bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intermittent Phonon Scattering as a Possible Origin of 1/f Fluctuations in Metallic Resistors
Authors: Grüneis Ferdinand
Published: April 2015

We regard a metallic resistor for temperatures T ≫ Θ D (= Debye temperature); under this condition, electron–phonon scattering is the dominant scattering mechanism. We investigate the noise properties under the supposition that phonon scattering is an intermittent process. Intermissions may be caused by an interaction between different phonon modes giving rise to a short break down of a mode. Due to such an intermittent behavior, we obtain — besides thermal noise — a 1/f noise component. Under equilibrium conditions, the 1/f noise term disappears. Under an applied electric field, the electrons are accelerated between collisions resulting in an additional 1/f noise component which can be compared with Hooge's relation. The predicted Hooge coefficient is α ≈ 3 ⋅ 10-3(τ off /τs)2 with τs being the mean electron phonon scattering time and τ off being the mean off-time ( = intermission). We also find 1/f fluctuations in the square of thermal noise suggesting that an applied current only probes 1/f fluctuations which are already present under equilibrium conditions.
An automatic wavelet denoising scheme for heart sounds
Authors: Omari Tahar , Bereksi-Reguig Fethi
Published: April 2015

Phonocardiograms (PCGs), recording of heart sounds, have many advantages over traditional auscultation in that they may be replayed and analyzed for spectral and frequency information. PCG is not a widely used diagnostic tool as it could be. One of the major problems with PCG is noise corruption. Many sources of noise may pollute a PCG signal including lung and breath sounds, environmental noise and blood flow noises which are known as murmurs. These murmurs contain many information on heart hemodynamic which can be used particularly in detecting of heart valve diseases. An automated system for heart murmurs processing can be an important tool in diagnostic of heart diseases using a simple electronic stethoscope. However, the first step before developing any automated system is the segmentation of the PCG signals from which the murmurs can be separated. A robust segmentation algorithm must have a robust denoising technique, where, wavelet transform (WT) is among the ones which exhibits very high satisfactory results in such situations. However, the selection of level of decomposition and the mother wavelet are the major challenges. This paper proposes a novel approach for an automatic selection of mother wavelet and level of decomposition that can be used in heart sounds denoising. The obtained results on both simulative and real PCG signals showed that the proposed approach can successfully select the best level of decomposition with the best mother wavelet that can be used in extraction operation of main PCG sound components (S1 and S2) from various types of murmurs.
A counting method for complex overlapping erythrocytes-based microscopic imaging
Authors: Wei Xudong , Cao Yiping , Fu Guangkai , Wang Yapin
Published: April 2015

Red blood cell (RBC) counting is a standard medical test that can help diagnose various conditions and diseases. Manual counting of blood cells is highly tedious and time consuming. However, new methods for counting blood cells are customary employing both electronic and computer-assisted techniques. Image segmentation is a classical task in most image processing applications which can be used to count blood cells in a microscopic image. In this research work, an approach for erythrocytes counting is proposed. We employed a classification before counting and a new segmentation idea was implemented on the complex overlapping clusters in a microscopic smear image. Experimental results show that the proposed method is of higher counting accuracy and it performs much better than most counting algorithms existed in the situation of three or more RBCs overlapping complexly into a group. The average total erythrocytes counting accuracy of the proposed method reaches 92.9%.
Molecular Pathogenesis of MALT Lymphoma
Authors: Troppan Katharina , Wenzl Kerstin , Neumeister Peter , Deutsch Alexander
Published: April 2015

Approximately 8% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas are extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), also known as MALT lymphoma, which was first described in 1983 by Isaacson and Wright. MALT lymphomas arise at a wide range of different extranodal sites, with the highest frequency in the stomach, followed by lung, ocular adnexa, and thyroid, and with a low percentage in the small intestine. Interestingly, at least 3 different, apparently site-specific, chromosomal translocations and missense and frameshift mutations, all pathway-related genes affecting the NF-κB signal, have been implicated in the development and progression of MALT lymphoma. However, these genetic abnormalities alone are not sufficient for malignant transformation. There is now increasing evidence suggesting that the oncogenic product of translocation cooperates with immunological stimulation in oncogenesis, that is, the association with chronic bacterial infection or autoaggressive process. This review mainly discusses MALT lymphomas in terms of their genetic aberration and association with chronic infections and summarizes recent advances in their molecular pathogenesis.
Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide onto Activated Carbon Prepared from Coconut Shells
Authors: Huang Pei-Hsing , Cheng Hao-Hsiang , Lin Sheau-Horng
Published: April 2015

This study presents the fabrication of high-quality activated carbon (AC) from discarded coconut shells. The effects of experimental parameters such as activation temperature and activation time on the basic characteristics of AC, including charcoal yield, ash content, pH value, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, total pore volume, and iodine adsorption, are investigated. The results indicate that as the activation temperature and activation time increase, the charcoal yield of the AC decreases. In contrast, iodine adsorption, ash content, pH value, and total pore volume increase with activation temperature. The AC sample activated at 1000°C for 120 min had the highest BET specific surface area and total pore volume and thus the best CO2adsorption performance. This sample was compared with 30-mesh commercial AC. The results reveal that coconut-based AC has better instantaneous adsorption capabilities.
Combustion Characteristics of Butane Porous Burner for Thermoelectric Power Generation
Authors: Mustafa K. F. , Abdullah S. , Abdullah M. Z. , Sopian K.
Published: April 2015

The present study explores the utilization of a porous burner for thermoelectric power generation. The porous burner was tested with butane gas using two sets of configurations: single layer porcelain and a stacked-up double layer alumina and porcelain. Six PbSnTe thermoelectric (TE) modules with a total area of 54 cm2were attached to the wall of the burner. Fins were also added to the cold side of the TE modules. Fuel-air equivalence ratio was varied between the blowoff and flashback limit and the corresponding temperature, current-voltage, and emissions were recorded. The stacked-up double layer negatively affected the combustion efficiency at an equivalence ratio of 0.20 to 0.42, but single layer porcelain shows diminishing trend in the equivalence ratio of 0.60 to 0.90. The surface temperature of a stacked-up porous media is considerably higher than the single layer. Carbon monoxide emission is independent for both porous media configurations, but moderate reduction was recorded for single layer porcelain at lean fuel-air equivalence ratio. Nitrogen oxides is insensitive in the lean fuel-air equivalence ratio for both configurations, even though slight reduction was observed in the rich region for single layer porcelain. Power output was found to be highly dependent on the temperature gradient.
A New MEMS Stochastic Model Order Reduction Method: Research and Application
Authors: Xiangjuan Bian , Gong Youping , Guojin Chen , Yunpeng Lv
Published: April 2015

Modeling and simulation of MEMS devices is a very complex tasks which involve the electrical, mechanical, fluidic, and thermal domains, and there are still some uncertainties that need to be accounted for during the robust design of MEMS actuators caused by uncertain material and/or geometric parameters. According to these problems, we put forward stochastic model order reduction method under random input conditions to facilitate fast time and frequency domain analyses; the method makes use of polynomial chaos expansions in terms of the random input variables for the matrices of a finite element model of the system and then uses its transformation matrix to reduce the model; the method is independent of the MOR algorithm, so it is seamlessly compatible with MOR method used in popular finite element solvers. The simulation results verify the method is effective in large scale MEMS design process.
An Automatic Wi-Fi-Based Approach for Extraction of User Places and Their Context
Authors: Vidmar Luka , Štular Mitja , Kos Andrej , Pogačnik Matevž
Published: April 2015

With the analysis of various sensor data from the mobile devices, it is possible to extract user situations, so-called user context. This is needed for the development of modern, user-friendly services. Therefore, we developed a simple, nonintrusive, and automatic method based on the Wi-Fi fingerprints and GPS. The method finds user stay points, aggregates them into meaningful stay regions, and assigns them four general user contexts: home, work, transit, and free time. We evaluated its performance on the real traces of six different users who annotated their contexts over eight days. The method determined the stay mode of the users with accuracy, precision, and recall of above 96%. In combination with the novel approach for aggregation, all regions relevant to the users were determined. Among the tested aggregation schemes, the fingerprint similarity approach worked the best. The context of the determined stay regions was on average accurately inferred in 98% of the time. For the contexts home, work, and free time, the precision and recall exceeded 86%. The results indicate that the method is robust and can be deployed in various fields where context awareness is desired.
A Curvelet-SC Recognition Method for Maize Disease
Authors: Luo Jing , Geng Shuze , Xiu Chunbo , Song Dan , Dong Tingting
Published: April 2015

Because the corn vein and noise influence the contour extraction of the maize leaf disease, we put forward a new recognition algorithm based on Curvelet and Shape Context (SC). This method can improve the speed and accuracy of maize leaf disease recognition. Firstly, we use Seeded Regional Growing (SRG) algorithm to segment the maize leaf disease image. Secondly, Curvelet Modulus Correlation (CMC) method is put forward to extract the effective contour of maize leaf disease. Thirdly, we combine CMC with the SC algorithm to obtain the histogram features and then use these features we obtain to calculate the similarities between the template image and the target image. Finally, we adoptn-fold cross-validation algorithm to recognize diseases on maize leaf disease database. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can recognize 6 kinds of maize leaf diseases accurately and achieve the accuracy of 94.446%. Meanwhile this algorithm has guiding significance for other diseases recognition to an extent.
Danazol: An Effective Option in Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura
Authors: Mulroy E. , Gleeson S. , Chiruka S.
Published: April 2015

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopaenic purpura (AATP) is a rare haematological condition characterised by isolated thrombocytopaenia with normal other cell lines. It is often initially misdiagnosed as immune thrombocytopaenic purpura but has characteristic bone marrow findings of reduced megakaryocyte numbers. The optimal treatment of AATP is not clearly defined but revolves around immunosuppressive therapies. We report a case of successful treatment of AATP with danazol, an antioestrogenic medication. We also review the aetiologies and pathogenesis of the disorder and suggest that danazol should be considered as an effective alternative to potent immunosuppression in AATP.
International Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Available Data
Authors: Hedgeman Elizabeth , Lipworth Loren , Lowe Kimberly , Saran Rajiv , Do Thy , Fryzek Jon
Published: April 2015

The international burden of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is unknown, but it may be estimable through the available chronic kidney disease and SHPT literature. Structured reviews of biomedical literature and online data systems were performed for selected countries to ascertain recent estimates of the incidence, prevalence, and survival of individuals with CKD and SHPT. International societies of nephrology were contacted to seek additional information regarding available data. Estimates were abstracted from 35 sources reporting estimates of CKD in 25 countries. Population prevalence estimates of CKD stages 3–5 in adults ranged from approximately 1 to 9% (China, Mexico, resp.). Estimates of the population prevalence of maintenance dialysis therapy ranged from 79 per million population (pmp; China) to 2385 pmp (Japan); incidence rates ranged from 91 pmp (United Kingdom) to 349 pmp (United States). Prevalence of SHPT among stage 5D populations was highly variable and dependent upon the disease definition used. Among the few nations reporting, approximately 30–50% of stage 5D patients had serum parathyroid hormone levels >300 pg/mL. Reported incidence and prevalence estimates across the individual nations were variable, likely reflecting differing population demographics, risk factors, etiologies, and availability of treatment through all stages of CKD.
Performance of Three Multipurpose Disinfecting Solutions with a Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens
Authors: García-Porta Nery , Rico-del-Viejo Laura , Ferreira-Neves Helena , Peixoto-de-Matos Sofia C. , Queirós Antonio , González-Méijome José M.
Published: April 2015

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical performance of a silicone hydrogel (Si-Hy) soft contact lens (CL) in combination with three different multipurpose disinfecting solutions (MPDSs).Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, single-masked, crossover, and comparative study in which 31 habitual soft CL wearers were randomly assigned to one of the three MPDSs (Synergi, COMPLETE RevitaLens, and OPTI-FREE PureMoist) for 1 month with a 1-week wash-out period between each exposure. All subjects were successfully refitted with a Si-Hy CL (Biofinity). Subjects were then scheduled for follow-up visits after 1 month of lens wear, being evaluated at 2 and 8 hours after lens insertion. Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were used to gauge comfort rating.Results. The tarsal conjunctiva showed a significantly different degree of lid redness between the MPDSs at the 2-hour visit (P<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test), being lower for COMPLETE RevitaLens compared to the other two MPDSs (Mann-WhitneyUtest). Furthermore, a significantly different degree of lid roughness at the 8-hour visit was seen (P<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test), being higher for Synergi (Mann-WhitneyUtest). The subjective comfort was similar with the three MPDSs.Conclusion.Tarsal conjunctival response should be also considered in the context of the clinical performance of MPDs at the ocular surface.
On Solving Pentadiagonal Linear Systems via Transformations
Authors: Askar S. S. , Karawia A. A.
Published: April 2015

Many authors have studied numerical algorithms for solving the linear systems of pentadiagonal type. The well-known fast pentadiagonal system solver algorithm is an example of such algorithms. The current paper describes new numerical and symbolic algorithms for solving pentadiagonal linear systems via transformations. The proposed algorithms generalize the algorithms presented in El-Mikkawy and Atlan, 2014. Our symbolic algorithms remove the cases where the numerical algorithms fail. The computational cost of our algorithms is better than those algorithms in literature. Some examples are given in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. All experiments are carried out on a computer with the aid of programs written in MATLAB.
Radial Quantitative Ultrasound and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry: Intermethod Agreement for Bone Status Assessment in Children
Authors: Chong Kar Hau , Poh Bee Koon , Jamil Nor Aini , Kamaruddin Nor Azmi , Deurenberg Paul
Published: April 2015

Aim. To validate a radial quantitative ultrasound (QUS) system with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a criterion technique in bone status assessment among children.Methods. Bone health was evaluated using a radial QUS system (Sunlight Omnisense 8000P) to measure the speed of sound (SOS) at one-third distal radius of the nondominant hand and DXA (Hologic QDR) was used to assess whole body bone mineral density (BMD).Results. Some 29.9% of the children were grossly misclassified according to quartiles of BMD and radial SOS. Poor agreement was observed betweenZ-scores of radial SOS and whole-body BMD (mean difference = 0.6 ± 0.9; 95% limits of agreement = −1.4 to 2.6). With a cut-off value of −1.0, radial SOS yielded satisfactory sensitivity (80%) and specificity (93%) for the detection of children with low BMD.Conclusion. The observed poor agreement in the present study suggests that radial QUS and DXA are not comparable and hence are not interchangeable in evaluating bone status of the children.
Comparison of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging and Arterial Spin Labeling MR Imaging in Gliomas
Authors: Lin Yuankai , Li Jianrui , Zhang Zhiqiang , Xu Qiang , Zhou Zhenyu , Zhang Zhongping , Zhang Yong , Zhang Zongjun
Published: April 2015

Gliomas grading is important for treatment plan; we aimed to investigate the application of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in gliomas grading, by comparing with the three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL). 24 patients (13 high grade gliomas and 11 low grade gliomas) underwent IVIM DWI and 3D pCASL imaging before operation; maps of fast diffusion coefficient (D∗), slow diffusion coefficient (D), fractional perfusion-related volume (f), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF) were calculated and then coregistered to generate the corresponding parameter values. We found CBF andD∗were higher in the high grade gliomas, whereas ADC,D, andfwere lower (allP<0.05). In differentiating the high from low grade gliomas, the maximum areas under the curves (AUC) ofD∗, CBF, and ADC were 0.857, 0.85, and 0.902, respectively. CBF was negatively correlated withfin tumor (r=-0.619,P=0.001). ADC was positively correlated withDin both tumor and white matter (r=0.887,P=0.000andr=0.824,P=0.000, resp.). There was no correlation between CBF andD∗in both tumor and white matter (P>0.05). IVIM DWI showed more efficiency than 3D pCASL but less validity than conventional DWI in differentiating the high from low grade gliomas.
A Fading Channel Simulator Implementation Based on GPU Computing Techniques
Authors: Carrasco-Alvarez R. , Vázquez Castillo J. , Castillo Atoche A. , Ortegón Aguilar J.
Published: April 2015

Channel simulators are powerful tools that permit performance tests of the individual parts of a wireless communication system. This is relevant when new communication algorithms are tested, because it allows us to determine if they fulfill the communications standard requirements. One of these tests consists of evaluating the system performance when a communication channel is considered. In this sense, it is possible to model the channel as an FIR filter with time-varying random coefficients. If the number of coefficients is increased, then a better approach to real scenarios can be achieved; however, in that case, the computational complexity is increased. In order to address this issue, a design methodology for computing the time-varying coefficients of the fading channel simulators using consumer-designed graphic processing units (GPUs) is proposed. With the use of GPUs and the proposed methodology, it is possible for nonspecialized users in parallel computing to accelerate their simulation developments when compared to conventional software. Implementation results show that the proposed approach allows the easy generation of communication channels while reducing the processing time. Finally, GPU-based implementation takes precedence when compared with the CPU-based implementation, due to the scattered nature of the channel.
Neurotrauma and Inflammation: CNS and PNS Responses
Authors: Mietto Bruno Siqueira , Mostacada Klauss , Martinez Ana Maria Blanco
Published: April 2015

Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) or the peripheral nervous system (PNS) triggers a cascade of events which culminate in a robust inflammatory reaction. The role played by inflammation in the course of degeneration and regeneration is not completely elucidated. While, in peripheral nerves, the inflammatory response is assumed to be essential for normal progression of Wallerian degeneration and regeneration, CNS trauma inflammation is often associated with poor recovery. In this review, we discuss key mechanisms that trigger the inflammatory reaction after nervous system trauma, emphasizing how inflammations in both CNS and PNS differ from each other, in terms of magnitude, cell types involved, and effector molecules. Knowledge of the precise mechanisms that elicit and maintain inflammation after CNS and PNS tissue trauma and their effect on axon degeneration and regeneration is crucial for the identification of possible pharmacological drugs that can positively affect the tissue regenerative capacity.
Serum and Urine Biomarkers for Human Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Pastore A. L. , Palleschi G. , Silvestri L. , Moschese D. , Ricci S. , Petrozza V. , Carbone A. , Di Carlo A.
Published: April 2015

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnosis is mostly achieved incidentally by imaging provided for unrelated clinical reasons. The surgical management of localized tumors has reported excellent results. The therapy of advanced RCC has evolved considerably over recent years with the widespread use of the so-called “targeted therapies.” The identification of molecular markers in body fluids (e.g., sera and urine), which can be used for screening, diagnosis, follow-up, and monitoring of drug-based therapy in RCC patients, is one of the most ambitious challenges in oncologic research. Although there are some promising reports about potential biomarkers in sera, there is limited available data regarding urine markers for RCC. The following review reports some of the most promising biomarkers identified in the biological fluids of RCC patients.
Numerical Simulation of Reactive Flows in Overexpanded Supersonic Nozzle with Film Cooling
Authors: Sellam Mohamed , Chpoun Amer
Published: April 2015

Reignition phenomena occurring in a supersonic nozzle flow may present a crucial safety issue for rocket propulsion systems. These phenomena concern mainly rocket engines which use H2gas (GH2) in the film cooling device, particularly when the nozzle operates under over expanded flow conditions at sea level or at low altitudes. Consequently, the induced wall thermal loads can lead to the nozzle geometry alteration, which in turn, leads to the appearance of strong side loads that may be detrimental to the rocket engine structural integrity. It is therefore necessary to understand both aerodynamic and chemical mechanisms that are at the origin of these processes. This paper is a numerical contribution which reports results from CFD analysis carried out for supersonic reactive flows in a planar nozzle cooled with GH2film. Like the experimental observations, CFD simulations showed their ability to highlight these phenomena for the same nozzle flow conditions. Induced thermal load are also analyzed in terms of cooling efficiency and the results already give an idea on their magnitude. It was also shown that slightly increasing the film injection pressure can avoid the reignition phenomena by moving the separation shock towards the nozzle exit section.
Usage of Neural Network to Predict Aluminium Oxide Layer Thickness
Authors: Michal Peter , Vagaská Alena , Gombár Miroslav , Kmec Ján , Spišák Emil , Kučerka Daniel
Published: April 2015

This paper shows an influence of chemical composition of used electrolyte, such as amount of sulphuric acid in electrolyte, amount of aluminium cations in electrolyte and amount of oxalic acid in electrolyte, and operating parameters of process of anodic oxidation of aluminium such as the temperature of electrolyte, anodizing time, and voltage applied during anodizing process. The paper shows the influence of those parameters on the resulting thickness of aluminium oxide layer. The impact of these variables is shown by using central composite design of experiment for six factors (amount of sulphuric acid, amount of oxalic acid, amount of aluminium cations, electrolyte temperature, anodizing time, and applied voltage) and by usage of the cubic neural unit with Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm during the results evaluation. The paper also deals with current densities of 1 A·dm−2 and 3 A·dm−2 for creating aluminium oxide layer.
The Motor Recovery Related with Brain Lesion in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Lee Kyung Bo , Kim Joon Sung , Hong Bo Young , Kim Young Dong , Hwang Byong Yong , Lim Seong Hoon
Published: April 2015

Although studies have demonstrated that several specific brain lesions are related to the severity of functional outcomes, the effects of specific brain lesions are not yet clear. This study investigated the effects of hemorrhagic stroke lesions on motor recovery. Eleven subjects with hemorrhagic stroke were assessed. Using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and functional ambulation category, clinical motor and sensory impairments were tested four times in total: initially within 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months after the onset of stroke. Brain lesions and size were evaluated using MRIcron, SPM8, and Talairach Daemon software. Trunk control, motor function in the lower limbs, and sensory function improved significantly within 3 months, after which the change was no longer significant. Upper limb function and gait were unchanged within 1 month but improved significantly 3 months after onset and continued to improve for 6 months. Involvement of the anterior putamen, internal capsule, thalamus, periventricular white matter, and premotor cortex was related to poor upper limb recovery in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. These results should be useful for planning rehabilitation strategies and understanding the prognosis of hemorrhagic stroke.
Lightlike Hypersurfaces of Indefinite Generalized Sasakian Space Forms
Authors: Jin Dae Ho
Published: April 2015

We study lightlike hypersurfacesMof an indefinite generalized Sasakian space formM-(f1,f2,f3), with indefinite trans-Sasakian structure of type(α,β), subject to the condition that the structure vector field ofM-is tangent toM. First we study the general theory for lightlike hypersurfaces of indefinite trans-Sasakian manifold of type(α,β). Next we prove several characterization theorems for lightlike hypersurfaces of an indefinite generalized Sasakian space form.
Temporal Changes of Microarchitectural and Mechanical Parameters of Cancellous Bone in the Osteoporotic Rabbit
Authors: Wen Xin-Xin , Xu Chao , Wang Fa-Qi , Feng Ya-Fei , Zhao Xiong , Yan Ya-Bo , Lei Wei
Published: April 2015

This study was aimed at elucidating the temporal changes of microarchitectural and mechanical parameters of cancellous bone in the osteoporotic rabbit model induced by ovariectomy (OVX) combined with glucocorticoid (GC) administration. Osteoporotic (OP) group received bilateral OVX combined with injections of GC, while sham group only received sham operation. Cancellous bone quality in vertebrae and femoral condyles in each group was assessed by DXA,μCT, nanoindentation, and biomechanical tests at pre-OVX and 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injection. With regard to femoral condyles, nanoindentation test could detect significant decline in tissue modulus and hardness at 4 weeks. However, BMD and microarchitecture of femoral condylar cancellous bone changed significantly at 6 weeks. In vertebrae, BMD, microarchitecture, nanoindentation, and biomechanical tests changed significantly at 4 weeks. Our data demonstrated that temporal changes of microarchitectural and mechanical parameters of cancellous bone in the osteoporotic rabbit were significant. The temporal changes of cancellous bone in different anatomical sites might be different. The nanoindentation method could detect the changes of bone quality at an earlier stage at both femoral condyle and vertebra in the osteoporotic rabbit model than other methods (μCT, BMD).
A Review of Collagen Cross-Linking in Cornea and Sclera
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Tao Xiang-chen , Zhang Jian , Li Zhi-wei , Xu Yan-yun , Wang Yu-meng , Zhang Chun-xiao , Mu Guo-ying
Published: April 2015

Riboflavin/UVA cross-linking is a technique introduced in the past decades for the treatment of keratoconus, keratectasia, and infectious keratitis. Its efficacy and safety have been investigated with clinical and laboratory studies since its first clinical application by Wollensak for the treatment of keratoconus. Although its complications are encountered during clinical practice, such as infection inducing risk, minimal invasion merits a further investigation on its future application in clinical practice. Recently, collagen cross-linking in sclera shows a promising prospect. In present study, we summarized the representative studies describing the clinical and laboratory application of collagen cross-linking published in past decades and provided our opinion on the positive and negative results of cross-linking in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders.
Overexpression of FRAT1 Is Associated with Malignant Phenotype and Poor Prognosis in Human Gliomas
Authors: Guo Geng , Zhong Cheng-liang , Liu Yang , Mao Xing-gang , Zhang Zheng , Jin Ji , Liu Jing , Yang Liu , Mao Jin-ming , Guo Yu-hong , Zhao Yuan-li
Published: April 2015

Glioma is the most common malignancy of the central nervous system. Approximately 40 percent of intracranial tumors are diagnosed as gliomas. Difficulties in treatment are associated closely with the malignant phenotype, which is characterized by excessive proliferation, relentless invasion, and angiogenesis. Although the comprehensive treatment level of brain glioma is continuously progressing, the outcome of this malignancy has not been improved drastically. Therefore, the identification of new biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy of this malignancy is of significant scientific and clinical value. FRAT1 is a positive regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and is overexpressed in many human tumors. In the present study, we investigated the expression status of FRAT1 in 68 patients with human gliomas and its correlation with the pathologic grade, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and prognostic significance. These findings suggest that FRAT1 may be an important factor in the tumorigenesis and progression of glioma and could be explored as a potential biomarker for pathological diagnosis, an indicator for prognosis, and a target for biological therapy of malignancy.
Response Surface Optimization of a Rapid Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Method for Simultaneous Determination of Tetracycline Antibiotics in Manure
Authors: Li Lanqing , Sun Mingxing , Zhou Hui , Zhou Yun , Chen Ping , Min Hong , Shen Guoqing
Published: April 2015

A rapid and cleanup-free ultrasound-assisted extraction method is proposed for the simultaneous extraction of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline in manure. The analytes were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector. The influence of several variables on the efficiency of the extraction procedure was investigated by single-factor experiments. The temperature, pH, and amount of extraction solution were selected for optimization experiment using response surface methodology. The calibration curves showed good linearity (R2>0.99) for all analytes in the range of 0.1–20 μg/mL. The four antibiotics were successfully extracted from manure with recoveries ranging from 81.89 to 92.42% and good reproducibility (RSD, <4.06%) under optimal conditions, which include 50 mL of McIlvaine buffer extraction solution (pH 7.15) mixed with 1 g of manure sample, extraction temperature of 40°C, extraction time of 10 min, and three extraction cycles. Method quantification limits of 1.75–2.32 mg/kg were obtained for the studied compounds. The proposed procedure demonstrated clear reductions in extraction time and elimination of cleanup steps. Finally, the applicability to tetracyclines antibiotics determination in real samples was evaluated through the successful determination of four target analytes in swine, cow manure, and mixture of animal manure with inorganic fertilizer.
Thermal Degradation Characteristics and Kinetics of Oxy Combustion of Corn Residues
Authors: Sittisun Poramate , Tippayawong Nakorn , Wattanasiriwech Darunee
Published: April 2015

Thermogravimetric analysis was used to investigate oxy combustion of corncob and stover. The biomass samples were heated from ambient temperature to 900°C at different heating rates of 10, 30, and 50 K/min. Both biomass samples showed similar weight loss patterns with three zones, corresponding to dehydration, devolatilization, and char combustion, but displayed different degradation temperatures. Increasing heating rate was found to shift the degradation patterns to higher temperatures. Decomposition rates of cob and stover may have been influenced by their lignocellulosic composition. The kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation process were also determined and compared using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose methods. Both methods were found to give similar values and patterns of activation energy against conversion fraction. The average values were found to be in similar magnitude to those reported in the literature, around 170 and 148 kJ/mol for cob and stover, respectively.
Smooth Muscle Specific Overexpression of p22phoxPotentiates Carotid Artery Wall Thickening in Response to Injury
Authors: Manogue Michael R. , Bennett Justin R. , Holland Drury S. , Choi Chung-Sik , Drake Douglas A. , Taylor Mark S. , Weber David S.
Published: April 2015

We hypothesized that transgenic mice overexpressing thep22phoxsubunit of the NADPH oxidase selectively in smooth muscle (Tgp22smc) would exhibit an exacerbated response to transluminal carotid injury compared to wild-type mice. To examine the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a mediator of vascular injury, the injury response was quantified by measuring wall thickness (WT) and cross-sectional wall area (CSWA) of the injured and noninjured arteries in bothTgp22smcand wild-type animals at days 3, 7, and 14 after injury. Akt, p38 MAPK, and Src activation were evaluated at the same time points using Western blotting. WT and CSWA following injury were significantly greater inTgp22smcmice at both 7 and 14 days after injury while noninjured contralateral carotids were similar between groups. Apocynin treatment attenuated the injury response in both groups and rendered the response similar betweenTgp22smcmice and wild-type mice. Following injury, carotid arteries fromTgp22smcmice demonstrated elevated activation of Akt at day 3, while p38 MAPK and Src activation was elevated at day 7 compared to wild-type mice. Both increased activation and temporal regulation of these signaling pathways may contribute to enhanced vascular growth in response to injury in this transgenic model of elevated vascular ROS.
Acute Corneal Hydrops Mimicking Infectious Keratitis as Initial Presentation of Keratoconus in a 10-Year-Old Child
Authors: Slim Elise A. , Jarade Elias F. , Charanek Bilal M. , Antoun Joelle S. , Hemade Adib I. , Awada Sahar H. , Fakhoury Henry W. , Cherfan Carole G.
Published: April 2015

Purpose. To report a case of acute hydrops in a 10-year-old child with advanced keratoconus.Case Presentation. A ten-year-old boy diagnosed as having right eye (RE) infectious keratitis, not responding to antimicrobial therapy, was referred to our hospital. The diagnosis of infectious keratitis was established one month prior to his presentation following an episode of acute corneal whitening, pain, and drop in visual acuity. Topical fortified antibiotics followed by topical antiviral therapy were used with no improvement. Slit lamp examination showed significant corneal protrusion with edema surrounding a rupture in Descemet’s membrane in the RE. The diagnosis of acute corneal hydrops from advanced keratoconus was highly suspected and confirmed with corneal topography.Conclusion. Although a relatively rare disease at the age of 10 years, keratoconus can be rapidly progressive in the pediatric group. Keratoconus should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive vision loss in this age group.
Parent-Child Agreement Using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale and a Thermometer in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: May T. , Cornish K. , Rinehart N. J.
Published: April 2015

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience high anxiety which often prompts clinical referral and requires intervention. This study aimed to compare parent and child reports on the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and a child-reported “worry thermometer” in 88 children aged 8–13 years, 44 with ASD and 44 age, gender, and perceptual IQ matched typically developing children. There were no gender differences in child report on the SCAS and worry thermometers. Results indicated generally good correlations between parent and child self-reported SCAS symptoms for typically developing children but poor agreement in parent-child ASD dyads. The worry thermometer child-report did not reflect child or parent reports on the SCAS. Findings suggest 8–13-year-old children with ASD may have difficulties accurately reporting their anxiety levels. The clinical implications were discussed.
Oxidative/Antioxidative Status in Obese and Sport Trained Children: A Comparative Study
Authors: Matusik Pawel , Prokopowicz Zofia , Norek Berenika , Olszanecka-Glinianowicz Magdalena , Chudek Jerzy , Malecka-Tendera Ewa
Published: April 2015

The aim of the study was to compare oxidative/antioxidative status in obese and sport trained children and to correlate obtained redox markers with anthropometrical measurements, body composition parameters, and adipokines levels. 78 (44 males) obese (SG) and 80 (40 males) normal weight sport trained (CG) children matched for age and Tanner stage were recruited for the study. Body composition parameters and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Oxidative/antioxidative status was evaluated in plasma by total oxidative status (PerOX), oxidized-LDL cholesterol (oxLDL), total antioxidative capacity (ImAnOx), and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx). Leptin and adiponectin levels and adiponectin/leptin ratio (A/L) were also investigated. OxLDL was higher in SG versus CG (P < 0.05), but ImAnOx and GPx were reduced in SG versus CG (P < 0.01). Redox markers correlated significantly with BMIZ-score, WHR, WHtR, body composition parameters, leptin (in boys only), and A/L ratio (in boys only) in SG and in a whole studied population. PerOX significantly correlated with BMR in the CG. Antioxidative/oxidative status in obese children is significantly impaired and related adipose tissue excess and its hormonal activity. Oxidative status assessed by PerOx is also high in sport trained children but antioxidative defense is significantly more efficient with no overproduction of oxidized LDL.
Iron Accumulation Is Not Homogenous among Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Dashtipour Khashayar , Liu Manju , Kani Camellia , Dalaie Pejman , Obenaus Andre , Simmons Daniel , Gatto Nicole M. , Zarifi Mehran
Published: April 2015

Background. Iron is considered to lead to neurodegeneration and has been hypothesized as a possible cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a powerful tool to measure phase related iron content of brain.Methods. Twelve de novo patients with PD were recruited from the Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University. Twelve age- and sex-matched non-PD subjects were recruited from neurology clinic as controls. Using SWI, the phase related iron content was estimated from different brain regions of interest (ROIs).Results. There was a trend between increasing age and iron accumulation in the globus pallidus and putamen in all subjects. Iron accumulation was not significant in different ROIs in PD patients compared to controls after adjustment for age. Our data revealed heterogeneity of phase values in different brain ROIs among all subjects with an exaggerated trend at SN in PD patients.Conclusions. Our data suggest a nonhomogeneous pattern of iron accumulation in different brain regions among PD patients. Further studies are needed to explore whether this may correlate to the progression of PD. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the heterogeneity of iron accumulation in the brain, among patients with PD.
Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Potential of Aged Garlic Extract and Its Constituent, S-Allyl Cysteine, in Rats
Authors: Asdaq Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin
Published: April 2015

Aged garlic extract (AGE) is one of the unique preparations standardized with 100% bioavailable active ingredients found in the bloodstream. The current research was aimed at exploring the role of AGE and its chief active constituent, s-allyl cysteine (SAC) as antioxidant and hypolipidemic agent in rats. At the end of treatment of AGE and SAC, separated serum and freshly prepared liver tissue homogenate were analyzed for biochemical enzymes and biomarkers to evaluate and compare potencies of investigational agents. Both AGE and SAC significantly declined elevated levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, ALP, AST, ALT, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity, total glutathione and oxidised glutathione in serum and inclined superoxide dismutase, catalase, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and total sulfhydryl values in liver tissue with reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive species. The protective effects were superior with AGE compared with SAC indicating potential implication of other active constituents apart from SAC in AGE for combating hyperlipidemic stress.
Risk Factors for Migration, Fracture, and Dislocation of Pancreatic Stents
Authors: Kawaguchi Yoshiaki , Lin Jung-Chun , Kawashima Yohei , Maruno Atsuko , Ito Hiroyuki , Ogawa Masami , Mine Tetsuya
Published: April 2015

Aim. To analyze the risk factors for pancreatic stent migration, dislocation, and fracture in chronic pancreatitis patients with pancreatic strictures.Materials and Methods. Endoscopic stent placements (total 386 times) were performed in 99 chronic pancreatitis patients with pancreatic duct stenosis at our institution between April 2006 and June 2014. We retrospectively examined the frequency of stent migration, dislocation, and fracture and analyzed the patient factors and stent factors. We also investigated the retrieval methods for migrated and fractured stents and their success rates.Results. The frequencies of stent migration, dislocation, and fracture were 1.5% (5/396), 0.8% (3/396), and 1.2% (4/396), respectively. No significant differences in the rates of migration, dislocation, or fracture were noted on the patient factors (etiology, cases undergoing endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy, location of pancreatic duct stenosis, existence of pancreatic stone, and approach from the main or minor papilla) and stent factors (duration of stent placement, numbers of stent placements, stent shape, diameter, and length). Stent retrieval was successful in all cases of migration. In cases of fractured stents, retrieval was successful in 2 of 4 cases.Conclusion. Stent migration, fracture, and dislocation are relatively rare, but possible complications. A good understanding of retrieval techniques is necessary.
Early Postural Changes in Individuals with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Khallaf Mohamed Elsayed , Fayed Eman Elsayed
Published: April 2015

Background and Objectives. Postural changes are frequent and disabling complications of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Many contributing factors have been evident either related to disease pathology or to adaptive changes. This study aimed at studying the postural changes in subjects with Parkinson’s disease and its relation to duration of illness and disease severity.Methods. Eighteen patients with PD and 18 healthy matched volunteers represented the sample of the study. The patients were at stage 1 or 1.5 according to the Modified Hoehn and Yahr Staging with duration of illness between 18 and 36 months. Three-dimensional analysis of the back surface was conducted to explore the postural changes in the sagittal and frontal planes in both the patients and the healthy subjects.Results. Kyphotic angle, lordotic angle, fleche cervicale, fleche lombaire, scoliotic angle, and associated vertebral rotation and pelvic obliquity were significantly increased in patients with PD compared to the healthy subjects (P≤0.05). There was no association between the measured postural changes and duration of illness as well as the severity of the IPD (P≤0.05).Conclusion. Postural changes start in the early stages of idiopathic PD and they have no relationship to the duration of illness and disease severity.
Atrial Fibrillation in the Young: A Neurologist’s Nightmare
Authors: Aggarwal Nikhil , Selvendran Subothini , Raphael Claire E. , Vassiliou Vassilios
Published: April 2015

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical practice with prevalence in excess of 33 million worldwide. Although often asymptomatic and until recently considered a “benign” arrhythmia, it is now appreciated that thromboembolism resulting from AF results in significant morbidity and mortality predominantly due to stroke. Although an arrhythmia more commonly affecting the elderly, AF can also occur in the young. This review focuses on the impact of AF in the younger population and discusses the dilemmas of managing younger patients with AF.
Design, Synthesis, andIn VitroAntiplatelet Aggregation Activities of Ferulic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Zhang Peng-Xuan , Lin Hang , Qu Cheng , Tang Yu-Ping , Li Nian-Guang , Kai Jun , Shang Guanxiong , Li Baoquan , Zhang Li , Yan Hui , Liu Pei , Duan Jin-Ao
Published: April 2015

In order to discover new compounds with antiplatelet aggregation activities, some ferulic acid (FA) derivatives were designed and synthesized. Thein vitroantiplatelet aggregation activities of these compounds were assessed by turbidimetric test. The results showed that the target compound7fhad potent antiplatelet aggregation activity with its IC5027.6 μmol/L, and7fcan be regarded as a novel potent antiplatelet aggregation candidate.