bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Na+-K+-Cl− cotransporter type 2 by the with no lysine kinase-dependent signaling pathway
Authors: Marcoux Andrée-Anne , Slimani Samira , Tremblay Laurence E. , Frenette-Cotton Rachelle , Garneau Alexandre P. , Isenring Paul
Published: March 2019

Na+-K+-Cl− cotransporter type 2 (NKCC2) is confined to the apical membrane of the thick ascending limb of Henle, where it reabsorbs a substantial fraction of the ultrafiltered NaCl load. It is expressed along this nephron segment as three main splice variants (called NKCC2A, NKCC2B, and NKCC2F) that differ in residue composition along their second transmembrane domain and first intracellular cytosolic connecting segment (CS2). NKCC2 is known to be activated by cell shrinkage and intracellular [Cl−] reduction. Although the with no lysine (WNK) kinases could play a role in this response, the mechanisms involved are ill defined, and the possibility of variant-specific responses has not been tested thus far. In this study, we have used the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system to gain further insight in these regards. We have found for the first time that cell shrinkage could stimulate NKCC2A- and NKCC2B-mediated ion transport by increasing carrier abundance at the cell surface and that this response was achieved (at least in part) by the enzymatic function of a WNK kinase. Interestingly, we have also found that the activity and cell surface abundance of NKCC2F were less affected by cell shrinkage compared with the other variants and that ion transport by certain variants could be stimulated through WNK kinase expression in the absence of carrier redistribution. Taken together, these results suggest that the WNK kinase-dependent pathway can affect both the trafficking as well as intrinsic activity of NKCC2 and that CS2 plays an important role in carrier regulation.
Age and prior exercise in vivo determine the subsequent in vitro molecular profile of myoblasts and nonmyogenic cells derived from human skeletal muscle
Authors: Bechshøft Cecilie J. L. , Jensen Simon M. , Schjerling Peter , Andersen Jesper L. , Svensson Rene B. , Eriksen Christian S. , Mkumbuzi Nonhlanhla S. , Kjaer Michael , Mackey Abigail L.
Published: March 2019

The decline in skeletal muscle regenerative capacity with age is partly attributed to muscle stem cell (satellite cell) dysfunction. Recent evidence has pointed to a strong interaction between myoblasts and fibroblasts, but the influence of age on this interaction is unknown. Additionally, while the native tissue environment is known to determine the properties of myogenic cells in vitro, how the aging process alters this cell memory has not been established at the molecular level. We recruited 12 young and 12 elderly women, who performed a single bout of heavy resistance exercise with the knee extensor muscles of one leg. Five days later, muscle biopsies were collected from both legs, and myogenic cells and nonmyogenic cells were isolated for in vitro experiments with mixed or separated cells and analyzed by immunostaining and RT-PCR. A lower myogenic fusion index was detected in the cells from the old versus young women, in association with differences in gene expression levels of key myogenic regulatory factors and senescence, which were further altered by performing exercise before tissue sampling. Coculture with nonmyogenic cells from the elderly led to a higher myogenic differentiation index compared with nonmyogenic cells from the young. These findings show that the in vitro phenotype and molecular profile of human skeletal muscle myoblasts and fibroblasts is determined by the age and exercise state of the original in vivo environment and help explain how exercise can enhance muscle stem cell function in old age.
Upper and lower limb motor axons demonstrate differential excitability and accommodation to strong hyperpolarizing currents during induced hyperthermia
Authors: Marmoy Oliver R. , Furlong Paul L. , Moore Christopher E. G.
Published: March 2019

Length-dependent peripheral neuropathy typically involves the insidious onset of sensory loss in the lower limbs before later progressing proximally. Recent evidence proposes hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels as dysfunctional in rodent models of peripheral neuropathy, and therefore differential expression of HCN channels in the lower limbs was hypothesized as a pathophysiological mechanism accounting for the pattern of symptomatology within this study. We studied six healthy participants, using motor axon excitability including strong and long [−70% and −100% hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEh)] hyperpolarizing currents to preferably study HCN channel function from the median and tibial nerves from high (40%) and low (20%) threshold. This was recorded at normothermia (~32°C) and then repeated during hyperthermia (~40°C) as an artificial hyperpolarizing axon stress. Significant differences between recovery cycle, superexcitability, accommodation to small depolarizing currents, and alterations in late stages of the inward-rectifying currents of strongest (−70% and −100% TEh) currents were observed in the lower limbs during hyperthermia. We demonstrate differences in late IH current flow, which implies higher expression of HCN channel isoforms. The findings also indicate their potential inference in the symptomatology of length-dependent peripheral neuropathies and may be a unique target for minimizing symptomatology and pathogenesis in acquired disease.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates nerve excitability differences between the upper and lower limbs during hyperthermia, an experimentally induced axonal stress. The findings indicate that there is differential expression of slow hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel isoforms between the upper and lower limbs, which was demonstrated through strong, long hyperpolarizing currents during hyperthermia. Such mechanisms may underlie postural control but render the lower limbs susceptible to dysfunction in disease states.
Differential effects of left and right prefrontal cortex anodal transcranial direct current stimulation during probabilistic sequence learning
Authors: Greeley Brian , Seidler Rachael D.
Published: March 2019

Left and right prefrontal cortex and the primary motor cortex (M1) are activated during learning of motor sequences. Previous literature is mixed on whether prefrontal cortex aids or interferes with sequence learning. The present study investigated the roles of prefrontal cortices and M1 in sequence learning. Participants received anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to right or left prefrontal cortex or left M1 during a probabilistic sequence learning task. Relative to sham, the left prefrontal cortex and M1 tDCS groups exhibited enhanced learning evidenced by shorter response times for pattern trials, but only for individuals who did not gain explicit awareness of the sequence (implicit). Right prefrontal cortex stimulation in participants who did not gain explicit sequence awareness resulted in learning disadvantages evidenced by slower overall response times for pattern trials. These findings indicate that stimulation to left prefrontal cortex or M1 can lead to sequence learning benefits under implicit conditions. In contrast, right prefrontal cortex tDCS had negative effects on sequence learning, with overall impaired reaction time for implicit learners. There was no effect of tDCS on accuracy, and thus our reaction time findings cannot be explained by a speed-accuracy tradeoff. Overall, our findings suggest complex and hemisphere-specific roles of left and right prefrontal cortices in sequence learning.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Prefrontal cortices are engaged in motor sequence learning, but the literature is mixed on whether the prefrontal cortices aid or interfere with learning. In the current study, we used anodal transcranial direct current stimulation to target left or right prefrontal cortex or left primary motor cortex while participants performed a probabilistic sequence learning task. We found that left prefrontal and motor cortex stimulation enhanced implicit learning whereas right prefrontal stimulation negatively impacted performance.
Chronic Inflammation as a Link between Periodontitis and Carcinogenesis
Authors: Hoare Anilei , Soto Cristopher , Rojas-Celis Victoria , Bravo Denisse
Published: March 2019

Periodontitis is characterized by a chronic inflammation produced in response to a disease-associated multispecies bacterial community in the subgingival region. Although the inflammatory processes occur locally in the oral cavity, several studies have determined that inflammatory mediators produced during periodontitis, as well as subgingival species and bacterial components, can disseminate from the oral cavity, contributing therefore, to various extraoral diseases like cancer. Interestingly, carcinogenesis associated with periodontal species has been observed in both the oral cavity and in extra oral sites. In this review, several studies were summarized showing a strong association between orodigestive cancers and poor oral health, presence of periodontitis-associated bacteria, tooth loss, and clinical signs of periodontitis. Proinflammatory pathways were also summarized. Such pathways are activated either by mono- or polymicrobial infections, resulting in an increase in the expression of proinflammatory molecules such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In addition, it has been shown that several periodontitis-associated species induce the expression of genes related to cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, transport, and immune and inflammatory responses. Intriguingly, many of these pathways are linked to carcinogenesis. Among them, the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and antiapoptotic pathways (such as the PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, and MAPK pathways), the reduction of proapoptotic protein expression, the increase in cell migration and invasion, and the enhancement in metastasis are addressed. Considering that periodontitis is a polymicrobial disease, it is likely that mixed species promote carcinogenesis both in the oral cavity and in extra oral tissues and probably—as observed in periodontitis—synergistic and/or antagonistic interactions occur between microbes in the community. To date, a good amount of studies has allowed us to understand how monospecies infections activate pathways involved in tumorigenesis; however, more studies are needed to determine the combined effect of oral species in carcinogenesis.
Absence of Nonclassical Monocytes in Hemolytic Patients: Free Hb and NO-Mediated Mechanism
Authors: Singhal Rashi , Rathore Deepak K. , Bhakuni Teena , Seth Tulika , Guchhait Prasenjit
Published: March 2019

In a recent work, we have described the kinetics among the monocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of hemolytic patients including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and sickle cell disease (SCD). After engulfing Hb-activated platelets, classical monocytes (CD14+CD16-) significantly transformed into highly inflammatory (CD14+CD16hi) subsets in vitro. An estimated 40% of total circulating monocytes in PNH and 70% in SCD patients existed as CD14+CD16hi subsets. In this study, we show that the nonclassical (CD14dimCD16+) monocyte subsets are nearly absent in patients with PNH or SCD, compared to 10-12% cells in healthy individuals. In mechanism, we have described the unique role of both free Hb and nitric oxide (NO) in reducing number of nonclassical subsets more than classical monocytes. After engulfing Hb-activated platelets, the monocytes including nonclassical subsets acquired rapid cell death within 12 h in vitro. Further, the treatment to monocytes either with the secretome of Hb-activated platelets containing NO and free Hb or purified free Hb along with GSNO (a physiological NO donor) enhanced rapid cell death. Besides, our data from both PNH and SCD patients exhibited a direct correlation between intracellular NO and cell death marker 7AAD in monocytes from the peripheral blood. Our data together suggest that due to the immune surveillance nature, the nonclassical or patrolling monocytes are encountered frequently by Hb-activated platelets, free Hb, and NO in the circulation of hemolytic patients and are predisposed to die rapidly.
Effect of Phospholipase A1-Catalyzed Degumming on Oryzanol, Tocopherols, and Tocotrienols of Dewaxed Rice Bran Oil
Authors: Xiaoyang Sun , Shaojun Tian , Lifen Zhang , Jianchun Xie
Published: March 2019

The effect of phospholipase A1-catalyzed degumming on the phosphorus content, the retention rate of oryzanol, and total tocopherols and tocotrienols of dewaxed rice bran oil was investigated with comparison to water degumming and citric acid degumming. The fatty acid composition of dewaxed rice bran oil was also studied by gas chromatography. The phosphorus content of dewaxed rice bran oil after phospholipase A1-catalyzed degumming could be decreased from 332.5 mg·kg−1 to 9.3 mg·kg−1 with the citric acid dosage of 0.10%, high shearing rate of 23000 rpm, chelation time of 60 min, NaOH dosage of 1.5 mole equivalent to the amount of citric acid, reaction temperature of 50°C, and total water dosage of 2.5%, while the phosphorus content of dewaxed rice bran oil after water and acid degumming was 120.5 mg·kg−1 and 66.4 mg·kg−1, respectively. The retention rate of oryzanol and total tocopherols and tocotrienols was 97.58% and 96.81% for phospholipase A1-catalyzed degumming, 91.44% and 85.98% for water degumming, and 92.85% and 87.75% for acid degumming. There was no obvious change in fatty acid composition. The results indicated that phospholipase A1-catalyzed degumming was an effective method since it could decrease the phosphorus content to the required level and provide high retention rate of oryzanol and total content of tocopherols and tocotrienols without obvious change of fatty acid composition.
Multifocal Electroretinography in Assessment of Macular Function after Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling in Macular Hole Surgery
Authors: Faria M. Y. , Sousa D. C. , Mano S. , Marques R. , Ferreira N. P. , Fonseca A.
Published: March 2019

Purpose. Internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling is important for macular hole (MH) surgery but may have secondary effects visible on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). We relate integrity of inner and outer macular layers with functional results with mfERG. Methods. Nonrandomized prospective study of 33 consecutive eyes of 33 patients with macular hole who underwent vitrectomy with ILM peeling. Best-corrected visual acuity was assessed, and integrity of external layers was measured using OCT. Each component of mfERG, N1 and P1 amplitude and latency, was also measured. Results. All eyes showed macular hole closure. Visual acuity improved from 20/400 to 20/40 in the Snellen visual acuity chart (P<0.001), and OCT external lines were intact in 19 eyes and disrupted in 14 eyes. Postoperatively, N1 and P1 amplitudes in ring 1 increased compared to preoperative values (P<0.001 for both). Latency remained delayed for both N1 and P1 wave. In the group of 19 eyes with integrity of outer retinal layers, N1 amplitude in ring 1 was superior to the group of 14 patients with disrupted outer retinal layers (P=0.042). Conclusions. In macular hole surgery, structure analysis in OCT is one of the important outcomes for the retinal surgeon. Functional results are parallel with anatomic results, but visual gain is limited. The limited recovery in mfERG suggests an alteration of retinal physiology that could explain limited vision recover.
Simulation of the Working Performance of a Shearer Cutting Coal Rock
Authors: Zhao Li-juan , Liu Hong-mei
Published: March 2019

Taking the MG2∗55/250-BWD shearer as the research object and considering the influence of the rock on the working performance of the shearer, the shearer-coal-rock coupled discrete element model was established and its dynamic working process has been studied. The single-factor analysis method was used to study the variation law of the cutting depth, traction speed, and the drum’s rotational speed on the three-way force acting on the drum, the coal loading rate, and the trajectory of the coal particles. The simulation showed that the coal loading rate fluctuated during the start-up phase of the shearer, and it was then constant as the time increased. The value of the cutting resistance was the largest, the traction resistance was the second largest, the axial force was the smallest, and the fluctuation coefficient of the axial force was the largest of all of them. The research showed that the coal loading rate of the drum decreased with the increase of the cutting depth, increased with the increase of the rotating speed of the drum, and decreased with the increase of the traction speed. The three-way force of the drum increased with the increase of the traction speed, decreased with the increase of the drum’s rotational speed, and increased with the increase of the cutting depth. According to the analysis of the coal cutting force and the coal loading rate, the drum could achieve high-efficiency cutting if the cutting depth, rotational speed, and traction speed of the dynamic were matched.
Effects of Chlorides on Corrosion of Simulated Reinforced Blended Cement Mortars
Authors: Wachira Jackson Muthengia
Published: March 2019

Cementitious materials are subject to degradation when subjected to corrosive chloride media. This paper reports the experimental results on corrosion studies conducted on a potential cementitious material, PCDC, made from a blend of 55 % Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Dried Calcium Carbide Residue (DCCR), and an incineration mix of Rice Husks (RH), Spent Beaching Earth (SBE), and Ground Reject Bricks (BB). The experiments were run along 100 % OPC. Different w/c were used. Corrosion current densities using linear polarisation resistance (LPR) and corrosion potentials measurements versus saturated calomel electrode were used for the determination of corrosion rates and potentials, respectively, for simulated reinforcement at different depths of cover in the cement mortars. The results showed that PCDC exhibited higher corrosion current densities over all depths of covers and early attainment of active corrosion than the control cements. In conclusion, PCDC and OPC can be used in a similar corrosive media during construction.
A Method for Determining the Capacity of an Exclusive Left Lane with a Permitted Phase under Nonstrict Priority
Authors: Bai Qiao-wen , Qu Zhao-wei , Song Xian-min , Xiong Shuai , Cao Ning-bo
Published: March 2019

A new method has been developed for estimating the capacity of an exclusive left lane with a permitted phase under nonstrict priority. Different from maneuvers under strict priority, these left‐turning vehicles were released in the form of a left‐turn group. A field survey was first conducted to explore the maximum number of vehicles in a left‐turn group, and the releasing process of the permitted left turns. The observations revealed that (1) the maximum number is related to the intersection geometry and (2) the releasing process includes two stages: the first left‐turn group crossing at the beginning of a permitted phase and the following left‐turn groups crossing using gaps provided by opposing right turns. Next, a method based on probability theory and these observation results were applied to estimate the capacity of an exclusive left lane. The procedure contains two stages and eight steps. Finally, the estimation of the left‐turn capacity using the proposed model was validated by comparing the capacity from the strict priority and actual maximum volumes.
Uric Acid Provides Protective Role in Red Blood Cells by Antioxidant Defense: A Hypothetical Analysis
Authors: Song Yunxiao , Tang Li , Han Jianping , Gao Yanting , Tang Binghua , Shao Mingxi , Yuan Wenhua , Ge Wen , Huang Xiaofeng , Yao Tianyue , Bian Xiaobo , Li Shengjie , Cao Wenjun , Zhang Haichen
Published: March 2019

Uric acid (UA) is a major antioxidant molecule in the human blood, and it has been linked with cell longevity. However, it is unclear whether serum UA levels are associated with red blood cell (RBC) indexes. This cross-sectional study included 10,759 Chinese subjects, recruited from the Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital from January 2014 to December 2017. The participants were categorized into gender groups and then further divided into three different subgroups according to their UA reference range as follows: low (male (UA<0.202 mmol/l), female (UA<0.143 mmol/l)), normal (male (0.417 mmol/l>UA≥0.202 mmol/l), female (0.339 mmol/l>UA≥0.143 mmol/l)), and high (male (UA≥0.417 mmol/l), female (UA≥0.339 mmol/l)). The associations of UA levels with RBC parameters were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multivariate linear regression. The levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, RBCs, and hemoglobin were lowest in the low UA group, followed by the normal UA group and high UA group (p<0.001). Pearson analysis showed that there was a statistically significant correlation between UA levels with mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, mean corpuscular volumes, RBC counts, and hemoglobin (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that there were statistically significant positive correlations between UA levels and RBC counts (B=0.245, p<0.001, 95% CI=0.003 to 0.092), as well as UA levels and hemoglobin concentrations (B=0.138, p<0.001, 95% CI=0.002 to 0.082). Furthermore, similar results were observed in both the male and female subgroups. The serum UA levels may be independently associated with RBC parameters, regardless of sex, and UA may protect RBCs owing to its antioxidant effect.
An Efficient Deep Learning Approach to Pneumonia Classification in Healthcare
Authors: Stephen Okeke , Sain Mangal , Maduh Uchenna Joseph , Jeong Do-Un
Published: March 2019

This study proposes a convolutional neural network model trained from scratch to classify and detect the presence of pneumonia from a collection of chest X-ray image samples. Unlike other methods that rely solely on transfer learning approaches or traditional handcrafted techniques to achieve a remarkable classification performance, we constructed a convolutional neural network model from scratch to extract features from a given chest X-ray image and classify it to determine if a person is infected with pneumonia. This model could help mitigate the reliability and interpretability challenges often faced when dealing with medical imagery. Unlike other deep learning classification tasks with sufficient image repository, it is difficult to obtain a large amount of pneumonia dataset for this classification task; therefore, we deployed several data augmentation algorithms to improve the validation and classification accuracy of the CNN model and achieved remarkable validation accuracy.
Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Fully Integral Concrete Bridge with End‐Restraining Abutments
Authors: Choi Byung H. , Moreno Lorenz B. , Lim Churl-Soo , Nguyen Duy-Duan , Lee Tae-Hyung
Published: March 2019

A fully integral bridge that is restrained at both ends by the abutments has been proposed to form a monolithic rigid frame structure. Thus, the feasible horizontal force effect due to an earthquake or vehicle braking is mainly prevented by the end‐restraining abutments. In a recent study, a fully integral bridge with appropriate end‐restraining abutment stiffness was derived for a multispan continuous railroad bridge based on linear elastic behavior. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the nonlinear behavior and seismic capacity of the fully integral bridge and then to assess the appropriate stiffness of the end‐restraining abutment to sufficiently resist design earthquake loadings through a rigorous parametric study. The finite element modeling and analyses are performed using OpenSees. In order to obtain the force‐deflection curves of the models, nonlinear static pushover analysis is performed. It is confirmed that the fully integral bridge prototype in the study meets the seismic performance criteria specified by Caltrans. The nonlinear static pushover analysis results reveal that, due to the end‐restraining effect of the abutment, the lateral displacement of the fully integral bridge is reduced, and the intermediate piers sustain less lateral force and displacement. Then, the sectional member forces are well controlled in the intermediate piers by a proper application of the end‐restraining abutments.
Mobile-Health Applications for the Efficient Delivery of Health Care Facility to People with Dementia (PwD) and Support to Their Carers: A Survey
Authors: Yousaf Kanwal , Mehmood Zahid , Saba Tanzila , Rehman Amjad , Munshi Asmaa Mahdi , Alharbey Riad , Rashid Muhammad
Published: March 2019

Dementia directly influences the quality of life of a person suffering from this chronic illness. The caregivers or carers of dementia people provide critical support to them but are subject to negative health outcomes because of burden and stress. The intervention of mobile health (mHealth) has become a fast-growing assistive technology (AT) in therapeutic treatment of individuals with chronic illness. The purpose of this comprehensive study is to identify, appraise, and synthesize the existing evidence on the use of mHealth applications (apps) as a healthcare resource for people with dementia and their caregivers. A review of both peer-reviewed and full-text literature was undertaken across five (05) electronic databases for checking the articles published during the last five years (between 2014 and 2018). Out of 6195 searches yielded articles, 17 were quantified according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included studies distinguish between five categories, viz., (1) cognitive training and daily living, (2) screening, (3) health and safety monitoring, (4) leisure and socialization, and (5) navigation. Furthermore, two most popular commercial app stores, i.e., Google Play Store and Apple App Store, were searched for finding mHealth based dementia apps for PwD and their caregivers. Initial search generated 356 apps with thirty-five (35) meeting the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After shortlisting of mobile applications, it is observed that these existing apps generally addressed different dementia specific aspects overlying with the identified categories in research articles. The comprehensive study concluded that mobile health apps appear as feasible AT intervention for PwD and their carers irrespective of limited available research, but these apps have potential to provide different resources and strategies to help this community.
Motor Control Deficits in Facial Synkinesis Patients: Neuroimaging Evidences of Cerebral Cortex Involvement
Authors: Wu Jia-jia , Lu Ye-chen , Zheng Mou-xiong , Hua Xu-yun , Xu Jian-guang , Ding Wei , Shan Chun-lei
Published: March 2019

Objective. Facial synkinesis is a severe sequelae of facial nerve malfunction. Once the synkinesis is established, it is extremely difficult for patients to recover. Given that the restoration of motor or sensory function after peripheral nerve injury was closely related with cortical plasticity, we investigated cortical plasticity in facial synkinesis patients by the frequency-specific data which remains largely uncharacterized. Materials and Methods. Resting-state fMRI was conducted in 20 facial synkinesis patients and 19 healthy controls, and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in five different frequency bands (slow-6: 0-0.01 Hz; slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz; slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz; slow-3: 0.073-0.167 Hz; and slow-2: 0.167-0.25 Hz) was calculated, respectively. And the relationship between ALFF and clinical outcomes was also analyzed. Results. Comparing with the healthy controls, facial synkinesis patients showed significantly different ALFF values, mainly in the sensorimotor areas. Furthermore, increased ALFF of the ipsilateral insula in the slow-6 band was significantly related with better facial nerve function. Conclusion. Increased ALFF values in the ipsilateral insula might reflect an abnormal state of hypercompensation in motor control of facial synkinesis patients. It provided valuable spatial information about the functionally aberrant regions, which implied the possible involvement of motor control system in facial synkinesis.
Aerodynamic Shape Design and Validation of an Advanced High-Lift Device for a Regional Aircraft with Morphing Droop Nose
Authors: De Gaspari Alessandro , Moens Frédéric
Published: March 2019

In the present work, the aerodynamic shape design of an advanced high-lift system for a natural laminar flow (NLF) wing, based on the combination of a morphing droop nose and a single slot trailing edge flap, is presented. The paper presents both the aerodynamic design and optimization of the NLF wing and the high-lift configuration considering the mutual effects of both flap devices. Concerning the morphing droop nose (DN), after defining the parameterization techniques adopted to describe the geometry in terms of morphing shape and flap settings, the external configuration is obtained by an aerodynamic shape optimization procedure able to meet geometrical constraints and the skin structural requirements due to the morphing. The final performance assessment of the three-dimensional high-lift configurations is performed by high-fidelity aerodynamic analyses. The design procedure is applied to a twin-prop regional aircraft equipped with a natural laminar flow wing. The morphing droop nose is compatible with an NLF wing that requires the continuity of the skin and, at the same time, extends the possibilities to improve the performances of the class of regional aircraft which usually are not equipped with conventional leading edge devices. Additionally, the morphing technology applied to the flap allows the design of a tracking system fully integrated inside the airfoil geometry, leading to a solution without external fairings and so with no extra friction drag penalty for the aircraft.
Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Capecitabine plus Oxaliplatin in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Sigmoid Colon Cancer Invading the Urinary Bladder: A Report of Three Cases
Authors: Takenami Tsutomu , Tsujinaka Shingo , Takahashi Jun , Tamaki Sawako , Maemoto Ryo , Fukuda Rintaro , Ishikawa Hideki , Kakizawa Nao , Hasegawa Fumi , Kikugawa Rina , Miyakura Yasuyuki , Suzuki Koichi , Tanaka Akira , Rikiyama Toshiki
Published: March 2019

Introduction. We herein present three cases of locally advanced colon cancer (LACC) invading the urinary bladder, in whom combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy with surgical intervention was effective in disease control and preserving urinary function. Case Presentation. Before neoadjuvant chemotherapy, all three cases underwent loop transverse colostomy for symptomatic colonic obstruction. Case 1: after 6 courses of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX), we performed sigmoid colectomy and partial resection of the bladder. The histological examination revealed pathological complete response (pCR). The final diagnosis was ypStage 0 (ypT0ypN0M0). Case 2: after 13 courses of CAPOX plus bevacizumab, we performed Hartmann’s operation with partial resection of the bladder. The histological examination revealed pCR. The final diagnosis was ypStage 0 (ypT0ypN0M0). Case 3: after 6 courses of chemotherapy with CAPOX plus bevacizumab, we performed sigmoid colectomy and partial resection of the bladder. The pathological response was grade 1a according to the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma. The final diagnosis was ypStage IIC (ypT4bypN0M0). All three cases underwent capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy after radical surgery and patients are alive without recurrence. Conclusion. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CAPOX with or without bevacizumab followed by radical surgery could be an effective treatment option for LACC invading the urinary bladder.
Establishment and Verification of Prognostic Nomograms for Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A SEER-Based Study
Authors: Chen Zhan , Lin Rui-Min , Bai Yue-Kui , Zhang Yue
Published: March 2019

With gastrointestinal tract as the origin, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is recognized as the very widespread mesenchymal tumor. A precise prognostic model of survival is required to guide the treatment options of patients with GIST. This study was designed to map the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of GIST patients. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program database, we acquired the data of 6,713 patients with GIST who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2014. We randomly separated the patients into training (n = 4,699) and validation (n = 2,014) groups. To assess the prognostic impact of multiple clinical parameters, the Kaplan-Meier approach and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were adopted, where essential prognostic variables were combined to create nomograms. The consistency index and curve of calibration had been adopted to assess nomogram discrimination ability and prediction accuracy. A multifactor analysis of the training cohort showed that age, gender, size of tumor, location, and primary surgery were remarkably related to survival, and these variables were applied to create nomograms. The nomogram demonstrated excellent accuracy in estimating 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS, with a C-index of 0.740 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.723-0.757) for OS and 0.743 (95% CI, 0.718-0.768) for CSS. In the validation cohort, the nomogram-predicted C-index was 0.741 for OS (95%CI, 0.717-0.765) and 0.746 (95%CI, 0.713-0.779) for CSS. All calibration curves showed good consistency between predicted and actual survival. A new nomogram was created and verified to predict the OS and CSS of patients with GIST. These new prognostic models can help enhance the accuracy of survival outcome predictions, thus facilitating to provide constructive therapeutic suggestions.
Dissociation between Cerebellar and Cerebral Neural Activities in Humans with Long-Term Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Xu Xiao-Min , Jiao Yun , Tang Tian-Yu , Zhang Jian , Lu Chun-Qiang , Luan Ying , Salvi Richard , Teng Gao-Jun
Published: March 2019

Abnormal neural activity in the cerebellum has been implicated in hearing impairments, but the effects of long-term hearing loss on cerebellar function are poorly understood. To further explore the role of long-term bilateral sensorineural hearing loss on cerebellar function, we investigated hearing loss-induced changes among neural networks within cerebellar subregions and the changes in cerebellar-cerebral connectivity patterns using resting-state functional MRI. Twenty-one subjects with long-term bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss and 21 matched controls with clinically normal hearing underwent MRI scanning and a series of neuropsychological tests targeting cognition and emotion. Voxel-wise functional connectivity (FC) analysis demonstrated decreased couplings between the cerebellum and other cerebral areas, including the temporal pole (TP), insula, supramarginal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), medial frontal gyrus, and thalamus, in long-term bilateral sensorineural hearing loss patients. An ROI-wise FC analysis found weakened interregional connections within cerebellar subdivisions. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between anxiety and FC between the left cerebellar lobe VI and left insula. Hearing ability and anxiety scores were also correlated with FC between the left cerebellar lobe VI and left TP, as well as the right cerebellar lobule VI and left IFG. Our results suggest that sensorineural hearing loss disrupts cerebellar-cerebral circuits, some potentially linked to anxiety, and interregional cerebellar connectivity. The findings contribute to a growing body showing that auditory deprivation caused by cochlear hearing loss disrupts not only activity with the classical auditory pathway but also portions of the cerebellum that communicates with other cortical networks.
Motor Control System for Adaptation of Healthy Individuals and Recovery of Poststroke Patients: A Case Study on Muscle Synergies
Authors: Alnajjar Fady S. , Moreno Juan C. , Ozaki Ken-ichi , Kondo Izumi , Shimoda Shingo
Published: March 2019

Understanding the complex neuromuscular strategies underlying behavioral adaptation in healthy individuals and motor recovery after brain damage is essential for gaining fundamental knowledge on the motor control system. Relying on the concept of muscle synergy, which indicates the number of coordinated muscles needed to accomplish specific movements, we investigated behavioral adaptation in nine healthy participants who were introduced to a familiar environment and unfamiliar environment. We then compared the resulting computed muscle synergies with those observed in 10 moderate-stroke survivors throughout an 11-week motor recovery period. Our results revealed that computed muscle synergy characteristics changed after healthy participants were introduced to the unfamiliar environment, compared with those initially observed in the familiar environment, and exhibited an increased neural response to unpredictable inputs. The altered neural activities dramatically adjusted through behavior training to suit the unfamiliar environment requirements. Interestingly, we observed similar neuromuscular behaviors in patients with moderate stroke during the follow-up period of their motor recovery. This similarity suggests that the underlying neuromuscular strategies for adapting to an unfamiliar environment are comparable to those used for the recovery of motor function after stroke. Both mechanisms can be considered as a recall of neural pathways derived from preexisting muscle synergies, already encoded by the brain’s internal model. Our results provide further insight on the fundamental principles of motor control and thus can guide the future development of poststroke therapies.
Fusion of Simulated and Observational Temperature Data in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Based on High-Accuracy Surface Modeling
Authors: Liu Yu , Yue Tianxiang , Jiao Yimeng , Zhao Yapeng , Bao Zhengyi
Published: March 2019

Temperature changes have a major impact on all aspects of human society and have attracted global attention. The scarcity of observation data and the inaccuracy of the models make obtaining accurate temperature distributions a challenge. This study introduces high-accuracy surface modeling (HASM) combined with temperature simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and temperature records from observation stations to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of temperature in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region during the period of 1956–2005. Leave-one-out cross-validation is applied to verify the temperature fields before and after the fusion of the models. The results indicate that the WRF model has a limited ability to simulate temperature conditions, but the overall deviation across the region is relatively large. The fusion results of the HASM decrease the mean absolute error (MAE) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) by half in most instances, and the correlation between the fusion data and observation data is approximately 0.01–0.03 higher than that with the WRF simulation data. Based on the fusion data, obvious warming trends are observed during 1976–2005. In general, temperatures in spring, summer, and autumn increase rapidly from 1996 to 2005 but from 1976 to 1995 in winter. The substantial fluctuations in the interannual temperature during 1996–2005 in summer, autumn, and winter may be related to the frequent occurrence of extreme weather. The spatial distribution of temperature change differs in each season during 1956–1995. A dramatic increase in temperature occurs in the western part of the study area during 1996–2005 but with no seasonal difference.
New Results on the Control for a Kind of Uncertain Chaotic Systems Based on Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Wang Bo , Chen L. L.
Published: March 2019

In this paper, the problem of the control for an uncertain nonlinear chaotic system has been studied; based on fuzzy logic, a kind of single‐dimensional controller is constructed for the control of the chaotic systems in the situation that uncertainties and unknowns exist; at last some typical numerical simulations are carried out, and corresponding results illuminate the effectiveness of the controller.
Experience of Occupations among People Living with a Personality Disorder
Authors: Potvin Olivier , Vallée Catherine , Larivière Nadine
Published: March 2019

Introduction. Personality disorders are common mental health disorders, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 4 to 15%. People living with personality disorders are extensively seeking mental health services, yet few papers focus on their unique occupational needs or effective rehabilitation interventions that may alleviate the occupational issues they face. Occupational therapists are encouraged to support engagement in socially valued occupations, while preventing engagement in damaging ones, despite a lack of evidence on the meaning and the lived experiences of people. Objectives. This paper describes the meaning attributed by people living with personality disorders to their main occupations and the underlying needs they strive to fulfill through occupational engagement, whether or not these occupations are sanctioned. Methods. This exploratory study rests on a descriptive interpretative methodology. The participants were ten men and women, aged between 18 and 35 years old and living with a Cluster B personality disorder. A semistructured interview guide allowed participants to build narratives on occupations that are important to them and discuss how these occupations shape their identity. A thematic content analysis fostered the development of a coding structure that reflected a first-account perspective. Results. The narratives provided by the participants depict a variety of meaningful occupations, many of which are socially disapproved. Many of these occupations serve as a coping strategy to deal with distressing situations, to connect with others who share similar life experiences, or to reestablish a fragile sense of control. Other occupations are socially disapproved due to the overinvestment of the participants’ commitment. While participants described how this overinvestment allowed them to control destructive impulses, significant others perceived it as counterproductive and unnecessary. Participants perceived self-care occupations as painful and tedious chores or meaningless occupations. Engaging in productive occupations allowed some participants to gain recognition or to identify their competencies, but also confirmed their differences, creating some form of alienation or marginalisation. Conclusion. This exploratory study invites clinicians and researchers to develop a more responsive understanding of occupational engagement for this population. The results highlight the importance of situating occupations in their context, while endorsing a first-account perspective, to better understand the forces that shape occupational engagement. Ultimately, occupational therapists should critically appraise their assumptions around healthy and unsanctioned occupations, in order to respond with sensitivity to the needs and experience of their clients, without perpetuating the marginalisation and discrimination they face.
Atypical Radiographic Presentation of Cryptococcus Pneumonia in a Newly Diagnosed HIV Patient
Authors: Cacacho Arthur , Ashraf Umair , Rehmani Arsalan , Niazi Masooma , Khaja Misbahuddin
Published: March 2019

Background. Cryptococcus infection is an opportunistic infection that occurs primarily among immunocompromised patients, and the morbidity and mortality of this infection is high if left unrecognized and untreated. There are no clinical or radiographic characteristics typical of cryptococcal pneumonia, and its clinical and radiological presentations often overlap with other diagnoses. Case Presentation. We present a case of a 25-year-old man from Ghana admitted for an altered mental state, weight loss, neck pain, fever, and photophobia. He was diagnosed with Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis by cerebrospinal fluid culture and with disseminated cryptococcal infection by a positive Cryptococcus blood test. Diffuse micronodular opacities were found in a miliary pattern in the upper portions of both lungs upon imaging, which suggested miliary tuberculosis; thus, the patient was started on antituberculosis therapy. The patient underwent flexible fiber optic bronchoscopy, and transbronchial biopsy of the right lung showed bronchopneumonia with fungal spores consistent with filamentous Cryptococcus neoformans, which grew in tissue culture of the right lung. Interferon-gamma release assay, Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR, and acid-fast bacilli staining of the bronchoalveolar lavage were negative for the M. tuberculosis complex. Conclusion. The similarities in clinical and imaging findings among patients with acute immunodeficiency syndrome with coinfections make diagnoses difficult; thus image-guided biopsies are essential to confirm diagnoses.
Ekel und die olfaktorische Referenzstörung
Authors: Schmidt René , Grocholewski Anja
Published: March 2019

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Ekel spielt bei verschiedenen psychischen Erkrankungen eine bedeutende Rolle. Die olfaktorische Referenzstörung (ORS) ist eine bisher wenig erforschte Störung, bei der Betroffene befürchten, einen un­angenehmen/starken Körpergeruch zu verbreiten, der von anderen Personen nicht wahrnehmbar ist. Obwohl ein Zusammenhang mit Ekel naheliegt, wurde dieser bisher noch nicht untersucht. Fragestellung: Unterscheiden sich Personen mit ORS von gesunden Vergleichspersonen im Hinblick auf ihre Ekelsensitivität, Ekelempfindlichkeit und ihren Selbstekel? Methode: Dreißig Personen mit ORS und 30 nach Alter und Geschlecht parallelisierte, gesunde Vergleichspersonen wurden mittels Fragebogenverfahren im Hinblick auf die oben genannten Ekelkonstrukte getestet. Es wurden Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen sowie der Zusammenhang zwischen den Ekelkonstrukten und der Schwere der Belastung durch die ORS und Depressivität untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Gruppen unterscheiden sich signifikant im Hinblick auf alle untersuchten Ekelkonstrukte, wobei die ORS-Gruppe insgesamt höhere Werte erzielt. Es besteht jedoch kein signifikanter Zusammenhang mit der Belastung durch ORS-Symptome. Selbstekel hängt bei ORS-Betroffenen mit Depressivität zusammen, während es keinen signifikanten Zusammenhang mit den anderen Ekelkonstrukten gab. Schlussfolgerungen: Ekel scheint eine Bedeutung bei Personen mit ORS zu haben und sollte daher in zukünftigen Forschungsarbeiten stärker berücksichtigt werden.
Guided Practice in der Verhaltenstherapie
Authors: Teismann Tobias , Wannemüller André
Published: March 2019

Patientenübungen, die außerhalb des Therapieraums stattfinden und vom Therapeuten angeleitet werden, sind häufige Bestandteile kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischer Behandlungen. Auch wenn Guided-Practice (GP-)Übungen für viele Verhaltenstherapeuten eine Selbstverständlichkeit darstellen, gibt es bei der Planung und Umsetzung solcher Übungen Vorbehalte, die unter anderem ethische und empirische Aspekte umfassen. Der folgende Beitrag gibt zu­nächst praktische Hinweise zur Gestaltung von GP-Übungen, bevor im Anschluss die aktuelle Evidenzlage in Bezug auf therapeutenbegleitete Übungen außerhalb des Thera­pieraums skizziert und potentielle Nebenwirkungen der Me thode diskutiert werden.