bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Effect of Sinex® (0.05% Oxymetazoline) Nasal Spray on Reduction of Nasal Congestion Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Kishore Aravind , Blake Lauren , Wang Chengming , Ba Shan , Gross Gary
Published: June 2015

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate air flow changes in reconstructed nasal passages based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from a previous clinical study of 0.05% Oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex Micromist®). Total-pressure boundary conditions were uniquely applied to accommodate low patency subjects. Net nasal resistance, the primary simulation outcome, was determined using a parallel-circuit analogy and compared across treatments. Relative risk (RR) calculations show that for a 50% reduction in nasal resistance, subjects treated with Sinex® are 9.1 times more likely to achieve this after 8 hr, and 3.2 times more likely after 12 hr compared to Sham.
Influence of Deformational Cutting Data on Parameters of Polymer Slotted Screen Pipes
Authors: Zubkov Nikolay , Sleptsov Arkady
Published: June 2015

A method for manufacturing polymer slotted screen pipes by the use of deformational cutting (DC) technology is presented in this paper. The slotted macrostructure is created by cutting through the pipe wall without chip removal. These screen pipes can be made from thermoplastic tubular workpieces which can either be standard pipes or have internal longitudinal grooves. Descriptions of the manufacturing method, process kinematics, required equipment, and tool for making slotted screen pipes are given. The influence of tool angles and process parameters on dimensions and accuracy of manufactured through slots is analyzed. The theoretical equations are verified by experimental results.
Exact Time Integration for Dynamic Interaction of High-Speed Train and Railway Structure Including Derailment During an Earthquake
Authors: Tanabe M. , Sogabe M. , Wakui H. , Matsumoto N. , Tanabe Y.
Published: June 2015

A robust and efficient computational method to solve the dynamic interaction of a high-speed train and railway structure including derailment during an earthquake is given. Mechanical models to express contact–impact behaviors during and after derailment are described. A modal reduction has been developed to solve nonlinear equations of motions of the train and railway structure effectively. The exact time integration in the modal coordinate is given that is free from the round-off error normally appeared in the numerical time integration for very small time increments to solve the interaction including derailment during an earthquake. Some examples are demonstrated.
Rotor Dynamics Behavior of Tilting Pad Bearing Supported Turbo-Expander Considering Temperature Gradient
Authors: Li Ming , Liu Xingxing , Zhu Rui , Wang Xiaohu , Bai Huiyu , Li Fucai , Li Hongguang , Meng Guang
Published: June 2015

This paper dedicates on the rotor dynamics behavior analysis on a tilting pad bearing supported turbo-expander rotor system considering temperature gradient. Both numerical and experimental investigations are conducted intensively. The influence of the temperature gradient is modeled as the change of the lubrication oil viscosity and the length variation of the clearance due to the cryogenic thermal expansion of the journal. The analytical expressions of the tilting pad bearing oil-film force are then amended and substitute into the lumped parameter model of the turbo-expander rotor dynamics. Linear analysis based on this model indicates that the existence of the temperature gradient can stabilize the turbo-expander rotor system to an extent, while the nonlinear analyses reveal that the temperature gradient will advance the occurrence of the quasi-periodic motion and break the equilibrium of the vibration between the expander side and the compressor side. Furthermore, an experimental system is established and the experimental results show that the temperature of the tilting pad bearing is influenced by the environment temperature greatly; the spectrum of the displacement of the rotor is dominated by the synchronous frequency of the impellers and bearings. The experiment results also observe the vibration amplitude decreases when the environment temperature gets down and grows when the rotating speed increases. At the same time, the sensitivity of the vibration amplitude versus rotating speed decreases as the environment temperature rises, and vice versa.
Induced Stress and Interaction of Fractures During Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Formation
Authors: Zhou Desheng , Zheng Peng , Peng Jiao , He Pei
Published: June 2015

Creating complex fracture network by hydraulic fracturing operation in unconventional reservoir development is the key factor of effective exploitation. The mechanism of creating a fracture network is not clear up to today. Conventional hydraulic fracturing theory is based on tensile failure of a rock, and a hydraulic fracture is widely accepted as propagating along the direction of in situ maximum horizontal principal stress in the industry. Based on rock elastic mechanics and fracture mechanics, considering combined tensile and shear failures, the maximum circumferential strain criterion and boundary element method (BEM), the paper studies the induced stress and its variation during a fracture propagation, the interaction between two or more hydraulic fractures, and the interaction between a hydraulic fracture and a natural crack. The paper shows that a propagating fracture will produce induced stresses on surrounding rock and form a stress shadow. Instead of propagation along the direction of maximum horizontal principal stress as a single fracture, the outside two fractures of two or more hydraulic fractures are exclusive and turning away from each other. A natural crack may be awaked and extend at its both tips by a propagating hydraulic fracture before their intersection, and the hydraulic fracture may deflect toward the natural crack. The interaction between a hydraulic fracture and a natural crack depends on the transverse distance between them and the initial length of the crack. The shorter the transverse distance and the longer the crack length are, the higher the possibility of the crack to be awaked is. The research results are helpful in understanding complex fracture network and may be used in determining hydraulic fracture places to create a complex fracture network.
Metagenome Sequencing Reveals
Rhodococcus
Dominance in Farpuk Cave, Mizoram, India, an Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot Region
Authors: De Mandal Surajit , Sanga Zothan , Senthil Kumar Nachimuthu
Published: June 2015

The present study employed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to survey the prokaryotic microbiota on Farpuk Cave, revealing a diverse bacterial community with 4,021 operational taxonomical units (OTUs), mainly dominated by the genus
Rhodococcus
. Moreover, 18.17% of the OTUs were unclassified at the phylum level, suggesting the existence of novel bacterial species.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Bacterium Aalborg_AAW-1, Representing a Novel Family within the Candidate Phylum SR1
Authors: Dueholm Morten Simonsen , Albertsen Mads , Stokholm-Bjerregaard Mikkel , McIlroy Simon J. , Karst Søren M. , Nielsen Per Halkjær
Published: June 2015

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the candidate phylum SR1 bacterium Aalborg_AAW-1. Its 16S rRNA gene is only 85.5% similar to that of the closest relative, RAAC1_SR1, and the genome of Aalborg_AAW-1 consequently represents the first of a novel family within the candidate phylum SR1.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Subgenotype 1e Strain Isolated in Switzerland
Authors: Stalder Hanspeter , Schweizer Matthias , Bachofen Claudia
Published: June 2015

We sequenced the complete genome of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strain Carlito. It belongs to the subgenotype 1e that is described in Europe only and represents the second most prevalent subgenotype in Switzerland. This is the first report of a full-length sequence of BVDV-1e.
Draft Genome Sequence of Microbacterium profundi Shh49
T
, an Actinobacterium Isolated from Deep-Sea Sediment of a Polymetallic Nodule Environment
Authors: Wu Yue-Hong , Zhou Peng , Cheng Hong , Wang Chun-Sheng , Wu Min , Xu Xue-Wei
Published: June 2015

Microbacterium profundi
strain Shh49
T
was isolated from deep-sea sediment from a polymetallic nodule area located in the East Pacific Ocean. Strain Shh49
T
contains genes related to the reduction/oxidation of metals. It has potential application in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environments.
Health literacy and 30-day hospital readmission after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Bailey Stacy Cooper , Fang Gang , Annis Izabela E , O'Conor Rachel , Paasche-Orlow Michael K , Wolf Michael S
Published: June 2015

Objective

To assess the validity of a predictive model of health literacy, and to examine the relationship between derived health literacy estimates and 30-day hospital readmissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

A National Institute of Aging (NIA) study cohort of 696 adult, English-speaking primary care patients, aged 55–74 years, was used to assess the validity of derived health literacy estimates. Claims from 7733 Medicare beneficiaries hospitalised for AMI in 2008 in North Carolina and Illinois were used to investigate the association between health literacy estimates and 30-day hospital readmissions.

Measures

The NIA cohort was administered 3 common health literacy assessments (Newest Vital Sign, Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, and Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine). Health literacy estimates at the census block group level were derived via a predictive model. 30-day readmissions were measured from Medicare claims data using a validated algorithm.

Results

Fair agreement was found between derived estimates and in-person literacy assessments (Pearson Correlation coefficients: 0.38–0.51; κ scores: 0.38–0.40). Medicare enrollees with above basic literacy according to derived health literacy estimates had an 18% lower risk of a 30-day readmission (RR=0.82, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.92) and 21% lower incidence rate of 30-day readmission (IRR=0.79, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.87) than patients with basic or below basic literacy. After adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, the risk of 30-day readmission was 12% lower (p=0.03), and the incidence rate 16% lower (p<0.01) for patients with above basic literacy.

Conclusions

Health literacy, as measured by a predictive model, was found to be a significant, independent predictor of 30-day readmissions. As a modifiable risk factor with evidence-based solutions, health literacy should be considered in readmission reduction efforts.
Unsafe sexual behaviour in domestic and foreign migrant male workers in multinational workplaces in Jordan: occupational-based and behavioural assessment survey
Authors: Al Rifai Rami , Nakamura Keiko , Seino Kaoruko , Kizuki Masashi , Morita Ayako
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To examine the prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related knowledge, health and work-related conditions, and correlates of practising unsafe sex among domestic and foreign male workers in multinational workplaces in Jordan.

Design

Cross-sectional behavioural assessment survey.

Setting

Multinational workplaces in Jordan.

Participants

230 Jordanian and 480 foreign male workers aged ≥18 years who had worked in a Qualified Industrial Zone (QIZ) for 12 months or more.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was the prevalence of practising unsafe sex. ‘Unsafe sex’ was defined as sex with a non-regular sexual partner with inconsistent condom usage.

Results

Overall, 74.3% of workers reported lifetime sexual experience. The proportion of lifetime unsafe sex was similar among domestic (31.8%) and foreign (35.6%) workers. Of those, 59.2% of domestic and 68.1% of foreign workers started practising unsafe sex after joining the QIZ. Rates of lifetime unsafe sex were significantly higher among those who had their sexual debut after joining the QIZ in domestic (aOR, 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.4) and foreign workers (aOR, 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.1). Among the domestic workers, being 18–24 years old (aOR, 4.9), unmarried (aOR, 4.8), working in the QIZ for 5–8 years (aOR, 5.0), sometimes/frequently shopped with foreign workers (aOR, 2.1) or were current/ex-alcohol drinkers (aORs, 3.4) were independently significantly associated with higher odds of practising unsafe sex.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of domestic and foreign male workers had been practising unsafe sex. The findings indicated that not only foreigners but also domestic male workers associating with foreign workers are at high risk of unsafe sex. Tailored interventions to promote safer sex in multinational workplaces in Jordan are needed.
Gene–gene interactions between TGF-β/Smad3 signalling pathway polymorphisms affect susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Su Sui-Lung , Yang Hsin-Yi , Lee Herng-Sheng , Huang Guo-Shu , Lee Chian-Her , Liu Wan-Shan , Wang Chih-Chien , Peng Yi-Jen , Lai Ching-Huang , Chen Ching-Yang , Lin Chin , Pan Yu-Ting , Salter Donald M , Chen Hsiang-Cheng
Published: June 2015

Objective

Transforming growth factor/Smad family member 3 (TGF)-β/Smad3 signalling is essential for maintaining articular cartilage. A relationship between the genetic variants of TGF-β itself, TGF-β signalling and binding molecules, and osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported. Although variants of candidate genes have become prime targets for genetic analysis, their detailed interplay has not been documented. Our goal was to establish whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TGF-β1, TGF-βRI, Smad3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP3), and their interactions, are associated with knee OA.

Design

We performed a case–control association study and genotyped 518 knee patients with OA and 468 healthy controls. All participants were genotyped for TGF-β1 (rs1800469C/T), TGF-βRI (rs1590A/G), Smad3 (rs12901499A/G and rs6494629T/C), and TIMP3 (rs715572G/A and rs1962223G/C) polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was used to identify gene–gene interactions.

Results

Significant associations were observed for TIMP3 rs715572G/A polymorphisms in knee patients with OA and healthy individuals. The GA heterozygote in TIMP3 (rs715572G/A) was significantly associated with OA (p=0.007). Patient stratification using the Kellgren–Lawrence grading scale showed significant differences in TIMP3 rs715572G/A genotypes between grade 4 knee OA and controls. By MDR analysis, a two-locus model (Smad3 rs6494629T/C and TIMP3 rs715572G/A) of gene–gene interaction was the best for predicting knee OA risk, and its maximum testing accuracy was 57.55% and maximum cross-validation consistency was 10/10.

Conclusions

TIMP3 rs715572G/A is a candidate protective gene for severe knee OA. Gene–gene interactions between Smad3 rs6494629T/C and TIMP3 rs715572G/A polymorphisms may play more important protective roles in knee OA.
Practical application of equine learning theory, part 2
Authors: Pearson Gemma
Published: June 2015

Understanding how horses learn is important, to make working with these animals safer and easier. The first article in this two‐part series (Pearson 2015) looked at how horses learn via operant conditioning and classical conditioning. This second article looks at another method by which horses learn – habituation – and includes some practical suggestions on how to modify a horse's behaviour.
Glaucoma awareness and access to healthcare: perceptions among glaucoma patients in Tanzania
Authors: Gilmour-White Jeremy A , Shah Peter , Cross Vinette , Makupa William , Philippin Heiko
Published: June 2015

Objective

To investigate the barriers to access to eye health services for patients with glaucoma in Tanzania with the aim of identifying key areas for improvement and further research.

Design

Qualitative investigation using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with patients recruited from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) outpatient eye clinic. This project is part of the international strategy of the Research into Glaucoma and Ethnicity (ReGAE) programme.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with the help of a translator; all data were transcribed in Swahili and then translated into English. Manual coding and qualitative analysis was used to identify major themes and relevant concepts. Data were collected during May and June 2013.

Main outcome measures

Qualitative data on glaucoma awareness and access to healthcare.

Results

12 patients (7 men, 5 women) of mean age 67.5 years (range 53–86 years) were interviewed. All participants had a previous diagnosis of glaucoma and no other eye conditions. The understanding of glaucoma was limited and the capacity for healthcare providers to improve glaucoma knowledge seemed underused. Participants had particular difficulty in understanding the aetiology and chronicity of the disease. Socioeconomic factors also posed significant barriers to service usage.

Conclusions

Among many barriers to access to health services for patients with glaucoma, knowledge of the condition was identified as a key issue. Enhancing the understanding of glaucoma may improve access by triggering earlier presentation, informing those at risk and improving adherence to treatment. This is an area for further research with potential for improving service provision.
THERMAL SHOCK PROPERTIES OF YTTRIA-STABILIZED ZIRCONIA COATINGS DEPOSITED USING LOW-ENERGY VERY LOW PRESSURE PLASMA SPRAYING
Authors: ZHU LIN , ZHANG NANNAN , BOLOT RODOLPHE , LIAO HANLIN , CODDET CHRISTIAN
Published: June 2015

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings have been frequently used as a thermal protective layer on the metal or alloy component surfaces. In the present study, ZrO 2-7% Y 2 O 3 thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were successfully deposited by DC (direct current) plasma spray process under very low pressure conditions (less than 1 mbar) using low-energy plasma guns F4-VB and F100. The experiments were performed to evaluate the thermal shock resistance of different TBC specimens which were heated to 1373 K at a high-temperature cycling furnace and held for 0.5 h, followed by air cooling at room temperature for 0.2 h. For comparison, a corresponding atmospheric plasma spray (APS) counterpart was also elaborated to carry out the similar experiments. The results indicated that the very low pressure plasma spray (VLPPS) coatings displayed better thermal shock resistance. Moreover, the failure mechanism of the coatings was elucidated.
SKEW AND IMPLIED LEVERAGE EFFECT: SMILE DYNAMICS REVISITED
Authors: VARGAS VINCENT , DAO TUNG-LAM , BOUCHAUD JEAN-PHILIPPE
Published: June 2015

We revisit the "Smile Dynamics" problem, which consists in relating the implied leverage (i.e. the correlation of the at-the-money volatility with the returns of the underlying) and the skew of the option smile. The ratio between these two quantities, called "Skew-Stickiness Ratio" (SSR) by Bergomi (2009), saturates to the value 2 for linear models in the limit of small maturities, and converges to 1 for long maturities. We show that for more general, non-linear models (such as the asymmetric GARCH model), Bergomi's result must be modified, and can be larger than 2 for small maturities. The discrepancy comes from the fact that the volatility skew is, in general, different from the skewness of the underlying. We compare our theory with empirical results, using data both from option markets and from the underlying price series, for the S&P 500 and the DAX. We find, among other things, that although both the implied leverage and the skew appear to be too strong on option markets, their ratio is well explained by the theory. We observe that the SSR indeed becomes larger than 2 for small maturities, signalling the presence of non-linear effects.
SHORT-TIME IMPLIED VOLATILITY IN EXPONENTIAL LÉVY MODELS
Authors: EKSTRÖM ERIK , LU BING
Published: June 2015

We show that a necessary and sufficient condition for the explosion of implied volatility near expiry in exponential Lévy models is the existence of jumps towards the strike price in the underlying process. When such jumps do not exist, the implied volatility converges to the volatility of the Gaussian component of the underlying Lévy process as the time to maturity tends to zero. These results are proved by comparing the short-time asymptotics of the Black–Scholes price with explicit formulas for upper and lower bounds of option prices in exponential Lévy models.
Products of Farey graphs are totally geodesic in the pants graph
Authors: Taylor Samuel J. , Zupan Alexander
Published: June 2015

We show that for a surface [Formula: see text], the subgraph of the pants graph determined by fixing a collection of curves that cut [Formula: see text] into pairs of pants, once-punctured tori, and four-times-punctured spheres is totally geodesic. The main theorem resolves a special case of a conjecture made in [2] and has the implication that an embedded product of Farey graphs in any pants graph is totally geodesic. In addition, we show that a pants graph contains a convex [Formula: see text]-flat if and only if it contains an [Formula: see text]-quasi-flat.
A Distributed Algorithm for Large-Scale Graph Partitioning
Authors: Rahimian Fatemeh , Payberah Amir H. , Girdzijauskas Sarunas , Jelasity Mark , Haridi Seif
Published: June 2015

Balanced graph partitioning is an NP-complete problem with a wide range of applications. These applications include many large-scale distributed problems, including the optimal storage of large sets of graph-structured data over several hosts. However, in very large-scale distributed scenarios, state-of-the-art algorithms are not directly applicable because they typically involve frequent global operations over the entire graph. In this article, we propose a fully distributed algorithm called J
A
-
BE
-J
A
that uses local search and simulated annealing techniques for two types of graph partitioning:
edge-cut
partitioning and
vertex-cut
partitioning. The algorithm is massively parallel: There is no central coordination, each vertex is processed independently, and only the direct neighbors of a vertex and a small subset of random vertices in the graph need to be known locally. Strict synchronization is not required. These features allow J
A
-
BE
-J
A
to be easily adapted to any distributed graph-processing system from data centers to fully distributed networks. We show that the minimal edge-cut value empirically achieved by J
A
-
BE
-J
A
is comparable to state-of-the-art centralized algorithms such as Metis. In particular, on large social networks, J
A
-
BE
-J
A
outperforms Metis. We also show that J
A
-
BE
-J
A
computes very low vertex-cuts, which are proved significantly more effective than edge-cuts for processing most real-world graphs.
Crowdsourcing through Cognitive Opportunistic Networks
Authors: Mordacchini Matteo , Passarella Andrea , Conti Marco , Allen Stuart M. , Chorley Martin J. , Colombo Gualtiero B. , Tanasescu Vlad , Whitaker Roger M.
Published: June 2015

Until recently crowdsourcing has been primarily conceived as an online activity to harness resources for problem solving. However, the emergence of Opportunistic Networking (ON) has opened up crowdsourcing to the spatial domain. In this article, we bring the ON model for potential crowdsourcing in the smart city environment. We introduce cognitive features of the ON that allow users’ mobile devices to become aware of the surrounding physical environment. Specifically, we exploit cognitive psychology studies on dynamic memory structures and cognitive heuristics—mental models that describe how the human brain handles decision making among complex and real-time stimuli. Combined with ON, these cognitive features allow devices to act as proxies in their users’ cyberworlds and exchange knowledge to deliver awareness of places in an urban environment. This is done through tags associated with locations. They represent features that are perceived by humans about a place. We consider the extent to which this knowledge becomes available to participants using interactions with locations and other nodes. This is assessed taking into account a wide range of cognitive parameters. Outcomes are important because this functionality could support a new type of recommendation system that is independent of the traditional forms of networking.
Static, Dynamic, and Adaptive Heterogeneity in Distributed Smart Camera Networks
Authors: Lewis Peter R. , Esterle Lukas , Chandra Arjun , Rinner Bernhard , Torresen Jim , Yao Xin
Published: June 2015

We study heterogeneity among nodes in self-organizing smart camera networks, which use strategies based on social and economic knowledge to target communication activity efficiently. We compare homogeneous configurations, when cameras use the same strategy, with heterogeneous configurations, when cameras use different strategies. Our first contribution is to establish that static heterogeneity leads to new outcomes that are more efficient than those possible with homogeneity. Next, two forms of dynamic heterogeneity are investigated: nonadaptive mixed strategies and adaptive strategies, which learn online. Our second contribution is to show that mixed strategies offer Pareto efficiency consistently comparable with the most efficient static heterogeneous configurations. Since the particular configuration required for high Pareto efficiency in a scenario will not be known in advance, our third contribution is to show how decentralized online learning can lead to more efficient outcomes than the homogeneous case. In some cases, outcomes from online learning were more efficient than all other evaluated configuration types. Our fourth contribution is to show that online learning typically leads to outcomes more evenly spread over the objective space. Our results provide insight into the relationship between static, dynamic, and adaptive heterogeneity, suggesting that all have a key role in achieving efficient self-organization.
Heme oxygenase-1-mediated autophagy protects against pulmonary endothelial cell death and development of emphysema in cadmium-treated mice
Authors: Surolia Ranu , Karki Suman , Kim Hyunki , Yu Zhihong , Kulkarni Tejaswini , Mirov Sergey B. , Carter A. Brent , Rowe Steven M. , Matalon Sadis , Thannickal Victor J. , Agarwal Anupam , Antony Veena B.
Published: June 2015

Pulmonary exposure to cadmium, a major component of cigarette smoke, has a dramatic impact on lung function and the development of emphysema. Cigarette smoke exposure induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a cytoprotective enzyme. In this study, we employed a truncated mouse model of emphysema by intratracheal instillation of cadmium (CdCl2) solution (0.025% per 1 mg/kg body wt) in HO-1+/+, HO-1−/−, and overexpressing humanized HO-1 bacterial artificial chromosome (hHO-1BAC) mice. We evaluated the role of HO-1 in cadmium-induced emphysema in mice by analyzing histopathology, micro-computed tomography scans, and lung function tests. CdCl2-exposed HO-1−/− mice exhibited more severe emphysema compared with HO-1+/+ or hHO-1BAC mice. Loss of pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs) from the alveolar capillary membrane is recognized to be a target in emphysema. PECs from HO-1+/+, HO-1−/−, and hHO-1BAC were employed to define the underlying molecular mechanism for the protection from emphysema by HO-1. Electron microscopy, expression of autophagic markers (microtubule-associated protein 1B-light chain 3 II, autophagy protein 5, and Beclin1) and apoptotic marker (cleaved caspase 3) suggested induction of autophagy and apoptosis in PECs after CdCl2 treatment. CdCl2-treated HO-1−/− PECs exhibited downregulation of autophagic markers and significantly increased cleaved caspase 3 expression and activity (∼4-fold higher). Moreover, hHO-1BAC PECs demonstrated upregulated autophagy and absence of cleaved caspase 3 expression or activity. Pretreatment of HO-1+/+ PECs with rapamycin induced autophagy and resulted in reduced cell death upon cadmium treatment. Induction of autophagy following CdCl2 treatment was found to be protective from apoptotic cell death. HO-1 induced protective autophagy in PECs and mitigated cadmium-induced emphysema.
Endothelin-1 induces VCAM-1 expression-mediated inflammation via receptor tyrosine kinases and Elk/p300 in human tracheal smooth muscle cells
Authors: Lin Chih-Chung , Lin Wei-Ning , Hou Wei-Chen , Hsiao Li-Der , Yang Chuen-Mao
Published: June 2015

The elevated level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with severe asthma, acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and sepsis. ET-1 may affect vessel tone together with lung physiology and pathology. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is one kind of adhesion molecules participating in the process of polymorphonuclear leukocyte transmigration and regulating the occurrence and amplification of tissue inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ET-1-mediated expression of VCAM-1 on human tracheal smooth muscle cells (HTSMCs) were largely unknown. Here we reported that ET-1 stimulated expression of VCAM-1 gene on HTSMCs, which was blocked by pretreatment with the inhibitors of ET receptors, Src, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, MEK1/2, and p300, suggesting the participation of these signaling components in ET-1-regulated HTSMC responses. Furthermore, transfection with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) of Src, AKT, p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), or p300 downregulated the respective proteins and significantly attenuated ET-1-induced VCAM-1 expression. ET-1 also stimulated phosphorylation of Src, EGFR, PDGFR, AKT, p42/p44 MAPK, and Elk-1 and acetylation of histone H4 on HTSMCs. Immunoprecipitation assay showed the association between Elk-1 and p300 in the nucleus. Adhesion assay revealed that the adhesion of THP-1 to HTSMCs challenged with ET-1 was increased, which was attenuated by the inhibitors of ET receptors, Src, MMPs, EGFR, PDGFR, PI3K, AKT, p42/p44 MAPK, and p300. Taken together, these data suggested that ET-1 promotes occurrence and amplification of pathology-related airway inflammation via enhancing VCAM-1 expression in an ET receptor/Src/MMP/EGFR, PDGFR/PI3K/AKT/p42/p44 MAPK/Elk-1/p300 pathway in HTSMCs.
Analgesic Effects of Intra-Articular Bupivacaine/Intravenous Parecoxib Combination Therapy versus Intravenous Parecoxib Monotherapy in Patients Receiving Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial
Authors: Shen Shih-Jyun , Peng Pei-Yu , Chen Hsiu-Pin , Lin Jr-Rung , Lee Mel S. , Yu Huang-Ping
Published: June 2015

Objectives. The purpose of this double-blind, randomized study was to investigate whether the addition of intra-articular bupivacaine to intravenous parecoxib could improve pain relief in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Methods. A total of 36 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were enrolled into our study. These patients were randomly allocated either to a placebo-controlled group or study group. Postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption were evaluated.Results. Numeric rating scale (NRS) data of bupivacaine group in postoperative room were significantly lower than that of control group (control group versus bupivacaine group, 7.9 (6.7–9.1) (mean and 95% confidence interval) versus 4.5 (3.2–5.8) (mean and 95% confidence interval),p=0.001). NRS data of bupivacaine group in ward were also significantly lower than that of control group. A significantly lower dose of meperidine was used in the study group postoperatively during the first 24 hours (control group versus bupivacaine group, 3.08 ± 0.80 mg/Kg versus 2.34 ± 0.42 mg/Kg,p=0.001).Conclusion. Intra-articular bupivacaine in combination with intravenous parecoxib may improve pain relief and reduce the demand for rescue analgesics in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615000463572).
Streptococcus constellatusCausing Septic Thrombophlebitis of the Right Ovarian Vein with Extension into the Inferior Vena Cava
Authors: Haidar Abdallah , Haddad Amy , Naqvi Amir , Onyesoh Ngozi U. , Malik Rushdah , Williams Michael
Published: June 2015

Introduction.Streptococcus constellatuscollectively withStreptococcus anginosusandStreptococcus intermediusconstitute theStreptococcus anginosus(formerlyStreptococcus milleri) group. Though they are commonly associated with abscesses, bacteremia with subsequent septic thrombophlebitis is extremely rare, and resulting mortality is infrequent.Case Presentation. We report a case of a previously healthy 60-year-old African American female who presented withStreptococcus constellatusbacteremia associated with septic thrombophlebitis to the right ovarian vein extending into the inferior vena cava. She was urgently treated with antibiotics and anticoagulation.Conclusion. Septic thrombophlebitis has a clinical presentation that is often misleading. Therefore, a high clinical index of suspicion and the use of appropriate imaging modalities (computed tomography) are essential in recognizing and confirming this diagnosis. Prompt treatment is warranted. Surgical thrombectomies have been successfully replaced by a combination of antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy.
Use of Folk Therapy in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Prevalence and Associated Factors
Authors: Shih Chun-Chuan , Huang Lu-Hsiang , Lane Hsin-Long , Tsai Chin-Chuan , Lin Jaung-Geng , Chen Ta-Liang , Yeh Chun-Chieh , Liao Chien-Chang
Published: June 2015

Background. This study investigates the prevalence of and factors associated with users of folk therapy in Taiwan.Methods. Using data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey and the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 16,750 adults aged 20 years and older. Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, medical utilization, and health behaviors were compared between people using and not using folk therapy. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of factors associated with folk therapy were analyzed.Results. The one-month prevalence of folk therapy use was 6.8%, which was significantly associated with ages of 30–59 years (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.49–2.63), women (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.40–1.90), nonindigenous population (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.14–3.17), having two or more unhealthy lifestyle habits (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.26–1.81), high density of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.20–1.62), and being ill without receiving medical care in past six months (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.76–2.53). Medical care utilization of TCM and Western medicine were also associated factors for folk therapy.Conclusions. The use of folk therapy is correlated with sociodemographics, lifestyle and health behaviors.
Characteristics and Treatment Results of 5 Patients with Fibrous Dysplasia and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ozdemir Kutbay Nilufer , Sarer Yurekli Banu , Kartal Baykan Emine , Baydur Sahin Serap , Saygili Fusun
Published: June 2015

Aim. Fibrous dysplasia is a rare bone disease caused by missense mutation leading to abnormal fibroblast and osteoblast proliferation and increased bone resorption. FD can present in monostotic or polyostotic forms. About 3% of FD could be in association with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). Because FD is a rare disease, there is limited data in the literature about characteristics of disease and response to treatment.Methods. We present our five cases of FD with general properties and their responses to medical treatment.Results. Two of our patients had polyostotic and three had monostotic FD. One of the polyostotic patients had MAS. One of our patients had surgery for femur fractures, facial asymmetry, and findings of compression. Four patients were given pamidronate; one was given zoledronic acid as bisphosphonate treatment. Bone pain was relieved in all patients with medical treatment.Conclusion. There was a decrease in bone turnover markers to some degree with medical treatment but no radiological improvement was observed.
Chemical and Physical Quality Criteria of Bulakbaşı Stream in Turkey and Usage of Drinking, Fisheries, and Irrigation
Authors: Şen Fazıl , Aksoy Abdullah
Published: June 2015

Water quality parameters were analyzed in Bulakbaşı stream. The in situ measurements and laboratory analyses were made on water samples taken from 4 sampling points on the Bulakbaşı stream monthly. During the study, the average water temperature as 16.3°C, dissolved oxygen (DO) 12.91 mg/L, oxygen saturation (OS) 152.8%, pH 8.25, electrical conductivity (EC) 779.6 μS/cm, salinity 0.435‰, chloride 83.97 mg/L, calcium 56.5 mg/L, magnesium 57.1 mg/L, total hardness 391.1 mg/L CaCO3, carbonate 0 mg/L, bicarbonate 365.95 mg/L, total alkalinity 299.85 mg/L, nitrate 4.74 mg/L, nitrite 20.83 µg/L, ammonium 50.8 µg/L, ammonia 48.3 µg/L, phosphorus 77.5 µg/L, sulfate 57.6 mg/L, potassium 4.52 mg/L, copper and aluminum 0.0 µg/L, total iron 10.1 µg/L, zinc 168.2 µg/L, chromium 24 µg/L, manganese 401.7 µg/L, and cyanide 6.79 µg/L were found. According to EU, WHO, and Turkish standards, Bulakbaşı stream is not polluted and it has suitable quality with respect to drinking, aquaculture, and irrigation.
A Parallel High Speed Lossless Data Compression Algorithm in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Zhou Bin , Jin Hai , Zheng Ran
Published: June 2015

In large-scale wireless sensor networks, massive sensor data generated by a large number of sensor nodes call for being stored and disposed. Though limited by the energy and bandwidth, a large-scale wireless sensor network displays the disadvantages of fusing the data collected by the sensor nodes and compressing them at the sensor nodes. Thus the goals of reduction of bandwidth and a high speed of data processing should be achieved at the second-level sink nodes. Traditional compression technology is unable to appropriately meet the demands of processing massive sensor data with a high compression rate and low energy cost. In this paper, Parallel Matching Lempel-Ziv-Storer-Szymanski (PMLZSS), a high speed lossless data compression algorithm, making use of the CUDA framework at the second-level sink node is presented. The core idea of PMLZSS algorithm is parallel matrix matching. PMLZSS algorithm divides the data compression files into multiple compressed dictionary window strings and prereading window strings along the vertical and horizontal axes of the matrices, respectively. All of the matrices are parallel matched in the different thread blocks. Compared with LZSS and BZIP2 on the traditional serial CPU platforms, the compression speed of PMLZSS increases about 16 times while, for BZIP2, the compression speed increases about 12 times when the basic compression rate unchanged.
Evaluation of the Wind Energy Potential in the Coastal Environment of Two Enclosed Seas
Authors: Onea Florin , Raileanu Alina , Rusu Eugen
Published: June 2015

The work presents a comprehensive picture of the wind energy potential in the coastal environment of the Black and the Caspian Seas. 10-year of data coming from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction was considered as the main source. This dataset was subsequently compared with both in situ and remotely sensed measurements. The results show that the western side of the Black Sea has an enhanced wind power potential, especially in the vicinity of the Crimean Peninsula. As regards the Caspian Sea, the northeastern sector can be considered more energetic. A direct comparison of various wind parameters corresponding to the locations with higher potential in the two target areas considered was also carried out, in order to notice the similarities and the key features that could be taken into account in the development of an offshore wind project. Finally, it can be concluded that the coastal environments of the Black and the Caspian Seas can become in the near future promising locations for the wind energy extraction, as well as for the hybrid wind-wave energy farms that could play an important role also in the coastal protection.
Pressure-Transient Behavior in a Multilayered Polymer Flooding Reservoir
Authors: Xu Jianping , Li Daolun
Published: June 2015

A new well-test model is presented for unsteady flow in multizone with crossflow layers in non-Newtonian polymer flooding reservoir by utilizing the supposition of semipermeable wall and combining it with the first approximation of layered stable flow rates, and the effects of wellbore storage and skin were considered in this model and proposed the analytical solutions in Laplace space for the cases of infinite-acting and bounded systems. Finally, the stable layer flow rates are provided for commingled system and crossflow system in late-time radial flow periods.
Dezocine Prevents Postoperative Hyperalgesia in Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Yu Fang , Zhou Jie , Xia Suyun , Xu Huan , Wang Xiangrui
Published: June 2015

Objective. Postoperative hyperalgesia is very frequent and hard to treat. Dezocine is widely used and has a modulatory effect for thermal hyperalgesia in animal models. So, this study was designed to investigate the potential role of dezocine in decreasing postoperative hyperalgesia for patients undergoing open abdominal surgery.Methods. This is a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. 50 patients for elective open gastrectomy were randomly allocated to either a true treatment group (0.15 mg/kg intravenous dezocine at the end of surgery) or a sham treatment group (equivalent volume of saline) in a 1 : 1 ratio. Patients were followed up for 48 hours postoperatively and pain threshold to Von Frey filaments, pain scores, PCIA consumption, rescue analgesics use, sedation score, and occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded.Results. Patients in the true treatment group experienced statistically significantly higher pain threshold on forearm and smaller extent of peri-incisional hyperalgesia than the sham treatment group. Rescue analgesic use, cumulative PCIA consumption, and pain scores were statistically significantly decreased in the true treatment group compared to the sham treatment group.Conclusions. Dezocine offers a significant antihyperalgesic and analgesic effect in patients undergoing elective open gastrectomy for up to 48 hours postoperatively.
Oncogenic Transformation Can Orchestrate Immune Evasion and Inflammation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Independently of Extrinsic Immune-Selective Pressure
Authors: Miranda Alex , Funes Juan M. , Sánchez Nilda , Limia Celia M. , Mesa Mónica , Quezada Sergio A. , Pérez Rolando , de León Joel
Published: June 2015

Immune escape is a hallmark of cancer, but whether it relies upon extrinsic immune-selective pressure or is inherently orchestrated by oncogenic pathways is unresolved. To address this question, we took advantage of an in vitro model of sequentially transformed human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Neoplastic transformation in this model increased the natural immune-evasive properties of hMSC, both by reducing their immunogenicity and by increasing their capacity to inhibit mitogen-driven T-cell proliferation. We also found that IFNγ signaling was globally affected in transformed hMSC. As a consequence, the natural inhibitory effect of hMSC on T-cell proliferation switched from an inducible mechanism depending on IFNγ signaling and mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase to a constitutive mechanism that relied upon IL1β involving both secreted and membrane-expressed molecules. After transformation, increased IL1β expression both sustained the immunosuppressive properties of hMSC and increased their tumorigenicity. Thus, in this model system, IL1β acted as intrinsic inflammatory mediator that exerted an autocrine influence on tumor growth by coordinately linking immune escape and tumorigenicity. Collectively, our findings show how oncogenes directly orchestrate inflammation and immune escape to drive the multistep process of cancer progression, independently of any need for immunoediting in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Res; 75(15); 3032–42. ©2015 AACR.
Network-Based Approaches to Understand the Roles of miR-200 and Other microRNAs in Cancer
Authors: Bracken Cameron P. , Khew-Goodall Yeesim , Goodall Gregory J.
Published: June 2015

microRNAs (miRNA) are well suited to the task of regulating gene expression networks, because any given miRNA has the capacity to target dozens, if not hundreds, of genes. The simultaneous targeting of multiple genes within a pathway may enable miRNAs to more strongly regulate the pathway, or to achieve more subtle control through the targeting of distinct subnetworks of genes. Therefore, as our capacity to discover miRNA targets en masse increases, so must our consideration of the complex networks in which these genes participate. We highlight recent studies in which the comprehensive identification of targets has been used to elucidate miRNA-regulated gene networks in cancer, focusing especially upon miRNAs such as members of the miR-200 family that regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a reversible phenotypic switch whereby epithelial cells take on the more invasive properties of their mesenchymal counterparts. These studies have expanded our understanding of the roles of miRNAs in EMT, which were already known to form important regulatory loops with key transcription factors to regulate the epithelial or mesenchymal properties of cells. Cancer Res; 75(13); 2594–9. ©2015 AACR.
A Systematic Approach to Defining the microRNA Landscape in Metastasis
Authors: Mudduluru Giridhar , Abba Mohammed , Batliner Jasmin , Patil Nitin , Scharp Maike , Lunavat Taral R. , Leupold Jörg Hendrik , Oleksiuk Olga , Juraeva Dilafruz , Thiele Wilko , Rothley Melanie , Benner Axel , Ben-Neriah Yinon , Sleeman Jonathan , Allgayer Heike
Published: June 2015

The microRNA (miRNA) landscape changes during the progression of cancer. We defined a metastasis-associated miRNA landscape using a systematic approach. We profiled and validated miRNA and mRNA expression in a unique series of human colorectal metastasis tissues together with their matched primary tumors and corresponding normal tissues. We identified an exclusive miRNA signature that is differentially expressed in metastases. Three of these miRNAs were identified as key drivers of an EMT-regulating network acting though a number of novel targets. These targets include SIAH1, SETD2, ZEB2, and especially FOXN3, which we demonstrated for the first time as a direct transcriptional suppressor of N-cadherin. The modulation of N-cadherin expression had significant impact on migration, invasion, and metastasis in two different in vivo models. The significant deregulation of the miRNAs defining the network was confirmed in an independent patient set as well as in a database of diverse malignancies derived from more than 6,000 patients. Our data define a novel metastasis-orchestrating network based on systematic hypothesis generation from metastasis tissues. Cancer Res; 75(15); 3010–9. ©2015 AACR.