bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐ and early postnatal nicotine exposure exacerbates autoresuscitation failure in serotonin‐deficient rat neonates
Authors: Lee Stella Y. , Sirieix Chrystelle M. , Nattie Eugene , Li Aihua
Published: July 2018

Key points

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of death during the first year of life and abnormalities linked to serotonin (5‐HT) have been identified in many SIDS cases.

Cigarette smoking and associated exogenous stressors, e.g. developmental nicotine exposure, may compound these serotonergic defects and any associated defects in cardiorespiratory function.

Using neonatal rodent pups subjected to medullary 5‐HT deficiency and perinatal nicotine exposure, we examined the impact of this interplay of factors on the neonates’ ability to autoresuscitate at specific ages.

In perinatal nicotine‐exposed 5‐HT deficient pups, impaired autoresuscitation along with significantly delayed post‐anoxic recovery of normal breathing and heart rate was observed at postnatal day 10 (P10).

We found that the interaction between 5‐HT deficiency and perinatal nicotine exposure can significantly increase pups’ vulnerability to environmental stressors and exacerbate defects in cardiorespiratory protective reflexes to repetitive anoxia during the development period.

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and nicotine replacements, a key ingredient of cigarettes, have been recently prescribed to women who wish to quit smoking during their pregnancy. Serotonin (5‐HT) abnormalities have been consistently identified in many SIDS cases. Here we investigated the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure in mild 5‐HT deficiency rat neonates on autoresuscitation, a protective cardiorespiratory reflex. The mild 5‐HT deficiency was induced by a maternal tryptophan‐deficient diet, and nicotine was delivered from embryonic day (E) 4 to postnatal day (P) 10 at 6 mg kg−1 day−1 through an osmotic pump. In P10 rats, nicotine exposure exacerbates autoresuscitation failure (mortality) in mildly 5‐HT‐deficient rats to a greater extent than in controls (P = 0.029). The recovery of eupnoea and heart rate to baseline values following repetitive anoxic events (which elicit an apnoea accompanied by a bradycardia) is significantly delayed in 5‐HT‐deficient rats treated with nicotine, making them more susceptible to failure of autoresuscitation (eupnoea recovery: P = 0.0053; heart rate recovery: P = < 0.0001). Neither 5‐HT deficiency nor nicotine exposure alone appears to affect the ability to autoresuscitate significantly when compared among the four treatments. The increased vulnerability to environmental stressors, e.g. severe hypoxia, asphyxia, or anoxia, in these nicotine‐exposed 5‐HT‐deficient neonates during postnatal developmental period is evident.
Physical Literacy (Mis)understandings: What do Leading Physical Education Teachers Know About Physical Literacy?
Authors: Robinson Daniel B. , Randall Lynn , Barrett Joe
Published: July 2018

Physical literacy is a term and concept that has, in recent years, been gaining in both usage and popularity in many physical education (PE) contexts. However, discussion, writing, and understanding of physical literacy have been marked by uncertainty, confusion, or resistance. Since physical literacy can be found in several curricular documents and outcome statements, it would certainly be ideal for PE teachers to share a common understanding. This article reports on a qualitative case study in which 12 lead PE teachers from four Canadian provinces were interviewed, the purpose of which was to acquire knowledge about PE teachers’ understanding of physical literacy. Results suggest that these leaders are largely unable to articulate conceptions of physical literacy that are in line with contemporary perspectives. In light of these findings, a discussion about these physical literacy (mis)understandings is also offered.
SssP1, a Streptococcus suis Fimbria-Like Protein Transported by the SecY2/A2 System, Contributes to Bacterial Virulence
Authors: Zhang Yue , Lu Pengpeng , Pan Zihao , Zhu Yinchu , Ma Jiale , Zhong Xiaojun , Dong Wenyang , Lu Chengping , Yao Huochun
Published: July 2018

Streptococcus suis
is an important zoonotic pathogen. Here, we managed to identify key factors to clarify the virulence of
S. suis
strain CZ130302 from a novel serotype, Chz. Notably, it was shown that a fimbria-like structure was significantly connected to the pathogenicity of the CZ130302 strain by comparative genomics analysis and animal infection assays. The mechanisms of how the CZ130302 strain constructs these fimbria-like structures in the cell surface by genes encoding and production transport were subsequently elucidated. Biosynthesis of the fimbria-like structure was achieved by the production of SssP1 glycoproteins, and its construction was dependent on the SecA2/Y2 secretion system. This study identified a visible fimbria-like protein, SssP1, participating in adhesion to host cells and contributing to the virulence in
S. suis
. These findings will promote a better understanding of the pathogenesis of
S. suis
.
Mutant Cellular AP-1 Proteins Promote Expression of a Subset of Epstein-Barr Virus Late Genes in the Absence of Lytic Viral DNA Replication
Authors: Lyons Danielle E. , Yu Kuan-Ping , Vander Heiden Jason A. , Heston Lee , Dittmer Dirk P. , El-Guindy Ayman , Miller George
Published: July 2018

Mutant c-Jun and c-Fos proteins selectively activate expression of EBV lytic genes, including a subgroup of viral late genes, in the absence of viral DNA replication. These findings indicate that newly synthesized viral DNA is not invariably required for viral late gene expression. While viral DNA replication may be obligatory for late gene expression driven by viral transcription factors, it does not limit the ability of cellular transcription factors to activate expression of some viral late genes. Our results show that expression of all late genes may not be strictly dependent on viral lytic DNA replication. The c-Fos A151S mutation has been identified in a human cancer. c-Fos A151S in combination with wild-type c-Jun activates the EBV lytic cycle. Our data provide proof of principle that mutant cellular transcription factors could cause aberrant regulation of viral lytic cycle gene expression and play important roles in EBV-associated diseases.
185: KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION (KT) AND EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE (EBM): A PRACTICAL CONFLICT
Authors: Azimi Ali , Sanatjoo Azam , Dayani Mohammad Hossein , Fattahi Rahmatollah , Nowkarizi Mohsen
Published: July 2018

Background and aims:

Knowledge translation (KT) tries to bridge the gap between knowledge production and consumption by targeting the knowledge users and shortening the period of conveying research results to practice. Evidence based medicine (EBM) is the righteous use of accumulated evidence to guide clinical decisions. Therefore, while KT tools are designed to expedite consumption of newly carried-out research, conscientious use of conducted research is hinted at EBM studies. Thus, the primary goal of this study is re-examining KT and EBM foundations to make a clear understanding of how these two apparently conflicting areas in medicine can join forces to improve health practice.

Methods:

This is a historical research which uses KT and EBM related studies and documents to find about foundations and strategies taken in KT and EBM. Thus, a comprehensive review of related literature was conducted and all possible approaches identified. Also a 3 round Delphi method was conducted and results were discussed categorically.

Results:

Very similar to the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, there is a pyramid of research types based on studies' contribution to accumulation of evidence so that systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies are on top and basic research studies at the bottom. Therefore, moving from bottom to top to reach to a reasonable body of evidence is very time consuming and this fact contradicts with KT purposes. However, we found some solutions to overcome to this paradoxical problem, some of them including: online publishing with short intervals between issues (weekly, semiweekly or monthly) or optimally online continuous updated publishing, and more attention to systematic reviews and meta-analysis so that they could be performed for shorter periods of time (e.g. annual or semi-annual).

Conclusion:

A successful health system would be reachable through considering both KT and EBM criteria. While KT mainly focuses on the developing best knowledge targeting the right audience in a short possible time, EBM focuses on the quality of knowledge directed to clinical decisions.
Sport and dance interventions for healthy young people (15–24 years) to promote subjective well-being: a systematic review
Authors: Mansfield Louise , Kay Tess , Meads Catherine , Grigsby-Duffy Lily , Lane Jack , John Alistair , Daykin Norma , Dolan Paul , Testoni Stefano , Julier Guy , Payne Annette , Tomlinson Alan , Victor Christina
Published: July 2018

Objective

To review and assess effectiveness of sport and dance participation on subjective well-being outcomes among healthy young people aged 15–24 years.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

We searched for studies published in any language between January 2006 and September 2016 on PsychINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, Eric, Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Science and Science Citation Index), Scopus, PILOTS, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and International Index to Performing Arts. Additionally, we searched for unpublished (grey) literature via an online call for evidence, expert contribution, searches of key organisation websites and the British Library EThOS database, and a keyword Google search. Published studies of sport or dance interventions for healthy young people aged 15–24 years where subjective well-being was measured were included. Studies were excluded if participants were paid professionals or elite athletes, or if the intervention was clinical sport/dance therapy. Two researchers extracted data and assessed strength and quality of evidence using criteria in the What Works Centre for Wellbeing methods guide and GRADE, and using standardised reporting forms. Due to clinical heterogeneity between studies, meta-analysis was not appropriate. Grey literature in the form of final evaluation reports on empirical data relating to sport or dance interventions were included.

Results

Eleven out of 6587 articles were included (7 randomised controlled trials and 1 cohort study, and 3 unpublished grey evaluation reports). Published literature suggests meditative physical activity (yoga and Baduanjin Qigong) and group-based or peer-supported sport and dance has some potential to improve subjective well-being. Grey literature suggests sport and dance improve subjective well-being but identify negative feelings of competency and capability. The amount and quality of published evidence on sport and dance interventions to enhance subjective well-being is low.

Conclusions

Meditative activities, group and peer-supported sport and dance may promote subjective well-being enhancement in youth. Evidence is limited. Better designed studies are needed.

Trial registration number

CRD42016048745; Results.
Various Bifurcation Phenomena in a Nonlinear Curved Beam Subjected to Base Harmonic Excitation
Authors: Huang Jianliang , Su Kai Leung Ray , Lee Yiu Yin Raymond , Chen Shuhui
Published: July 2018

Various bifurcation phenomena in a nonlinear curved beam subjected to base harmonic excitation, which is governed by a coupled nonlinear equation with both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities, are investigated using the incremental harmonic balance (IHB) method. The nonlinear partial differential equation that governs the motion of the curved beam is given using Hamilton’s principle. A spatially discretized governing equation is derived using Galerkin’s method, yielding a set of second-order nonlinear ordinary different equations. A high-dimensional model that can take nonlinear model coupling into account is derived. Specific attention is paid to the different bifurcation phenomena of frequency responses and amplitude responses of the system without and with an anti-symmetric mode being excited. Numerical results reveal the rich and interesting diverse bifurcation phenomena that have not been presented in the existent literature on the nonlinear vibration of the curved beam system. Saddle-node, Hopf, and period-doubling bifurcations are observed without an anti-symmetric mode being excited. Besides, a symmetry-breaking bifurcation is observed with an anti-symmetric mode being excited. Furthermore, the phase portraits and bifurcation points obtained by the IHB method agree very well with those obtained by the numerical integration using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method.
Hunting Cooperation in a Discrete-Time Predator–Prey System
Authors: Pal Saheb , Pal Nikhil , Chattopadhyay Joydev
Published: July 2018

The present paper mainly investigates the impact of hunting cooperation in a discrete-time predator–prey system through numerical simulations. We show that without hunting cooperation, an increase in the growth rate of prey population produces chaotic dynamics. We also show that hunting cooperation has the potential to modify the well-known period-doubling route to chaos by reverse period-halving bifurcations and makes the system stable. However, very high hunting cooperation can be detrimental and populations go to extinction. We observe that hunting cooperation induces strong demographic Allee effect in the system, where predator population persists due to hunting cooperation and would go to extinction without hunting cooperation. We perform extensive numerical simulations of the system and draw phase portraits, bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponents, two-parameter stability regions. We also observe the occurrence of flip and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations by taking the hunting cooperation rate as a bifurcation parameter.
Constructing Discrete Chaotic Systems with Positive Lyapunov Exponents
Authors: Wang Chuanfu , Fan Chunlei , Ding Qun
Published: July 2018

The chaotic system is widely used in chaotic cryptosystem and chaotic secure communication. In this paper, a universal method for designing the discrete chaotic system with any desired number of positive Lyapunov exponents is proposed to meet the needs of hyperchaotic systems in chaotic cryptosystem and chaotic secure communication, and three examples of eight-dimensional discrete system with chaotic attractors, eight-dimensional discrete system with fixed point attractors and eight-dimensional discrete system with periodic attractors are given to illustrate how the proposed methods control the Lyapunov exponents. Compared to the previous methods, the positive Lyapunov exponents are used to reconstruct a hyperchaotic system.
Initial State Dependent Nonsmooth Bifurcations in a Fractional-Order Memristive Circuit
Authors: Yu Yajuan , Wang Zaihua
Published: July 2018

In this paper, Chua’s circuit model with a fractional-order memristor is proposed and investigated from the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamics. Unlike the previous fractional-order models as generalizations of integer-order memristive Chua’s circuit in the literature, by replacing all the first-order derivatives in the system equation with fractional-order derivatives, the proposed model has only one fractional-order derivative in the system equation, introduced on the basis of a physical observation. Stability and bifurcation are analyzed for a sub-system, and numerical simulation is done for the whole circuit system. “Intermittent chaos” resulting from tangent bifurcation or grazing bifurcation is found numerically, for which limit cycle and chaotic attractor switch with very high frequency. This is a typical feature of nonsmooth dynamic systems, and the nonsmoothness is caused mainly by the fractional-order derivative.
Bifurcation in Transmission Networks Under Variation of Link Capacity
Authors: Wu Jiajing , Zhang Xi , Ma Shicong , Rong Zhihai , Tse Chi K.
Published: July 2018

Much research attention has been devoted to the investigation of how the structure of a network affects its intended performance. However, conclusions drawn from the previous studies are often inconsistent and even contradictory. In order to identify the causes of these diverse results and to explore the impact of network topology on performance, we apply the concept of bifurcation in dynamical systems and consider the effect of varying a crucial parameter for networks of different structures. In this paper, we study transmission networks and identify the capacity setting as the parameter. Upon varying this parameter, the behavioral change of the network is observed. Specifically, we focus on communication networks and power grids, and study the improvement or degradation of robustness of such networks under variation of link capacity. We observe that the effect of increasing link capacity on robustness differs for different networks, and a bifurcation point exists in some cases which divides regions of opposite robustness behavior. Our work demonstrates that capacity settings play a crucially important role in determining how network structure affects the intended performance of transmission networks, and clarifies the previous reported contradictory results.
Assessment of Ocular Surface Damage during the Course of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: He Fanglin , Zhao Zhanlin , Liu Yan , Lu Linna , Fu Yao
Published: July 2018

Purpose. To investigate the impact of disease duration on the ocular surface during the course of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with nondiabetic controls. Methods. One hundred twenty diabetic patients were divided into three groups according to disease duration: less than 5 years, 5–10 years, and over 10 years. All eyes were imaged using a corneal topographer (Oculus Keratograph 5M). Tear film measurements and meibography were also recorded. Meibomian gland changes were scored from 0 to 6 (meiboscore). Results. The noninvasive breakup time first (NIKBUT-1st) and noninvasive breakup time average (NIKBUT-avg) were significantly shorter in the over 10 years diabetic group compared with the control group (P=0.0056  and  P=0.010, resp.). Tear meniscus height (TMH) was significantly lower in the over 10 years diabetic group compared with the control group (P=0.0016) and the 5 years group (P=0.0061). We also found that more patients in the over 10 years diabetic group showed bulbar and limbal hyperemia compared with the control group (bulbar hyperemia: P=0.049; limbal hyperemia: P=0.026). The meiboscore in the over 10 years diabetic group was significantly higher compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). Bulbar hyperemia showed a significant negative correlation with NIKBUT-1st in the over 10 years diabetic group (r=−0.35  and  P<0.05). Conclusion. Ocular surface damage in long-term type 2 diabetes is more severe than that in patients with shorter disease duration.
Growth Responses and Photosynthetic Indices of Bamboo Plant (Indocalamus latifolius) under Heavy Metal Stress
Authors: Emamverdian Abolghassem , Ding Yulong , Mokhberdoran Farzad , Xie Yinfeng
Published: July 2018

Investigating factors involved in the alleviation of the toxic effects of heavy metals (HMs) on plants is regarded as one of the important research concerns in the environmental field. The southern regions of China are severely impacted by human-induced heavy metal (HM) contamination, which poses an impediment to growth and productivity of bamboo (Indocalamus latifolius) plants. This necessitates the investigation of the effects of HMs on growth and physiological properties of bamboo. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate some gas exchange and growth parameters in two-year-old bamboo species under HMs stress. A greenhouse-based experiment was conducted at Nanjing Forestry University, where the bamboo plant was treated with three HMs (Cu, Pb, and Zn) at four different concentrations (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg kg-1). The results illustrated that excessive HMs (1000 and 2000 mg kg−1) triggered a decline in a number of photosynthetic-related indices including the rate of photosynthesis (μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), intercellular CO2 concentration (μmol CO2 mol−1), conductance to H2O (mol H2O m−2 s−1), and net assimilation as well as transpiration. Morphological indices were also depressed as a result of the adverse influence of HMs, leading to decreased shoot length (10 to 73%) and reduced number of emerged plants (6 to 57%). Also, the results indicated that Pb had the greatest harmful impact on the growth indices.
Protective Effects of Fullerene C60 Nanoparticles and Virgin Olive Oil against Genotoxicity Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Rats
Authors: Aly Fayza M. , Othman Amnah , Haridy Mohie A. M.
Published: July 2018

The potential effects of the fullerene C60 nanoparticle (C60) as well as virgin olive oil (VOO) against the cyclophosphamide‐ (CP‐) induced cytotoxic and mutagenic effects were evaluated by two main methods: molecular intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) assay and cytogenetic biomarkers. Thirty adult male rats were divided to five groups (control, CP, C60, CP + C60, and CP + VOO). CP was i.p. injected with a single dose of 200 mg/kg; C60 and VOO were given orally (4 mg/kg dissolved in VOO and 1 ml, resp.) in alternative days for 20 days. The ISSR analysis revealed an increased in the DNA fragmentation level for liver and heart tissues represented by 21.2% and 32.6%, respectively, in the CP group. The DNA polymorphism levels were modulated and improved in CP + C60 (8.9% and 12%) and CP + VOO (9.8% and 12.7%) for hepatic and cardiac tissues, respectively. The bone marrow cytogenetic analysis revealed that C60 and VOO had significantly decreased the frequency of CP‐induced chromosomal aberrations (chromosomal ring, deletion, dicentric chromosome, fragmentation, and polyploidy). Fullerene C60 and VOO have ability to reduce DNA damage and decrease chromosomal aberrations. In conclusion, fullerene C60 and VOO have protective effects against the CP‐induced mutagenicity and genotoxicity. Fullerene C60 and VOO open an interesting field concerning their potential antigenotoxic agents against deleterious side effects of chemotherapeutics.
Upregulation of SIRT1 by Kartogenin Enhances Antioxidant Functions and Promotes Osteogenesis in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Wang Yifan , Chen Guangdong , Yan Jinku , Chen Xi , He Fan , Zhu Caihong , Zhang Junxin , Lin Jun , Pan Guoqing , Yu Jia , Pei Ming , Yang Huilin , Liu Tao
Published: July 2018

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease involving both articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Kartogenin (KGN) was recently identified to improve in vivo cartilage repair; however, its effect on bone formation is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of KGN on antioxidant properties and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs). Human BM‐MSCs were treated with KGN at concentrations ranging from 10−8 M to 10−6 M. Our results indicated that KGN improved cell proliferation and attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species. The levels of antioxidant enzymes and osteogenic differentiation of BM‐MSCs were enhanced by KGN in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, KGN‐treated BM‐MSCs showed upregulation of silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) and increased phosphorylation of adenosine 5 ′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), indicating that KGN activated the AMPK‐SIRT1 signaling pathway in BM‐MSCs. Inhibition of SIRT1 by nicotinamide reversed the antioxidant effect of KGN on BM‐MSCs and suppressed osteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that KGN improved intracellular antioxidant properties and promoted osteogenic differentiation of BM‐MSCs by activating the AMPK‐SIRT1 signaling pathway. Thus, KGN may have the potential for not only articular cartilage repair but also the clinical application of MSCs in bone tissue engineering.
Road Vehicle‐Bridge Interaction considering Varied Vehicle Speed Based on Convenient Combination of Simulink and ANSYS
Authors: Yu Helu , Wang Bin , Li Yongle , Zhang Yankun , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2018

In order to cover the complexity of coding and extend the generality on the road vehicle‐bridge iteration, a process to solve vehicle‐bridge interaction considering varied vehicle speed based on a convenient combination of Matlab Simulink and ANSYS is presented. In this way, the road vehicle is modeled in state space and the corresponding motion equations are solved using Simulink. The finite element model for the bridge is established and solved using ANSYS. The so‐called inter‐history iteration method is adopted to realize the interaction between the vehicle model and the bridge model. Different from typical method of road vehicle‐bridge interaction in the vertical direction, a detailed longitudinal force model is set up to take into account the effects of varied vehicle speed. In the force model, acceleration and braking of the road vehicle are treated differently according to their mechanical nature. In the case studies based on a simply supported beam, the dynamic performance of the road vehicle and the bridge under varied vehicle speeds is calculated and discussed. The vertical acceleration characteristics of the midpoint of beam under varied vehicle speed can be grouped into two periods. The first one is affected by the load transform between the wheels, and the other one depends on the speed amplitude. Sudden change of the vertical acceleration of the beam and the longitudinal reaction force are observed as the wheels move on or off the bridge, and the bridge performs different dynamic responses during acceleration and braking.
Performance Study of Uplink and Downlink Splitting in Ultradense Highly Loaded Networks
Authors: Wang Hui , Garcia-Lozano Mario , Mutafungwa Edward , Yin Xuefeng , Ruiz Silvia
Published: July 2018

This paper provides new insights into the performance of Uplink and Downlink Splitting (UDS) in highly loaded wireless communication systems, in terms of both serving nodes and the number of users with high traffic activity. The study puts special focus on the gains that UDS could bring in terms of SINR and throughput when compared with systems with cell range expansion (CRE) in the classic downlink based cell association. CRE not only helps to offload users from macro‐ to pico‐eNBs, but also improves UL service. Instead of an aggregated throughput analysis, a detailed classification of users is performed to figure out the causes of users’ gain or loss after applying each strategy at the system level. Results show marginal gains of a pure path loss based UDS when compared with the intrinsic UL gains of CRE. Given the extra flexibility in radio resource management that splitting both links could bring, using an individual UL adjustable cell offset appears to be an interesting strategy to allow for a finer control of UL interference. The dependency of UDS performance with small cell density has also been a matter of study. Results show that the gains of UDS do decrease after a certain density of pico‐cells is surpassed.
Host Immunological Effects of Partial Splenic Embolization in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Matsukiyo Yasushi , Nagai Hidenari , Matsui Teppei , Igarashi Yoshinori
Published: July 2018

Purpose. Restoration of the balance between T lymphocyte subsets and between Th1/Th2 cytokines together with improvement of antitumor immunity has been reported after hepatosplenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the detailed effects of partial splenic embolization (PSE) on host immunity are unknown. Accordingly, this study evaluated host immunity in patients with cirrhosis receiving PSE for thrombocytopenia.Methods. Twenty-three adult Japanese patients with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia underwent PSE using straight coils at our hospital between 2010 and 2015. Blood samples were collected before PSE and 4 weeks after PSE.Results. The platelet counts were significantly higher 4 weeks after PSE compared with before PSE. The white blood cell count (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes) also increased significantly after PSE. Furthermore, Th1 cells and Th2 cells showed a significant increase at 4 weeks after PSE compared with before PSE, although there was no significant change of Treg cells. Moreover, serum levels of TNF-alpha, soluble TNF receptor I, and soluble Fas were significantly increased after PSE. There was no significant change of the Child-Pugh score.Conclusions. In patients with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia, PSE not only promoted the recovery of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia but also induced activation of host immunity.
A Novel Kinematic Parameters Identification Method for Articulated Arm Coordinate Measuring Machines Using Repeatability and Scaling Factor
Authors: Cheng Lin , Wang Wen , Weng Yixin , Shi Guang , Yang He , Lu Keqing
Published: July 2018

Kinematic parameters identification and compensation are effective ways to improve the accuracy of articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMMs) and robotic arms without increasing the cost of hardware. Generally, kinematic parameters identification methods based on standard references are relatively high in accuracy but time-consuming and not suitable for industrial sites, while kinematic parameters identification methods based on repeatability are flexible and easy to implement but lack reliability in accuracy. A novel kinematic parameters identification method for AACMMs using repeatability and scaling factor is proposed in this paper, which combines the advantages of methods based on both standard references and repeatability. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, we found that the commonly used single-point-repeatability-based identification method has problems in identifying the length parameters, which is due to that high repeatability cannot guarantee the accuracy of the kinematic parameters and the measurement accuracy of the AACMM. Further analysis showed that the error of the length parameters is determined by a scaling factor which can be used to remove the error of length parameters. Therefore, a two-step novel kinematic parameters identification method for the AACMMs using repeatability and scaling factor was proposed to get accurate parameters with convenient operation. Experimental studies showed the effectiveness of the proposed identification method, which indicated that 93% more error in spatial length can be decreased comparing to the traditional method of repeatability-based identification.
Erythema Dyschromicum Perstans in an 8-Year-Old Indian Child
Authors: Leung Alexander K. C. , Lam Joseph M.
Published: July 2018

We report an 8-year-old East Indian boy with erythema dyschromicum perstans. The condition has very rarely been reported in prepubertal Indian children. A perusal of the literature revealed but two cases, to which we add another one. Recognition of erythema dyschromicum perstans in prepubertal Indian children is important for proper diagnosis and to prevent unnecessary investigations.
Adipocyte DIO2 Expression Increases in Human Obesity but Is Not Related to Systemic Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Bradley David , Liu Joey , Blaszczak Alecia , Wright Valerie , Jalilvand Anahita , Needleman Bradley , Noria Sabrena , Renton David , Hsueh Willa
Published: July 2018

Deiodinase type II (D2), encoded by DIO2, catalyzes the conversion of T4 to bioactive T3. T3 not only stimulates adaptive thermogenesis but also affects adipose tissue (AT) lipid accumulation, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and potentially systemic metabolism. Although better defined in brown AT, the precise role of DIO2 expression in white AT remains largely unknown, with data derived only from whole fat. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipocyte-specific gene expression of DIO2 differs between obese and lean patients and whether these differences relate to alterations in mitochondrial function, fatty acid flux, inflammatory cytokines/adipokines, and ultimately insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, adipocytes of 73 obese and 21 lean subjects were isolated and subjected to gene expression analyses. Our results demonstrate that obese compared to lean human individuals have increased adipocyte-specific DIO2 expression in both SAT and VAT. Although higher DIO2 was strongly related to reduced fatty acid synthesis/oxidation and mitochondrial function, we found no relationship to proinflammatory cytokines or insulin resistance and no difference based on diabetic status. Our results suggest that adipocyte-derived DIO2 may play a role in weight maintenance but is likely not a major contributor to obesity-related insulin resistance.
Does Augmented Reality Effectively Foster Visual Learning Process in Construction? An Eye‐Tracking Study in Steel Installation
Authors: Wang Ting-Kwei , Huang Jing , Liao Pin-Chao , Piao Yanmei
Published: July 2018

Augmented reality (AR) has been proposed to be an efficient tool for learning in construction. However, few researchers have quantitatively assessed the efficiency of AR from the cognitive perspective in the context of construction education. Based on the cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML), we evaluated the predesigned AR‐based learning tool using eye‐tracking data. In this study, we tracked, compared, and summarized learners’ visual behaviors in text‐graph‐ (TG‐) based, AR‐based, and physical model‐ (PM‐) based learning environments. Compared to the TG‐based material, we find that both AR‐based and PM‐based materials foster extraneous processing and thus further promote generative processing, resulting in better learning performance. The results show that there are no significant differences between AR‐based and PM‐based learning environments, elucidating the advantages of AR. This study lays a foundation for problem‐based learning, which is worthy of further investigation.
Isolation of a Trypanosome Related to Trypanosoma theileri (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) from Phlebotomus perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae)
Authors: Calzolari Mattia , Rugna Gianluca , Clementi Emanuela , Carra Elena , Pinna Marco , Bergamini Federica , Fabbi Massimo , Dottori Michele , Sacchi Luciano , Votýpka Jan
Published: July 2018

The Trypanosoma theileri group includes several trypanosome species hardly distinguishable due to the lack of discriminating morphological characters. Trypanosomes belonging to this group have been isolated from different bovine, ovine, and cervids in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Americas. The principal vectors of the T. theileri group are considered tabanid flies; however, T. melophagium is transmitted exclusively by sheep keds. In 2016, 128 sand flies out of 2,728 trapped in Valsamoggia municipality, Italy, were individually dissected and an unknown trypanosome strain, named TrPhp1, was isolated from a female of the sand fly Phlebotomus perfiliewi. Sequence analysis placed this trypanosome in the T. theileri group with very high homology to other trypanosomes detected in European cervids. This is the first report of the T. theileri group isolation from a sand fly, and the possible role of this insect group in the trypanosome transmission cycle is discussed. Within the T. theileri group, the phylogenetic analysis distinguished several lineages, which, unfortunately, do not correspond with their host specificity and their taxonomic status remains ambiguous.
Incidence of Intestinal Infectious Diseases due to Protozoa and Bacteria in Mexico: Analysis of National Surveillance Records from 2003 to 2012
Authors: Diaz Daniel , Vazquez-Polanco Aldo M. , Argueta-Donohue Jesus , Stephens Christopher R. , Jimenez-Trejo Francisco , Ceballos-Liceaga Santa E. , Mantilla-Beniers Natalia
Published: July 2018

Background. According to national epidemiological surveillance records, in Mexico six intestinal infectious diseases (IID) are among the top infectious communicable diseases. However, their incidence, relative importance, and spatial patterns have not been studied in detail. Aims. We examine the epidemiology of IID due to bacteria and protozoa to identify which diseases are most important at two spatial scales, what is their integrated importance locally, and how their incidence correlates with Human Development Index (HDI). Methods. We retrieved yearly number of new cases of eight IID from the national epidemiological morbidity report from 2003 to 2012 at the national level, by state, and to assess such information at a higher spatial resolution we included the municipalities for Mexico City. However, no comparisons were made to other municipalities due to unavailability of data. We compared incidence, obtained the disease-specific relative importance, and inspected spatial patterns for the integrated incidence. Finally, we tested whether HDI is correlated with incidence. Results. We found that, except for two diseases, the relative importance of the other six IID contrasted not only between the national level and Mexico City, but also among states and municipalities in Mexico City. Besides, at both scales the distribution of the incidence showed disease-specific spatial patterns. Finally, there was a lack of consistent correlation between HDI and individual IID at both scales. Conclusion. Our results emphasize the need for local disease-focused selective models for control and prevention of IID. The maps displaying our analyses of epidemiological similarities may be used in orienting such effort.
Inner Ear Hair Cell Protection in Mammals against the Noise-Induced Cochlear Damage
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Gao Song , Iram-us-Salam  , Ali Muhammad Kazim , Ma Yongming , Li Wenyan
Published: July 2018

Inner ear hair cells are mechanosensory receptors that perceive mechanical sound and help to decode the sound in order to understand spoken language. Exposure to intense noise may result in the damage to the inner ear hair cells, causing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Particularly, the outer hair cells are the first and the most affected cells in NIHL. After acoustic trauma, hair cells lose their structural integrity and initiate a self-deterioration process due to the oxidative stress. The activation of different cellular death pathways leads to complete hair cell death. This review specifically presents the current understanding of the mechanism exists behind the loss of inner ear hair cell in the auditory portion after noise-induced trauma. The article also explains the recent hair cell protection strategies to prevent the damage and restore hearing function in mammals.
Local Molecular Reactivity of the Colored Dansylglycine in Water and Dioxane Studied through Conceptual DFT
Authors: Frau Juan , Glossman-Mitnik Daniel
Published: July 2018

This study evaluated a fixed long-range corrected range-separated hybrid (RSH) density functional associated with the Def2TZVP basis set alongside the SMD solvation model for the computation of the structure, molecular properties, and chemical reactivity of the M8 intermediate melanoidin pigment in the presence of water and dioxane. The preference of the active sites pertinent to radical, nucleophilic, and electrophilic attacks is made through linking them with the electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions, Fukui function indices, and condensed dual descriptor which are chemical reactivity descriptors that arise from conceptual density functional theory. The study confirmed the results from previous works showing that the MN12SX density functional is the most appropriate in predicting the chemical reactivity of this molecule in both solvents.
Insulin Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes in Mexico: Behaviors and Barriers
Authors: Bermeo-Cabrera Janneth , Almeda-Valdes Paloma , Riofrios-Palacios Josefa , Aguilar-Salinas Carlos A. , Mehta Roopa
Published: July 2018

Objective. To investigate factors associated with insulin adherence in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) attending a tertiary care centre in Mexico City. Material and Methods. Cross-sectional study, including 200 patients. Adherence to insulin therapy was measured with a medication adherence questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and factors related to insulin omission were collected and compared between the nonadherent and adherent groups. Results. We categorized 117 (58.5%) patients as nonadherent and 83 (41.5%) as adherent. Among the adherent, only 22 patients (11%) had excellent adherence to insulin therapy. The following factors were associated with nonadherence: lack of planning of daily activities (46.1%), fear of hypoglycemia (41%), economic factors (15.4%), and number of insulin applications (2.31 versus 1.76 applications per day). Conclusions. In this study, patients with type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary care referral centre showed inadequate adherence to insulin therapy. The principal factors associated with insulin omission were low socioeconomic status, fear of hypoglycemia, and a greater number of insulin applications per day.
Venom fromBothrops lanceolatus, a Snake Species Native to Martinique, Potently Activates the Complement System
Authors: Delafontaine Marie , Villas-Boas Isadora Maria , Pidde Giselle , van den Berg Carmen W. , Mathieu Laurence , Blomet Joël , Tambourgi Denise V.
Published: July 2018

Bothrops lanceolatussnake venom causes systemic thrombotic syndrome but also local inflammation involving extensive oedema, pain, and haemorrhage. Systemic thrombotic syndrome may lead to fatal pulmonary embolism and myocardial and cerebral infarction. Here, we investigated the ability ofB. lanceolatusvenom to activate the Complement system (C) in order to improve the understanding of venom-induced local inflammation. Data presented show thatB. lanceolatusvenom is able to activate all C-pathways. In human serum, the venom strongly induced the generation of anaphylatoxins, such as C5a and C4a, and the Terminal Complement complex. The venom also induced cleavage of purified human components C3, C4, and C5, with the production of biologically active C5a. Furthermore, the venom enzymatically inactivated the soluble C-regulator and the C1-inhibitor (C1-INH), and significantly increased the expression of bound C-regulators, such as MCP and CD59, on the endothelial cell membrane. Our observations thatB. lanceolatusvenom activates the three Complement activation pathways, resulting in anaphylatoxins generation, may suggest that this could play an important role in local inflammatory reaction and systemic thrombosis caused by the venom. Inactivation of C1-INH, which is also an important inhibitor of several coagulation proteins, may also contribute to inflammation and thrombosis. Thus, furtherin vivostudies may support the idea that therapeutic management of systemicB. lanceolatusenvenomation could include the use of Complement inhibitors as adjunct therapy.
Fixed‐Time Sliding‐Mode Fault‐Tolerant Control of Waste Heat Power Generator Systems
Authors: Wang Zhi , Bai Yateng , Xie Jin , Li Zhijie , Ma Caoyuan , Liu Pengjuan , Zhang Yong
Published: July 2018

In order to overcome disturbances such as the instability of internal parameters or the actuator fault, the time‐varying proportional‐integral sliding‐mode surface is defined for coordinated control of the excitation generator and the steam valve of waste heat power generation units, and a controller based on sliding‐mode function is designed which makes the system stable for a limited time and gives it good performance. Based on this, a corresponding fault estimation law is designed for specific faults of systems, and a sliding‐mode fault‐tolerant controller is constructed based on the fixed‐time control theory so that the systems can still operate stably when an actuator fault occurs and have acceptable performance. The simulation results show that the tracking error asymptotically tends to be zero, and the fixed‐time sliding‐mode fault‐tolerant controller can obviously improve the dynamic performance of the system.
Co-Metric Learning for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Leng Qingming
Published: July 2018

Person re-identification, aiming to identify the same pedestrian images across disjoint camera views, is a key technique of intelligent video surveillance. Although existing methods have developed both theories and experimental results, most of effective ones pertain to fully supervised training styles, which suffer the small sample size (SSS) problem a lot, especially in label-insufficient practical applications. To bridge SSS problem and learning model with small labels, a novel semisupervised co-metric learning framework is proposed to learn a discriminative Mahalanobis-like distance matrix for label-insufficient person re-identification. Different from typical co-training task that contains multiview data originally, single-view person images are firstly decomposed into pseudo two views, and then metric learning models are produced and jointly updated based on both pseudo-labels and references iteratively. Experiments carried out on three representative person re-identification datasets show that the proposed method performs better than state of the art and possesses low label sensitivity.
Simple Algorithms for Estimating the Symbol Timing Offset in DCT‐Based Multicarrier Systems
Authors: Cruz-Roldán Fernando , Piñeiro-Ave José , Rojo-Álvarez José L. , Blanco-Velasco Manuel
Published: July 2018

Multicarrier modulation based on discrete cosine transform (DCT‐MCM) is a candidate technique for future wireless communication. DCT‐MCM provides a better usage of the spectrum, allowing for much lower out‐of‐band radiation than conventional OFDM. In this paper, we address the problem of correcting the symbol timing offset in DCT‐MCM. Two sliding window‐based correlation algorithms are proposed. The new approaches consider a prefix and a suffix that are inserted into each data symbol, which are the replica of part of the useful data. The performance of the proposed approaches is verified and tested, and their usefulness and effectiveness are illustrated by computer simulations.
The Clinical Features of Cystic Parathyroid Adenoma in Chinese Population: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Hu Ya , Cui Ming , Xia Yu , Su Zhe , Zhang Xiang , Liao Quan , Jiang Yuxin , Zhao Yupei
Published: July 2018

Objective. Cystic parathyroid adenoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism, but its preoperative diagnosis and management remain inconclusive. Method. We retrospectively identified patients with cystic parathyroid adenomas who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results. Patients with cystic parathyroid adenomas had higher serum intact parathyroid hormone and calcium levels, larger maximum tumor diameter, and lower serum inorganic phosphorus level than did those with solid adenomas. Patients with cystic adenomas were predominantly male, and hypercalcemic crisis and atypical adenomas were common. The accuracy of preoperative localization methodologies was lower in patients with cystic adenomas than in patients with solid adenomas. US-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed in 11 patients. In all patients, the iPTH level in cystic fluid was much higher than that in serum. No sign of recurrence was observed after a median follow-up of 39 months. Conclusions. Cystic parathyroid adenomas may not be as rare as previously reported. FNA may be a safe and feasible localization methodology for patients with inconclusive preoperative localization methodologies. Close follow-up is necessary for patients with cystic parathyroid adenomas, which account for a substantial proportion of atypical adenoma cases.