bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Appropriateness of the metabolic equivalent (MET) as an estimate of exercise intensity for post-myocardial infarction patients
Authors: Woolf-May Kate , Meadows Steve
Published: January 2017

Aims

To explore: (1) whether during exercise metabolic equivalents (METs) appropriately indicate the intensity and/or metabolic cost for post-myocardial infarction (MI) males and (2) whether post-exercise VO2parameters provide insight into the intensity and/or metabolic cost of the prior exercise.

Methods

15 male phase-IV post-MIs (64.4±6.5 years) and 16 apparently healthy males (63.0±6.4 years) participated. Participants performed a graded cycle ergometer test (CET) of 50, 75 and 100 W, followed by 10 min active recovery (at 50 W) and 22 min seated recovery. Participants’ heart rate (HR, bpm), expired air parameters and ratings of perceived exertion (exercise only) were measured.

Results

General linear model analysis showed throughout significantly lower HR values in post-MI participants that were related to β-blocker medication (F(2,5)=18.47, p<0.01), with significantly higher VCO2/VO2(F(2,5)=11.25, p<0.001) and gross kcals/LO2/min (F(2,5)=11.25, p<0.001). Analysis comparing lines of regression showed, during the CET: post-MI participants worked at higher percentage of their anaerobic threshold (%AT)/MET than controls (F(2,90)=18.98, p<0.001), as well as during active recovery (100–50 W) (F(2,56)=20.81, p<0.001); during seated recovery: GLM analysis showed significantly higher values of VCO2/VO2for post-MI participants compared with controls (F(2,3)=21.48, p=0.001) as well as gross kcals/LO2/min (F(2,3)=21.48, p=0.001).

Conclusion

Since METs take no consideration of any anaerobic component, they failed to reflect the significantly greater anaerobic contribution during exercise per MET for phase-IV post-MI patients. Given the anaerobic component will be greater for those with more severe forms of cardiac disease, current METs should be used with caution when determining exercise intensity in any patient with cardiac disease.
Psychological contracts: the unwritten promises of veterinary employment
Authors: Hill Joe , Moffett Jenny
Published: January 2017

There are many factors involved in increasing staff retention. In this article, Joe Hill and Jenny Moffett discuss a commonly overlooked component – the psychological contract – and explore what veterinary practices can do to strengthen the employer‐employee relationship.
Diagnoses of sexual abuse and their common registered comorbidities in the total population of Stockholm
Authors: Rajan Gita , Ljunggren Gunnar , Wändell Per , Wahlström Lars , Svedin Carl-Göran , Carlsson Axel C
Published: January 2017

Background

Prior research based on self-reports has proven sexual abuse to be a risk factor for pain and psychiatric disorders. However, less is known about how this is reflected within the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to study the 2-year prevalence of diagnosis of sexual abuse and concomitant conditions.

Methods

Using data from VAL, the study population included all living persons in Stockholm County, Sweden, between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2014 (N=2 549 496). Diagnoses of sexual abuse were identified during 2013–2014, with information on the concomitant conditions somatic pain, depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders and bipolar disorders, stress disorders and alcohol and substance abuse. All diagnoses were prospectively registered. Age and neighbourhood socioeconomic status-adjusted ORs with 95% CIs for individuals with a diagnosis of sexual abuse, using individuals without sexual abuse as referents, were calculated.

Results

Girls at the ages 13–17 years had the highest 2-year prevalence (0.69%) of sexual abuse followed by girls 5–12 years (0.11%), and girls 0–4 years (0.04%). For women 45 years and older the 2-year prevalence rates were substantially lower (0.008–0.004%). The highest 2-year prevalence of sexual abuse in men was seen in boys 5–12 (0.03%) years. The total 2-year prevalence of diagnoses of sexual abuse among the population in the material was 0.04%. The highest ORs of comorbidities for girls (ages 0–17 years) with sexual abuse versus those without sexual abuse were: Stress disorder; 15.7 (13.1 to 18.9), drug abuse; 10.0 (7.7 to 13.0), and alcohol abuse; 9.7(7.8 to 12.0). For boys (ages 0–17 years), the highest ORs of comorbidities were: Stress disorder 12.4 (6.0 to 25.7), anxiety disorders; 5.5 (2.6 to 11.5), and alcohol abuse; 3.9 (1.4 to 11.3). The highest ORs of comorbidities for women (18–) with sexual abuse versus those without sexual abuse were: alcohol abuse; 19.3 (12.6 to 29.6), drug abuse; 16.7 (10.7 to 26.1) and psychotic disorders; 15.3 (8.0 to 29.4). For men (18–) the highest ORs of comorbidities were: alcohol abuse; 25.8 (15.2 to 43.9), anxiety disorders; 14.3 (8.5 to 24.2) stress disorder; 12.9 (7.5 to 22.1) and drug abuse; 12.9 (6.9 to 24.1).

Conclusions

Diagnoses of drug and alcohol abuse, psychotic, bipolar, stress anxiety disorders, depression and somatic pain are more common among individuals with a diagnosis of sexual abuse than among individuals without a diagnosis of sexual abuse.
Autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve healing of coiled experimental saccular aneurysms: an angiographic and histopathological study
Authors: Rouchaud Aymeric , Brinjikji Waleed , Dai Daying , Ding Yong-Hong , Gunderson Tina , Schroeder Dana , Spelle Laurent , Kallmes David F , Kadirvel Ramanathan
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Long-term occlusion of coiled aneurysms frequently fails, probably because of poor intrasaccular healing and inadequate endothelialization across the aneurysm neck. The purpose of this study was to determine if attachment of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to platinum coils would improve the healing response in an elastase-induced aneurysm model in rabbits.

Materials and methods

With approval from the institutional animal care and use committee, aneurysms were created in rabbits and embolized with control platinum coils (Axium; Medtronic) (n=6) or coils seeded ex vivo with autologous adipose-tissue MSCs (n=7). Aneurysmal occlusion after embolization was evaluated at 1 month with angiography. Histological samples were analyzed by gross imaging and graded on the basis of neck and dome healing on H&E staining. Fibrosis was evaluated using a ratio of the total area presenting collagen. Endothelialization of the neck was quantitatively analyzed using CD31 immunohistochemistry. χ2and Student's t-test were used to compare groups.

Results

Healing score (11.5 vs 8.0, p=0.019), fibrosis ratio (10.3 vs 0.13, p=0.006) and endothelialization (902 262 μm2vs 31 810 μm2, p=0.041) were significantly greater in the MSC group. The MSC group showed marked cellular proliferation and thrombus organization, with a continuous membrane bridging the neck of the aneurysm. Angiographic stable or progressive occlusion rate was significantly lower in the MSC group (0.00, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.41) compared with controls (0.67, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.96) (p=0.02).

Conclusions

Autologous MSCs attached to platinum coils significantly improve histological healing, as they result in improved neck endothelialization and collagen matrix formation within the aneurysm sac.
Serum inflammatory biomarkers fail to identify early axial spondyloarthritis: results from the SpondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort
Authors: Turina Maureen C , Yeremenko Nataliya , van Gaalen Floris , van Oosterhout Maikel , Berg Inger J , Ramonda Ramona , Lebre Cristina (M C) , Landewé Robert , Baeten Dominique
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Decreasing the diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains a major challenge. Here, we assessed the value of serum inflammatory biomarkers to distinguish early axSpA from other pathologies in a large cohort of patients referred with early back pain.

Methods

Serum c reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and calprotectin were determined in the SPondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort (n=310), an early back pain inception cohort. Additionally, explorative serum biomarkers derived from the literature (interleukin-27 (IL-27), human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and lipcolin-2 (LCN-2)) were determined by ELISA in full-blown patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (n=21) and healthy controls (n=20).

Results

Serum CRP and ESR levels were not elevated in early axSpA versus ‘control’ back pain patients. Serum calprotectin was elevated in early axSpA versus controls (p=0.01) but failed to identify early axSpA at the individual level (positive predictive value of 38.7%). As to explorative biomarkers, serum levels of IL-27 were not detectable, and hBD-2 and LCN-2 serum levels were not elevated in full-blown AS versus healthy controls (p=0.572, p=0.562, respectively). Therefore, these markers were not further determined in the SPACE cohort.

Conclusions

None of the candidate serum inflammatory markers were useful as diagnostic markers in the early phase of axSpA.
Risk factors for road traffic accidents in cats up to age 12 months that were registered between 2010 and 2013 with the UK pet cat cohort (‘Bristol Cats’)
Authors: Wilson J. L. , Gruffydd‐Jones T. J. , Murray J. K.
Published: January 2017

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a common cause of death and injury in domestic cats, and a concern to many owners. This study assessed potential risk factors for RTAs in cats up to 12 months of age within a UK cat cohort known as ‘The Bristol Cats study’. Data were obtained from three questionnaires, completed by cat owners when their cats were approximately 8–16 weeks old, 6 months old and 12 months old. Information was gathered regarding environmental conditions, cat characteristics and owner management factors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between these factors and RTAs. Of 1264 eligible study cats, 49 (3.9 per cent) had been involved in an RTA, of which 71.4 per cent (35/49) were known to result in fatal injuries. Rural locations were associated with a higher odds of RTAs than towns, cities or suburban locations. An increased odds of an RTA was also associated with cats that were reported by their owners to hunt at the roadside, as well as cats whose owners classified the road by their house as being a ‘long straight section of road’. No significant associations were found between coat colour, breed, sex or neuter status and the odds of an RTA.
Third‐year student diary
Authors: Perrett Rosie
Published: January 2017

Rosie Perrett enjoyed Christmas, especially her Secret Santa gift, which was inspired by her enjoyment of Planet Earth II. When she returns to Liverpool vet school, she will be getting to grips with pathology.
Influence of Rhizoglomus irregulare on nutraceutical quality and regeneration of Lycium barbarum leaves under salt stress
Authors: Liu Hongguang , Wang Yajun , Chen Hui , Tang Ming
Published: January 2017

Whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi augment the nutraceutical quality of crops under salt stress is critical as a potential agronomic practice in salinized farmland. To evaluate the effect of Rhizoglomus irregulare on the nutraceutical quality of Lycium barbarum leaves under salt stress, we analyzed growth parameters and the rutin, polysaccharide, acidic polysaccharide, and amino acids contents of 2 harvests. Inoculation of R. irregulare significantly increased the regenerated bud number (partial eta squared (PES) = 0.577, P < 0.0001) and rutin concentration (PES = 0.544, P < 0.001) of L. barbarum leaves, with and without salt stress. The biomass of the 2nd harvest (PES = 0.355, P = 0.0091) and acidic polysaccharide (PES = 0.518, P = 0.001) of L. barbarum leaves were notably enhanced by R. irregulare under 200 mmol/L salt level. Rhizoglomus irregulare had insignificant effect on polysaccharide (PES = 0.092, P = 0.221) and amino acids levels (PES = 0.263, P = 0.130) in the leaves of L. barbarum. However, inoculation by R. irregulare decreased proline level (PES = 0.761, P = 0.001) in the leaves of L. barbarum when subjected to salt stress. Taken together, these results indicate that R. irregulare significantly improved the nutraceutical quality and facilitated the sustainable production of L. barbarum leaves exposed to salt stress.
Modeling of anomalousWtbinteractions in single top quark events using subsidiary fields
Authors: Boos E. , Bunichev V. , Dudko L. , Perfilov M.
Published: January 2017

A method to simulate anomalous fermion–boson interactions in Wtb vertex is presented with a minimal set of simulated samples of single top quark events at the LHC energies. In the proposed method, additional subsidiary vector fields corresponding to the Standard Model gauge fields are implemented for each type of the anomalous vertex structure. The method allows to simulate a manifestation of anomalous gauge couplings in two approaches used in experimental analyses either keeping only the linear order contributions in the anomalous couplings or keeping all contributions in numerators and denominators as appeared in matrix elements. For the processes with several anomalous couplings contributing simultaneously to the production and to the decay as well as to various interference terms the method allows to model correctly the dependence of kinematic distributions on anomalous couplings. The method shows how to generate a minimum set of event samples needed for a concrete analysis. All the single top quark production mechanisms, t-, s- and associative tW-channels, are considered. The correctness of the proposed method is demonstrated.
Control of an innovative super-capacitor-powered shape-memory-alloy actuated accumulator for blowout preventer
Authors: Chen Jian , Li Peng , Song Gangbing , Ren Zhang
Published: January 2017

The design of a super-capacitor-powered shape-memory-alloy (SMA) actuated accumulator for blowout preventer (BOP) presented in this paper featured several advantages over conventional hydraulic accumulators including instant large current drive, quick system response and elimination of need for the pressure conduits. However, the mechanical design introduced two challenges, the nonlinear nature of SMA actuators and the varying voltage provided by a super capacitor, for control system design. A cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) feedforward plus PID controller was developed with the aim of compensation for these adverse effects. Experiments were conducted on a scaled down model and experimental results show that precision control can be achieved with the proposed configurations and algorithms.
On urban road traffic state evaluation index system and method
Authors: Su Fei , Dong Honghui , Jia Limin , Sun Xuan
Published: January 2017

Traffic state evaluation is a basic and critical work in the research on road traffic congestion. It can provide basic data support for the improvement measures and information release in traffic management and service. The aim of this research is to obtain a comprehensive value to describe traffic state accurately based on the evaluation index system. In this paper, it is carried out using fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm and fuzzy entropy weight method. In the framework, traffic flow was classified into six different states to determine the fuzzy range of indices using the improved FCM clustering analysis. Besides, fuzzy entropy weight method is proposed to compute the evaluation result of traffic state for section, road and road network, respectively. The experiments based on the traffic information in a subset of Beijing’s road network prove that the findings of traffic evaluation are in accordance with the actual situation and people’s sense of traffic state.
Novel on-chip spiral inductors with back hollow structure
Authors: Wang Gang , Liu Houfang , Li Xiaoning , Qiu Haochuan , Yang Yi , Ren Tian-Ling
Published: January 2017

In this work, on-chip spiral inductors with back hollow structure have been prepared on the 500 [Formula: see text] thick silicon substrate with high resistivity [Formula: see text]. The silicon underneath the inductor region has been completely etched by deep etching process in order to reduce the substrate eddy current losses. Several types of square spiral on-chip inductors with different metal width (w) and line spacing (s) in the case of [Formula: see text] were fabricated. The experimental results are verified by FEM simulation using HFSS software. The results show that the Q-factor and self-resonance frequency of back hollow structure inductors are both enhanced compared with the conventional inductors. Furthermore, narrower width of coils for the on-chip spiral inductors with back hollow structure can result in higher Q-factor, inductance L and self-resonance frequency, which provide some important design guides for the fabrication of the high performance on-chip inductors.
Genesis of general relativity — A concise exposition
Authors: Ni Wei-Tou
Published: January 2017

This short exposition starts with a brief discussion of situation before the completion of special relativity (Le Verrier’s discovery of the Mercury perihelion advance anomaly, Michelson–Morley experiment, Eötvös experiment, Newcomb’s improved observation of Mercury perihelion advance, the proposals of various new gravity theories and the development of tensor analysis and differential geometry) and accounts for the main conceptual developments leading to the completion of the general relativity (CGR): gravity has finite velocity of propagation; energy also gravitates; Einstein proposed his equivalence principle and deduced the gravitational redshift; Minkowski formulated the special relativity in four-dimentional spacetime and derived the four-dimensional electromagnetic stress–energy tensor; Einstein derived the gravitational deflection from his equivalence principle; Laue extended Minkowski’s method of constructing electromagnetic stress-energy tensor to stressed bodies, dust and relativistic fluids; Abraham, Einstein, and Nordström proposed their versions of scalar theories of gravity in 1911–13; Einstein and Grossmann first used metric as the basic gravitational entity and proposed a “tensor” theory of gravity (the “Entwurf” theory, 1913); Einstein proposed a theory of gravity with Ricci tensor proportional to stress–energy tensor (1915); Einstein, based on 1913 Besso–Einstein collaboration, correctly derived the relativistic perihelion advance formula of his new theory which agreed with observation (1915); Hilbert discovered the Lagrangian for electromagnetic stress–energy tensor and the Lagrangian for the gravitational field (1915), and stated the Hilbert variational principle; Einstein equation of GR was proposed (1915); Einstein published his foundation paper (1916). Subsequent developments and applications in the next two years included Schwarzschild solution (1916), gravitational waves and the quadrupole formula of gravitational radiation (1916, 1918), cosmology and the proposal of cosmological constant (1917), de Sitter solution (1917), Lense–Thirring effect (1918).
Adaptively Controlled Dynamical Behavior of Sensory Systems Based on Mechanoreceptors
Authors: Siedler Konrad , Behn Carsten
Published: January 2017

This paper presents results on adaptive control strategies for a sensory system to identify (unknown) ground excitations which force the sensor and its seismic masses, so that acting forces can be measured and identified. The sensor system is modeled as a spring-mass-damper system within a rigid frame with two degrees-of-freedom. The seismic masses are under the load of internal control forces, which shall ensure stabilization of the mass point rest positions despite the continuing ground excitations. Using these (measured) resulting regulating forces, we are able to identify the excitation force. The control strategies are designed referring to the natural behavior of mechanoreceptors from biology. These are able to adapt their sensitivity to the environment, so that they filter the important information out of the flood of information. Mimicking this behavior, adaptive control strategies are used with time-varying controller gains. In this way, we are able to design controllers which are still sensitive while a constant stimuli affects. So new incoming information can be identified with a high quality. Further on, the sensor has to be universal and shall consume less energy as possible. Therefore, control strategies from literature are analyzed and modified, so that the most effective ones are used for the sensor system in this paper. Finally, the best working control strategies are tested for both their long-term behavior to an excitation which simulates different situations and for their response to different system parameters, chosen randomly.
Solution of Initial and Boundary Value Problems by an Effective Accurate Method
Authors: Turkyilmazoglu Mustafa
Published: January 2017

The newly proposed analytic approximate solution method in the recent publications [Turkyilmazoglu, M. [2013] “Effective computation of exact and analytic approximate solutions to singular nonlinear equations of Lane-Emden-Fowler type,” Appl. Math. Mod. 37, 7539–7548; Turkyilmazoglu, M. [2014] “An effective approach for numerical solutions of high-order Fredholm integro-differential equations,” Appl. Math. Comput. 227, 384–398; Turkyilmazoglu, M. [2015] “Parabolic partial differential equations with nonlocal initial and boundary values,” Int. J. Comput. Methods, doi: 10.1142/S0219876215500243] is extended in this paper to solve initial and boundary value problems governed by any order linear differential equations whose exact solutions are hard to obtain. Exact solutions are found from the method when the solutions are themselves polynomials. Better accuracies are achieved within the method by increasing the number of polynomials. Comparisons with some available methods show the ability of the proposed technique, even performing much better than the traditional Taylor series expansion.
Simulating the Linearly Elastic Solid–Solid Interaction with a Cut Cell Method
Authors: Tao Liang , Deng Xiao-Long
Published: January 2017

In this work, a cut cell-based sharp interface method is developed to deal with the interaction between linearly elastic solids in Eulerian framework. The material interface is represented by cut faces, and evolved by level set equation. Finite volume scheme is applied and strong coupling is achieved by using the Riemann solver for linearly elastic solid–solid interaction on the material interface. Original Ghost Solid Method (OGSM) and Modified Ghost Solid Method (MGSM) are realized in the Eulerian framework for comparison. Simulation results show that OGSM can lead to severe nonphysical oscillations when the density ratio is high, which is same as the results in KK. The location of wave front calculated by Ghost Solid Methods (GSMs) deviates from the exact location, because the evaluation of the ghost points deviates from the real interface location. The developed cut cell-based method gives accurate wave front location, and is stable for high density and acoustic impedance ratio and high-order reconstruction.
DETERMINANTS OF PROFICIENCY IN UNDERLYING PROCESSES OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
Authors: BELLEGARD NEY LUIZ , PRATES RODOLFO COELHO
Published: January 2017

Most empirical studies on the identification of determinants of innovation deal with innovation without descending to the level of its underlying processes. The objective of this study is twofold: to identify determinants of proficiencies in these processes, and to measure the impact of the main determinants on the proficiencies. The data used originated mainly from three surveys conducted in the Brazilian state of Paraná. We built ordered probit econometric models for the proficiencies, with explanatory variables related to contextual and internal factors of the firms. The main determinants identified were the organisational structure and assignment of responsibility for innovation, the technological standing of the firm, and the number of certifications (quality, environmental, and others) held. We found a negative association, much to our surprise, between the use of government incentives and the proficiencies in intellectual property management and in technology monitoring and forecasting.
Modeling of Cementitious Representative Volume Element with Additives
Authors: Shahzamanian M. M. , Basirun W. J.
Published: January 2017

CEMHYD3D has been employed to simulate the representative volume element (RVE) of cementitious systems (Type I cement) containing fly ash (Class F) through a voxel-based finite element analysis (FEA) approach. Three-dimensional microstructures composed of voxels are generated for a heterogeneous cementitious material consisting of various constituent phases. The primary focus is to simulate a cementitious RVE containing fly ash and to present the homogenized macromechanical properties obtained from its analysis. Simple kinematic uniform boundary conditions as well as periodic boundary conditions were imposed on the RVE to obtain the principal and shear moduli. Our current work considers the effect of fly ash percentage on the elastic properties based on the mass and volume replacements. RVEs with lengths of 50, 100 and 200[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at different degrees of hydration are generated, and the elastic properties are modeled and simulated. In general, the elastic properties of a cementitious RVE with fly ash replacement for cement based on mass and volume differ from each other. Moreover, the finite element (FE) mesh density effect is studied. Results indicate that mechanical properties decrease with increasing mesh density.
Hepatocyte-specific PPARA expression exclusively promotes agonist-induced cell proliferation without influence from nonparenchymal cells
Authors: Brocker Chad N. , Yue Jiang , Kim Donghwan , Qu Aijuan , Bonzo Jessica A. , Gonzalez Frank J.
Published: January 2017

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARA) is a nuclear transcription factor and key mediator of systemic lipid metabolism. Prolonged activation in rodents causes hepatocyte proliferation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Little is known about the contribution of nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) to PPARA-mediated cell proliferation. NPC contribution to PPARA agonist-induced hepatomegaly was assessed in hepatocyte ( Ppara△Hep)- and macrophage ( Ppara△Mac)-specific Ppara null mice. Mice were treated with the agonist Wy-14643 for 14 days, and response of conditional null mice was compared with conventional knockout mice ( Ppara−/−). Wy-14643 treatment caused weight loss and severe hepatomegaly in wild-type and Ppara△Mac mice, and histological analysis revealed characteristic hepatocyte swelling; Ppara△Hep and Ppara−/− mice were protected from these effects. Ppara△Mac serum chemistries, as well as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, matched wild-type mice. Agonist-treated Ppara△Hep mice had elevated serum cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides when compared with Ppara−/− mice, indicating a possible role for extrahepatic PPARA in regulating circulating lipid levels. BrdU labeling confirmed increased cell proliferation only in wild-type and Ppara△Mac mice. Macrophage PPARA disruption did not impact agonist-induced upregulation of lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, or DNA damage and repair-related gene expression, whereas gene expression was repressed in Ppara△Hep mice. Interestingly, downregulation of inflammatory cytokines IL-15 and IL-18 was dependent on macrophage PPARA. Cell type-specific regulation of target genes was confirmed in primary hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. These studies conclusively show that cell proliferation is mediated exclusively by PPARA activation in hepatocytes and that Kupffer cell PPARA has an important role in mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARA agonists.
Determination of renal function and injury using near-infrared fluorimetry in experimental cardiorenal syndrome
Authors: Ikeda Mizuko , Wakasaki Rumie , Schenning Katie J. , Swide Thomas , Lee Jeong Heon , Miller M. Bernie , Choi Hak Soo , Anderson Sharon , Hutchens Michael P.
Published: January 2017

Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 causes acute kidney injury but is poorly understood; animal models and diagnostic aids are lacking. Robust noninvasive measurements of glomerular filtration rate are required for injury models and clinical use. Several have been described but are untested in translational models and suffer from biologic interference. We developed a mouse model of cardiorenal syndrome and tested the novel near-infrared fluorophore ZW800-1 to assess renal and cardiac function. We performed murine cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation followed by transthoracic echocardiography, 2 and 24 h later. Transcutaneous fluorescence of ZW800-1 bolus dispersion and clearance was assessed with whole animal imaging and compared with glomerular filtration rate (GFR; inulin clearance), tubular cell death (using unbiased stereology), and serum creatinine. Correlation, Bland-Altman, and polar analyses were used to compare GFR with ZW800-1 clearance. Cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation caused reversible cardiac failure, halving fractional shortening of the left ventricle ( n = 12, P = 0.03). Acute kidney injury resulted with near-zero GFR and sixfold increase in serum creatinine 24 h later ( n = 16, P < 0.01). ZW800-1 biodistribution and clearance were exclusively renal. ZW800-1 t1/2and clearance correlated with GFR ( r = 0.92, n = 31, P < 0.0001). ZW800-1 fluorescence was reduced in cardiac arrest, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation-treated mice compared with sham animals 810 s after injection ( P < 0.01) and bolus time-dispersion curves demonstrated that ZW800-1 fluorescence dispersion correlated with left ventricular function ( r = 0.74, P < 0.01). Cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation lead to experimental cardiorenal syndrome type 1. ZW800-1, a small near-infrared fluorophore being developed for clinical intraoperative imaging, is favorable for evaluating cardiac and renal function noninvasively.
Muscle spindles in human tibialis anterior encode muscle fascicle length changes
Authors: Day James , Bent Leah R. , Birznieks Ingvars , Macefield Vaughan G. , Cresswell Andrew G.
Published: January 2017

Muscle spindles provide exquisitely sensitive proprioceptive information regarding joint position and movement. Through passively driven length changes in the muscle-tendon unit (MTU), muscle spindles detect joint rotations because of their in-parallel mechanical linkage to muscle fascicles. In human microneurography studies, muscle fascicles are assumed to follow the MTU and, as such, fascicle length is not measured in such studies. However, under certain mechanical conditions, compliant structures can act to decouple the fascicles, and, therefore, the spindles, from the MTU. Such decoupling may reduce the fidelity by which muscle spindles encode joint position and movement. The aim of the present study was to measure, for the first time, both the changes in firing of single muscle spindle afferents and changes in muscle fascicle length in vivo from the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) during passive rotations about the ankle. Unitary recordings were made from 15 muscle spindle afferents supplying TA via a microelectrode inserted into the common peroneal nerve. Ultrasonography was used to measure the length of an individual fascicle of TA. We saw a strong correlation between fascicle length and firing rate during passive ankle rotations of varying rates (0.1–0.5 Hz) and amplitudes (1–9°). In particular, we saw responses observed at relatively small changes in muscle length that highlight the sensitivity of the TA muscle to small length changes. This study is the first to measure spindle firing and fascicle dynamics in vivo and provides an experimental basis for further understanding the link between fascicle length, MTU length, and spindle firing patterns.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Muscle spindles are exquisitely sensitive to changes in muscle length, but recordings from human muscle spindle afferents are usually correlated with joint angle rather than muscle fascicle length. In this study, we monitored both muscle fascicle length and spindle firing from the human tibialis anterior muscle in vivo. Our findings are the first to measure these signals in vivo and provide an experimental basis for exploring this link further.
Characterizing differential poststroke corticomotor drive to the dorsi- and plantarflexor muscles during resting and volitional muscle activation
Authors: Palmer Jacqueline A. , Zarzycki Ryan , Morton Susanne M. , Kesar Trisha M. , Binder-Macleod Stuart A.
Published: January 2017

Imbalance of corticomotor excitability between the paretic and nonparetic limbs has been associated with the extent of upper extremity motor recovery poststroke, is greatly influenced by specific testing conditions such as the presence or absence of volitional muscle activation, and may vary across muscle groups. However, despite its clinical importance, poststroke corticomotor drive to lower extremity muscles has not been thoroughly investigated. Additionally, whereas conventional gait rehabilitation strategies for stroke survivors focus on paretic limb foot drop and dorsiflexion impairments, most contemporary literature has indicated that paretic limb propulsion and plantarflexion impairments are the most significant limiters to poststroke walking function. The purpose of this study was to compare corticomotor excitability of the dorsi- and plantarflexor muscles during resting and active conditions in individuals with good and poor poststroke walking recovery and in neurologically intact controls. We found that plantarflexor muscles showed reduced corticomotor symmetry between paretic and nonparetic limbs compared with dorsiflexor muscles in individuals with poor poststroke walking recovery during active muscle contraction but not during rest. Reduced plantarflexor corticomotor symmetry during active muscle contraction was a result of reduced corticomotor drive to the paretic muscles and enhanced corticomotor drive to the nonparetic muscles compared with the neurologically intact controls. These results demonstrate that atypical corticomotor drive exists in both the paretic and nonparetic lower limbs and implicate greater severity of corticomotor impairments to plantarflexor vs. dorsiflexor muscles during muscle activation in stroke survivors with poor walking recovery.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study observed that lower-limb corticomotor asymmetry resulted from both reduced paretic and enhanced nonparetic limb corticomotor excitability compared with neurologically intact controls. The most asymmetrical corticomotor drive was observed in the plantarflexor muscles of individuals with poor poststroke walking recovery. This suggests that neural function of dorsi- and plantarflexor muscles in both paretic and nonparetic limbs may play a role in poststroke walking function, which may have important implications when developing targeted poststroke rehabilitation programs to improve walking ability.
Transform Methods for the Reduction of the Peak to Average Power Ratio for the OFDM Signal
Authors: Kumar Rajendra , Santitewagul Vuttipol
Published: January 2017

The paper presents multitransform OFDM-OP system for an effective PAPR (peak to average power ratio) reduction that has a reasonable computational requirement, does not introduce any distortion, needs relatively insignificant decrease in the bandwidth efficiency, and provides a PAPR very close to that for the single carrier modulation systems thus effectively eliminating any PAPR penalty incurred by the multicarrier OFDM system. The PAPR system consists of a bank of multiple orthonormal transforms and a minimum PAPR evaluation unit for finding the optimum transform index. The paper also presents a hybrid OFDM-OP-DSI system comprised of the multiple transforms and a novel dummy symbol insertion. The PAPR reduction performance of the presented systems is compared with those of the various other transform techniques of the literature. Various simulations on the presented systems show that these can achieve a PAPR that is very close to that of a single carrier system for QAM modulation with the order of modulation selected to be 16, 64, and 256.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Stress Effects of Oryzanol in Glaucomatous Rabbits
Authors: Panchal Shital S. , Patidar Rajesh K. , Jha Abhishek B. , Allam Ahmed A. , Ajarem Jamaan , Butani Shital B.
Published: January 2017

Purpose.γ-Oryzanol works by anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging activity as a neuroprotective, anticancer, antiulcer, and immunosuppressive agent. The present study was conducted to investigate effect of oryzanol in acute and chronic experimental glaucoma in rabbits.Methods. Effect of oryzanol was evaluated in 5% dextrose induced acute model of ocular hypertension in rabbit eye. Chronic model of glaucoma was induced with subconjunctival injection of 5% of 0.3 ml phenol. Treatment with oryzanol was given for next two weeks after induction of glaucoma. From anterior chamber of rabbit eye aqueous humor was collected to assess various oxidative stress parameters like malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, nitric oxide, and inflammatory parameters like TNF-αand IL-6. Structural damage in eye was examined by histopathological studies.Results. In acute model of ocular hypertension oryzanol did not alter raised intraocular pressure. In chronic model of glaucoma oryzanol exhibited significant reduction in oxidative stress followed by reduction in intraocular pressure. Oryzanol treatment reduced level of TNF-αand IL-6. Histopathological studies revealed decreased structural damage of trabecular meshwork, lamina cribrosa, and retina with oryzanol treatment.Conclusions. Oryzanol showed protective effect against glaucoma by its antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory property. Treatment with oryzanol can reduce optic nerve damage.
Origin of Ferromagnetism in Ru and N Codoped TiO2 Nanotubes: Experiments and Theory Investigations
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhou Zhongpo , Wang Haiying
Published: January 2017

The room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) of the undoped, N doped, Ru doped ,and Ru-N codoped anatase TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) films are investigated combined with experiments and first principles approaches. The experiments are highly consistent with the theory calculations. All samples display anatase structures and ferromagnetism at room temperature. The values of the saturation magnetization (Ms) of undoped TiO2, N doped TiO2, Ru doped TiO2, and Ru-N codoped TiO2, respectively, are 0.065 emu/g, 0.015 emu/g, 0.155 emu/g, and 0.073 emu/g. The calculated net moment is in the order of Ru doped > Ru-N codoped > undoped > N doped. The oxygen vacancies play an important role in RTFM of TNTs. Moreover, the hybridization of Ru 4d, N 2p, and O 2p led to the spin-spilt of Ru 4d, N 2p, and O 2p which is devoted to the system magnetism.
Enhancement of Anti-Inflammatory and Osteogenic Abilities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Cell-to-Cell Adhesion to Periodontal Ligament-Derived Fibroblasts
Authors: Suzuki Keita , Chosa Naoyuki , Sawada Shunsuke , Takizawa Naoki , Yaegashi Takashi , Ishisaki Akira
Published: January 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are involved in anti-inflammatory events and tissue repair; these functions are activated by their migration or homing to inflammatory tissues in response to various chemokines. However, the mechanism by which MSCs interact with other cell types in inflammatory tissue remains unclear. We investigated the role of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDL-Fs) in regulating the anti-inflammatory and osteogenic abilities of bone marrow-derived- (BM-) MSCs. The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein- (MCP-)1 was significantly enhanced by stimulation of PDL-Fs with inflammatory cytokines. MCP-1 induced the migratory ability of BM-MSCs but not PDL-Fs. Expression levels of anti-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines were increased and decreased, respectively, by direct-contact coculture between MSCs and PDL-Fs. In addition, the direct-contact coculture enhanced the expression of MSC markers that play important roles in the self-renewal and maintenance of multipotency of MSCs, which in turn induced the osteogenic ability of the cells. These results suggest that MCP-1 induces the migration and homing of BM-MSCs into the PDL inflammatory tissue. The subsequent adherence of MSCs to PDL-Fs plays an immunomodulatory role to terminate inflammation during wound healing and upregulates the expression stem cell markers to enhance the stemness of MSCs, thereby facilitating bone formation in damaged PDL tissue.
Research on Geological Survey Data Management and Automatic Mapping Technology
Authors: Huang Dong , Chen Y. L. , Qiao Jianping
Published: January 2017

The data management of a large geological survey is not an easy task. To efficiently store and manage the huge datasets, a database of geological information on the basis of Microsoft Access has been created. By using the database of geological information, we can make easily and scientifically store and manage the large geological information. The geological maps—borehole diagrams, the rose diagrams for the joint trends, and joint isointensity diagrams—are traditionally drawn by hand, which is not efficient way; next, it is not easily possible to modify. Therefore, to solve those problems, the automatic mapping method and associated interfaces have been developed by using VS2010 and geological information database; these developments are presented in this article. This article describes the theoretical basis of the new method in detail and provides a case study of practical engineering to demonstrate its application.
Improvement of the Antioxidant Properties and Postharvest Life of Three Exotic Andean Fruits by UV-C Treatment
Authors: Andrade-Cuvi María J. , Moreno Carlota , Zaro María J. , Vicente Ariel R. , Concellón Analía
Published: January 2017

Three Andean fruits naranjilla (Solanum quitoenseLam.), uvilla (Physalis peruvianaL.), and mortiño (Vaccinium floribundumKunth) were subjected to prestorage UV-C treatments (0, 8, or 12.5 kJ m−2) and evaluated weekly to select the most suitable dose for fruit quality maintenance during storage (21 days at 6°C). The highest dose retains quality through lower deterioration index for all three fruits and was selected to further analyze the effects on physicochemical and antioxidant properties during storage. UV-C exposure delayed softening in naranjilla and increased soluble solid content in uvilla. UV-C also improved the maintenance of antioxidant capacity (AC) in mortiño and uvilla. Overall, results indicate that short prestorage UV-C exposure may be an effective nonchemical approach to supplement low temperature storage, maintain quality, and extend the postharvest life of Andean naranjilla, uvilla, and mortiño fruit.
Performance of p-Norm Detector in Cognitive Radio Networks with Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Presence of Malicious Users
Authors: Lavanis Nandita , Jalihal Devendra
Published: January 2017

A cognitive radio network (CRN) with a cooperative spectrum sensing scheme is considered. This CRN has a primary user and multiple secondary users, some of which are malicious secondary users (MSUs). Energy detection at each SU is performed using a p-norm detector with p≥2, where p=2 corresponds to the standard energy detector. The MSUs are capable of perpetrating spectrum sensing data falsification (SSDF) attacks. At the fusion center (FC), an algorithm is used to suppress these MSUs which could be either an adaptive weighing algorithm or one of the following: Tietjen-Moore (TM) test or Peirce’s criterion. This is followed by computation of a test statistic (TS) which is a random variable. In this paper, we assume TS to have either a Gamma or a Gaussian distribution and calculate the threshold accordingly. We provide closed-form expressions of probability of false alarm and probability of miss-detection under both assumptions. We show that Gaussian assumption of TS is more suited in presence of an SSDF attack when compared with the Gamma assumption. We also compare the detection performance for various values of p and show that p=3 along with the Gaussian assumption is the best amongst all the cases considered.
Glucose Metabolic Changes in the Brain and Muscles of Patients with Nonspecific Neck Pain Treated by Spinal Manipulation Therapy: A [18F]FDG PET Study
Authors: Inami Akie , Ogura Takeshi , Watanuki Shoichi , Masud Md. Mehedi , Shibuya Katsuhiko , Miyake Masayasu , Matsuda Rin , Hiraoka Kotaro , Itoh Masatoshi , Fuhr Arlan W. , Yanai Kazuhiko , Tashiro Manabu
Published: January 2017

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in brain and muscle glucose metabolism that are not yet known, using positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG PET). Methods. Twenty‐one male volunteers were recruited for the present study. [18F]FDG PET scanning was performed twice on each subject: once after the spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) intervention (treatment condition) and once after resting (control condition). We performed the SMT intervention using an adjustment device. Glucose metabolism of the brain and skeletal muscles was measured and compared between the two conditions. In addition, we measured salivary amylase level as an index of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, as well as muscle tension and subjective pain intensity in each subject. Results. Changes in brain activity after SMT included activation of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, cerebellar vermis, and somatosensory association cortex and deactivation of the prefrontal cortex and temporal sites. Glucose uptake in skeletal muscles showed a trend toward decreased metabolism after SMT, although the difference was not significant. Other measurements indicated relaxation of cervical muscle tension, decrease in salivary amylase level (suppression of sympathetic nerve activity), and pain relief after SMT. Conclusion. Brain processing after SMT may lead to physiological relaxation via a decrease in sympathetic nerve activity.
Phylogenetic Tree Analysis of the Cold‐Hot Nature of Traditional Chinese Marine Medicine for Possible Anticancer Activity
Authors: Fu Xianjun , Song Xuxia , Li Xuebo , Wong Kah Keng , Li Jiaoyang , Zhang Fengcong , Wang Changyun , Wang Zhenguo
Published: January 2017

Traditional Chinese Marine Medicine (TCMM) represents one of the medicinal resources for research and development of novel anticancer drugs. In this study, to investigate the presence of anticancer activity (AA) displayed by cold or hot nature of TCMM, we analyzed the association relationship and the distribution regularity of TCMMs with different nature (613 TCMMs originated from 1,091 species of marine organisms) via association rules mining and phylogenetic tree analysis. The screened association rules were collected from three taxonomy groups: (1) Bacteria superkingdom, Phaeophyceae class, Fucales order, Sargassaceae family, and Sargassum genus; (2) Viridiplantae kingdom, Streptophyta phylum, Malpighiales class, and Rhizophoraceae family; (3) Holothuroidea class, Aspidochirotida order, and Holothuria genus. Our analyses showed that TCMMs with closer taxonomic relationship were more likely to possess anticancer bioactivity. We found that the cluster pattern of marine organisms with reported AA tended to cluster with cold nature TCMMs. Moreover, TCMMs with salty‐cold nature demonstrated properties for softening hard mass and removing stasis to treat cancers, and species within Metazoa or Viridiplantae kingdom of cold nature were more likely to contain AA properties. We propose that TCMMs from these marine groups may enable focused bioprospecting for discovery of novel anticancer drugs derived from marine bioresources.
Multiple Periodic Solutions for a Class of Second‐Order Neutral Impulsive Functional Differential Equations
Authors: Xie Jingli , Luo Zhiguo , Zeng Yuhua
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we study a class of second‐order neutral impulsive functional differential equations. Under certain conditions, we establish the existence of multiple periodic solutions by means of critical point theory and variational methods. We propose an example to illustrate the applicability of our result.