bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADOMIAN DECOMPOSITION METHOD FOR MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW OF BLOOD INDUCED BY PERISTALTIC WAVES
Authors: SHIT G. C. , RANJIT N. K. , SINHA A.
Published: April 2016

The present investigation deals with the application of Adomian decomposition method (ADM) to blood flow through an asymmetric non-uniform channel induced by peristaltic wave in the presence of magnetic field and the velocity slip at the wall. The ADM is applied with an aim to avoid any simplifications and restrictions, which changes non-linearity of the problem as well as to provide analytical solution. The blood flowing through the vessel is assumed to be Newtonian and incompressible with constant viscosity. The analytical expressions for the axial velocity component, streamlines and wall shear stress are presented. The numerical results of these physical quantities are obtained for different values of the Reynolds number, wave number and Hartmann number. The results obtained for different values of the parameters involved in the problem under consideration show that the flow is appreciably influenced by the presence of slip velocity as well as magnetic field. From this study, we conclude that the assumption of long wavelength and low Reynolds number overestimates the flow characteristics even for a small change in the parameters.
Theoretical investigations on charge transfer properties of fluorinated perylene diimides
Authors: Liang Meng , Yin Jun , Chaitanya Kadali , Ju Xue-Hai
Published: April 2016

The charge transport properties of perylene diimide (PDI) and its fluorinated derivatives were explored by density functional theory (DFT) coupled with the incoherent charge-hopping model. The geometric structure, reorganization energy, frontier molecule orbital, electron affinity (EA), ionization potential (IP), transfer integral as well as the anisotropic mobility were discussed. By attaching fluorine atoms to the bay region of PDI, the p-type material converts to the n-type or ambipolar ones (difluorinated-perylene diimide (DF-PDI) and tetraflurinated-perylene diimide (TF-PDI)). The electron mobility of difluorinated-perylene diimide (DF-PDI) (0.33[Formula: see text]cm2 V[Formula: see text] s[Formula: see text] is much larger than its corresponding hole mobility (0.0008[Formula: see text]cm2 V[Formula: see text] s[Formula: see text] due to its lower LUMO energy and more efficient pack-stacking, hence it could be a candidate of n-type organic semiconductor (OSC). The introduction of strong electron-withdrawing substituents (such as fluorine) to the perylene-based OSC materials is a promising strategy for the high-performance n-type OSCs. Besides, the three molecules exhibit remarkable anisotropic behaviors. Both the hole and electron maximal mobilities occur in the parallel [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] stacking dimers.
PASSIVE AND PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY IN DUCKLINGS ELICITED BY A PARVOVIRUS SUBUNIT VACCINE WITH CpG ADJUVANT
Authors: Lee Jai-Wei , Lin Yu-Ming , Liu Chia-Hui , Ke Guan-Ming , Chu Chun-Yen
Published: April 2016

We previously demonstrated that ducks immunized with recombinant VP2 protein (rVP2) of parvovirus in conjunction with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing three copies of GACGTT motifs had significantly ([Formula: see text]) increased antibody titer, splenocyte proliferation index, amount of CD4[Formula: see text] and CD8[Formula: see text] cells, and mRNA expression of cytokines (IFN-[Formula: see text], IFN-[Formula: see text], IL-6, and IL-8) in comparison with those immunized with rVP2 plus aluminum hydroxide. In the present study, ducklings hatched from eggs produced by ducks immunized with rVP2 and various adjuvants were used to analyze the passive immunity of maternal antibodies followed by an experimental challenge with live parvovirus. Results indicated that the titer of VP2-specific antibodies and the body weight of ducklings produced from ducks immunized with rVP2[Formula: see text]CpG ODN were significantly ([Formula: see text]) higher than those of ducklings from other groups at day 7 after the challenge. The autopsy report revealed that ducklings in groups other than rVP2[Formula: see text]CpG ODN and rVP2[Formula: see text]mock had hemorrhage in the liver and intestinal mucous at 11 days after the challenge, and the presence of parvovirus was confirmed by PCR using parvovirus-specific primers. Therefore, immunizing ducks with rVP2[Formula: see text]CpG ODN containing three copies of GACGTT motifs is able to enhance the passive immunity, which protects their ducklings from parvovirus infection.
Amenable groups and smooth topology of 4-manifolds
Authors: Freedman Michael , Guth Larry , Murphy Emmy
Published: April 2016

A smooth five-dimensional [Formula: see text]-cobordism becomes a smooth product if stabilized by a finite number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]’s. We show that for amenable fundamental groups, the minimal [Formula: see text] is subextensive in covers, i.e. [Formula: see text]. We focus on the notion of sweepout width, which is a bridge between [Formula: see text]-dimensional topology and coarse geometry.
Existence of positive solutions for second-order undamped Sturm–Liouville boundary value problems
Authors: Prasad K. R. , Wesen L. T. , Sreedhar N.
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we consider the second-order differential equations of the form [Formula: see text] satisfying the Sturm–Liouville boundary conditions [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text]. By an application of Avery–Henderson fixed point theorem, we establish conditions for the existence of multiple positive solutions to the boundary value problem.
Untold Tales of Goats in Deadly Indian Monsoons: Adapt or Rain-Retreat under Global Warming?
Authors: Seo S. Niggol
Published: April 2016

This paper examines the unique characteristics of the monsoon climate system and whether Indian farmers can adapt to an even deadlier monsoon climate caused by global climatic shifts. This paper shows that the monsoon climate system can be best captured by the Monsoon Variability Index (MVI) constructed by the present author which is defined as the coefficient of variation in the ratio of monsoon rainfall over non-monsoon rainfall for the 40-year period from 1971 to 2010. Monthly precipitation data are based on the observations at 304 weather stations located across India. This paper shows that the traditional measures of the monsoon climate such as monsoon precipitation do not explain the Indian farmers’ behaviors in response to the climate system. Second, this paper shows that the number of goats owned by farm households increases as the MVI increases, that is, as the monsoon climate intensifies. This paper finds that 50% increase in the MVI leads to 23% increase in the number of goats owned by farms. This means that farmers adapt to even the deadliest climate system, i.e., the monsoon system which often leaves millions of people homeless or dead in a single year. Third, this paper finds that the number of sheep owned declines as monsoon rainfall intensifies but increases if the non-monsoon season temperature warms up. The sheep number is not sensitive to changes in the MVI. This paper shows for the first time the ways farmers adapt to the deadly monsoon climate system. Past studies of climate change and agriculture in India are re-evaluated based on the results and policy implications are described.
Evaluation of Labeling Strategies for Rotating Maps
Authors: Gemsa Andreas , Nöllenburg Martin , Rutter Ignaz
Published: April 2016

We consider the following problem of labeling points in a dynamic map that allows rotation. We are given a set of feature points in the plane labeled by a set of mutually disjoint labels, where each label is an axis-aligned rectangle attached with one corner to its respective point. We require that each label remains horizontally aligned during the map rotation, and our goal is to find a set of mutually nonoverlapping
visible
labels for every rotation angle α ∈ [0, 2π) so that the number of visible labels over a full map rotation of 2π is maximized.

We discuss and experimentally evaluate several labeling strategies that define additional consistency constraints on label visibility to reduce flickering effects during monotone map rotation. We introduce three heuristic algorithms and compare them experimentally to an existing approximation algorithm and exact solutions obtained from an integer linear program. Our results show that on the one hand, low flickering can be achieved at the expense of only a small reduction in the objective value, and on the other hand, the proposed heuristics achieve a high labeling quality significantly faster than the other methods.
Examining and Reducing the Influence of Sampling Errors on Feedback-Driven Optimizations
Authors: Zhou Mingzhou , Wu Bo , Shen Xipeng , Gao Yaoqing , Yiu Graham
Published: April 2016

Feedback-driven optimization (FDO) is an important component in mainstream compilers. By allowing the compiler to reoptimize the program based on some profiles of the program's dynamic behaviors, it often enhances the quality of the generated code substantially. A barrier for using FDO is that it often requires many training runs to collect enough profiles to amortize the sensitivity of program optimizations to program input changes. Various sampling techniques have been explored to alleviate this time-consuming process. However, the lowered profile accuracy caused by sampling often hurts the benefits of FDO.

This article gives the first systematic study in how sampling rates affect the accuracy of collected profiles and how the accuracy correlates with the usefulness of the profile for modern FDO. Studying basic block and edge profiles for FDO in two mature compilers reveals several counterintuitive observations, one of which is that profiling accuracy does not strongly correlate with the benefits of the FDO. A detailed analysis identifies three types of sampling-caused errors that critically impair the quality of the profiles for FDO. It then introduces a simple way to rectify profiles based on the findings. Experiments demonstrate that the simple rectification fixes most of those critical errors in sampled profiles and significantly enhances the effectiveness of FDO.
Protecting Software through Obfuscation
Authors: Schrittwieser Sebastian , Katzenbeisser Stefan , Kinder Johannes , Merzdovnik Georg , Weippl Edgar
Published: April 2016

Software obfuscation has always been a controversially discussed research area. While theoretical results indicate that provably secure obfuscation in general is impossible, its widespread application in malware and commercial software shows that it is nevertheless popular in practice. Still, it remains largely unexplored to what extent today’s software obfuscations keep up with state-of-the-art code analysis and where we stand in the arms race between software developers and code analysts. The main goal of this survey is to analyze the effectiveness of different classes of software obfuscation against the continuously improving deobfuscation techniques and off-the-shelf code analysis tools.

The answer very much depends on the goals of the analyst and the available resources. On the one hand, many forms of lightweight static analysis have difficulties with even basic obfuscation schemes, which explains the unbroken popularity of obfuscation among malware writers. On the other hand, more expensive analysis techniques, in particular when used interactively by a human analyst, can easily defeat many obfuscations. As a result, software obfuscation for the purpose of intellectual property protection remains highly challenging.
Customizable Contraction Hierarchies
Authors: Dibbelt Julian , Strasser Ben , Wagner Dorothea
Published: April 2016

We consider the problem of quickly computing shortest paths in weighted graphs. Often, this is achieved in two phases: (1) derive auxiliary data in an expensive preprocessing phase, and (2) use this auxiliary data to speed up the query phase. By adding a fast weight-customization phase, we extend Contraction Hierarchies to support a three-phase workflow. The expensive preprocessing is split into a phase exploiting solely the unweighted topology of the graph and a lightweight phase that adapts the auxiliary data to a specific weight. We achieve this by basing our Customizable Contraction Hierarchies (CCHs) on nested dissection orders. We provide an in-depth experimental analysis on large road and game maps showing that CCHs are a very practicable solution in scenarios where edge weights often change.
A Survey of Mobile Device Virtualization
Authors: Shuja Junaid , Gani Abdullah , Bilal Kashif , Khan Atta Ur Rehman , Madani Sajjad A. , Khan Samee U. , Zomaya Albert Y.
Published: April 2016

Recent growth in the processing and memory resources of mobile devices has fueled research within the field of mobile virtualization. Mobile virtualization enables multiple persona on a single mobile device by hosting heterogeneous operating systems (OSs) concurrently. However, adding a virtualization layer to resource-constrained mobile devices with real-time requirements can lead to intolerable performance overheads. Hardware virtualization extensions that support efficient virtualization have been incorporated in recent mobile processors. Prior to hardware virtualization extensions, virtualization techniques that are enabled by performance prohibitive and resource consuming software were adopted for mobile devices. Moreover, mobile virtualization solutions lack standard procedures for device component sharing and interfacing between multiple OSSs. The objective of this article is to survey software- and hardware-based mobile virtualization techniques in light of the recent advancements fueled by the hardware support for mobile virtualization. Challenges and issues faced in virtualization of CPU, memory, I/O, interrupt, and network interfaces are highlighted. Moreover, various performance parameters are presented in a detailed comparative analysis to quantify the efficiency of mobile virtualization techniques and solutions.
5-Aminosalicylic Acid Enemas in the Maintenance of Remission in Distal Ulcerative Colitis and Proctitis
Authors: Sutherland Lloyd R , Martin Francois
Published: April 2016

A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of two different dosages of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enemas was carried out in 29 patients who had documented ulcerative colitis involving up to 50cm of distal colon. All patients were in remission or had minimal disease activity (Disease Activity Index [DAI] less than 4) at the time of study entry. The two patient groups were similar in terms of age, sex ratio and disease activity. Further significant reduction in DAI occurred during the first three months of the study. Five patients (two in the 2 g group and three in the 4g group) relapsed over the next six months. There were no significant differences in DAI of the two groups over the six month study period (ANOVA for repeated measures). Six patients dropped out of the study all of whom were in remission when last seen (mean follow-up 3. 3 months). In this preliminary study, 2 g enemas were shown to be as effective as 4 g enemas in maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis confined to the distal colon.
Topical Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis using Enemas Containing 5-Aminosalicylic Acid and Beclomethasone Dipropionate
Authors: Campieri M , Gionchetti P , Belluzzi A , Tampieri M , Brignola C , Ferretti M , Miglioli M , Barbara L
Published: April 2016

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enemas constitute a first-line therapy for patients with mild to moderate attacks of ulcerative colitis. To date, based on the results of different studies, 5-ASA enemas appear to be satisfactory in at least two-thirds of patients treated. Beclomethasone is one of the new corticosteroids which appear to have minimal systemic effects. The authors have assessed the efficacy of a four week course of 3 mg beclomethasone enemas compared to 2 g 5-ASA enemas in patients with ulcerative colitis. Preliminary analysis would suggest that both therapies are effective in more than 50% of cases.
Nonspecific Inflammation after New Surgical Procedures: The 'Pouchitis' Syndrome
Authors: Philips SF
Published: April 2016

The advent of a surgical alternative to conventional end ileostomy for patients requiring proctocolectomy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) offered new hope to many with intractable disease. The continent ileostomy (Kock pouch) and ileoanal pouch procedure have now been established, though they still are not standard approaches. Nonspecific inflammation ('pouchitis') is an important complication in 10 to 30% of such operations. The etiology is unknown, and the syndrome may even be heterogeneous; recurrent IBD, bacterial overgrowth and stasis are most often incriminated. Diarrhea, bleeding, malaise and even the extraintestinal features of IBD may occur. Though most patients respond to antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs, the pathogenesis of pouchitis poses major unanswered questions. This is perhaps the major challenge to IBD surgery at the present time.
Collagenous Colitis: Histologic Progression, Extraintestinal Features and Lack of Response to 5-ASA - A Case Report
Authors: Schweiger Franzjosef
Published: April 2016

Collagenous colitis is a clinicopathologic syndrome which presents as chronic, watery, nonbloody diarrhea. Colonic biopsies characteristically show a thick subepithelial collagen band. Barium enema and colonoscopy generally fail to establish the diagnosis. This case report provides evidence for histologic progression over time, pancolonic involvement and the presence of extraintestinal features of collagenous colitis. The reported patient showed no response to 5-aminosalicylic acid. Colonoscopic biopsies in cases of chronic diarrhea can save the patient repeated, uncomfortable and costly investigations.
Misoprostol in the Treatment and Prevention of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastrointestinal Mucosal Injury
Authors: Agrawal Naurang M
Published: April 2016

Three studies are discussed with regard to the efficacy of misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin Et analogue, in the treatment and prevention of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. ln the treatment study, misoprostol was found to be highly effective in healing aspirin-induced gastroduodenal lesions, eg, intramucosal hemorrhage, erosions, and gastric and duodenal ulcers, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis continuing NSAID therapy. Treatment successes were reported in 60% ( week 4) and 70% ( week 8) of patients receiving misoprostol compared with 31% (week 4) and 25% (week 8) of patients receiving placebo (P=0.0001). Furthermore, misoprostol did not adversely affect anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of aspirin in rheumatoid arthritis. ln one prevention study, misoprostol co-administered with therapeutic doses of NSAIDs, was found co be safe and effective in preventing NSAID-induced gastric ulcers in osteoarthritic patients. At week 12, 94% of patients on 100 μg misoprostol qid were ulcer-free versus 99% on 200 μg misoprostol qid and 78% on placebo (P<0.001 ). In a second prevention study the preliminary analysis of data showed the superior efficacy of misoprostol compared to sucralfate in preventing NSAID-induced gastric ulcers. New findings from research on prostaglandin analogues suggest that they may have therapeutic applications beyond the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal mucosal damage. Misoprostol may protect against-NSAID induced renal dysfunction, may reduce the damage to cartilage that has been associated with some NSAIDs, and is associated with a reduction in the incidence of rejection crises as well as with improvement in renal function in patients undergoing renal transplantation.
Genetic Counselling and Family in IBD: 30 years' Experience at the Cleveland Clinic
Authors: Michener WM , Caulfield M , Farmer RG , Wyllie R , Cotman K , Hertzer J
Published: April 2016

The Cleveland Clinic has followed 1288 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (437 with mucosa! ulcerative colitis and 851 with Crohn's disease) from 1955 through 1984. Of the 437 patients with mucosal ulcerative colitis, the index patient had one or more family members develop IBD. These data indicate the need for the treating physician to institute case-finding questions within the family so that early diagnoses can be established. From 1975 through 1984, 94 patients had a positive family history and 63 had additional family members with disease. The highest risk group was the sibling-sibling group (6.4% in mucosa! ulcerative colitis and 8.3% in Crohn's disease). Both groups had similar percentages for all immediate family members; namely, 16.5% and 17.3%. In the group of patients reported from 1975 to 1984, the location of disease in the index patient and the immediate family member was the same in 67.5% and different in 30.0%. In this same group of patients, the disease similarity in the index patient and the immediate family member was the same in 86.8% and different in 12.0%. These data suggest that while genetic factors undoubtedly increase the susceptibility for IBD, there is no specific genetic pattern identified. Also, environmental and other factors may be present. The data also suggest that the age of onset is a factor, perhaps showing increased association with a positive family history.
Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Sherman P , Griffiths A , Marcon M , Smith C , Geist R
Published: April 2016

The goals of therapy in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in pediatrics include decreasing mucosa! inflammation, the restoration of optimal growth and pubertal development, and the return to a normal, age-appropriate lifestyle. The latter is best served by minimizing restrictions; for example, school attendance, extracurricular activities, travel and the child's interactions with both siblings and peers. In most instances dietary restrictions are also inappropriate and may prove detrimental. Children and adolescents are not simply 'little adults'. Teenagers dread being perceived as different from their peers. They are especially bothered therefore by cosmetic side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy and by impaired growth and pubertal development. Although not discussed openly, many adolescents are also concerned about their subsequent ability to have children and the potential for future development of neoplasms. The great majority of affected children adapt and function very well. Psychosocial factors, although clearly not the cause of inflammatory bowel diseases, are operative in many subsets of children with less than optimal function in daily activities. Children at particular risk are those with premorbid low self-esteem, dysfunction in family dynamics, or severe growth failure. Intervention and support provided through psychiatric and medical social work consultations and by the involvement of self-help groups are often key determinants for restoration of a normal lifestyle. Information about the underlying chronic disease, when provided at a level that is appropriate for age and cognitive function, can decrease anxiety and fears by reducing uncertainty and promoting a feeling of control.
Photodynamic Therapy for Esophageal cancer
Authors: Lambert R
Published: April 2016

In photodynamic therapy, a photosensitizing drug is injected and then activated by light in the red spectral region to produce reactive, highly toxic singlet oxygen, which causes cell tissue and damage. When the distinction between tumoral and normal tissue is difficult at endoscopy, photodynamic therapy is preferable to any other conservative method of destruction. The main indications comprise genital, head and neck, bronchial, bladder and gastrointestinal tumours, particularly esophageal cancer (including squamous cell cancer and glandular neoplasia). Esophageal tumours should be class T1 or T2, at most, and detected at endoscopy. Dysplasia which is flat, sessile and multicentric may also be an indication for photodynamic therapy. Advanced esophageal cancers are contraindicated for photodynamic therapy.
Familial Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Northern Alberta
Authors: Pinchbeck BR , Kirdeikis J , Thomson ABR
Published: April 2016

Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of inflammatory
bowel disease among the relatives, and especially siblings, of patients with
Crohn′s disease or ulcerative colitis. This high familial prevalence of Crohn′s
disease and ulcerative colitis suggests that genetic factors could play a role in the
development of these disorders. The present study attempted to assess the relative
risk for relatives of Crohn′s disease and ulcerative colitis patients based on data
provided by 1015 questionnaires completed by patients in northern Alberta. A Mx2 2x2 test among relatives was performed on the diseased versus normal data for
each diagnosis to determine if significant differences existed. The prevalence for
mothers and sisters was the highest of the relative groups for Crohn′s disease
( 6430 of 105 and 4670 of 105 , respectively). Female relatives tended to have twice
the prevalence of their male counterparts. There were differences between
mother, daughter and sister prevalence rates for Crohn′s disease. These results
support the hypothesis that a genetic predisposition in families combined with
possible environmental and lifestyle influences determine the relative risk of
developing Crohn′s disease and ulcerative colitis.
An Investigation into the Relationship between Cigarette Smoking and Diverticular Disease of the Colon
Authors: Jamieson Christopher G , Weinberg Michael J , Lorraine Joanne
Published: April 2016

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationship between cigarette smoking and diverticular disease of the colon. One
hundred and two patients undergoing barium enema were assessed for diverticular
disease and smoking history. No significant positive association between
smoking and diverticular disease was found.
Treatment of Achalasia: Pneumatic Dilation
Authors: Vantrappen G , Janssens J , Rutgeerts P
Published: April 2016

Forceful dilation of the cardia is the treatment of choice for achalasia. This therapy can be carried out using a homemade system or using commercially available dilators. Pneumatic dilation yields 77% good or excellent results in patients with achalasia, while 8.7% have moderate improvement and 14.4% are not improved. The main complication is perforation, occurring in 2.5%. Perforation can be treated medically with success. In the authors' series of now almost 1000 patients, only one died. Pneumatic dilation is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of achalasia.
Radiation Therapy of Carcinoma of the Esophagus
Authors: Keane Thomas J
Published: April 2016

Radical radiation therapy with curative intent for esophageal squamous carcinoma is used both as a single modality and combined with chemotherapy. Failure to eradicate disease at the primary tumour site represents the greatest cause of failure of curative radiotherapy. The aim of curative radiotherapy is to deliver the highest dose of radiation at the tumour site while minimizing radiation delivered to the surrounding tissues. The best survival results are obtained in patients with tumours less than 5 cm in length, confined to the upper one-third of the esophagus. Regular endoscopic examinations two to three times per year in the first two years post treatment should rule out the vast majority of treatment failures.
Overview of Newer Glucocorticosteroid Preparations for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Brattsand R
Published: April 2016

Because the glucocorticosteroid receptor seems to be uniform in the human body, there is currently no support for a possibility of separating the therapeutic and adverse glucocorticosteroid actions at the receptor level. However, based on a new generation of glucocorticosteroids characterized by a high first pass metabolism in the liver, it seems possible today co reach a more selective topical therapy of inflammatory bowel disease. The properties of three new glucocorticosteroids are presented: the highly potent budesonide, fluticasone propionate and tixocortol pivalate - the latter with only low topical potency. Their properties can be exemplified by budesonide, which is currently the best documented compound. The topical potency of budesonide is 200 and 15 times higher than chose of hydrocortisone and prednisolone, respectively. This means that there is a high potential for anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions on rectal and bowel mucosa. The compound is metabolically stable in the bowel compartment, which allows full retention of glucocorticosteroid activity in the target organ. However, when absorbed and distributed to the liver, there is a 90% first pass hepatic metabolism co metabolites of very low potency. This suggests that after topical application to rectal or bowel mucosa, glucocorticosteroid activity in the systemic circulation is low. This is in contrast to prednisolone, which has a hepatic first pass metabolism of just 20%.
Clinical Diagnosis: When Is It Not Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Authors: Williams CN
Published: April 2016

Three situations mimic ulcerative colitis. First, in homosexual men, acute self-limited colitis due to campylobacter, salmonella or shigella is seen. Neisseria gonorrhea, herpes simplex, Chlamydia trachomatis and Entamoeba histolytica or a combination of these may also be present. The second setting is that of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), where opportunistic infections, cytomegalovirus, cryptosporidium, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichiacoli 0157: H7 may cause diagnostic difficulty. The third situation is when patients have recently returned from or are in an endemic area for infectious diarrhea. This particularly affects the elderly, where salmonella, E coli 0157:H7, shigellosis and, increasingly, pseudomembranous colitis secondary to cycotoxin from Clostridium difficile, occur. The differential diagnoses for Crohn's disease include such disparate conditions as solitary rectal ulcer in females, and ischemic change in the elderly, which usually involves the splenic flexure area of the colon, but may also involve the recrosigmoid area. When a mass is present in the right lower quadrant, the differential diagnosis also includes local abscess formation from a perforated appendix or foreign body, tuberculosis and carcinoma. In the immunocompromised patient, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection and Kaposi's sarcoma may mimic inflammatory bowel disease. Yersinia enterocolitica is becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of acute enteritis, predominantly in the ileum, often with coexistent mesenteric adenitis. Drugs may also cause diagnostic confusion. The one most recognized is antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. However, cleansing soapsuds, Fleet (Frosst) and bisacodyl enemas, methyldopa and Myochrysine (Rhone-Poulenc) may also cause colitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents may produce ileal ulceration and a clinical and radiological picture resembling Crohn's disease. Potassium chloride also causes discrete ileal ulcers. Five case reports arc presented to illustrate these diagnostic difficulties.
Percutaneous Dissolution of Gallstones using Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether
Authors: Thistle Johnson L , Petersen Bert T , Bender Claire E , Leroy Andrew J , Ridgway Timothy M
Published: April 2016

Radiolucent cholesterol gallstones can be dissolved rapidly by methyl terc-buryl ether (MTBE) introduced directly into the gallbladder. Percutaneous transhepatic catheter placement is a well established interventional radiology procedure and is the preferred route for MTBE administration. A small number of patients have been treated using nasobiliary placement of a gallbladder catheter. Rapid stirring automatic pump systems allow dissolution of most cholesterol stones, but some may require extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to achieve complete dissolution and aspiration of debris. Large bore percutaneous fragmentation and extraction methods require general anesthesia but are applicable to pigment stones.
Electron Beam Synthesis and Characterization of Acrylamide/Acrylic Acid Hydrogels Using Trimethylolpropane Trimethacrylate as Cross-Linker
Authors: Craciun Gabriela , Manaila Elena , Stelescu Maria Daniela
Published: April 2016

The purpose of the paper is to present the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels prepared by free-radical copolymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid in aqueous solutions using potassium persulfate as initiator and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as cross-linker, via the radiation technique. The samples were subjected to electron beam treatment in the dose range of 2 to 4 kGy and the influence of the absorbed dose and amount of cross-linker on the swelling properties, diffusion coefficient, and network parameters of hydrogels was investigated. A possible reaction mechanism for acrylamide/acrylic acid/trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate hydrogels was also suggested. The structure and morphology of hydrogels were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Marked Improvement in Refractory TTP Directly afterH. pyloriEradication Therapy
Authors: Gringauz Irina , Carmel-Neiderman Narin Nard , Mangel Tobin , Portnoy Orith , Segal Gad , Goren Idan
Published: April 2016

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disorder involving thrombotic microangiopathy and is characterized by increased platelet aggregation throughout the body. Acquired TTP can be triggered by a variety of conditions including infections. We hereby describe a case report of an 81-year-old female presenting to the internal medicine department with TTP and active chronic gastritis, positive forHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori) on biopsy. The TTP was highly resistant to medical therapy; however the patient underwent complete resolution of her TTP followingH. pylorieradication. We conclude that acquired TTP may be triggered byH. pyloriinfection and that treating the underlying infection may play a role in improving TTP’s outcome in some patients, especially when disease is refractory to medical therapy.
Seizure-Induced Regulations of Amyloid-β, STEP61, and STEP61Substrates Involved in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Jang Sung-Soo , Royston Sara E. , Lee Gunhee , Wang Shuwei , Chung Hee Jung
Published: April 2016

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline. Pathologic accumulation of soluble amyloid-β(Aβ) oligomers impairs synaptic plasticity and causes epileptic seizures, both of which contribute to cognitive dysfunction in AD. However, whether seizures could regulate Aβ-induced synaptic weakening remains unclear. Here we show that a single episode of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) increased protein expression of membrane-associated STriatal-Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP61) and decreased tyrosine-phosphorylation of its substrates N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2B and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the rat hippocampus at 2 days following a single ECS. Interestingly, a significant decrease in ERK1/2 expression and an increase in APP and Aβlevels were observed at 3-4 days following a single ECS when STEP61level returned to the baseline. Given that pathologic levels of Aβincrease STEP61activity and STEP61-mediated dephosphorylation of GluN2B and ERK1/2 leads to NMDAR internalization and ERK1/2 inactivation, we propose that upregulation of STEP61and downregulation of GluN2B and ERK1/2 phosphorylation mediate compensatory weakening of synaptic strength in response to acute enhancement of hippocampal network activity, whereas delayed decrease in ERK1/2 expression and increase in APP and Aβexpression may contribute to the maintenance of this synaptic weakening.
ROS‐Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Brain, Heart, Kidney, and Testis Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Minutoli Letteria , Puzzolo Domenico , Rinaldi Mariagrazia , Irrera Natasha , Marini Herbert , Arcoraci Vincenzo , Bitto Alessandra , Crea Giovanni , Pisani Antonina , Squadrito Francesco , Trichilo Vincenzo , Bruschetta Daniele , Micali Antonio , Altavilla Domenica
Published: April 2016

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) causes a reduction in arterial blood supply to tissues, followed by the restoration of perfusion and consequent reoxygenation. The reestablishment of blood flow triggers further damage to the ischemic tissue through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, interference with cellular ion homeostasis, and inflammatory responses to cell death. In normal conditions, ROS mediate important beneficial responses. When their production is prolonged or elevated, harmful events are observed with peculiar cellular changes. In particular, during I/R, ROS stimulate tissue inflammation and induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The mechanisms underlying the activation of NLRP3 are several and not completely elucidated. It was recently shown that NLRP3 might sense directly the presence of ROS produced by normal or malfunctioning mitochondria or indirectly by other activators of NLRP3. Aim of the present review is to describe the current knowledge on the role of NLRP3 in some organs (brain, heart, kidney, and testis) after I/R injury, with particular regard to the role played by ROS in its activation. Furthermore, as no specific therapy for the prevention or treatment of the high mortality and morbidity associated with I/R is available, the state of the art of the development of novel therapeutic approaches is illustrated.
Regulation of the Postsynaptic Compartment of Excitatory Synapses by the Actin Cytoskeleton in Health and Its Disruption in Disease
Authors: Stefen Holly , Chaichim Chanchanok , Power John , Fath Thomas
Published: April 2016

Disruption of synaptic function at excitatory synapses is one of the earliest pathological changes seen in wide range of neurological diseases. The proper control of the segregation of neurotransmitter receptors at these synapses is directly correlated with the intact regulation of the postsynaptic cytoskeleton. In this review, we are discussing key factors that regulate the structure and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, the major cytoskeletal building block that supports the postsynaptic compartment. Special attention is given to the complex interplay of actin-associated proteins that are found in the synaptic specialization. We then discuss our current understanding of how disruption of these cytoskeletal elements may contribute to the pathological events observed in the nervous system under disease conditions with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Using Upper Gastrointestinal Tract for the Treatment of Refractory or Severe ComplicatedClostridium difficileInfection in Elderly Patients in Poor Medical Condition: The First Study in an Asian Country
Authors: Gweon Tae-Geun , Kim Jinsu , Lim Chul-Hyun , Park Jae Myung , Lee Dong-Gun , Lee In Seok , Cho Young-Seok , Kim Sang Woo , Choi Myung-Gyu
Published: April 2016

Background and Aims. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment option for refractoryClostridium difficileinfection (CDI). FMT may be challenging in patients with a low performance status, because of their poor medical condition. The aims of this study were to describe our experience treating patients in poor medical condition with refractory or severe complicated CDI using FMT via the upper GI tract route.Methods. This study was a retrospective review of seven elderly patients with refractory or severe complicated CDI and a poor medical condition who were treated with FMT through the upper GI tract route from May 2012 through August 2013. The outcomes studied included the cure rate of CDI and adverse events.Results. Of these seven patients who received FMT via the upper GI tract route, all patients were cured. During the 11-month follow-up period, CDI recurrence was observed in two patients; rescue FMT was performed in these patients, which led to a full cure. Vomiting was observed in two patients.Conclusions. FMT via the upper gastrointestinal tract route may be effective for the treatment of refractory or severe complicated CDI in patients with a low performance status. Physicians should be aware of adverse events, especially vomiting.
Reef Fish Dispersal in the Hawaiian Archipelago: Comparative Phylogeography of Three Endemic Damselfishes
Authors: Tenggardjaja Kimberly A. , Bowen Brian W. , Bernardi Giacomo
Published: April 2016

Endemic marine species at remote oceanic islands provide opportunities to investigate the proposed correlation between range size and dispersal ability. Because these species have restricted geographic ranges, it is assumed that they have limited dispersal ability, which consequently would be reflected in high population genetic structure. To assess this relationship at a small scale and to determine if it may be related to specific reef fish families, here we employ a phylogeographic survey of three endemic Hawaiian damselfishes:Abudefduf abdominalis,Chromis ovalis, andChromis verater. Data from mitochondrial markers cytochromeband control region revealed low but significant genetic structure in all three species. Combining these results with data from a previous study onDascyllus albisellaandStegastes marginatus, all five endemic damselfish species surveyed to date show evidence of genetic structure, in contrast with other widespread reef fish species that lack structure within the Hawaiian Archipelago. Though individual patterns of connectivity varied, these five species showed a trend of limited connectivity between the atolls and low-lying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands versus the montane Main Hawaiian Islands, indicating that, at least for damselfishes, the protected reefs of the uninhabited northwest will not replenish depleted reefs in the populated Main Hawaiian Islands.
Hall Effect Devices with Three Terminals: Their Magnetic Sensitivity and Offset Cancellation Scheme
Authors: Ausserlechner Udo
Published: April 2016

This paper discusses properties of Hall effect sensors with only three terminals and compares them to conventional four-terminal devices. It covers both Horizontal and Vertical Hall effect devices. Their Hall-geometry factor is computed analytically. Several modes of operation are proposed and their signal-to-noise ratio is compared. A six-phase offset cancellation scheme is developed. All theoretical results are checked by measurements. The residual offset of Vertical Hall effect devices with three contacts is found to be smaller than the offset of conventional Vertical Hall effect devices with five contacts.
Phytochemical Composition, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Duguetia furfuracea A. St.‐Hill
Authors: Pinho Francisca Valéria Soares de Araújo , da Cruz Litiele Cezar , Rodrigues Nathane Rosa , Waczuk Emily Pansera , Souza Celestina Elba Sobral , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , Costa José Galberto Martins da , Athayde Margareth Linde , Boligon Aline Augusti , Franco Jeferson Luis , Posser Thaís , de Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar
Published: April 2016

Background. Duguetia furfuracea is popular plant used in popular medicine. Hypothesis/Purpose. This claim evaluated the phytochemical composition of the hydroethanolic extract (HEDF), fractions of Duguetia furfuracea, and antioxidant and antifungal activity. Methods. The chemical profile was carried out by HPLC‐DAD. The total phenolic contents and flavonoid components were determined by Folin‐Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride reaction. The antioxidant activity was measured by scavenging of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) methods. The antifungal activity was determined by microdilution assay. Results. HPLC analysis revealed caffeic acid and rutin as major compounds (HEDF), caffeic acid and quercitrin (Mt‐OH fraction), and quercitrin and isoquercitrin (Ac‐OEt fraction). The highest levels of phenols and total flavonoids were found for Ac‐OEt fraction, and the crude extract showed higher in vitro antioxidant potential. The antifungal activity showed synergic effect with fluconazole and EHDF against C. krusei, fluconazole and Mt‐OH against C. krusei and C. tropicalis, and Ac‐OE and fluconazole against C. albicans. Conclusion. The highest levels of phenols and total flavonoids were marked with antioxidant effect. This is the first report of bioactivity of the synergic effect of HEDF and fractions. More studies would be required to better clarify its mechanism of synergic action.
Automatic Liver Segmentation on Volumetric CT Images Using Supervoxel-Based Graph Cuts
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Zhou Zhuhuang , Wu Shuicai , Zhang Yanhua
Published: April 2016

Accurate segmentation of liver from abdominal CT scans is critical for computer-assisted diagnosis and therapy. Despite many years of research, automatic liver segmentation remains a challenging task. In this paper, a novel method was proposed for automatic delineation of liver on CT volume images using supervoxel-based graph cuts. To extract the liver volume of interest (VOI), the region of abdomen was firstly determined based on maximum intensity projection (MIP) and thresholding methods. Then, the patient-specific liver VOI was extracted from the region of abdomen by using a histogram-based adaptive thresholding method and morphological operations. The supervoxels of the liver VOI were generated using the simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) method. The foreground/background seeds for graph cuts were generated on the largest liver slice, and the graph cuts algorithm was applied to the VOI supervoxels. Thirty abdominal CT images were used to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed method can detect the liver accurately with significant reduction of processing time, especially when dealing with diseased liver cases.
Central Administration of Galanin Receptor 1 Agonist Boosted Insulin Sensitivity in Adipose Cells of Diabetic Rats
Authors: Zhang Zhenwen , Fang Penghua , He Biao , Guo Lili , Runesson Johan , Langel Ülo , Shi Mingyi , Zhu Yan , Bo Ping
Published: April 2016

Our previous studies testified the beneficial effect of central galanin on insulin sensitivity of type 2 diabetic rats. The aim of the study was further to investigate whether central M617, a galanin receptor 1 agonist, can benefit insulin sensitivity. The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of M617 on insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling were evaluated in adipose tissues of type 2 diabetic rats. The results showed that central injection of M617 significantly increased plasma adiponectin contents, glucose infusion rates in hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests, GLUT4 mRNA expression levels, GLUT4 contents in plasma membranes, and total cell membranes of the adipose cells but reduced the plasma C-reactive protein concentration in nondiabetic and diabetic rats. The ratios of GLUT4 contents were higher in plasma membranes to total cell membranes in both nondiabetic and diabetic M617 groups than each control. In addition, the central administration of M617 enhanced the ratios of pAkt/Akt and pAS160/AS160, but not phosphorylative cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB)/CREB in the adipose cells of nondiabetic and diabetic rats. These results suggest that excitation of central galanin receptor 1 facilitates insulin sensitivity via activation of the Akt/AS160 signaling pathway in the fat cells of type 2 diabetic rats.