bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source of Urban Vitality: Systematic Effects of Migrant Population on the Development of Urban Economy
Authors: CHENG Jie
Published: October 2019

Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese economy has rapidly developed along with large-scale movement of population. For cities, migrant population means not only the changes in population and manpower, but also the influence on the whole economic system. On the basis of national censuses and 1% national population sample surveys, and in combination with the monitoring data of nationwide migrant population and urban economic and social statistics, the author explored the influences that migrant population has brought to urban economic development. The research suggests that migrant population will produce continuous and positive effects on the future development of urban labor market, transformation of economic structure, and improvement of economic efficiency in the medium-to-long term. Migrant population will not only supply cities for manpower and contribute to economic growth, but also drive economic efficiency improvement and the transformation of economic development mode. The future urban prosperity largely depends on how people understand and treat migrant population at present.
Eocene arc petrogenesis in Central Chile (
c.
33.6° S) and implications for the Late Cretaceous–Miocene Andean setting: tracking the evolving tectonic regime
Authors: Muñoz-Gómez Marcia , Fuentes Constanza , Fuentes Francisco , Tapia Felipe , Benoit Mathieu , Farías Marcelo , Fanning C. Mark , Fock Andrés , Charrier Reynaldo , Sellés Daniel , Bustamante Daniela
Published: October 2019

The scarce Eocene geological record in the Andean region of Central Chile (
c.
33.6° S) is represented by the Estratos del Cordón de los Ratones unit. This is a
c.
450 m thick, mainly volcanic, continental series with a bimodal character that hosts numerous subvolcanic intrusions. The igneous products show compositional features indicating a co-genetic character for the whole suite, relatively juvenile mantle signatures and arc-like affinities. This, along with age determinations of
c.
42 Ma, indicate that the unit corresponds to the middle Eocene arc in the region. The geochemical data obtained complement the evolving arc magmatic record throughout Andean evolution. This allows us to track: (1) the earliest Late Cretaceous orogenic event; (2) neutral tectonic conditions from the latest Cretaceous to mid-Eocene times; (3) the Oligocene–early Miocene extensional episode; and (4) the onset of the prevailing compression. The record also indicates that the extensional event started no earlier than the mid-Eocene, with the deposition of the Estratos del Cordón de los Ratones, and no later than the earliest Oligocene. In addition, orogenic processes developed from early Miocene times are highlighted relative to those developed during the early Late Cretaceous, at least in the arc region.

Supplementary material: Analytical methods (Item 1), the full dataset of U–Pb age determinations by SHRIMP (Item 2) and LA-ICP-MS (Item 3), and additional geochronological diagrams (Item 4) are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4710305
Automatic Stage-form Circuit Reduction for Multistage Opamp Design Equation Generation
Authors: Shi Guoyong
Published: October 2019

An automatic stage-form circuit reduction method for multistage operational amplifiers (opamps) is proposed. A tool based on this method can reduce a multistage opamp into a condensed stage-form macromodel, from which design equations can be generated automatically by another existing symbolic program. The proposed model generation method is fully symbolic; namely, it does not make reference to any numerical device values with a circuit, hence it does not require circuit biasing and sizing at an early design stage. The parameters coming with the generated models are dominant-effect approximation of the stage-related characteristics of the original circuits and thus are visually readable for design reasoning. Compensations in the original circuits are extracted automatically and reserved in the macromodel circuits. The user of this tool is only required to input the circuit stage information by identifying several key devices in the original circuits. As design equations can also be automatically generated from stage-form macromodels by a purely symbolic method, the proposed model generation method completes the path from a transistor-level opamp circuit to its characteristic design equations in a completely formal way. Examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model generation method, and numerical validation is further carried out to verify that the reduced symbolic models can successfully capture the key circuit behavior in the frequency domain for multistage opamps.
The art of fieldworking together
Authors: Cortés-Rico Laura , Pérez-Bustos Tania
Published: October 2019

This forum highlights conversations at the intersection of design methods and social studies of technology. By highlighting a diversity of perspectives on design interventions and programs, we aim to forge new connections between HCI design and communication, science and technology studies, and media studies scholarship.
--- Daniela Rosner, Editor
Age-related responses to a bout of mechanotherapy in skeletal muscle of rats
Authors: Van Pelt Douglas W. , Confides Amy L. , Abshire Sarah M. , Hunt Emily R. , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E. , Butterfield Timothy A.
Published: October 2019

Cyclic compressive loading (CCL) is a massage mimetic that improves muscle regrowth from atrophy in adult rats. Therefore, we tested if a single bout of CCL increases anabolic signaling and protein synthesis in muscle during normal, weight-bearing conditions in gastrocnemius muscle from adult and aged rats. Male Brown Norway/F344 rats at 10 (adult) and 30 (aged) months of age were assigned control or CCL (receiving a single bout of CCL). Twenty-four hours following a single bout of CCL there was no change in protein synthesis, Akt, or GSK3β signaling at either age, despite adult rats having higher abundance and activation of mechanosensitive pathways (integrins and integrin-linked kinase). Murf1 was elevated in response to CCL in both age groups, potentially indicating muscle remodeling. Muscle from aged rats exhibited an increase in heat shock protein (HSP) 25 and HSP70 and in the cold shock protein RNA-binding motif 3 (RBM3), demonstrating a unique stress response to CCL in aged muscle only. Finally, muscle from aged rats exhibited higher basal protein synthesis that was corroborated by elevated eIF2Bε and rpS6 signaling, without an additional effect of CCL. In summary, a single bout of CCL does not have anabolic effects on skeletal muscle during normal, weight-bearing conditions, even though it has previously been shown to improve regrowth from atrophy. These data demonstrate that interventions that may help recover from atrophy do not necessarily induce muscle hypertrophy in unperturbed conditions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Massage has been demonstrated to be an effective mechanotherapy to improve recovery from atrophy in adult skeletal muscle; however, this study shows that a single bout of massage fails to increase protein synthesis or anabolic signaling in adult or aged skeletal muscle during normal, weight-bearing conditions. Altogether, our data suggest massage is a useful mechanotherapy for preserving skeletal muscle when combined with other interventions but is not an anabolic stimulus on its own.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves the Wound Healing Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells through Paracrine and Metabolism Alterations
Authors: Hersant Barbara , Sid-Ahmed Mounia , Braud Laura , Jourdan Maud , Baba-Amer Yasmine , Meningaud Jean-Paul , Rodriguez Anne-Marie
Published: October 2019

Chronic and acute nonhealing wounds represent a major public health problem, and replacement of cutaneous lesions by the newly regenerated skin is challenging. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were separately tested in the attempt to regenerate the lost skin. However, these treatments often remained inefficient to achieve complete wound healing. Additional studies suggested that PRP could be used in combination with MSC to improve the cell therapy efficacy for tissue repair. However, systematic studies related to the effects of PRP on MSC properties and their ability to rebuild skin barrier are lacking. We evaluated in a mouse exhibiting 4 full-thickness wounds, the skin repair ability of a treatment combining human adipose-derived MSC and human PRP by comparison to treatment with saline solution, PRP alone, or MSC alone. Wound healing in these animals was measured at day 3, day 7, and day 10. In addition, we examined in vitro and in vivo whether PRP alters in MSC their proangiogenic properties, their survival, and their proliferation. We showed that PRP improved the efficacy of engrafted MSC to replace lost skin in mice by accelerating the wound healing processes and ameliorating the elasticity of the newly regenerated skin. In addition, we found that PRP treatment stimulatedin vitro, in a dose-dependent manner, the proangiogenic potential of MSC through enhanced secretion of soluble factors like VEGF and SDF-1. Moreover, PRP treatment ameliorated the survival and activated the proliferation ofin vitrocultured MSC and that these effects were accompanied by an alteration of the MSC energetic metabolism including oxygen consumption rate and mitochondrial ATP production. Similar observations were foundin vivofollowing combined administration of PRP and MSC into mouse wounds. In conclusion, our study strengthens that the use of PRP in combination with MSC might be a safe alternative to aid wound healing.
Precision Forming Technology for Crimping of Large Straight Welded Pipes
Authors: Fan Li-feng , Liang Pei , Wang Ge , Gao Ying , Zhang Benguo
Published: October 2019

Crimping plays a pivotal role in the production of large-diameter submerged-arc welded pipes. In the crimping forming process, predicting the springback while considering the real-time variation of material parameters is a major challenge faced by many researchers, which has a direct impact on the quality of the welded pipe. To address this problem, the precision forming technology of crimping was developed. The engineering theory of plastic bending was used to investigate the crimping forming process. Two methods, namely, the slope reverse method and the optimization method, were adopted to identify the material parameters. The results showed that the inverted material parameters can be evaluated in real time based on the analytical model of crimping. The maximum relative error of the identification value is less than 4%. Therefore, the springback and displacement during crimping can be predicted dynamically to control the crimping forming quality. Thus, this project provides an important opportunity to achieve precise forming through crimping.
Screening for Stereopsis of Children Using an Autostereoscopic Smartphone
Authors: Yang Yanhui , Wu Huang
Published: October 2019

Background. The advantage of using an autostereoscopic smartphone is that it can achieve 3D effects without the need for glasses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether this technology could be utilized to detect stereoacuity. Methods. An autostereoscopic smartphone was used to imitate Lang stereotest I & II, Pass Test 3, Dinosaur Stereoacuity Test, and the Random Dot Stereo Acuity Test to screen the stereopsis of children from 3–6 years old. Results. No significant difference was found between each pair of groups (autostereoscopic smartphone vs. Lang stereotest I, Lang stereotest II, Pass Test 3, Dinosaur Stereoacuity Test, and Random Dot Stereo Acuity Test, respectively; Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P value all >0.05). All of the weighted kappa were higher than 0.84. Therefore, all of the comparisons between measurements showed a high level of agreement. Conclusions. The autostereoscopic smartphone is an effective tool when used for the screening of deficiency in stereopsis.
Succinate-Based Dietary Supplement for Menopausal Symptoms: A Pooled Analysis of Two Identical Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials
Authors: Radzinsky Viktor E. , Uspenskaya Yulia , Shulman Lee P. , Kuznetsova Irina V.
Published: October 2019

Background. To evaluate the efficacy of a succinate-based dietary supplement (SBDS; Amberen) in symptomatic menopausal women using a larger sample size derived by pooling data from two identical trials. Methods. Raw data were pooled from two identical randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 90-day clinical trials. Women aged 42–60 years with mild to moderate vasomotor and psychosomatic menopausal symptoms were included (114 in the treatment group and 113 in the placebo group). Symptoms were assessed by the Greene Climacteric Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Changes in body mass index, body weight, waist and hip circumferences, and plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, leptin, and apolipoproteins A1 and B were also evaluated. Results. SBDS use resulted in significant improvements in several endpoints including alleviation of 16 of 21 menopausal symptoms (p≤0.05, Greene Scale) and a decrease in anxiety (p<0.0001, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) when compared to placebo. Significant reductions were observed in weight, body mass index, and waist and hip circumferences in the supplement cohort. Evaluation of physiological parameters showed a significant increase in serum estradiol levels compared to baseline (p<0.0001) among users of the SBDS. Levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decreased slightly in both groups, without significant differences between the groups. Leptin levels decreased with statistical significance in the SBDS cohort compared to placebo (p=0.027). For those with initial leptin concentrations above the reference range, leptin decreased significantly in the SBDS group compared to the baseline (p<0.0001) and to placebo (p=0.027). Conclusions. The pooled analysis reaffirms the outcomes from the individual trials. A nonhormonal, succinate-based dietary supplement is shown to relieve menopausal symptoms when compared to a placebo regimen in a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial.
Multistep Degradation Tendency Prediction for Aircraft Engines Based on CEEMDAN Permutation Entropy and Improved Grey–Markov Model
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zhou Jianzhong , Xu Yanhe , Liu Jie , Shan Yahui
Published: October 2019

As an essential component and core power source of aircraft, the operational stability of aeroengine has important impact on system safety and reliability. Accurate degradation tendency prediction on an engine can not only improve its operational stability but also significantly reduce the maintenance costs. In this paper, a novel forecasting method that combines CEEMDAN permutation entropy and improved Grey–Markov model is proposed to perform multistep degradation tendency prediction of aircraft engines. In order to accurately quantify the degradation level of engines, a new integrated degradation index (IDI) is innovatively designed by multidimensional sensory data. And then, because of high speed and excellent performance, CEEMDAN algorithm is specifically employed to decompose the generated IDI series to eliminate the potential influence of stochastic fluctuations. Aiming at the complexity of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) generated by CEEMDAN, an IMFs reconstruction strategy based on permutation entropy is developed to better characterize the degradation states. Finally, on the basis of above achievements and for higher forecasting efficiency and accuracy, an improved Grey–Markov model combined with the moving window algorithm, which is unique, is constructed to realize multistep degradation trend prediction of engines. The proposed method is applied to the degradation tendency prediction of aircraft engines. The experimental results validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, and it is more suitable for engineering applications in comparison with other methods.
Application of a Promising Bone Graft Substitute in Bone Tissue Regeneration: Characterization, Biocompatibility, and In Vivo Animal Study
Authors: Wahyuningtyas Endang , Hsu Ling-Chuan , Lan Wen-Chien , Wen Shih-Cheng , Ou Keng-Liang , Chou Hsin-Hua , Huang Mao-Suan , Sugiatno Erwan
Published: October 2019

The purpose of the<?tex id="Q1" staff-cmt="It is very important for the corresponding author to have a linked ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) account on MTS. To register a linked ORCID account, please go to the Account Update page (http://mts.hindawi.com/update/) in our Manuscript Tracking System and after you have logged in click on the ORCID link at the top of the page. This link will take you to the ORCID website where you will be able to create an account for yourself. Once you have done so, your new ORCID will be saved in our Manuscript Tracking System automatically."?> present study was to investigate the effect of local hydroxyapatite (HA) combined with extracted sea cucumber (Stichopus hermanni) collagen as a promising bone graft substitute on bone remodeling. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and Sprague-Dawley rat model were used to characterize the microstructure, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo bone-healing properties of the investigated biocomposite material. Analytical results found that the hydrothermal reaction-synthesized local HA had a hexagonal close-packed structure. The addition of extracted S. hermanni collagen did not influence the microstructure and functional groups of the local HA. Moreover, the MTT assay indicated that the investigated biocomposite material possessed a good in vitro biocompatibility. The in vivo animal study also revealed that the investigated biocomposite material exhibited the highest number of osteoblasts after 14 days of healing. Therefore, the results demonstrate that the local HA combined with extracted S. hermanni collagen could potentially enhance osteoblast formation in promoting bone healing and regeneration.
Association between Metformin and a Lower Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Chen Yu-Yen , Shen Ying-Cheng , Lai Yun-Ju , Wang Chun-Yuan , Lin Keng-Hung , Feng Shih-Chao , Liang Chiao-Ying , Wei Li-Chen , Chou Pesus
Published: October 2019

Purpose. This population-based, retrospective cohort study was to investigate whether metformin is associated with a lower risk of subsequent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2013, 68205 subjects with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the study cohort. Among them, 45524 were metformin users and 22681 were nonusers. The metformin and nonmetformin groups were followed until the end of 2013. Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for AMD development associated with metformin use. Confounders included for adjustment were age, sex, and comorbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease, and insulin treatment). Furthermore, propensity score (PS) matching method was used to choose the matched sample, and PS-adjusted Cox regression was performed. Finally, how HRs changed according to metformin treatment duration and dose was also evaluated in the metformin group. Results. After adjusting for confounders, the metformin group had a significantly lower risk of AMD (adjusted HR = 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50–0.58). In the PS-matched sample, the significance remained (adjusted HR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.52–0.63). In the metformin group, the adjusted HRs for the second (1.5–4 years) and third (≥4 years) tertiles of metformin treatment duration were 0.52 and 0.14, respectively, compared with the first tertile (<1.5 years). We also found significant trends of lower HRs (all p-value for trend <0.05) with increasing total and average doses. Conclusions. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, those who use metformin are at a significantly lower risk of developing AMD relative to individuals who do not use metformin. Also, the trend of a significantly lower AMD risk was found with a higher dose of metformin.
Far-Infrared-Emitting Sericite Board Upregulates Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity through Increasing Biosynthesis of Tetrahydrobiopterin in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Kim Seonhee , Lee Ikjun , Song Hee-Jung , Choi Su-jeong , Nagar Harsha , Kim Sung-min , Jeon Byeong Hwa , Kim Book Sung , Park Hyun Jong , Piao Shuyu , Kim Cuk-Seong
Published: October 2019

Far-infrared ray (FIR) therapy has been reported to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular function by elevating endothelial nitric oxide synthesis (eNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a key determinant of eNOS-dependent NO synthesis in vascular endothelial cells. However, whether BH4 synthesis is associated with the effects of FIR on eNOS/NO production has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of FIR on BH4-dependent eNOS/NO production and vascular function. We used FIR-emitting sericite boards as an experimental material and placed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and Sprague–Dawley rats on the boards with or without FIR irradiation and then evaluated vascular relaxation by detecting NO generation, BH4 synthesis, and Akt/eNOS activation. Our results showed that FIR radiation significantly enhanced Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and NO production in human endothelial cells and aorta tissues. FIR can also induce BH4 storage by elevating levels of enzymes (e.g., guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase-1, 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydrobiopterin synthase, sepiapterin reductase, and dihydrofolate reductase), which ultimately results in NO production. These results indicate that FIR upregulated eNOS-dependent NO generation via BH4 synthesis and Akt phosphorylation, which contributes to the regulation of vascular function. This might develop potential clinical application of FIR to treat vascular diseases by augmenting the BH4/NO pathway.
FoxO1 Overexpression Ameliorates TNF-α-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Osteogenesis of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells via Antioxidant Defense Activation
Authors: Huang Xiaojun , Chen Huan , Xie Yunyi , Cao Zeyuan , Lin Xuefeng , Wang Yan
Published: October 2019

Periodontitis is a chronic disease that includes the pathologic loss of periodontal tissue and alveolar bone. The inflammatory environment in periodontitis impairs the osteogenic differentiation potential and depresses the regeneration capacity of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). Since Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) plays an important role in redox balance and bone formation, we investigated the role of FoxO1 in oxidative stress resistance and osteogenic differentiation in an inflammatory environment by overexpressing FoxO1 in hPDLSCs. First, we found that FoxO1 overexpression reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and elevated antioxidant potential under oxidative condition. Next, the overexpression of FoxO1 protected hPDLSCs against oxidative damage, which involved stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Third, overexpressed FoxO1 promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization and increased the expression of the osteogenic markers Runx2 and SP7 in the inflammatory environment. These results indicated that FoxO1 overexpression in hPDLSCs has an anti-inflammatory effect, increases antioxidative capacity, and positively regulates osteogenesis in a mimicked inflammatory environment.
Stability Analysis of Fractional‐Order Bidirectional Associative Memory Neural Networks with Mixed Time‐Varying Delays
Authors: Yang Zhanying , Zhang Jie
Published: October 2019

This paper studies the stability analysis of fractional‐order bidirectional associative memory neural networks with mixed time‐varying delays. The orders of these systems lie in the interval (1,2). Firstly, a sufficient condition is derived to ensure the finite‐time stability of systems by resorting to some analytical techniques and some elementary inequalities. Next, a sufficient condition is obtained to guarantee the global asymptotic stability of systems based on the Laplace transform, the mean value theorem, the generalized Gronwall inequality, and some properties of Mittag–Leffler functions. In particular, these obtained conditions are expressed as some algebraic inequalities which can be easily calculated in practical applications. Finally, some numerical examples are given to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the obtained main results.
A Novel Method for Risk Assessment of Cable Fires in Utility Tunnel
Authors: He Leping , Ma Guoli , Hu Qijun , Cai Qijie , Bai Yu , Tang Shuang , Tan Jie
Published: October 2019

Given the flammability of power cables and the high cost of utility tunnel construction, power cable fires cause serious economic losses and are associated with a negative social impact. In the study, a weighted fuzzy Petri net and an event tree are combined to propose a quantitative evaluation method to mitigate cable fire risks in a utility tunnel. First, cable fire risk factors are analyzed. Given the lack of utility tunnel cable fire historical data, fuzzy theory is used to calculate the failure probability of the primary event. Second, a weighted fuzzy Petri net is used for fuzzy reasoning, and an event tree is used to analyze all possible consequences. Subsequently, the numerical simulation method is used to quantify the loss from the cable fire and thereby quantify the risk of cable fire. Finally, the effect of different risk factors on a cable fire is analyzed to determine the main factors that affect cable fires. Simultaneously, the control ability of different control measures with respect to the fire is analyzed to determine key control measures. A case study of a utility tunnel cable cabin in Liupanshui in Guizhou is employed to validate the utility of the proposed method.
Fabrication and Characteristics of Mn@ Cu3(BTC)2 for Low-Temperature Catalytic Reduction of NOx with NH3
Authors: Yao Zhuo , Qu Dianli , Guo Yuxiang , Yang Yujing , Huang Hong
Published: October 2019

Novel catalysts with high activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3-SCR) at low temperatures are highly demanded. In this study, mixed-node metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), e.g. Mn@CuBTC with controlled Mn composition in Cu3(BTC)2, were fabricated using postsynthetic exchange method and their structural characteristics and catalytic performances for NH3-SCR reaction were assessed. A series of analyses in terms of structure, surface morphology, texture, and chemical state determined that Mn ions were successfully incorporated into the Cu3(BTC)2 crystal lattice as well as adsorbed on the walls of nanopores in the framework. The pore sizes can be finely tuned in the presence of Mn ions in the cages, which significantly suppressed water adsorption. The NH3-SCR activity of Mn@CuBTC exhibited nearly 100% NOx conversion rate in the temperature range (230–260°C). The superior NH3-SCR performance is attributed to the proper pore sizes, reduced water content, and the synergistic effect between manganese and copper ions in the MOF structure, which enhanced NH3 bound to the active Lewis sites.
Effects of Direct Current Administration on Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale in Patients with Axillary Hyperhidrosis
Authors: Şener Serpil , Karakoç Yunus
Published: October 2019

Background. Focal hyperhidrosis mostly affects the axillae, hands, feet, and face. For the management, several techniques are used. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of direct current administration on the hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS) in patients with axillary hyperhidrosis that have various HDSS scores. Design and Setting. Original article, University Hospital. Methods. Sixty patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis were inquired about the HDSS scores and the scores were noted at the onset and at the end of the 10th application. One month after the last session, HDSS scores were also inquired. At the end of 1-month follow-up, the patients whose HDSS scores rose after the 10th session were accepted as nonresponder. For the current delivery, a new iontophoresis application module (Sweat CureR) designed by Dr. Karakoc was used. Results. Direct current application decreased axillary sweat intensity by 70% at both sides, and lowered the HDSS by about 1.5 degree. Major reduction in sweat intensity was in the patients with low HDSS scores (75%). Negative correlation was found between initial HDSS scores and median values of decreased sweat intensity (r=−0.317, p=0.022). Minimal temporary side effects including skin irritation and one or more vesicle formation were inspected in 29 patients and, the permanent punctual pigmentation was observed only in one patient. Conclusions. Decrease in axillary hyperhidrosis is satisfactory for these patients. Since iontophoresis application has beneficial effect and minimal side effects, it should be recommended to the patients before advanced management or surgical techniques.
Hypothyroidism is Not Associated with Keratoconus Disease: Analysis of 626 Subjects
Authors: Flaskó Zsuzsa , Zemova Elena , Eppig Timo , Módis László , Langenbucher Achim , Wagenpfeil Stefan , Seitz Berthold , Szentmáry Nóra
Published: October 2019

Purpose. To analyze the association between hypothyroidism and keratoconus, we examined blood thyroid hormone levels and corneal tomographic parameters in healthy subjects and patients with keratoconus.Methods. We included 626 subjects (304 left eyes, 49%; 431 males, 69%; age 38.4 ± 14.3 y). Patients with keratoconus were from our Homburg Keratoconus Center (HKC) (n = 463); patients with hypothyroidism were from the Department of Internal Medicine of Saarland Medical University, Homburg/Saar, Germany (n = 75); and healthy subjects were from the Department of Ophthalmology of Saarland University Medical Center (n = 88). We included only one randomly selected eye of each subject and the first examination data.Exclusion criteria.Previous thyroid medication, previous ocular surgery, and patients with suspected keratoconus (topographic keratoconus classification, [TKC]: 0 < 1). Patient eyes were classified (TKC) with dedicated, instrument-based, keratoconus detection software provided with the Pentacam. TKC = 0 was considered “normal,” and TKCs ≥ 1 were considered keratoconus. Subjects were also classified as euthyroid or hypothyroid, based on blood thyroid hormone status (i.e., TSH, FT3, and FT4). A multiple logistic linear regression model was constructed to determine the effects of age (covariate), gender, and hypothyroidism (effect sizes) on “TKC-positive” disease.Results. The significance levels for a constant parameter, sex, thyroid condition, and age werep<0.0001,p<0.0001,p<0.0001, andp=0.003, respectively. The odds ratios for age, sex, and hypothyroidism were 0.98, 3.05, and 3.34, respectively. Male sex and a euthyroid condition had significantly positive, clinically relevant effects, and age had a significantly negative, but clinically irrelevant effect on the estimated TKC index.Conclusions. Keratoconus appeared to occur more often in patients classified as euthyroid than in patients with hypothyroidism. Thus, hypothyroidism alone could not support the development of keratoconus. Based on these results, it should not be mandatory to screen patients with hypothyroidism for keratoconus or patients with keratoconus for hypothyroidism.
H-Ferritin Affects Cisplatin-Induced Cytotoxicity in Ovarian Cancer Cells through the Modulation of ROS
Authors: Salatino Alessandro , Aversa Ilenia , Battaglia Anna Martina , Sacco Alessandro , Di Vito Anna , Santamaria Gianluca , Chirillo Roberta , Veltri Pierangelo , Tradigo Giuseppe , Di Cello Annalisa , Venturella Roberta , Biamonte Flavia , Costanzo Francesco
Published: October 2019

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediates cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in tumor cells. However, when cisplatin-induced ROS do not reach cytotoxic levels, cancer cells may develop chemoresistance. This phenomenon can be attributed to the inherited high expression of antioxidant protein network. H-Ferritin is an important member of the antioxidant system due to its ability to store iron in a nontoxic form. Altered expression of H-Ferritin has been described in ovarian cancers; however, its functional role in cisplatin-based chemoresistance of this cancer type has never been explored. Here, we investigated whether the modulation of H-Ferritin might affect cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells. First, we characterized OVCAR3 and OVCAR8 cells for their relative ROS and H-Ferritin baseline amounts. OVCAR3 exhibited lower ROS levels compared to OVCAR8 and greater expression of H-Ferritin. In addition, OVCAR3 showed pronounced growth potential and survival accompanied by the strong activation of pERK/pAKT and overexpression of c-Myc and cyclin E1. When exposed to different concentrations of cisplatin, OVCAR3 were less sensitive than OVCAR8. At the lowest concentration of cisplatin (6 μM), OVCAR8 underwent a consistent apoptosis along with a downregulation of H-Ferritin and a consistent increase of ROS levels; on the other hand, OVCAR3 cells were totally unresponsive, H-Ferritin was almost unaffected, and ROS amounts met a slight increase. Thus, we assessed whether the modulation of H-Ferritin levels was able to affect the cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity in both the cell lines. H-Ferritin knockdown strengthened cisplatin-mediated ROS increase and significantly restored sensitivity to 6 μM cisplatin in resistant OVCAR3 cells. Conversely, forced overexpression of H-Ferritin significantly suppressed the cisplatin-mediated elevation of intracellular ROS subsequently leading to a reduced responsiveness in OVCAR8 cells. Overall, our findings suggest that H-Ferritin might be a key protein in cisplatin-based chemoresistance and that its inhibition may represent a potential approach for enhancing cisplatin sensitivity of resistant ovarian cancer cells.
Joint Image Deblurring and Matching with Blurred Invariant‐Based Sparse Representation Prior
Authors: Shao Yuanjie , Sang Nong , Peng Juncai , Gao Changxin
Published: October 2019

Image matching is important for vision‐based navigation. However, most image matching approaches do not consider the degradation of the real world, such as image blur; thus, the performance of image matching often decreases greatly. Recent methods try to deal with this problem by utilizing a two‐stage framework—first resorting to image deblurring and then performing image matching, which is effective but depends heavily on the quality of image deblurring. An emerging way to resolve this dilemma is to perform image deblurring and matching jointly, which utilize sparse representation prior to explore the correlation between deblurring and matching. However, these approaches obtain the sparse representation prior in the original pixel space, which do not adequately consider the influence of image blurring and thus may lead to an inaccurate estimation of sparse representation prior. Fortunately, we can extract the pseudo‐Zernike moment with blurred invariant from images and obtain a reliable sparse representation prior in the blurred invariant space. Motivated by the observation, we propose a joint image deblurring and matching method with blurred invariant‐based sparse representation prior (JDM‐BISR), which obtains the sparse representation prior in the robust blurred invariant space rather than the original pixel space and thus can effectively improve the quality of image deblurring and the accuracy of image matching. Moreover, since the dimension of the pseudo‐Zernike moment is much lower than the original image feature, our model can also increase the computational efficiency. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method performs favorably against the state‐of‐the‐art blurred image matching approach.
A Deep Learning Model for Concrete Dam Deformation Prediction Based on RS-LSTM
Authors: Qu Xudong , Yang Jie , Chang Meng
Published: October 2019

Deformation is a comprehensive reflection of the structural state of a concrete dam, and research on prediction models for concrete dam deformation provides the basis for safety monitoring and early warning strategies. This paper focuses on practical problems such as multicollinearity among factors; the subjectivity of factor selection; robustness, externality, generalization, and integrity deficiencies; and the unsoundness of evaluation systems for prediction models. Based on rough set (RS) theory and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network, single-point and multipoint concrete dam deformation prediction models for health monitoring based on RS-LSTM are studied. Moreover, a new prediction model evaluation system is proposed, and the model accuracy, robustness, externality, and generalization are defined as quantitative evaluation indexes. An engineering project shows that the concrete dam deformation prediction models based on RS-LSTM can quantitatively obtain the representative factors that affect dam deformation and the importance of each factor relative to the effect. The accuracy evaluation index (AVI), robustness evaluation index (RVI), externality evaluation index (EVI), and generalization evaluation index (GVI) of the model are superior to the evaluation indexes of existing shallow neural network models and statistical models according to the new evaluation system, which can estimate the comprehensive performance of prediction models. The prediction model for concrete dam deformation based on RS-LSTM optimizes the factors that influence the model, quantitatively determines the importance of each factor, and provides high-performance, synchronous, and dynamic predictions for concrete dam behaviours; therefore, the model has strong engineering practicality.
Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Ocular Findings in an Isolated Brazilian Group with an Identified Genetic Cluster
Authors: Schelini Maria Claudia , Chaves Luis Fernando O. B. , Toledo Marcia C. , Rodrigues Francisco W. , de Oliveira Tauan , Isaac David L. C. , Avila Marcos
Published: October 2019

Purpose. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by increased susceptibility to UV radiation- (UVR-) induced skin pigmentation, skin cancers, ocular surface disease, and, in some patients, sunburn and neurological degeneration. Eight different genes are affected, and the prevalence of the disease differs across the world. The present study describes the main ophthalmologic features and symptoms in patients with XP in this case series. Methods. Patients were examined consecutively at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Goias between January 2016 and June 2018. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examination and were asked about their ophthalmological history and the presence of ocular symptoms. Results. Twenty-one patients with genetic confirmation were evaluated. The genetic variants XPV and XPC were detected in the patients. The most prevalent findings include eyelid changes, observed in 80.9% of the patients, and ocular surface changes as punctate keratopathy, occurring in 16 patients (76.2%), corneal neovascularization, and corneal opacities. Six patients (28.5%) presented corneoconjunctival tumor. More than half of patients had previous history of treatment of ocular neoplasia. Ocular burning was the most reported symptom. Conclusions. The ocular characteristics identified in this study corroborate the existing literature, mainly related to the surface. Concerning the XP variant and the gravity of ocular signs, XPC has earlier and more severe symptoms than XPV. Due to their relative rarity, publications of XP cases are important to understand the possible damages caused by the disease in the eyes and surrounding area.
Research and Economic Analysis of the Source‐Load Coordination of Oil Shale Exploitation
Authors: Yang Xiyun , Zhang Le , Ye Tianze , Yang Yuwei , Wang Yiwei , Su Jianzheng
Published: October 2019

In‐situ exploitation of oil shale by electric heating consumes large amounts of electricity. Under the existing dispatch system, using wind power output and photovoltaic power output to support the exploitation of oil shale can promote renewable energy use, reduce the consumption of coal and other fossil fuels, and protect the environment from pollution. In this study, the characteristics of the wind power and photovoltaic power output are analyzed, and the correlation between the power outputs is evaluated using the copula function. The load of exploiting oil shale is presented. In order to match the heating load characteristics of oil shale exploitation, a particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to optimize the heating temperature of the heated well to minimize the cost. An economic analysis is conducted of five different power supply combinations, including wind power, photovoltaic power, and the existing power grid. The income ratio of the five modes is calculated using actual data of a project in Jilin province in China, and the feasibility of in‐situ electric heating by wind power, photovoltaic power, and the power grid is determined. The results of this study provide useful references for decision makers to plan the power supply scheme for in‐situ oil shale exploitation.
Influence of Small, Clear Distance Cross‐Tunnel Blasting Excavation on Existing Tunnel below
Authors: Duan Baofu , Gong Weizeng , Ta Guoshan , Yang Xuxu , Zhang Xuewei
Published: October 2019

The vibration effect generated during tunnel excavation can influence or damage adjacent tunnels. Studying and controlling the blasting vibration effect has important theoretical and practical significance, especially for new tunnels. This paper takes the tunnel project of Gao Jiu Lu‐Jia Hua Cross Tunnel in Chongqing as the research background and assesses the blasting vibration influence in the up‐down cross‐tunnel. Onsite monitoring and numerical simulation were used to analyze peak particle velocity (PPV) changes, stress distribution, and crown settlement during the excavation process of Gao Jiu Lu I Tunnel at Jia Hua Tunnel Left Line in the cross‐section. Influence laws of blasting excavation in a small, clear distance cross‐tunnel on an existing tunnel below were obtained. Results show that new tunnel blasting vibrations exerted the largest influence on the crown of the existing tunnel below in the cross‐section. The maximum tensile stress of the secondary lining of the existing tunnel below was mainly concentrated in the crown area. The maximum compressive stress during excavation was concentrated in the crown foot, and the stress value was less than the tensile and compressive strength of the concrete. The loosening of the surrounding rock from blasting excavation of the new tunnel caused secondary settlement of the existing tunnel crown below. The cumulative settlement value at the cross‐section of the two tunnels was the largest. With an increase in axial distance from the cross‐section of the existing tunnel crown, the settlement value gradually declined and became stable. These research results have reference value for the construction of a small, clear distance cross‐tunnel and provide theoretical guidance for similar tunnel excavation projects in the future.
Cudraxanthone D Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Autophagy Inhibition in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Yu Su-Bin , Kang Hae-Mi , Park Dan-Bi , Park Bong-Soo , Kim In-Ryoung
Published: October 2019

Cudraxanthone D (CD), derived from the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata, is a natural xanthone compound. However, the biological activity of CD in terms of human metabolism has been barely reported to date. Autophagy is known as a self-degradation process related to cancer cell viability and metastasis. Herein, we investigated the effects of CD on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastatic related cell phenotype. We confirmed that CD effectively decreased proliferation and viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner in human OSCC cells. In addition, OSCC cell migration, invasion, and EMT were inhibited by CD. To further determine the underlying mechanism of CD’s inhibition of cell metastatic potential, we established the relationship between EMT and autophagy in OSCC cells. Thus, our findings indicated that CD inhibited the potential metastatic abilities of OSCC cells by attenuating autophagy.
Assessment of Performance of Posidona oceanica (L.) as Biosorbent for Crude Oil-Spill Cleanup in Seawater
Authors: Ben Jmaa Senda , Kallel Amjad
Published: October 2019

The marine environment is constantly at risk of pollution by hydrocarbon spills that requires its cleanup to protect the environment and human health. Posidonia oceanica (L.) (PO) beach balls, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea and abundant on the beaches, are used as biosorbent to remove hydrocarbons from the sea. The impact of several factors such as oil concentration, time sorption, and weight sorbent was investigated to determine the oil and water sorption capacity for raw and milled P. oceanica fibers. The study of kinetic models for initial crude oil concentration of 2.5, 5, 8.8, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 g/L revealed that crude uptake followed the pseudo-first-order model while, for isotherm models, the crude uptake onto the P. oceanica tended to fit the Langmuir model. Experiments were performed according to two systems: a pure oil and pure water system and a mixed oil/water system. For the dry system (pure oil and pure water), the maximum oil and water sorption capacity of raw and milled fibers was found to be 5.5 g/g and 14 g/g for oil and 14.95 g/g and 15.84 g/g for water, respectively, whereas, in the mixed oil/water system, the maximum oil and water sorption capacity was estimated as 4.74 g/g, 12.80 g/g and 7.41 g/g, 8.31 g/g, respectively. The results showed that, in spite of their absorbency of a lot of water, the milled fibers with grain size ranging between 0.5 mm and 1 mm might be the relevant sorbent for the elimination of crude oil from seawater thanks to its efficient sorption capacity and low cost.
Diagnostic Value of Machine Learning-Based Quantitative Texture Analysis in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Colakoglu Bulent , Alis Deniz , Yergin Mert
Published: October 2019

Aim. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of machine learning- (ML-) based quantitative texture analysis in the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Materials and methods. A sum of 306 quantitative textural features of 235 thyroid nodules (102 malignant, 43.4%; 133 benign, 56.4%) of a total of 198 patients were investigated using the random forest ML classifier. Feature selection and dimension reduction were conducted using reproducibility testing and a wrapper method. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC) of the proposed method were compared with the histopathological or cytopathological findings as reference methods. Results. Of the 306 initial texture features, 284 (92.2%) showed good reproducibility (intraclass correlation ≥0.80). The random forest classifier accurately identified 87 out of 102 malignant thyroid nodules and 117 out of 133 benign thyroid nodules, which is a diagnostic sensitivity of 85.2%, specificity of 87.9%, and accuracy of 86.8%. The AUC of the model was 0.92. Conclusions. Quantitative textural analysis of thyroid nodules using ML classification can accurately discriminate benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Our findings should be validated by multicenter prospective studies using completely independent external data.