bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ependymoma arising from the third ventricle mimicking optic neuritis in a dog
Authors: Crawford Abbe Harper , Spiro Simon , Smith Kenneth C , Beltran Elsa
Published: December 2019

Neurological examination of a 4.5‐year‐old female neutered labrador retriever was consistent with a lesion in the subcortical visual pathway (mainly affecting the left retina or optic nerve, and less likely the optic chiasm or right optic tract). Ophthalmic examination was unremarkable. MRI revealed enlargement of the left optic nerve and optic chiasm. A presumptive diagnosis of immune‐mediated optic neuritis was made and immunosuppressive therapy was commenced. The dog re‐presented 14 days later due to progressive deterioration and generalised seizure activity, and was euthanased. Postmortem examination revealed an anaplastic ependymoma extending from the rostral thalamus along the left optic nerve. Ependymoma can therefore mimic an optic neuropathy, such as immune‐mediated optic neuritis, and should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Kähler–Ricci flow on homogeneous toric bundles
Authors: Huang Hong
Published: December 2019

Assume that [Formula: see text] is a homogeneous toric bundle of the form [Formula: see text] and is Fano, where [Formula: see text] is a compact semisimple Lie group with complexification [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] a parabolic subgroup of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] is a surjective homomorphism from [Formula: see text] to the algebraic torus [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] is a compact toric manifold of complex dimension [Formula: see text]. In this note, we show that the normalized Kähler–Ricci flow on [Formula: see text] with a [Formula: see text]-invariant initial Kähler form in [Formula: see text] converges, modulo the algebraic torus action, to a Kähler–Ricci soliton. This extends a previous work of Zhu. As a consequence, we recover a result of Podestà–Spiro.
Oxygen vacancies-contained SnO2 nanotubes with enhanced ethanol gas sensing properties
Authors: Chen Yifan , Ma Xiuling , Li Chen , Wu Qiuyu , Wang Yongbo , Huang Menjun , Liu Bitao , Li Lu
Published: December 2019

[Formula: see text] porous nanotubes containing oxygen vacancies were prepared by electron spinning and H plasma treatment. The morphology and crystal structure of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ethanol-sensing properties of the [Formula: see text] sensor were tested. The results show that the samples treated with H plasma for 20 min have the best performance. Its working temperature is [Formula: see text]C lower than [Formula: see text]C of the original sample, with a sensitivity of 17 at 100 ppm, which is seven times higher than the original sample. It also shows good selectivity to some common interfering gases. This enhancement can be ascribed to the introduced oxygen vacancy. This work provides an efficient way to design high-performance gas sensor materials.
Structurally colored stainless steel processed by using femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Yao Caizhen , Li Yuan , Xu Shizhen , Miao Xinxiang , Ye Yayun , Gao Wei , Lv Haibing
Published: December 2019

Structurally colored stainless steel (SS) surfaces were produced by using femtosecond laser at normal incidence at ambient conditions. The influence of laser polarization on the surface properties was investigated. The surface morphologies, roughness and color of the laser-treated surface were characterized by using environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), roughmeter and atomic force microscope (AFM). Results indicated that the circular polarization leads to more random structures than the horizontally linear polarization. Specimen with the highest surface roughness shows the brightest color. Different colors are cyclically exhibited by changing view angles due to different orders of diffraction. This investigation developed the technique of using femtosecond laser in situ preparation of periodic structures on 304 SS, and indicating that laser polarization is an important parameter to control surface structures to achieve different colors.
High Gain Single Switch DC-DC Converter Based on Switched Capacitor Cells
Authors: Kishore G. Indira , Tripathi Ramesh Kumar
Published: December 2019

With photovoltaic or fuel cell as a source, the high voltage required at DC bus as input for inverter can be obtained by high gain DC-DC converters. This can be achieved by implementing switched capacitor (SC) cells. Switched capacitors have the ability to produce high static gain and at the same time, they limit the voltage stress across the components. This paper proposes a high static gain, single switch DC converter based on the SC cells to develop high gain. These cells not only boost the voltage gain but also reduce the voltage stress at the active components. This converter also features a single active switch, low input ripple current through the inductor, absence of snubber circuit as the proposed converter does not assist the voltage spike across the active switch. The proposed converter allows high switching frequency and therefore results in a smaller size. The voltage gain can be increased further by adding the switched cells. In this paper, the operation in CCM, DCM, and design of components for the proposed converter is discussed. The MATLAB/SIMLINK and hardware-based studies for the proposed converters have been discussed to validate the specified features.
An Electronically Adjustable Waveform Generator
Authors: Saçu İbrahim Ethem
Published: December 2019

A novel electronically adjustable square/triangular waveform generator has been introduced in this paper. The proposed circuit employs one active element, the multi-output current-controlled current conveyor transconductance amplifier, and one passive component grounded capacitor only. The resistorless realization of the presented generator provides a good advantage in terms of integrated circuit fabrication. In the offered circuit, the frequency and amplitude of the output square wave are electronically tunable by means of relevant bias currents. Additionally, the upper and lower threshold levels are electronically controllable by the respective bias current. On the contrary, electronically adjusting of the duty cycle of output waveform is possible via the external DC current. The generator circuit is simulated with TSMC 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m technology parameters and SPICE. Moreover, the introduced circuit is implemented by using commercially available active devices and thus it is also verified experimentally.
Hausdorff series in a semigroup ring
Authors: Fındık Şehmus , Kelekci̇ Osman
Published: December 2019

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the semigroup rings spanned on the right zero semigroup [Formula: see text], and on the left zero semigroup [Formula: see text], respectively, together with the identity element [Formula: see text]. We suggest a closed formula solving the equation [Formula: see text] which is the evolution of the Campbell–Baker–Hausdorff formula given by the Hausdorff series [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text], in the algebras [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Super-representations of quivers and related polynomial semi-invariants
Authors: Bovdi V. A. , Zubkov A. N.
Published: December 2019

We introduce the notion of a super-representation of a quiver. For super-representations of quivers over a field of characteristic zero, we describe the corresponding (super)algebras of polynomial semi-invariants and polynomial invariants.
Computational study of switching mechanism in add A-riboswitch
Authors: Zhou Ting , Wang Huiwen , Song Linlu , Zhao Yunjie
Published: December 2019

Riboswitch can bind small molecules to regulate gene expression. Unlike other RNAs, riboswitch relies on its conformational switching for regulation. However, the understanding of the switching mechanism is still limited. Here, we focussed on the add A-riboswitch to illustrate the dynamical switching mechanism as an example. We performed molecular dynamics simulation, conservation and co-evolution calculations to infer the dynamical motions and evolutionary base pairings. The results suggest that the binding domain is stable for molecule recognition and binding, whereas the switching base pairings are co-evolutionary for translation. The understanding of the add A-riboswitch switching mechanism provides a potential solution for riboswitch drug design.
Facile Synthesis of Ni–Mn Layered Double Hydroxide Nanopetals on 3D Reduced Graphene Oxide/Ni Foam for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Tang Qi , Ye Menghan , Ma Li , Zhou Tao , Gan Mengyu , Yan Fabing
Published: December 2019

In this work, the Ni–Mn layered double hydroxide (Ni–Mn LDH) nanopetals are fabricated on three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide/Ni foam (RGO/NF) by one-step hydrothermal method, in which the suspension of graphene oxide (GO) is directly reduced by nickel foam (NF) to obtain NF/RGO. The composite, which consists of interconnected Ni–Mn LDH nanopetals, forms a macroporous structure. Such an open space can promote electrolyte dispersion and ion diffusion of active substances, thus enhancing capacitance performance. Remarkable, during crystal growth, RGO can not only provide active sites for Ni–Mn LDH nanopetals, but also effectively connect Ni–Mn LDH nanopetals to NF, further promoting the electrochemical behavior of composite material. Moreover, RGO possess reasonable chemical stability which can improve the mechanical properties of the composite to obtain good stability. The experimental results show that the NF/RGO electrode material with Ni–Mn LDH nanopetals has excellent specific capacitance of 2250[Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 1[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], good rate performance (the capacitance retention rate is still 64.0% at 10[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] and excellent cycle life (45.1% at 10[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] after 5000 cycles). NR/NM–LDH is used as the positive electrode and activated carbon is used as the negative electrode to assemble the asymmetric supercapacitor, the proper power density and energy density indicates that the NR/NM–LDH composite has great potential as an electrode material for supercapacitors.
The Influence of Housing Prices on Urban Competitiveness: Review and Prospects
Authors: NI Pengfei , ZHANG Yangzi , CAO Qingfeng
Published: December 2019

To examine the impact of housing prices on urban competitiveness, we first sort out the relevant literature on the compositions and performances of urban competitiveness. The internal compositions of urban competitiveness include factor endowments and industrial development. The external manifestations include market size, economic growth and productivity. Additionally, from the perspectives of urban economics and new economic geography, the theoretical basis of housing price’s impact on urban competitiveness is analyzed. On this basis, we analyze the mechanism and direction of housing price’s impact on urban competitiveness. The results show that most of the existing researches pay attention to the impact of housing prices on urban competitiveness through economic growth, industrial structure or production factors. However, there are differences in the specific direction of influence, and there is no research that considers the relationship of multiple influences.
Comprehensive Assessment and Policy Suggestions on Building Multi-Level National Service Centers
Authors: LIU Yi , LI Yao
Published: December 2019

The strategic position of a country’s central cities in the global city network is mainly embodied by the functions of the service industry and high-end producer services in particular. With a view to enhance the economic control power, building a country with considerable strength in the service industry is to build multi-level national central cities capable of performing service functions according to a strategic layout. By looking back on the law of development of central cities of service industry around the globe, we first dug into the issue from the fundamental principles of new economic geography about the formation of industrial clusters; then incorporated influencing factors, such as factor endowment, outward connections, inward connections, institutional factors, market size, knowledge capital, development cost and consumption, into a uniform analytical framework; and established an indicator system for assessing the competitiveness of service industry cluster centers, whereby we assessed the comprehensive strength of 105 cities in building national central cities of service industry. The research results show that it is supposed to enhance China’s leading and controlling capability in the world’s service network by relying on two key cities, i.e. Beijing and Shanghai; and the other 15 cities, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Qingdao, Changsha, Kunming and Urumqi, are most likely to become the national central cities of service industry, which can provide comprehensive services or specialized functions.
Wilkinson's Tests and SQL Packages
Authors: McCullough B. D. , Mokfi Taha , Almaeenjad Mahsa
Published: December 2019

Wilkinson's Tests are used to benchmark the accuracy of some statistical functions in six SQL packages: Apache Hive, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle 11g SQL, and SAP Hana. Using the best choice of data type, we find that different packages use different rounding schemes, two packages use unreliable algorithms to compute the sample variance, one package returns the population standard deviation when the sample standard deviation is called, and one package has an unstable algorithm for computing the correlation coefficient. Using the wrong data type all but guarantees inaccurate results.
Report on the First and Second Interdisciplinary Time Series Analysis Workshop (ITISA)
Authors: Palpanas Themis , Beckmann Volker
Published: December 2019

The analysis of time-series data associated with modernday industrial operations and scientific experiments is now pushing both computational power and resources to their limits. In order to analyze the existing and (more importantly) future very large time series collections, new technologies and the development of more efficient and smarter algorithms are required. The two editions of the Interdisciplinary Time Series Analysis Workshop brought together data analysts from the fields of computer science, astrophysics, neuroscience, engineering, electricity networks, and music. The focus of these workshops was on the requirements of different applications in the various domains, and also on the advances in both academia and industry, in the areas of time-series management and analysis. In this paper, we summarize the experiences presented in and the results obtained from the two workshops, highlighting the relevant state-ofthe- art-techniques and open research problems.
Transnational Actors and Transnational Governance in Global Environmental Politics
Authors: Hale Thomas
Published: December 2019

Transnational actors and transnational governance now form core elements of global environmental politics alongside intergovernmental diplomacy and institutions. This article explores how and under what conditions this transnationalism has arisen, as well as its implications for world politics. It considers what effects transnational actors and governance have had on political outcomes, their relation to states and intergovernmental institutions, and normative questions around their legitimacy and accountability. The critical role of transnational actors and institutions in environmental politics has made the field a laboratory for broader questions concerning the evolution of global governance in world politics more generally. As global environmental challenges continue to magnify and affect other spheres of political activity, understanding these dynamics will become increasingly important.
Distal colonic transit is linked to gut microbiota diversity and microbial fermentation in humans with slow colonic transit
Authors: Müller Mattea , Hermes Gerben D. A. , Canfora Emanuel E. , Smidt Hauke , Masclee Ad A. M. , Zoetendal Erwin G. , Blaak Ellen E.
Published: December 2019

Longer colonic transit time and hard stools are associated with increased gut microbiota diversity. Here, we investigate to what extent quantitative measures of (segmental) colonic transit time were related to gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, and gut-related parameters in a human cross-sectional study. Using radiopaque markers, (segmental) colonic transit time (CTT) was measured in 48 lean/overweight participants with long colonic transit but without constipation. Fecal microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Associations between gastrointestinal transit (segmental CTT and stool frequency and consistency), microbiota diversity and composition, microbial metabolites [short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids, and breath hydrogen], habitual diet, and gut-related host parameters [lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and fecal calprotectin] were investigated using univariate and multivariate approaches. Long descending (i.e., distal) colonic transit was associated with increased microbial α-diversity but not with stool consistency. Using unweighted and weighted UniFrac distance, microbiota variation was not related to (segmental) CTT but to demographics, diet, plasma LBP, and fecal calprotectin. Bray–Curtis dissimilarity related only to stool consistency. Rectosigmoid and descending colonic transit were negatively associated with fecal SCFA and plasma acetate, respectively. This study suggests that the distal colon transit may affect not only microbiota diversity but also microbial metabolism.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We extend previous findings showing that long distal colonic transit time influences microbial diversification and fermentation, whereas stool consistency is related to microbiota composition in humans with a long colonic transit. This study puts the importance of the (distal) colonic site in microbiota ecology forward, which should be considered in future therapeutic studies targeting, for instance, short-chain fatty acid production to improve metabolic health.
Sensory signals mediating high blood pressure via sympathetic activation: role of adipose afferent reflex
Authors: Dalmasso Carolina , Leachman Jacqueline R. , Osborn Jeffrey L. , Loria Analia S.
Published: December 2019

Blood pressure regulation in health and disease involves a balance between afferent and efferent signals from multiple organs and tissues. Although there are numerous reviews focused on the role of sympathetic nerves in different models of hypertension, few have revised the contribution of afferent nerves innervating adipose tissue and their role in the development of obesity-induced hypertension. Both clinical and basic research support the beneficial effects of bilateral renal denervation in lowering blood pressure. However, recent studies revealed that afferent signals from adipose tissue, in an adipose-brain-peripheral pathway, could contribute to the increased sympathetic activation and blood pressure during obesity. This review focuses on the role of adipose tissue afferent reflexes and briefly describes a number of other afferent reflexes modulating blood pressure. A comprehensive understanding of how multiple afferent reflexes contribute to the pathophysiology of essential and/or obesity-induced hypertension may provide significant insights into improving antihypertensive therapeutic approaches.
Differential contribution of cyclooxygenase to basal cerebral blood flow and hypoxic cerebral vasodilation
Authors: Kellawan J. Mikhail , Peltonen Garrett L. , Harrell John W. , Roldan-Alzate Alejandro , Wieben Oliver , Schrage William G.
Published: December 2019

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is proposed to regulate cerebral blood flow (CBF); however, accurate regional contributions of COX are relatively unknown at baseline and particularly during hypoxia. We hypothesized that COX contributes to both basal and hypoxic cerebral vasodilation, but COX-mediated vasodilation is greater in the posterior versus anterior cerebral circulation. CBF was measured in 9 healthy adults (28 ± 4 yr) during normoxia and isocapnic hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen = 0.11), with COX inhibition (oral indomethacin, 100mg) or placebo. Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging measured cross-sectional area (CSA) and blood velocity to quantify CBF in 11 cerebral arteries. Cerebrovascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (CVC = CBF × 100/mean arterial blood pressure) and hypoxic reactivity was expressed as absolute and relative change in CVC [ΔCVC/Δ pulse oximetry oxygen saturation ([Formula: see text])]. At normoxic baseline, indomethacin reduced CVC by 44 ± 5% ( P < 0.001) and artery CSA ( P < 0.001), which was similar across arteries. Hypoxia ([Formula: see text] 80%–83%) increased CVC ( P < 0.01), reflected as a similar relative increase in reactivity (% ΔCVC/−Δ[Formula: see text]) across arteries ( P < 0.05), in part because of increases in CSA ( P < 0.05). Indomethacin did not alter ΔCVC or ΔCVC/Δ[Formula: see text] to hypoxia. These findings indicate that 1) COX contributes, in a largely uniform fashion, to cerebrovascular tone during normoxia and 2) COX is not obligatory for hypoxic vasodilation in any regions supplied by large extracranial or intracranial arteries.
Acute and chronic glomerular damage is associated with reduced CD133 expression in urinary extracellular vesicles
Authors: Dimuccio Veronica , Peruzzi Licia , Brizzi Maria Felice , Cocchi Enrico , Fop Fabrizio , Boido Alberto , Gili Maddalena , Gallo Sara , Biancone Luigi , Camussi Giovanni , Bussolati Benedetta
Published: December 2019

Extracellular vesicles released into urine (uEVs) can represent interesting biomarkers of renal cell damage. CD133, a stem/progenitor cell marker expressed by renal progenitor cells, is highly expressed in uEVs of healthy individuals. In the present study, we evaluated the level of CD133 in the uEVs of patients with acute and chronic glomerular damage by cytofluorimetric analysis. The level of CD133+ uEVs was significantly decreased in pediatric patients with acute glomerulonephritis during the acute phase of renal damage, while it was restored after the subsequent recovery. A similar decrease was also observed in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. Moreover, CD133+ uEVs significantly declined in patients with type 2 diabetes, used as validation group, with the lowest levels in patients with albuminuria with diabetic nephropathy. Indeed, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicates the ability of CD133+ uEV values to discriminate the health condition from that of glomerular disease. In parallel, a significant decrease of CD133 in renal progenitor cells and in their derived EVs was observed in vitro after cell treatment with a combination of glucose and albumin overload, mimicking the diabetic condition. These data indicate that the level of CD133+ uEVs may represent an easily accessible marker of renal normal physiology and could provide information on the “reservoir” of regenerating cells within tubules.
Transcriptomic signature of gut microbiome-contacting cells in colon of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Yang Tao , Li Hongbao , Oliveira Aline C. , Goel Ruby , Richards Elaine M. , Pepine Carl J. , Raizada Mohan K.
Published: December 2019

Fecal matter transfer from hypertensive patients and animals into normotensive animals increases blood pressure, strengthening the evidence for gut-microbiota interactions in the control of blood pressure. However, cellular and molecular events involved in gut dysbiosis-associated hypertension remain poorly understood. Therefore, our objective in this study was to use gene expression profiling to characterize the gut epithelium layer in the colon in hypertension. We observed significant suppression of components of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in the colonic epithelium of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) when compared with Wistar Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats. Western blot analysis confirmed lower expression of key proteins including T cell surface glycoprotein CD3 gamma chain (Cd3g) and lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2 (Lcp2). Furthermore, lower expression of cytokines and receptors responsible for lymphocyte proliferation, differentiation, and activation (e.g., Il12r, Il15ra, Il7, Il16, Tgfb1) was observed in the colonic epithelium of the SHR. Finally, Alpi and its product, intestinal alkaline phosphatase, primarily localized in the epithelial cells, were profoundly lower in the SHR. These observations demonstrate that the colonic epithelium undergoes functional changes linked to altered immune, barrier function, and dysbiosis in hypertension.
Design Criteria for Improving Safety Performance of Rural Intersections
Authors: Biancardo S. A. , Russo F. , Zhang W. , Veropalumbo R.
Published: December 2019

This paper, on the one hand, aims to identify significant crash risk factors at unsignalized three-leg intersections connecting rural two-lane two-way roads and minor roads with a STOP control on the approaches (3ST) and, on the other, to make adjustments to the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) procedure, fine-tuning its Safety Performance Function (SPF) based on observation of the local context. Over an 8-year period of study, a total of 240 crashes on 35 3ST intersections were observed, with no geometric-infrastructure adjustments or changes in the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) and surrounding context noted at the intersections investigated. To obtain reliable results, the study period was divided into two groups: (a) 5 years to calibrate a new SPF, and (b) the remaining 3, not included in the first dataset, were used to validate the results. A negative binomial regression model was adopted to calibrate the new SPF. It was found that the AADT on the major and minor roads, the intersection skew angle, the co-occurrence of left and right-turn lanes on the major roads, and lighting seriously affect the crash scenario.
Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Potential of Compounds Associated with Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Armendáriz-Castillo Isaac , Guerrero Santiago , Vera-Guapi Antonella , Cevallos-Vilatuña Tiffany , García-Cárdenas Jennyfer M. , Guevara-Ramírez Patricia , López-Cortés Andrés , Pérez-Villa Andy , Yumiceba Verónica , Zambrano Ana K. , Leone Paola E. , Paz-y-Miño César
Published: December 2019

Background. Many studies, comparing the health associated risks of electronic cigarettes with conventional cigarettes focus mainly on the common chemical compounds found between them. Aim. Review chemical compounds found exclusively in electronic cigarettes and describe their toxic effects, focusing on electronic-cigarette-only and dual electronic-cigarette and conventional cigarette users. Data Sources. Literature search was carried out using PubMed. Study Eligibility Criteria. Articles related exclusively to conventional and electronic cigarettes’ chemical composition. Articles which reported to be financed from tobacco or electronic cigarettes industries, not reporting source of funding, not related to the chemical composition of electronic and conventional cigarettes and not relevant to tobacco research were excluded. Methods and Results. Chemical compounds reported in the selected studies were tabulated using the Chemical Abstracts Service registry number for chemical substances information. A total of 50 chemical compounds were exclusively reported to be present in electronic cigarettes. Crucial health risks identified were: eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, with almost 50% of incidence, an increment of 10% in cytotoxic effects, when compared to compounds in common with conventional cigarettes and around 11% of compounds with unknown effects to human health. Limitations. Articles reporting conflicts of interest. Conclusions and Implications of Key Findings. Despite being considered as less harmful for human health, compounds found in electronic cigarettes are still a matter of research and their effects on health are yet unknown. The use of these devices is not recommended for first time users and it is considered hazardous for dual users.
Visible Goiter among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Public Health Facilities of Debre Markos Town, East Gojjam, North West Ethiopia
Authors: Endalamaw Yihun , Kedir Haji , Alemayehu Tadesse
Published: December 2019

Background. Goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland due to inadequate intake of iodine and goitrogenic food. It is the most important public health problem in developing countries like Ethiopia and specifically in East Gojjam. Though there are studies on goiter in Ethiopia, the magnitude is not well known and documented in Debre Markos town on pregnant women. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the magnitude of visible goiter and associated factors among pregnant women visiting antenatal clinic in three public health facilities of Debre Markos town, North West Ethiopia. Methods. Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics at three public health facilities using the systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire by an interview method. All pregnant women were examined for the presence of goiter using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Both bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to see the association between dependent and each independent variable. Result. The prevalence of visible goiter was found to be 10.5% (95% CI: 7.5–13.5). Visible goiter was more common in the age category between 15 and 19 years. Low household income (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1–18.7), cabbage intake (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.2–22.3), and poor knowledge about the benefits of iodized salt (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.2) were factors associated with visible goiter. Conclusion and Recommendation. Visible goiter is a major public health problem in this study area. Low socioeconomic status, low knowledge of pregnant women about the merits of iodized salt, and frequent intake of goitrogenic foods such as cabbage increase the risk of developing visible goiter. Therefore, due emphasis on goiter prevention and control strategies, increasing knowledge of women on the benefit of iodized salt, including low-income households in safety net programs, and nutritional education on iodine-rich diets (such as tuna, dairy products, and egg) should be emphasized to alleviate the problem.
Minimally Invasive Excision of a Giant Paratubal Cyst: Case Report and Management Review
Authors: Skaff Bassem , Zoorob Dani , El Assaad Rawane , Abou-Baker Mohamad
Published: December 2019

Paratubal cysts are usually incidentally found due to being small and asymptomatic adnexal structures. Enlargement to more than 15 cm concurrent with late presentation in an adult is rare. We present the case of a 36 cm diameter cyst in a 31-year-old female whose symptoms involved overactive bladder, abdominal bloating, and pressure. Radiologic findings suggested that it extended from the xiphoid and pubic symphysis. Removal was through a minimally invasive technique.
Electrochemical Performance of Hybrid Cationic Aqueous-Based Rechargeable Battery with Different Current Collectors and Electrolytes
Authors: Chen Shang , Tang Fang , He Ting , Zhang Huanhuan , Deng Shanshan , Li Yukang , Wu Xianwen , Zhang Qiaobao , Xiang Yanhong , Yan Wenbin
Published: December 2019

Different zinc foils as anode current collectors by electrowinning in various electrolytes with additives were prepared, which were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), float charge, and Tafel curve tests. The effect of different cathode current collectors, electrolytes, and the as-prepared zinc foils as the anode on the coulombic efficiency and the cycling performance of aqueous batteries were investigated. The results indicate that the initial coulombic efficiency and discharge capacity of the battery with 1 mol/L ZnSO4 and 2 mol/L Li2SO4 are 94.31% and 105.7 mAh/g using graphite as the current collector, which are much higher than 68.20% and 71.0 mAh/g using conductive polyethylene, respectively, attributed to the smaller polarization and electrochemical transfer impedance (Rct) of the former. However, the capacity retention of the latter is much higher than that of the former, especially using the high-concentration-lithium-based hybrid electrolyte, of which it is up to 74.63% even after 500 cycles. Moreover, the cycling performance of a battery with as-prepared zinc foil adding thiourea and gelatin into electrolyte during electrowinning is much better than that without additives, which is due to the smaller corrosion rate and side reaction.
Security and Cost-Aware Computation Offloading via Deep Reinforcement Learning in Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Huang Binbin , Li Yangyang , Li Zhongjin , Pan Linxuan , Wang Shangguang , Xu Yunqiu , Hu Haiyang
Published: December 2019

With the explosive growth of mobile applications, mobile devices need to be equipped with abundant resources to process massive and complex mobile applications. However, mobile devices are usually resource-constrained due to their physical size. Fortunately, mobile edge computing, which enables mobile devices to offload computation tasks to edge servers with abundant computing resources, can significantly meet the ever-increasing computation demands from mobile applications. Nevertheless, offloading tasks to the edge servers are liable to suffer from external security threats (e.g., snooping and alteration). Aiming at this problem, we propose a security and cost-aware computation offloading (SCACO) strategy for mobile users in mobile edge computing environment, the goal of which is to minimize the overall cost (including mobile device’s energy consumption, processing delay, and task loss probability) under the risk probability constraints. Specifically, we first formulate the computation offloading problem as a Markov decision process (MDP). Then, based on the popular deep reinforcement learning approach, deep Q-network (DQN), the optimal offloading policy for the proposed problem is derived. Finally, extensive experimental results demonstrate that SCACO can achieve the security and cost efficiency for the mobile user in the mobile edge computing environment.
Hypertension in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Fiseha Temesgen , Belete Alemu Gedefie , Dereje Henok , Dires Abebe
Published: December 2019

Background. With prolonged survival and aging of persons with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), hypertension has emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. However, little is known about the burden of this comorbid condition among adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among HIV-infected patients receiving ART in Northeast Ethiopia.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the ART clinic of Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia, between January and May 2018. HIV-infected patients who were on ART for at least 12 months were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from each participant. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg or a reported use of antihypertensive medication. Univariable and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with hypertension.Results. A total of 408 patients were studied with a mean (±SD) age of 37 ± 10.3 years, and 66.9% were female. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.7% (95% CI, 25.3–35.0%). Nearly 75% of the patients with hypertension were previously undiagnosed. In a univariate analysis, older age, male gender, a family history of hypertension, duration of HIV infection, duration on ART, high body mass index, low CD4 count, diabetes, and renal impairment were associated with hypertension. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (AOR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.13–3.83), male gender (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.01–2.65), longer duration on ART (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.14–3.20), high body mass index (AOR = 3.32; 95% CI, 1.13–9.77), and diabetes (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.29–5.89) as independent risk factors of hypertension.Conclusions. Hypertension is highly prevalent among HIV-infected patients on ART attending our clinic in Northeast Ethiopia but is mostly undiagnosed. These findings highlight the need for integrating hypertension management into routine HIV care to prevent adverse outcomes and improve health of people living with HIV on ART.
Patient‐Specific Coronary Artery 3D Printing Based on Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography and Coronary Angiography
Authors: Huang Chenxi , Lan Yisha , Chen Sirui , Liu Qing , Luo Xin , Xu Gaowei , Zhou Wen , Lin Fan , Peng Yonghong , Ng Eddie Y. K. , Cheng Yongqiang , Zeng Nianyin , Zhang Guokai , Che Wenliang
Published: December 2019

Despite the new ideas were inspired in medical treatment by the rapid advancement of three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology, there is still rare research work reported on 3D printing of coronary arteries being documented in the literature. In this work, the application value of 3D printing technology in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has been explored via comparison study between the 3D printed vascular solid model and the computer aided design (CAD) model. In this paper, a new framework is proposed to achieve a 3D printing vascular model with high simulation. The patient‐specific 3D reconstruction of the coronary arteries is performed by the detailed morphological information abstracted from the contour of the vessel lumen. In the process of reconstruction which has 5 steps, the morphological details of the contour view of the vessel lumen are merged along with the curvature and length information provided by the coronary angiography. After comparing with the diameter of the narrow section and the diameter of the normal section in CAD models and 3D printing model, it can be concluded that there is a high correlation between the diameter of vascular stenosis measured in 3D printing models and computer aided design models. The 3D printing model has high‐modeling ability and high precision, which can represent the original coronary artery appearance accurately. It can be adapted for prevascularization planning to support doctors in determining the surgical procedures.
Evaluation of Health Risk Level of Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibrations on the Technical Operators and Equipment in a Tobacco-Producing Company in Nigeria
Authors: Orelaja Oluseyi Adewale , Wang Xingsong , Ibrahim Dauda Sh. , Sharif Umer
Published: December 2019

Vibration is experienced when a body is subjected to either internal or external forces which cause oscillation, with most operators of industrial equipment often exposed to high dosage, higher than the stipulated values. In this research, Digital Real-Time Frequency Analyzer (RSA 5106A) was used, while the results obtained were evaluated and compared with the health guidelines of the ISO 2631-1 : 1997 and ISO 2631-5 : 2004 standards, as described in the Health Guidance Caution Zone for a daily exposure action value (EAV) of 0.47 m/s2 and a daily exposure limit value (ELV) of 0.93 m/s. High acceleration was mostly seen on the z-axis in all the results obtained, whereas many were not within the HGCZ (Arms <0.47, and >0.93 m/s2). Comparing (VDV <8.5 m/s1.75 and >17 m/s1.75) with the ISO standard, the accelerations on all x- and y-axes were slightly within the HGCZ, with just a little below 0.47 m/s2 limit. The results obtained clearly showed that urgent action is needed virtually on all the equipment in both the Secondary Manufacturing Department (SMD) and Primary Manufacturing Department (PMD) to minimize vibration exposure on the technical operators.
Liver Stiffness, Not Fat Liver Content, Predicts the Length of QTc Interval in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Bellan Mattia , Rigamonti Cristina , Giacomini Greta Maria , Makmur Giulio , Marconi Cecilia , Nicosia Francesco , Panero Antonio , De Benedittis Carla , Burlone Michela E. , Minisini Rosalba , Pirisi Mario
Published: December 2019

The severity of fatty liver at ultrasound has been associated with QT length, a finding invoked to explain the excess cardiovascular risk of patients with fatty liver. However, the ability of ultrasound to stage accurately the severity of fatty liver is limited, with fibrosis a major confounder. Here, we aimed to verify the alleged relationship between fat liver content and QT length using a technique apt at discriminating steatosis from fibrosis noninvasively, i.e., transient elastography (TE) with measure of liver stiffness (LS) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). A prospectively collected derivation cohort of 349 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) of any etiology (N=105 with nonalcoholic fatty liver) was studied to identify clinical, laboratory, and instrumental predictors of the corrected QT interval (QTc) and QTc prolongation, including LS and CAP. The results were validated on a subgroup of patients belonging to the derivation cohort (out of sample validation), as well as on a completely different group of N=149 subjects with CLD (out of time validation). QTc values were directly related to liver stiffness (LS; ρ=0.137; p=0.011), heart rate (HR; ρ=0.307; p<0.001), and age (ρ=0.265; p<0.001) and were significantly longer in females (p<0.001). In contrast, QTc was not associated with the value of controlled attenuation parameter (ρ=0.019; p=0.718); moreover, no discernible differences in QTc length were noted based on CLD etiology. QTc was prolonged in 24/349 patients (6.9%); age, HR, and LS were independent predictors of QTc prolongation (χ2=23.7, p<0.001). Furthermore, QTc values (after logarithmic transformation) were predicted by a model including age, gender, HR, and LS (F=14.1, R2=0.198, p<0.001). These latter results were validated by both out-of-sample and out-of-time methods. In conclusion, TE findings strongly suggest that among patients with CLD, fibrosis, not steatosis, is a major determinant of QTc length.
Composition Characterization of Fatty Acid Zinc Salts by Chromatographic and NMR Spectroscopic Analyses on Their Fatty Acid Methyl Esters
Authors: Park Kwang Seo , Kim Yun Ju , Choe Eun Kyung
Published: December 2019

To implement EU REACH- (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals-) like chemical legislations in various countries of which the purpose is human and environment safety, the first step is substance identification followed by the hazard and risk assessments. Although both structural and composition identifications are required, the latter can more importantly result in the essential data to fill out the required substance information such as purity and concentrations of constituents, as well as impurities. With fatty acid zinc salts (FAZSs) as an exemplary industrial chemical of which chromatographic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses were impossible due to their insolubility in water and any organic solvents, the composition characterization was tried by preparing their fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using the conc. HCl/methanol/toluene method. This acid-catalyzed methyl esterification was optimized with zinc stearate as a surrogate substance. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and NMR analyses on methyl-esterified products revealed that the optimum conditions were at 90°C for 10 min or 45°C for 30 min with two equivalent HCl as well as at 45°C for 10 min with five equivalent HCl. Almost all zinc stearates were converted into the corresponding fatty acids with 97–99% conversion rates. Free fatty acids (FFAs) were detected in extracted ion chromatograms of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) in the methyl-esterified products with incomplete conversions of 73∼79%. The optimized conc. HCl/methanol/toluene method of direct one-step reaction from FAZSs was compared with the two-step NaOH saponification/BF3-methanol method after acidic hydrolysis of FAZSs. The mechanism of fatty acid zinc salts into free fatty acids and fatty acid methyl esters was suggested with the evidence of the formation of Zn(OH)2.
Melanogenic Effects of Maclurin Are Mediated through the Activation of cAMP/PKA/CREB and p38 MAPK/CREB Signaling Pathways
Authors: Hwang Young Sun , Oh Sae Woong , Park See-Hyoung , Lee Jienny , Yoo Ju Ah. , Kwon Kitae , Park Se Jung , Kim Jangsoon , Yu Eunbi , Cho Jae Youl , Lee Jongsung
Published: December 2019

Melanogenesis is the biological process which the skin pigment melanin is synthesized to protect the skin against ultraviolet irradiation and other external stresses. Abnormal biology of melanocytes is closely associated with depigmented skin disorders such as vitiligo. In this study, we examined the effects of maclurin on melanogenesis and cytoprotection. Maclurin enhanced cellular tyrosinase activity as well as cellular melanin levels. We found that maclurin treatment increased the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein- (TRP-) 1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase. Mechanistically, maclurin promoted melanogenesis through cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding (CREB) protein-dependent upregulation of MITF. CREB activation was found to be mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. In addition, maclurin-induced CREB phosphorylation was mediated through the activation of both the cAMP/PKA and the p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Maclurin-induced suppression of p44/42 MAPK activation also contributed to its melanogenic activity. Furthermore, maclurin showed protective effects against H2O2treatment and UVB irradiation in human melanocytes. These findings indicate that the melanogenic effects of maclurin depend on increased MITF gene expression, which is mediated by the activation of both p38 MAPK/CREB and cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling. Our results thus suggest that maclurin could be useful as a protective agent against hypopigmented skin disorders.