bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CDK1, CCNB1, CDC20, BUB1, MAD2L1, MCM3, BUB1B, MCM2, and RFC4 May Be Potential Therapeutic Targets for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis
Authors: Yang Wan-Xia , Pan Yun-Yan , You Chong-Ge
Published: October 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality. The abnormal expression of genes is significantly related to the occurrence of HCC. The aim of this study was to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of HCC and to provide bioinformatics basis for the occurrence, prevention and treatment of HCC. The DEGs of HCC and normal tissues in GSE102079, GSE121248, GSE84402 and GSE60502 were obtained using R language. The GO function analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were carried out using the DAVID database. Then, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database. Hub genes were screened using Cytoscape software and verified using the GEPIA, UALCAN, and Oncomine database. We used HPA database to exhibit the differences in protein level of hub genes and used LinkedOmics to reveal the relationship between candidate genes and tumor clinical features. Finally, we obtained transcription factor (TF) of hub genes using NetworkAnalyst online tool. A total of 591 overlapping up-regulated genes were identified. These genes were related to cell cycle, DNA replication, pyrimidine metabolism, and p53 signaling pathway. Additionally, the GEPIA database showed that the CDK1, CCNB1, CDC20, BUB1, MAD2L1, MCM3, BUB1B, MCM2, and RFC4 were associated with the poor survival of HCC patients. UALCAN, Oncomine, and HPA databases and qRT-PCR confirmed that these genes were highly expressed in HCC tissues. LinkedOmics database indicated these genes were correlated with overall survival, pathologic stage, pathology T stage, race, and the age of onset. TF analysis showed that MYBL2, KDM5B, MYC, SOX2, and E2F4 were regulators to these nine hub genes. Overexpression of CDK1, CCNB1, CDC20, BUB1, MAD2L1, MCM3, BUB1B, MCM2, and RFC4 in tumor tissues predicted poor survival in HCC. They may be potential therapeutic targets for HCC.
Energy Dissipation Mechanism and Control Model of a Digital Hydraulic Damper
Authors: Wang Cheng-long , Qiu ZhiWei , Zeng QingLiang , Liu Yanxi , Miao Genyuan
Published: October 2019

In order to achieve the high efficiency and stable cushioning effect under the uncertain impacting situation, a digital hydraulic damper is developed which can adjust the whole buffering capacity so as to be adaptable to the impacting load on time during the buffering process. In the paper, the mechanism of energy dissipation in the digital hydraulic damper and the whole damping process are studied. The relationship between the energy dissipation process and the control process is given. Firstly, the energy dissipation process of the digital throttling unit is studied, and the mathematical model of energy losses of the digital hydraulic damper unit and the energy dissipation model of the whole digital damper are established. The energy dissipation model of the digital hydraulic buffer is proposed. Secondly, the effect on energy losses caused by the three elements of the digital damper, which are the sudden extension of cross section, form of orifice, and form of cone valve port, is analyzed. Finally, based on the energy dissipation model, the control model of the energy dissipation process is given, which lays a theoretical foundation for detailed structural design and control optimization.
Study on Flexural Behavior of Cross-Laminated Timber Based on Different Tree Species
Authors: Lu Weidong , Gu Jiahui , Wang Bibo
Published: October 2019

The flexural behavior of CLT panels was experimentally studied. The effects of number of layers, thickness and wood combination on the failure modes, ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness, and ductility of the specimen were analyzed. The test results showed that the flexural strength of the hybrid CLT specimens was basically unchanged, but the stiffness increased by 8% to 22% compared with the CLT specimens of all poplar wood. Compared with the CLT of the whole Douglas fir, the failure mode of the hybrid specimens changes from brittle shear failure to ductile bending failure. Furthermore, the calculation formula of the bending bearing capacity under various failure modes was proposed. The analytical results agreed well with the test results.
Evidence that a STAT3 Mutation Causing Hyper IgE Syndrome Leads to Repression of Transcriptional Activity
Authors: Bahal Sameer , Houssen Maha E. , Manson Ania , Lorenzo Lorena , Russell Mark A. , Morgan Noel G. , Tahami Fariba , Grigoriadou Sofia
Published: October 2019

We present the case of a 19-year-old female with a mild form of Autosomal Dominant Hyper IgE syndrome (HIES) associated with a loss-of-function mutation in STAT3. Within the first years of life she developed multiple, Staphylococcus aureus associated abscesses in the neck and face requiring frequent incision and drainage. Respiratory tract infections were not a feature of the clinical phenotype and a high resolution thoracic CT scan was unremarkable. Retained dentition was noted but fungal nail disease and recurrent thrush were absent. The total IgE was 970 IU/L, Lymphocyte counts and immunoglobulin levels were normal (IgG borderline 18.5 gr/L). There was suboptimal response to test immunisation with Pneumovax II vaccine. Th17 cell phenotyping revealed low levels of IL-17 expressing cells (0.3% of total CD4 T Cells numbers). Genetic analysis identified a missense mutation, N567D, in a conserved region of the linker domain of STAT3. Functional studies in HEK293 cells reveal that this mutation potently inhibits STAT3 activity when compared to the wildtype protein. This is consistent with other reported mutations in STAT3 associated with HIES. However, surprisingly, the magnitude of inhibition was similar to another STAT3 mutation (V637M) which causes a much more severe form of the disease.
Sodium Selenite Accentuates the Therapeutic Effect of Adriamycin Prodrug (PADM) against Gastric Cancer
Authors: Tan Shengquan , Mo Jiapeng , Zhang Zixiong , Huang Chuying , Zou Yi , Sun Jianhua
Published: October 2019

Selenium has remained a controversial character in cancer research. While its antitumor effects have been widely demonstrated, further evidence is required to establish it as a robust treatment regime. Sodium selenite (SS), an inorganic selenium, reportedly affected the proliferation and redifferentiation of gastric cancer cells, but whether it could act as a complement to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs for combination therapy is uncertain. Herein, SGC-7901 and MGC-803 gastric cancer cells were treated with PADM (Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-ADM), a prodrug of doxorubicin/adriamycin (ADM), and the combined antitumor effects of the two drugs were evaluated. Characterization after treatment revealed that although PADM exhibited antitumor effects individually by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells and inducing apoptosis, the addition of SS significantly amplified these effects. Furthermore, gastric cancer cell apoptosis triggered by the combined treatment of SS and PADM may involve the participation of mitochondrial apoptosis, as evidenced by the changes in mitochondrial morphology and occurrence of mitochondrial fission. Collectively, SS could be a strong complementary drug that accentuates the therapeutic potential of PADM in gastric cancer treatment and management, and its significance could contribute to unique and innovative anticancer strategies.
Compact Wideband Circularly Polarized Antenna with Symmetric Parasitic Rectangular Patches for Ka-Band Applications
Authors: Jian Rongling , Chen Yueyun , Chen Taohua
Published: October 2019

In this paper, a novel wideband circularly polarized (CP) millimeter wave (mmWave) microstrip antenna is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a central patch and a microstrip line radiator. The CP radiation is achieved by loading a rectangular slot on the ground plane. To improve the 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW), two symmetric parasitic rectangular patches paralleled to a central patch and a slit positioned to the right of the central patch are loaded. To verify this design, the proposed antenna is fabricated with a small antenna of 2.88 × 3.32 × 0.508 mm3. The measured impedance bandwidth (IMBW) for S11<−10 dB of the proposed antenna is 35.97% (22.8 to 33.8 GHz). Meanwhile, the simulation result shows that the 3-dB ARBW is 15.19% (28.77 to 33.5 GHz) within impedance bandwidth, and the peak gain is from 5.08 to 5.22 dBic within 3-dB ARBW. The proposed antenna is suitable for CP applications in the Ka-band.
Use High-Flow Nasal Cannula for Acute Respiratory Failure Patients in the Emergency Department: A Meta-Analysis Study
Authors: Huang Cheng-Chieh , Lan Hao-Min , Li Chao-Jui , Lee Tsung-Han , Chen Wen-Liang , Lei Wei-Yuan , Hsieh Pei-You , Yang Mei-Chueh , Chou Chu-Chung , Wu Han-Ping , Syue Yuan-Jhen
Published: October 2019

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy compared with conventional oxygen therapy (COT) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for the treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in emergency departments (EDs). Method. We comprehensively searched 3 databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) for articles published from database inception to 12 July 2019. This study included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were conducted in EDs and compared HFNC therapy with COT or NIV. The primary outcome was the intubation rate. The secondary outcomes were the mortality rate, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, ED discharge rate, need for escalation, length of ED stay, length of hospital stay, and patient dyspnea and comfort scores. Result. Five RCTs (n = 775) were included. There was a decreasing trend regarding the application of HFNC therapy and the intubation rate, but the difference was not statistically significant (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.26–1.09; p=0.08; I2 = 0%). We found that compared with patients who underwent COT, those who underwent HFNC therapy had a reduced need for escalation (RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22–0.78; p=0.006; I2 = 0%), reduced dyspnea scores (MD −0.82, 95% CI −1.45 to −0.18), and improved comfort (SMD −0.76 SD, 95% CI −1.01 to −0.51). Compared with the COT group, the HFNC therapy group had a similar mortality rate (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.79–1.99; p=0.34; I2 = 0%), ICU admission rate (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.58–2.12; p=0.76; I2 = 0%), ED discharge rate (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.63–1.72; p=0.87; I2 = 0%), length of ED stay (MD 1.66, 95% CI −0.95 to 4.27), and hospital stay (MD 0.9, 95% CI −2.06 to 3.87). Conclusion. Administering HFNC therapy in ARF patients in EDs might decrease the intubation rate compared with COT. In addition, it can decrease the need for escalation, decrease the patient’s dyspnea level, and increase the patient’s comfort level compared with COT.
Numerical-Experimental Correlation of Interlaminar Damage Growth in Composite Structures: Setting Cohesive Zone Model Parameters
Authors: Di Caprio F. , Saputo S. , Sellitto A.
Published: October 2019

Composite laminates are characterized by high mechanical in-plane properties while experiencing, on the contrary, a poor out-of-plane response. The composite laminates, indeed, are often highly vulnerable to interlaminar damages, also called “delaminations.” One of the main techniques used for the numerical prediction of interlaminar damage onset and growth is the cohesive zone model (CZM). However, this approach is characterised by uncertainties in the definition of the parameters needed for the implementation of the cohesive behaviour in the numerical software. To overcome this issue, in the present paper, a numerical-experimental procedure for the calibration of material parameters governing the mechanical behaviour of CZM based on cohesive surface and cohesive element approaches is presented. Indeed, by comparing the results obtained from the double cantilever beam (DCB) and end-notched flexure (ENF) experimental tests with the corresponding numerical results, it has been possible to accurately calibrate the parameters of the numerical models needed to simulate the delamination growth phenomenon at coupon level.
Large-Truck Safety Warning System Based on Lightweight SSD Model
Authors: Xiao Dong , Li Hongzong , Liu Chenyi , He Qifei
Published: October 2019

Transportation is an important link in the mining process, and large trucks are one of the important tools for mine transportation. Due to their large size and small driving position, large trucks have a blind spot, which is a hidden danger to the safe transportation of mines and has a great impact on production efficiency and economic loss. The traditional large truck safety warning system mainly uses the ultrasonic short-distance ranging method, radar ranging method, GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, and so on. The disadvantage of these methods is that they are affected by the environment and weather, and they cannot display the object status in real time. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to realize the large truck safety warning system based on machine vision. Therefore, this paper proposes a lightweight SSD (Single Shot MultiBox Detector) model and an atrous convolution to build a large-truck object recognition model. First, the training images are collected and marked. Then, the object recognition model is established by using the lightweight SSD model. The atrous convolutional layer is introduced to improve small object detection accuracy. In the end, the objectness prior method is used to improve the classification speed. Experimental results show that, compared with the original SSD model, the lightweight SSD model occupies less space and runs faster. The lightweight SSD model with the atrous convolutional layer is more sensitive to small objects and improves detection accuracy. The objectness prior method further improves the identification speed. Compared with the traditional large truck safety warning, the system is not affected by the environment and realizes the visualization of large truck safety warning.
Experimental Investigation on Dynamic Fracture Mechanism and Energy Evolution of Saturated Yellow Sandstone under Different Freeze‐Thaw Temperatures
Authors: Chen Liang , Mao Xianbiao , Yang Shengli , An Chao , Wu Peng
Published: October 2019

The coupling effect of freeze‐thaw (F‐T) temperature and dynamic load on the dynamic mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of saturated yellow sandstone was experimentally investigated in this research. The dynamic compression tests on the specimen after different F‐T temperatures (i.e., −5°С, −10°С, −15°С, −20°С, −30°С, and 20°С) have been carried out with split‐Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup under eight F‐T cycle numbers. The density and P‐wave velocity of the specimens were obtained before and after the F‐T tests. After the F‐T tests, the specimen microstructures were examined via the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The dynamic fracture process was visualized by the high‐speed camera. The particle size distribution and fragment shapes of the specimens were analyzed using a classifying screen. In addition, the energy dissipation law of specimens during the impact test was also discussed. Experimental results show that the dynamic elastic modulus, strength of the specimen, and the average particle size decrease with decreasing F‐T temperature. SEM results reveal that low F‐T temperature leads to severer internal damage of the specimen by inducing freeze‐swell holes, interconnected cracks, and pore clusters. In addition, the fragmentation shapes of the failed specimens exhibit double‐cone failure, single‐side slope failure, double‐side slope failure, and split failure. The energy dissipation increases gradually with increasing F‐T temperature. This study helps to prevent geological disasters and optimize engineering design in cold regions.
Seasonal Variations in Physical Activity Domains among Rural and Urban Bangladeshis Using a Culturally Relevant Past Year Physical Activity Questionnaire (PYPAQ)
Authors: Mumu Shirin Jahan , Fahey Paul P. , Ali Liaquat , Rahman A. K. M. Fazlur , Merom Dafna
Published: October 2019

While the effect of weather and seasons on physical activity (PA) is well documented for leisure-time physical activities in western countries, scant information is available for developing countries where lifestyle PA is the major source of energy expenditure (EE). In Bangladesh, the traditional calendar divides the year to six seasons that last two months each: summer, rainy, autumn, late autumn, winter, and spring. We developed the Past Year Physical Activity Questionnaire to record culturally relevant physical activities and to help assess the seasonal variation in total and domain-specific PA in Bangladesh. We have applied this tool to 162 men and women aged 18–60 years residing in Dhaka city and in the northern rural district of Thakurgaon. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) was used to test for evidence of variation in PA between place and seasons. The age- and gender-adjusted model revealed significantly lower levels of EE in urban residents compared to rural residents across all seasons and domains. We also found evidence of seasonal variations in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) MET-min/weekamong rural participants only; for total PA (ranging from 3192 in autumn to 4124 in winter; p = 0.0001) and for two domains: the occupation domain (ranging from 935 in autumn to 1645 in winter; p = 0.0001) and the leisure time domain(ranging from 229 in late autumn to 272 in rainy season; p = 0.005). Seasonality in gardening was also noted (ranging from 2.46 in late autumn to 29.28 in rainy season; p = 0.0001). There were no seasonal differences of total and domain-specific MVPA in urban except household-related PA. Among rural participants, PA was higher in the summer, rainy, and winter seasons and lower in autumn and late autumn. The most common leisure-time physical activities were walking, bicycling, and swimming with higher participation in the rural area. Leisure-time physical activity needs to be promoted to urban residents all year long but more focused on autumn, late autumn, and spring in rural areas.
Thyroidectomy as Treatment of Choice for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Giuffrida Dario , Giuffrida Raffaella , Puliafito Ivana , Vella Veronica , Memeo Lorenzo , Puglisi Caterina , Regalbuto Concetto , Pellegriti Gabriella , Forte Stefano , Belfiore Antonino
Published: October 2019

Background. Despite a large amount of data, the optimal surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer remains controversial. Current guidelines recommend total thyroidectomy if primary thyroid cancer is >4 cm, while for tumors that are between 1 and 4 cm in size, either a bilateral or a unilateral thyroidectomy may be appropriate as surgical treatment. In general, total thyroidectomy would seem to be preferable because subtotal resection can be correlated with a higher risk of local recurrences and cervical lymph node metastases; on the other hand, total thyroidectomy is associated with more complications. Methods. This is a retrospective study conducted on 359 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, subjected to total thyroidectomy. Our aim was to correlate clinical and pathological features (extrathyroid tumor growth, bilaterality, nodal and distant metastasis) with patient (gender and age) and tumor (size and histotype) characteristics. Moreover, we recorded postoperative complications, including hypoparathyroidism and laryngeal nerve damage. Results. In our study, we found a high occurrence of pathological features indicating cancer aggressiveness (bilaterality, nodal metastases, and extrathyroid invasion). On the other hand, total thyroidectomy was associated with relatively low postsurgical complication rates. Conclusions. Our data support the view that total thyroidectomy remains the first choice for the routine treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer.
DOA Estimation for Highly Correlated and Coherent Multipath Signals with Ultralow SNRs
Authors: Cheng Li , Li Yang , Zou Lianying , Qin Yong
Published: October 2019

In a typical multipath propagation environment, there exists a strong direct path signal accompanying with several weak multipath signals. Due to the strong direct path interference and other masking effects, the Direction-of-Arrival (DOA) of a weak multipath signal is hard to be estimated. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to estimate the DOA of multipath signals with ultralow signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The main idea is to increase the SNR and signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of the desired multipath signal in time-delay domain before DOA estimation processing. Firstly, the cross-correlation functions of the direct path signal and the received array signal are calculated. Then, they are combined and constructed to an enhanced array signal. Under certain conditions, the SNR and SIR of the desired signal can be significantly increased. Finally, the DOAs of multipath signals can be estimated by conventional technologies, and the associated time delays can be measured on the DOA-time-shift map. The SNR and SIR gains of the desired signal are analyzed theoretically, and theoretical analysis also indicates that the Cramer–Rao bound can be reduced. Simulation examples are presented to verify the advantages of the proposed method.
On Mixed Equilibrium Problems in Hadamard Spaces
Authors: Izuchukwu Chinedu , Aremu Kazeem Olalekan , Oyewole Olawale Kazeem , Mewomo Oluwatosin Temitope , Khan Safeer Hussain
Published: October 2019

The main purpose of this paper is to study mixed equilibrium problems in Hadamard spaces. First, we establish the existence of solution of the mixed equilibrium problem and the unique existence of the resolvent operator for the problem. We then prove a strong convergence of the resolvent and a Δ-convergence of the proximal point algorithm to a solution of the mixed equilibrium problem under some suitable conditions. Furthermore, we study the asymptotic behavior of the sequence generated by a Halpern-type PPA. Finally, we give a numerical example in a nonlinear space setting to illustrate the applicability of our results. Our results extend and unify some related results in the literature.
Seronegative Arthritis and Whipple Disease: Risk of Misdiagnosis in the Era of Biologic Agents
Authors: Quartuccio Luca , Giovannini Ivan , Pizzolitto Stefano , Scarpa Maurizio , De Vita Salvatore
Published: October 2019

We report 2 cases of Whipple disease (WD), previously diagnosed as seronegative polyarthritis and treated for several years with immunosuppressive agents, accordingly. Both cases had been treated over years with cDMARDs and bDMARDs. The first patient was a 48-year-old male, who developed a life-threatening disease characterized by fever, significant weight loss, and bloody diarrhoea, supported with RBC transfusions. The second patient was a 55-year-old man, presenting with arthritis, fever, serositis, lymphadenopathy, thoracic rash, and systemic inflammation; at the beginning he was diagnosed as adult onset Still’s disease. He was treated with steroids and antitumour necrosis factor agents, but showed no improvement. Both patients were eventually treated with antimicrobial therapy for WD with dramatic improvement and no clinical relapse in 6 months. This paper reviews the literature on WD mimicking chronic inflammatory arthritis. WD may lead to chronic seronegative arthritis that might often be misrecognized. Importantly, patients treated with bDMARDs and glucocorticoids might develop a life-threatening disease. Therefore, WD should be suspected and excluded in patients showing resistance or frequent recurrence of chronic arthritis, if seronegative, under treatment with bDMARDs, especially in the presence of new, unexpected sign and/or symptoms.
Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in Undiagnosed Palestinian Men: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ali Iyad , Kharma Aya , Samara Malak , Odeh Samar , Jaradat Nidal , Zaid Abd Nasser , Ahmad Mahdi Al Sayed
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Dyslipidemia is the most important modifiable risk factor that leads to cardiovascular diseases. The screening for dyslipidemia in Palestine is not established in primary health care centers for healthy people. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia among healthy undiagnosed adult men in Palestine in order to assess the need for screening and preventive programs for dyslipidemia. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in 10 secondary schools at Nablus municipality (Palestine) from August 2017 to February 2018. The study included 140 teachers based on sample calculations. The age of participants ranged between 24 and 60 years. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data about the lifestyle, past medical, and family histories. Serum lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose levels for each participant were measured. Lipoprotein levels were categorized based on the adult treatment panel III criteria. Results. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia among Palestinian men was 66.4%. The most prevalent type of dyslipidemia was hypo HDL (X < 40 mg/dl, 59.3%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (X ≥ 200 mg/dl, 20%). The prevalence of hyper LDL (X ≥ 160 mg/dl), hypercholesterolemia (X ≥ 240 mg/dl) was 8.5%, and 3.6%, respectively. About 15% of participants had glucose intolerance, and 4.3% had hyperglycemia (undiagnosed). Those with glucose intolerance, 13 (9.2%) have hypo HDL, while 9 (6.42%) have hypertriglyceridemia. On the other hand, out of hyperglycemic patients: 5 (3.5%) had hypo HDL, and 1 (0.7%) had hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusion. Around two-thirds of undiagnosed participants had at least one lipid abnormality. None of them were aware of having dyslipidemia. The prevalence of undiagnosed dyslipidemia was higher than the prevalence of undiagnosed glucose intolerance, and diabetes. This suggests that dyslipidemia plays a major role in developing diabetes. Hence, profound efforts should be done to manage and treat those with dyslipidemia, in order to prevent progression to type II diabetes mellitus.
Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells and Their Interactions with Extracellular Matrix and Mechanical Loading
Authors: Zhang Chuanxin , Zhu Jun , Zhou Yiqin , Thampatty Bhavani P. , Wang James H-C.
Published: October 2019

Tendons are unique connective tissues in the sense that their biological properties are largely determined by their tendon-specific stem cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the stem cells, mechanical loading conditions placed on the tendon, and the complex interactions among them. This review is aimed at providing an overview of recent advances in the identification and characterization of tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) and their interactions with ECM and mechanical loading. In addition, the effects of such interactions on the maintenance of tendon homeostasis and the initiation of tendon pathological conditions are discussed. Moreover, the challenges in further investigations of TSPC mechanobiology in vitro and in vivo are outlined. Finally, future research efforts are suggested, which include using specific gene knockout models and single-cell transcription profiling to enable a broad and deep understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of tendons.
Vitamin D Deficiency Predicts Poor Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Perge P. , Boros A. M. , Gellér L. , Osztheimer I. , Szilágyi Sz , Tahin T. , Apor A. , Nagy K. V. , Zima E. , Molnár L. , Merkely B. , Széplaki G.
Published: October 2019

Background and Aims. Resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves mortality and induces reverse remodeling in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction and wide QRS. Nonetheless, some patients do not improve despite the optimal medical therapy and right indications for device implantation. Therefore, finding biomarkers suitable for identification of those patients is crucial. Vitamin D plays a classic hormonal role in the regulation of bone metabolism and also has physiological functions in wide range of nonskeletal tissues. Based on recent studies, low levels of vitamin D seem to directly contribute to pathogenesis and worsening of HF. We planned to assess the role of vitamin D levels on clinical outcomes of HF patients undergoing CRT. Methods and Results. We enrolled 136 HF patients undergoing CRT. Total plasma vitamin D levels were measured at baseline and 6 months later. Primary endpoint was 5-year all-cause mortality; secondary endpoint was lack of good clinical response, defined as less than 15% increase of left ventricular ejection fraction after six months. During follow-up, 58 patients reached the primary, and 45 patients reached the secondary endpoint. Vitamin D levels less than 24.13 ng/mL predicted 5-year mortality (p=0.045) and poor clinical response (p=0.03) after adjusting to all significant baseline predictors. Conclusion. Our study showed that vitamin D deficiency has a significant impact in heart failure patients; it is an independent predictor of lack of midterm clinical response and long-term mortality in patients undergoing CRT. Therefore, monitoring vitamin D status of heart failure patients could be of clinical significance.
Hyperinsulinemia Can Cause Kidney Disease in the IGT Stage of OLETF Rats via the INS/IRS-1/PI3-K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yang Shaohua , Cui Xiao , Yang Juhong , Zheng Miaoyan , Jia Junya , Han Fei , Yang Xiaoyun , Wang Jingyu , Guo Zhenhong , Chang Bai , Chang Baocheng
Published: October 2019

Aims. We investigated the changes of renal structure and its function in normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), diabetes mellitus (DM), and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stages in OLETF rats and explored the role of the INS/IRS-1/PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway. Methods. OLETF rats were assigned into four groups on the basis of OGTT results and 24 h urinary microalbumin: NGT, IGT, DM, and DKD groups. The changes of renal structure and function and the corresponding pathological changes were observed. The absorption of albumin and the expression of megalin, cubilin, IRS-1, PI3-K, and Akt in NRK-52E cells were measured after being stimulated by different concentrations of insulin. Results. In the IGT group, the index which reflects the function of renal tubule-like N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, retinol-binding protein, and cystatin C was higher than those in the control group and the NGT group (P<0.05). Significant renal structure damages, especially in renal tubules, were observed in the IGT group. In the presence of insulin at a high concentration, the IRS-1/PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway in renal tubular epithelial cells was inhibited, and the expression of megalin and cubilin was significantly downregulated which was accompanied by a minimum uptake of albumin. Conclusions. In contrast to DKD, the renal structural damage and functional changes in the IGT stage, in which we propose the term “IGT kidney disease,” mainly manifest as renal tubular injury. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia may be involved in its pathogenesis.
Multiobjective Intelligent Cooperative Design for the Multilayer Interference Fit
Authors: Ning Ke , Wang Jianmei , Jiang Hongwei , Xiang Dan , Hou Dingbang
Published: October 2019

Interference fit has extensively been applied in different mechanical fields due to its advantages such as compactness and high rigidity. With the actual needs of engineering, the multilayer interference fit has also been widely used. It is significant for the design and manufacture of multilayer interference fit to consider stress concentration problem and achieve multiobjective and multivariable collaborative optimization in the optimization algorithm. To achieve this goal, the mechanical model and reliability mathematical model of the multilayer interference fit are established. Giving an evaluation method of reliability, the recommended range of interference amount is obtained. Considering the lightweight design and stress concentration problems, a multiobjective intelligent cooperative design (MOICD) method for the multilayer interference fit is proposed, and multiparameter analysis is done. Taking the typical wind turbine’s shrink disk of three‐layer interference fit structure as an application example, the key design parameters of the shrink disk are determined, and its sample data are obtained using the orthogonal experimental method. Considering yield strength, torque, and mass, the approximate mathematical model of response surface using the Kriging algorithm is given. Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II) is selected as the optimal algorithm to realize MOICD of the shrink disk. Numerical analysis and analytical calculation proved that the optimization index of the MOICD method is improved compared with the traditional method. The sample is tested on a specific test bench, and the test results meet the design requirements, which verifies the feasibility of MOICD.
A Competitive Swarm Optimizer‐Based Technoeconomic Optimization with Appliance Scheduling in Domestic PV‐Battery Hybrid Systems
Authors: Wang Bo , Li Yanjing , Yang Fei , Xia Xiaohua
Published: October 2019

A technoeconomic optimization problem for a domestic grid‐connected PV‐battery hybrid energy system is investigated. It incorporates the appliance time scheduling with appliance‐specific power dispatch. The optimization is aimed at minimizing energy cost, maximizing renewable energy penetration, and increasing user satisfaction over a finite horizon. Nonlinear objective functions and constraints, as well as discrete and continuous decision variables, are involved. To solve the proposed mixed‐integer nonlinear programming problem at a large scale, a competitive swarm optimizer‐based numerical solver is designed and employed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified by simulation results.
Silymarin Ameliorates Acrylamide-Induced Hyperlipidemic Cardiomyopathy in Male Rats
Authors: Abdel-Moneim Ashraf M. , Elsawy Hany , Alzahrani Abdullah M. , Ali Awatef , Mahmoud Omar
Published: October 2019

Acrylamide (AA) is a well-known potent carcinogen and neurotoxin that has been recently linked to atherosclerotic pathogenesis. The present study is aimed at investigating the protective effect of silymarin (SIL) as an antioxidant against AA-induced hyperlipidemic cardiomyopathy in male rats. The obtained results showed that animals exposed to AA exhibited a significant increase in the levels of cardiac serum markers, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, AA intoxication significantly increased the malondialdehyde level (a hallmark of lipid peroxidation) and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). SIL administration significantly attenuated all these biochemical perturbations in AA-treated rats, except for the decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Our results were confirmed by histopathological assessment of the myocardium. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a beneficial effect of SIL therapy in the prevention of AA-induced cardiotoxicity by reversing the redox stress and dyslipidemia in experimental animals.
Marginal and Internal Adaptation Evaluation of Dental Composites Using Micro-CT
Authors: Stan Adrian Tudor , Cîrligeriu Laura , Idorași Laura , Negruțiu Meda Lavinia , Sinescu Cosmin , Pop Daniela Maria , Hajaj Tareq , Talpoș Şerban , Romînu Mihai
Published: October 2019

The aim of the study was to determine the marginal and internal adaptation after curing of different composite resin restorations, using a nondestructive X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Forty previously extracted human molars, kept in 10% formalin to preserve the bonding capabilities of the tooth structures, were divided into four groups based on the composite system used and different light-curing times. Class II (vertical slot) cavities were prepared on one proximal side and restored with dental composite using a Tofflemire matrix, with a bulk-fill composite resin (Venus Bulk Fill, Heraeus Kulzer) and a universal posterior composite (G-ænial Posterior, GC). A curing lamp (Kerr Demi Ultra) was used with different curing times. Micro-CT scanning was performed by using Nikon XTH 225ST to reveal any defects in adaptation or gaps at the tooth restoration interface. The 3D images of the adaptation around the restorations were reconstructed using VG Studio Max 2.2 and myVGL 2.2.6 64-bit software. All samples from the G-ænial group showed marginal and internal gaps, with G-ænial Posterior having higher polymerization shrinkage and marginal gap values. In the Venus Bulk Fill group, there were fewer restorations with internal and external gap formation. Micro-CT is a three-dimensional imaging technique that can nondestructively detect adaptation around the resin composite restorations at every level of the sample.
Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Ferroptosis
Authors: Su Lian-Jiu , Zhang Jia-Hao , Gomez Hernando , Murugan Raghavan , Hong Xing , Xu Dongxue , Jiang Fan , Peng Zhi-Yong
Published: October 2019

Reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) induced lipid peroxidation plays a critical role in cell death including apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. This fundamental and conserved mechanism is based on an excess of ROS which attacks biomembranes, propagates lipid peroxidation chain reactions, and subsequently induces different types of cell death. A highly evolved sophisticated antioxidant system exists that acts to protect the cells from oxidative damage. In this review, we discussed how ROS propagate lipid peroxidation chain reactions and how the products of lipid peroxidation initiate apoptosis and autophagy in current models. We also discussed the mechanism of lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis, and we summarized lipid peroxidation in pathological conditions of critical illness. We aim to bring a more global and integrative sight to know how different ROS-induced lipid peroxidation occurs among apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis.
All-in-One Framework for Detection, Unpacking, and Verification for Malware Analysis
Authors: Choi Mi-Jung , Bang Jiwon , Kim Jongwook , Kim Hajin , Moon Yang-Sae
Published: October 2019

Packing is the most common analysis avoidance technique for hiding malware. Also, packing can make it harder for the security researcher to identify the behaviour of malware and increase the analysis time. In order to analyze the packed malware, we need to perform unpacking first to release the packing. In this paper, we focus on unpacking and its related technologies to analyze the packed malware. Through extensive analysis on previous unpacking studies, we pay attention to four important drawbacks: no phase integration, no detection combination, no real-restoration, and no unpacking verification. To resolve these four drawbacks, in this paper, we present an all-in-one structure of the unpacking system that performs packing detection, unpacking (i.e., restoration), and verification phases in an integrated framework. For this, we first greatly increase the packing detection accuracy in the detection phase by combining four existing and new packing detection techniques. We then improve the unpacking phase by using the state-of-the-art static and dynamic unpacking techniques. We also present a verification algorithm evaluating the accuracy of unpacking results. Experimental results show that the proposed all-in-one unpacking system performs all of the three phases well in an integrated framework. In particular, the proposed hybrid detection method is superior to the existing methods, and the system performs unpacking very well up to 100% of restoration accuracy for most of the files except for a few packers.
GYY4137 Attenuates Sodium Deoxycholate-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury Both In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Chen Zeyang , Tang Jianqiang , Wang Pengyuan , Zhu Jing , Liu Yucun
Published: October 2019

Objectives.Substantial studies have demonstrated that an elevated concentration of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the colonic lumen may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of GYY4137, as a novel and synthetic H2S donor, on the injury of intestinal barrier induced by sodium deoxycholate (SDC) both in vivo and in vitro.Methods.In this study, Caco-2 monolayers and mouse models with high SDC concentration in the lumen were used to study the effect of GYY4137 on intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by SDC and its underlying mechanisms.Results.In Caco-2 monolayers, a short period of addition of SDC increased the permeability of monolayers obviously, changed distribution of tight junctions (TJs), and improved the phosphorylation level of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin light chain (MLC). However, pretreatment with GYY4137 markedly ameliorated the SDC-induced barrier dysfunction. Being injected with GYY4137 could enable mice to resist the SDC-induced injury of the intestinal barrier. Besides, GYY4137 promoted the recovery of the body weight and intestinal barrier histological score of mice with the gavage of SDC. GYY4137 also attenuated the decreased expression level of TJs in mice treated with SDC.Conclusion. Taken together, this research suggests that GYY4137 preserves the intestinal barrier from SDC-induced injury via suppressing the activation of P-MLCK-P-MLC2 signaling pathway and increasing the expression level of tight junctions.
Outer Nuclear Layer as the Main Predictor to Anatomic Response to Half Dose Photodynamic Therapy in Chronic Central Serous Retinopathy
Authors: Sousa Keissy , Viana Ana Rita , Pires Joana , Ferreira Carla , Queirós Lara , Falcão Manuel
Published: October 2019

Purpose. To evaluate the predictors for subretinal fluid resorption in patients with chronic central serous retinopathy (cCSR) submitted to half-dose photodynamic therapy (HD-PDT). Methods. Observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study of patients with cCSR submitted to HD-PDT in a tertiary ophthalmology department in Portugal between January 2015 and February 2018. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SD-OCT at baseline and 12 ± 3 months after treatment were performed. The central macular thickness (CMT), outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, integrity of the external limiting membrane (ELM), ellipsoid (EZ) and interdigitation zone (IZ), subretinal fluid (SFR) height, and choroidal thickness (CT) were evaluated. Patients were classified into responders and nonresponders based on SRF resorption. Results. Sixty-one eyes of 42 patients were included; 75.4% were classified as responders. Final BCVA was significantly better in responders (p=0.002). The baseline ONL was thicker (p<0.01) and intact ELM (67.2% vs. 16.4%), EZ (49.2% vs. 8.2%), and IZ (31.2% vs. 1.6%) were more prevalent in responders than in nonresponders. Anatomic response was correlated with a thicker ONL (rs (59) = 0.416, p=0.001∗), intact ELM (rs (59) = 0.261, p=0.04∗), EZ (rs (59) = 0.278, p=0.03∗), and IZ (rs (59) = 0.318, p=0.01∗). Binary logistic regression showed that a thicker ONL thickness increased the chance of an anatomic response to HD-PDT. The other evaluated retinal layers did not have statistical significance in the binary regression model. Conclusions. cCSR responders to HD-PDT have a better final BCVA, a thicker baseline ONL, and an intact baseline ELM, EZ, and IZ. However, ONL was the only predictor in a logistic regression model for SRF resorption.
Modeling and Analysis of Chaos and Bifurcations for the Attitude System of a Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Bi Haiyun , Qi Guoyuan , Hu Jianbing
Published: October 2019

A model of the attitude system for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (QUAV), assumed to be a rigid body, is developed. For specific parameter configurations, a chaotic region with a saddle and two stable node‐focus equilibrium points is identified. The chaotic model provides an important reference for dynamic analysis and a challengeable task of controller design once the flight enters the chaotic region of parameters. The pitchfork bifurcation of the equilibrium points is provided. Rich dynamics of the system are revealed by two bifurcation regions, which demonstrates the diversity of the flight behaviors as the parameters vary. One bifurcation analysis is with respect to the speed of the front propeller and the speed difference of the front and left propellers, and another one is with respect to the speed of the front propeller and moment of inertia. The dynamic characteristics of the QUAV are further verified by the Casimir power bifurcations. The trajectories of three settings with different structural parameters are analyzed in detail. The stability of the QUAV is found to be enhanced for certain optimized values of the structural parameters. Finally, using the Casimir power and Lagrange multiplier method, a supremum bound of the chaotic attractor is presented.
Performance Evaluation of Zone-Based Routing with Hierarchical Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Jadoon Rab Nawaz , Zhou WuYang , Khan Iftikhar Ahmed , Khan Muhammad Amir , Abid Shahbaz Akhtar , Khan Nauman Ali
Published: October 2019

Routing remains a most challenging task in sensor networks because of constrained resources like battery power, processing, and memory. Many energy efficiency techniques for the sensor networks have been proposed, among which hierarchical routing is considered the most energy-efficient and extended network lifetime technique. This technique has a lesser number of transmissions in the network. On the contrary, zone-based routing claims lesser control and routing overhead on the overall network lifetime. In this research, a simulation-based comparison of zone-based routing with static clustering hierarchical routing is conducted. The simulation results show that the zone-based routing outperforms hierarchical routing with static clustering in terms of energy efficiency, network lifetime, and throughput.