bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioengineered human acellular vessels recellularize and evolve into living blood vessels after human implantation
Authors: Kirkton Robert D. , Santiago-Maysonet Maribel , Lawson Jeffrey H. , Tente William E. , Dahl Shannon L. M. , Niklason Laura E. , Prichard Heather L.
Published: March 2019

Bioengineered human acellular vessels repopulate with host cells and evolve into self-sustaining living blood vessels in hemodialysis patients.
GPRC5D is a target for the immunotherapy of multiple myeloma with rationally designed CAR T cells
Authors: Smith Eric L. , Harrington Kim , Staehr Mette , Masakayan Reed , Jones Jon , Long Thomas J. , Ng Khong Y. , Ghoddusi Majid , Purdon Terence J. , Wang Xiuyan , Do Trevor , Pham Minh Thu , Brown Jessica M. , De Larrea Carlos Fernandez , Olson Eric , Peguero Elizabeth , Wang Pei , Liu Hong , Xu Yiyang , Garrett-Thomson Sarah C. , Almo Steven C. , Wendel Hans-Guido , Riviere Isabelle , Liu Cheng , Sather Blythe , Brentjens Renier J.
Published: March 2019

GPRC5D is an attractive target for immunotherapy of myeloma, and optimized GPRC5D-targeted CAR T cells eradicate myeloma xenografts.
Blood drive: Improving the yields of platelet cell manufacturing
Authors: Yadav Vikramaditya G.
Published: March 2019

Controlling oxygenation, media conditions, and CD34
+
cell seeding density in gas-permeable bioreactors improve megakaryocyte yields.
Mapping the Neutralizing Epitopes of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (F4) Fimbrial Adhesin and Major Subunit FaeG
Authors: Lu Ti , Moxley Rodney A. , Zhang Weiping
Published: March 2019

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) strains producing K88ac fimbriae and enterotoxins are a major cause of porcine neonatal diarrhea and postweaning diarrhea in the United States. Currently, there is no vaccine to induce broadly protective antiadhesin and antitoxin immunity against ETEC-associated diarrhea. To develop a broadly effective ETEC vaccine, we need to target the most important if not all ETEC virulence determinants. While conventional vaccinology approaches encounter difficulties at integrating or including heterogeneous ETEC fimbria and toxin antigens into a vaccine product, multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) structural vaccinology provides a new platform to combine neutralizing antigenic elements or epitopes from various heterogeneous virulence factors for broad immunity and protection. Identification of the neutralizing epitopes of K88ac fimbria from this study added the last antigens to an MEFA-based multivalent vaccine against ETEC-associated diarrhea in pigs. An effective vaccine against pig diarrhea can significantly improve swine health and well-being and reduce economic losses to the swine industry worldwide.
Development of a CRISPR/Cas9 System for Methylococcus capsulatus
In Vivo
Gene Editing
Authors: Tapscott Timothy , Guarnieri Michael T. , Henard Calvin A.
Published: March 2019

In this study, we targeted the development and evaluation of broad-host-range CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tools in order to enhance the genetic-engineering capabilities of an industrially relevant methanotrophic biocatalyst. The CRISPR/Cas9 system developed in this study expands the genetic tools available to define molecular mechanisms in methanotrophic bacteria and has the potential to foster advances in the generation of novel biocatalysts to produce biofuels, platform chemicals, and high-value products from natural gas- and biogas-derived methane. Further, due to the broad-host-range applicability, these genetic tools may also enable innovative approaches to overcome the barriers associated with genetically engineering diverse, industrially promising nonmodel microorganisms.
Molecular Typing of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Strains in Sweden from 1996 to 2017 and the Emergence of a New P1 Cytadhesin Gene, Variant 2e
Authors: Gullsby Karolina , Olsen Björn , Bondeson Kåre
Published: March 2019

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
causes respiratory infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with epidemics recurring every 3 to 7 years. In 2010 and 2011, many countries experienced an extraordinary epidemic peak.
Major Release of 161 Whole-Genome Sequences from the International
Pseudomonas
Consortium Database
Authors: Jeukens Julie , Emond-Rheault Jean-Guillaume , Freschi Luca , Kukavica-Ibrulj Irena , Levesque Roger C.
Published: March 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is an environmental bacterium and opportunistic pathogen. Here, we present draft genome sequences for 161 isolates from diverse clinical and environmental sources.
Neighborhood-level and individual-level socioeconomic status and self-reported management of ischaemic heart disease: cross-sectional results from the Korea Health Examinees Study
Authors: Heo Jongho , Oh Juhwan , Lee Hwa-Young , Choi Ji-Yeob , Kim Sujin , Subramanian S V , Lee Jong-Koo , Kang Daehee
Published: March 2019

Objective

Several studies identified neighbourhood context as a predictor of prognosis in ischaemic heart disease (IHD). The present study investigates the relationships of neighborhood-level and individual-level socioeconomic status with the odds of ongoing management of IHD, using baseline survey data from the Korea Health Examinees-Gem study.

Design

In this cross-sectional study, we estimated the association of the odds of self-reported ongoing management with the neighborhood-level income status and percentage of college graduates after controlling for individual-level covariates using two-level multilevel logistic regression models based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo function.

Setting

A survey conducted at 17 large general hospitals in major Korean cities and metropolitan areas during 2005–2013.

Participants

2932 adult men and women.

Outcome measure

The self-reported status of management after incident angina or myocardial infarction.

Results

At the neighbourhood level, residence in a higher-income neighbourhood was associated with the self-reported ongoing management of IHD, after controlling for individual-level covariates [OR: 1.22, 95% credible interval (CI): 1.01 to 1.61). At the individual level, higher education was associated with the ongoing IHD management (high school graduation, OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.65); college or higher, OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.12; reference, middle school graduation or below).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that policies or interventions aimed at improving the quality and availability of medical resources in low-income areas may associate with ongoing IHD management. Moreover, patient-centred education is essential for ongoing IHD management, especially when targeted to patients with IHD with a low education level.
Measuring the efficiency of health systems in Asia: a data envelopment analysis
Authors: Ahmed Sayem , Hasan Md Zahid , MacLennan Mary , Dorin Farzana , Ahmed Mohammad Wahid , Hasan Md Mehedi , Hasan Shaikh Mehdi , Islam Mohammad Touhidul , Khan Jahangir A M
Published: March 2019

Objective

This study aims to estimate the technical efficiency of health systems in Asia.

Settings

The study was conducted in Asian countries.

Methods

We applied an output-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to estimate the technical efficiency of the health systems in Asian countries. The DEA model used per-capita health expenditure (all healthcare resources as a proxy) as input variable and cross-country comparable health outcome indicators (eg, healthy life expectancy at birth and infant mortality per 1000 live births) as output variables. Censored Tobit regression and smoothed bootstrap models were used to observe the associated factors with the efficiency scores. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the consistency of these efficiency scores.

Results

The main findings of this paper demonstrate that about 91.3% (42 of 46 countries) of the studied Asian countries were inefficient with respect to using healthcare system resources. Most of the efficient countries belonged to the high-income group (Cyprus, Japan, and Singapore) and only one country belonged to the lower middle-income group (Bangladesh). Through improving health system efficiency, the studied high-income, upper middle-income, low-income and lower middle-income countries can improve health system outcomes by 6.6%, 8.6% and 8.7%, respectively, using the existing level of resources. Population density, bed density, and primary education completion rate significantly influenced the efficiency score.

Conclusion

The results of this analysis showed inefficiency of the health systems in most of the Asian countries and imply that many countries may improve their health system efficiency using the current level of resources. The identified inefficient countries could pay attention to benchmarking their health systems within their income group or other within similar types of health systems.
The views of public and clinician stakeholders on risk assessment tools for post-stroke dementia: a qualitative study
Authors: Tang Eugene , Exley Catherine , Price Christopher , Stephan Blossom , Robinson Louise
Published: March 2019

Objective

Stroke-survivors are at increased risk of future dementia. Assessment to identify those at high risk of developing a disease using predictive scores has been utilised in different areas of medicine. A number of risk assessment scores for dementia have been developed but none has been recommended for use clinically. The aim of this qualitative study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of using a risk assessment tool to predict post-stroke dementia.

Design

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed thematically. The patients and carers were offered interviews at around 6 (baseline) and 12 (follow-up) months post-stroke; clinicians were interviewed once.

Setting

The study was conducted in the North-East of England with stroke patients, family carers and healthcare professionals in primary and secondary care.

Participants

Thirty-nine interviews were conducted (17 clinicians and 15 stroke patients and their carers at baseline. Twelve stroke patients and their carers were interviewed at follow-up, some interviews were conducted in pairs).

Results

Barriers and facilitators to risk assessment were discussed. For the patients and carers the focus for facilitators were based on the outcomes of risk assessment for example assistance with preparation, diagnosis and for reassurance. For clinicians, facilitators were focused on the process that is, familiarity in primary care, resource availability in secondary care and collaborative care. For barriers, both groups focused on the outcome including for example, the anxiety generated from a potential diagnosis of dementia. For the patients/carers a further barrier included concerns about how it may affect their recovery. For clinicians there were concerns about limited interventions and how it would be different from standard care.

Conclusions

Risk assessment for dementia post-stroke presents challenges given the ramifications of a potential diagnosis of dementia. Attention needs to be given to how information is communicated and strategies developed to support the patients and carers if risk assessment is used.
Tart cherry consumption with or without prior exercise increases antioxidant capacity and decreases triglyceride levels following a high-fat meal
Authors: Polley Kristine R. , Oswell Natalie J. , Pegg Ronald B. , Cooper Jamie A.
Published: March 2019

Exercise and high-phytonutrient foods may lower oxidative stress and increase antioxidant levels, which could combat the negative effects associated with a high-fat (HF) meal. The objective of this study is to test the effects of Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) consumption, with or without aerobic exercise, on antioxidant responses to an HF meal. Twelve normal-weight men (aged 22 ± 3 years), participated in a randomized crossover design comprising 4 trials: (i) HF meal with Montmorency tart cherry consumption (MC), (ii) HF meal with placebo (P), (iii) exercise prior to HF meal with MC (E+MC), and (iv) exercise prior to HF meal with P (E+P). The HF meal contained 60 g of fat and was consumed with MC or P. For exercise trials, a 30-min bout of submaximal treadmill exercise was performed the afternoon prior to HF meal consumption. Antioxidant capacity and triglycerides (TG) levels were measured at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 h postprandially. Postprandial antioxidant capacity as assessed by oxygen radical absorbance capacity was significantly higher after MC and E+MC compared with E+P (incremental area under the curve (iAUC): 2.95 ± 2.19 and 4.87 ± 1.45 vs. −1.02 ± 1.72 mmol Trolox equivalents/L for MC and E+MC vs. E+P, respectively; p < 0.01). Postprandial TG levels were significantly lower after E+MC compared with P (iAUC: 58.99 ± 19.46 vs. 107.46 ± 22.66 mmol Trolox equivalents/L for E+MC vs. P, respectively; p < 0.05). These results indicate that MC consumption alone, and in combination with prior exercise, leads to greater antioxidant capacity following an HF meal compared with prior exercise with placebo. Further, MC consumption with prior exercise led to more favorable postprandial TG levels compared with placebo.
Apoptosis perturbations and expression of regulatory inflammatory factors in cisplatin-depleted rat livers under l-arginine protection
Authors: El-Sayed Rehab M. , Ahmed Hebatalla I. , Abd El-Lateef Abd El-Lateef S. , Ali Azza A.
Published: March 2019

Hepatic injury is one of the most common complications associated with cisplatin (CIS) use. Recently, liver protection lines are being discovered to stop the hepatic cell death due to inflammatory and apoptotic perturbations. l-arginine has protective effects in several models of liver injury. This study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of l-arginine against CIS-induced acute hepatic injury in rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups: control, l-arginine, CIS, l-arginine + CIS. Liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis markers were assessed. l-arginine pretreatment protected the liver against CIS-induced toxicity as indicated by significantly alleviating the changes in liver function along with restoration of the antioxidant status. This finding was confirmed with the markedly improved pathological changes. l-arginine showed anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction of liver expression of iNOS, TNF-α, and NF-κβ, which were ameliorated to significant levels. Furthermore, l-arginine administration downregulated the liver expression of the apoptotic marker, caspase-3. The results recommend l-arginine as a hepatoprotective agent against CIS toxicity. Mostly, this hepatoprotective effect of l-arginine involved anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.
LiMn2O4nanopowders synthesized via gelatin-assisted sol–gel method: Optimization of pH and calcination temperature
Authors: Azad Nasrin , Arabi Hadi , Ghorbani Shaban Reza , Davodi Ali
Published: March 2019

In this research, LiMn2O4nanopowders were synthesized via sol–gel method using gelatin as a novel chelating agent. The effect of temperature and pH on the structure, morphology and particle size of synthesized powders has been investigated by the differential thermal analysis (DTA), the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and the field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The crystal structure of LiMn2O4was completely formed without any impurity phase at a calcination temperature of 750[Formula: see text]C. The peak intensity ratio of I[Formula: see text]/I[Formula: see text], which presents the stability of LiMn2O4structure, is bigger for the sample with pH[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]4 than that of the samples with pH[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]7 and 8. The sample with pH[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]4 has smaller particles of about 70 nm, with more homogeneity and less agglomeration than that of the other samples. At calcination temperature to 850[Formula: see text]C, the size of the particles has become bigger and the particle surfaces show more clarity in all samples. The effect of the pH value on electrochemical properties was studied by galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. The results show more capacity lost for the sample with pH[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]8 with regards to the other samples.
Quantitative investigation on force chain lengths during high velocity compaction of ferrous powder
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhou Jian , Zhang Xuejie , Zhang Yan , Liu Kun
Published: March 2019

Force chains play an important role in linking the macro- and micro-mechanisms of powder in high velocity compaction (HVC). Force chain lengths, as an important quantitative characteristic, can describe the geometry of force chains. In this study, force chain lengths and their relation to other force chain characteristics in HVC were investigated by discrete element method. Results revealed that force chain length decreased and it can be related to the densification process of ferrous powder in HVC. Moreover, long force chains extended from top to bottom and may play a major role in supporting load, although the percentage of long force chains was low. Probability density functions of force chain lengths further showed the exponential decay. The proportion of short force chains increased and the proportion of long force chains decreased. Long force chains had high strength and can be aligned to the direction of the external load, but force chain lengths did not have clear relation to straightness. These relations were confirmed by Pearson correlation coefficients.
Entropy relations and bounds of BTZ black hole in gravity's rainbow
Authors: Liang Tairan , Tang Wei , Xu Wei
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we present the entropy relations and bounds of Banados–Teitelboim–Zanelli (BTZ) black hole in two models of gravity's rainbow. Because of the effect of gravity's rainbow, one can find that the entropy product and sum both lost their universality and become mass-dependent. On the other hand, comparing the entropy bound of event horizon to the BTZ case, it is shown that the angular momentum [Formula: see text] enlarges the entropy bound while the gravity's rainbow parameter [Formula: see text] diminishes it. For the entropy bound of Cauchy horizon, the gravity's rainbow parameter [Formula: see text] enlarges it at the large [Formula: see text] limit, while [Formula: see text] diminishes it at the small [Formula: see text] limit. These suggest some clues on the geometrical origin of black hole entropy bounds.
Low Frequency Noise and Resistivity Characteristics of Hybrid Composites with Onion-Like Carbon and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Tretjak Marina , Pralgauskaitė Sandra , Matukas Jonas , Macutkevič Jan , Banys Jūras , Shenderova Olga
Published: March 2019

The comprehensive study of resistivity and low frequency (10[Formula: see text]Hz–20[Formula: see text]kHz) noise characteristics of hybrid polymer composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and onion-like carbon (OLC) particles in one material have been carried out in the wide temperature range ((75–380) K). The characteristic dependences on the fillers density and the dominant conduction mechanisms were investigated. At low temperature ((75–170) K), the resistivity dependences on temperature are well-fitted by the Mott’s formula for the quasi-one-dimensional charge carrier variable range hopping and Arrhenius law. At temperatures above 300[Formula: see text]K, the resistance increases with temperature due to matrix expansion and decreases due to the onset of the conductivity in the matrix. Low frequency voltage noise spectra comprise of 1/[Formula: see text] and Lorentzian-type components with characteristic times in the range from 0.1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s to 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s; the noise spectral density in the region of Ohmic resistance is proportional to the voltage square. Therefore, thermally activated charge carrier capture centers randomly modulate the sample’s resistance and control the carrier hopping. Impulse noise and more sudden changes of the noise characteristics were observed at the temperatures, where the conduction mechanisms change.
Stability of 2D Alkaline-Earth Metal Silicides, Germanides and Stannides
Authors: Alekseev A. Yu. , Chernykh A. G. , Filonov A. B. , Migas D. B. , Skorodumova N. V.
Published: March 2019

By means of ab initio calculations, we have estimated stability of 2D Me[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text], Ca, Sr, Ba and [Formula: see text], Ge, Sn) in the T and Td phases, which are similar to the ones of 2D transition metal chalcogenides, in addition to their phonon spectra. The T phase is found to be more stable for 2D Ca[Formula: see text], Sr[Formula: see text] and Ba[Formula: see text], whereas the Td phase is predicted to be the ground state for 2D Mg[Formula: see text]. We have also discussed that imaginary frequencies in the calculated phonon spectra of 2D Me[Formula: see text], which appeared in the vicinity of the [Formula: see text] point, were not necessarily associated with the dynamic instability.
Optical Features of the Silica Sol–Gel Derived Glasses Doped with Copper Selenide Nanoparticles
Authors: Gurin V. S. , Alexeenko A. A.
Published: March 2019

In the field of semiconductor nanooptics, copper chalcogenides have challenged a novel direction associated with nontrivial optical features in the near IR range important for applications. We consider this phenomenon in the silica sol–gel derived glasses doped with copper selenide nanoparticles. They were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy. An origin of the near IR optical features is discussed involving both the plasmon resonance concept extended to the self-doping of chalcogenides with a variable stoichiometry and the effect of Cu2+ impurity-generated intraband levels providing linear and nonlinear optical response of these materials.
Tuning Resonance Frequency of Spin Wave Localized in an Isolated Skyrmion by Magnetoelectric Couplings
Authors: Zhao Rongzhi , Chen Wenchao , Hu Chenglong , Chen Luyang , Zhang Jian , Liu Xianguo , Zhang Xuefeng , Yan Mi
Published: March 2019

Understanding the dynamic behavior of an isolated skyrmion with external perturbations has been obstructed due to the difficulty in experimentally observing such an instantaneous phenomenon within picoseconds. Herein, we theoretically investigated the spin-transfer-torque-induced dynamics of an isolated skyrmion excited by external nanosecond-pulse perturbations. It is found that a redshift of the resonant frequency appears under a pulse polarized current with [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A/m2 and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GHz, while a blueshift is presented under a combined perturbation of the pulse polarized current and an out-of-plane ac magnetic field. The physic origins of the redshift and the blueshift are ascribed to the increased average energy of system from [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]J to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]J and integer multiple (twofold and fourfold) oscillation frequencies of total energy, respectively. The present study could thus provide an insight to the micromagnetic dynamics of skyrmion under the magnetoelectric couplings.
Spectrum of SYK model III: Large deviations and concentration of measures
Authors: Feng Renjie , Tian Gang , Wei Dongyi
Published: March 2019

In [Spectrum of SYK model, preprint (2018), arXiv:1801.10073], we proved the almost sure convergence of eigenvalues of the SYK model, which can be viewed as a type of law of large numbers in probability theory; in [Spectrum of SYK model II: Central limit theorem, preprint (2018), arXiv:1806.05714], we proved that the linear statistic of eigenvalues satisfies the central limit theorem. In this paper, we continue to study another important theorem in probability theory — the concentration of measure theorem, especially for the Gaussian SYK model. We will prove a large deviation principle (LDP) for the normalized empirical measure of eigenvalues when [Formula: see text], in which case the eigenvalues can be expressed in terms of these of Gaussian random antisymmetric matrices. Such LDP result has its own independent interest in random matrix theory. For general [Formula: see text], we cannot prove the LDP, we will prove a concentration of measure theorem by estimating the Lipschitz norm of the Gaussian SYK model.
The role of risk and assumption in the engineering geology of Crossrail
Authors: Lawrence U. , Black M.
Published: March 2019

The Crossrail project is a new underground railway running east–west through the heart of London. It will connect with 110 km of new or upgraded sections of surface rail to Reading, Shenfield and Abbey Wood. Crossrail co-ordinated ground investigations for the central tunnelled sections began during the 1990s and continued to 2011 according to a strategy that was based on a review of other major tunnelling projects and best practice. The level of detail in the investigations varied according to local geological complexity and design requirements. However, the state of knowledge on the geological structure is hampered by London's long history, leading to assumptions on the level of complexity or simplicity. Drift-filled hollows and Lambeth Group sand channels were known features presenting risks to excavations but relationships with faulting were unknown or unproved. The emerging geological knowledge was developed through multiphase investigations and collation of third-party data to allow far-field considerations. The risk profile for tunnel boring machine tunnels is lower than that for sprayed concrete lined tunnels but the risk for both increases with increasing proximity to pre-existing infrastructure. Ground movement assessments become critical and mitigation of movements can be significantly affected by unexpected variations in ground conditions.
The BRCA Tumor Suppressor Network in Chromosome Damage Repair by Homologous Recombination
Authors: Zhao Weixing , Wiese Claudia , Kwon Youngho , Hromas Robert , Sung Patrick
Published: March 2019

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes predispose afflicted individuals to breast, ovarian, and other cancers. The BRCA-encoded products form complexes with other tumor suppressor proteins and with the recombinase enzyme RAD51 to mediate chromosome damage repair by homologous recombination and also to protect stressed DNA replication forks against spurious nucleolytic attrition. Understanding how the BRCA tumor suppressor network executes its biological functions would provide the foundation for developing targeted cancer therapeutics, but progress in this area has been greatly hampered by the challenge of obtaining purified BRCA complexes for mechanistic studies. In this article, we review how recent effort begins to overcome this technical challenge, leading to functional and structural insights into the biochemical attributes of these complexes and the multifaceted roles that they fulfill in genome maintenance. We also highlight the major mechanistic questions that remain.
Evidence for a role of arginine vasotocin receptors in the gill during salinity acclimation by a euryhaline teleost fish
Authors: Lema Sean C. , Washburn Elsie H. , Crowley Mary E. , Carvalho Paul G. , Egelston Jennifer N. , McCormick Stephen D.
Published: March 2019

The nonapeptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) regulates osmotic balance in teleost fishes, but its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Recently, it was discovered that nonapeptide receptors in teleost fishes are differentiated into two V1a-type, several V2-type, and two isotocin (IT) receptors, but it remains unclear which receptors mediate AVT’s effects on gill osmoregulation. Here, we examined the role of nonapeptide receptors in the gill of the euryhaline Amargosa pupfish ( Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae) during osmotic acclimation. Transcripts for the teleost V1a-type receptor v1a2 were upregulated over fourfold in gill 24 h after transferring pupfish from 7.5 ppt to seawater (35 ppt) or hypersaline (55 ppt) conditions and downregulated after transfer to freshwater (0.3 ppt). Gill transcripts for the nonapeptide degradation enzyme leucyl-cystinyl aminopeptidase (LNPEP) also increased in fish acclimating to 35 ppt. To test whether the effects of AVT on the gill might be mediated by a V1a-type receptor, we administered AVT or a V1-type receptor antagonist (Manning compound) intraperitoneally to pupfish before transfer to 0.4 ppt or 35 ppt. Pupfish transferred to 35 ppt exhibited elevated gill mRNA abundance for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator ( cftr), but that upregulation diminished under V1-receptor inhibition. AVT inhibited the increase in gill Na+/Cl−cotransporter 2 ( ncc2) transcript abundance that occurs following transfer to hypoosmotic environments, whereas V1-type receptor antagonism increased ncc2 mRNAs even without a change in salinity. These findings indicate that AVT acts via a V1-type receptor to regulate gill Cl−transport by inhibiting Cl−uptake and facilitating Cl−secretion during seawater acclimation.
Measuring the Sum-of-Squares Indicator of Boolean Functions in Encryption Algorithm for Internet of Things
Authors: Zhou Yu , Wei Yongzhuang , Zhang Fengrong
Published: March 2019

Encryption algorithm has an important application in ensuring the security of the Internet of Things. Boolean function is the basic component of symmetric encryption algorithm, and its many cryptographic properties are important indicators to measure the security of cryptographic algorithm. This paper focuses on the sum-of-squares indicator of Boolean function; an upper bound and a lower bound of the sum-of-squares on Boolean functions are obtained by the decomposition Boolean functions; some properties and a search algorithm of Boolean functions with the same autocorrelation (or cross-correlation) distribution are given. Finally, a construction method to obtain a balanced Boolean function with small sum-of-squares indicator is derived by decomposition Boolean functions. Compared with the known balanced Boolean functions, the constructed functions have the higher nonlinearity and the better global avalanche characteristics property.
Research on Supplier Evaluation in a Green Supply Chain
Authors: Hou Qiang , Xie Lei
Published: March 2019

The supplier is considered to be attractive under green supply chain management; supplier evaluation is also confronted with a serious challenge. Based on this background, this paper studies green supplier evaluation and selection with weights unknown in hesitant fuzzy sets and presents evaluation indexes by the DEMATEL method. On the basis of the Euclidean distance, hesitancy degree is used to construct the improved type signed distance. At last, the paper calculates relative closeness to rank green suppliers by the improved TOPSIS method and compares the results of the traditional algorithm and SAW method. The result of the example shows that the algorithm has practicability and a dipartite degree.
Hyperosmotic Stress Initiates AMPK-Independent Autophagy and AMPK- and Autophagy-Independent Depletion of Thioredoxin 1 and Glyoxalase 2 in HT22 Nerve Cells
Authors: Dafre Alcir Luiz , Schmitz Ariana Ern , Maher Pamela
Published: March 2019

Background. Hyperosmotic stress is an important pathophysiologic condition in diabetes, severe trauma, dehydration, infection, and ischemia. Furthermore, brain neuronal cells face hyperosmotic stress in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the enormous importance of knowing the homeostatic mechanisms underlying the responses of nerve cells to hyperosmotic stress, this topic has been underrepresented in the literature. Recent evidence points to autophagy induction as a hallmark of hyperosmotic stress, which has been proposed to be controlled by mTOR inhibition as a consequence of AMPK activation. We previously showed that methylglyoxal induced a decrease in the antioxidant proteins thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) and glyoxalase 2 (Glo2), which was mediated by AMPK-dependent autophagy. Thus, we hypothesized that hyperosmotic stress would have the same effect. Methods. HT22 hippocampal nerve cells were treated with NaCl (37, 75, or 150 mM), and the activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway was investigated, as well as the levels of Trx1 and Glo2. To determine if autophagy was involved, the inhibitors bafilomycin (Baf) and chloroquine (CQ), as well as ATG5 siRNA, were used. To test for AMPK involvement, AMPK-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were used. Results. Hyperosmotic stress induced a clear increase in autophagy, which was demonstrated by a decrease in p62 and an increase in LC3 lipidation. AMPK phosphorylation, linked to a decrease in mTOR and S6 ribosomal protein phosphorylation, was also observed. Deletion of AMPK in MEFs did not prevent autophagy induction by hyperosmotic stress, as detected by decreased p62 and increased LC3 II, or mTOR inhibition, inferred by decreased phosphorylation of P70 S6 kinase and S6 ribosomal protein. These data indicating that AMPK was not involved in autophagy activation by hyperosmotic stress were supported by a decrease in pS555-ULK1, an AMPK phosphorylation site. Trx1 and Glo2 levels were decreased at 6 and 18 h after treatment with 150 mM NaCl. However, this decrease in Trx1 and Glo2 in HT22 cells was not prevented by autophagy inhibition by Baf, CQ, or ATG5 siRNA. AMPK-deficient MEFs under hyperosmotic stress presented the same Trx1 and Glo2 decrease as wild-type cells. Conclusion. Hyperosmotic stress induced AMPK activation, but this was not responsible for its effects on mTOR activity or autophagy induction. Moreover, the decrease in Trx1 and Glo2 induced by hyperosmotic stress was independent of both autophagy and AMPK activation.
Model Identification of Unobservable Behavior of Discrete Event Systems Using Petri Nets
Authors: Zhu Guanghui , Wang Ya , Wang Yajie
Published: March 2019

This paper deals with the problem of identifying a Petri net that models the unobservable behavior of a system from the knowledge of its dynamical evolution. We assume that a partial Petri net model that represents the observable behavior of a system is given in which all the transitions are observable. An identifier monitors the system evolution and records the observed transition sequence (and possible corresponding markings). Some unobservable transitions modeling the unknown system behavior are identified from the transition sequence by formulating and solving integer linear programming problems. These identified unobservable transitions together with the given partial Petri net model characterize the whole system, including observable and unobservable behavior. Two different cases are considered. First, we assume that no place is observable. In such a case, a transition sequence is observed only during the evolution of the system. Second, we assume that a subset of places is observable; i.e., the observation contains not only the transition sequence but the corresponding markings as well. Hence an additional constraint should be imposed on the unobservable transition in the related programming problems according to the observed markings such that a more authentic unobservable transition can be found.
Do the Loss of Thigh Muscle Strength and Tibial Malrotation Cause Anterior Knee Pain after Tibia Intramedullary Nailing?
Authors: Özbek Emre Anıl , Kalem Mahmut , Kınık Hakan
Published: March 2019

Purpose. Anterior knee pain (AKP) is a common complication after tibia intramedullary nailing surgery, but yet the etiology is not fully revealed. Our study had two hypotheses. The first one is “after tibia intramedullary nailing with transtendinous approach, thigh muscles strength decreases and this loss of muscle strength causes AKP.” Secondly, “lower extremity rotational profile is affected after tibia intramedullary nailing.” Methods. Our study was planned retrospectively and included 40 patients, who underwent tibia intramedullary nailing surgery. Mean follow-up time was 22.5 months. Tegner Lysholm knee scoring scale was applied to evaluate postoperative functional outcomes of all patients. Isometric muscle strengths of bilateral knee extensor and flexor muscle groups were compared with hand-held dynamometer. In addition, bilateral lower extremity Staheli rotational profile angles (foot progression angle (FPA), thigh-foot angle (TFA), and transmalleolar angle (TMA)) were compared. Results. Lysholm knee score was evaluated as excellent in 28 patients. AKP were detected in 15 patients and there was no significant difference between the injured limb with contralateral quadriceps mean muscle strength (injured limb mean (ILM) = 201.97 Newton (N) – contralateral mean (CM) = 205.4 N). However, there was a significant difference (p<0,05) between injured limb with contralateral extremity hamstring mean muscle strength (ILM = 153.2 N– CM=158.95 N). Although there was a significant difference between the two extremities’ rotational profile angles, there was no significant correlation between the rotational profile angles and knee pain. Conclusion. As a result of our study, AKP appears to be significantly related to the loss of hamstring muscle strength. We suppose that hamstring exercises will gain importance in rehabilitation programs of tibia intramedullary nailing surgery in future.
Haloperidol-Induced Dystonia due to Sedation for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Pediatric Case Report
Authors: Yaginuma Kazufumi , Watanabe Masahiro , Miyazaki Kyohei , Ono Atsushi , Murai Hiromichi , Nodera Maki , Suzuki Yuichi , Suyama Kazuhide , Kawasaki Yukihiko , Hosoya Mitsuaki
Published: March 2019

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle tone. Antipsychotic agents sometimes cause acute dystonia that can rapidly worsen within a few hours or days. Because healthy children rarely receive antipsychotic agents, it is unusual to see antipsychotic agent-induced dystonia in pediatric emergency departments. We report a rare case of a 12-year-old healthy boy who presented with acute dystonia after administration of haloperidol for sedation. He was suspected of laryngeal dystonia because stridor and desaturation were present. The symptoms disappeared with the administration of hydroxyzine. Rapid diagnosis was important in this case because laryngeal dystonia is a potential life-threatening complication due to upper airway obstruction. Considering the risk of side effects, doctors who are not accustomed to administering pediatric anesthesia should consult a pediatrician and/or an anesthesiologist prior to administration of anesthetics to pediatric patients.
Dynamic Nonparametric Random Forest Using Covariance
Authors: Choi Seok-Hwan , Shin Jin-Myeong , Choi Yoon-Ho
Published: March 2019

As the representative ensemble machine learning method, the Random Forest (RF) algorithm has widely been used in diverse applications on behalf of the fast learning speed and the high classification accuracy. Research on RF can be classified into two categories: (1) improving the classification accuracy and (2) decreasing the number of trees in a forest. However, most of papers related to the performance improvement of RF have focused on improving the classification accuracy. Only some papers have focused on reducing the number of trees in a forest. In this paper, we propose a new Covariance-Based Dynamic RF algorithm, called C-DRF. Compared to the previous works, while ensuring the good-enough classification accuracy, the proposed C-DRF algorithm reduces the number of trees. Specifically, by computing the covariance between the number of trees in a forest and F-measure at each iteration, the proposed algorithm determines whether to increase the number of trees composing a forest. To evaluate the performance of the proposed C-DRF algorithm, we compared the learning time, the test time, and the memory usage with the original RF algorithm under the different areas of datasets. Under the same or higher classification accuracy, it is shown that the proposed C-DRF algorithm improves the performance of the original RF algorithm by as much as 58.68% at learning time, 47.91% at test time, and 68.06% in memory usage on average. As a practical application area, we also show that the proposed C-DRF algorithm is more efficient than the state-of-the-art RF algorithms in Network Intrusion Detection (NID) area.
Asymptomatic Dysplasia Epiphysealis Hemimelica of the Shoulder in a Skeletally Mature Patient with Normal Function
Authors: Giordano Vincenzo , Giordano Marcos , Giordano Carolina , Giordano José , Mendonça Renato , Koch Hilton Augusto
Published: March 2019

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica is a rare osteocartilaginous overgrowth syndrome of bone epiphysis, mostly encountered in the lower limbs of immature skeleton patients. We report a case of proximal humerus presentation in an adult male, with neither articular involvement nor clinical dysfunction. This case highlights the importance of stratification into intra- and extra-articular lesions, as this distinction ultimately influences both symptoms and treatment outcome. In addition, the case highlights the importance of specific imaging modalities, such as CT and MR images, which provide excellent anatomic location of the lesion, adequate extension of cartilaginous components, exact status of articular cartilage, and accurate assessment of neighboring structures, such as vessels, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The imaging features are described, the relevant literature is reviewed, and salient features are discussed.
The Role of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids in Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Impaired Vascular Relaxation of Aortic Rings in Ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Manojlović Dragan , Stupin Ana , Matić Anita , Mihaljević Zrinka , Novak Sanja , Drenjančević Ines
Published: March 2019

Aim. The present study was aimed at determining if type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) affects vascular function and at elucidating the mechanisms mediating vasorelaxation in both nonovariectomized and ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Materials and Methods. Eighty female SD rats were divided into four groups: nonovariectomized healthy (non-OVX-CTR) and diabetic (non-OVX-DM) rats and ovariectomized healthy (OVX-CTR) and diabetic (OVX-DM) rats. Bilateral ovariectomy was performed at the age of 5 weeks, and type 1 DM was induced by streptozotocin at the age of 6 weeks. At the age of 12 weeks, acetylcholine-induced relaxation (AChIR) was assessed in aortic rings in the absence/presence of L-NAME, Indomethacin, and MS-PPOH. Aortic tissue mRNA expression of eNOS, iNOS, COX-1, COX-2, thromboxane synthase 1 (TBXAS1), CYP4A1, CYP4A3, and CYP2J3, as well as plasma oxidative stress, was measured. Results. AChIR did not differ in non-OVX-DM rats compared to non-OVX-CTR ones. AChIR was significantly reduced in the OVX-DM group compared to the OVX-CTR group. MS-PPOH did not reduce AChIR in OVX-DM rats as it did in OVX-CTR ones. CYP4a3 mRNA expression in OVX-DM rats was significantly lower compared to that in the OVX-CTR group. Conclusions. Female sex hormones may protect vasorelaxation in type 1 diabetic rats. Type 1 diabetes impairs vasorelaxation in response to ACh in ovariectomized rats (but not in nonovariectomized rats) by affecting vasorelaxation pathways mediated by EETs.
RP-18 HPLC Analysis of Drugs’ Ability to Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Sobańska Anna W. , Hekner Adam , Brzezińska Elżbieta
Published: March 2019

One hundred ten compounds of diverse structures (actives and excipients used in pharmaceutical preparations) were studied by RP-18 HPLC with acetonitrile-pH 7.4 phosphate buffer 1 : 1 (v/v) as the mobile phase. The relationships between the BBB permeation coefficients and the chromatographic parameters log k and (log k)/PSA were compared to those between the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation parameters and the RP-18 TLC descriptors Rf and Rf/PSA known from our earlier studies. It was found that the correlations between the BBB permeability and the HPLC data are slightly worse than those achieved for the thin-layer chromatographic data. MLR analysis based upon the physicochemical data confirmed the value of the molecular descriptors, related to the CNS bioavailability. These variables, combined with the HPLC data, made it possible to generate computational models, explaining 70–96% of the total variance of the CNS bioavailability. Contrary to TLC Rf, the advantage of the modification of HPLC log k with PSA (polar surface area) has not been confirmed and the results obtained with log k are superior to those obtained after a novel (log k)/PSA parameter has been introduced. Establishing a firm threshold limit of (log k)/PSA, log k, or even k and k/PSA to distinguish between the CNS+ and CNS− compounds was impossible. On the other hand, discriminant function analyses involving log k and (log k)/PSA as discriminating variables separated the CNS+ and CNS− compounds with the success rate ca. 90%. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the RP-18 HPLC analytical models are entirely successful in studies and predictions of the BBB permeability.
MSFA: Multiple System Fingerprint Attack Scheme for IoT Anonymous Communication
Authors: Lu Tianbo , Meng Ting , Li Chao , Dong Guozhen , Li Huiyang , Zhang Jiao , Zhang Xiaoyan
Published: March 2019

For the past few years, Internet of Things (IoT) has developed rapidly and been extensively used. However, its transmission security and privacy protection are insufficient, which limits the development of IoT to a certain extent. As a technology of IoT information transmission, anonymous communication technology comes into being as an important means to ensure the security of healthcare data, which can better protect users’ privacy in some ways. Nowadays, a variety of attack techniques for anonymous communication systems have been proposed by the academic community to track senders and receivers or discover communications between two users. Thus, the MSFA (Multiple System Fingerprint Attack) scheme for anonymous communication systems is presented in this paper where the MSFA scheme architecture, implementation in the Tor environment, and experimental data processing are described. Through a comparative analysis between two traces of visiting the same website based on the edit distance, it is shown that the longer the length of the site traffic data, the greater the edit distance of the site access traffic and the larger the range.
Carbapenem-ResistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeInfections among ICU Admission Patients in Central China: Prevalence and Prediction Model
Authors: Li Yi , Shen Hui , Zhu Cheng , Yu Yuetian
Published: March 2019

Objective. To investigate the prevalence of infections due to carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP) among ICU admission patients in central China and develop a reliable prediction model.Methods. Five hundred and seven consecutive ICU admission patients withKlebsiella pneumoniae(KP) infection were enrolled in this retrospective multicenter case-control study from January 2014 to June 2018. The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression modeling to determine the risk factors. A prediction model was developed and verified using data from six hospitals in central China.Results. Of the total 507 isolates of KP, 244 (48.1%) strains were carbapenem resistant. The majority of these isolates were from sputum (30.9%) and blood (20.9%) samples. Tigecycline had good activity against CRKP (95.5%). The most common sequence type (ST) of CRKP was ST11 (84.4%), and 98.6% of them had theblaKPC-2 antimicrobial resistance gene. Thirteen variables were identified as independent risk factors for CRKP infection, including KP colonization or infection in the preceding year (OR=3.32, 95% CI 2.01-4.38), CD4/CD8 ratio <1 (OR=2.98, 95% CI 2.02-4.19), and parenteral nutrition⩾48 h (OR=1.88, 95% CI 1.22-3.04). The model developed to predict CRKP infection was effective, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.854 (95% CI 0.821-0.884,p<0.001).Conclusions. ST11 carrying theblaKPC-2 antimicrobial resistance gene was the most common type of CRKP among the ICU admission patients in central China. The model demonstrated excellent predictive performance and exhibited good discrimination.