA2 can increase the mobility of cancer cells from TCGA datasets. ANXA2 was upregulated in GC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. AGS cell line displayed significantly higher expression of ANXA2 among the four GC cell lines. In addition, ANXA2 silencing led to a weakened ability of proliferation, invasion, and migration in GC cells; targeting of ANXA2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for GC patients.
Tectonic Keratoplasty to Restore the Bulbar Wall after Block Excision of Benign and Malignant Intraocular Tumors
Authors: Balestrazzi Emilio , Mosca Luigi , Blasi Maria Antonietta , Giannico Maria Ilaria , Balestrazzi Angelo
Published: May 2019

Purpose. To report the surgical treatment and follow-up of tumors of the anterior uvea and epithelial cysts of the anterior chamber in 4 patients submitted to block excision and tectonic corneal graft between 2008 and 2012. Methods. This is a retrospective, nonrandomized case series. Two patients were affected by anterior uveal malignant melanoma, and 2 patients were referred to us for large epithelial iris cysts with anterior chamber angle involvement and partial corneal failure. A simultaneous block removal of the lesion and adjacent iris, cornea (when necessary), ciliary body, and sclera was performed; the resulting defect was covered by a tectonic whole thickness corneal graft. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 7 years (mean time: 5 ± 1.6 MD). Results. Local control of malignant melanoma was observed during the follow-up, but cataract surgery was planned in both patients and pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage occurred in one case. No recurrence of cysts was detected. After iris cysts excision, a planned second-time surgery was necessary in one patient: optical penetrating keratoplasty, centered on the visual axis, implantation of one refractive IOL (intraocular lens) in the bag, and one cosmetic IOL in the sulcus, to restore the iris diaphragm. Conclusions. Block excision followed by the tectonic corneal graft seems to be the treatment of choice for selected cases of epithelial cysts of the anterior chamber and anterior uvea melanomas with epibulbar extension. Further surgery, as a second step, could be required to improve functional results of this challenging technique.
Vehicle Scheduling Optimization considering the Passenger Waiting Cost
Authors: Shang Huayan , Liu Yanping , Huang Haijun , Guo Renyong
Published: May 2019

In the operational planning process of public transport, the time a passenger spends on waiting is a very critical element for judging passenger service. Schedule synchronization is a useful strategy for reducing bus waiting time and improving service connectivity. This paper develops an extended vehicle scheduling model, taking into account the interests of passengers and operators in attaining optimization of timetable synchronization integrated with vehicle scheduling and considering the passenger waiting cost. Deficit functions at terminals are formulated. Deadheading (DH), shifting departure time (SDT), and network flow technique are used for vehicle scheduling with the consideration of passenger waiting times. An experimental study in Beijing is conducted and three important bus lines are selected as a regional bus network to demonstrate the methodology developed. Results show that both the fleet size of bus operators and the waiting cost of passengers are minimized. For example, the minimum fleet size can be reduced from 28 vehicles to 24 ones while the passenger times are less than 20 minutes in this multidepot network.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy of Inflammatory Lung Diseases: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives
Authors: Harrell C. Randall , Sadikot Ruxana , Pascual Jose , Fellabaum Crissy , Jankovic Marina Gazdic , Jovicic Nemanja , Djonov Valentin , Arsenijevic Nebojsa , Volarevic Vladislav
Published: May 2019

During acute or chronic lung injury, inappropriate immune response and/or aberrant repair process causes irreversible damage in lung tissue and most usually results in the development of fibrosis followed by decline in lung function. Inhaled corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs are very effective in patients with inflammatory lung disorders, but their long-term use is associated with severe side effects. Accordingly, new therapeutic agents that will attenuate ongoing inflammation and, at the same time, promote regeneration of injured alveolar epithelial cells are urgently needed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to modulate proliferation, activation, and effector function of all immune cells that play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases. In addition to the suppression of lung-infiltrated immune cells, MSCs have potential to differentiate into alveolar epithelial cells in vitro and, accordingly, represent new players in cell-based therapy of inflammatory lung disorders. In this review article, we described molecular mechanisms involved in MSC-based therapy of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases and emphasized current knowledge and future perspectives related to the therapeutic application of MSCs in patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Experimental Investigation on Propagation Behavior of Hydraulic Fractures in Coal Seam during Refracturing
Authors: Sun Xun , Zhang Shicheng , Ma Xinfang , Zou Yushi , Lin Guanyu
Published: May 2019

Refracturing is an effective technology for reinstituting a percolation path and improving the fracture conductivity in coal measure strata. Hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation is complicated due to the presence of cleats and stress change caused by pore pressure changes. Many scholars have studied HF propagation in the initial fracturing of coal, but the refracturing in coal seams is rarely mentioned. In this study, laboratory refracturing experiments were conducted on large natural coal specimens under various triaxial stress states to investigate the propagation of HFs in coal seams. The mechanical properties of coal were tested before refracturing. The maximum and the minimum horizontal principal stresses are inverted to simulate the stress change caused by the production and pore pressure reduction of the stress condition after initial fracturing. Experimental results showed three different types of HF initiation and propagation during refracturing: (1) under low horizontal stress differences (0-2 MPa), HF propagated along the cleats, and no new HFs were formed on the walls of the initial HFs regardless of changes in the horizontal stress; (2) under high horizontal stress differences (4–8 MPa) with no stress inversion, a major HF was initiated parallel to the orientation of maximum horizontal stress during initial fracturing; new branches propagated along cleats in the orientation of the minimum horizontal stress during refracturing; and (3) under high horizontal stress differences (4–8 MPa) with maximum and minimum horizontal stress inversions, the main HF formed along the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress, and a new HF perpendicular to the initial HF was formed during refracturing. Multiple factors affect fracture morphology during refracturing. Cleats affect the HF growth path and the creation of new branches. The in situ stress determines the initiation and propagation of new HFs.
Study on the Seismic Performance of Box-Plate Steel Structure Modular Unit
Authors: Mao Hui , Qin Guang-chong , Lan Tao
Published: May 2019

To study the seismic performance of the box-plate steel structure system, two three-storey single box-plate steel structure space stress-bearing unit test pieces have been designed and fabricated according to the 1 : 3 reduced scale. In addition, the quasi-static loading test has been performed on the test pieces where the destruction process, destroy mode, bearing capacity, hysteretic behavior, etc., have been studied and the impact of reinforcing measures with a corner or not on the seismic performance of test pieces has been mainly analyzed. The test results show that the destruction of the box-plate steel structure modular unit under the low cyclic loading effect starts with corner buckling and ends with corner wallboard tear. The test piece has excellent bearing capacity and energy dissipation; the corner reinforcing structure measure also has enhanced the seismic performance of the modular unit. Based on the test, we have taken finite element numerical simulation to the test pieces, compared the analysis result of the test with the finite element, and verified the effectiveness of the finite element analysis method. This paper designs four groups of 64 finite element model test pieces and discusses the influence law of the height-thickness ratio of the wallboard, flexibility coefficient of corner reinforcing structure rib, and axial compression ratio to the seismic performance of the modular unit. The results show that the bearing capacity of the test piece is decreased with the increase of axial compression ratio under the premise that the wallboard height-thickness ratio and flexibility coefficient of the corner reinforcing structure rib are certain. Based on the above analysis results, we have put forward the lateral force resistance calculation model of the reinforcing structure modular unit with or without corner.
Population Traits and a Female Perspective forAglaeandExaerete, Tropical Bee Parasites (Hymenoptera, Apinae: Euglossini)
Authors: Roubik David W.
Published: May 2019

Size variation of both males and females leads to taxonomic confusion regarding wholly parasitic euglossines. The six most widespread species,Exaerete frontalis, E. smaragdina, E. dentata, E. trochanterica, E. lepeletieri,andAglae caerulea,ranged from 12.5 to 28 mm in length (n = 522; 50 females; 472 males), and within species, some were 40-80% larger than others. The size ofE. lepeletierimatchesE. smaragdinaandE. dentata,but notE. frontalis, which it was said to resemble. FemaleE. lepeletieri,here described from Amazonian Ecuador, has a range shown to also include French Guiana and Suriname. FemaleAglaeandExaeretewere larger than males. Statistically, femaleExaeretetended toward larger individuals more than did males. Each species should parasitizeEulaemaandEufrieseathat have comparable size and provisions; thus multiple hosts may cause parasite size variation. Unknown factors may promote host resource partitioning between sympatric parasites, which include up to six in Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador, the richest known euglossine community. Scutellum and metafemur punctation, sculpture and the frontal knob of both sexes, and male mesotibial tuft and metafemur permit easy identification of the six common species andE. azteca. Existence ofE. kimseyaein Panama is questionable, whileE. dentatathere is certainly rare. The female tibial scoop, a structure in bothAglaeandExaerete, with a proposed function in material transport, is discussed. No new phylogenetic interpretation is presented.
Peanut Detection Using Droplet Microfluidic Polymerase Chain Reaction Device
Authors: Ma Shou-Yu , Chiang Yu-Cheng , Hsu Chia-Hsien , Chen Jyh-Jian , Hsu Chin-Chi , Chao An-Chong , Lin Yung-Sheng
Published: May 2019

In this study, we integrated genetic detection for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with microfluidics technology for the detection of peanut DNA. A cross-junction microchannel was used to induce emulsion droplets of water in oil for PCR on a chip. Compared with the single-phase flow, the emulsion droplet flow exhibited a 7.24% lower evaporation amount and prevented air bubble generation. PCR results of the droplet microfluidic PCR chip for peanut DNA fragment detection was verified by comparison with a commercial PCR thermal cycler and increased fluorescence intensity in SYBR Green reagent-based PCR. Moreover, PCR on the microfluidic PCR chip was successful for sesame, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. The droplet microfluidic PCR device developed in this study can be applied for peanut detection in the context of food allergy.
Axial Cyclic Testing of Concrete‐Filled Steel Tube Columns in Diagrid Structures
Authors: Shi Qingxuan , Cai Wenzhe , Wang Bin
Published: May 2019

Inclined concrete‐filled steel tube (CFST) columns in a diagrid structure system can efficiently carry large vertical loads and horizontal forces. This paper presents an experimental study of the stress characteristics of engineered inclined CFST columns under axial cyclic loading. Ten specimens were tested, including two hollow steel tube (HST) columns and eight CFST columns, and the influences of loading scheme, aspect ratio, concrete strength, and steel ratio were examined. The seismic behaviours were investigated, including mechanical behaviour, failure modes and hysteretic curves, and ductility, and the interaction between the steel tube and concrete was examined as well. Better ductility and energy dissipation capacity are achieved in the tension direction, whereas higher bearing capacity and stiffness are achieved in the compression direction. Compared with hollow steel tube columns, the supporting effect of concrete on the steel tube for CFST columns in tension and the restraining effect of the steel tube on concrete for CFST columns in compression ensure higher capacity, deformability, and energy dissipation capacity.
Sensitivities in Models with Backward Dynamics
Authors: Chen Yonghong , Guo Xunxiang
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we study some properties of economic model with backward dynamics. We mainly introduce the concept of P-sensitivity and P-Li-Yorke sensitivity especially for the multivalued forward dynamics of such models and characterize P-sensitivity and P-Li-Yorke sensitivity of the multivalued forward dynamics in terms of sensitivity and Li-Yorke sensitivity of an induced single-valued dynamics by using the theory of inverse limits. Similarly, we also characterize the sensitivity and Li-Yorke sensitivity of the single-valued backward dynamics of such models in terms of the corresponding sensitivities of an induced single-valued dynamics.
Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Screening for Magnesium Deficiency
Authors: Severino Paolo , Netti Lucrezia , Mariani Marco Valerio , Maraone Annalisa , D’Amato Andrea , Scarpati Rossana , Infusino Fabio , Pucci Mariateresa , Lavalle Carlo , Maestrini Viviana , Mancone Massimo , Fedele Francesco
Published: May 2019

Magnesium is an essential mineral naturally present in the human body, where it acts as cofactor in several enzymatic reactions. Magnesium is a key cardiovascular regulator, which maintains electrical, metabolic, and vascular homeostasis. Moreover, magnesium participates in inflammation and oxidative processes. In fact, magnesium deficiency is involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, endothelial dysfunction, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. In consideration of the great public-health impact of cardiovascular disease, the recognition of the negative effects of magnesium deficiency suggests the possible role of hypomagnesaemia as cardiovascular risk factor and the use of serum magnesium level for the screening and prevention of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, it might help with the identification of new therapeutical strategies for the management of cardiovascular disease through magnesium supplementation.
The Efficacy of Predictive Methods in Financial Statement Fraud
Authors: Omidi Mahdi , Min Qingfei , Moradinaftchali Vahab , Piri Muhammad
Published: May 2019

The existence and persistence of financial statement fraud (FSF) are detrimental to the financial health of global capital markets. A number of detective and predictive methods have been used to prevent, detect, and correct FSF, but their practicability has always been a big challenge for researchers and auditors, as they do not address real-world problems. In this paper, both supervised and unsupervised approaches are employed for analysing the financial data obtained from China’s stock market in detecting FSF. The variables used in this paper are 18 financial datasets, representing a fraud triangle. Additionally, this study examined the properties of five widely used supervised approaches, namely, multi-layer feed forward neural network (MFFNN), probabilistic neural network (PNN), support vector machine (SVM), multinomial log-linear model (MLM), and discriminant analysis (DA), applied in different real-life situations. The empirical results show that MFFNN yields the best classification results in detection of fraudulent data presented in financial statement. The outcomes of this study can be applied to different types of financial statement datasets, as they present a practical way for constructing predictive models using a combination of supervised and unsupervised approaches.
A Study on the Fluorescence Properties of New Laser Material-n-B18H22 in SDS Aqueous Solution
Authors: Zhang Lin-Na , Chen Jie , Huang Xu-Guang , Meng Hong-Yun , Tan Chun-Hua
Published: May 2019

The effect of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the fluorescence of n-B18H22 was studied. The experimental result revealed that the fluorescence of n-B18H22 was obviously enhanced with the increase of the concentration of SDS, mainly due to the hydrophobic protection of n-B18H22 by SDS. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of n-B18H22 in the range of 0-8.0×10−3 mol·L−1 and 8.0×10−3 mol·L−1-3.3×10−2 mol·L−1, respectively. It was observed that a break appeared in the curve of fluorescence intensity with surfactant concentration. The critical micelle concentration (CMC, 7.9×10−3 mol·L−1) of SDS was obtained from this break point in a good agreement with the reported value. The fluorescence intensity increased initially with time and gradually stabilized. The results form the basis for further study of the properties and application of n-B18H22 in SDS solutions.
Chemical-Enhanced Oil Recovery Using N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine on a Colombian Crude Oil
Authors: Merchan-Arenas Diego R. , Villabona-Delgado Cindy Carolina
Published: May 2019

Oil recovery was improved using the tertiary amine, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA), a powerful and promissory switchable solvent, in simulated conditions similar to the Colombian crude oil reserves. Firstly, the Colombian crude oil (CCO) and the soil were characterized completely. Afterwards, an aged crude-rock system was obtained to use DMCHA that gave an oil crude extraction of 80% in our preliminary studies. Thus, a sand-pack column (soil-kaolin, 95 : 5) frame saturated with CCO was used to simulate the conditions, in which DMCHA could recover the oil. After the secondary recovery process, 15.4–33.8% of original oil in place (OOIP) is obtained. Following the injection of DMCHA, the recovery yield rose to 87–97% of OOIP. Finally, 54–60% of DMCHA was recovered and reinjected without affecting its potential in the simulated conditions.
Applying Catastrophe Theory for Network Anomaly Detection in Cloud Computing Traffic
Authors: Khatibzadeh Leila , Bornaee Zarrintaj , Ghaemi Bafghi Abbas
Published: May 2019

In spite of the tangible advantages of cloud computing, it is still vulnerable to potential attacks and threats. In light of this, security has turned into one of the main concerns in the adoption of cloud computing. Therefore, an anomaly detection method plays an important role in providing a high protection level for network security. One of the challenges in anomaly detection, which has not been seriously considered in the literature, is applying the dynamic nature of cloud traffic in its prediction while maintaining an acceptable level of accuracy besides reducing the computational cost. On the other hand, to overcome the issue of additional training time, introducing a high-speed algorithm is essential. In this paper, a network traffic anomaly detection model grounded in Catastrophe Theory is proposed. This theory is effective in depicting sudden change processes of the network due to the dynamic nature of the cloud. Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is applied for the state variable in sliding window to better show the dynamicity of cloud network traffic. Entropy is used as one of the control variables in catastrophe theory to analyze the distribution of traffic features. Our work is compared with Wei Xiong et al.’s Catastrophe Theory and achieved a maximum improvement in the percentage of Detection Rate in week 4 Wednesday (7.83%) and a 0.31% reduction in False Positive Rate in week 5 Monday. Additional accuracy parameters are checked and the impact of sliding window size in sensitivity and specificity is considered.
Increased Cortical Thickness in Attentional Networks in Parkinson’s Disease with Minor Hallucinations
Authors: Sawczak Caspian M. , Barnett Alexander J. , Cohn Melanie
Published: May 2019

Hallucinations are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Based on functional brain MRI data, hallucinations are proposed to result from alterations in the dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), and default mode network. Using structural MRI data from Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), we examined cortical thickness in these networks in PD patients with (n=30) and without (n=30) minor hallucinations who were matched on multiple clinical characteristics (e.g., age, sex, education, cognitive diagnosis, MoCA score, medication, disease duration, and severity) as well as healthy controls (n=30) matched on demographic variables. Multivariate analyses revealed mild hallucinations to be associated with thicker cortex in the DAN and VAN, and these effects were driven by the left superior precentral sulcus and postcentral sulcus for the DAN and by the right insular gyrus for the VAN. While these findings may seem at odds with prior work showing grey matter reductions, our patients are in earlier stages of the disease than those in other studies. This is consistent with an inverted U-shape pattern of cortical thickness alterations in other neurodegenerative diseases and warrants further investigations in longitudinal studies tracking brain correlates of PD psychosis progression.
Qingshen Buyang Formula Attenuates Renal Fibrosis in 5/6 Nephrectomized Rats via Inhibiting EMT and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway
Authors: Zhang Xueqin , Fang Jing , Chen Zhiqiang , Zhao Bingwu , Wu Su , Pan Yongmei
Published: May 2019

As renal fibrosis significantly contributes to various kinds of chronic kidney diseases, this study aimed to investigate the renal protective effects of Qingshen Buyang Formula against renal fibrosis on 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and its underlying mechanisms were explored. A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group), 5/6 nephrectomy group (5/6Nx group), and Qingshen Buyang Formula treatment group (QBF group). The intervention was intragastric administration for 12 weeks. In the end, the blood samples were collected to test renal functional parameters, urine proteins were measured, and the left kidneys were removed for histological studies, as well as mRNA and protein expression analysis. The results showed that Qingshen Buyang Formula significantly decreased BUN, Scr, and proteinuria in 5/6Nx rats. Meanwhile, it ameliorated the kidney injury and fibrosis, exemplified by the depressed expression of collagen I and fibronectin (FN), which are the main components of ECM. Furthermore, the process of EMT inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related genes, such as Wnt4, TCF4, β-catenin, and p-GSK3β. Collectively, the Qingshen Buyang Formula can improve renal function and attenuate renal fibrosis, and its underlying mechanisms may be related with inhibiting EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Optimizing the Method of Cell Separation from Bile of Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma for Flow Cytometry
Authors: Xia Yafei , Gao Yuan , Wang Botao , Zhang Hui , Zhang Qi
Published: May 2019

Analysis of the change of the cells in bile is an evolving research field in biliary pathophysiology and has potential value in diagnosis and therapy. However, laboratory studies of cell in bile across the world are scarce. Bile was collected from the clinical patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CC). To optimize the cell separation method in bile of patients with CC, we studied the factors that may affect cell vitality in bile including the dilution buffer, centrifugal force, centrifugal time, and store time and temperature. Then these factors were modified and performance was evaluated by flow cytometry with respect to the percentage and total yield of viable cells. The separated cells from bile were stained with CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, TCRγ/δ, CD16, CD14, HLA-DR, CD33, CD15, CD11b, lineage cocktail (CD3, CD14, CD19, CD20, and CD56), CD66b, and CD45 antibodies. The different buffer solutions were joined in bile of patients with CC; experiment results show that the different dilutions have nearly no effect on the ratio of cells in bile by flow cytometry. The best centrifugal procedure was 300 g, 10 min. Bile should be stored at 4°C rather than at normal temperature. Our study further showed that the shorter time of the bile storage, the higher viability of the cell, and immune cells existed in cells isolated from bile. Evaluating bile cell viability is necessary to evaluate method performance.
Deep Learning Based Proactive Caching for Effective WSN‐Enabled Vision Applications
Authors: Lei Fangyuan , Cai Jun , Dai Qingyun , Zhao Huimin
Published: May 2019

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have a wide range of applications scenarios in computer vision, from pedestrian detection to robotic visual navigation. In response to the growing visual data services in WSNs, we propose a proactive caching strategy based on Stacked Sparse Autoencoder (SSAE) to predict content popularity (PCDS2AW). Firstly, based on Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies, a distributed deep learning network SSAE is constructed in the sink nodes and control nodes of the WSN network. Then, the SSAE network structure parameters and network model parameters are optimized through training. The proactive cache strategy implementation procedure is divided into four steps. (1) The SDN controller is responsible for dynamically collecting user request data package information in the WSNs network. (2) The SSAEs predicts the packet popularity based on the SDN controller obtaining user request data. (3) The SDN controller generates a corresponding proactive cache strategy according to the popularity prediction result. (4) Implement the proactive caching strategy at the WSNs cache node. In the simulation, we compare the influence of spatiotemporal data on the SSAE network structure. Compared with the classic caching strategy Hash + LRU, Betw + LRU, and classic prediction algorithms SVM and BPNN, the proposed PCDS2AW proactive caching strategy can significantly improve WSN performance.
RAD51B (rs8017304 and rs2588809), TRIB1 (rs6987702, rs4351379, and rs4351376), COL8A1 (rs13095226), and COL10A1 (rs1064583) Gene Variants with Predisposition to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Vilkeviciute Alvita , Kriauciuniene Loresa , Chaleckis Romanas , Deltuva Vytenis Pranas , Liutkeviciene Rasa
Published: May 2019

Background. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of a central part of the neural retina (macula) and a leading cause of blindness in elderly people. While it is known that the AMD is a multifactorial disease, genetic factors involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and neovascularization are currently being widely studied in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RAD51B, TRIB1, COL8A1, and COL10A1 genes on AMD development. Methods. Case-control study involved 254 patients diagnosed with early AMD, 244 patients with exudative AMD, and 942 control subjects. The genotyping of RAD51B (rs8017304 and rs2588809), TRIB1 (rs6987702, rs4351379, and rs4351376), COL8A1 (rs13095226), and COL10A1 (rs1064583) was carried out using TaqMan assays by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results. Statistically significant difference was found in genotype (TT, TC, and CC) distribution of COL8A1 rs13095226 between exudative AMD and control groups (60.2%, 33.6%, and 6.1% vs. 64.9%, 32.3%, and 2.9%, respectively, p=0.036). Also, comparing with TT+TC, rs13095226 CC genotype was associated with 3.5-fold increased odds of exudative AMD development (OR = 3.540; 95% CI: 1.415-8.856; p=0.007). Conclusion. Our study revealed a strong association between a variant in COL8A1 (rs13095226) and exudative AMD development.
Modelling Magnetorheological Dampers in Preyield and Postyield Regions
Authors: Palomares E. , Morales A. L. , Nieto A. J. , Chicharro J. M. , Pintado P.
Published: May 2019

The use of magnetorheological dampers has rapidly spread to many engineering applications, especially those related to transportation and civil engineering. The problem arises upon modelling their highly nonlinear behaviour: in spite of the huge number of apparently accurate models in the literature, most fail when considering the overall magnetomechanical behaviour. In this study, a brief but broad review of different magnetorheological damper models has been carried out, which includes characterisation, modelling, and comparison. Unlike many other studies, the analyses cover the behaviour from preyield to postyield regions of the MR fluid. The performance of the different models has been assessed by means of numerous experimental tests and by means of simulations in a simple and straightforward semiactive control case study. The results obtained prove that most models usually fail in predicting accurate low‐velocity behaviour (before iron chains yield) and, as a result, may lead to bad estimations when used in control schemes due to modelling errors and chattering.
A One-Dimensional Fractional-Derivative Viscoelastic Model for the Aquitard Consolidation of an Aquifer System
Authors: Huang Ming-hua , Li Dun
Published: May 2019

Land subsidence resulting from the withdrawal of groundwater is one of the problems of major importance to geosciences and geomechanics. In order to analyze the phenomena of land subsidence, this study attempts to constitute a more reliable prediction model to simulate the consolidation process of the aquifer system under the drawdown of groundwater. A fractional-derivative viscoelastic model is introduced to characterize the rheological properties of the aquitard, and the equation governing the consolidation process is established on the basis of the one-dimensional consolidation theory. The semianalytical solutions for the pore-water pressure, the settlement of aquitard, and the degree of consolidation are deduced using both finite sine transform and Laplace transform. Then, the comparisons of two special cases are performed to validate the correctness of the proposed model. The variations in the degree of consolidation and settlement of the aquitard are simulated to analyze the consolidation behavior of the aquifer system, and the influences of model parameters and the drawdown speed of groundwater are investigated.
Nutritional Composition, Antinutritional Factors, Antioxidant Activities, Functional Properties, and Sensory Evaluation of Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Seeds Grown in Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Reda Tewelde Hailemicheal , Atsbha Mulubrhan Kahsay
Published: May 2019

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed is one of the main components of fruit crops. The seed is tightly packed together in a mucilaginous structure inside the endocarp of the fruit. The present study investigated the nutritional composition, antinutritional factors, and phytochemical and sensory attributes of cactus pear seeds collected from Hatset Kebele, Hawzen Woreda, Tigray region. The sample provides 392.84 kcal/100g energy in dry weigh basis. The dietary Ca, K, P, Fe, and Zn contents of the sample accounted 390.14mg, 446.46mg, 206.18mg, 4.37mg, and 2.01mg per 100 g, respectively. Despite the high phytate content (259.20mg/100g), the sample had appreciable amount of antioxidant capacity (43 to 95% of inhibition). The sample also had high value of water solubility index (5.6g/100g) and low value of bulk density (0.80g/ml). The sensory evaluation revealed that consumption of “Himbasha” (traditional bread) formulated with wheat flour was more preferable up to the ratio of 85:15% (wheat/seed).
Analysis of Nucleotide Alterations in the E6 Genomic Region of Human Papillomavirus Types 6 and 11 in Condyloma Acuminatum Samples from Brazil
Authors: Dias Marina Carrara , Stuqui Bruna , Provazzi Paola Jocelan Scarin , Bittar Cíntia , Candido Natália Maria , Matos Renata Prandini Adum de , Badial Rodolfo Miglioli , Bonfim Caroline Measso do , Melli Patricia Pereira dos Santos , Quintana Silvana Maria , Cordeiro José Antônio , Rahal Paula , Calmon Marilia de Freitas
Published: May 2019

Condyloma acuminata (CA), or genital warts, are benign proliferative epidermal or mucous lesions that are caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly the low-risk types 6 and 11. HPV variants are defined as viral sequences that share identity in the nucleotide sequence of the L1 gene greater than 98%. Based on this criterion, HPV6 and 11 variant lineages have been studied, and there are ongoing attempts to correlate these genetic variants with different clinical findings of infection. Therefore, the aims of this study were to detect variants and nucleotide alterations present in the E6 regions of HPV types 6 and 11 found in CA samples, to correlate the HPV presence with the clinical-pathological data of the patients, and to determine phylogenetic relationships with variants from other places in the world. The E6 regions of 25 HPV6 samples and 7 HPV11 samples from CA were amplified using PCR with specific primers. The products were ligated to a cloning vector and five colonies of each sample were sequenced to observe the nucleotide alterations. Twelve samples were identified as the HPV6B3 variant, presenting the mutation (guanine) G474A (adenine), and one of them also showed the mutation (thymine) T369G. The other 13 patients were positive for HPV6B1 without nucleotide alterations. In the analysis of the HPV11 samples, all patients showed the mutations T137C and (cytosine) C380T. One patient also presented the nucleotide alteration T410C. None of the mutations found in the 32 analyzed samples resulted in amino acid changes. Patient age, local occurrence, and HIV infection did not show significant association with HPV infection. Besides, the data found in this study did not show a relationship with the geographical region of isolation when compared to other data from different regions of the world. In this way, despite the nucleotide alterations found, it was not possible to observe amino acid changes and variants grouping according to geographical region.
Study on 3D Pore Characteristics of Carbon Materials in HTGR by Micro-CT and HPMI Methods
Authors: Ma Shengchao , Zhang Zhenzhong , Shen Kaiyue , He Xuedong , Li Jun , Yin Huaqiang , Yang Xingtuan , Jiang Shengyao
Published: May 2019

Many tons of porous carbon materials (including BC and IG-110) are contained in HTGR, which are serving as structural material and fuel matrix material. These materials would absorb moisture and other impurities when exposed to the environment, and these impurities (especially moisture) absorbed in the carbon material must be removed before the reactor operation to prevent corrosion reaction at high temperature (more than 500°C). As the pore microscopic structure characteristic is the significant factor affecting the gas adsorption and flow in the porous materials, the detailed 3D pore structures of the carbon materials (BC and IG-110) in HTGR were studied by Micro-XCT and HPMI methods in this paper. These pore structure characteristics include pore geometry, pore size distribution, and pore throat connectivity. The test results show that the pore size distribution of BC material is wide, and the pore diameter is obviously larger than that of IG-110. Pore connections in BC show radial shape connections at some special points, and the pore connectivity in IG-110 is very complex and presents a huge complex 3D pore network.
Donor Small-Droplet Macrovesicular Steatosis Affects Liver Transplant Outcome in HCV-Negative Recipients
Authors: Ferri Flaminia , Lai Quirino , Molinaro Antonio , Poli Edoardo , Parlati Lucia , Lattanzi Barbara , Mennini Gianluca , Melandro Fabio , Pugliese Francesco , Maldarelli Federica , Corsi Alessandro , Riminucci Mara , Merli Manuela , Rossi Massimo , Ginanni Corradini Stefano
Published: May 2019

Background. No data are available on liver transplantation (LT) outcome and donor liver steatosis, classified as large droplet macrovesicular (Ld-MaS), small-droplet macrovesicular (Sd-MaS), and true microvesicular (MiS), taking into account the recipient Hepatitis C virus (HCV) status. Aim. We investigate the impact of allograft steatosis reclassified according to the Brunt classification on early graft function and survival after LT. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 204 consecutive preischemia biopsies of grafts transplanted in our center during the period 2001-2011 according to recipient HCV status. Results. The median follow-up after LT was 7.5 years (range: 0.0-16.7). In negative recipients (n=122), graft loss was independently associated with graft Sd-MaS, in multivariable Cox regression models comprehending only pre-/intraoperative variables (HR=1.03, 95%CI=1.01-1.05; P=0.003) and when including indexes of early postoperative graft function (HR=1.04, 95%CI=1.02-1.06; P=0.001). Graft Sd-MaS>15% showed a risk for graft loss > 2.5-folds in both the models. Graft Sd-MaS>15% was associated with reduced graft ATP content and, only in HCV- recipients, with higher early post-LT serum AST peaks. Conclusions. In HCV-negative recipients, allografts with >15% Sd-MaS have significantly reduced graft survival and show low ATP and higher AST peaks in the immediate posttransplant period. Donors with >15% Sd-MaS have significantly higher BMI, longer ICU stays, and lower PaO2.