bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization Studies of a New MEA Structure for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Authors: Park Jaehyung , Pasaogullari Ugur , Bonville Leonard J.
Published: October 2015

A new membrane electrode assembly (MEA) concept is recently introduced, where the carbon paper substrate is eliminated and the entire gas diffusion layer (GDL) consists of only the micro-porous layer (MPL). The MPL is directly deposited onto both sides of the catalyst coated membrane (CCM), which simplifies the fabrication and assembly, and provides an improvement in the interfacial contact between the MPL and the catalyst layer. This method also allows a functional gradation of the MPL for improved mechanical strength as well as optimized gas transport and water removal. A spray deposition method is used for depositing this MPL onto a commercial CCM. The sprayed MPL on the CCM produces a robust MPL/CL interface. The results show that this new method of MEA fabrication can provide high power density operation, and that mass transport can be improved.
Organic cation transporter 3 contributes to norepinephrine uptake into perivascular adipose tissue
Authors: Ayala-Lopez Nadia , Jackson William F. , Burnett Robert , Wilson James N. , Thompson Janice M. , Watts Stephanie W.
Published: October 2015

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) reduces vasoconstriction to norepinephrine (NE). A mechanism by which PVAT could function to reduce vascular contraction is by decreasing the amount of NE to which the vessel is exposed. PVATs from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the hypothesis that PVAT has a NE uptake mechanism. NE was detected by HPLC in mesenteric PVAT and isolated adipocytes. Uptake of NE (10 μM) in mesenteric PVAT was reduced by the NE transporter (NET) inhibitor nisoxetine (1 μM, 73.68 ± 7.62%, all values reported as percentages of vehicle), the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (SERT) inhibitor citalopram (100 nM) with the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) inhibitor corticosterone (100 μM, 56.18 ± 5.21%), and the NET inhibitor desipramine (10 μM) with corticosterone (100 μM, 61.18 ± 6.82%). Aortic PVAT NE uptake was reduced by corticosterone (100 μM, 53.01 ± 10.96%). Confocal imaging of mesenteric PVAT stained with 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-styrl]- N-methylpyridinium iodide (ASP+), a fluorescent substrate of cationic transporters, detected ASP+uptake into adipocytes. ASP+(2 μM) uptake was reduced by citalopram (100 nM, 66.68 ± 6.43%), corticosterone (100 μM, 43.49 ± 10.17%), nisoxetine (100 nM, 84.12 ± 4.24%), citalopram with corticosterone (100 nM and 100 μM, respectively, 35.75 ± 4.21%), and desipramine with corticosterone (10 and 100 μM, respectively, 50.47 ± 5.78%). NET protein was not detected in mesenteric PVAT adipocytes. Expression of Slc22a3 (OCT3 gene) mRNA and protein in PVAT adipocytes was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. These end points support the presence of a transporter-mediated NE uptake system within PVAT with a potential mediator being OCT3.
Cardiomyocyte-specific Bmal1 deletion in mice triggers diastolic dysfunction, extracellular matrix response, and impaired resolution of inflammation
Authors: Ingle Kevin A. , Kain Vasundhara , Goel Mehak , Prabhu Sumanth D. , Young Martin E. , Halade Ganesh V.
Published: October 2015

The mammalian circadian clock consists of multiple transcriptional regulators that coordinate biological processes in a time-of-day-dependent manner. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the circadian clock component, Bmal1 (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein 1), leads to age-dependent dilated cardiomyopathy and decreased lifespan in mice. We investigated whether cardiomyocyte-specific Bmal1 knockout (CBK) mice display early alterations in cardiac diastolic function, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and inflammation modulators by investigating CBK mice and littermate controls at 8 and 28 wk of age (i.e., prior to overt systolic dysfunction). Left ventricles of CBK mice exhibited ( P < 0.05): 1) progressive abnormal diastolic septal annular wall motion and reduced pulmonary venous flow only at 28 wk of age; 2) progressive worsening of fibrosis in the interstitial and endocardial regions from 8 to 28 wk of age; 3) increased (>1.5 fold) expression of collagen I and III, as well as the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9, MMP-13, and MMP-14 at 28 wk of age; 4) increased transcript levels of neutrophil chemotaxis and leukocyte migration genes ( Ccl2, Ccl8, Cxcl2, Cxcl1, Cxcr2, Il1β) with no change in Il-10 and Il-13 genes expression; and 5) decreased levels of 5-LOX, HO-1 and COX-2, enzymes indicating impaired resolution of inflammation. In conclusion, genetic disruption of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock results in diastolic dysfunction, adverse ECM remodeling, and proinflammatory gene expression profiles in the mouse heart, indicating signs of early cardiac aging in CBK mice.
Effect of PDE5 inhibition on the modulation of sympathetic α-adrenergic vasoconstriction in contracting skeletal muscle of young and older recreationally active humans
Authors: Nyberg Michael , Piil Peter , Egelund Jon , Sprague Randy S. , Mortensen Stefan P. , Hellsten Ylva
Published: October 2015

Aging is associated with an altered regulation of blood flow to contracting skeletal muscle; however, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. We recently demonstrated that inhibition of cGMP-binding phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) increased blood flow to contracting skeletal muscle of older but not young human subjects. Here we examined whether this effect of PDE5 inhibition was related to an improved ability to blunt α-adrenergic vasoconstriction (functional sympatholysis) and/or improved efficacy of local vasodilator pathways. A group of young (23 ± 1 yr) and a group of older (72 ± 1 yr) male subjects performed knee-extensor exercise in a control setting and following intake of the highly selective PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil. During both conditions, exercise was performed without and with arterial tyramine infusion to evoke endogenous norepinephrine release and consequently stimulation of α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors. The level of the sympatholytic compound ATP was measured in venous plasma by use of the microdialysis technique. Sildenafil increased ( P < 0.05) vascular conductance during exercise in the older group, but tyramine infusion reduced ( P < 0.05) this effect by 38 ± 9%. Similarly, tyramine reduced ( P < 0.05) the vasodilation induced by arterial infusion of a nitric oxide (NO) donor by 54 ± 9% in the older group, and this effect was not altered by sildenafil. Venous plasma [ATP] did not change with PDE5 inhibition in the older subjects during exercise. Collectively, PDE5 inhibition in older humans was not associated with an improved ability for functional sympatholysis. An improved efficacy of the NO system may be one mechanism underlying the effect of PDE5 inhibition on exercise hyperemia in aging.
Imatinib attenuates inflammation and vascular leak in a clinically relevant two-hit model of acute lung injury
Authors: Rizzo Alicia N. , Sammani Saad , Esquinca Adilene E. , Jacobson Jeffrey R. , Garcia Joe G. N. , Letsiou Eleftheria , Dudek Steven M.
Published: October 2015

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), an illness characterized by life-threatening vascular leak, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Recent preclinical studies and clinical observations have suggested a potential role for the chemotherapeutic agent imatinib in restoring vascular integrity. Our prior work demonstrates differential effects of imatinib in mouse models of ALI, namely attenuation of LPS-induced lung injury but exacerbation of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Because of the critical role of mechanical ventilation in the care of patients with ARDS, in the present study we pursued an assessment of the effectiveness of imatinib in a “two-hit” model of ALI caused by combined LPS and VILI. Imatinib significantly decreased bronchoalveolar lavage protein, total cells, neutrophils, and TNF-α levels in mice exposed to LPS plus VILI, indicating that it attenuates ALI in this clinically relevant model. In subsequent experiments focusing on its protective role in LPS-induced lung injury, imatinib attenuated ALI when given 4 h after LPS, suggesting potential therapeutic effectiveness when given after the onset of injury. Mechanistic studies in mouse lung tissue and human lung endothelial cells revealed that imatinib inhibits LPS-induced NF-κB expression and activation. Overall, these results further characterize the therapeutic potential of imatinib against inflammatory vascular leak.
Ecto-5′-nucleotidase CD73 modulates the innate immune response to influenza infection but is not required for development of influenza-induced acute lung injury
Authors: Aeffner Famke , Woods Parker S. , Davis Ian C.
Published: October 2015

Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides are important signaling molecules in the lung. Nucleotide and nucleoside concentrations in alveolar lining fluid are controlled by a complex network of surface ectonucleotidases. Previously, we demonstrated that influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus resulted in increased levels of the nucleotide ATP and the nucleoside adenosine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice. Influenza-induced acute lung injury (ALI) was highly attenuated in A1-adenosine receptor-knockout mice. Because AMP hydrolysis by the ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73) plays a central role in and is rate-limiting for generation of adenosine in the normal lung, we hypothesized that ALI would be attenuated in C57BL/6-congenic CD73-knockout (CD73-KO) mice. Infection-induced hypoxemia, bradycardia, viral replication, and bronchoconstriction were moderately increased in CD73-KO mice relative to WT controls. However, postinfection weight loss, pulmonary edema, and parenchymal dysfunction were not altered. Treatment of WT mice with the CD73 inhibitor 5'-(α,β-methylene) diphosphate (APCP) also had no effect on infection-induced pulmonary edema but modestly attenuated hypoxemia. BALF from CD73-KO and APCP-treated WT mice contained more IL-6 and CXCL-10/IFN-γ-induced protein 10, less CXCL-1/keratinocyte chemoattractant, and fewer neutrophils than BALF from untreated WT controls. BALF from APCP-treated WT mice also contained fewer alveolar macrophages and more transforming growth factor-β than BALF from untreated WT mice. These results indicate that CD73 is not necessary for development of ALI following influenza A virus infection and suggest that tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase may be responsible for increased adenosine generation in the infected lung. However, they do suggest that CD73 has a previously unrecognized immunomodulatory role in influenza.
Role of epithelial sodium channels in the regulation of lung fluid homeostasis
Authors: Matalon Sadis , Bartoszewski Rafal , Collawn James F.
Published: October 2015

In utero, fetal lung epithelial cells actively secrete Cl−ions into the lung air spaces while Na+ions follow passively to maintain electroneutrality. This process, driven by an electrochemical gradient generated by the Na+-K+-ATPase, is responsible for the secretion of fetal fluid that is essential for normal lung development. Shortly before birth, a significant upregulation of amiloride-sensitive epithelial channels (ENaCs) on the apical side of the lung epithelial cells results in upregulation of active Na+transport. This process is critical for the reabsorption of fetal lung fluid and the establishment of optimum gas exchange. In the adult lung, active Na+reabsorption across distal lung epithelial cells limits the degree of alveolar edema in patients with acute lung injury and cardiogenic edema. Cl−ions are transported either paracellularly or transcellularly to preserve electroneutrality. An increase in Cl−secretion across the distal lung epithelium has been reported following an acute increase in left atrial pressure and may result in pulmonary edema. In contrast, airway epithelial cells secrete Cl−through apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and Ca2+-activated Cl−channels and absorb Na+. Thus the coordinated action of Cl−secretion and Na+absorption is essential for maintenance of the volume of epithelial lining fluid that, in turn, maximizes mucociliary clearance and facilitates clearance of bacteria and debris from the lungs. Any factor that interferes with Na+or Cl−transport or dramatically upregulates ENaC activity in airway epithelial cells has been associated with lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive lung disease. In this review we focus on the role of the ENaC, the mechanisms involved in ENaC regulation, and how ENaC dysregulation can lead to lung pathology.
Estimation of the number of alveolar capillaries by the Euler number (Euler-Poincaré characteristic)
Authors: Willführ Alper , Brandenberger Christina , Piatkowski Tanja , Grothausmann Roman , Nyengaard Jens Randel , Ochs Matthias , Mühlfeld Christian
Published: October 2015

The lung parenchyma provides a maximal surface area of blood-containing capillaries that are in close contact with a large surface area of the air-containing alveoli. Volume and surface area of capillaries are the classic stereological parameters to characterize the alveolar capillary network (ACN) and have provided essential structure-function information of the lung. When loss (rarefaction) or gain (angiogenesis) of capillaries occurs, these parameters may not be sufficient to provide mechanistic insight. Therefore, it would be desirable to estimate the number of capillaries, as it contains more distinct and mechanistically oriented information. Here, we present a new stereological method to estimate the number of capillary loops in the ACN. One advantage of this method is that it is independent of the shape, size, or distribution of the capillaries. We used consecutive, 1 μm-thick sections from epoxy resin-embedded material as a physical disector. The Euler-Poincaré characteristic of capillary networks can be estimated by counting the easily recognizable topological constellations of “islands,” “bridges,” and “holes.” The total number of capillary loops in the ACN can then be calculated from the Euler-Poincaré characteristic. With the use of the established estimator of alveolar number, it is possible to obtain the mean number of capillary loops per alveolus. In conclusion, estimation of alveolar capillaries by design-based stereology is an efficient and unbiased method to characterize the ACN and may be particularly useful for studies on emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, or lung development.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Porous ZnO/SnS2 Heterojunction and Its Enhanced Photoactivity for Water Purification
Authors: Makama A. B. , Salmiaton A. , Saion E. B. , Choong T. S. Y. , Abdullah N.
Published: October 2015

Porous ZnO/SnS2 nanocomposites with adjustable SnS2 contents were prepared via
microwave‐assisted heating of different aqueous solutions of SnS2 precursors in the presence
of fixed amount of ZnCO3 nanoparticles at pH 7. The structures, compositions, BET
specific surface areas, and optical properties of the as‐prepared products were characterized
by X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy,
N2 adsorption, and UV‐Vis absorption spectra. Photocatalytic activities of the
samples were tested by the removal of aqueous ciprofloxacin, CrVI, and methylene blue
under visible‐light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. The experimental results reveal that the as‐prepared
heterogeneous nanostructures exhibit much higher visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic
activity for the degradation of the pollutants than pure SnS2 nanocrystals. The photocatalytic
degradation rates (Ct/C0) of the pollutants for the most active heterogeneous
nanostructure are about 10, 49, and 9 times higher than that of pure SnS2. The enhanced
photocatalytic activities exhibited by the heterojunctions could be ascribed to the synergetic
effect of enhanced absorption in the visible region and the reduced rate of charge carrier recombination
because of efficient separation and electron transfer from the SnS2 to ZnO
nanoparticles.
Detecting Blood Flow Response to Stimulation of the Human Eye
Authors: Pechauer Alex D. , Huang David , Jia Yali
Published: October 2015

Retinal blood supply is tightly regulated under a variety of hemodynamic considerations in order to satisfy a high metabolic need and maintain both vessel structure and function. Simulation of the human eye can induce hemodynamics alterations, and attempt to assess the vascular reactivity response has been well documented in the scientific literature. Advancements in noninvasive imaging technologies have led to the characterization of magnitude and time course in retinal blood flow response to stimuli. This allowed for a better understanding of the mechanism in which blood flow is regulated, as well as identifying functional impairments in the diseased eye. Clinically, the ability to detect retinal blood flow reactivity during stimulation of the eye offers potential for the detection, differentiation, and diagnosis of diseases.
Perspectives of Cosmesis following Breast Conservation for Multifocal and Multicentric Breast Cancers
Authors: Tan Mona P. , Sitoh Nadya Y. , Sitoh Yih-Yiow
Published: October 2015

Background.Contemporary data suggest that breast conservation treatment (BCT) for multifocal and multicentric breast cancer (MFMCBC) may be appropriate with noninferior local control rates. However, there is a paucity of data to evaluate patient’s satisfaction with cosmetic outcomes after BCT for MFMCBC. This study was performed to bridge this information gap.Methods.All patients treated at the authors’ healthcare facility were included in the study. Patients with MFMCBC who were assessed to be eligible for BCT underwent tumour resection using standard surgical techniques with direct parenchymal closure through a single incision. After at least three years of follow-up, they were invited to participate in a survey regarding their cosmetic outcomes.Results.Of a total of 160 patients, 40 had MFMCBC, of whom 34 (85%) underwent successful BCT. Five-year cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival were 95.7%. Twenty of the 34 patients responded to the survey. No patient rated her cosmetic outcome as “poor.” Analysis indicated low agreement between patients’ self-assessment and clinician-directed evaluation of aesthetic results.Conclusion.BCT for MFMCBC is feasible with acceptable survival and cosmetic outcomes. However, there appears to be a disparity between patient and clinician-directed evaluation of cosmetic results which warrant further research.
A New Comparison Principle for Impulsive Functional Differential Equations
Authors: Li Gang , Ling Weizhong , Ding Changming
Published: October 2015

We establish a new comparison principle for impulsive differential systems with time delay. Then, using this comparison principle, we obtain some sufficient conditions for several stabilities of impulsive delay differential equations. Finally, we present an example to show the effectiveness of our results.
Application of AR Model in the Analysis of Preearthquake Ionospheric Anomalies
Authors: Dai Xiaojun , Liu Jianjun , Zhang Huaying
Published: October 2015

Earthquake ionosphere coupling phenomenon is one of the hot research topics using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Taking Lushan earthquake in April 2013 as an example, this paper firstly establishes ionosphere TEC models and determines the optimal model based on Autoregression model by analyzing the TEC values of the epicenter area detected by GPS. Then it makes predictions about the ionosphere data, obtains the background value, and conducts anomaly analysis by using the optimal model. Finally the correlation between ionosphere anomalies and earthquake is analyzed quantitatively by presenting data diagrams explicitly; then a new method to do short-term and imminent earthquake prediction is proposed in the end.
Engine Excitation Force Identification on the Basis of Discrete Spectrum Correction
Authors: Xu Chuanyan , Cao Fengping
Published: October 2015

The interpolation method of discrete spectrum is applied to the engine excitation force identification. The frequency, amplitude, and phase of the vibration response of each measuring point on cylinder surface are obtained accurately based on the interpolation method. Combination with the inertia parameters and the dynamic properties of the mounts, the excitation force, and moment at the center of gravity of engine can be exactly retrieved. The nonlinear problem caused by the imprecise phase of the measurement points is avoided, and the identified method is simplified. Simulation results confirm the importance of the interpolation method on the accurate identification of the excitation force. Influences on the excitation force identification are analyzed quantitatively. The reasons causing the errors are analyzed and the avoidance methods are given too. Through the multi-rigid-body dynamics model simulation, the excitation force identification method is confirmed. Then, the proposed method is carried out on an engine.
A Multisource Retrospective Audit Method for Data Quality Optimization and Evaluation
Authors: Jiang Li , Chen Hao , Ouyang Yueqi , Li Canbing
Published: October 2015

With the rapid development of information technology and the coming of the era of big data, various data are constantly emerging and present the characteristics of autonomy and heterogeneity. How to optimize data quality and evaluate the effect has become a challenging problem. Firstly, a heterogeneous data integration model based on retrospective audit is proposed to locate the original data source and match the data. Secondly, in order to improve the integrated data quality, a retrospective audit model and associative audit rules are proposed to fix incomplete and incorrect data from multiple heterogeneous data sources. The heterogeneous data integration model based on retrospective audit is divided into four modules including original heterogeneous data, data structure, data processing, and data retrospective audit. At last, some assessment criteria such as redundancy, sparsity, and accuracy are defined to evaluate the effect of the optimized data quality. Experimental results show that the quality of the integrated data is significantly higher than the quality of the original data.
Research on Combinational Forecast Models for the Traffic Flow
Authors: Yu Zhiheng , Sun Tieli , Sun Hongguang , Yang Fengqin
Published: October 2015

In order to improve the prediction accuracy of the traffic flow, this paper proposes two combinational forecast models based on GM, ARIMA, and GRNN. Firstly, the paper proposes the concept of associate-forecast and the weight distribution method based on reciprocal absolute percentage error and then uses GM(1,1), ARIMA, and GRNN to establish a combinational model of highway traffic flow according to the fixed weight coefficients. Then the paper proposes the use of neural networks to determine variable weight coefficients and establishes Elman combinational forecast model based on GM(1,1), ARIMA, and GRNN, which achieves the integration of these three individuals. Lastly, these two combinational models are applied to highway traffic flow on Chongzun of China and the experimental results verify their effectiveness compared with GM(1,1), ARIMA, and GRNN.
Recovery and Modification of Waste Tire Particles and Their Use as Reinforcements of Concrete
Authors: Herrera-Sosa Eduardo Sadot , Martínez-Barrera Gonzalo , Barrera-Díaz Carlos , Cruz-Zaragoza Epifanio , Ureña-Núñez Fernando
Published: October 2015

Environmental pollution caused by solid wastes is increasing in the last decades; one of these is referred to automotive tires, which are recycled by different methods, including mechanical grinding. One of the most recurrent applications is to use recycled particles as fillers in building materials, as hydraulic concrete. Nevertheless, detrimental values on the mechanical properties are obtained when they are added. For solving these problems, in this work, a novel proposal is to modify the physicochemical properties of the waste automotive tire particles, previously obtained by grinding process, by using gamma irradiation in order to use them as reinforcements of hydraulic concrete. The results show that improvements on the mechanical properties depend of gamma irradiation as well as concentration and size of waste tire particles. Moreover, SEM images are related to mechanical properties; for instance, rough surface of the tire particles changes when applying irradiation; more smooth surfaces are created, due to the cross-linking of polymer chains. Nevertheless, for higher doses, cracks are observed which are produced by scission of the polymer chains.
Genomic and Histopathological Tissue Biomarkers That Predict Radiotherapy Response in Localised Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wilkins Anna , Dearnaley David , Somaiah Navita
Published: October 2015

Localised prostate cancer, in particular, intermediate risk disease, has varied survival outcomes that cannot be predicted accurately using current clinical risk factors. External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is one of the standard curative treatment options for localised disease and its efficacy is related to wide ranging aspects of tumour biology. Histopathological techniques including immunohistochemistry and a variety of genomic assays have been used to identify biomarkers of tumour proliferation, cell cycle checkpoints, hypoxia, DNA repair, apoptosis, and androgen synthesis, which predict response to radiotherapy. Global measures of genomic instability also show exciting capacity to predict survival outcomes following EBRT. There is also an urgent clinical need for biomarkers to predict the radiotherapy fraction sensitivity of different prostate tumours and preclinical studies point to possible candidates. Finally, the increased resolution of next generation sequencing (NGS) is likely to enable yet more precise molecular predictions of radiotherapy response and fraction sensitivity.
Stereo Matching Based on Immune Neural Network in Abdomen Reconstruction
Authors: Liu Huan , Hao Kuangrong , Ding Yongsheng , Ouyang Chunjuan
Published: October 2015

Stereo feature matching is a technique that finds an optimal match in two images from the same entity in the three-dimensional world. The stereo correspondence problem is formulated as an optimization task where an energy function, which represents the constraints on the solution, is to be minimized. A novel intelligent biological network (Bio-Net), which involves the human B-T cells immune system into neural network, is proposed in this study in order to learn the robust relationship between the input feature points and the output matched points. A model from input-output data (left reference point-right target point) is established. In the experiments, the abdomen reconstructions for different-shape mannequins are then performed by means of the proposed method. The final results are compared and analyzed, which demonstrate that the proposed approach greatly outperforms the single neural network and the conventional matching algorithm in precise. Particularly, as far as time cost and efficiency, the proposed method exhibits its significant promising and potential for improvement. Hence, it is entirely considered as an effective and feasible alternative option for stereo matching.
Effect of Nd:YAG Low Level Laser Therapy on Human Gingival Fibroblasts
Authors: Gkogkos Andreas S. , Karoussis Ioannis K. , Prevezanos Ioannis D. , Marcopoulou Kleopatra E. , Kyriakidou Kyriaki , Vrotsos Ioannis A.
Published: October 2015

Aim. To evaluate the effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on human gingival fibroblasts in terms of proliferation and growth factors’ secretion (EGF, bFGF, and VEGF).Materials and Methods. Primary cultures of keratinized mucosa fibroblasts were irradiated by a Nd:YAG laser 1064 nm with the following energy densities: 2.6 J/cm2, 5.3 J/cm2, 7.9 J/cm2, and 15.8 J/cm2. Controls were not irradiated. Cultures were examined for cell proliferation and growth factors’ secretion after 24, 48, and 72 hours. All experimental procedures were performed in duplicate. Data were analyzed by Student’st-test (p<0.05).Results. All laser-irradiation doses applied promoted a higher cell proliferation at 48 hours in a dose-response relationship compared to controls. This difference reached statistical significance for the cultures receiving 15.8 J/cm2(p=0.03). Regarding EGF, all laser irradiation doses applied promoted a higher secretion at 48 hours in a reverse dose-response pattern compared to controls. This difference reached statistical significance for the cultures receiving 2.6 J/cm2(p=0.04). EGF levels at the other time points, bFGF, and VEGF showed a random variation between the groups.Conclusion. Within the limits of this study, LLLT (Nd:YAG) may induce gingival fibroblasts’ proliferation and upregulate the secretion of EGF. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Detection of Gelatin Adulteration in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Analysis of Deer-Horn Glue by Rapid-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chen Jia , Cheng Xian-Long , Wei Feng , Zhang Qian-Qian , Li Ming-Hua , Ma Shuang-Cheng
Published: October 2015

Simultaneous identification of donkey-hide gelatin and bovine-hide gelatin in deer-horn glue was established by rapid-resolution liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Water containing 1% NH4HCO3was used for sample dissolution and trypsin was used for hydrolysis of the gelatins. After separation by a SB-C18 reversed-phase analytical column, collagen marker peptides were detected by mass spectrometry in positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring. The method was specific, precise and reliable, and suitable for detection of adulterants derived from donkey-hide gelatin and bovine-hide gelatin in deer-horn glue.
Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Dongre Swati , Langade Deepak , Bhattacharyya Sauvik
Published: October 2015

Background.Many women experience sexual dysfunction where there are orgasm disorders and sexual difficulties. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb known to improve the body’s physical and psychological condition.Objective.The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a high-concentration ashwagandha root extract (HCARE) supplementation for improving sexual function in healthy females.Methods.In this pilot study, 50 study subjects were randomized to either (i) HCARE-treated group or (ii) placebo- (starch-) treated group. The subjects consumed either HCARE or placebo capsules of 300mg twice daily for 8 weeks. Sexual function was assessed using two psychometric scales, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), and by the number of total and successful sexual encounters.Results.The analysis indicates that treatment with HCARE leads to significantly higher improvement, relative to placebo, in the FSFI Total score (p<0.001), FSFI domain score for “arousal” (p<0.001), “lubrication” (p<0.001), “orgasm” (p=0.004), and “satisfaction” (p<0.001), and also FSDS score (p<0.001) and the number of successful sexual encounters (p<0.001) at the end of the treatment.Conclusions.This study demonstrated that oral administration of HCARE may improve sexual function in healthy women. The present study is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry, Government of India, with a numberCTRI/2015/07/006045.
Detection of Biomarkers Using LSPR Substrate with Gold Nanoparticle Array
Authors: Bae Young Min , Jin Seung Oh , Kim Insoo , Shin Ki Young , Heo Duchang , Kang Dong-Goo
Published: October 2015

In the biosensing platform, label‐free detection technique provides advantages such as the short analysis time and the cost‐effectiveness. In this study, we showed the feasibility of the LSPR substrate with gold nanoparticle array for detecting low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) without labeling. The LSPR substrate was fabricated through the lift‐off process with the anodized alumina mask, and its LSPR phenomenon was observed by measuring the optical transmission of substrate. The antibodies were immobilized on the gold nanoparticle array via the chemical binding, in which the 11‐MUA was used as the linker to bind the antibodies. The binding of antibodies was confirmed by observing the shift of LSPR peak of the substrate. Finally, with the LSPR substrates with the antibodies immobilized, the detection of LDL and HDL was investigated. As a result, LDL and HDL could be detected in the clinically available concentration range, respectively.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Immunosuppressed IL-22 in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia via Soluble Cellular Factors
Authors: Wu Mei , Ge Hongfeng , Li Shue , Chu Hailiang , Yang Shili , Sun Xiaoxing , Zhou Zhenxia , Zhu Xiongpeng
Published: October 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells are immunoregulation cells. IL-22 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia. However, the effects of mesenchymal stem cells on IL-22 production in patients with immune thrombocytopenia remain unclear. Flow cytometry analyzed immunophenotypes of mesenchymal stem cells; differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells was observed by oil red O and Alizarin red S staining; cell proliferation suppression was measured with MTS; IL-22 levels of cell-free supernatants were determined by ELISA. Mesenchymal stem cells inhibited the proliferation of activated CD4+T cells; moreover, mesenchymal stem cells immunosuppressed IL-22 by soluble cellular factors but not PGE2. These results suggest that mesenchymal stem cells may be a therapeutic strategy for patients with immune thrombocytopenia.
EIV-Based Interference Alignment Scheme with CSI Uncertainties
Authors: Kong Zhengmin , Peng Shixin , Zhang Yuxuan , Zhong Liang
Published: October 2015

A novel interference alignment (IA) scheme based on the errors-in-variables (EIV) mathematic model has been proposed to overcome the channel state information (CSI) estimation error for the MIMO interference channels. By solving an equivalently unconstrained optimization problem, the proposed IA scheme employing a weighted total least squares (WTLS) algorithm can obtain the solution to a constrained optimization problem for transmit precoding (TPC) matrices and minimizes the distortion caused by imperfect CSI according to the EIV model. It is shown that the design of TPC matrices can be realized through an efficient iterative algorithm. The convergence of the proposed scheme is presented as well. Simulation results show that the proposed IA scheme is robust over MIMO interference channels with imperfect CSI, which yields significantly better sum rate performance than the existing IA schemes such as distributed iterative IA, maximum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (Max SINR), and minimum mean square error (MMSE) schemes.
Developments in Screening Tests and Strategies for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sovich Justin L. , Sartor Zachary , Misra Subhasis
Published: October 2015

Background.Worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and second most common in women. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality. In the United States, CRC is the third most common cause of cancer and second most common cause of cancer mortality. Incidence and mortality rates have steadily fallen, primarily due to widespread screening.Methods.We conducted keyword searches on PubMed in four categories of CRC screening: stool, endoscopic, radiologic, and serum, as well as news searches in Medscape and Google News.Results.Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC screening and the most common method in the United States. Technological improvements continue to be made, including the promising “third-eye retroscope.” Fecal occult blood remains widely used, particularly outside the United States. The first at-home screen, a fecal DNA screen, has also recently been approved. Radiological methods are effective but seldom used due to cost and other factors. Serum tests are largely experimental, although at least one is moving closer to market.Conclusions.Colonoscopy is likely to remain the most popular screening modality for the immediate future, although its shortcomings will continue to spur innovation in a variety of modalities.
Behavior of Full-Scale Porous GFRP Barrier under Blast Loads
Authors: Asprone D. , Prota A. , Manfredi G. , Nanni A.
Published: October 2015

This research paper is part of the SAS (Security of Airport Structures) Project funded by the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection, whose objective was to develop and deploy a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) fencing system intended to protect airport infrastructures against terrorist acts. In the paper, the efficacy of the proposed glass FRP discontinuous (porous) barrier under blast loads is presented by showing the results of the blast test campaign conducted on full-size specimens with a focus on the reduction of the blast shock wave induced by the barrier. A simplified model predicting the reduction of the shock wave beyond the barrier is proposed and validated via the experimental data obtained in the project.
Substrate Integrated Waveguide Leaky-Wave Antenna Conforming to Conical Shape Surface
Authors: Huang W. N. , Cheng Y. J. , Deng H.
Published: October 2015

A conical conformal leaky-wave antenna based on substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. This antenna conforms to a conical shape surface with the angle of 40°. It has a narrow beam that scans from 80° to 97° with varying frequency (34 GHz~37 GHz). Both conformal and nonconformal antennas are fabricated through the standard PCB process. Their performances are compared within the desired frequency.
Serological Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Human Cystic Echinococcosis: A New Hope for the Future?
Authors: Manzano-Román Raúl , Sánchez-Ovejero Carlos , Hernández-González Ana , Casulli Adriano , Siles-Lucas Mar
Published: October 2015

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important helminthic zoonotic disease caused by theEchinococcus granulosuscomplex. In humans, CE is a chronic disease driven by the growth of echinococcal cysts in different organs. Prognosis of this disease depends on multiple factors, including location, number, size, and stage of the cysts, making CE a disease of complex management. CE is usually asymptomatic for years and attracts limited attention from funding organizations and health authorities. For this reason, only experts’ recommendations are available but no evidence-based conclusions have been drawn for CE clinical management. One of those pitfalls refers to the lack of evidence to support the use of serological tools for the diagnosis and follow-up of CE patients. In this respect, crude antigens are used to detect specific antibodies in patients, giving rise to false positive results. The advent of molecular techniques allowing the production of recombinant proteins has provided a number of candidate antigens that could overcome the problems associated with the use of crude parasite extracts in the serological assays. In this review, we present the last advances in this field, proposing the use of serology to support cyst stage-specific diagnosis and follow-up.
Experimental Study on Sandwich Bridge Decks with GFRP Face Sheets and a Foam-Web Core Loaded under Two-Way Bending
Authors: Huo Ruili , Liu Weiqing , Wan Li , Fang Yuan , Wang Lu
Published: October 2015

In recent years, the sandwich bridge decks with GFRP face sheets and light weight material core have been widely used in the world due to their advantages of low cost, high strength to weight ratios, and corrosion resisting. However, as the bridge decks, most of them are used in foot bridges rather than highway bridges because the ultimate bending strength and initial bending stiffness are relatively low. To address this issue and expand the scope of use, a simple and innovative sandwich bridge deck with GFRP face sheets and a foam-web core, manufactured by vacuum assisted resin infusion process, is developed. An experimental study was carried out to validate the effectiveness of this panel for increasing the ultimate bending strength and initial bending stiffness under two-way bending. The effects of face sheet thickness, foam density, web thickness, and web spacing on displacement ductility and energy dissipation were also investigated. Test results showed that, compared to the normal foam-core sandwich decks, an average approximately 657.1% increase in the ultimate bending strength can be achieved. Furthermore, the bending stiffness, displacement ductility, and energy dissipation can be enhanced by increasing web thickness, web height, and face sheet thickness or decreasing web spacing.
Cooperative Sequential Sensing of Radio Transmissions in 5G with Improved Cost-Delay Tradeoff
Authors: Qiao Xiaoyu , Xie Weiliang , Yang Fengyi
Published: October 2015

The fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks are generally anticipated to be heterogeneous, consisting of macro cells, wireless local area networks, device-to-device networks, ad hoc networks, and so forth. The spectrum occupancy varies on spatial and temporal basis. So sensing the variation of spectrum occupancy and informing the resource scheduler can optimize the utilization efficiency of spectrum. Especially for deployment of cognitive radio in 5G, spectrum sensing is regarded as a key technique. In this work, we study the cooperative sensing in 5G heterogeneous wireless networks with a centralized control module. By formulating this cooperative sensing problem as a sequential binary hypothesis test problem, the number of unnecessary data samples and the associated cost is substantially reduced, with guaranteed detection precision. We develop a cooperative sequential detection algorithm, in which multiple geographically diverse sensors are sequentially set up to measure and transmit measurement results on demand. Furthermore, we consider different sensor sampling schemes to address the cost-delay tradeoff problems and then propose a conditional mean activation and sampling algorithm, in which the number of required samples is predicted based on the quality of the collected samples. The performances of different sensor sampling schemes are demonstrated under different sensing environments.
Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Continuous Carbon Nanotube Networks Modified Cf/SiC Composite
Authors: Wang Lei , Hou Feng , Wang Xin , Liu Jiachen , Guo Anran
Published: October 2015

Continuous carbon nanotube (CNT) networks were formed in Cf/SiC composites via freeze-drying method. Composites were fabricated by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process afterwards. The different distribution morphologies of CNTs in the preforms originating from the different CNT contents were analyzed while the influence of the distribution of CNTs was discussed in detail. Compared to composites without CNTs, the interfacial shear strength (ILSS) and the flexural strength of Cf/1%CNTs/SiC were increased by 31% and 27%, respectively, but the values of Cf/2.5%CNTs/SiC decreased as a result of lots of defects caused by excess CNTs. With the analysis of ILSS, the flexural strengths, and the fracture morphologies, CNTs effectively improved the weak interfacial strength between T700SC carbon fibers and SiC matrix.
Recent Advances in FePt Nanoparticles for Biomedicine
Authors: Shi Yujuan , Lin Mei , Jiang Xingmao , Liang Shuai
Published: October 2015

FePt nanoparticles have great potential for biomedical applications due to their superior characteristics, including superparamagnetism, resistance to oxidation, and high chemical stability. The present paper reviews the methods used to prepare FePt nanoparticles, surface modifications, and their applications in the biomedical field, such as biosensing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), targeted drug delivery, and therapy.
Efficacy ofClonostachys roseaandDuddingtonia flagransin Reducing theHaemonchus contortusInfective Larvae
Authors: da Silva Manoel Eduardo , Braga Fabio Ribeiro , Gives Pedro Mendoza de , Uriostegui Miguel Angel Mercado , Reyes Manuela , Soares Filippe Elias de Freitas , Carvalho Lorendane Millena de , Rodrigues Francielle Bosi , Araújo Jackson Victor de
Published: October 2015

The biocontrol is proven effective in reducing in vitro and in situ free-living stages of major gastrointestinal helminths, allowing progress in reducing losses by parasitism, maximizing production, and productivity. This study aimed at evaluating the predatory activity of fungal isolates ofDuddingtonia flagransandClonostachys roseaspecies and its association on infective larvae (L3) ofH. contortusin microplots formed by grasses and maintained in a protected environment. All groups were added with 10 mL of an aqueous suspension with 618H. contortusL3approximately. Group 1 was used as control and only received the infective larvae. Groups 2 and 3 receivedD. flagranschlamydospores andC. roseaconidia at doses of 5 × 106. Group 4 received the combination of 5 × 106D. flagranschlamydospores + 5 × 106C. roseaconidia.D. flagransandC. roseashowed nematicidal effectiveness reducing by 91.5 and 88.9%, respectively, the population ofH. contortusL3. However, when used in combination efficiency decreased to 74.5% predation ofH. contortusL3. These results demonstrate the need for further studies to determine the existence of additive effects, synergistic or antagonistic, between these species.
Construction Technique of Long-Span Shallow-Buried Tunnel Considering the Optimal Sequence of Pilot-Tunnel Excavation
Authors: Jin Bao , Liu Yang , Yang Changxi , Tan Zhicheng , Zhang Jianyang
Published: October 2015

Construction technique considering the optimal sequence of pilot-tunnel excavation was investigated in order to ensure the safety of construction process of long-span shallow-buried tunnel. Firstly, optimal comparisons of the effect of different sequence of pilot-tunnel excavation on the ground settlement were implemented by the numerical analysis. Secondly, an optimal construction method was determined and applied to the construction of a practical tunnel. Some key issues and procedure of the selected construction method were described in detail. Finally, the numerical modeling and calculation of the tunnel construction process were conducted, and the effectiveness of these simulations was demonstrated by using the measured data of the practical tunnel.
An Opportunistic Array Beamforming Technique Based on Binary Multiobjective Wind Driven Optimization Method
Authors: Zhang Zhenkai , Salous Sana , Li Hailin , Tian Yubo
Published: October 2015

We present a novel binary version of multiobjective wind driven optimization (WDO) for emitted beamforming of opportunistic array radar, which is assumed as a multiobjective optimization problem. Firstly, the emitted signal model and objective functions of optimization are presented. Then the algorithm proposes a new definition of the position vector of air parcel, and brings a good discretization interpretation of continuous WDO. For multiobjective optimization, the grey relational grade (GRG) is then used to measure the similarity between the best two solutions for these two objectives. The best pressure locations with the maximum GRG will be recorded as the best two candidate solutions to the problem, and a final optimization result will be selected according to the importance of the two objectives. Finally, the proposed improved WDO has been applied for the optimal design of beamforming of the opportunistic antenna array, which needs a trade-off between the 3 dB main beam width and sidelobe level. The simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO) in the optimal beamforming by achieving more reduction in the sidelobe level and saving more runtime.