bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term Care in Denmark and Lithuania – A Most Dissimilar Case
Authors: Poškutė Virginija , Greve Bent
Published: June 2017

By comparing the systems and development in Lithuania and Denmark, the article probes into differences and similarities in two countries with very different welfare states belonging to different welfare regimes and having very diverse economic and historical development of a specific social policy area – i.e. long‐term care (LTC) for the elderly. Despite differences, there are also similarities in the understanding of what LTC is and could be in the future, given the economic pressure on welfare states. So despite being a country‐based case analysis of a specific social service field, at the outset, seemingly dissimilar, the analysis also shows similarities especially in the expectation of the role of the civil society, and that the elderly will want to stay as long as possible in their own home. There is also expected pressure from demography change, and, especially, a possible pressure on women as they, more often than men, provide informal care and will have a higher risk of living alone when they become elderly. Lastly, the use of rehabilitation and re‐enablement is a central parameter for a possible reduction in the pressure on spending as well as improving quality of life for the elderly.
A metastatic secretory gastric plasmacytoma with aberrantCD3 expression in a dog
Authors: Atherton Matthew J. , Vazquez‐Sanmartin Samantha , Sharpe Sam , Waugh Elspeth M. , Morris Joanna S.
Published: June 2017

A 10‐year‐old crossbred dog was presented with a 6‐week history of hematemesis, melena, anorexia, and lethargy. Clinical evaluation revealed a gastric mass with a regional lymphadenomegaly as well as a monoclonal gammopathy manifesting as hyperglobulinemia. Cytologic and histopathologic analyses were consistent with a round cell neoplasm; neoplastic cells showed nuclear immunoreactivity forMUM1 and diffuse cytoplasmic reactivity forCD3. Polymerase chain reactions performed on fixed and fresh tissue identified a clonal rearrangement with an IgH primer set. An extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) was confirmed by cellular morphology and molecular diagnostics. Following an objective response to chemotherapy, the dog was euthanized 8 months after diagnosis, and a postmortem examination confirmed the clinical findings. This is the first reported case of a monoclonal gammopathy secondary to a gastricEMPcoupled with aberrant expression ofCD3 in an aggressive plasmacytic tumor, and highlights the utility of molecular diagnostics for classifying atypical hemolymphoid neoplasms.
Improving visual observation skills through the arts to aid radiographic interpretation in veterinary practice: A pilot study
Authors: Beck Cathy , Gaunt Heather , Chiavaroli Neville
Published: June 2017

Radiographic interpretation is a perceptual and cognitive skill. Recently core veterinary radiology textbooks have focused on the cognitive (i.e., the clinical aspects of radiographic interpretation) rather than the features of visual observation that improve identification of abnormalities. As a result, the skill of visual observation is underemphasized and thus often underdeveloped by trainees. The study of the arts in medical education has been used to train and improve visual observation and empathy. The use of the arts to improve visual observation skills in Veterinary Science has not been previously described. Objectives of this pilot study were to adapt the existing Visual Arts in Health Education Program for medical and dental students at the University of Melbourne, Australia to third year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students and evaluate their perceptions regarding the program's effects on visual observation skills and confidence with respect to radiographic interpretation. This adaptation took the form of a single seminar given to third year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. Following the seminar, students reported an improved approach to radiographic interpretation and felt they had gained skills which would assist them throughout their career. In the year following the seminar, written reports of the students who attended the seminar were compared with reports from a matched cohort of students who did not attend the seminar. This demonstrated increased identification of abnormalities and greater description of the abnormalities identified. Findings indicated that explicit training in visual observation may be a valuable adjunct to the radiology training of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students.
Approximation sequences to operators on Banach spaces: a rich approach
Authors: Mascarenhas H. , Santos P. A. , Seidel M.
Published: June 2017

Criteria for the stability of finite sections of a large class of convolution type operators on are obtained. In this class, almost all classical symbols are permitted, namely operators of multiplication with functions in having one‐sided limits or slowly oscillating behavior at infinity and convolution operators (as well as Wiener–Hopf and Hankel operators) with combinations of piecewise continuous, slowly oscillating and almost periodic symbols. We use a simpler and more powerful algebraic technique than all previous works: the application of ‐theory together with the rich sequences concept and localization. Beyond stability we study Fredholm theory in sequence algebras. In particular, formulas for the asymptotic behavior of approximation numbers and Fredholm indices are given.
Transition between stable hydrophilization and fast etching/hydrophilization of poly(methyl)methacrylate polymer using a novel atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge source
Authors: Dimitrakellis Panagiotis , Gogolides Evangelos , Zeniou Angelos , Awsiuk Kamil , Rysz Jakub , Marzec Mateusz M.
Published: June 2017

Tuning the transition between stable hydrophilicity and high etching-rate and simultaneous hydrophilization of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films was achieved in an open-air environment simply by adjusting the O2 content in He gas injection through the showerhead-type electrode of a novel atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge source. A comparative study was performed for He and He-O2 plasma treatment of PMMA. Electrical and optical measurements indicated severe alteration of plasma characteristics when O2 is added in gas feed. The enhancement of oxygen emission band intensities indicates an enhanced concentration of atomic oxygen, resulting in very high PMMA etching rates of ∼320 nm/min, ∼four times higher compared to pure He. In contrast, the He plasma showed higher nitrogen emission band intensities, translated into a higher nitrogen content on the PMMA surface according to x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. This enhanced nitrogen content due to the partial substitution of ester groups of the PMMA side chain with amide groups was responsible for the more efficient hydrophilization of the PMMA surface. A water contact angle as low as ∼28° was achieved, stabilizing at ∼40° after 10 days and remained constant at least for 45 days, significantly lower than that for the untreated PMMA (∼69°).
Effects of linear and nonlinear speech rate changes on speech intelligibility in stationary and fluctuating maskers
Authors: Cooke Martin , Aubanel Vincent
Published: June 2017

Algorithmic modifications to the durational structure of speech designed to avoid intervals of intense masking lead to increases in intelligibility, but the basis for such gains is not clear. The current study addressed the possibility that the reduced information load produced by speech rate slowing might explain some or all of the benefits of durational modifications. The study also investigated the influence of masker stationarity on the effectiveness of durational changes. Listeners identified keywords in sentences that had undergone linear and nonlinear speech rate changes resulting in overall temporal lengthening in the presence of stationary and fluctuating maskers. Relative to unmodified speech, a slower speech rate produced no intelligibility gains for the stationary masker, suggesting that a reduction in information rate does not underlie intelligibility benefits of durationally modified speech. However, both linear and nonlinear modifications led to substantial intelligibility increases in fluctuating noise. One possibility is that overall increases in speech duration provide no new phonetic information in stationary masking conditions, but that temporal fluctuations in the background increase the likelihood of glimpsing additional salient speech cues. Alternatively, listeners may have benefitted from an increase in the difference in speech rates between the target and background.
Explosion yield estimation from pressure wave template matching
Authors: Arrowsmith Stephen , Bowman Daniel
Published: June 2017

A method for estimating the yield of explosions from shock-wave and acoustic-wave measurements is presented. The method exploits full waveforms by comparing pressure measurements against an empirical stack of prior observations using scaling laws. The approach can be applied to measurements across a wide-range of source-to-receiver distances. The method is applied to data from two explosion experiments in different regions, leading to mean relative errors in yield estimates of 0.13 using prior data from the same region, and 0.2 when applied to a new region.
On the molecular weight dependence of slip velocity of polymer melts
Authors: Chatzigiannakis Emmanouil , Ebrahimi Marzieh , Hatzikiriakos Savvas G.
Published: June 2017

Theoretical models regarding the slip of polymer melts are compared with the experimental results of several researchers on the basis of the molecular weight (Mw) dependence of the slip velocity (Vs). Using simple assumptions, it is shown that agreement between theory and experiment can only be achieved if the models are adjusted to address the random adsorption density of polymer chains on high energy surfaces and the stiffness of the adsorbed chains as assessed by the molecular weight of entanglements. With respect to adsorption density, the transition from the mushroom to the overlap regime results in the development of interactions between adsorbed chain segments which changes the Vs-Mw scaling. As these interactions involve mutual entanglements, their development is hindered by the stiffness of the adsorbed chains. Accordingly, a novel regime within the overlap regime is proposed to exist, observed when the segments of the adsorbed chains are not flexible enough to interact with the neighboring chains.
Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism reversal after testosterone replacement in a 34-year-old male
Authors: Rashid Owais , Ram Nanik , Farooq Saad , Kiran Zareen
Published: June 2017

A 34-year-old male presented to the endocrinology clinic with the complaint of the absence of facial, axillary and pubic hairs. Further history revealed absent ejaculations and decreased early morning erections. The patient had no history of headaches, visual problems or anosmia. On physical examination, there were sparse facial, axillary and pubic hairs, bilateral gynaecomastia, stretch penile length of 5 cm and bilateral testicular volume of 10 mL. Laboratory investigations showed low luteinising hormone, follicular stimulating hormone and testosterone with normal prolactin and thyroid profile. MRI of the pituitary gland showed no evidence of pituitary microadenoma or macroadenoma. The patient was started on testosterone injections. After 9 months of testosterone replacement, the patient’s testicular size increased to 20 mL bilaterally and his penile length increased to the mean adult size for his age with normal testosterone and luteinising hormone. He was, thus, advised to discontinue testosterone therapy.
Vaginal birth after two previous caesarean deliveries in a patient with uterus didelphys and an interuterine septal defect
Authors: Ng'ang'a Njoki , Ratzersdorfer Jonathan , Abdelhak Yaakov
Published: June 2017

Uterus didelphys is a congenital abnormality characterised by double uteri, double cervices and a double or single vagina that affects 0.3% to 11% of the general female population. A 23-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 3003, with uterus didelphys, acquired an iatrogenic interuterine septal defect during an otherwise routine primary caesarean delivery for fetal malpresentation. The defect was repaired but noted to have dehisced during her second pregnancy. A repeat caesarean section was performed due to fetal malpresentation after an unsuccessful external cephalic version. The dehisced defect was left unrepaired. During her third pregnancy, the placenta implanted in the right uterus, but the fetus migrated to the left uterus at approximately 28 weeks gestation. The umbilical cord traversed the interuterine septal defect. With the fetus in the vertex presentation at term gestation, the patient underwent a vaginal birth after two previous caesarean deliveries without any major perinatal complications.
Triple synchronous primary malignancies: a rare occurrence
Authors: Katz Heather , Jafri Hassaan , Brown Linda , Pacioles Toni
Published: June 2017

Triple synchronous primary malignant neoplasms are rare. The exact aetiology is unknown; however, risk factors include older age, family history, genetic aberrations, prolonged exposure to carcinogens and smoking. We describe a previously healthy 48-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. Imaging revealed a complex cystic, solid pelvic mass and another mass in the right upper quadrant. She received an extensive abdominal surgery including exploratory laparotomy, pelvic mass resection, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, omentectomy and right adrenalectomy. During surgery, a mass in the distal sigmoid colon was noted and subsequent sigmoidectomy was performed. The surgical specimen revealed three different primary tumours with three different histologies, a granulosa cell tumour of the ovary, adrenocortical carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the colon. She received six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer with 5-fluorourocil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin and is currently living with no recurrence.
Impact of feedback and monitoring on colonoscopy withdrawal times and polyp detection rates
Authors: Nielsen Amalie Bach , Nielsen Ole Haagen , Hendel Jakob
Published: June 2017

Background

Previous studies have shown colonoscopy withdrawal time (WT) to be a reliable surrogate indicator for polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR) in colonoscopy. Our aim was to assess the impact of feedback and monitoring of WT on PDR in routine colonoscopies with long-term follow-up.

Materials and methods

A total of 307 colonoscopies were performed in three separate clinical scenarios. First, PDR and WT were recorded without the staff being aware of the specific objective of the study. Before the second scenario, the staff was given interventional information and feedback on WTs and PDRs from the first scenario and was encouraged to aim for a minimum WT of 8 min. Retention of knowledge gained was reassessed in the third scenario 1 year later.

Results

The PDR in the first two scenarios differed significantly (p<0.01), with a more than 90% increase in PDR after intervention from 22% to 42% (95% CI 1.44 to 4.95), although the mean WT did not change (6.8 vs 7.2 min; p>0.05). The increase in PDR between the first and second scenarios was retained in the third follow-up scenario 1 year later where the WT of both polyp-positive and polyp-negative colonoscopies was found to be longer.

Conclusions

PDR almost doubled from the first to the second scenario of a real-life colonoscopy setting, indicating that awareness of WT is crucial. The knowledge gained from this intervention in routine practice was even retained after a year.
Theory of dark matter
Authors: Frampton Paul H.
Published: June 2017

We discuss the hypothesis that the constituents of dark matter in the galactic halo are primordial intermediate-mass black holes (PIMBHs). The status of axions and weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) is discussed, as are the methods for detecting PIMBHs with emphasis on microlensing. The role of the angular momentum [Formula: see text] of the PIMBHs in their escaping previous detection is considered.
Centrifugal acceleration in the isotropic photon field
Authors: Bakhtadze G. G. , Berezhiani V. I. , Osmanov Z.
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we study centrifugal acceleration of particles moving along a prescribed rotating curved trajectories. We consider the physical system embedded in an isotropic photon field and study the influence of the photon drag force on the acceleration process. For this purpose, we study three major configurations of the field lines: the straight line, the Archimede spiral and the dipolar field line configuration. By analyzing dynamics of particles sliding along the field lines in the equatorial plane, we have found several interesting features of motion. In particular, it has been shown that for rectilinear field lines, the particles reach the light cylinder (area where the linear velocity of rotation exactly equals the speed of light) zone relatively slowly for bigger drag forces. Considering the Archimedes’ spiral, we have found that in cases when the field lines lag behind the rotation, the particles achieve the force-free regime of dynamics regardless of the drag force. Unlike this scenario, when the spiral is oriented in an opposite direction, the particles do not reach the force free regime, but tend to stable equilibrium locations.
A FRACTAL ANALYSIS FOR NET PRESENT VALUE OF MULTI-STAGE HYDRAULIC FRACTURED HORIZONTAL WELL
Authors: LU HONG-LIN , ZHANG JI-JUN , TAN XIAO-HUA , LI XIAO-PING , ZHAO JIA-HUI
Published: June 2017

Because of the low permeability, multi-stage hydraulic fractured horizontal wells (MHFHWs) occupy a dominant position among production wells in tight gas reservoir. However, net present value (NPV) estimation method for MHFHW in tight gas reservoirs often ignores the effect of heterogeneity in microscopic pore structure. Apart from that, a new fractal model is presented for NPV of MHFHW, based on the fractal expressions of formation parameters. First, with the aid of apparent permeability model, a pseudo pressure expression considering both reservoir fractal features and slippage effect is derived, contributing to establish the productivity model. Secondly, economic assessment method is built based on the fractal productivity model, in order to obtain the NPV of MHFHW. Thirdly, the type curves are illustrated and the influences of different fractal parameters are discussed. The pore fractal dimensions [Formula: see text] and the capillary tortuosity fractal dimensions [Formula: see text] have significant effects on the NPV of an MHFHW. Finally, the proposed model in this paper provides a new methodology for analyzing and predicting the NPV of an MHFHW and may be conducive to a better understanding of the optimal design of MHFHW.
Structure of generic quantum Markov semigroup
Authors: Carbone R. , Sasso E. , Umanità V.
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we study some relevant properties of generic quantum Markov semigroups, in particular related to their asymptotic behavior. We can describe the structure of the set of fixed points and of the invariant states in terms of the Hamiltonian’s spectrum and of the communication classes of the classical Markov process associated with the diagonal part of the semigroup. Moreover we study the decoherence-free algebra and we complete the characterization of environmental decoherence for a generic quantum Markov semigroup.
Investigating Alignment Effect on Inspection Accuracy of AM Part Using 3D Scanner
Authors: Pathak Vimal Kumar , Singh Amit Kumar
Published: June 2017

Presently, parts having intricate custom-made profiles are mostly fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) processes. It becomes an essential task to verify the accuracy of AM parts so that they meet customer’s need and requirement. In product quality control, quick error comparison of manufactured part and an original CAD model is usually laborious but still a critical issue. Noncontact inspections using 3D scanners were preferred over conventional coordinate measurements, due to the significant amount of point data capturing in very short span of time. One of the important step of the noncontact inspection procedure using the 3D scanner is the correct localization of the datum reference frame. This step would help in the effective alignment of the digitized point data. This paper takes into consideration various 3-2-1 alignment approaches and investigates their influence on the inspection results. The result provides an evidence that an incorrect description of the product reference frame can lead to erroneous estimation of actual part deviations. The results show higher distance distribution for most of the point data of third alignment as the distance distribution is influenced by the worst description of the part reference frame. On the contrary, second alignment shows least distance distribution among point data due to correct reference frame definition.
Tetra-2,3-pyrazinoporphyrazines with externally appended pyridine rings. 18. Physicochemical properties and photochemical behavior of new uncharged water soluble low-symmetry macrocycles [{Pd(OAc)2}3(PtCl2)LM] (M = MgII(H2O), ZNII, PdII)
Authors: Donzello Maria Pia , Gigante Fabio , Sciscione Fabiola , Viola Elisa , Kadish Karl M.
Published: June 2017

The synthesis and physicochemical characterization of a new class of low-symmetry water soluble heteropentanuclear porphyrazine complexes are described. The investigated compounds, represented as [{Pd(OAc)[Formula: see text]}[Formula: see text](PtCl[Formula: see text]LM] •xH[Formula: see text]O where L [Formula: see text] tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di(2-pyridyl)pyrazino]porphyrazinato dianion, M [Formula: see text] Mg[Formula: see text](H[Formula: see text]O), Zn[Formula: see text] or Pd[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] 3–8, were prepared under mild experimental conditions from the previously described heterobimetallic compounds [(PtCl[Formula: see text]LM]. Peripheral binding of one PtCl[Formula: see text]and three Pd(OAc)[Formula: see text]units in the new series of compounds occurs at the vicinal pyridine N atoms of each dipyridinopyrazine fragment via a “py–py” coordination. The newly synthesized porphyrazines were characterized by IR measurements in the solid state and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy in the polar nonaqueous solvents pyridine, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as well as in water, the enhanced solubility in this medium being due to the presence of the external Pd(OAc)[Formula: see text] moieties. Data on the photosensitizing activity of the compounds for the generation of singlet oxygen, [Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] were also obtained in DMF and should be of interest to researchers in the area of photodynamic therapy.
The NP Search Problems of Frege and Extended Frege Proofs
Authors: Beckmann Arnold , Buss Sam
Published: June 2017

We study consistency search problems for Frege and extended Frege proofs—namely the NP search problems of finding syntactic errors in Frege and extended Frege proofs of contradictions. The input is a polynomial time function, or an oracle, describing a proof of a contradiction; the output is the location of a syntactic error in the proof. The consistency search problems for Frege and extended Frege systems are shown to be many-one complete for the provably total NP search problems of the second-order bounded arithmetic theories U
1
2
and V
1
2
, respectively.
Query Expansion for Content-Based Similarity Search Using Local and Global Features
Authors: Houle Michael E. , Ma Xiguo , Oria Vincent , Sun Jichao
Published: June 2017

This article presents an efficient and totally unsupervised content-based similarity search method for multimedia data objects represented by high-dimensional feature vectors. The assumption is that the similarity measure is applicable to feature vectors of arbitrary length. During the offline process, different sets of features are selected by a generalized version of the Laplacian Score in an unsupervised way for individual data objects in the database. Online retrieval is performed by ranking the query object in the feature spaces of candidate objects. Those candidates for which the query object is ranked highly are selected as the query results. The ranking scheme is incorporated into an automated query expansion framework to further improve the semantic quality of the search result. Extensive experiments were conducted on several datasets to show the capability of the proposed method in boosting effectiveness without losing efficiency.
Real-Time Geometry, Albedo, and Motion Reconstruction Using a Single RGB-D Camera
Authors: Guo Kaiwen , Xu Feng , Yu Tao , Liu Xiaoyang , Dai Qionghai , Liu Yebin
Published: June 2017

This article proposes a real-time method that uses a single-view RGB-D input (a depth sensor integrated with a color camera) to simultaneously reconstruct a casual scene with a detailed geometry model, surface albedo, per-frame non-rigid motion, and per-frame low-frequency lighting, without requiring any template or motion priors. The key observation is that accurate scene motion can be used to integrate temporal information to recover the precise appearance, whereas the intrinsic appearance can help to establish true correspondence in the temporal domain to recover motion. Based on this observation, we first propose a shading-based scheme to leverage appearance information for motion estimation. Then, using the reconstructed motion, a volumetric albedo fusing scheme is proposed to complete and refine the intrinsic appearance of the scene by incorporating information from multiple frames. Since the two schemes are iteratively applied during recording, the reconstructed appearance and motion become increasingly more accurate. In addition to the reconstruction results, our experiments also show that additional applications can be achieved, such as relighting, albedo editing, and free-viewpoint rendering of a dynamic scene, since geometry, appearance, and motion are all reconstructed by our technique.
Possibilistic Justification Logic
Authors: Su Che-Ping , Fan Tuan-Fang , Liau Churn-Jung
Published: June 2017

Justification logic originated from the study of the logic of proofs. However, in a more general setting, it may be regarded as a kind of explicit epistemic logic. In such logic, the reasons a fact is believed are explicitly represented as justification terms. Traditionally, the modeling of uncertain beliefs is crucially important for epistemic reasoning. Graded modal logics interpreted with possibility theory semantics have been successfully applied to the representation and reasoning of uncertain beliefs; however, they cannot keep track of the reasons an agent believes a fact. This article is aimed at extending the graded modal logics with explicit justifications. We introduce a possibilistic justification logic, present its syntax and semantics, and investigate its metaproperties, such as soundness, completeness, and realizability.
Targeting Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors Using Thiazolidinediones: Strategy for Design of Novel Antidiabetic Drugs
Authors: Thangavel Neelaveni , Al Bratty Mohammed , Akhtar Javed Sadique , Ahsan Waquar , Alhazmi Hassan A.
Published: June 2017

Thiazolidinediones are a class of well-established antidiabetic drugs, also named as glitazones. Thiazolidinedione structure has been an important structural domain of research, involving design and development of new drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Extensive research on the mechanism of action and the structural requirements has revealed that the intended antidiabetic activity in type 2 diabetes is due to their agonistic effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) belonging to the nuclear receptor super family. Glitazones have specific affinity to PPARγ, one of the subtypes of PPARs. Certain compounds under development have dual PPARα/γagonistic activity which might be beneficial in obesity and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Interesting array of hybrid compounds of thiazolidinedione PPARγagonists exhibited therapeutic potential beyond antidiabetic activity. Pharmacology and chemistry of thiazolidinediones as PPARγagonists and the potential of newer analogues as dual agonists of PPARs and other emerging targets for the therapy of type 2 diabetes are presented. This review highlights the possible modifications of the structural components in the general frame work of thiazolidinediones with respect to their binding efficacy, potency, and selectivity which would guide the future research in design of novel thiazolidinedione derivatives for the management of type 2 diabetes.
3D-Printed Graphene Antennas and Interconnections for Textile RFID Tags: Fabrication and Reliability towards Humidity
Authors: He Han , Akbari Mitra , Sydänheimo Lauri , Ukkonen Leena , Virkki Johanna
Published: June 2017

We present the possibilities of 3D direct-write dispensing in the fabrication of passive UHF RFID graphene tags on a textile substrate. In our method, the graphene tag antenna is deposited directly on top of the IC strap, in order to simplify the manufacturing process by removing one step, that is, the IC attachment with conductive glue. Our wireless measurement results confirm that graphene RFID tags with printed antenna-IC interconnections achieve peak read ranges of 5.2 meters, which makes them comparable to graphene tags with epoxy-glued ICs. After keeping the tags in high humidity, the read ranges of the tags with epoxy-glued and printed antenna-IC interconnections decrease 0.8 meters and 0.5 meters, respectively. However, after drying, the performance of both types of tags returns back to normal.
miR-142-3p Contributes to Early Cardiac Fate Decision of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Chen Zhong-Yan , Chen Fei , Cao Nan , Zhou Zhi-Wen , Yang Huang-Tian
Published: June 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cell fate decisions. However, the miRNAs and their targets involved in the regulation of cardiac lineage specification are largely unexplored. Here, we report novel functions of miR-142-3p in the regulation of cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). With a miRNA array screen, we identified a number of miRNAs significantly changed during mESC differentiation into the mesodermal and cardiac progenitor cells, and miR-142-3p was one among the markedly downregulated miRNAs. Ectopic expression and inhibition of miR-142-3p did not alter the characteristics of undifferentiated ESCs, whereas ectopic expression of miR-142-3p impaired cardiomyocyte formation. In addition, ectopic expression of miR-142-3p inhibited the expression of a cardiac mesodermal marker gene Mesp1 and downstream cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5, Tbx5, and Mef2c but not the expression of three germ layer-specific genes. We further demonstrated that miR-142-3p targeted the 3′-untranslated region of Mef2c. These results reveal miR-142-3p as an important regulator of early cardiomyocyte differentiation. Our findings provide new knowledge for further understanding of roles and mechanisms of miRNAs as critical regulators of cardiomyocyte differentiation.
Experimental Germ Tube Induction in Candida albicans: An Evaluation of the Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate on Morphogenesis and Comparison with Pooled Human Serum
Authors: Matare Tapiwa , Nziramasanga Pasipanodya , Gwanzura Lovemore , Robertson Valerie
Published: June 2017

Objective. The potential of NaHCO3 versus human serum to induce germ tube formation in Candida albicans was investigated. Specimens. A total of 100 isolates were obtained from oral swabs of patients presenting with thrush. Approval for the study was granted by the Joint Research Ethics Committee (JREC/23/08). Method. Confirmed C. albicans isolates by routine methods were tested for germ tube induction using 5 different concentrations of Tris-maleate buffered NaHCO3 and Tris-maleate buffer control. Standard control strains included were C. albicans (ATCC 10231) and C. krusei (ATCC 6258). Microculture was done in 20 μL inoculums on microscope slides for 3 hours at 37°C. The rate of germ tube formation at 10-minute intervals was determined on 100 isolates using the optimum 20 mM Tris-maleate buffered NaHCO3 concentration. Parallel germ tube formation using human serum was done in test tubes. Results. The optimum concentration of NaHCO3 in Tris-maleate buffer for germ tube induction was 20 mM for 67% of isolates. Only 21% of isolates formed germ tubes in Tris-maleate buffer control. There was no significant difference in induction between human serum and Tris-maleate buffered NaHCO3. Conclusion. Tris-maleate buffered NaHCO3 induced germ tube formation in C. albicans isolates at rates similar to human serum.
Dab1 Contributes to Angiotensin II-Induced Apoptosis via p38 Signaling Pathway in Podocytes
Authors: Gao Zhao , Chen Xinghua , Zhu Kai , Zeng Ping , Ding Guohua
Published: June 2017

Numerous studies have found that angiotensin II (Ang II) participates in podocyte apoptosis and exacerbates progression of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. As a homolog of Drosophila disabled (Dab) protein, Dab1 plays a vital role in cytoskeleton, neuronal migration, and proliferation. In the present study, our data revealed that Ang II-infused rats developed hypertension, proteinuria, and podocyte injury accompanied by Dab1 phosphorylation and increased reelin expression in kidney. Moreover, Ang II induced podocyte apoptosis in vitro. Dab1 phosphorylation and reelin expression in podocytes were increased after exposure to Ang II. Conversely, Dab1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) exerted protective effects on Ang II-induced podocyte apoptosis, resulting in decreased p38 phosphorylation and reelin expression. These results indicated that Dab1 mediated Ang II-induced podocyte apoptosis via p38 signaling pathway.
Access to N-Acetylated Chitohexaose with Well-Defined Degrees of Acetylation
Authors: Li Kecheng , Xing Ronge , Liu Song , Qin Yukun , Li Pengcheng
Published: June 2017

Chitohexaose has attracted wide interest due to its special bioactivities and these potential activities are significantly related to N-acetylation. Herein, six chitohexaose fractions with different degrees of acetylation were prepared by selective N-acetylation and ion-exchange chromatography and further analyzed by ESI/MS. It is revealed that all the six N-acetylated chitohexaoses were of single molecular weight, the molecular weights of which were exactly assigned to 1026.44 Da, 1068.44 Da, 1110.48 Da, 1152.48 Da, 1194.49 Da, and 1236.48 Da, respectively. These results suggested that the six prepared N-acetylated chitohexaoses were N-acetylchitohexaose (D5A1), di-N-acetylchitohexaose (D4A2), tri-N-acetylchitohexaose (D3A3), tetra-N-acetylchitohexaose (D2A4), penta-N-acetylchitohexaose (D1A5), and hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose (A6), respectively, which are of great significance to screen their bioactivities and discover well-defined chitooligosaccharide molecules as potential drugs.
Flexural Strengthening of RC Slabs Using a Hybrid FRP-UHPC System Including Shear Connector
Authors: Moon Jiho , Reda Taha Mahmoud M. , Kim Jung J.
Published: June 2017

A polymeric hybrid composite system made of UHPC and CFRP was proposed as a retrofit system to enhance flexural strength and ductility of RC slabs. While the effectiveness of the proposed system was confirmed previously through testing three full-scale one-way slabs having two continuous spans, the slabs retrofitted with the hybrid system failed in shear. This sudden shear failure would stem from the excessive enhancement of the flexural strength over the shear strength. In this study, shear connectors were installed between the hybrid system and a RC slab. Using simple beam, only positive moment section was examined. Two full-scale RC slabs were cast and tested to failure: the first as a control and the second using this new strengthening technique. The proposed strengthening system increased the ultimate load carrying capacity of the slab by 70%, the stiffness by 60%, and toughness by 128%. The efficiency of shear connectors on ductile behavior of the retrofitted slab was also confirmed. After the UHPC top is separated from the slab, the shear connector transfer shear load and the slab system were in force equilibrium by compression in UHPC and tension in CFRP.
Antibiotic Elution from Hip and Knee Acrylic Bone Cement Spacers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Anagnostakos Konstantinos , Meyer Christof
Published: June 2017

Knowledge about the elution from antibiotic-loaded cement spacers is an indispensable premise for guarantee of clinical success. A systematic literature search was performed through PubMed. Search terms were “antibiotic elution” and “antibiotic release” in combination with “spacer,” “hip spacer,” and “knee spacer,” respectively. A total of 11 studies could be identified. Seven studies reported on the release of antibiotics after spacer implantation, three studies at spacer removal, and one study on both time points. Seven studies reported on hip spacers, one study on knee spacers, and three studies on both. In eight studies, custom-made spacers have been implanted and in three prefabricated ones. In the majority of the studies, the cement has been loaded with an antibiotic combination, mostly consisting of aminoglycoside (either gentamicin or tobramycin) and vancomycin. Measured concentrations exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration of the particular pathogen organisms in each case. However, large discrepancies were observed with regard to the height of the antibiotic concentration depending on the antibiotic combination and the antibiotic ratio used. Current literature data indicate a sufficient elution of antibiotics after spacer implantation and at spacer removal, respectively. Future studies are required to optimize the local antibiotic therapy at the site of spacer implantation.
Microbial Safety of Low Water Activity Foods: Study of Simulated and Durban Household Samples
Authors: Ijabadeniyi O. A. , Pillay Y.
Published: June 2017

Sixty household low water activity foods were examined and a simulative study was conducted in a high sugar, low aw almond and macadamia butter to determine the survival of Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Results obtained from 60 low aw samples collected at household level had some significant differences (P≤0,05) within food categories amongst the various tests. Spices had the highest number of aerobic bacteria, aerobic spore-formers, anaerobic spore-formers, and S. aureus. Mean aerobic colony counts for nuts and spices were 2.30 log CFU/g and 4.40 log CFU/g, respectively. Pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Cronobacter sakazakii were present in nuts, whilst Salmonella spp. was present in chocolates. This implies that certain low aw foods may present a public health risk. In the simulative study, temperature and high sucrose concentrations played a significant role in the survival of B. cereus and S. aureus ATCC 25923. B. cereus was found to be more osmotolerant at both reduced and elevated temperatures (18°C and 25°C) in the 12% sucrose sample in both butters, whilst S. aureus ATCC 25923 seemed to grow better in sucrose-free samples at both temperatures in both butters. This implies that certain low aw foods may present a public health risk. Also, B. cereus, being a spore-forming bacterium, can be osmotolerant at both reduced and elevated temperatures.
A Large Rice Body-Containing Cyst Mimicking Infection following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report
Authors: Bayoud Wael , Rizkallah Maroun , Georges Samuel , Younan Tonine , Haykal Gaby
Published: June 2017

Introduction. Soft tissue mass following total hip arthroplasty raises several differential diagnoses not limited to infection, hematoma, wear debris, malignancy, and bursitis. Rice body formation in the hip region is an uncommon process denoting a chronic inflammation. We report here the second case of its kind in the medical literature of a wide symptomatic rice-like body cyst complicating a total hip arthroplasty. Case Presentation. This is the case of an 82-year-old white female, presenting with a warm, red, and inflated groin five years after revision of right total hip arthroplasty. Surgical intervention reveals a large well circumscribed cyst containing well-organized rice-like bodies. This eventuality was never reported in differential diagnosis of hip periprosthetic soft tissue masses before. Conclusion. This case report helps widening the array of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with a slow growing soft tissue mass following total hip arthroplasty, making rice-like bodies cyst a valid one to consider.
Intraoperative Imaging Modalities and Compensation for Brain Shift in Tumor Resection Surgery
Authors: Bayer Siming , Maier Andreas , Ostermeier Martin , Fahrig Rebecca
Published: June 2017

Intraoperative brain shift during neurosurgical procedures is a well-known phenomenon caused by gravity, tissue manipulation, tumor size, loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and use of medication. For the use of image-guided systems, this phenomenon greatly affects the accuracy of the guidance. During the last several decades, researchers have investigated how to overcome this problem. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of publications concerning different aspects of intraoperative brain shift especially in a tumor resection surgery such as intraoperative imaging systems, quantification, measurement, modeling, and registration techniques. Clinical experience of using intraoperative imaging modalities, details about registration, and modeling methods in connection with brain shift in tumor resection surgery are the focuses of this review. In total, 126 papers regarding this topic are analyzed in a comprehensive summary and are categorized according to fourteen criteria. The result of the categorization is presented in an interactive web tool. The consequences from the categorization and trends in the future are discussed at the end of this work.
Cardiac Dysrhythmias and Neurological Dysregulation: Manifestations of Profound Hypomagnesemia
Authors: Mawri Sagger , Gildeh Edward , Joseph Namita , Rabbani Bobak , Zweig Bryan
Published: June 2017

Magnesium is the second most common intracellular cation and serves as an important metabolic cofactor to over 300 enzymatic reactions throughout the human body. Among its various roles, magnesium modulates calcium entry and release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and regulates ATP pumps in myocytes and neurons, thereby regulating cardiac and neuronal excitability. Therefore, deficiency of this essential mineral may result in serious cardiovascular and neurologic derangements. In this case, we present the clinical course of a 76-year-old woman who presented with marked cardiac and neurological signs and symptoms which developed as a result of severe hypomagnesemia. The patient promptly responded to magnesium replacement once the diagnosis was established. We herein discuss the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of severe hypomagnesemia and emphasize the implications of magnesium deficiency in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Furthermore, this case highlights the importance of having high vigilance for hypomagnesemia in the appropriate clinical setting.
Combining Acceleration Techniques for Low-Dose X-Ray Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction
Authors: Huang Hsuan-Ming , Hsiao Ing-Tsung
Published: June 2017

Background and Objective. Over the past decade, image quality in low-dose computed tomography has been greatly improved by various compressive sensing- (CS-) based reconstruction methods. However, these methods have some disadvantages including high computational cost and slow convergence rate. Many different speed-up techniques for CS-based reconstruction algorithms have been developed. The purpose of this paper is to propose a fast reconstruction framework that combines a CS-based reconstruction algorithm with several speed-up techniques.Methods. First, total difference minimization (TDM) was implemented using the soft-threshold filtering (STF). Second, we combined TDM-STF with the ordered subsets transmission (OSTR) algorithm for accelerating the convergence. To further speed up the convergence of the proposed method, we applied the power factor and the fast iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm to OSTR and TDM-STF, respectively.Results. Results obtained from simulation and phantom studies showed that many speed-up techniques could be combined to greatly improve the convergence speed of a CS-based reconstruction algorithm. More importantly, the increased computation time (≤10%) was minor as compared to the acceleration provided by the proposed method.Conclusions. In this paper, we have presented a CS-based reconstruction framework that combines several acceleration techniques. Both simulation and phantom studies provide evidence that the proposed method has the potential to satisfy the requirement of fast image reconstruction in practical CT.
Incidental and Underreported Pleural Plaques at Chest CT: Do Not Miss Them—Asbestos Exposure Still Exists
Authors: Mazzei Maria Antonietta , Contorni Francesco , Gentili Francesco , Guerrini Susanna , Mazzei Francesco Giuseppe , Pinto Antonio , Cioffi Squitieri Nevada , Sisinni Antonietta Gerardina , Paolucci Valentina , Romeo Riccardo , Sartorelli Pietro , Volterrani Luca
Published: June 2017

Pleural plaques (PPs) may be a risk factor for mortality from lung cancer in asbestos-exposed workers and are considered to be a marker of exposure. Diagnosing PPs is also important because asbestos-exposed patients should be offered a health surveillance that is mandatory in many countries. On the other hand PPs are useful for compensation purposes. In this study we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, as incidental findings, and the underreporting rate of PPs in chest CT scans (CTs) performed in a cohort of patients (1512) who underwent chest CT with a slice thickness no more than 1.25 mm. PPs were found in 76 out of 1482 patients (5.1%); in 13 out of 76 (17,1%) CTs were performed because of clinical suspicion of asbestos exposure and 5 of them (38%) were underreported by radiologist. In the remaining 63 cases (82.9%) there was no clinical suspicion of asbestos exposure at the time of CTs (incidental findings) and in 38 of these 63 patients (60.3%) PPs were underreported. Reaching a correct diagnosis of PPs requires a good knowledge of normal locoregional anatomy and rigorous technical approach in chest CT execution. However the job history of the patient should always be kept in mind.