bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogeneous one-dimensional Bose–Einstein condensate in the Bogoliubov’s regime
Authors: Castellanos Elías
Published: August 2016

We analyze the corrections caused by finite size effects upon the ground state properties of a homogeneous one-dimensional (1D) Bose–Einstein condensate. We assume from the very beginning that the Bogoliubov’s formalism is valid and consequently, we show that in order to obtain a well-defined ground state properties, finite size effects of the system must be taken into account. Indeed, the formalism described in the present paper allows to recover the usual properties related to the ground state of a homogeneous 1D Bose–Einstein condensate but corrected by finite size effects of the system. Finally, this scenario allows us to analyze the sensitivity of the system when the Bogoliubov’s regime is valid and when finite size effects are present. These facts open the possibility to apply these ideas to more realistic scenarios, e.g. low-dimensional trapped Bose–Einstein condensates.
Large-Scale Seismic Response Analysis of a Super-High-Rise-Building Fully Considering the Soil–Structure Interaction Using a High-Fidelity 3D Solid Element Model
Authors: Miyamura Tomoshi , Tanaka Seizo , Hori Muneo
Published: August 2016

In the present study, a large-scale seismic response analysis of a super-high-rise steel frame considering the soil–structure interaction is conducted. A high-fidelity mesh of a 31-story super-high-rise steel frame and the ground underneath it, which is made completely of hexahedral elements, is generated. The boundary conditions that are consistent with the solution of the one-dimensional (1D) wave propagation analysis are imposed on the side and bottom surfaces of the ground. The waves are assumed to propagate in the vertical direction. The 1D wave propagation analysis is conducted under the excitation of the JR Takatori record of the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake. The parallel large-scale analysis is performed using the K computer, which is one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. The results of the models with and without the ground are compared, which reveals that the results obtained by these two models are very similar because the ground is assumed be sufficiently hard in the present study.
Experimental investigation to study the effects of using hot and partially cold EGR in direct injection diesel engine
Authors: Sham Radhey , Saluja Rajesh Kumar , Singh Gurwinder , Kumar Vineet , Parmar Shubham
Published: August 2016

Major exhaust emissions from diesel engines are CO, CO2, PM, UHC and NOx, of which NOx is one of the most harmful. A number of techniques have been utilized to control NOx emissions and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is one of the widely used techniques that show outstanding results in NOx reduction in both light and heavy duty diesel engines. In the present study, the experiment has been conducted on a four-stroke, single-cylinder water cooled diesel engine. Here, a long-route EGR system was used in both hot (insulated) and partially cooled (without insulation) conditions. EGR rate was varied from 0 to 24% in steps of 6% and the engine ran at various load conditions. The research objective was to investigate the effects of varying EGR ratios and temperatures on engine performance parameters and determine the effective EGR rate where the engine gives high performance, low fuel consumption and produces low emissions.
Introduction to the future of sequence stratigraphy: evolution or revolution?
Authors: Burgess Peter M. , Allen Philip A. , Steel Ron J.
Published: August 2016

Sequence stratigraphy was first developed as concepts and methods from the late 19th to mid 20th century by geologists such as Barrell and Sloss. It is now at the forefront of how sedimentary geologists observe, record, model and predict strata. The Geological Society William Smith meeting in Burlington House in September 2014 considered the current state and future developments in sequence stratigraphy, and focused particularly on how the subject should progress, either by evolution or by revolution. We feel that this is a relevant question because of continuing debate, and in some cases controversy, about what sequence stratigraphy is, how we do it and what it can be used for. For example, one of the major hindrances to progress has been the interweaving of description and interpretation, mixing method with model. This has been pointed out and discussed by various researchers (Helland-Hansen & Gjelberg 1994; Burgess & Prince in press). This thematic set of papers presents a sample of the state-of-the-art in sequence stratigraphy, representing how the method and model is now being debated and developed, from a plea to retain the earliest version of the concept to the inclusion of more radical ideas stimulated from experimental stratigraphy.
Repurposing of disused shale gas wells for subsurface heat storage: preliminary analysis concerning UK issues
Authors: Westaway Rob
Published: August 2016

Development of many wells is envisaged in the UK in coming decades to exploit the abundant shale gas resource as fuel and petrochemical feedstock. Forward planning is therefore warranted regarding reuse of the resulting subsurface infrastructure after gas production has ceased. It is shown that this infrastructure might be repurposed for borehole thermal energy storage (BTES). Preliminary calculations, assuming an idealized cycle of summer heat storage and winter heat extraction, indeed demonstrate annual storage of
c.
6 TJ or
c.
2 GWh of energy per BTES well. Summed over the anticipated well inventory, a significant proportion of the UK's future heat demand might thus be supplied. This form of BTES technology has particular relevance to the UK, where the shale resource is located in relatively densely populated areas; it is especially significant for Scotland, where the resource coincides with a particularly high proportion of the population and heat demand.
Multispecies random walk simulations in radial symmetry: model concept, benchmark, and application to HTO,
22
Na and
36
Cl diffusion in clay
Authors: Meng Shuo , Pfingsten Wilfried
Published: August 2016

Modelling of radionuclide transport in clay can be simplified and accelerated by exploiting radial symmetry of laboratory experiments or nuclear waste repositories design. Consequently, the multispecies reactive transport code MCOTAC has been extended to radial symmetry, exploiting the advantages of its random walk transport description. Random walk in radial
r
-symmetry is mimicked by two-dimensional (2D) random walk projected to a radial coordinate for geochemical calculations. This guarantees fast 2D(
x
,
y
) transport calculations, together with complex geochemical calculations in 1D(
r
) only. The new model concept has been benchmarked for simple geochemical systems and applied to laboratory diffusion experiments with HTO,
22
Na and
36
Cl in Opalinus Clay using higher spatial resolution for modelling than reported in the literature. This makes it possible to distinguish between the transport properties of the sample and the filters, and yields more careful determination of radionuclide transport parameters: for example, there was a difference of a factor of 2 between the diffusion coefficient and log
K
d
sorption coefficient in the case of
22
Na compared to the former best-fit analysis.
P
ea
CE-Ful Web Event Extraction and Processing as Bitemporal Mutable Events
Authors: Furche Tim , Grasso Giovanni , Huemer Michael , Schallhart Christian , Schrefl Michael
Published: August 2016

The web is the largest bulletin board of the world. Events of all types, from flight arrivals to business meetings, are announced on this board. Tracking and reacting to such event announcements, however, is a tedious manual task, only slightly alleviated by email or similar notifications. Announcements are published with human readers in mind, and updates or delayed announcements are frequent. These characteristics have hampered attempts at automatic tracking.

P
ea
CE provides the first integrated framework for event processing on top of web event ads, consisting of event extraction, complex event processing, and action execution in response to these events. Given a schema of the events to be tracked, the framework populates this schema by extracting events from announcement sources. This extraction is performed by little programs called wrappers that produce the events including updates and retractions. P
ea
CE then queries these events to detect complex events, often combining announcements from multiple sources. To deal with updates and delayed announcements, P
ea
CE’s schemas are bitemporal, to distinguish between occurrence and detection time. This allows complex event specifications to track updates and to react upon differences in occurrence and detection time. In case of new, changing, or deleted events, P
ea
CE allows one to execute actions, such as tweeting or sending out email notifications. Actions are typically specified as web interactions, for example, to fill and submit a form with attributes of the triggering event.

Our evaluation shows that P
ea
CE’s processing is dominated by the time needed for accessing the web to extract events and perform actions, allotting to 97.4%. Thus, P
ea
CE requires only 2.6% overhead, and therefore, the complex event processor scales well even with moderate resources. We further show that simple and reasonable restrictions on complex event specifications and the timing of constituent events suffice to guarantee that P
ea
CE only requires a constant buffer to process arbitrarily many event announcements.
On Hierarchical Routing in Doubling Metrics
Authors: Chan T.-H. Hubert , Gupta Anupam , Maggs Bruce M. , Zhou Shuheng
Published: August 2016

We study the problem of routing in doubling metrics and show how to perform hierarchical routing in such metrics with small stretch and compact routing tables (i.e., with a small amount of routing information stored at each vertex). We say that a metric (
X
,
d
) has
doubling dimension
dim(<i<X</i<) at most α if every ball can be covered by 2
α
balls of half its radius. (A
doubling metric
is one whose doubling dimension dim(<i<X</i<) is a constant.) We consider the metric space induced by the shortest-path distance in an underlying undirected graph
G
. We show how to perform (1 + τ)-stretch routing on such a metric for any 0 < τ ≤ 1 with routing tables of size at most (α/τ)

O
(α)

log Δlog δ bits with only

(α/τ)

O
(α)

log Δ entries

, where Δ is the diameter of the graph, and δ is the maximum degree of the graph
G
; hence, the number of routing table entries is just τ

−
O
(1)

log Δ for doubling metrics. These results extend and improve on those of Talwar (2004).

We also give better constructions of sparse
spanners
for doubling metrics than those obtained from the routing tables earlier; for τ > 0, we give algorithms to construct (1 + τ)-stretch spanners for a metric (
X
,
d
) with maximum degree at most (2 + 1/τ)

O(dim(X))

, matching the results of Das et al. for Euclidean metrics.
The Rule of Law: Pasts, Presents, and Two Possible Futures
Authors: Krygier Martin
Published: August 2016

The recent rise of the rule of law, from controversial legal ideal to unopposed international cliché/slogan, has rendered increasingly murky what the concept might mean, what the phenomenon might be, and what it might be worth. This article argues, nevertheless, that the concept engages with fundamental and enduring issues of politics and law, particularly the dangers of arbitrary power, and the value of its institutionalized tempering. The article seeks to support the rule of law ideal, if not all the ways it is invoked, by recovering some past thinking about and experience with and without the rule of law understood this way. The review criticizes current discussions for their temporal parochialism and their inadequate treatment of ideals and of contexts. It concludes with two pleas: a call for a social science that does not exist, and a suggestion that, in order to pursue its own ideals, the time might have come to move beyond the rule of law.
Corporate Complicity in International Human Rights Violations
Authors: Payne Leigh A. , Pereira Gabriel
Published: August 2016

Two literatures—business and human rights and transitional justice—can be usefully combined to consider the issue of corporate complicity in past human rights violations in dictatorships and armed conflicts. But although the transitional justice literature emphasizes the positive role that international pressure plays in advancing justice, the business and human rights literature identifies international constraints in the area of corporate abuses. These include the lack of settled law establishing businesses' human rights responsibilities, the absence of courts to adjudicate corporate human rights violation cases, and the international focus on voluntary principles over legal obligations. Despite this unpropitious international climate, civil society mobilization and judicial innovation have advanced accountability efforts and overcome the strong veto power of business in some countries, often creatively blending international and domestic law. These efforts from below provide access to justice for victims and potential models for overcoming the current accountability gap.
Intraspecific scaling laws are preserved in ventricular hypertrophy but not in heart failure
Authors: Gong Yanjun , Feng Yundi , Chen Xudong , Tan Wenchang , Huo Yunlong , Kassab Ghassan S.
Published: August 2016

It is scientifically and clinically important to understand the structure-function scaling of coronary arterial trees in compensatory (e.g., left and right ventricular hypertrophy, LVH and RVH) and decompensatory vascular remodeling (e.g., congestive heart failure, CHF). This study hypothesizes that intraspecific scaling power laws of vascular trees are preserved in hypertrophic hearts but not in CHF swine hearts. To test the hypothesis, we carried out the scaling analysis based on morphometry and hemodynamics of coronary arterial trees in moderate LVH, severe RVH, and CHF compared with age-matched respective control hearts. The scaling exponents of volume-diameter, length-volume, and flow-diameter power laws in control hearts were consistent with the theoretical predictions (i.e., 3, 7/9, and 7/3, respectively), which remained unchanged in LVH and RVH hearts. The scaling exponents were also preserved with an increase of body weight during normal growth of control animals. In contrast, CHF increased the exponents of volume-diameter and flow-diameter scaling laws to 4.25 ± 1.50 and 3.15 ± 1.49, respectively, in the epicardial arterial trees. This study validates the predictive utility of the scaling laws to diagnose vascular structure and function in CHF hearts to identify the borderline between compensatory and decompensatory remodeling.
B cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: moving to center stage
Authors: Polverino Francesca , Seys Leen J. M. , Bracke Ken R. , Owen Caroline A.
Published: August 2016

Chronic inflammatory responses in the lungs contribute to the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although research studies focused initially on the contributions of the innate immune system to the pathogenesis of COPD, more recent studies have implicated adaptive immune responses in COPD. In particular, studies have demonstrated increases in B cell counts and increases in the number and size of B cell-rich lymphoid follicles in COPD lungs that correlate directly with COPD severity. There are also increases in lung levels of mediators that promote B cell maturation, activation, and survival in COPD patients. B cell products such as autoantibodies directed against lung cells, components of cells, and extracellular matrix proteins are also present in COPD lungs. These autoantibodies may contribute to lung inflammation and injury in COPD patients, in part, by forming immune complexes that activate complement components. Studies of B cell-deficient mice and human COPD patients have linked B cells most strongly to the emphysema phenotype. However, B cells have protective activities during acute exacerbations of COPD by promoting adaptive immune responses that contribute to host defense against pathogens. This review outlines the evidence that links B cells and B cell-rich lymphoid follicles to the pathogenesis of COPD and the mechanisms involved. It also reviews the potential and limitations of B cells as therapeutic targets to slow the progression of human COPD.
Optimization to the Culture Conditions forPhellinusProduction with Regression Analysis and Gene-Set Based Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Li Zhongwei , Xin Yuezhen , Wang Xun , Sun Beibei , Xia Shengyu , Li Hui , Zhu Hu
Published: August 2016

Phellinusis a kind of fungus and is known as one of the elemental components in drugs to avoid cancers. With the purpose of finding optimized culture conditions forPhellinusproduction in the laboratory, plenty of experiments focusing on single factor were operated and large scale of experimental data were generated. In this work, we use the data collected from experiments for regression analysis, and then a mathematical model of predictingPhellinusproduction is achieved. Subsequently, a gene-set based genetic algorithm is developed to optimize the values of parameters involved in culture conditions, including inoculum size, PH value, initial liquid volume, temperature, seed age, fermentation time, and rotation speed. These optimized values of the parameters have accordance with biological experimental results, which indicate that our method has a good predictability for culture conditions optimization.
Myo-Inositol in the Treatment of Teenagers Affected by PCOS
Authors: Pkhaladze Lali , Barbakadze Ludmila , Kvashilava Nana
Published: August 2016

Objective. To compare the effectiveness of myo-inositol (MI) and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) in monotherapy and MI in combination with OCPs in the treatment of teenagers affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods. 61 adolescent girls aged 13–19 years, with PCOS, were involved in the prospective, open-label study. Patients were randomized into three groups: I group, 20 patients receiving drospirenone 3 mg/ethinyl estradiol 30 μg; II group, 20 patients receiving 4 g myo-inositol plus 400 mg folic acid; III group, 21 patients receiving both medications.Results. After receiving MI significant reduction in weight, BMI, glucose, C-peptide, insulin, HOMA-IR, FT, and LH was detected. The levels of SHBG, TT, FAI, DHEA-S, and AMH did not change statistically significantly. After receiving OCPs weight and BMI slightly increased, but metabolic parameters did not change. Combination of MI and OCPs did not change weight and BMI, but reduction in C-peptide, insulin, and HOMA-IR was detected. TT, FT, FAI, DHEA-S, LH, and AMH levels decreased and SHBG increased.Conclusions. Administration of MI is a safe and effective method to prevent and correct metabolic disorders in teenagers affected by PCOS. With combination of MI and OCPs antiandrogenic effects are enhanced, negative impact of OCPs on weight gain is balanced, and metabolic profile is improved.
Global and Local Mechanical Responses for Necking of Rectangular Bars Using Updated and Total Lagrangian Finite Element Formulations
Authors: Careglio Claudio A. , Celentano Diego J. , García Garino Carlos G. , Mirasso Aníbal E.
Published: August 2016

In simulations of forged and stamping processes using the finite element method, load displacement paths and three-dimensional stress and strains states should be well and reliably represented. The simple tension test is a suitable and economical tool to calibrate constitutive equations with finite strains and plasticity for those simulations. A complex three-dimensional stress and strain states are developed when this test is done on rectangular bars and the necking phenomenon appears. In this work, global and local numerical results of the mechanical response of rectangular bars subjected to simple tension test obtained from two different finite element formulations are compared and discussed. To this end, Updated and Total Lagrangian formulations are used in order to get the three-dimensional stress and strain states. Geometric changes together with strain and stress distributions at the cross section where necking occurs are assessed. In particular, a detailed analysis of the effective plastic strain, stress components in axial and transverse directions and pressure, and deviatoric stress components is presented. Specific numerical results are also validated with experimental measurements comparing, in turn, the performance of the two numerical approaches used in this study.
On-Chip Correlator for Passive Wireless SAW Multisensor Systems
Authors: Xie Liqiang , Wang Tianxian , Wang Ping , Xing Jianchun
Published: August 2016

For decoding the asynchronous superposition of response signals from different sensors, it is a challenge to achieve correlation in a code division multiplexing (CDM) based passive wireless surface acoustic wave (SAW) multisensor system. Therefore, an on-chip correlator scheme is developed in this paper. In contrast to conventional CDM-based systems, this novel scheme enables the correlations to be operated at the SAW sensors, instead of the reader. Thus, the response signals arriving at the reader are the result of cross-correlation on the chips. It is then easy for the reader to distinguish the sensor that is matched with the interrogating signal. The operation principle, signal analysis, and simulation of the novel scheme are described in the paper. The simulation results show the response signals from the correlations of the sensors. A clear spike pulse is presented in the response signals, when a sensor code is matched with the interrogating code. Simulations verify the feasibility of the on-chip correlator concept.
Role of NMDA Receptor-Mediated Glutamatergic Signaling in Chronic and Acute Neuropathologies
Authors: Carvajal Francisco J. , Mattison Hayley A. , Cerpa Waldo
Published: August 2016

N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) have two opposing roles in the brain. On the one hand, NMDARs control critical events in the formation and development of synaptic organization and synaptic plasticity. On the other hand, the overactivation of NMDARs can promote neuronal death in neuropathological conditions. Ca2+influx acts as a primary modulator after NMDAR channel activation. An imbalance in Ca2+homeostasis is associated with several neurological diseases including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These chronic conditions have a lengthy progression depending on internal and external factors. External factors such as acute episodes of brain damage are associated with an earlier onset of several of these chronic mental conditions. Here, we will review some of the current evidence of how traumatic brain injury can hasten the onset of several neurological conditions, focusing on the role of NMDAR distribution and the functional consequences in calcium homeostasis associated with synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death present in this group of chronic diseases.
Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Activity of Babassu Mesocarp Improves the Survival in Lethal Sepsis
Authors: Barroqueiro Elizabeth S. B. , Prado Dayanna S. , Barcellos Priscila S. , Silva Tonicley A. , Pereira Wanderson S. , Silva Lucilene A. , Maciel Márcia C. G. , Barroqueiro Rodrigo B. , Nascimento Flávia R. F. , Gonçalves Azizedite G. , Guerra Rosane N. M.
Published: August 2016

Attalea speciosa syn Orbignya phalerata Mart. (babassu) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases. Aim of the study. To investigate the antimicrobial and immunological activity of babassu mesocarp extract (EE). Material and Methods. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion assay and by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The flavonoids and phenolic acids content were determined by chromatography. The in vivo assays were performed in Swiss mice submitted to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The mice received EE subcutaneously (125 or 250 mg/Kg), 6 hours after the CLP. The number of lymphoid cells was quantified and the cytokines production was determined by ELISA after 12 h. Results. EE was effective as antimicrobial to E. faecalis, S. aureus, and MRSA. EE is rich in phenolic acids, a class of compounds with antimicrobial and immunological activity. An increased survival can be observed in those groups, possibly due to a significant inhibition of TNF‐α and IL‐6. Conclusions. The EE showed specific antimicrobial activity in vitro and an important antiseptic effect in vivo possibly due to the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity.
Gsk3 Signalling and Redox Status in Bipolar Disorder: Evidence from Lithium Efficacy
Authors: Luca Antonina , Calandra Carmela , Luca Maria
Published: August 2016

Objective. To discuss the link between glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK3) and the main biological alterations demonstrated in bipolar disorder (BD), with special attention to the redox status and the evidence supporting the efficacy of lithium (a GSK3 inhibitor) in the treatment of BD. Methods. A literature research on the discussed topics, using Pubmed and Google Scholar, has been conducted. Moreover, a manual selection of interesting references from the identified articles has been performed. Results. The main biological alterations of BD, pertaining to inflammation, oxidative stress, membrane ion channels, and circadian system, seem to be intertwined. The dysfunction of the GSK3 signalling pathway is involved in all the aforementioned “biological causes” of BD. In a complex scenario, it can be seen as the common denominator linking them all. Lithium inhibition of GSK3 could, at least in part, explain its positive effect on these biological dysfunctions and its superiority in terms of clinical efficacy. Conclusions. Deepening the knowledge on the molecular bases of BD is fundamental to identifying the biochemical pathways that must be targeted in order to provide patients with increasingly effective therapeutic tools against an invalidating disorder such as BD.
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Wound Healing Properties of Jaboticaba (Plinia peruviana) Fruit Peel Hydroalcoholic Extract
Authors: Pitz Heloisa da S. , Pereira Aline , Blasius Mayara B. , Voytena Ana Paula L. , Affonso Regina C. L. , Fanan Simone , Trevisan Adriana C. D. , Ribeiro-do-Valle Rosa M. , Maraschin Marcelo
Published: August 2016

Jaboticaba is a fruit from a native tree to Brazil, Plinia peruviana. Jaboticaba peels are an important source of antioxidant molecules such as phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of jaboticaba fruit peels (HEJFP) in wound healing processes and antioxidant activity in murine fibroblasts (L929 cell line). HEJFP concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) were tested in MTT assay and cell proliferation was verified at 100 µg/mL after 24 h and at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL after 48 h of extract exposure. Evaluation of antioxidant activity was performed at 0.5, 5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL HEJFP concentrations. Cell treatment with HEJFP at 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL for 24 h followed by H2O2 exposure for 3 h showed a strong cytoprotective effect. In vitro scratch wound healing assay indicated that none of tested HEJFP concentrations (0.5, 5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) were capable of increasing migration rate after 12 h of incubation. These results demonstrate a positive effect of HEJFP on the wound healing process on L929 fibroblasts cell line, probably due to the antioxidant activity exhibited by phytochemicals in the extract.
Pattern of Breast Cancer Distribution in Ghana: A Survey to Enhance Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Naku Ghartey Jnr Frank , Anyanful Akwasi , Eliason Sebastian , Mohammed Adamu Saanid , Debrah Samuel
Published: August 2016

Background. Nearly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ghana are in advanced stages of the disease due especially to low awareness, resulting in limited treatment success and high death rate. With limited epidemiological studies on breast cancer in Ghana, the aim of this study is to assess and understand the pattern of breast cancer distribution for enhancing early detection and treatment.Methods. We randomly selected and screened 3000 women for clinical palpable breast lumps and used univariate and bivariate analysis for description and exploration of variables, respectively, in relation to incidence of breast cancer.Results. We diagnosed 23 (0.76%) breast cancer cases out of 194 (6.46%) participants with clinically palpable breast lumps. Seventeen out of these 23 (0.56%) were premenopausal (<46.6 years) with 7 (0.23%) being below 35 years. With an overall breast cancer incidence of 0.76% in this study, our observation that about 30% of these cancer cases were below 35 years may indicate a relative possible shift of cancer burden to women in their early thirties in Ghana, compared to Western countries.Conclusion. These results suggest an age adjustment for breast cancer screening to early twenties for Ghanaian women and the need for a nationwide breast cancer screening to understand completely the pattern of breast cancer distribution in Ghana.
Diffusion-Weighted Images Superresolution Using High-Order SVD
Authors: Wu Xi , Yang Zhipeng , Hu Jinrong , Peng Jing , He Peiyu , Zhou Jiliu
Published: August 2016

The spatial resolution of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is limited by several physical and clinical considerations, such as practical scanning times. Interpolation methods, which are widely used to enhance resolution, often result in blurred edges. Advanced superresolution scanning acquires images with specific protocols and long acquisition times. In this paper, we propose a novel single image superresolution (SR) method which introduces high-order SVD (HOSVD) to regularize the patch-based SR framework on DWI datasets. The proposed method was implemented on an adaptive basis which ensured a more accurate reconstruction of high-resolution DWI datasets. Meanwhile, the intrinsic dimensional decreasing property of HOSVD is also beneficial for reducing the computational burden. Experimental results from both synthetic and real DWI datasets demonstrate that the proposed method enhances the details in reconstructed high-resolution DWI datasets and outperforms conventional techniques such as interpolation methods and nonlocal upsampling.
An Improved LTE RACH Protocol for M2M Applications
Authors: Samir Ahmed , Elmesalawy Mahmoud M. , Ali A. S. , Ali Ihab
Published: August 2016

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications allow multiple devices to communicate directly without human intervention. There will be a huge number of devices in the M2M communications which results in enormous congestion in the current Random Access Channel (RACH) of LTE based cellular systems. This paper presents a protocol for improving the performance of the LTE RACH for M2M applications. This protocol, the Distributed Queuing Access for LTE (DQAL), is based on the Distributed Queuing (DQ) algorithm. One of the benefits of using that algorithm is minimizing the collision in the access phase for the M2M communications. The reduction in the collision will turn in enhancing both the access success probability and the access delay for M2M devices (MDs). Furthermore, the protocol is designed to guarantee that the normal User Equipment (UE) device can access the system using the traditional RACH procedures without any modification. This will assure a seamless implementation of the proposed protocol over the existing LTE cellular systems. The simulation results show how the access delay obtained by the proposed DQAL protocol outperforms the Extended Access Baring (EAB) which is the baseline solution recommended by the 3 GPP for M2M communication.
Prophylactic Chronic Zinc Administration Increases Neuroinflammation in a Hypoxia-Ischemia Model
Authors: Tomas-Sanchez Constantino , Blanco-Alvarez Victor Manuel , Gonzalez-Barrios Juan Antonio , Martinez-Fong Daniel , Garcia-Robles Guadalupe , Soto-Rodriguez Guadalupe , Brambila Eduardo , Torres-Soto Maricela , Gonzalez-Vazquez Alejandro , Aguilar-Peralta Ana Karina , Garate-Morales José-Luis , Aguilar-Carrasco Luis-Angel , Limón Daniel I. , Cebada Jorge , Leon-Chavez Bertha Alicia
Published: August 2016

Acute and subacute administration of zinc exert neuroprotective effects in hypoxia-ischemia animal models; yet the effect of chronic administration of zinc still remains unknown. We addressed this issue by injecting zinc at a tolerable dose (0.5 mg/kg weight, i.p.) for 14 days before common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) in a rat. After CCAO, the level of zinc was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, nitrites were determined by Griess method, lipoperoxidation was measured by Gerard-Monnier assay, and mRNA expression of 84 genes coding for cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors was measured by qRT-PCR, whereas nitrotyrosine, chemokines, and their receptors were assessed by ELISA and histopathological changes in the temporoparietal cortex-hippocampus at different time points. Long-term memory was evaluated using Morris water maze. Following CCAO, a significant increase in nitrosative stress, inflammatory chemokines/receptors, and cell death was observed after 8 h, and a 2.5-fold increase in zinc levels was detected after 7 days. Although CXCL12 and FGF2 protein levels were significantly increased, the long-term memory was impaired 12 days after reperfusion in the Zn+CCAO group. Our data suggest that the chronic administration of zinc at tolerable doses causes nitrosative stress, toxic zinc accumulation, and neuroinflammation, which might account for the neuronal death and cerebral dysfunction after CCAO.
Soil Moisture Assimilation Using a Modified Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter Based on Station Observations in the Hai River Basin
Authors: Wu Guocan , Dan Bo , Zheng Xiaogu
Published: August 2016

Assimilating observations to a land surface model can further improve soil moisture estimation accuracy. However, assimilation results largely rely on forecast error and generally cannot maintain a water budget balance. In this study, shallow soil moisture observations are assimilated into Common Land Model (CoLM) to estimate the soil moisture in different layers. A proposed forecast error inflation and water balance constraint are adopted in the Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter to reduce the analysis error and water budget residuals. The assimilation results indicate that the analysis error is reduced and the water imbalance is mitigated with this approach.
The Definition Method and Optimization of Atomic Strain Tensors for Nuclear Power Engineering Materials
Authors: Zeng Xiangguo , Sheng Ying , Chen Huayan , Han Tixin
Published: August 2016

A common measure of deformation between atomic scale simulations and the continuum framework is provided and the strain tensors for multiscale simulations are defined in this paper. In order to compute the deformation gradient of any atomm, the weight function is proposed to eliminate the different contributions within the neighbor atoms which have different distances to atomm, and the weighted least squares error optimization model is established to seek the optimal coefficients of the weight function and the optimal local deformation gradient of each atom. The optimization model involves more than 9 parameters. To guarantee the reliability of subsequent parameters identification result and lighten the calculation workload of parameters identification, an overall analysis method of parameter sensitivity and an advanced genetic algorithm are also developed.
Nanoparticle-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy for Mixed Biofilms
Authors: Usacheva Marina , Layek Buddhadev , Rahman Nirzhor Saif S. , Prabha Swayam
Published: August 2016

Wounds associated with diabetes are difficult to heal and often stay unhealed, leading to higher morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population. A major barrier to the successful healing of chronic diabetic wounds is the presence of biofilm-mediated infections. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising treatment modality for the management of chronic wounds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of toluidine blue- (TB-) loaded nanoparticle-mediated PDT in eradicating antibiotic-resistant polymicrobial biofilms ofPseudomonas aeruginosaand methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusin anin vitromodel. Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (aerosol OT, AOT)-alginate nanoparticles with high TB loading (10.8±2.2%) were formulated using a double emulsification cross-linking method. TB nanoparticles induced effective killing of planktonicP.aeruginosa(3.5 log10CFU) andS.aureus(>5 log10CFU) and their combined biofilms (2.8 log10CFU forP.aeruginosaversus 3.4 log10CFU forS.aureus). WhileP.aeruginosabiofilm was more resistant when compared to that ofS.aureus, our results demonstrated effective eradication of complex biofilms of dual bacterial strainsin vitro.
Evaluation of HLA-G 14 bp Ins/Del and +3142G>C Polymorphism with Susceptibility and Early Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Hashemi Mohammad , Sandoughi Mahnaz , Fazeli Seyed Amirhossein , Bahari Gholamreza , Rezaei Maryam , Zakeri Zahra
Published: August 2016

Purpose/Background. Mounting evidence designates that HLA-G plays a role in the regulation of inflammatory processes and autoimmune diseases. There are controversial reports concerning the impact ofHLA-Ggene polymorphism on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was aimed at examining the impact of 14 bp ins/del and +3142G>C polymorphism with susceptibility and early disease activity in RA patients in a sample of the Iranian population.Methods. This case-control study was done on 194 patients with RA and 158 healthy subjects. TheHLA-Grs1063320 (+3142G>C) and rs66554220 (14 bp ins/del) variants were genotype by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFP) and PCR method, respectively.Results. TheHLA-G+3142G>C polymorphism significantly decreased the risk of RA in codominant (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.38–0.97,p=0.038, GC versus GG; OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.14–0.92,p=0.034, CC versus GG), dominant (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.36–0.87,p=0.011, GC + CC versus GG), and allele (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.41–0.84,p=0.004, C versus G) inheritance models tested. Our finding did not support an association betweenHLA-G14 bp ins/del variant and risk/protection of RA. In addition, no significant association was found between the polymorphism and early disease activity.Conclusion. In summary, our results showed thatHLA-G+3142G>C gene polymorphism significantly decreased the risk of RA in a sample of the Iranian population.
Comparison of the Multiattribute Utility Instruments EQ-5D and SF-6D in a Europe-Wide Population-Based Cohort of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease 10 Years after Diagnosis
Authors: Huppertz-Hauss Gert , Aas Eline , Lie Høivik Marte , Langholz Ebbe , Odes Selwyn , Småstuen Milada , Stockbrugger Reinhold , Hoff Geir , Moum Bjørn , Bernklev Tomm
Published: August 2016

Background. The treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is costly, and limited resources call for analyses of the cost effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. The present study evaluated the equivalency of the Short Form 6D (SF-6D) and the Euro QoL (EQ-5D), two preference-based HRQoL instruments that are broadly used in cost-effectiveness analyses, in an unselected IBD patient population.Methods. IBD patients from seven European countries were invited to a follow-up visit ten years after their initial diagnosis. Clinical and demographic data were assessed, and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) was employed. Utility scores were obtained by calculating the SF-6D index values from the SF-36 data for comparison with the scores obtained with the EQ-5D questionnaire.Results. The SF-6D and EQ-5D provided good sensitivities for detecting disease activity-dependent utility differences. However, the single-measure intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.58, and the Bland-Altman plot indicated numerous values beyond the limits of agreement.Conclusions. There was poor agreement between the measures retrieved from the EQ-5D and the SF-6D utility instruments. Although both instruments may provide good sensitivity for the detection of disease activity-dependent utility differences, the instruments cannot be used interchangeably. Cost-utility analyses performed with only one utility instrument must be interpreted with caution.
Modelling of Sudan’s Energy Supply, Transformation, and Demand
Authors: Rabah Ali A. , Nimer Hassan B. , Doud Kamal R. , Ahmed Quosay A.
Published: August 2016

The study aimed to develop energy flow diagram (Sankey diagram) of Sudan for the base year 2014. The developed Sankey diagram is the first of its kind in Sudan. The available energy balance for the base year 2012 is a simple line draw and did not count the energy supply by private and mixed sectors such as sugar and oil industries and marine and civil aviation. The private and mixed sectors account for about 7% of the national grid electric power. Four energy modules are developed: resources, transformation, demand, and export and import modules. The data are obtained from relevant Sudanese ministries and directorates and Sudan Central Bank. “e!Sankey 4 pro” software is used to develop the Sankey diagram. The main primary types of energy in Sudan are oil, hydro, biomass, and renewable energy. Sudan has a surplus of gasoline, petroleum coke, and biomass and deficit in electric power, gasoil, jet oil, and LPG. The surplus of gasoline is exported; however, the petroleum coke is kept as reserve. The deficit is covered by import. The overall useful energy is 76% and the loss is 24%. The useful energy is distributed among residential (38%), transportation (33%), industry (12%), services (16%), and agriculture (1%) sectors.
Consumers’ Kansei Needs Clustering Method for Product Emotional Design Based on Numerical Design Structure Matrix and Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Yang Yan-pu , Chen Deng-kai , Gu Rong , Gu Yu-feng , Yu Sui-huai
Published: August 2016

Consumers’ Kansei needs reflect their perception about a product and always consist of a large number of adjectives. Reducing the dimension complexity of these needs to extract primary words not only enables the target product to be explicitly positioned, but also provides a convenient design basis for designers engaging in design work. Accordingly, this study employs a numerical design structure matrix (NDSM) by parameterizing a conventional DSM and integrating genetic algorithms to find optimum Kansei clusters. A four-point scale method is applied to assign link weights of every two Kansei adjectives as values of cells when constructing an NDSM. Genetic algorithms are used to cluster the Kansei NDSM and find optimum clusters. Furthermore, the process of the proposed method is presented. The details of the proposed approach are illustrated using an example of electronic scooter for Kansei needs clustering. The case study reveals that the proposed method is promising for clustering Kansei needs adjectives in product emotional design.
Severe Hypotension, Hypoxia, and Subcutaneous Erythema Induced by Indigo Carmine Administration during Open Prostatectomy
Authors: Nandate Koichiro , Voelzke Bryan B.
Published: August 2016

Indigo carmine (also known as5,5′-indigodisulfonic acid sodium saltorindigotine) is a blue dye that is administered intravenously to examine the urinary tract and usually is biologically safe and inert. Indigo carmine rarely may cause adverse reactions. We treated a 66-year-old man who had general anesthesia and radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer. He had a previous history of allergy to bee sting with nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Within 1 minute after injection of indigo carmine for evaluation of the ureters, the patient developed hypotension to 40 mmHg, severe hypoxia (the value of SpO2 (peripheral capillary oxygen saturation) was 75% on 40% inspired oxygen concentration), poor air movement and bilateral diffuse wheezing on auscultation, and marked subcutaneous erythema at the upper extremities. After treatment with 100% oxygen, epinephrine (total, 1.5 mg), hydrocortisone (100 mg), diphenhydramine (50 mg), albuterol nebulizer (0.083%), and continuous infusion of epinephrine (0.15 μg/kg/min), the vital signs became stable, and he recovered completely. In summary, indigo carmine rarely may cause life-threatening anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction that may necessitate rapid treatment to stabilize cardiovascular, hemodynamic, and pulmonary function.
Analysis ofΛb→Λμ+μ-Decay in Scalar Leptoquark Model
Authors: Wang Shuai-Wei , Yang Ya-Dong
Published: August 2016

We analyze the baryonic semilepton decayΛb→Λμ+μ-in the scalar leptoquark models withX(3,2,7/6)andX(3,2,1/6)states, respectively. We also discuss the effects of these two NP models on some physical observables. For some measured observables, like the differential decay width, the longitudinal polarization of the dilepton system, the lepton-side forward-backward asymmetry, and the baryon-side forward-backward asymmetry, we find that the prediction values of SM are consistent with the current data in mostq2ranges, where the prediction values of these two NP models can also keep consistent with the current data with1σ. However, in someq2ranges, the prediction values of SM are difficult to meet the current data, but the contributions of these two NP models can meet them or keep close to them. For the double-lepton polarization asymmetries,PLT,PTL,PNN, andPTTare sensitive to the scalar leptoquark modelX(3,2,7/6)but not toX(3,2,1/6). However,PLN,PNL,PTN, andPNTare not sensitive to these two NP models.
Clinical Evolution of Central Pontine Myelinolysis in a Patient with Alcohol Withdrawal: A Blurred Clinical Horizon
Authors: Mohammed Abdul S. , Boddu Prajwal , Yazdani Dina F.
Published: August 2016

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), a potentially fatal and debilitating neurological condition, was first described in 1959 in a study on alcoholic and malnourished patients. It is a condition most frequently related to rapid correction of hyponatremia. Chronic alcoholism associated CPM tends to be benign with a favorable prognosis compared to CPM secondary to rapid correction of hyponatremia. We describe a normonatremic, alcoholic patient who presented with CPM after a rapid rise in his sodium levels. Our case illustrates the fact that CPM can manifest even in patients who are normonatremic at baseline. Rapid rises in sodium levels should be promptly reversed before clinical symptoms manifest in patient with risk factors for CPM irrespective of their baseline sodium levels. Furthermore, clinical evolution of CPM can be difficult to discern from the natural course of alcohol withdrawal delirium, requiring astuteness and maintenance of a high degree of clinical suspicion on the part of the physician.