bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expansions for a fundamental solution of Laplace's equation on ℝ3 in 5-cyclidic harmonics
Authors: Cohl Howard S. , Volkmer Hans
Published: October 2014

We derive eigenfunction expansions for a fundamental solution of Laplace's equation in three-dimensional Euclidean space in 5-cyclidic coordinates. There are three such expansions in terms of internal and external 5-cyclidic harmonics of first, second and third kind. The internal and external 5-cyclidic harmonics are expressed by solutions of a Fuchsian differential equation with five regular singular points.
TD-DFT study on some triphenylamine-based organic dyes as photosensitizers in DSSCs
Authors: Hasanein Ahmed A. , Elmarassi Yasser R. , Ramadan Ahmed M.
Published: October 2014

Geometrical and molecular electronic structure calculations on a series of metal free organic dyes based on triphenylamine (TPA) moiety have been performed using the TD-DFT methods. The B3LYP/6-31G, B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), M06-HF/6-31G(d,p) and WB97XD/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory have been utilized to predict the relationships between chemical structure and theoretically calculated molecular electronic properties of the studied dyes which may help in optimizing the properties of TPA-based photosensitizers in DSSCs. The solvation process of these dyes has been taken into account by means of the polarizable continuum model. The light harvesting efficiency, the free energy change for the electron injection process to the surface of TiO 2 nanocrystalline semiconductor and the open circuit potential are calculated using all of these methods in different media. Significant charge transfer character of the HOMO → LUMO electronic transition which dominates the So → S1 vertical excitation in these systems facilitates the electron transfer process to the surface of TiO 2. The results of the present computations are reported and discussed.
Density functional theory study of pure octupolar porphyrazines with second-order nonlinear optical activity
Authors: Zhao Luyang , Chen Chao , Li Zimeng , Qi Dongdong , Jiang Jianzhuang
Published: October 2014

Delicately designed pure octupolar molecular compounds, tetra(triptycene)porphyrazine and its skeleton expanded derivatives have been studied on the basis of density functional theory. The pure octupolar contribution with better isotropy to the second-order nonlinear optical response for these compounds is revealed, with further investigation to the molecular size effects, as well as peripheral polarized substituent influences to the nonlinear optical response.
Generalized Fibonacci and Lucas numbers of the form 5x2
Authors: Keskin Refık , Karaatli Olcay
Published: October 2014

Let (Un(P, Q) and (Vn(P, Q) denote the generalized Fibonacci and Lucas sequences, respectively. In this study, we assume that Q = 1. We determine all indices n such that Un= 5◻ and Un= 5Um◻ under some assumptions on P. We show that the equation Vn= 5◻ has a solution only if n = 1 for the case when P is odd. Moreover, we show that the equation Vn= 5Vm◻ has no solutions.
Mathematical model for smoking: Effect of determination and education
Authors: Yadav Anuradha , Srivastava Prashant K. , Kumar Anuj
Published: October 2014

We propose and analyze mathematical models to study the dynamics of smoking behavior under the influence of educational programs and also individual's determination to quit smoking. We establish the positivity and boundedness of the solutions in a biologically feasible region. A threshold value responsible for persistence of smoking is obtained and stability analysis on models is performed. We find that determination alone is not enough to eradicate smoking but it can reduce the prevalence of smoker population. Whereas the increase in education can possibly eradicate it. We performed numerical simulation for representative set of parameters to verify and discuss results obtained analytically.
Directed Incremental Symbolic Execution
Authors: Yang Guowei , Person Suzette , Rungta Neha , Khurshid Sarfraz
Published: October 2014

The last few years have seen a resurgence of interest in the use of symbolic execution—a program analysis technique developed more than three decades ago to analyze program execution paths. Scaling symbolic execution to real systems remains challenging despite recent algorithmic and technological advances. An effective approach to address scalability is to
reduce
the scope of the analysis. For example, in regression analysis,
differences
between two related program versions are used to guide the analysis. While such an approach is intuitive, finding efficient and precise ways to identify program differences, and characterize their impact on how the program executes has proved challenging in practice.

In this article, we present
Directed Incremental Symbolic Execution
(DiSE), a novel technique for detecting and characterizing the impact of program changes to scale symbolic execution. The novelty of DiSE is to combine the
efficiencies
of static analysis techniques to compute program difference information with the
precision
of symbolic execution to explore program execution paths and generate path conditions affected by the differences. DiSE complements other reduction and bounding techniques for improving symbolic execution. Furthermore, DiSE does not require analysis results to be carried forward as the software evolves—only the source code for two related program versions is required. An experimental evaluation using our implementation of DiSE illustrates its effectiveness at detecting and characterizing the effects of program changes.
Network-Layer Trust in Named-Data Networking
Authors: Ghali Cesar , Tsudik Gene , Uzun Ersin
Published: October 2014

In contrast to today's IP-based host-oriented Internet architecture, Information-Centric Networking (ICN) emphasizes content by making it directly addressable and routable. Named Data Networking (NDN) architecture is an instance of ICN that is being developed as a candidate next-generation Internet architecture. By opportunistically caching content within the network, NDN appears to be well-suited for large-scale content distribution and for meeting the needs of increasingly mobile and bandwidth-hungry applications that dominate today's Internet.

One key feature of NDN is the requirement for each content object to be digitally signed by its producer. Thus, NDN should be, in principle, immune to distributing fake (aka "poisoned") content. However, in practice, this poses two challenges for detecting fake content in NDN routers: (1) overhead due to signature verification and certificate chain traversal, and (2) lack of trust context, i.e., determining which public keys are trusted to verify which content. Because of these issues, NDN does not force routers to verify content signatures, which makes the architecture susceptible to content poisoning attacks.

This paper explores root causes of, and some cures for, content poisoning attacks in NDN. In the process, it becomes apparent that meaningful mitigation of content poisoning is contingent upon a network-layer trust management architecture, elements of which we construct, while carefully justifying specific design choices. This work represents the initial effort towards comprehensive trust management for NDN.
SSH Compromise Detection using NetFlow/IPFIX
Authors: Hofstede Rick , Hendriks Luuk , Sperotto Anna , Pras Aiko
Published: October 2014

Flow-based approaches for SSH intrusion detection have been developed to overcome the scalability issues of host-based alternatives. Although the detection of many SSH attacks in a flow-based fashion is fairly straightforward, no insight is typically provided in whether an attack was successful. We address this shortcoming by presenting a detection algorithm for the flow-based detection of compromises, i.e., hosts that have been compromised during an attack. Our algorithm has been implemented as part of our open-source IDS SSHCure and validated using almost 100 servers, workstations and honeypots, featuring an accuracy close to 100%.
Impact of Microwave Treatment on Chemical Constituents in Fresh Rhizoma Gastrodiae (Tianma) by UPLC-MS Analysis
Authors: Fan Qimeng , Chen Chaoyin , Xie Dingqi , Zhao Shenglan
Published: October 2014

Fresh Rhizoma Gastrodiae (Tianma) was processed in a microwave oven at 2450 MHz in order to study the effect on the main chemical component changes taking place during microwave treatment. It was found that microwave affected the chemical composition of Tianma. Seven compounds, including gastrodin, gastrodigenin (p-hydroxybenzylalcohol), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillyl alcohol, vanillin, adenine, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, were identified in this study. As major active compounds, the contents of gastrodin and gastrodigenin in MWT Tianma were both twice as much as those in raw Tianma. Besides, the MS data show that there are still some unidentified compositions in Tianma, and there are also many converted compounds in MWT Tianma, which is worthy of further work. The results have indicated that microwave treated fresh Tianma might be helpful in designing the processing of traditional Chinese medicine and the application of microwave technology in traditional Chinese medicine needs to be researched further in the future.
Nutritional and Hygienic Quality of Raw Milk in the Mid-Northern Region of Algeria: Correlations and Risk Factors
Authors: Adjlane-Kaouche Soumeya , Benhacine Rafik , Ghozlane Faiçal , Mati Abderrahmane
Published: October 2014

This paper aims to study the overall quality of raw milk in the mid-northern region of Algeria. The analysis results showed a decrease in the average temperature for the delivery of 1,54°C withP<0.001. However, no significant variation (P>0.05) was observed in almost all the physical and nutritional parameters studied (pH, fat content, and protein content) between M1 and M2. The average contamination by total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), coliforms, yeasts, molds, and different pathogens in samples taken at M1 showed significant changes at M2. This was confirmed by the decrease of reduction time of methylene blue (RTMB), about 54%. The variation was described as follows: (P>0.05) for yeasts and (P<0.05) for molds in M1 and M2, (P<0.05) for TMAB in M1, and (P<0.001) for TC, FC, and TMAB in M2. The analysis for the detection ofSalmonellaspp. showed no contamination in all samples tested, while antibiotic residues were detected in 35% of milks delivered. In conclusion, several risk factors have been identified in this study, namely, the effect of the season and the distance between the farm and the dairy unit.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Genetic Characterisation ofBurkholderia pseudomalleiIsolated from Malaysian Patients
Authors: Khosravi Yalda , Vellasamy Kumutha Malar , Mariappan Vanitha , Ng Shet-Lee , Vadivelu Jamuna
Published: October 2014

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics. Ceftazidime (CAZ), the syntheticβ-lactam, is normally used as the first-line antibiotic therapy for treatment of melioidosis. However, acquired CAZ resistance can developin vivoduring treatment with CAZ, leading to mortality if therapy is not switched to a different antibiotic(s) in a timely manner. In this study, susceptibilities of 81B. pseudomalleiisolates to nine different antimicrobial agents were determined using the disk diffusion method, broth microdilution test and Etest. Highest percentage of susceptibility was demonstrated to CAZ, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, meropenem, imipenem, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Although these drugs demonstrated the highest percentage of susceptibility inB. pseudomallei, the overall results underline the importance of the emergence of resistance in this organism. PCR results showed that, of the 81B. pseudomallei, six multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates carriedbpeB,amrB, andBPSS1119andpenAgenes. Genotyping of the isolates using random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis showed six different PCR fingerprinting patterns generated from the six MDR isolates clusters (A) and eight PCR fingerprinting patterns generated for the remaining 75 non-MDR isolates clusters (B).
Comparison of Medpor Coated Tear Drainage Tube versus Silicon Tear Drainage Tube in Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy: Problems and Solutions
Authors: Sendul Selam Yekta , Cagatay Halil Huseyin , Dirim Burcu , Demir Mehmet , Yıldız Ali Atakhan , Acar Zeynep , Cinar Sonmez , Guven Dilek
Published: October 2014

Purpose.This study aims at comparing two different types of drainage tubes in conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, which are used for upper lacrimal system obstruction or damage, with respect to their respective postoperative problems and solutions.Methods.Nineteen eyes of 17 patients who underwent conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) or conjunctivorhinostomy (CR) surgery with a Medpor coated tear drainage tube or silicon tube placement between October, 2010, and February, 2014, were included in this retrospective comparative study.Results.In the initial surgery, Medpor coated tear drainage tubes were used in 11 eyes by CDCR, whereas silicon tear drainage tubes were implanted into 2 eyes by CR and 6 eyes by CDCR. In group 1, proximal and distal obstructions developed postoperatively in 4 eyes, while 1 eye showed tube malposition and 3 eyes developed luminal obstruction by debris 3 times. In group 2, tube extrusion developed in 4 eyes, whereas tube malposition developed in 6 eyes and luminal obstruction by debris developed in 6 eyes at different times, for a total of 20 times.Conclusions.In our study, the most significant complication we observed in the use of silicon tear drainage tubes was tube extrusion,whereas the leading complication related to the use of Medpor coated tear drainage tubes was tube obstruction.
Current Studies of Acupuncture in Cancer‐Induced Bone Pain Animal Models
Authors: Ryu Hee Kyoung , Baek Yong-Hyeon , Park Yeon-Cheol , Seo Byung-Kwan
Published: October 2014

Acupuncture is generally accepted as a safe and harmless treatment option for alleviating pain. To explore the pain mechanism, numerous animal models have been developed to simulate specific human pain conditions, including cancer‐induced bone pain (CIBP). In this study, we analyzed the current research methodology of acupuncture for the treatment of CIBP. We electronically searched the PubMed database for animal studies published from 2000 onward using these search terms: (bone cancer OR cancer) AND (pain OR analgesia) AND (acupuncture OR pharmacopuncture OR bee venom). We selected articles that described cancer pain in animal models. We analyzed the methods used to induce cancer pain and the outcome measures used to assess the effects of acupuncture on CIBP in animal models. We reviewed articles that met our inclusion criteria. Injection of mammary cancer cells into the cavity of the tibia was the most frequently used method for inducing CIBP in the animal models. Among the eight selected studies, five studies demonstrated the effects of electroacupuncture on CIBP. The effects of acupuncture were assessed by measuring pain‐related behavior. Future researches will be needed to ascertain the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating CIBP and to explore the specific mechanism of CIBP in animal models.
A Case of Priapism with Risperidone
Authors: Ginory Almari , Nguyen Mathew
Published: October 2014

Priapism is a urologic emergency defined as a prolonged, possibly painful, penile erection. There are several known causes of priapism including psychotropic medications. One of the mechanisms by which antipsychotics are believed to induce priapism is through alpha-1 antagonism. This is case of a 50-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia with previous priapism related to trazodone, who presents with new onset priapism associated with risperidone. In this case, the treatment of priapism includes discontinuation of the offending agent and drainage of the corpus cavernosum twice along with intracavernosal phenylephrine injections. It is important to educate patients on priapism as a possible side effect of medications. It is also important to consider previous episodes of medication-induced priapism when prescribing psychotropic medications as this may increase the patient’s future risk of priapism.
Considerations on the Use of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes to Improve Forage Utilization
Authors: Mendoza Germán D. , Loera-Corral Octavio , Plata-Pérez Fernando X. , Hernández-García Pedro A. , Ramírez-Mella Mónica
Published: October 2014

Digestion of cell wall fractions of forage in the rumen is incomplete due to the complex links which limit their degradation. It is therefore necessary to find options to optimize the use of forages in ruminant production systems. One alternative is to use exogenous enzymes. Exogenous fibrolytic enzymes are of fungal or bacterial origin and increase nutrient availability from the cell wall, which consists of three fractions in different proportions depending on the species of forage: digestible, potentially digestible, and indigestible. The response to addition of exogenous enzymes varies with the type of forage; many researchers infer that there are enzyme-forage interactions but fail to explain the biological mechanism. We hypothesize that the response is related to the proportion of the potentially digestible fraction. The exogenous enzyme activity depends on several factors but if the general conditions for enzyme action are available, the potentially digestible fraction may determine the magnitude of the response. Results of experiments with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes in domestic ruminants are inconsistent. This, coupled with their high cost, has made their use unattractive to farmers. Development of cheaper products exploring other microorganisms with fibrolytic activity, such asFomes fomentariusorCellulomonas flavigena, is required.
Second and Secondary Lattice Modules
Authors: Çallıalp Fethi , Tekir Ünsal , Uğurlu Emel Aslankarayiğit , Oral Kürşat Hakan
Published: October 2014

LetMbe a lattice module over the multiplicative latticeL. A nonzeroL-lattice moduleMis called second if for eacha∈L,a1M=1Mora1M=0M. A nonzeroL-lattice moduleMis called secondary if for eacha∈L,a1M=1Moran1M=0Mfor somen>0. Our objective is to investigative properties of second and secondary lattice modules.
Multiattribute Grey Target Decision Method Based on Soft Set Theory
Authors: Wang Xia , Dang Yaoguo , Hou Diqing
Published: October 2014

With respect to the Multiattribute decision‐making problems in which the evaluation attribute sets are different and the evaluating values of alternatives are interval grey numbers, a multiattribute grey target decision‐making method in which the attribute sets are different was proposed. The concept of grey soft set was defined, and its “AND” operation was assigned by combining the intersection operation of grey number. The expression approach of new grey soft set of attribute sets considering by all decision makers were gained by applying the “AND” operation of grey soft set, and the weights of synthesis attribute were proved. The alternatives were ranked according to the size of distance of bull’s eyes of each alternative under synthetic attribute sets. The green supplier selection was illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed model.
On the Number of Limit Cycles of a Piecewise Quadratic Near-Hamiltonian System
Authors: Tian Jing
Published: October 2014

This paper is concerned with the problem for the maximal number of limit cycles for a quadratic piecewise near-Hamiltonian system. By using the method of the first order Melnikov function, we find that it can have 8 limit cycles.
An Investigation on Forage Yield Capacity of Kermes Oak (Quercus cocciferaL.) and Grazing Planning of Mediterranean Maquis Scrublands for Traditional Goat Farming
Authors: Tolunay Ahmet , Adıyaman Elif , Akyol Ayhan , İnce Duygu , Türkoğlu Türkay , Ayhan Veysel
Published: October 2014

This study investigated grazing capacities of maquis scrubland and preparation principles of grazing management in forest resources. Kermes oak (Quercus cocciferaL.), which is widespread as a main shrub species in maquis vegetation in Turkey, and pure hair goats (Capra hircusL.) feeding on shoots and leaves of this shrub were selected for study. The study was conducted in two stages. Green leaf and shoot samples were taken from kermes oaks in the first stage and the amount of green herbage yield (g*m−1) and dry matter yield (kg*ha−1) that may be obtained per unit area from these samples was identified. The considered amount of dry matter consumed by pure hair goats daily and the number of goats being fed within 1 year on land of 1 ha according to different land coverage rates of kermes oaks (goat head*ha*yr) were calculated. In the second stage, grazing capacities of sample areas where kermes oak spread were identified and compared with the grazing plan prepared by the forestry administration for this area. Forage yield variance according to land coverage rates of maquis scrublands should be considered when determining optimum animal numbers for grazing per area for sustainable goat farming.
A Three-Dimensional Reconstructive Study of Pelvic Cavity in the New Zealand Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Özkadif Sema , Eken Emrullah , Kalaycı İbrahim
Published: October 2014

The present study has been performed to reveal biometrical aspects and diameter-related differences in terms of sexes regarding pelvic cavity via three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images of pelvic cavity of the New Zealand rabbit. A total of 16 adult New Zealand rabbits, including 8 males and 8 females, were used in this study. Under anesthesia, the images obtained from MDCT were stacked and overlaid to reconstruct the 3D model of the pelvic cavity using 3D modeling software (Mimics 13.1). Measurements, such as the conjugate, transverse, and vertical diameters of the pelvic cavity, and the pelvic inclination were calculated and analyzed statistically. Biometrical differences of the pelvic diameters in New Zealand rabbits of both sexes were shown clearly. It was concluded that the pelvic diameters revealed by 3D modeling techniques can shed light on medical students who take both anatomy training and gynecological applications. The authors hope that the synchronization of medical approaches may give rise to novel diagnostic and therapeutic developments related to pelvic cavity.
Green Approach for Fabrication and Applications of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Kumar Brajesh , Smita Kumari , Cumbal Luis , Debut Alexis
Published: October 2014

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are known to be one of the multifunctional inorganic compounds which are widely used in everyday applications. This study aims to fabricate ZnO-NPs using grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peel extract with particle size ranging from 12 to 72 nm. Structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, TEM, DLS, and FTIR analysis. They show the significant photocatalytic degradation efficiency (>56%, 10 mg/L, 6 h) against methylene blue and antioxidant efficacy (≥80% for 1.2 mM) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. From the results obtained it is suggested that green ZnO-NPs could be used effectively in environmental safety applications and also can address future medical concerns.
Developmental Readiness in the Understanding of Own and Other’s False Beliefs
Authors: Amadó Anna , Serrat Elisabet , Sidera Francesc
Published: October 2014

One of the most important milestones in the development of theory of mind is the understanding of false beliefs. This study compares children’s understanding of representational change and others’ false beliefs and evaluates the effectiveness of an appearance-reality training for improving children’s false belief understanding. A total of 78 children ranging in age from 41 to 47 months were trained in three sessions and evaluated in a pretest and in a posttest. The results show that for children it is easier to understand representational change than false beliefs in others, and that the improvement after training was greater when starting from a higher score in the pretest. The implications of this for training in false belief understanding are discussed.
Acute Hemorrhagic Myositis in Inflammatory Myopathy and Review of the Literature
Authors: Van Gelder Howard , Wu Kim M. , Gharibian Nayiri , Patel Dharmi B. , Clements Philip J. , Heinze Emil R. , Morris Robert I. , Wong Andrew L.
Published: October 2014

We describe two patients with dermatomyositis that presented with interstitial lung disease, positive V and Shawl sign who developed acute spontaneous abdominal/retroperitoneal bleed. Both patients expired despite aggressive treatment and resuscitation. Hemorrhagic myositis in these two patients with inflammatory myopathy is a very rare complication. The association of anti-Ro52 with this potentially very serious complication remains unclear. This potential relationship should be further evaluated in future studies.
Convexity Properties for Certain Classes of Analytic Functions Associated with an Integral Operator
Authors: Wongsaijai Ben , Sukantamala Nattakorn
Published: October 2014

We introduce a new form of generalized integral operator defined on the class of analytic functionsA0. By making use of this novel integral operator, we give the convexity of other integral operators. We also briefly indicate the relevant connections of our presented results to the formerly reported results. Furthermore, other interesting properties are also discussed.
Work-Related Health Disorders among Saudi Computer Users
Authors: Jomoah Ibrahim M.
Published: October 2014

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and eye and vision complaints among the computer users of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), and Saudi Telecom Company (STC). Stratified random samples of the work stations and operators at each of the studied institutions were selected and the ergonomics of the work stations were assessed and the operators’ health complaints were investigated. The average ergonomic score of the studied work station at STC, KAU, and SAUDIA was 81.5%, 73.3%, and 70.3, respectively. Most of the examined operators use computers daily for ≤ 7 hours, yet they had some average incidences of general complaints (e.g., headache, body fatigue, and lack of concentration) and relatively high level of incidences of eye and vision complaints and musculoskeletal complaints. The incidences of the complaints have been found to increase with the (a) decrease in work station ergonomic score, (b) progress of age and duration of employment, (c) smoking, (d) use of computers, (e) lack of work satisfaction, and (f) history of operators’ previous ailments. It has been recommended to improve the ergonomics of the work stations, set up training programs, and conduct preplacement and periodical examinations for operators.
Modeling of Millimeter-Wave Modulation Characteristics of Semiconductor Lasers under Strong Optical Feedback
Authors: Bakry Ahmed
Published: October 2014

This paper presents modeling and simulation on the characteristics of semiconductor laser modulated within a strong optical feedback (OFB-)induced photon-photon resonance over a passband of millimeter (mm) frequencies. Continuous wave (CW) operation of the laser under strong OFB is required to achieve the photon-photon resonance in the mm-wave band. The simulated time-domain characteristics of modulation include the waveforms of the intensity and frequency chirp as well as the associated distortions of the modulated mm-wave signal. The frequency domain characteristics include the intensity modulation (IM) and frequency modulation (FM) responses in addition to the associated relative intensity noise (RIN). The signal characteristics under modulations with both single and two mm-frequencies are considered. The harmonic distortion and the third order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) are examined and the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) is calculated.
Gold Nanoparticle‐Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites That Enhance the Device Performance of Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Chuang Ming-Kai , Chen Fang-Chung , Hsu Chain-Shu
Published: October 2014

Metal nanoparticle‐decorated graphene oxides are promising materials for use in various optoelectronic applications because of their unique plasmonic properties. In this paper, a simple, environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticle‐decorated graphene oxide that can be used to improve the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) is reported. Here, the amino acid glycine is employed as an environmentally friendly reducing reagent for the reduction of gold ions in the graphene oxide solutions. Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize the material properties of the resulting nanomaterials. Furthermore, these nanocomposites are employed as the anode buffer layer in OPVs to trigger surface plasmonic resonance, which improved the efficiency of the OPVs. The results indicate that such nanomaterials appear to have great potential for application in OPVs.
Pulp Revascularization of Immature Permanent Teeth: A Review of the Literature and a Proposal of a New Clinical Protocol
Authors: Namour Mélanie , Theys Stephanie
Published: October 2014

Tissue engineering is a growing field. In the near future, it will probably be possible to generate a complete vital tooth from a single stem cell. Pulp revascularization is dependent on the ability of residual pulp and apical and periodontal stem cells to differentiate. These cells have the ability to generate a highly vascularized and a conjunctive rich living tissue. This one is able to colonize the available pulp space. Revascularization is a new treatment method for immature necrotic permanent teeth. Up to now, apexification procedures were applied for these teeth, using calcium dihydroxide or MTA to produce an artificial apical barrier. However, the pulp revascularization allows the stimulation of the apical development and the root maturation of immature teeth. Two pulp revascularization techniques are used in the literature, one using calcium dihydroxide and the second using a triple antibiotic paste. Based on these two different pulp revascularization protocols, which obtain the desired therapeutic success, the literature will be reviewed and analyzed according to the relevance of their choice of materials. Based on the literature, we propose a new relevant protocol and a new mixture of antibiotics.
Intermittent Brugada Syndrome Presenting with Syncope in an Adult Female
Authors: Chavez Patricia , Bamira Daniel , Casso Dominguez Abel , Bhandary Akshai , Herzog Eyal
Published: October 2014

Background.Brugada syndrome accounts for 4–12% of all sudden deaths worldwide and at least 20% of sudden deaths in patients with structurally normal hearts.Case Report.A 48-year-old female presented to the emergency department after two witnessed syncopal episodes. While awaiting discharge had a third collapse followed by cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm. Initial electrocardiogram showed wide QRS complex with left axis deviation, ST-segment elevation of <1 mm in V1 and V2, and flattening of T waves in V1. The angiogram did not demonstrate obstructive coronary disease. The electrocardiogram obtained two days after these events showed a right bundle branch block with ST-segment elevation of >2 mm followed by a negative T wave with no isoelectric separation, suggestive of spontaneous intermittent Brugada type 1 pattern. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated neither structural heart disease nor abnormal myocardium. After placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator the patient was discharged. Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? Brugada syndrome is an infrequently encountered clinical entity which may have a fatal outcome. This syndrome primarily presents with syncope. It should be considered as a component of differential diagnosis in patients with family history of syncope and sudden cardiac death.
Effect ofAntrodiacamphorataon Inflammatory Arterial Thrombosis-Mediated Platelet Activation: The Pivotal Role of Protein Kinase C
Authors: Lu Wan-Jung , Lin Shih-Chang , Lan Chang-Chou , Lee Tzu-Yin , Hsia Chih-Hsuan , Huang Yung-Kai , Lee Hsiu-Chuan , Sheu Joen-Rong
Published: October 2014

Antrodia camphoratais a rare Taiwanese medicinal mushroom.Antrodia camphorataextract has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammation, antimetastasis, and anticancer activities and plays a role in liver fibrosis, vasorelaxation, and immunomodulation. Critical vascular inflammation leads to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysms, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Platelet activation plays a crucial role in intravascular thrombosis, which is involved in a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect ofAntrodia camphorataon platelet activation remains unclear. We examined the effects ofAntrodia camphorataon platelet activation. In the present study,Antrodia camphoratatreatment (56–224 μg/mL) inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, but not U46619, an analogue of thromboxane A2, thrombin, and arachidonic acid.Antrodia camphoratainhibited collagen-induced calcium (Ca2+) mobilization and phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) and Akt. In addition,Antrodia camphoratasignificantly reduced the aggregation and phosphorylation of PKC in phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) activated platelets. In conclusion,Antrodia camphoratamay inhibit platelet activation by inhibiting ofCa2+and PKC cascade and the Akt pathway. Our study suggests thatAntrodia camphoratamay be a potential therapeutic agent for preventing or treating thromboembolic disorders.
Optimized Wideband Impedance Matching Balun for Conducting Two-Arm Antennas
Authors: Hussein Khalid F. A.
Published: October 2014

A split coaxial balun with a step transition of the inner conductor diameter is introduced to satisfy impedance matching between unbalanced feeder and balanced antennas. The location of the step transition along the axis of the balun and the diameter change are two dimensional parameters that are not present in the conventional split coaxial balun. These additional parameters, together with the double slot width, provide more flexibility to design the balun for better impedance matching. The effects of the three dimensional parameters on the input impedance seen at the (unbalanced) coaxial line side of the balun are investigated when it is terminated with specific lumped impedance at its (balanced) split side. An optimization procedure is introduced to arrive at the balun dimensional parameters to give the best matching with specific load impedance. The proposed balun is designed to feed (balanced) two-arm antennas such as the dipole and the bowtie antenna from 50 Ω-coaxial line. The electromagnetic simulation shows that the proposed balun results in a perfect impedance matching. A comparison with the performance of the conventional split balun used to feed a dipole antenna shows that the balun proposed in the present paper gives a much lower value of the return loss at the design frequency and a wider bandwidth for VSWR ≤ 1.5. The simulation results obtained using the MoM are compared with experimental measurements showing good agreement.
Hesitant Fuzzy Soft Subalgebras and Ideals inBCK/BCI-Algebras
Authors: Jun Young Bae , Ahn Sun Shin , Muhiuddin G.
Published: October 2014

As a link between classical soft sets and hesitant fuzzy sets, the notion of hesitant fuzzy soft sets is introduced and applied to a decision making problem in the papers by Babitha and John (2013) and Wang et al. (2014). The aim of this paper is to apply hesitant fuzzy soft set for dealing with several kinds of theories inBCK/BCI-algebras. The notions of hesitant fuzzy soft subalgebras and (closed) hesitant fuzzy soft ideals are introduced, and related properties are investigated. Relations between a hesitant fuzzy soft subalgebra and a (closed) hesitant fuzzy soft ideal are discussed. Conditions for a hesitant fuzzy soft set to be a hesitant fuzzy soft subalgebra are given, and conditions for a hesitant fuzzy soft subalgebra to be a hesitant fuzzy soft ideal are provided. Characterizations of a (closed) hesitant fuzzy soft ideal are considered.
The Influence of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus on Dental Caries and Salivary Flow
Authors: Gupta V. K. , Malhotra Seema , Sharma Vasuda , Hiremath S. S.
Published: October 2014

Objective. To assess whether or not there was any change in the dental caries and rate of salivary flow of patients with Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and the contribution of salivary flow to caries risk in IDDM.Setting. Department of Endocrinology, MS Ramaiah Hospital, Bangalore, India.Design. A comparative cross-sectional descriptive type.Materials and Methods. The sample consisted of two groups: 140 diabetic group (mean age 14.8 yr) and 140 nondiabetic group (mean age 13.7 yr). Dental caries by dmf(t) and dmf(s) indices for primary dentition and DMF(T) and DMF(S) indices was used in permanent dentition to assess the dental caries experience. Both stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate were assessed after collection of saliva.Results. In diabetic group 76% had carious lesion and in nondiabetic group 85.3% had carious lesion. Diabetics have lower mean DMFT, DMFS, dmft, and dmfs compared to the nondiabetic group. Diminished unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate in diabetic than nondiabetic group.Conclusions. The findings obtained conclude that even though there was reduced salivary flow rate in diabetic group the caries prevalence was low.
A Note about the General Meromorphic Solutions of the Fisher Equation
Authors: Qi Jian-ming , Chen Qiu-hui , Xiong Wei-ling , Yuan Wen-jun
Published: October 2014

We employ the complex method to obtain the general meromorphic solutions of the Fisher equation, which improves the corresponding results obtained by Ablowitz and Zeppetella and other authors (Ablowitz and Zeppetella, 1979; Feng and Li, 2006; Guo and Chen, 1991), and wg,i(z) are new general meromorphic solutions of the Fisher equation for Our results show that the complex method provides a powerful mathematical tool for solving great many nonlinear partial differential equations in mathematical physics.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photoconductivity Studies on Poly(2-chloroaniline) and Poly(2-chloroaniline)/CuO Nanocomposites
Authors: Linganathan Porselvi , Sundararajan Jency , Samuel Jhancy Mary
Published: October 2014

The poly(2-chloroaniline) and poly(2-chloroaniline)/CuO nanocomposites with various weight percentages (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) were synthesized byin situchemical oxidative polymerization method using ammonium per sulphate (oxidant), HCl (dopant), and dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid as a surfactant at 0°C. The formation of polymer and its composites was confirmed by FTIR and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The SEM and X-ray diffraction studies clearly indicate the uniform dispersion of CuO nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. The thermal stability of the polymer and its composites increased with increase in the percentage of CuO nanoparticles. The polymer and composites exhibit fluorescence property and hence can be used in the light emitting diodes. The current voltage (I-V) curves clearly illustrate the enhanced conductivity on light exposure compared to the dark current. The conductivity of the polymer increased with increase in the percentage of CuO nanoparticles. Poly(2-chloroaniline)/CuO nanocomposites with 25% of CuO show a maximum conductivity of2.05×10-4 S cm−1. The composites synthesized behave as organic metals due to their semiconducting nature.
Expression of Angiogenesis Regulatory Proteins and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Factors in Platelets of the Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Han Hui , Cao Fang-Li , Wang Bao-Zhong , Mu Xue-Ru , Li Guang-Yao , Wang Xiu-Wen
Published: October 2014

Platelets play a role in tumor angiogenesis and growth and are the main transporters of several angiogenesis regulators. Here, we aimed to determine the levels of angiogenesis regulators and epithelial-mesenchymal transition factors sequestered by circulating platelets in breast cancer patients and age-matched healthy controls. Platelet pellets (PP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were collected by routine protocols. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), platelet factor 4 (PF4), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Angiogenesis-associated expression of VEGF (2.1 pg/106platelets versus 0.9 pg/106platelets,P < 0.001), PF4 (21.2 ng/106platelets versus 10.2 ng/106platelets,P < 0.001), PDGF-BB (42.9 pg/106platelets versus 19.1 pg/106platelets,P < 0.001), and TGF-β1 (15.3 ng/106platelets versus 4.3 ng/106platelets,P < 0.001) differed in the PP samples of cancer and control subjects. In addition, protein concentrations were associated with clinical characteristics(P<0.05). Circulating platelets in breast cancer sequester higher levels of PF4, VEGF, PDGF-BB, and TGF-β1, suggesting a possible target for early diagnosis. VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-β1 concentrations in platelets may be associated with prognosis.
On a Stochastic SEIS Model with Treatment Rate of Latent Population
Authors: Gao Shujing , Dai Yanfei , Zhang Yan , Liu Yujiang
Published: October 2014

The asymptotic dynamics of a stochastic SEIS epidemic model with treatment rate of latent population is investigated. First, we show that the system provides a unique positive global solution starting from the positive initial value. Then, the long-term asymptotic behavior of the model is studied: ifR0, which is called the basic reproduction number of the corresponding deterministic model, is not more than unity, the solution of the model is oscillating around the disease-free equilibrium of the corresponding deterministic system, whereas ifR0is larger than unity, we show how the solution spirals around the endemic equilibrium of deterministic system under certain parametric restrictions. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to support our theoretical findings.
Comparison of the Level of Boron Concentrations in Black Teas with Fruit Teas Available on the Polish Market
Authors: Zioła-Frankowska Anetta , Frankowski Marcin , Novotny Karel , Kanicky Viktor
Published: October 2014

The determination of boron by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry has been carried in water-soluble and acid soluble (total content) fractions of 36 samples of traditional black tea and fruit brew. The estimation of the impact of the type of tea on the concentration of boron in water-soluble and acid extracts and potential human health risk from the daily intake of boron was carried out in this study. The levels of boron differed significantly in black and fruit tea types. The mean total content of boron ranged from 8.31 to 18.40 mg/kg in black teas, from 12.85 to 15.13 mg/kg in black tea with fruit flavor, and from 12.09 to 22.77 mg/kg in fruit brews. The degree of extraction of boron in black tea ranged from 8% to 27% and for fruit tea from 17% to 69%. In addition, the values below 25% were of black teas with fruit flavors. The daily intake of B from tea infusions (three cups/day) is still within the average daily intake except for some of the fruit brews which exceed acceptable regulations of the daily intake of total boron by humans. Hence, it may not produce any health risks for human consumption, if other sources of metal contaminated food are not taken at the same time.
Development of Strand-Specific Real-Time RT-PCR to Distinguish Viral RNAs during Newcastle Disease Virus Infection
Authors: Qiu Xusheng , Yu Yang , Yu Shengqing , Zhan Yuan , Wei Nana , Song Cuiping , Sun Yingjie , Tan Lei , Ding Chan
Published: October 2014

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes large losses in the global fowl industry. To better understand NDV replication and transcription cycle, quantitative detection methods for distinguishing NDV genomic RNA (gRNA), antigenomic RNA (cRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) in NDV-infected cells are indispensible. Three reverse transcription primers were designed to specifically target the nucleoprotein (NP) region of gRNA, cRNA, and NP mRNA, and a corresponding real-time RT-PCR assay was developed to simultaneously quantify the three types of RNAs in NDV-infected cells. This method showed very good specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. The detection range of the assay was between5.5×102and1.1×109copies/μL of the target gene. These methods were applied to investigate the dynamics of the gRNA, cRNA, and mRNA synthesis in NDV La Sota infected DF-1 cells. The results showed that the copy numbers of viral gRNA, cRNA, and NP mRNA all exponentially increased in the beginning. The viral RNA copy number then plateaued at 10’h postinfection and gradually decreased from 16 h postinfection. No synthesis priority was observed between replication (gRNA and cRNA amounts) and transcription (mRNA amounts) during NDV infection. However, the cRNA accumulated more rapidly than gRNA, as the cRNA copy number was three- to tenfold higher than gRNA starting from 2 h postinfection.Conclusion. A real-time RT-PCR for absolute quantitation of specific viral RNA fragments in NDV-infected cells was developed for the first time. The development of this assay will be helpful for further studies on the pathogenesis and control strategies of NDV.
Biopsy Needle Localization and Tracking Using ROI-RK Method
Authors: Zhao Yue , Bernard Adeline , Cachard Christian , Liebgott Hervé
Published: October 2014

ROI-RK method is a biopsy needle localization and tracking method. Previous research work has proved that it has a robust performance on different series of simulated 3D US volumes. Unfortunately, in real situations, because of the strong speckle noise of the ultrasound image and the different echogenic properties of the tissues, the real 3D US volumes have more complex background than the simulated images used previously. In this paper, to adapt the ROI-RK method in real 3D US volumes, a line-filter enhancement calculation only in the ROI is added to increase the contrast between the needle and background tissue, decreasing the phenomenon of expansion of the biopsy needle due to reverberation of ultrasound in the needle. To make the ROI-RK method more stable, a self-correction system is also implemented. Real data have been acquired on anex vivoheart of lamb. The result of the ROI-RK method shows that it is capable to localize and track the biopsy needle in real situations, and it satisfies the demand of real-time application.