bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Technologies and Generic Assays for the Detection of Anti-Drug Antibodies
Authors: Partridge Michael A. , Purushothama Shobha , Elango Chinnasamy , Lu Yanmei
Published: July 2016

Anti-drug antibodies induced by biologic therapeutics often impact drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics response, clinical efficacy, and patient safety. It is critical to assess the immunogenicity risk of potential biotherapeutics in producing neutralizing and nonneutralizing anti-drug antibodies, especially in clinical phases of drug development. Different assay methodologies have been used to detect all anti-drug antibodies, including ELISA, radioimmunoassay, surface plasmon resonance, and electrochemiluminescence-based technologies. The most commonly used method is a bridging assay, performed in an ELISA or on the Meso Scale Discovery platform. In this report, we aim to review the emerging new assay technologies that can complement or address challenges associated with the bridging assay format in screening and confirmation of ADAs. We also summarize generic anti-drug antibody assays that do not require drug-specific reagents for nonclinical studies. These generic assays significantly reduce assay development efforts and, therefore, shorten the assay readiness timeline.
A New Form of the General Solution of the Elastic Space Axisymmetric Problem in Pavement Mechanics
Authors: Liang Jia , Jian Guo , Shikai He
Published: July 2016

In order to analyze the stress and displacement of pavement, a new form of the general solution of the elastic space axisymmetric problem is proposed by the method of mathematics reasoning. Depending on the displacement function put forward by Southwell, displacement function is derived based on Hankel transform and inverse Hankel transform. A new form of the general solution of the elastic space axisymmetric problem has been set up according to a few basic equations as the geometric equations, constitutive equations, and equilibrium equations. The present solution applies to elastic half-space foundation and Winkler foundation; the stress and displacement of pavement are obtained by mathematical deduction. The example results show that the proposed method is practically feasible.
Facile Synthesis of Nanostructured Anatase Titania with Controllable Morphology via Oxidation of TiC with Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Ren Yuduo , Hu WenTao
Published: July 2016

Nanostructured anatase TiO2with controllable morphology has been fabricated via the oxidation of TiC with H2O2. At room temperature, the reaction of TiC with H2O2leads to dissolution of TiC into H2O2aqueous solution, producing an acidic solution. By drying the acidic solution at 80°C in air, an amorphous powder of polytitanic acid with oxalate ligands is obtained, and its morphology is found to rely on the reaction time. By annealing the amorphous acidic powder atT> 350°C, the nanostructured anatase TiO2with controllable morphology is generated. Depending on the oxidation time, the morphology can be fabricated as sponge-like shape, flower-like shape, spongy balls, and so forth. The nanostructured anatase TiO2is stable under the heating treatments until 900°C, and its morphology can be tuned to the nanocrystalline grains. In addition to the annealing way, rice-shaped anatase nanocrystals can be directly formed by aging the acidic solution under ambient conditions.
The Role of RhoJ in Endothelial Cell Biology and Tumor Pathology
Authors: Shi Ting-Ting , Li Gang , Xiao Hong-Tao
Published: July 2016

Background. RhoJ, an endothelially expressed member of Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42) subfamily of Rho GTPase, plays an important role in endocytic pathway, adipocyte differentiation, endothelial motility, tube formation, and focal adhesion. RhoJ is a selective and effective therapeutic target in tumor tissues or retinopathy.Methods. A systematic review was related to “small Rho GTPase” or “RhoJ” with “endothelial motility, tube formation and focal adhesion” and “tumor therapy”. This led to many cross-references involving RhoJ and these data have been incorporated into the following study.Results. We have grouped the role of RhoJ according to three main effects: RhoJ regulates endocytic pathway and adipocyte differentiation in early studies, and RhoJ shows an important role in endothelial cell biology; furthermore, RhoJ blockade serves as a target in tumor vasculature and enhances the effects of anticancer drug.Conclusions. More research is necessary to understand the role of RhoJ in many aspects, on the basis of current knowledge of the role of RhoJ blockade in tumor vessels, there are opportunities for the therapy of tumor, and RhoJ is expressed outside tumour vasculature and is involved in wound healing. Taking advantage of the opportunities could result in a development in tumor therapy.
Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Clonal Complex 1 Group BStreptococcusStrains
Authors: Neemuchwala Alefiya , Teatero Sarah , Patel Samir N. , Fittipaldi Nahuel
Published: July 2016

Fluoroquinolone resistance in group BStreptococcusis increasingly being reported worldwide. Here, we correlated fluoroquinolone resistance with mutations ingyrA,gyrB,parC, andparEgenes, identified by mining whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of 190 clonal complex 1 group BStreptococcusstrains recovered from patients with invasive diseases in North America. We report a high prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance (12%) among GBS strains in our collection. Our approach is the first step towards accurate prediction of fluoroquinolone resistance from WGS data in this opportunistic pathogen.
Fixed Point Theorems for Generalized Mizoguchi-Takahashi Graphic Contractions
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Ahmad Jamshaid , Kutbi Marwan Amin
Published: July 2016

Remarkable feature of contractions is associated with the concept Mizoguchi-Takahashi function. For the purpose of extension and modification of classical ideas related with Mizoguchi-Takahashi contraction, we define generalized Mizoguchi-TakahashiG-contractions and establish some generalized fixed point theorems regarding these contractions in this paper. Some applications to the construction of a fixed point of multivalued mappings inε-chainable metric space are also discussed.
MCNP-X Monte Carlo Code Application for Mass Attenuation Coefficients of Concrete at Different Energies by Modeling 3 × 3 Inch NaI(Tl) Detector and Comparison with XCOM and Monte Carlo Data
Authors: Tekin Huseyin Ozan
Published: July 2016

Gamma-ray measurements in various research fields require efficient detectors. One of these research fields is mass attenuation coefficients of different materials. Apart from experimental studies, the Monte Carlo (MC) method has become one of the most popular tools in detector studies. An NaI(Tl) detector has been modeled, and, for a validation study of the modeled NaI(Tl) detector, the absolute efficiency of 3 × 3 inch cylindrical NaI(Tl) detector has been calculated by using the general purpose Monte Carlo code MCNP-X (version 2.4.0) and compared with previous studies in literature in the range of 661–2620 keV. In the present work, the applicability of MCNP-X Monte Carlo code for mass attenuation of concrete sample material as building material at photon energies 59.5 keV, 80 keV, 356 keV, 661.6 keV, 1173.2 keV, and 1332.5 keV has been tested by using validated NaI(Tl) detector. The mass attenuation coefficients of concrete sample have been calculated. The calculated results agreed well with experimental and some other theoretical results. The results specify that this process can be followed to determine the data on the attenuation of gamma-rays with other required energies in other materials or in new complex materials. It can be concluded that data from Monte Carlo is a strong tool not only for efficiency studies but also for mass attenuation coefficients calculations.
Targeting Lung Cancer Stem Cells with Antipsychological Drug Thioridazine
Authors: Yue Haiying , Huang Dongning , Qin Li , Zheng Zhiyong , Hua Li , Wang Guodong , Huang Jian , Huang Haixin
Published: July 2016

Lung cancer stem cells are a subpopulation of cells critical for lung cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Thioridazine, a classical neurological drug, has been reported with anticancer ability. However, whether thioridazine could inhibit lung cancer stem cells has never been studied. In our current work, we used different dosage of thioridazine to test its effect on lung cancer stem cells sphere formation. The response of lung cancer stem cells to chemotherapy drug with thioridazine treatment was measured. The cell cycle distribution of lung cancer stem cells after thioridazine treatment was detected. The in vivo inhibitory effect of thioridazine was also measured. We found that thioridazine could dramatically inhibit sphere formation of lung cancer stem cells. It sensitized the LCSCs to chemotherapeutic drugs 5-FU and cisplatin. Thioridazine altered the cell cycle distribution of LCSCs and decreased the proportion of G0 phase cells in lung cancer stem cells. Thioridazine inhibited lung cancer stem cells initiated tumors growth in vivo. This study showed that thioridazine could inhibit lung cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo. It provides a potential drug for lung cancer therapy through targeting lung cancer stem cells.
Experimental and Numerical Research on Seismic Performance of Earthquake-Damaged RC Frame Strengthened with CFRP Sheets
Authors: Wang Lai , Xuan Wei , Zhang Ying , Cong Shuping , Liu Feng , Gao Qiumei , Chen Haitao
Published: August 2016

In order to assess the seismic performance of damaged reinforced concrete (RC) frame strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) sheets, two experimental specimens with identical reinforcement ratio and geometric dimensions were designed following Chinese code for seismic design of buildings. Experimental specimens consist of a reference (undamaged) RC frame, namely, KJ-1, and an earthquake-damaged RC frame strengthened with CFRP sheets, namely, KJ-2. A pseudostatic test was conducted on the two specimens to simulate moderate earthquake damage. The strengthening effects of CFRP sheets on damaged RC frame were discussed in terms of hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, stiffness degradation, and ductility. In addition, numerical method based on fiber model method was utilized to analyze the seismic performance of KJ-1 and KJ-2 and it is compared with the experimental result. Both the results confirm that the method of exterior bonding CFRP sheets on the damaged RC frame has restored the seismic performance such as bearing capacity, stiffness, and ductility to its original undamaged level, and some of the seismic performance of the damaged RC frame strengthened with CFRP sheets is even better than the undamaged one, which proves that the method has significant effect in strengthening postearthquake-damaged RC frames.
Severe Hydronephrosis and Perinephric Urinoma with Rupture of Renal Fornix Secondary to Postoperative Urinary Retention following Laparoscopic Umbilical Hernia Repair
Authors: Dakwar Anthony , Wysock James , Satterfield James
Published: July 2016

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a known complication following a variety of procedures, with a reported incidence of 2.1–3.8% in general surgery and up to 52% in anorectal surgery. We report a case of POUR in a female resulting in severe unilateral hydronephrosis with a perinephric urinoma due to a ruptured fornix. The extent of hydroureter caused an axial rotation upon itself producing further outflow obstruction. This phenomenon of an anatomical ureter deformity secondary to urinary retention resulting in a ruptured fornix is an unusual occurrence. The patient underwent a percutaneous nephrogram where a stiff guidewire was successfully passed into the bladder by interventional radiology (IR) and allowed for placement of an indwelling ureteral stent. The case presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutic intervention are discussed.
Existence Results for Fuzzy Partial Differential Inclusions
Authors: Mehmood Nayyar , Azam Akbar
Published: July 2016

We discuss the existence of solution of a certain type of fuzzy partial differential inclusions with local conditions of integral types.
Short-Term Effect of Prosthesis Transforming Sensory Modalities on Walking in Stroke Patients with Hemiparesis
Authors: Owaki Dai , Sekiguchi Yusuke , Honda Keita , Ishiguro Akio , Izumi Shin-ichi
Published: July 2016

Sensory impairments caused by neurological or physical disorders hamper kinesthesia, making rehabilitation difficult. In order to overcome this problem, we proposed and developed a novel biofeedback prosthesis calledAuditory Footfor transforming sensory modalities, in which the sensor prosthesis transforms plantar sensations to auditory feedback signals. This study investigated the short-term effect of the auditory feedback prosthesis on walking in stroke patients with hemiparesis. To evaluate the effect, we compared four conditions of auditory feedback from plantar sensors at the heel and fifth metatarsal. We found significant differences in the maximum hip extension angle and ankle plantar flexor moment on the affected side during the stance phase, between conditions with and without auditory feedback signals. These results indicate that our sensory prosthesis could enhance walking performance in stroke patients with hemiparesis, resulting in effective short-term rehabilitation.
Fractional-Order Terminal Sliding-Mode Control for Buck DC/DC Converter
Authors: Yang Ningning , Wu Chaojun , Jia Rong , Liu Chongxin
Published: July 2016

In recent years, the combination of fractional calculus (FC) and sliding-mode control (SMC) has been gaining more and more interests due to fusion characteristics of SMC and FC. This paper presents the fractional-order terminal sliding-mode control (FTSMC) which has a new fractional-order sliding surface and assures the finite time convergence of the output voltage error to the equilibrium point during the load changes. TSMC is a special case of FTSMC. Through mathematical analysis, the system can reach the sliding-mode surface in finite time. The theoretical considerations have been verified by numerical simulations. And a Buck DC/DC converter application is presented and compared to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is shown that the novel fractional terminal sliding-mode control exhibits considerable improvement in terms of a faster output voltage response during load changes.
Functional Capacity, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Oxygen Consumption Predict Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Faustini Pereira José Leonardo , Galant Lucas Homercher , Rossi Danusa , Telles da Rosa Luis Henrique , Garcia Eduardo , de Mello Brandão Ajácio Bandeira , Marroni Cláudio Augusto
Published: July 2016

Introduction. Liver diseases influence musculoskeletal functions and may negatively affect the exercise capacity of patients with cirrhosis.Aim. To test the relationship between the six-minute walk test (6MWT), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and exercise capacity (VO2peak) measures and the survival rate of patients with cirrhosis.Methods. This prospective cohort study consisted of 86 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis with the following aetiology: hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and/or alcoholic cirrhosis (AC). All patients were followed up for three years and submitted to the 6MWT, pressure measurements with a compound gauge, and an exercise test (VO2peak).Results. The survival analysis showed that the individuals who covered a distance shorter than 410 m during the 6MWT had a survival rate of 55% compared with a rate of 97% for the individuals who walked more than 410 m (p= 0.0001). Individuals with MIPs below −70 cmH2O had a survival rate of 62% compared with a rate of 93% for those with MIPs above −70 cmH2O (p= 0.0001). The patients with values below 17 mL/kg had a survival rate of 55% compared with a rate of 94% for those with values above 17 mL/kg (p= 0.0001).Conclusion. The 6MWT distance, MIP, and oxygen consumption are predictors of mortality in patients with cirrhosis.
PET Evidence of the Effect of Donepezil on Cognitive Performance in an Animal Model of Chemobrain
Authors: Lim Ilhan , Joung Hye-Young , Yu A Ram , Shim Insop , Kim Jin Su
Published: July 2016

A considerable number of patients with breast cancer complain of cognitive impairment after chemotherapy. In this study, we showed that donepezil enhanced memory function and increased brain glucose metabolism in a rat model of cognitive impairment after chemotherapy using behavioral analysis and positron emission tomography (PET). We found that chemotherapy affected spatial learning ability, reference memory, and working memory and that donepezil improved these cognitive impairments. According to PET analysis, chemotherapy reduced glucose metabolism in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and donepezil increased glucose metabolism in the bilateral frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and hippocampus. Reduced glucose metabolism was more prominent after treatment with doxorubicin than cyclophosphamide. Our results demonstrated the neural mechanisms for cognitive impairment after chemotherapy and show that cognition was improved after donepezil intervention using both behavioral and imaging methods. Our results suggested that donepezil can be employed clinically for the treatment of cognitive deficits after chemotherapy.
Checklists of Parasites of Farm Fishes of Babylon Province, Iraq
Authors: Mhaisen Furhan T. , Al-Rubaie Abdul-Razzak L.
Published: July 2016

Literature reviews of all references concerning the parasitic fauna of fishes in fish farms of Babylon province, middle of Iraq, showed that a total of 92 valid parasite species are so far known from the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) as well as from three freshwater fish species (Carassius auratus,Liza abu, andHeteropneustes fossilis) which were found in some fish farms of the same province. The parasitic fauna included one mastigophoran, three apicomplexans, 13 ciliophorans, five myxozoans, five trematodes, 45 monogeneans, five cestodes, three nematodes, two acanthocephalans, nine arthropods, and one mollusc. The common carp was found to harbour 81 species of parasites, the grass carp 30 species, the silver carp 28 species,L. abu13 species,C. auratusone species, andH. fossilisone species. A host-parasite list for each fish species was also provided.
Polarization Sensitive Reflection and Dielectric Spectra in GaSe Thin Films
Authors: Khanfar Hazem K. , Qasrawi Atef A.
Published: July 2016

The light polarization effects on the optical reflective and dielectric spectra of GaSe thin films are studied in the incident light wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. In this range of measurement, the angle of incidence (θi) of light was varied between 30° and 80°. In addition, at θi of 30° the light polarizing angle (δ) was altered in the range of 0–90°. Regardless of the value of λ, for all θi≻65°, the total reflectance sharply decreased with increasing θi. In addition, when θi is fixed at 30° and δ was varied, the amplitudes ratio of the polarized waves exhibits a resonance-antiresonance phenomenon at a wavelength that coincides with the film’s thickness (800 nm). This behavior was assigned to the coupled interference between incident and reflected waves and to the strong absorption effects. Two main resonance peaks are observed as response to s-polarized and normal incident beam: one is at ~540 (556 nm) and the other at ~420 THz (714 nm). The dielectric constant of the GaSe films exhibits anisotropic characteristics that nominate it for use as multipurpose optoelectronic devices.
Effect of Anti-TNF Antibodies on Clinical Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wu Chunxiao , Wang Shengxu , Xian Peifeng , Yang Lu , Chen Ying , Mo Xianjie
Published: July 2016

Background. Antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs have been applied for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment; however, patients having anti-drug antibodies (ADAbs) do not benefit from these drugs. The meta-analysis aims to comprehensively assess the relationship between ADAb positive (ADAb+) and anti-TNF response in RA patients.Methods. Observational studies comparing different clinical response between ADAb+ and ADAb negative groups were included. Odds ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as effect size. Subgroup analyses stratified by TNF inhibitor types and assay methods for ADAb detection were performed.Results. Totally, 10 eligible studies containing 1806 subjects were included. ADAb+ was significantly associated with reduced anti-TNF response to RA at all the time points after follow-up (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis also supported this significant association (P<0.05), except for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) group at 3 months, infliximab (INF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) groups at 6 months, and Immunological Multi-Parameter Chip Technology (IMPACT) group at 12 months.Conclusion. ADAb+ was significantly associated with reduced clinical response in RA patients, and other alternatives should be considered in RA patients presenting ADAb+.
Stability Analysis of a Flutter Panel with Axial Excitations
Authors: Peng Meng , DeSmidt Hans A.
Published: July 2016

This paper investigates the parametric instability of a panel (beam) under high speed air flows and axial excitations. The idea is to affect out-of-plane vibrations and aerodynamic loads by in-plane excitations. The periodic axial excitation introduces time-varying items into the panel system. The numerical method based on Floquet theory and the perturbation method are utilized to solve the Mathieu-Hill equations. The system stability with respect to air/panel density ratio, dynamic pressure ratio, and excitation frequency are explored. The results indicate that panel flutter can be suppressed by the axial excitations with proper parameter combinations.
Pernicious Anemia with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Yeruva Sri Lakshmi Hyndavi , Manchandani Raj Pal , Oneal Patricia
Published: July 2016

Pernicious anemia is a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. Here, we discuss a case of a young woman who presented with severe anemia along with a history of iron deficiency anemia. After a review of her clinical presentation and laboratory data, we identified an autoimmune hemolytic anemia and a concomitant pernicious anemia. The concurrence of both these hematological diagnoses in a patient is rare.
A Computational and Experimental Study of the Conformers of Pyrrolidinium Ionic Liquid Cations Containing an Ethoxy Group in the Alkyl Side Chain
Authors: Trequattrini Francesco , Palumbo Oriele , Gatto Sara , Appetecchi Giovanni Battista , Paolone Annalisa
Published: July 2016

We investigate the conformers of the N-methoxyethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium (PYR1(2O1)) and N-ethoxyethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium (PYR1(2O2)) ionic liquid cations by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G⁎⁎ level and we calculate their infrared vibration frequencies. The comparison with the absorbance spectra of two ionic liquids containing these ions indicates good performance of such a combination of theory and basis set. The lowest energy conformer of each pyrrolidinium cation displays equatorial-envelope geometry; however, in contrast with the prototypical PYR14, the main alkyl side chain is not in an all-trans configuration, but it tends to be bent. Moreover, calculations indicate that the LUMO orbital extends more along the alkyl side chain in PYR1(2O1) and PYR1(2O2) than in the parent ion 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (PYR14).
Assessing the Suitability and Availability of Land for Agriculture in Tuban Regency, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Widiatmaka  , Ambarwulan Wiwin , Setiawan Yudi , Walter Christian
Published: August 2016

Indonesian food production depends highly on Java Island, which holds the most fertile soils in the country but had limited area. The objective of the research was to analyse the availability of suitable land for agriculture in Tuban Regency, an agricultural regency in Java Island. Land suitability was evaluated with spatial multicriteria analysis, integrating soil order, land capability, elevation, slope, slope direction, land use/land cover, accessibility, and climate. Land availability was analysed, integrating the forest area status designation and the spatial pattern of regional official land use plan. The results indicated that suitable land for agriculture corresponds to 91% of the total study area, confirming the high soil fertility. Analysis of land availability then indicated that 18% of the area was both suitable and available for agriculture. Considering the actual land utilization, the future development of agriculture in the region has less than 7% of the land area left for agricultural expansion. The overall results showed the importance of looking for land allocated for agriculture outside Java Island to anticipate the need for food of a country with a high population growth rate and also developing planning for food production.
The Hybrid Feature Selection Algorithm Based on Maximum Minimum Backward Selection Search Strategy for Liver Tissue Pathological Image Classification
Authors: Liu Huiling , Jiang Huiyan , Zheng Ruiping
Published: July 2016

We propose a novel feature selection algorithm for liver tissue pathological image classification. To improve the efficiency of feature selection, the same feature values of positive and negative samples are removed in rough selection. To obtain the optimal feature subset, a new heuristic search algorithm, which is called Maximum Minimum Backward Selection (MMBS), is proposed in precise selection. MMBS search strategy has the following advantages. (1) For the deficiency of Discernibility of Feature Subsets (DFS) evaluation criteria, which makes the class of small samples invalid for unbalanced samples, the Weighted Discernibility of Feature Subsets (WDFS) evaluation criteria are proposed as the evaluation strategy of MMBS, which is also available for unbalanced samples. (2) For the deficiency of Sequential Forward Selection (SFS) and Sequential Backward Selection (SBS), which can only add or only delete feature, MMBS decides whether to add the feature to feature subset according to WDFS criteria for each feature firstly; then it decides whether to remove the feature from feature subset according to SBS algorithm. In this way, the better feature subset can be obtained. The experiment results show that the proposed hybrid feature selection algorithm has good classification performance for liver tissue pathological image.
Protein Quantification by Derivatization-Free High-Performance Liquid Chromatography of Aromatic Amino Acids
Authors: Hesse Almut , Weller Michael G.
Published: July 2016

Amino acid analysis is considered to be the gold standard for quantitative peptide and protein analysis. Here, we would like to propose a simple HPLC/UV method based on a reversed-phase separation of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine (Tyr), phenylalanine (Phe), and optionally tryptophan (Trp) without any derivatization. The hydrolysis of the proteins and peptides was performed by an accelerated microwave technique, which needs only 30 minutes. Two internal standard compounds, homotyrosine (HTyr) and 4-fluorophenylalanine (FPhe) were used for calibration. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 0.05 µM (~10 µg/L) for tyrosine and phenylalanine at 215 nm. The LOD for a protein determination was calculated to be below 16 mg/L (~300 ng BSA absolute). Aromatic amino acid analysis (AAAA) offers excellent accuracy and a precision of about 5% relative standard deviation, including the hydrolysis step. The method was validated with certified reference materials (CRM) of amino acids and of a pure protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA). AAAA can be used for the quantification of aromatic amino acids, isolated peptides or proteins, complex peptide or protein samples, such as serum or milk powder, and peptides or proteins immobilized on solid supports.
Frequency and Influencing Factors of Rubber Dam Usage in Tianjin: A Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Zou Huiru , Li Yanni , Lian Xiaoli , Yan Yan , Dai Xiaohua , Wang Guanhua
Published: July 2016

Objective. To investigate the frequency and influencing factors of rubber dam usage for endodontic procedures among general dentistry practitioners and specialized practitioners (endodontist) in Tianjin.Methods. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed among practitioners from 3 different types of medical institutions in Tianjin. Data were collected and analysed using Chi-square tests.Results. There were 63.3% of respondents who have used rubber dam (response rate 82.7%, valid response rate 76.3%). However, only 0.4% and 3.1% of them recognized using rubber dam “every time” during caries direct restoration and root canal therapy, respectively. There was no significant difference in rubber dam usage between male and female practitioners. Among the respondents, practitioners with working experience between 5 and 10 years showed the highest usage rate (76.3%), while practitioners working more than 20 years showed the lowest (53.2%). The endodontists gained the highest and the most frequent usage rate and the best rubber dam technique mastering skills. Practitioners working in those stomatological departments of general hospitals showed the lowest rubber dam usage rate.Conclusions. The prevalence of rubber dam usage in Tianjin city is still low. The practitioner’s gender, years of professional experience, general or specialized field, and the type of dental setting they work for are the factors that need to be considered during making policy and executing training.
Noncompaction and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Schizophrenia
Authors: Finsterer Josef , Stöllberger Claudia
Published: July 2016

Objectives.Psychosis and left ventricular hypertrabeculation (or noncompaction) (LVHT) have not been described in the same patient. Here we report a patient with a long-term history of schizophrenia who was later diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (dCMP) and LVHT.Case Report.A 47-year-old Caucasian male developed nondifferentiated schizophrenia at the age of 26 y. Since the age of 33 y he was regularly drinking alcohol. At the age of 47 y he developed heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography showed an enlarged left ventricle, reduced systolic function, and surprisingly LVHT in the apical segment. Additionally, the left atrium was enlarged, the right ventricular cavities were mildly enlarged, and there were pulmonary hypertension and a small pericardial effusion. Cardiac MRI confirmed the echocardiographic findings. Since coronary angiography was normal, dilated cardiomyopathy was additionally diagnosed. Since he was taking clozapine during years, dilated cardiomyopathy could be due to not only alcohol consumption but also the long-term neuroleptic medication.Conclusions.LVHT may be associated with nondifferentiated psychosis. Management of LVHT is challenging in patients with psychosis due to poor compliance and adherence of these patients. Patients with LVHT and psychosis need particular attention since they usually take cardiotoxic drugs for a long time, which may further deteriorate the prognosis of LVHT.
CD38 Deficiency Protects the Heart from Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Activating SIRT1/FOXOs‐Mediated Antioxidative Stress Pathway
Authors: Guan Xiao-Hui , Liu Xiao-Hong , Hong Xuan , Zhao Ning , Xiao Yun-Fei , Wang Ling-Fang , Tang Ling , Jiang Kai , Qian Yi-Song , Deng Ke-Yu , Ji Guangju , Fu Mingui , Xin Hong-Bo
Published: July 2016

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induces irreversible oxidative stress damage to the cardiac muscle. We previously observed that CD38 deficiency remarkably protects mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from oxidative stress‐induced injury. However, whether CD38 deficiency protects from I/R injury in the heart is not explored. Here, we showed that the hearts of CD38 deficient mice or wild type mice supplied with exogenous NAD were significantly protected from ischemia/reperfusion injury, seen as reduction of the myocardial infarct sizes when the mice were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Consistently, the protection of CD38 deficiency on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury was confirmed with a CD38 knockdown H9c2 stable cell line. Furthermore, we observed that knockdown of CD38 remarkably inhibited ROS generation and intracellular Ca2+ overloading induced by H/R in H9c2 cells. The FOXO1 and FOXO3 expressions were significantly elevated by H/R injury in CD38 knockdown cells compared with normal H9c2 cells. The cell immunofluorescence assay showed that FOXO1 nuclear translocation was significantly increased in CD38 knockdown H9c2 cells. In addition, we demonstrated that the increase of FOXO1 nuclear translocation was associated with the increased expressions of antioxidant catalase and SOD2 and the attenuated expression of the ROS generation enzyme NOX4. In conclusion, our results provide new evidence that CD38 deficiency protects the heart from I/R injury through activating SIRT1/FOXOs‐mediated antioxidative stress pathway.
Effect of N-Feruloylserotonin and Methotrexate on Severity of Experimental Arthritis and on Messenger RNA Expression of Key Proinflammatory Markers in Liver
Authors: Pašková Ľudmila , Kuncírová Viera , Poništ Silvester , Mihálová Danica , Nosáľ Radomír , Harmatha Juraj , Hrádková Iveta , Čavojský Tomáš , Bilka František , Šišková Katarína , Paulíková Ingrid , Bezáková Lýdia , Bauerová Katarína
Published: July 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, leading to progressive destruction of joints and extra-articular tissues, including organs such as liver and spleen. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a potential immunomodulator, natural polyphenol N-feruloylserotonin (N-f-5HT), with methotrexate (MTX), the standard in RA therapy, in the chronic phase of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in male Lewis rats. The experiment included healthy controls (CO), arthritic animals (AA), AA given N-f-5HT (AA-N-f-5HT), and AA given MTX (AA-MTX). N-f-5HT did not affect the body weight change and clinical parameters until the 14th experimental day. Its positive effect was rising during the 28-day experiment, indicating a delayed onset of N-f-5HT action. Administration of either N-f-5HT or MTX caused reduction of inflammation measured as the level of CRP in plasma and the activity of LOX in the liver. mRNA transcription of TNF-αand iNOS in the liver was significantly attenuated in both MTX and N-f-5HT treated groups of arthritic rats. Interestingly, in contrast to MTX, N-f-5HT significantly lowered the level of IL-1βin plasma and IL-1βmRNA expression in the liver and spleen of arthritic rats. This speaks for future investigations of N-f-5HT as an agent in the treatment of RA in combination therapy with MTX.
The Impact of Microearthquakes Induced by Reservoir Water Level Rise on Stability of Rock Slope
Authors: Li Dongliang , Liu Xinrong , Li Xingwang , Liu Yongquan
Published: July 2016

In order to study the impact of frequent microearthquakes induced by water level rise on the stability of rock bedded slopes in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area, Zhaoshuling Landslide (a representative slope) is selected to study. Safety factors based on probability statistics andFLAC3Dare used for numerical simulation (under the operating condition that five earthquakes of Intensity IV are applied to slope in succession after water level rises from 145 m to 175 m). Then the slope’s dynamic stability characteristics and failure mechanism are analyzed. The study shows that slope deformation is evidently the result of thrust load. The deformation starts from the steeply dipping segment in the middle part of slip mass and is controlled by the soft interlayer. Shear failure tends to occur along the soft interlayer and the horizontal slip displacement increases from the rear to the front of the slope. The steeply dipping segment shows a general downslide trend. Although the gentle slope platform on the rear edge is relatively stable, it is vulnerable to tensile fractures which are precursors of landslide. Under the same failure probability, as the number of microearthquake occurrences increases, the safety factor of slope under microearthquake action decreases gradually.
Neuroprotective and Neurorestorative Processes after Spinal Cord Injury: The Case of the Bulbospinal Respiratory Neurons
Authors: Kastner Anne , Matarazzo Valéry
Published: August 2016

High cervical spinal cord injuries interrupt the bulbospinal respiratory pathways projecting to the cervical phrenic motoneurons resulting in important respiratory defects. In the case of a lateralized injury that maintains the respiratory drive on the opposite side, a partial recovery of the ipsilateral respiratory function occurs spontaneously over time, as observed in animal models. The rodent respiratory system is therefore a relevant model to investigate the neuroplastic and neuroprotective mechanisms that will trigger such phrenic motoneurons reactivation by supraspinal pathways. Since part of this recovery is dependent on the damaged side of the spinal cord, the present review highlights our current understanding of the anatomical neuroplasticity processes that are developed by the surviving damaged bulbospinal neurons, notably axonal sprouting and rerouting. Such anatomical neuroplasticity relies also on coordinated molecular mechanisms at the level of the axotomized bulbospinal neurons that will promote both neuroprotection and axon growth.
The Association ofStreptococcus gallolyticusSubspeciespasteurianusBacteremia with the Detection of Premalignant and Malignant Colonic Lesions
Authors: Chand Gaurav , Shamban Leonid , Forman Adam , Sinha Prabhat
Published: July 2016

Streptococcus gallolyticussubspecies (subsp.)gallolyticus(formerlybovisbiotype I) bacteremia has been associated with colonic adenocarcinoma. Thebovisspecies underwent reclassification in 2003. Subtypes ofgallolyticusare associated with colonic malignancy but are less frequent, resulting in less awareness. A 71-year-old male admitted with worsening lower back pain and fevers. Initial vital signs and laboratory data were within normal limits. MRI revealed lumbosacral osteomyelitis and antibiotics were initiated. Blood cultures showedStreptococcusspecies, prompting a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealing vegetations on the mitral and aortic valves. The etiology for his endocarditis was unclear. A colonoscopy was suggested, but his clinical instability made such a procedure intolerable. Final cultures revealedStreptococcus gallolyticussubsp.pasteurianus(previouslybovisbiotype II). After antibiotic completion he underwent aortic grafting with valve replacements. Later, he was readmitted forStreptococcusbacteremia. After a negative TEE, colonoscopy revealed a 2.5 × 3 cm cecal tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia suspicious for his origin of infection. Clinicians understand the link betweenStreptococcus gallolyticussubsp.gallolyticus(bovistype I) and malignancy, but the new speciation may be unfamiliar. There are no guidelines for managingS. gallolyticussubsp.pasteurianusbacteremia; therefore a colonoscopy should be considered when no source is identified.
Predictors of Impaired Postpartum Renal Function in Women after Preeclampsia: Results of a Prospective Single Center Study
Authors: Kaleta T. , Stock A. , Panayotopoulos D. , Vonend O. , Niederacher D. , Neumann M. , Fehm T. , Kaisers W. , Fleisch M.
Published: July 2016

Objective. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the predictive value of single prepartum findings combined with serum biomarkers sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) and PlGF (placental growth factor) indicating severity of preeclampsia (PE) for occurrence and extent of impaired postpartum kidney function.Study Design. In this prospective, single center study 44 PE patients were compared to 39 healthy controls (similar in age and gestational age with singleton pregnancy) evaluated at time of delivery and at 6 months and 12 months postpartum.pvalues below 0.05 are considered statistically significant.Results. The majority of the PE patients had persistence of proteinuria (>120 mg/L after delivery) 6 months (p=0.02) and 12 months postpartum (p<0.0001) compared to controls. Also reduced GFR (glomerular filtration rate) persisted up to 6 months postpartum in PE patients compared to controls (p<0.001). Prepartum sFlt-1 levels indeed correlated with impaired renal function parameters.Conclusion. A significant proportion of our PE patients had lower GFR levels and persistent proteinuria up to 12 months postpartum. Prepartum sFlt-1 is a trend-setting marker for impaired renal function postpartum, but it is not sufficient enough to predict renal impairment after PE. An evaluation of 24-month follow-up data is scheduled.
Extended Privacy in Crowdsourced Location-Based Services Using Mobile Cloud Computing
Authors: Bou Abdo Jacques , Bourgeau Thomas , Demerjian Jacques , Chaouchi Hakima
Published: July 2016

Crowdsourcing mobile applications are of increasing importance due to their suitability in providing personalized and better matching replies. The competitive edge of crowdsourcing is twofold; the requestors can achieve better and/or cheaper responses while the crowd contributors can achieve extra money by utilizing their free time or resources. Crowdsourcing location-based services inherit the querying mechanism from their legacy predecessors and this is where the threat lies. In this paper, we are going to show that none of the advanced privacy notions found in the literature except forK-anonymity is suitable for crowdsourced location-based services. In addition, we are going to prove mathematically, using an attack we developed, thatK-anonymity does not satisfy the privacy level needed by such services. To respond to this emerging threat, we will propose a new concept, totally different from existing resource consuming privacy notions, to handle user privacy using Mobile Cloud Computing.
QoS Oriented Multiobjective Optimizer for Radio Resource Management of LTE-A Femtocells
Authors: Haider Ali Ayesha , Nazir Muhammad Mohsin
Published: July 2016

The future wireless networks support multimedia applications and require ensuring quality of the services they provide. With increasing number of users, the radio resource is becoming scarce. Therefore, how should the demands for higher data rates with limited resources be met for Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) is turning out to be a vital issue. In this research paper we have proposed an innovative approach for Radio Resource Management (RRM) that makes use of the evolutionary multiobjective optimization (MOO) technique for Quality of Service (QoS) facilitation and embeds it with the modern techniques for RRM. We have proposed a novel Multiobjective Optimizer (MOZ) that selects an optimal solution out of a Pareto optimal (PO) set in accordance with the users QoS requirements. We then elaborate the scheduling process and prove through performance evaluation that use of MOO can provide potential solutions for solving the problems for resource allocation in the advancement of LTE-A networks. Simulations are carried out using LTE-Sim simulator, and the results reveal that MOZ outperforms the reference algorithm in terms of throughput guarantees, delay bounds, and reduced packet loss. Additionally, it is capable of achieving higher throughput and lower delay by giving equal transmission opportunity to all users and achieves 100% accuracy in terms of selecting optimal solution.
Research Survey on Various MPPT Performance Issues to Improve the Solar PV System Efficiency
Authors: Pakkiraiah B. , Sukumar G. Durga
Published: July 2016

Nowadays in order to meet the increase in power demands and to reduce the global warming, renewable energy sources based system is used. Out of the various renewable energy sources, solar energy is the main alternative. But, compared to other sources, the solar panel system converts only 30–40% of solar irradiation into electrical energy. In order to get maximum output from a PV panel system, an extensive research has been underway for long time so as to access the performance of PV system and to investigate the various issues related to the use of solar PV system effectively. This paper therefore presents different types of PV panel systems, maximum power point tracking control algorithms, power electronic converters usage with control aspects, various controllers, filters to reduce harmonic content, and usage of battery system for PV system. Attempts have been made to highlight the current and future issues involved in the development of PV system with improved performance. A list of 185 research publications on this is appended for reference.
Comparison of Modified Cartilage Shield Tympanoplasty with Tympanoplasty Using Temporalis Fascia Only: Retrospective Analysis of 142 Cases
Authors: Vadiya Sohil , Parikh Vibhuti , Shah Saumya , Pandya Parita , Kansara Anuj
Published: July 2016

The current study compares outcomes of modified cartilage shield tympanoplasty (CST) with temporalis fascia tympanoplasty in type I procedures in Indian patients. Graft uptake rates are better with the CST technique and hearing results are almost equivalent with both techniques except at 8000 Hz where improvement in hearing was found better with the use of temporalis fascia alone. The CST technique used in the study is unique.
Epidemiology of Transfusion Transmitted Infection among Patients withβ-Thalassaemia Major in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Kiani Rizwan , Anwar Muhammad , Waheed Usman , Asad Muhammad Javaid , Abbasi Saleem , Abbas Zaheer Hasan
Published: July 2016

Introduction.Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs) continue to be a major risk in transfusions in many parts of the world. The transfusion-dependentβ-thalassaemia patients are particularly at risk of acquiring TTIs. The current study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of TTIs in transfusion-dependentβ-thalassaemia patients.Material and Methods.A cross-sectional study of 1253 multitransfused thalassaemia major patients was conducted in five different centres of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. The study subjects were screened for HIV, HCV, and HBV. The screening was performed at two centres: Department of Pathology, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (SZAB) Medical University, and Blood Transfusion Services, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, from July to December 2015. The confirmatory screening was performed by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA).Results.Out of the 1253 multiple transfused patients, 317 (25.3%) were infected with TTIs. HCV was positive in 273 cases (21.7%), HBV in 38 cases (3.0%), and HIV in 6 cases (0.5%).Conclusion.HCV was the leading TTI in multitransfused thalassaemia major patients in the study. Presence of HIV in thalassaemia patients is a recent disturbing development in Pakistan. Improved regulation of blood banks including use of internationally or nationally evaluated kits will bring down the incidence of TTIs in transfusion-dependentβ-thalassaemia patients. More stringent behavioral and serological pretransfusion screening of blood for TTIs must be implemented in blood banks.