bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON STRESS-DEPENDENCY OF OIL–WATER RELATIVE PERMEABILITY IN FRACTAL POROUS MEDIA
Authors: LEI GANG , MO SHAOYUAN , DONG ZHENZHEN , WANG CAI , LI WEIRONG
Published: March 2018

The coupled flow deformation behavior in the porous media has drawn tremendous attention in various scientific and engineering fields. It is reported that the porous media will be compressed and relative permeability in porous media will be changed as the effective stress increases. However, previous studies provided contradictory evidence for the stress-dependent irreducible water saturation and stress-dependent relative permeability. Until now, appropriate stress-dependent relative permeability curve for two-phase flow through porous media remains unclear. The goal of this work was to theoretically and experimentally study the stress-dependent relative permeability. Laboratory sample flooding tests were conducted to measure two-phase relative permeability in porous media under changing effective stress, and a corresponding theoretical model of stress-dependent relative permeability was derived to interpret the experimental results. The predictions from the proposed analytical model exhibited similar variation trends as the experimental data, which verified the theoretical model. Though the results for the stress-dependent relative permeability from previous studies are different, or even opposite, our proposed model with different conditions can provide explanations to these different results. This work provides a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of stress-dependent relative permeability in porous media, which is beneficial to accurate performance forecasts for the coupled flow deformation behavior in porous media.
NONLINEAR FM INDEX APPLICATION FOR ALIGNMENT OF SHORT DNA SEQUENCES USING RE-PARAMETRIZATION OF ALGORITHMS
Authors: PACHECO BAUTISTA D. , CARREÑO AGUILERA R. , CORTÉS PÉREZ E. , GONZÁLEZ PÉREZ M. , MEDEL J. J. , ACEVEDO M. A. , YU WEN
Published: March 2018

An innovative reconfiguration application is proposed to re-calculate the parameters of the Ferragina and Manzini exact search algorithm (or FM indexes), using a modular and efficient hardware implementation to accelerate alignment programs of short DNA sequence reads. Although these programs use multi-core execution strategies or multiple computers, they have become slow considering the very high speed at which the new massively parallel sequencing machines produce the reads to be aligned. Consequently, a search for different ways to accelerate the alignment is crucial. The proposed design runs with software functions in a hybrid system, and has the ability to align millions of reads to reference as large as the human genome. Tests on the M505k325t card show that a single alignment core can accelerate the computation by a factor close to [Formula: see text] in relation to BWA. Due to the minor consumption of area and power, multiple alignment cores can fill the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) by multiplying the computation speed. With a multiple-core implementation, the processing speed of the design outperforms applications that are accelerated by GPUs and competes with similar FPGA proposals whose cost is much higher.
MULTIFRACTAL ANALYSIS OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL BIASED WALKS
Authors: CHEN YUFEI , DAI MEIFENG , WANG XIAOQIAN , SUN YU , SU WEIYI
Published: March 2018

For an infinite sequence [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with probability [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we mainly study the multifractal analysis of one-dimensional biased walks. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The Hausdorff and packing dimensions of the sets [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text], which is the development of the theorem of Besicovitch [On the sum of digits of real numbers represented in the dyadic system, Math. Ann. 110 (1934) 321–330] on random walk, saying that: For any [Formula: see text], the set [Formula: see text] has Hausdorff dimension [Formula: see text].
FRACTAL-BASED ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF AUDITORY STIMULI ON EYE MOVEMENTS
Authors: NAMAZI HAMIDREZA , DANESHI ASIEH , AZARNOUSH HAMED , JAFARI SAJAD , TOWHIDKHAH FARZAD
Published: March 2018

Analyzing the influence of external stimuli on human eye movements is an important challenge in vision research. In this paper, we investigate the plasticity of eye movements due to the applied auditory stimuli (music). For this purpose, we use fractal theory, which provides us with tools such as fractal dimension as an indicator of process complexity. This study, for the first time, reveals the correlation between fractal dynamics of eye movements and fractal dynamics of auditory stimuli. Based on the performed analysis, the fractal structure of the eye movements shifts toward the fractal structure of the applied auditory stimuli, where the greater variation in fractal dynamics of auditory stimuli causes greater variation in the fractal dynamics of eye movements. The observed behavior is explained through the nervous system. As a rehabilitation purpose, the employed methodology in this research can be investigated in case of patients with vision problems, where the applied music could potentially improve their vision.
Simulation-Based Improvement Procedure for Small-Scale Shoe Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Heredia Daniel A. Velez , Ceballos Fernando , Sanchez-Torres German
Published: March 2018

Production costs represent the largest production process expenditure for companies. The existence of worker leisure time increases the associated production costs, which should be reduced to maximize the profit. In many Latin American small-scale footwear companies, shoe manufacturing is mainly characterized as an artisan elaboration. They generate additional costs associated with the poor standardization of methodology, lack of knowledge of a defined elaboration procedure, the absence of suitable facilities for raw material storage, and deficiencies in handling the product during the process. All these weaknesses make the manufacturing and packing process more difficult. This paper shows an optimization procedure for the utilization of resources by using discrete event simulation. Additionally, we propose a defined sub-process sequential structure to allow the standardization of shoe manufacturing. The results show that the proposed structure decreases the time of product processing by more than 40%. Furthermore, analysis of the costs of the associated implementation was performed and showed that it could be assumed by companies that the investment will provide a return on the capital within a short time.
Practical Private Range Search in Depth
Authors: Demertzis Ioannis , Papadopoulos Stavros , Papapetrou Odysseas , Deligiannakis Antonios , Garofalakis Minos , Papamanthou Charalampos
Published: March 2018

We consider a data
owner
that outsources its dataset to an
untrusted server
. The owner wishes to enable the server to answer
range
queries on a single attribute, without compromising the privacy of the data and the queries. There are several schemes on
“practical”
private range search (mainly in database venues) that attempt to strike a trade-off between efficiency and security. Nevertheless, these methods either lack provable security guarantees or permit unacceptable privacy leakages. In this article, we take an
interdisciplinary
approach, which combines the rigor of security formulations and proofs with efficient data management techniques. We construct a wide set of novel schemes with realistic security/performance trade-offs, adopting the notion of
Searchable Symmetric Encryption
(SSE), primarily proposed for keyword search. We reduce range search to
multi-keyword
search using
range-covering
techniques with tree-like indexes, and formalize the problem as
Range Searchable Symmetric Encryption
(RSSE). We demonstrate that, given
any
secure SSE scheme, the challenge boils down to (i) formulating leakages that arise from the index
structure
and (ii) minimizing
false positives
incurred by some schemes under heavy data
skew
. We also explain an important concept in the recent SSE bibliography, namely
locality
, and design generic and specialized ways to attribute locality to our RSSE schemes. Moreover, we are the first to devise secure schemes for answering
range aggregate
queries, such as range sums and range min/max. We analytically detail the superiority of our proposals over prior work and experimentally confirm their practicality.
Incremental Exact Min-Cut in Polylogarithmic Amortized Update Time
Authors: Goranci Gramoz , Henzinger Monika , Thorup Mikkel
Published: March 2018

We present a deterministic incremental algorithm for
exactly
maintaining the size of a minimum cut with
O
(log
3
n
log log
2
n
) amortized time per edge insertion and
O
(1) query time. This result partially answers an open question posed by Thorup (2007). It also stays in sharp contrast to a polynomial conditional lower bound for the fully dynamic weighted minimum cut problem. Our algorithm is obtained by combining a sparsification technique of Kawarabayashi and Thorup (2015) or its recent improvement by Henzinger, Rao, and Wang (2017), and an exact incremental algorithm of Henzinger (1997).

We also study space-efficient incremental algorithms for the minimum cut problem. Concretely, we show that there exists an
O
(
n
log
n
/ε
2
) space Monte Carlo algorithm that can process a stream of edge insertions starting from an empty graph, and with high probability, the algorithm maintains a (1+ε)-approximation to the minimum cut. The algorithm has
O
((α (
n
) log
3
n
)/ε
2
) amortized update time and constant query time, where α (
n
) stands for the inverse of Ackermann function.
Interview with Andy van Dam
Authors: Atzenbeck Claus , Bernstein Mark
Published: March 2018

Andries van Dam, is the Thomas J. Watson Jr. University Professor of Technology and Education and Professor of Computer Science at Brown University. He has been a member of Brown's faculty since 1965, was a co-founder of Brown's Computer Science Department and its first Chairman from 1979 to 1985, and was also Brown's first Vice President for Research from 2002--2006.

His research includes work on computer graphics, hypermedia systems, post-WIMP and natural user interfaces (NUI), including pen- and touch-computing, and educational software. He has been involved for five decades with systems for creating and reading electronic books with interactive illustrations for use in teaching and research.

In 1967 Prof. van Dam co-founded ACM SICGRAPH (the precursor of SIGGRAPH) and from 1985 through 1987 was Chairman of the Computing Research Association. He is a Fellow of ACM, IEEE, and AAAS, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He has received the ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award, the SIGGRAPH Steven A. Coons Award for Outstanding Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics, and the IEEE Centennial Medal, and holds honorary doctorates from Darmstadt Technical University, Swarthmore College, the University of Waterloo, and ETH Zurich. He has authored or co-authored over 100 papers and nine books, including "Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics" and three editions of "Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice".
29
th
ACM International Conference on Hypertext and Social Media
Authors: Lee Dongwon , Sastry Nishanth , Weber Ingmar , Nguyen Nam
Published: March 2018

The 29
th
2018 ACM international conference on Hypertext and Social Media will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A, from July 09 to 12. This newsletter article briefly introduces the conference and its venue.

We hope to meet you all at Hypertext 2018!
Upcoming SIGWEB supported conferences
Authors: Samuel Hamman
Published: March 2018

The Special Interest Group on Hypertext and the Web, SIGWEB was created in 1989 to support the community participating in the annual ACM Hypertext Conference. Now in its third decade, SIGWEB has grown considerably and now sponsors seven annual conferences of different sizes and covering a wide range of topics. SIGWEB supports several specialized conferences, short courses, and workshops, as well as the Annual Hypertext Conference. SIGWEB sponsored conferences focus on timely topics in applied and computational hypertext and Web disciplines and provide a place for members and the entire applied Hypermedia and Web community to exchange ideas and to meet with and expand their network of colleagues. In this article, we provide a brief overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SIGWEB.
Synthetic Biology Approaches to Engineer Probiotics and Members of the Human Microbiota for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Bober Josef R. , Beisel Chase L. , Nair Nikhil U.
Published: March 2018

An increasing number of studies have strongly correlated the composition of the human microbiota with many human health conditions and, in several cases, have shown that manipulating the microbiota directly affects health. These insights have generated significant interest in engineering indigenous microbiota community members and nonresident probiotic bacteria as biotic diagnostics and therapeutics that can probe and improve human health. In this review, we discuss recent advances in synthetic biology to engineer commensal and probiotic lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and Bacteroides for these purposes, and we provide our perspective on the future potential of these technologies.
Quantum Quench Dynamics
Authors: Mitra Aditi
Published: March 2018

Quench dynamics is an active area of study encompassing condensed matter physics and quantum information, with applications to cold-atomic gases and pump-probe spectroscopy of materials. Recent theoretical progress in studying quantum quenches is reviewed. Quenches in interacting one-dimensional systems as well as systems in higher spatial dimensions are covered. The appearance of nontrivial steady states following a quench in exactly solvable models is discussed, and the stability of these states to perturbations is described. Proper conserving approximations needed to capture the onset of thermalization at long times are outlined. The appearance of universal scaling for quenches near critical points and the role of the renormalization group in capturing the transient regime are reviewed. Finally, the effect of quenches near critical points on the dynamics of entanglement entropy and entanglement statistics is discussed. The extraction of critical exponents from the entanglement statistics is outlined.
Routes to High-Temperature Superconductivity: A Lesson from FeSe/SrTiO3
Authors: Lee Dung-Hai
Published: March 2018

Raising the superconducting transition temperature to a point where applications are practical is one of the most important challenges in science. In this review, we aim at gaining insights on the Tc controlling factors for a particular high-temperature superconductor family—the FeSe-based superconductors. In particular, we discuss the mechanisms by which the Cooper pairing temperature is enhanced from ∼8 K in bulk FeSe to ∼80 K in the interface between an atomic layer of FeSe and SrTiO3. This includes the experimental hints and the theoretical simulation of the involved mechanisms. We end by applying these insights to suggest some possible high-temperature superconducting systems.
The Dirac Composite Fermion of the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect
Authors: Son Dam Thanh
Published: March 2018

We review the recently proposed Dirac composite fermion theory of the half-filled Landau level.
Commercial Satellite Imagery Analysis for Countering Nuclear Proliferation
Authors: Albright David , Burkhard Sarah , Lach Allison
Published: March 2018

High-resolution commercial satellite imagery from a growing number of private satellite companies allows nongovernmental analysts to better understand secret or opaque nuclear programs of countries in unstable or tense regions, called proliferant states. They include North Korea, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Israel. By using imagery to make these countries’ aims and capabilities more transparent, nongovernmental groups like the Institute for Science and International Security have affected the policies of governments and the course of public debate. Satellite imagery work has also strengthened the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency, thereby helping this key international agency build its case to mount inspections of suspect sites and activities. This work has improved assessments of the nuclear capabilities of proliferant states. Several case studies provide insight into the use of commercial satellite imagery as a key tool to educate policy makers and affect policy.
Controls on O2Production in Cyanobacterial Mats and Implications for Earth's Oxygenation
Authors: Dick Gregory J. , Grim Sharon L. , Klatt Judith M.
Published: March 2018

Cyanobacterial mats are widely assumed to have been globally significant hot spots of biogeochemistry and evolution during the Archean and Proterozoic, but little is known about their quantitative contributions to global primary productivity or Earth's oxygenation. Modern systems show that mat biogeochemistry is the outcome of concerted activities and intimate interactions between various microbial metabolisms. Emerging knowledge of the regulation of oxygenic and sulfide-driven anoxygenic photosynthesis by versatile cyanobacteria, and their interactions with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria, highlights how ecological and geochemical processes can control O2production in cyanobacterial mats in unexpected ways. This review explores such biological controls on O2production. We argue that the intertwined effects of light availability, redox geochemistry, regulation and competition of microbial metabolisms, and biogeochemical feedbacks result in emergent properties of cyanobacterial mat communities that are all critical yet largely overlooked mechanisms to potentially explain the protracted nature of Earth's oxygenation.
Assessment of Raw Cow Milk Quality in Smallholder Dairy Farms in Pemba Island Zanzibar, Tanzania
Authors: Gwandu S. H. , Nonga H. E. , Mdegela R. H. , Katakweba A. S. , Suleiman T. S. , Ryoba R.
Published: March 2018

Milk quality depends on the physicochemical characteristics, hygienic standards, and nutritional quality; however, animal husbandry practices, unhygienic harvesting and processing, may affect its quality. A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2010 and July 2011 to assess the hygiene of cow milk production environment, raw cow milk physicochemical characteristics, and microbial quality and estimate the prevalence of antimicrobial residues using standard methods in Pemba Island. A total of 98 raw cow milk samples from selected smallholder dairy farms were analyzed, and the judgement on the quality used the East African Standards. Generally, the milk production chain was done under the unhygienic condition, and dirty plastic containers were used for collection and storage of milk under room temperature. Some milk samples had abnormal colour (2.1%), abnormal smell (7.1%), and pH below normal (35.7%), clotted on alcohol test (9.2%), and had the specific gravity below normal (13.3%). All the milk samples had mineral contents within the recommended range. Milk samples with butterfat below normal were 29.6%, while 14.3% had total solids below recommended values. The mean total viable count (TVC) of milk container surfaces was9.7±10.5 log CFU/100 cm2, while total coliform count (TCC) was7.8±8.5 log CFU/100 cm2. Up to 55.1% of milk had TVC beyond the recommended levels. The milk mean TVC was11.02±11.6 log CFU/ml and TCC was6.7±7.3 log CFU/ml. Up to 26.5% of milk samples had the TCC beyond levels. Results on physicochemical characteristics and nutritional analysis show that the raw cow milk in Pemba Island is of inferior quality. Microbiological results of this study imply heavy contaminations of milk. Antimicrobial residues were detected in 83% of the samples and most of them were from Wete District. Unhygienic milk production chain accelerates microbial contaminations, and antimicrobial residues in milk are a big problem that needs urgent attention from the responsible authority.
Miniplate-Aided Mandibular Dentition Distalization as a Camouflage Treatment of a Class III Malocclusion in an Adult
Authors: Hakami Zaki , Chen Po Jung , Ahmida Ahmad , Janakiraman Nandakumar , Uribe Flavio
Published: March 2018

This case report describes orthodontic camouflage treatment for a 32-year-old African American male patient with Class III malocclusion. The treatment included nonextraction, nonsurgical orthodontic camouflage by en masse distalization of the mandibular teeth using skeletal anchorage devices. The total treatment time was 23 months. Normal overjet and overbite with Class I occlusion were obtained despite the compensated dentition to the skeletal malocclusion. His smile esthetics was significantly improved at the completion of his treatment.
Multicomponent Exercise Improves Physical Functioning but Not Cognition and Hemodynamic Parameters in Elderly Osteoarthritis Patients Regardless of Hypertension
Authors: Coelho-Júnior Hélio José , Gonçalvez Ivan de Oliveira , Callado Sanches Iris , Gonçalves Leandro , Caperuto Erico Chagas , Uchida Marco Carlos , Rodrigues Bruno
Published: March 2018

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of a 6-month multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) on physical function, cognition, and hemodynamic parameters of elderly normotensive (NTS) and hypertensive (HTS) osteoarthritis patients. A total of 99 elderly osteoarthritis patients (44 NTS and 55 HTS) were recruited and submitted to functional, cognitive, and hemodynamic evaluations before and after six months of a MCEP. The program of exercise was performed twice a week at moderate intensity. The physical exercises aggregated functional and walking exercises. Results indicate that 6 months of MCEP were able to improve one-leg stand and mobility (walking speeds) of osteoarthritis patients regardless of hypertension. On the other hand, cognitive and hemodynamic parameters were not altered after the MCEP. The findings of the present study demonstrate that 6 months of MCEP were able to improve the physical functioning (i.e., usual and maximal walking speed and balance) of osteoarthritis patients regardless of hypertensive condition.
Salivary Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis Disease
Authors: Zian Zeineb , Bakkach Joaira , Barakat Amina , Ghailani Nourouti Naima , Bennani Mechita Mohcine
Published: March 2018

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is frequently detected at an advanced stage due to diagnosis difficulties. Salivary biomarkers, if existing, could be used for predictive diagnosis of this disease. Human saliva contains a large number of proteins that can be used for diagnosis and are of great potential in clinical research. The use of proteomic analysis to characterize whole saliva (WS) in SSc has gained an increasing attention in the last years and the identification of salivary proteins specific for SSc could lead to early diagnosis or new therapeutic targets. This review will present an overview about the use of WS in SSc studies. The proteomic technologies currently used for global identification of salivary proteins in SSc, as well as the advantages and limitations for the use of WS as a diagnostic tool, will be presented.
Low‐Frequency Intermittent Hypoxia Promotes Subcutaneous Adipogenic Differentiation
Authors: Wang Yan , Mak Judith C. W. , Lee Mary Y. K. , Xu Aimin , Ip Mary S. M.
Published: March 2018

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH), is associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. The mass and function of adipose tissue are largely dependent on adipogenesis. The impact of low‐frequency IH on adipogenesis is unknown. Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to IH (4 min for 10% O2 and 2 min for 21% O2) or intermittent normoxia (IN) for 6 weeks. The degree of adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by adipogenic transcriptional factors, adipocyte‐specific proteins, and oily droplet production in both subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Upregulation of proadipogenic markers (CEBPα, PPARγ, and FABP4) and downregulation of antiadipogenic markers CHOP in line with smaller size of adipocytes were found in IH‐exposed SAT. In vitro experiments using human preadipocytes (HPAs) of subcutaneous lineage during differentiation phase, subjected to IH (1% O2 for 10 min and 21% O2 for 5 min; 5% CO2) or IN treatment, were done to investigate the insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF‐1R)/Akt pathway in adipogenesis. IH promoted the accumulation of oily droplets and adipogenesis‐associated markers. IGF‐1R kinase inhibitor NVP‐AEW541 attenuated the proadipogenic role in IH‐exposed HPAs. In summary, relatively low frequency of IH may enhance adipogenesis preferentially in SAT.
Seismic Response Analysis of Fully Base‐Isolated Adjacent Buildings with Segregated Foundations
Authors: Ghaedi Khaled , Ibrahim Zainah , Jameel Mohammed , Javanmardi Ahad , Khatibi Hamed
Published: March 2018

In populous cities, construction of multistorey buildings close to each other due to space limitation and increased land cost is a dire need. Such construction methods arise several problems during earthquake excitation. The aim of this study is to investigate the bidirectional seismic responses of fully base‐isolated (FBI) adjacent buildings having different heights and segregated foundations. Therefore, two scenarios, namely, (a) investigation of the responses of FBI adjacent buildings compared to those with fixed base (FFB) and (b) the effects of separation distance on FBI adjacent buildings, were studied. Based on these investigations, the results showed that isolation system significantly enhances the overall responses of the BI buildings. Spectacularly, the base isolation system was further efficient to decrease displacement rather than the acceleration. In addition, increase of the seismic gap changed the acceleration, pounding, base shear, base moment, and storey drift, as well as the force‐deformation performance of the isolators. Therefore, it seems a need to focus on the effect of the separation distances for the design of base isolators for FBI adjacent buildings in future works.
Pleiotropic Associations of RARRES2 Gene Variants and Circulating Chemerin Levels: Potential Roles of Chemerin Involved in the Metabolic and Inflammation-Related Diseases
Authors: Er Leay-Kiaw , Wu Semon , Hsu Lung-An , Teng Ming-Sheng , Sun Yu-Ching , Ko Yu-Lin
Published: March 2018

Chemerin, an adipokine and inflammatory mediator, is associated with metabolic, inflammation- and immune-mediated diseases. The genetic, clinical, and biomarker correlates of circulating chemerin levels have not been completely elucidated. We analyzed the determinants and correlates of retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2; encoding chemerin) gene variants and chemerin levels in the Taiwanese population. In total, 612 individuals were recruited. Clinical and metabolic phenotypes, 13 inflammatory markers, 5 adipokines, and 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the RARRES2 region were analyzed. High chemerin levels and chemerin level tertiles were positively associated with multiple metabolic phenotypes and circulating inflammatory marker and adipokine levels and negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin levels and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs). Genotype and haplotype analyses showed that RARRES2 SNPs were significantly associated with chemerin, fibrinogen, interleukin 6, and lipocalin 2 levels. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein level, leptin level, triglyceride level, eGFR, rs3735167 genotypes, sex, and soluble P-selectin level were independently associated with chemerin levels. In conclusion, pleiotropic associations were noted between RARRES2 variants, circulating chemerin levels and multiple metabolic phenotypes and inflammatory marker levels. This study provides further evidence for the potential roles of chemerin in metabolic and inflammation-related diseases.
Smoothed Conditional Scale Function Estimation in AR(1)-ARCH(1) Processes
Authors: Seknewna Lema Logamou , Nyamuhanga Peter Mwita , Muema Benjamin Kyalo
Published: March 2018

The estimation of the Smoothed Conditional Scale Function for time series was taken out under the conditional heteroscedastic innovations by imitating the kernel smoothing in nonparametric QAR-QARCH scheme. The estimation was taken out based on the quantile regression methodology proposed by Koenker and Bassett. And the proof of the asymptotic properties of the Conditional Scale Function estimator for this type of process was given and its consistency was shown.
Apelin and Atrial Fibrillation: The Role in the Arrhythmia Recurrence Prognosis
Authors: Salska Agata , Dziuba Michał , Salski Witold , Chizynski Krzysztof , Zielinska Marzenna
Published: March 2018

Apelin is a novel peptide of wide expression and multiple biological functions including the crucial role in cardiovascular homeostasis. The apelin role in the pathophysiology of heart rhythm disorders is considered, although the reports are scarce so far. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential utility of apelin as a marker of arrhythmia recurrence after direct-current cardioversion (DC). The prospective, observational study included 60 patients (aged 41–86; 30% female) with nonvalvular, persistent atrial fibrillation from the group of 204 consecutive patients scheduled for DC during the 12-month period (from May 2010 to May 2011) in the Cardiology Clinic Medical University of Lodz, Poland. The study group was divided into SCD (successful DC), 45 (75%) patients, and NDC (nonsuccessful DC), 15 (25%) patients. Within the SCD group, the subgroups were distinguished depending on the time sinus rhythm maintenance after DC: up to 7 days (SDC-7), 11 patients; 7 to 30 days (SDC-30), 12 patients; over 90 days (SDC-90), 22 patients. Patients were evaluated during the hospitalization and within the 3-month follow-up period. The apelin level was determined within the plasma samples collected at the admission, using the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit for apelin-36. It was found that the median value of initial apelin in the subset of patients from groups NDC + SDC-7 + SDC-30 is significantly higher than from group SDC-90 (p=0.0463); there was no relationship between NDC and SCD overall. Neither of the compared subgroup pairs revealed statistically significant correlation between the proBNP concentration and the DC effectiveness in our population. In conclusion, in our study, proBNP was not a marker of arrhythmia recurrence whereas higher apelin concentration at the admission indicated patients in whom DC was not effective or they had an arrhythmia recurrence within a month-period observation.
Cytogenomic Integrative Network Analysis of the Critical Region Associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Authors: Corrêa Thiago , Mergener Rafaella , Leite Júlio César Loguercio , Galera Marcial Francis , Moreira Lilia Maria de Azevedo , Vargas José Eduardo , Riegel Mariluce
Published: March 2018

Deletions in the 4p16.3 region are associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS), a contiguous gene deletion syndrome involving variable size deletions. In this study, we perform a cytogenomic integrative analysis combining classical cytogenetic methods, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and systems biology strategies, to establish the cytogenomic profile involving the 4p16.3 critical region and suggest WHS-related intracellular cell signaling cascades. The cytogenetic and clinical patient profiles were evaluated. We characterized 12 terminal deletions, one interstitial deletion, two ring chromosomes, and one classical translocation 4;8. CMA allowed delineation of the deletions, which ranged from 3.7 to 25.6 Mb with breakpoints from 4p16.3 to 4p15.33. Furthermore, the smallest region of overlapping (SRO) encompassed seven genes in a terminal region of 330 kb in the 4p16.3 region, suggesting a region of susceptibility to convulsions and microcephaly. Therefore, molecular interaction networks and topological analysis were performed to understand these WHS-related symptoms. Our results suggest that specific cell signaling pathways including dopamine receptor, NAD+ nucleosidase activity, and fibroblast growth factor-activated receptor activity are associated with the diverse pathological WHS phenotypes and their symptoms. Additionally, we identified 29 hub-bottlenecks (H-B) nodes with a major role in WHS.
Influence of Seasonality and Circulating Cytokines on Serial QuantiFERON Discordances
Authors: Griffin Marsha L. , Agarwal Saroochi , Murphy Melissa Zhu , Teeter Larry D. , Graviss Edward A.
Published: March 2018

Objectives.An 18-month prospective study serially tested healthcare workers (HCWs) for tuberculosis infection (TBI) and reported discordant QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube® (QFT) results in some participants. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) measured by QFT in discordant individuals could be influenced by other circulating cytokines that vary seasonally at the time of phlebotomy.Methods.The CDC funded TBESC Task Order 18 (TO18) project to assess the use of Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs), T-SPOT.TB® and QFT, compared to the tuberculin skin test (TST) for the serial testing of TBI in HCW at 4 US sites. Unstimulated plasma from 9 discordant TO18 participants at 4 different time points from the Houston site was multiplexed to determine the association between circulating cytokines and antigen stimulated IFN-γlevels.Results.IL-12, IL-1β, IL-3, GCSF, and IL-7 were associated with the amount of IFN-γmeasured in response to antigen stimulation. In addition to these cytokines, a significant relationship was found between a positive QFT result and the spring season.Conclusions.Allergens during the spring season can result in the upregulation of IL-1βand IL-3, and this upregulation was observed with the amount of IFN-γmeasured in discordant results.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody-Associated Vasculitis: Biomarker Potential and Association with Polymorphisms in the MCP-1 and the CC Chemokine Receptor-2 Gene
Authors: Jönsson Nina , Erlandsson Evelina , Gunnarsson Lena , Pettersson Åsa , Ohlsson Sophie
Published: March 2018

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis (AAV) are relapsing-remitting disorders with unpredictable prognosis. There is a need of biomarkers for distinguishing which patients will have a more severe outcome and also for predicting relapses in disease activity. This study confirms the previous results of urinary MCP-1 (uMCP-1) as a prognostic marker and explores its potential as a marker of disease activity.Method. 114 patients with AAV were followed regularly between 2002 and 2011 at Skåne University Hospital. Urine samples, blood samples, and clinical status were registered. The urine samples were analyzed in an in-house-developed ELISA. PCR-RLFP was used to analyze the MCP-1 and CCR2 genes.Results. Patients with severe prognosis had significantly higher levels of uMCP-1 compared to patients with nonsevere prognosis and healthy controls. Patients with renal damage had higher levels compared to patients who did not have renal damage. There was also a tendency of higher uMCP-1 levels in active disease as compared to remission. AA in the -2518 position in the MCP-1 gene was associated with a more severe outcome compared to the A/G or the G/G genotype. The A/A genotype were also associated with higher levels of uMCP-1. No significant associations were seen for the CCR2-V64I.Conclusion. This study confirmed the connection between high uMCP-1 levels and poor prognosis and also disease activity. It also suggests an association of the A/A genotype at position -2518 in the MCP-1 gene and poor prognosis in AAV. uMCP-1 is clearly a candidate biomarker of potential clinical value. The A/A genotype association needs further evaluation.
Detection of HIV-1 and Human Proteins in Urinary Extracellular Vesicles from HIV+ Patients
Authors: Anyanwu Samuel I. , Doherty Akins , Powell Michael D. , Obialo Chamberlain , Huang Ming B. , Quarshie Alexander , Mitchell Claudette , Bashir Khalid , Newman Gale W.
Published: March 2018

Background. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane bound, secreted by cells, and detected in bodily fluids, including urine, and contain proteins, RNA, and DNA. Our goal was to identify HIV and human proteins (HPs) in urinary EVs from HIV+ patients and compare them to HIV− samples.Methods. Urine samples were collected from HIV+ (n=35) and HIV− (n=12) individuals. EVs were isolated by ultrafiltration and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Western blots confirmed the presence of HIV proteins. Gene ontology (GO) analysis was performed using FunRich and HIV Human Interaction database (HHID).Results. EVs from urine were 30–400 nm in size. More EVs were in HIV+ patients,P<0.05, by NTA. HIV+ samples had 14,475 HPs using LC/MS/MS, while only 111 were in HIV−. HPs in the EVs were of exosomal origin. LC/MS/MS showed all HIV+ samples contained at least one HIV protein. GO analysis showed differences in proteins between HIV+ and HIV− samples and more than 50% of the published HPs in the HHID interacted with EV HIV proteins.Conclusion. Differences in the proteomic profile of EVs from HIV+ versus HIV− samples were found. HIV and HPs in EVs could be used to detect infection and/or diagnose HIV disease syndromes.
The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on Long-Standing Adductor-Related Groin Pain in Athletes: Modified Hölmich Protocol
Authors: Yousefzadeh Abbas , Shadmehr Azadeh , Olyaei Gholam Reza , Naseri Nasrin , Khazaeipour Zahra
Published: March 2018

Objective. The Hölmich protocol in therapeutic exercise is the most appropriate method for the treatment of long-standing adductor-related groin pain (LSAGP). Herein, we evaluated a modified Hölmich protocol to resolve the possible limitations intrinsic to the Hölmich protocol in terms of the rate of return to sport and the recovery period for athletes with LSAGP.Design. The study followed a single-blind, before/after study design, where 15 athletes with LSAGP (mean age = 26.13 years; SD = 4.48) performed a 10-week modified Hölmich therapeutic exercise protocol.Results. Outcome scores related to pain, hip adductor and abductor muscle strengths, and the ratio of maximum isometric and eccentric hip adduction to abduction strength increased significantly. Likewise, hip abduction and internal rotation ROM improved significantly compared to that at baseline. Furthermore, functional records (t-test, Edgren Side Step Test, and Triple Hop Test) showed significant improvement after treatment. Finally, 13 athletes (86.6% of the participants) successfully returned to sports activity in a mean time of 12.06 weeks (SD = 3.41).Conclusion. The findings of this study objectively show that the modified Hölmich protocol may be safer and more effective than the Hölmich protocol in athletes with LSAGP in promoting their return to sports activity.This trial is registered with  IRCT2016080829269N1.
p66Shc Inactivation Modifies RNS Production, Regulates Sirt3 Activity, and Improves Mitochondrial Homeostasis, Delaying the Aging Process in Mouse Brain
Authors: Pérez Hernán , Finocchietto Paola Vanesa , Alippe Yael , Rebagliati Inés , Elguero María Eugenia , Villalba Nerina , Poderoso Juan José , Carreras María Cecilia
Published: March 2018

Programmed and damage aging theories have traditionally been conceived as stand‐alone schools of thought. However, the p66Shc adaptor protein has demonstrated that aging‐regulating genes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely interconnected, since its absence modifies metabolic homeostasis by providing oxidative stress resistance and promoting longevity. p66Shc(−/−) mice are a unique opportunity to further comprehend the bidirectional relationship between redox homeostasis and the imbalance of mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics during aging. This study shows that brain mitochondria of p66Shc(−/−) aged mice exhibit a reduced alteration of redox balance with a decrease in both ROS generation and its detoxification activity. We also demonstrate a strong link between reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and mitochondrial function, morphology, and biogenesis, where low levels of ONOO− formation present in aged p66Shc(−/−) mouse brain prevent protein nitration, delaying the loss of biological functions characteristic of the aging process. Sirt3 modulates age‐associated mitochondrial biology and function via lysine deacetylation of target proteins, and we show that its regulation depends on its nitration status and is benefited by the improved NAD+/NADH ratio in aged p66Shc(−/−) brain mitochondria. Low levels of protein nitration and acetylation could cause the metabolic homeostasis maintenance observed during aging in this group, thus increasing its lifespan.
Secondary Chondrosarcoma Presenting with Symptoms Similar to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi , Ikegami Masachika , Ushiku Tetsuo , Anraku Masaki , Ohki Takahiro , Shinoda Yusuke , Tanaka Sakae , Kawano Hirotaka
Published: March 2018

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is caused by heterogeneous factors that compress the brachial plexus and subclavian artery; tumor is rarely a cause of TOS. Here, we present the case of a 26-year-old man with secondary chondrosarcoma arising from osteochondroma of the left clavicle causing TOS, with a direct compression of the brachial plexus and subclavian artery. Immediately after surgery, the symptoms of TOS reduced. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a secondary chondrosarcoma of the clavicle causing TOS, which is possibly the key symptom for diagnosing malignant transformation of osteochondroma of the clavicle.
Risk Factors and Clinical Impact of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Analysis from the China National Stroke Registry
Authors: Duan Wanying , Pan Yuesong , Wang Chunjuan , Wang Yilong , Zhao Xingquan , Wang Yongjun , Liu Liping ,   on behalf of the CNSR Investigators
Published: March 2018

Background: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. While it is important to detect early signs of DCI, patients with high risk of DCI are difficult to identify, and the potential risk factors are uncertain. This study aimed to identify independent risk factors of DCI and clarify their clinical impact on outcome and the disease course. Methods: For this nationwide, multicenter, prospective clinical study involving consecutive patients with aSAH recruited from the China National Stroke Registry, demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratorial data during hospitalisation, in-hospital complications, functional outcomes, and mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months were recorded. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine risk factors associated with the development of DCI, the contribution of DCI to short- and long-term outcomes was evaluated. Results: Of all 504 patients with aSAH, 155 developed DCI. Multivariate analysis revealed that being female, a history of diabetes mellitus, a Hunt and Hess grade of 4–5, and a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade of IV–V were independent risk factors of DCI. DCI was associated with high in-hospital complications, and with a high utilization rate of supporting interventions. DCI also contributed to poorer functional outcome and higher mortality at discharge and after 3, 6, and 12 months. Conclusions: Female sex, a history of diabetes mellitus, and poor clinical grade are independent early risk factors for the development of DCI and can contribute to a better identification of patients at a high risk for DCI. DCI was associated with severe clinical course, poor outcome, and mortality both in the short- and long-term in patients with aSAH in China.
Influence of SPRINT Study Type Automated Office Blood Pressure Measurements on Hypertension Diagnosis in Kidney Transplant Patients
Authors: Bhatnagar Akanksha , Pein Ulrich , Markau Silke , Weigand Karl , Fornara Paolo , Girndt Matthias , Seibert Eric
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: We compare conventional office blood pressure measurements with automated SPRINT-study type readings in kidney transplant recipients in order to determine the impact of the white coat effect in a prospective observational study. Methods: Adult patients with a functional renal transplant not dependent on dialysis were eligible. Readings were taken in the office in presence of the physician with an oscillometric method. Afterwards, readings were repeated with the patients resting alone in a quiet examination room with an automated blood pressure monitor. After 5 minutes of rest, 3 readings were taken at 1 minute intervals, with an average of these 3 readings calculated by the monitor. Results: 120 patients with an average age of 58.5±12.2 years were included. Mean time since transplantation was 7.95±6.48 years. Mean eGFR (CKD-EPI) was 48.5±18.3 ml/min. SPRINT-study type readings were significantly lower than office readings (139.01±18.45 vs. 149.00±21.02 mmHg systolic, p<0.001; 80.88±11.63 mmHg vs. 84.35±12.41 mmHg diastolic, p <0.001). Correlation analysis for many potentially influencing factors (diabetes mellitus, transplant vintage, proteinuria, age, immunosuppression, donor type) was not significant but obese women were significantly more prone to white coat hypertension. Conclusion: Automated office blood pressure measurements should be considered the method of choice in kidney transplant recipients.
Glucocorticoids Reduce Aberrant O-Glycosylation of IgA1 in IgA Nephropathy Patients
Authors: Kosztyu Petr , Hill Martin , Jemelkova Jana , Czernekova Lydie , Kafkova Leona Raskova , Hruby Miroslav , Matousovic Karel , Vondrak Karel , Zadrazil Josef , Sterzl Ivan , Mestecky Jiri , Raska Milan
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: IgA nephropathy is associated with aberrant O-glycosylation of IgA1, which is recognized by autoantibodies leading to the formation of circulating immune complexes. Some of them, after deposition into kidney mesangium, trigger glomerular injury. In patients with active disease nonresponding to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II blockers, corticosteroids are recommended. Methods: The relationship between the corticosteroid therapy and serum levels of IgA, aberrantly O-glycosylated IgA1, IgA-containing immune complexes and their mesangioproliferative activity was analyzed in IgA nephropathy patients and disease and healthy controls. Results: Prednisone therapy significantly reduced proteinuria and levels of serum IgA, galactose-deficient IgA1, and IgA-IgG immune complexes in IgA nephropathy patients and thus reduced differences in all of the above parameters between IgAN patients and control groups. A moderate but not significant reduction of mesangioproliferative potential of IgA-IgG immune complexes and IgA sialylation was detected. Conclusion: The prednisone therapy reduces overall aberrancy in IgA1 O-glycosylation in IgA nephropathy patients, but the measurement of IgA1 parameters does not allow us to predict the prednisone therapy outcome in individual patients.