bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Britain's Role in a Differentiated Europe after Brexit: A Comparative Regionalism Perspective
Authors: Murray Philomena , Brianson Alex
Published: September 2019

Once outside the EU, the UK will have to develop a new relationship with its former partners in the EU and other pan‐European bodies such as NATO, and this will require the UK to re‐evaluate its sense of its global and regional importance. We argue in particular that the comparative literature on awkward states in regional integration and regionalism, as well as that on middle powers in international relations, can help us understand the ways in which the UK's likely future relations with its continental neighbours can be approached and understood. In this article we focus on future UK–EU relations, drawing on Alex Warleigh‐Lack's typology of regionalization processes to develop maximalist and minimalist understandings of how the UK–EU relationship of the future could be structured. We then draw on the literature on middle powers, as well as that devoted to three other awkward states in their respective regions, namely Australia, Japan and Norway, to illustrate how these relationships have worked in practice, and thus how the UK could seek to structure its future regional role.
Dabigatran as an oral anticoagulant in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome post‐percutaneous endovascular intervention
Authors: Sharma Sanchit , Kumar Ramesh , Rout Gyanranjan , Gamanagatti Shivanand R , Shalimar
Published: September 2019

Background and Aim

Anticoagulants play an important role in the management of Budd–Chiari syndrome. There is a paucity of data on the efficacy and safety of direct‐acting oral anticoagulants—dabigatran, among patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data, the stent patency rates, major bleeding episode, and a composite endpoint of major bleed and/or mortality rates were compared between Budd–Chiari syndrome patients treated with dabigatran (n = 36) or vitamin K antagonists (n = 62) following endovascular intervention.

Results

The baseline characteristics, including sites of block and types of interventions, were similar between the two groups. The mean duration of follow‐up in the dabigatran and vitamin K antagonist groups was 10.5 ± 6.7 and 14.1 ± 6.9 months (P = 0.006), respectively. The endovascular stent patency rates were comparable between the dabigatran and vitamin K antagonist groups at 6 months (91% vs 96.5%) and 12 months (91% vs 93%), P = 0.296 (log‐rank test), respectively. Major bleeding events were comparable between the dabigatran and vitamin K antagonist groups at 6 months (3.5% vs 2%) and 12 months (3.5% vs 6.5%), P = 0.895 (log‐rank test), respectively. The composite endpoint of mortality and major bleed was comparable between dabigatran and vitamin K antagonists at 6 months (4% vs 5%) and 12 months (4% vs 8%), P = 0.875 (log‐rank test), respectively.

Conclusions

Dabigatran, as compared with vitamin K antagonists, is associated with similar stent patency rates and complications among patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome post‐endovascular intervention.
Changes in the macroscopic morphology of hip muscles in low back pain
Authors: Pourahmadi Mohammadreza , Asadi Mohammad , Dommerholt Jan , Yeganeh Ali
Published: September 2019

Low back pain is a major health issue affecting the lumbopelvic muscles. Morphological changes in hip muscles, such as alterations in the muscle cross‐sectional area and muscle volume, may occur in patients with low back pain. This systematic review was conducted to investigate whether patients with low back pain have macroscopic changes in their hip muscle morphology compared with asymptomatic, healthy individuals, based on current evidence. The electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, Ovid, Scopus, Embase®, and Google Scholar were searched from the inception to August 31, 2018. We only included full texts of original studies regarding macroscopic morphological alterations, including atrophy and fat infiltration, in hip muscles of patients with low back pain compared with asymptomatic controls. The quality of the included studies was determined using an assessment tool based on the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The scale was modified for the purposes of this study. Sixteen comparative observational studies were found eligible to be included in this review. Eleven were classified as high quality and four as moderate quality. The morphological changes in the psoas major, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and piriformis muscles were assessed in the primary studies. All selected studies were considered B level of evidence studies. The strength of conclusions for the psoas major, gluteal, and piriformis muscles was moderate. The results revealed that there is substantial controversy about the morphological changes in hip muscles in patients with low back pain; however, the majority of high‐quality studies concluded that atrophy of hip muscles is evident in patients with low back pain. The psoas major muscle was the most commonly investigated hip muscle for morphological changes. Major methodological limitations of the included studies were identified and discussed. The present systematic review does not include a formal meta‐analysis because of very significant differences in the primary studies in terms of study populations and methodologies. Finally, in clinical practice, it is recommended that physical therapists develop exercise programs to improve hip muscle function in patients with low back pain.
Retheorising the End: Sonata Structures and Morphological Form in Shostakovich's String Quartet Finales
Authors: Ellis Sarah Reichardt
Published: September 2019

Between the mid‐1930s and the 1960s Dmitri Shostakovich composed a large number of sonata movements in which the structure is in dialogue with eighteenth‐ and nineteenth‐century conceptions of the form. Performative in nature, his use of the formal genre is clearly displayed, indeed highlighted in the exposition, only to be just as openly countered later in the movement. Previous scholarship has focused on Shostakovich's use of sonata form in first movements of multi‐movement symphonies and quartets. Yet, his alterations to the form differ with respect to the placement of the movement within a multi‐movement work. In first‐movement sonata forms, the rupture of the structural boundary between the development and recapitulation is sutured over. In finales, the gap is torn open and put on display through a dissolution of the music at the structural juncture. How the music restarts after this dissolution affects the narrative role of the movement. Owing to these alterations in structure, the finales problematise the rhetorical functions such movements have historically played in the overall structure. Historic archetypes are not fulfilled, but rather questioned and undermined. Shostakovich's string quartet finales thus function as morphological forms, moving beyond traditional syntactic space into a more expressive realm. Through the gesture of disintegration they metaphorically display symbolic dissolution, only then to propose new means of reflecting symbolic existence. Through his alterations Shostakovich presents a revitalized sonata form, one that is able to create meaning within the modern context.
Emerging role of m6A RNA methylation in nutritional physiology and metabolism
Authors: Wu Jiamin , Frazier Katya , Zhang Jingfei , Gan Zhending , Wang Tian , Zhong Xiang
Published: September 2019

N6‐methyladenine (m6A) is the most prevalent type of internal RNA methylation in eukaryotic mRNA and plays critical roles in regulating gene expression for fundamental cellular processes and diverse physiological functions. Recent evidence indicates that m6A methylation regulates physiology and metabolism, and m6A has been increasingly implicated in a variety of human diseases, including obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancer. Conversely, nutrition and diet can modulate or reverse m6A methylation patterns on gene expression. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the study of the m6A methylation mechanisms and highlight the crosstalk between m6A modification, nutritional physiology and metabolism.
A normative account of epistemic luck
Authors: Goldberg Sanford C.
Published: September 2019

This paper develops a normative account of epistemic luck, according to which the luckiness of epistemic luck is analyzed in terms of the expectations a subject is entitled to have when she satisfies the standards of epistemic justification. This account enables us to distinguish three types of epistemic luck—bad, good, and sheer—and to model the roles they play e.g. in Gettierization. One controversial aspect of the proposed account is that it is non‐reductive. While other approaches analyze epistemic luck in non‐epistemic terms—either in modal terms (lack of safety) or in agential terms (lack of creditworthiness)—I argue that the non‐reductive nature of the normative account is actually a selling‐point relative to its competitors.
Mineralogy, Fluid Inclusion, and Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotope Studies of the Intrusion‐Related Yangla Cu Deposit in the Sanjiang Region, SW China: Implications for Metallogenesis and Deposit Type
Authors: Du Li‐Juan , Li Bo , Huang Zhi‐Long , Chen Jun , Zhou Jia‐Xi , Zou Guo‐Fu , Yan Zai‐Fei
Published: September 2019

The Yangla deposit is an intrusion‐related Cu deposit in the Jinshajiang tectonic belt (eastern Sanjiang region, SW China). Despite extensive studies that have been conducted on this deposit, the relationship between the granitic magma and Cu mineralization is still unclear, and hence, the genesis is debated. To answer this question, we conducted an integrated study of mineralogy, fluid inclusions (FIs), and hydrogen and oxygen (H‐O) isotopes. Three mineralization stages were identified based on the ore textures, alteration zonation, and crosscutting relationships: (i) pre‐ore prograde skarn (stage I), with the garnet and pyroxene dominated by andradite and diopside, respectively; (ii) syn‐ore retrograde alteration (stage II), which is subdivided into the early syn‐ore stage (stage IIa) marked by retrograde hydrated mineral assemblages and significant Fe‐Cu‐Mo‐Pb‐Zn sulfide mineralization, and the late syn‐ore stage (stage IIb) featured by quartz‐calcite veins; and (iii) late supergene mineralization (stage III), which is characterized by secondary azurite and malachite. These results of mineralogy, FIs, and H‐O isotopes indicate that: (i) Cu mineralization has a close temporal, spatial, and genetic relationship with skarn alteration; (ii) the ore fluids were magmatic dominated with late‐stage meteoric water incursion; and (iii) Type‐S (halite‐bearing) and Type‐V (vapor‐rich) FIs coexisted in garnet and clinopyroxene of stage I, indicating that fluid boiling might have occurred during this stage. From stage I to stage IIa, the FI type transformed from Type‐S + Type‐V + Type‐L (liquid‐rich) to Type‐V + Type‐L with the conduct of mineralization and was accompanied by the disappearance of Type‐S, and homogenization temperature and salinity also tended to decrease dramatically, which may be caused by the deposition of skarn minerals. At stage IIa, boiling of the ore fluids still continued due to the change from lithostatic to hydrostatic pressure, which triggered the precipitation of abundant quartz‐Cu‐Mo‐Fe sulfides. Furthermore, fluid mixing between a high‐temperature magmatic fluid and a low‐temperature meteoric water might cause a considerable drop in temperature and the deposition of Cu‐bearing quartz/calcite veins during stage IIb. Hence, we consider the Yangla deposit to be of a skarn type, genetically related to the Mesozoic magmatism in the Sanjiang region.
A New Face to the Race Card? Campaigns, Racial Cues, and Candidate Credibility
Authors: Philpot Tasha S. , Miller Kenneth M.
Published: September 2019

Objective

This research examines the effects of using positive racial imagery in the context of an electoral campaign.

Method

This study utilizes an experiment that was embedded in a survey conducted as part of the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study.

Results

Unlike negative stereotypical images that activate racial prejudice, positive racial images can be used to improve perceptions of a candidate's perceived level of inclusivity and overall candidate evaluations. The ability to do so, however, is contingent on the racial attitudes of the subjects.

Conclusion

This study provides new insight into how racial appeals can be made in campaigns as well as the relative rigidity and fluidity of political stereotypes.
Tactile priming accelerates conscious access to continuous flash‐suppressed characters
Authors: Lang Yiran , Gao Ming , Huang Qiang , Liu Zejian , Wu Liang , Tang Rongyu
Published: September 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Research has reported that some sensory input, such as auditory and olfactory input, can affect subliminal visual processing. However, it is important to address whether tactile input, another form of elementary sensory input, could influence the interocular rivalry process.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We present several pieces of evidence regarding the influences of familiar tactile shapes and temperature on continuous flash suppression. Our findings provide support for the hypothesis that there is a cross‐modal effect on subconscious visual semantic processing of Chinese characters. More specifically, tactile sensations affect subliminal processing of visual information.

Tactile and visual sensations are the most vital human functions for obtaining environmental information. However, whether tactile information influences visual processing remains unclear. In this study, a breaking continuous flash suppression (b‐CFS) protocol was used to measure the extent to which tactile sensations facilitate visual processing subconsciously. In experiment 1, finger stimulation with cold and hot temperatures served as primers for the words ‘cold’ and ‘hot’, which were in turn suppressed by CFS. In experiment 2, subjects viewed the upright or inverted word ‘cell phone’, with or without tactile priming of holding a cell phone in their hand. Results demonstrated that the tactile primer significantly shortened the reaction time in the touch group compared with the control group in both experiments. Thus, the tactile sensation of a familiar article and/or temperature appears to facilitate corresponding visual semantic recognition to break CFS earlier.
Uso y conocimiento de cactáceas en la comunidad otomí de El Alberto, en Ixmiquilpan (Hidalgo, México)
Authors: Cárdenas Camargo Israel
Published: September 2019

Las comunidades indígenas han dependido de la naturaleza para cubrir sus necesidades. En México, el pueblo indígena otomí habita parte del estado de Hidalgo. Dicho territorio es una zona semiárida, donde la familia Cactaceae es la mejor representada. El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir los usos y el conocimiento tradicional asociado a algunas cactáceas en la comunidad de El Alberto, en Hidalgo (México). Se aplicaron 52 entrevistas semiestructuradas sobre sus usos. Se registraron 14 especies, distribuidas en 10 géneros. Todas presentaron cuando menos dos usos, reconociéndose nueve categorías. Esta comunidad es un ejemplo de una relación entre sociedad y ecosistema que se refleja en el patrimonio biocultural, el cual debe ser preservado.
Updating Molecular Diagnostics for Detecting Methicillin-Susceptible and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in Blood Culture Bottles
Authors: Tenover Fred C. , Tickler Isabella A. , Le Victoria M. , Dewell Scott , Mendes Rodrigo E. , Goering Richard V.
Published: September 2019

Molecular diagnostic tests can be used to provide rapid identification of staphylococcal species in blood culture bottles to help improve antimicrobial stewardship. However, alterations in the target nucleic acid sequences of the microorganisms or their antimicrobial resistance genes can lead to false-negative results.
Viral Nonstructural Protein 1 Induces Mitochondrion-Mediated Apoptosis in Mink Enteritis Virus Infection
Authors: Lin Peng , Cheng Yuening , Song Shanshan , Qiu Jianming , Yi Li , Cao Zhigang , Li Jianrong , Cheng Shipeng , Wang Jianke
Published: September 2019

MEV causes fatal hemorrhagic enteritis in minks. Apoptosis is a cellular mechanism that effectively sacrifices virus-infected cells to maintain homeostasis between the virus and host. In this study, we demonstrated that MEV induces apoptosis both
in vivo
and
in vitro
. Mechanistically, the viral large nonstructural protein NS1 activates p38 MAPK, which leads p53 phosphorylation to mediate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway but not the death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway. This is the first report to uncover the mechanism underlying MEV-induced apoptosis.
Complex Responses to Hydrogen Peroxide and Hypochlorous Acid by the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri
Authors: Basu Thakur Poulami , Long Abagail R. , Nelson Benjamin J. , Kumar Ranjit , Rosenberg Alexander F. , Gray Michael J.
Published: September 2019

Reactive oxidants, including hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid, are antimicrobial compounds produced by the immune system during inflammation. Little is known, however, about how many important types of bacteria present in the human microbiome respond to these oxidants, especially commensal and other health-associated species. We have now mapped the stress response to both H
2
O
2
and HOCl in the intestinal lactic acid bacterium
Lactobacillus reuteri
.
Gender and language use in scientific grant writing
Authors: Urquhart-Cronish Mackenzie , Otto Sarah P.
Published: September 2019

Women in science, technology, engineering, and math are not equally represented across tenure-track career stages, and this extends to grant funding, where women applicants often have lower success rates compared with men. While gender bias in reviewers has been documented, it is currently unknown whether written language in grant applications varies predictably with gender to elicit bias against women. Here we analyse the text of ∼2000 public research summaries from the 2016 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) individual Discovery Grant (DG) program. We explore the relationship between language variables, inferred gender and career stage, and funding levels. We also analyse aggregated data from the 2012–2018 NSERC DG competitions to determine whether gender impacted the probability of receiving a grant for early-career researchers. We document a marginally significant gender difference in funding levels for successful grants, with women receiving $1756 less than men, and a large and significant difference in rejection rates among early-career applicants (women: 40.4% rejection; men: 33.0% rejection rate). Language variables had little ability to predict gender or funding level using predictive modelling. Our results indicate that NSERC funding levels and success rates differ between men and women, but we find no evidence that gendered language use affected funding outcomes.
Rational and semi-rational solutions for the (3 + 1)-dimensional B-type Kadomtsev–Petviashvili–Boussinesq equation
Authors: Deng Ya-Si , Tian Bo , Sun Yan , Zhang Chen-Rong , Hu Cong-Cong
Published: September 2019

Nonlinear waves are seen in nature, such as the water waves and plasma waves. Investigated in this paper is a (3 + 1)-dimensional B-type Kadomtsev–Petviashvili–Boussinesq equation. Based on the bilinear method, we get the rational solutions, which are different from the published ones, semi-rational solutions and breather-type kink soliton solutions. Through the rational solutions, we observe two types of waves: the lump waves and line rogue waves. The semi-rational solutions depict two types of interactions: (1) The fusion or fission between the lump wave and soliton; (2) The interaction between the line rogue wave and soliton. During the interaction between the line rogue wave and soliton, the line rogue wave evolves with three different shapes: the bright rogue waves, bright–dark rogue waves and dark rogue waves. Via the breather-type kink soliton solutions, we observe the breather-soliton mixture.
Effect of correlation on the traffic capacity of time-varying communication network
Authors: Kumari S. , Singh A.
Published: September 2019

The network topology and the routing strategy are major factors to affect the traffic dynamics of the network. In this work, we aim to design an optimal time-varying network structure and an efficient route is allocated to each user in the network. The network topology is designed by considering addition, removal and rewiring of links. At each time instant, a new node connects with an existing node based on the degree and correlation with its neighbor. Traffic congestion is handled by rewiring of some congested links along with the removal of the anti-preferential and correlated links. Centrality plays an important role to find the most important node in the network. The more a node is central, the more it can be used for the shortest route of the user pairs and it can be congested due to a large number of data coming from its neighborhood. Therefore, routes of the users are selected such that the sum of the centrality of the nodes appearing in the user’s route is minimum. Thereafter, we analyze the network structure by using various network properties such as the clustering coefficient, centrality, average shortest path, rich club coefficient, average packet travel time and order parameter.
Information on evolutionary age in redundancy of complex network
Authors: Deng Shiguo , Ren Henggang , Weng Tongfeng , Gu Changgui , Yang Huijie
Published: September 2019

Evolutionary processes of many complex networks in reality are dominated by duplication and divergence. This mechanism leads to redundant structures, i.e. some nodes share most of their neighbors and some local patterns are similar, called redundancy of network. An interesting reverse problem is to discover evolutionary information from the present topological structure. We propose a quantitative measure of redundancy of network from the perspective of principal component analysis. The redundancy of a community in the empirical human metabolic network is negatively and closely related with its evolutionary age, which is consistent with that for the communities in the modeling protein–protein network. This behavior can be used to find the evolutionary difference stored in cellular networks.
A 9 Bit, 3.6 ps Resolution Pipeline Time-to-Digital Converter
Authors: Goodarzi Farshad , Toofan Siroos
Published: September 2019

This paper describes a 9-bit time-to-digital converter (TDC) with 3.6 ps resolution. The resolution of 3.6 ps is achieved using coarse and fine structure. The structure of the proposed two-step pipeline TDC is composed of a 4-bit coarse TDC (CTDC) based on delay line and a 5-bit fine TDC (FTDC) based on an SAR-CD algorithm where a Time Amplifier (TA) is used between them. Since TA amplifies the time intervals in different stages of delay line to achieve accurate gain with wide linear range. Therefore, the TDC has good linearity. The proposed TDC has Differential Non-Linearity (DNL) and Integral Non-Linearity (INL) errors of 1.6 and 2.6 LSB, respectively. This TDC was designed in 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS technology. Using a supply voltage of 1.8[Formula: see text]V, the proposed TDC consumes 1.88[Formula: see text]mW at 25 MS/s throughput.
Jost-matrix analysis of the resonance 5He∗(3 2+) near the dt-threshold
Authors: Rakityansky S. A. , Ershov S. N.
Published: September 2019

Partial cross-sections of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] collisions in the quantum state [Formula: see text] near the [Formula: see text]-threshold, taken from an available [Formula: see text]-matrix analysis, are fitted using the semi-analytic multi-channel Jost matrix with proper analytic structure and some adjustable parameters. Then the spectral points are sought as zeros of the Jost matrix determinant (which correspond to the [Formula: see text]-matrix poles) at complex energies. The correct analytic structure makes it possible to calculate (analytically continue) the fitted Jost matrix on any sheet of the Riemann surface whose topology involves not only the square-root but also the logarithmic branching caused by the Coulomb interaction. As a result of such an analytic continuation, it was found that the previously established [Formula: see text]-resonance (at [Formula: see text]) and its shadow pole (at [Formula: see text]) both are split in overlapping pairs. Apart from studying the properties of a specific nuclear state, it is also proved for a general multi-channel problem that the Coulomb forces change the topology of the Riemann surface as well as destroy the so-called mirror symmetry of the [Formula: see text]-matrix.
Major Security Challenges to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: LI Nan
Published: September 2019

Major security challenges to China’s Belt and Road Initiative include geopolitical tensions as well as civil conflicts, terrorist attacks, piracy, abductions, robberies and murders. The methods China has adopted to cope with these challenges range from military deployment, expanding consular protection, relying on militaries of host governments for protection, employing Chinese police for overseas law enforcement, to hiring private security firms. These methods have also encountered many difficulties.
Forecasting Iran’s Energy Demand Using Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Jalaee Sayyed Abdolmajid , GhasemiNejad Amin , Lashkary Mehrdad , Rezaee Jafari Maryam
Published: September 2019

This study deals with the modeling of the energy consumption in Iran to forecast future projections based on socioeconomic and demographic variables (GDP, population, import and export amounts, and employment) using the cuckoo optimization algorithm. For this purpose, four diverse models including different indicators were used in the analyses. Linear and power forms of equations are developed for each model. The related data between 1972 and 2013 were used, partly for installing the models. The result of the models shows that the obtained demand estimation linear models are in closer agreement with the observed data, particularly the linear model with five independent variables including GDP, population, import, export, and employment, which outperformed other linear models. Finally, the future energy demand of Iran is forecasted up to the year 2030 using these models under three scenarios.
Effects of Size of Zinc Borate on the Flame Retardant Properties of Intumescent Coatings
Authors: Lu Ning , Zhang Pengchao , Wu Ya’nan , Zhu Danqing , Pan Zhu
Published: September 2019

This paper is aimed at assessing the fire retardancy and thermal stability of intumescent flame retardant (IFR) containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP), pentaerythritol (PER), and melamine (MEL). Zinc borate (ZB) was added at the loading of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, and 12% by weight of IFR. The sizes of investigated ZB fall in 3 ranges: 1-2 μm, 2-5 μm, and 5-10 μm. The performance of APP/PER/MEL was investigated by using thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), cone calorimeter test, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The results obtained from the above experiments show that the incorporation of ZB can improve the fire protection performance. A 77% decrease in total smoke production and 84.6% decrease in total heat release were achieved for the addition of 2 wt% ZB (2-5 μm) in the IFR coating. TGA results indicate an increased amount of char residue. Compared to the control IFR coating, the char residue of IFR containing 2 wt% ZB (2-5 μm) has increased approximately 1.5-fold, 10-fold, and 25-fold, at 600°C, 700°C, and 800°C, respectively. The effective char formation results in excellent smoke suppression. Regarding smoke suppression performance, the order for smoke density is IFR/ZB (2-5 μm) < IFR/ZB (5-10 μm) < IFR/ZB (1-2 μm), regardless of investigated loading levels. The decline of smoke suppression performance for IFR/ZB (5-10 μm) and IFR/ZB (1-2 μm) is believed to be due to the poor char formation, as a result of a weak interaction of APP, PER, MEL, and ZB. This weak interaction is caused by the decrease in the specific surface area and agglomeration of ZB particles for IFR/ZB (5-10 μm) and IFR/ZB (1-2 μm), respectively.
Properties and Components of Recycled Engine Oil Bottom Rejuvenated Asphalt and Its Grey Relationship Analysis
Authors: Li Jin , Yu Miaozhang , Cui Xinzhuang , Wang Wentong
Published: September 2019

Numerous environmental pollution and resource waste problems are associated with recycled engine oil bottom (REOB), which cannot be effectively recycled. Based on the similarity compatibility theory and component adjustment theory, comparing the physical and rheological properties of laboratory-aged asphalt under three types of REOB (defined as REOB-1, REOB-2, and REOB-3) with different dosages, the optimum type and dosage of REOB as asphalt regenerant were explored. The rejuvenation mechanism of REOB on aged asphalt was revealed by combined performance, four-component, and infrared spectroscopy analyses. The relationship between the four components and physical rheological indexes in the process of asphalt rejuvenated by REOB was quantitatively obtained by the grey relationship analysis. The results show that only REOB-3 with a dosage of 7% on the aged asphalt has the best comprehensive rejuvenation effect. Also, the high-temperature rutting resistance of rejuvenated asphalt with 7% REOB-3 is better than that of the original asphalt, but the low-temperature flexibility and the crack resistance performance have yet to be improved. The mechanism through which REOB rejuvenates aged asphalt is an incomplete component adjustment; some of the components undergo physical or chemical reactions and transformations. Accordingly, the asphaltene content and the intensity of sulfoxide functional groups in aged asphalt decrease, thereby achieving rejuvenation gradually with the addition of REOB. A grey relationship analysis demonstrates that asphaltenes have the greatest influence on high-temperature performance and that low-temperature performance requires a reasonable combination of four components. Moreover, a comprehensive advantage analysis reveals that REOB is the most sensitive to the softening point and that the asphaltene content has the greatest influence on the physical and rheological properties of REOB-rejuvenated asphalt. Therefore, the asphaltene content should be strictly controlled during the addition of REOB to rejuvenate aged asphalt.
Curcumin Protects Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells against H2O2-Induced Cell Injury
Authors: Ouyang Jipeng , Li Rong , Shi Haiqin , Zhong Jianping
Published: September 2019

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder which causes a huge economic burden on society. It is thought to be a neurovascular disease with oxidative stress might be involved. Curcumin, one of the major ingredients of turmeric, has potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, but whether it could be used as a potential treatment for migraine remains to be explored. In the present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pretreated with various concentrations of curcumin (0 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 30 μM, 40 μM, and 50 μM) for 12 h, thereby exposed to H2O2 (100 μM) for another 12 h. The viability of HUVECs was tested by the CCK-8 assay, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were also examined. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed to determine H2O2-induced oxidative stress. In addition, several cell death-related genes (p53, p21, Bax, and Bcl-2) were detected by PCR, and an apoptosis-related protein (caspase3) was evaluated by western blotting. Our results showed that curcumin improved the H2O2-induced decrease of cell viability and antioxidative enzyme activities and decreased the level of oxidative stress. As a conclusion, curcumin could mitigate H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell death in HUVECs and may be a potential therapeutic drug for migraine.
Optimal Selection of Stimulation Wells Using a Fuzzy Multicriteria Methodology
Authors: Zeng Fanhui , Wang Dayong , Guo Jianchun , Zhang Shouren , Zhang Ping , Zhang Bing
Published: September 2019

Choosing the most appropriate wells for stimulation is one of the greatest challenges affecting reservoir production and economic development. In this paper, an integrated fuzzy decision‐making methodology is developed to choose the most appropriate stimulation wells based on a number of criteria. The presented approach is able to determine the final decision priorities for multiple candidate wells considering uncertainty, incomplete information, and the large number of factors involved. The proposed modelling framework works as a stepwise procedure to fuse several different methods with combined benefits. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is adopted to build the factor framework. Grey theory is introduced to determine the influence weights of factors, and combined with the fuzzy logic concept, these values are used to rank candidate wells. A field application shows that the presented method is able to identify the wells with the highest potential for enhanced production.
Chemical Composition, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils of the Leaves and Fruit Pulp ofAnnona muricataL. (Soursop) from Ghana
Authors: Gyesi Joseph Nana , Opoku Rita , Borquaye Lawrence Sheringham
Published: September 2019

Annona muricata, also called soursop, is widespread in many tropical countries, and various parts of the plant have been shown to possess very good pharmacological properties. This work evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of essential oils obtained from the fruit pulp and leaves of soursop. Essential oils were obtained via hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antioxidant potential was evaluated via the phosphomolybdenum, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays. In the leaf essential oil, a total of 31 compounds were identified withδ-cadinene (22.58%) andα-muurolene (10.64%) being the most abundant. Thirty-two compounds were identified in the fruit pulp essential oil with Ç-sitosterol (19.82%) and 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (13.48%) being present in high amounts. Both essential oils showed very good total antioxidant capacities (49.03 gAAE/100 g and 50.88 gAAE/100 g for fruit pulp and leaf essential oils, respectively). The IC50values from the DPPH assay were 244.8 ± 3.2 μg/mL for leaf essential oil and 512 ± 5.1 μg/mL for the fruit pulp essential oil. At 1 mg/mL, hydrogen peroxide scavenged was below 50% for both leaf and fruit pulp essential oils, indicating moderate activity. These results suggest possible application of the essential oils ofAnnona muricatain food preservation and processing.
Effects of Trimetazidine Pretreatment on Endothelial Dysfunction and Myocardial Injury in Unstable Angina Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Shao Shuai , Shi Zhaozhao , Tse Gary , Wang Xinghua , Ni Yanping , Liu Hongmei , Liu Tong , Li Guangping
Published: September 2019

Objectives. Trimetazidine is an anti-ischemic medication licensed for the treatment of angina pectoris. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain incompletely elucidated. In this study, therefore, we examined the potential beneficial effects of trimetazidine on myocardial injury and endothelial dysfunction in patients with unstable angina in the perioperative period of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods. A total of 97 patients with unstable angina were randomly divided into trimetazidine (n = 48) and control (n = 49) groups. All subjects received standard medical therapy. The trimetazidine group additionally received 20 mg trimetazidine three times daily 24 hours before and after PCI. Serum levels of creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured before and the morning following PCI. Results. In the control group, levels of CK-MB, cTnI, and vWF were significantly elevated (P<0.05) and NO level was decreased after PCI (P<0.05). By contrast, no significant changes in the levels of these proteins were observed in the trimetazidine group after PCI (P>0.05). Moreover, h-FABP levels were not significantly altered after PCI whether in the control or in the trimetazidine group (P>0.05). Finally, a time-dependent increase in the levels of h-FABP from 0 to 6 hours after PCI, followed by a progressive decline, was observed (P<0.05). Conclusions. PCI induces endothelial dysfunction and myocardial damage in patients with unstable angina. Trimetazidine therapy in the perioperative period can reduce this damage.
Impact of Hydrostatic Pressure Variations Caused by Height Differences in Supine and Prone Positions on Fractional Flow Reserve Values in the Coronary Circulation
Authors: Kawaguchi Yoshitaka , Ito Kazuki , Kin Humihiko , Shirai Yusuke , Okazaki Ayako , Miyajima Keisuke , Watanabe Tomoyuki , Tatsuguchi Mariko , Wakabayashi Yasushi , Maekawa Yuichiro
Published: September 2019

Objectives. To examine the influence of hydrostatic pressure on fractional flow reserve (FFR) in vivo.Background. Systematic differences in FFR values have been observed previously in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA). It has been suggested that as the hydrostatic pressure variations caused by the height differences between the catheter tip (mean aortic pressure (Pa)) and pressure-wire sensor (mean distal intracoronary pressure (Pd)) are small, intracoronary pressure need not be corrected.Methods. Resting Pd/Pa and FFR values in 23 patients (27 lesions) were measured and compared in supine and prone positions. These values were corrected by hydrostatic pressure influenced by height levels and compared. Height differences between Pa and Pd were calculated using coronary computed tomography angiographies.Results. In LAD, resting Pd/Pa and FFR values were significantly higher in the prone position than in the supine position (0.97 ± 0.05 vs 0.89 ± 0.04,P<0.001(resting Pd/Pa); 0.81 ± 0.09 vs 0.72 ± 0.07,P<0.001(FFR)). Conversely, in LCX and RCA, these values were significantly lower in the prone position (LCX: 0.93 ± 0.03 vs 0.98 ± 0.03,P<0.001(resting Pd/Pa); 0.84 ± 0.05 vs 0.89 ± 0.04,P<0.001(FFR); RCA: 0.91 ± 0.04 vs 0.98 ± 0.03,P=0.005(resting Pd/Pa); 0.78 ± 0.07 vs 0.84 ± 0.07,P=0.019(FFR)). FFR values corrected by hydrostatic pressure showed good correlations in the supine and prone positions (R2 = 0.948 in LAD;R2 = 0.942 in LCX;R2 = 0.928 in RCA).Conclusions. Hydrostatic pressure variations due to height levels influence intracoronary pressure measurements and largely affect resting Pd/Pa and FFR, which might have caused systematic differences in FFR values between the anterior and posterior coronary territories.
CD28 Deficiency Ameliorates Blast Exposure-Induced Lung Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and T Cell Accumulation in the Lungs via the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Yunen , Tong Changci , Xu Ying , Cong Peifang , Liu Ying , Shi Lin , Shi Xiuyun , Zhao Yan , Bi Guangyuan , Jin Hongxu , Hou Mingxiao
Published: September 2019

Although CD28 is associated with the expression of inflammatory mediators, apoptosis-related protein, immunosuppression, and tumorigenesis, the effects of CD28 deficiency on blast exposure-induced lung injury have not been investigated. In this study, we have explored the effects of CD28 on blast exposure-induced lung injury and studied its potential molecular mechanisms. A mouse model of blast exposure-induced acute lung injury was established. Sixty C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and CD28 knockout (CD28-/-) mice were randomly divided into control or model groups. Lung tissue samples were collected 24 h and 48 h after blast injury. Histopathological changes and the expressions of inflammatory-related proteins were detected by hematoxylin-eosin, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. Apoptosis and oxidative stress were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and related pathway protein expression were studied by western blotting. In addition, the levels of CD3 and CD28 proteins were measured by flow cytometry. In the current study, we found that CD28 deficiency significantly inhibited blast exposure-induced increases in the lung weight/body weight ratio and wet weight/dry weight ratio; decreased the infiltration of CD44+leukocytes, CD163+macrophages, and CD3+T cells into the lungs; reduced the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6; and markedly increased IL-10 expression. CD28 deficiency also significantly attenuated blast exposure-induced ROS, MDA5, and IREαexpressions; increased SOD-1 expression; lowered the number of apoptotic cells and Bax, Caspase-3, and active Caspase-8 expressions; and increased Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, CD28 deficiency significantly ameliorated blast exposure-induced increases of p-PI3K and p-Akt and ameliorated the decrease in the p-FoxO1 expression. Our results suggest that CD28 deficiency has a protective effect on blast exposure-induced lung injury, which might be associated with the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.
Death in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis of Mortality in a Swiss University Hospital
Authors: Heymann Eric P. , Wicky Alexandre , Carron Pierre-Nicolas , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K.
Published: September 2019

Acute treatment in emergency medicine revolves around the management and stabilization of sick patients, followed by a transfer to the relevant medical specialist, be it outpatient or inpatient. However, when patients are too sick to be stabilized, i.e., when the care provided in the Emergency Department (ED) may not be sufficient to enable transfer, death may occur. This aspect of emergency medicine is often overlooked, and very few public data exist regarding who dies in the ED. The following retrospective analysis of the mortality figures of a Swiss university hospital from January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2016 attests to the fact that with an incidence of 2.6/1,000, death does occur in the ED. With a broad range of aetiologies, clinical severity at presentation has a high correlation with mortality, a finding that reinforces the necessity of good triage system. Our analysis goes on to show that however (in)frequent death in the ED may be, there exists a lack of advanced directives in a majority of patients (present in only 14.8% of patients during the time of study), a worrying and often challenging situation for Emergency Medicine (EM) teams faced with premorbid patients. Furthermore, a lack of such directives may hinder access to palliative care, as witnessed in part by the fact that palliative measures were only started in 16.6% of patients during the study. The authors hope this study will serve as a stepping stone to promote further research and discussion into early identification methods for patients at risk of death in the ED, as well as motivate a discussion into the integration of palliative care within the ED and EM training curriculum.
Comparative Study on Dynamic Response of Deck Pavement of Two Kinds of Box Girder Bridges under Moving Loads
Authors: Si Chundi , Su Xin , Chen Enli , Yan Zhanyou
Published: September 2019

The objective of this study is to analyse the difference of dynamic response of the deck pavement between a box girder bridge with corrugated steel webs and a concrete web box girder bridge. In this study, a simply supported beam with a span of 34 m is taken as the research object. According to the principle of equal shear stress of the box girder section, the three‐dimensional finite element model of the superstructure of two kinds of box girder bridges is established by the finite element software ABAQUS. The DLOAD and UTRACLOAD subroutines are called to impose a movement load on the bridge deck. The dynamic response of the bridge deck pavement under different vehicle speeds (36 km/h, 72 km/h, and 108 km/h) and different load types (single wheel rectangular uniform load and double wheel rectangular uniform load) is calculated. The variation trends of vertical displacement, longitudinal shear stress, and transverse stress of two bridges are compared. The results show that, under the same conditions, the dynamic response of the box girder bridge with corrugated steel webs is greater than that of the equivalent concrete web box girder bridge. The box girder bridge with corrugated steel webs has lightweight, good seismic performance and bending resistance, and more obvious advantages in deflection control. The equivalent concrete web box girder bridge has good shear and torsional properties. The response of two kinds of deck pavement systems of the box girder bridge under dynamic loads is more obvious than that under static loads. This study would provide some theoretical reference for the dynamic response of the deck paving system of box girder bridges.
Prognostic Value of Serum Albumin at Admission for Neurologic Outcome with Targeted Temperature Management after Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Kim Soo Hyun , Youn Chun Song , Kim Hyo Joon , Choi Seung Pill
Published: September 2019

Introduction. It is well known that hypoalbuminemia is associated with adverse outcomes in various critical illnesses. However, there are few studies specifically measuring the association between albumin level and neurologic outcomes after CA treated with TTM. The aim of this study was to assess whether serum albumin concentration on admission had prognostic value for OHCA patients treated with TTM. Methods. We included adult patients aged ≥18 years with nontraumatic OHCA treated with TTM whose serum albumin concentration was available and who were admitted from 2009 to 2016. Serum albumin was measured within 1 h after ROSC, and hypoalbuminemia was defined as admission serum albumin <3.5 g/dl. A good neurologic outcome was defined as a cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2 at 6 months. Results. A total of 255 patients were eligible for analysis, of whom 106 (41.6%) survived to 6 months; 84 (32.9%) of these patients achieved favorable neurologic outcomes. The mean albumin values were significantly lower in patients with poor neurologic outcomes than the values in those with good neurologic outcomes (3.3 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.4, respectively, p<0.001). After adjusting the crude model, patients in the hypoalbuminemia group were 3.5 times more likely to have poor neurologic outcome than were those in the normal albumin group (OR 3.526, 95% CI 1.388–8.956, p=0.008). Conclusions. Hypoalbuminemia was common after CA, and the serum albumin level at admission was associated with poor neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA in patients treated with TTM.