bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Archaeology of Death Notices: Unearthing the Culture Shaping Death Notices in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Nairn Ray , Moewaka Barnes Angela , McCreanor Tim
Published: December 2017

Researchers have established that the local social or moral order impacts on aspects of death announcements in various societies, though few have consequently sought to problematise that order. Those studies appear to presume the homogeneity of the studied society although modern societies typically include diverse peoples. This article assesses whether death notices in Aotearoa New Zealand are circumscribed by the dominant social/cultural order or reflect its multicultural character. Examining a large number of notices from the New Zealand Herald, we found most incorporated the same structural elements and employed a common vocabulary, evidence that the writers were guided by a single social order. Utilising published research and death notices deviating from the standard we were able to identify cultural characteristics of that local social order that were being rendered ordinary in the sample of death notices. Identified features of that dominant order are: it fixes a gulf between past and present; it limits relationships of the deceased to their immediate family; it expects positive portrayals of the deceased; and overtly religious language is largely absent. Underpinning these notices were two cultural characteristics: an understanding of time as a unidirectional flow of empty instants and a taken-for-granted a-social individuality.
Narrating Agency and Constructing Community: Commonalities and Tensions in Health Technology Narratives
Authors: Black Claire
Published: December 2017

Contemporary biological and digital health technologies disrupt people’s bodies and lives in various ways. One significant way in which people respond to this disruption is by narrating stories about their lives and how these technologies fit within them. This theme of storytelling appears repeatedly across ethnographic explorations of specific health technologies, yet there has been little exploration of the significance of how this plays out comparatively across different technologies. I draw upon ethnographic studies of three health technologies – cadaveric organ donation, commercial surrogacy, and self-tracking digital health technologies – to analyse some common threads of these ‘health technology narratives’. Narrative forms differ across the technologies and different groups of users, but these stories all position their subjects as agentive in the face of these challenges. However, when even seemingly empowering narratives become hegemonic within a community of users, this can also marginalise users of these technologies whose experiences do not conform.
Patient Portal Advertisements: A Discourse Analysis
Authors: Elers Phoebe , Nelson Frances , Nairn Angelique
Published: December 2017

Information and communication technologies that connect patients to their healthcare providers are becoming increasingly widespread. One of these technologies is the patient portal, whereby patients can access health information and complete tasks such as messaging physicians, booking appointments, accessing educational materials, and requesting medication prescriptions. In the present study, we critically analyse advertisements to identify the hopes and expectations that have been used to ‘sell’ patient portals in New Zealand. Two sub-discourses were detected. In the first, healthcare is constructed in terms of physical and emotional connection, presenting patients as vulnerable and dependent, and doctors as experts. In the second, healthcare is constructed as a commercial product, provided by doctors to consumers, in which efficiency is paramount. Our analysis shows that patient portals could reconfigure traditional relationships between health professionals and their patients, altering the conventions of closeness, and at the same time, shifting some responsibilities and stresses of clinical administration onto patients.
A reversible thermoresponsive sealant for temporary closure of ocular trauma
Authors: Bayat Niki , Zhang Yi , Falabella Paulo , Menefee Roby , Whalen John J. , Humayun Mark S. , Thompson Mark E.
Published: December 2017

A smart hydrogel can be used as an effective and safe reversible sealant for management of ocular trauma.
Zika, chikungunya and dengue: the causes and threats of new and re-emerging arboviral diseases
Authors: Paixão Enny S. , Teixeira Maria Gloria , Rodrigues Laura C
Published: December 2017

The recent emergence and re-emergence of viral infections transmitted by vectors—Zika, chikungunya, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever and others—is a cause for international concern. Using as examples Zika, chikungunya and dengue, we summarise current knowledge on characteristics of the viruses and their transmission, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, burden, history, possible causes of the spread and the expectation for future epidemics. Arboviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes, are of difficult diagnosis, can have surprising clinical complications and cause severe burden. The current situation is complex, because there is no vaccine for Zika and chikungunya and no specific treatment for the three arboviruses. Vector control is the only comprehensive solution available now and this remains a challenge because up to now this has not been very effective. Until we develop new technologies of control mosquito populations, the globalised and urbanised world we live in will remain vulnerable to the threat of successive arbovirus epidemics.
Global action on the social determinants of health
Authors: Donkin Angela , Goldblatt Peter , Allen Jessica , Nathanson Vivienne , Marmot Michael
Published: December 2017

Action on the social determinants of health (SDH) is required to reduce inequities in health. This article summarises global progress, largely in terms of commitments and strategies. It is clear that there is widespread support for a SDH approach across the world, from global political commitment to within country action. Inequities in the conditions in which people are born, live, work and age, are however driven by inequities in power, money and resources. Political, economic and resource distribution decisions made outside the health sector need to consider health as an outcome across the social distribution as opposed to a focus solely on increasing productivity. A health in all policies approach can go some way to ensure this consideration, and we present evidence that some countries are taking this approach, however given entrenched inequalities, there is some way to go. Measuring progress on the SDH globally will be key to future development of successful policies and implementation plans, enabling the identification and sharing of best practice. WHO work to align measures with the sustainable development goals will help to forward progress measurement.
Back-analysis of geophysical flows using three-dimensional runout model
Authors: Koo R.C.H. , Kwan J.S.H. , Lam C. , Goodwin G.R. , Choi C.E. , Ng C.W.W. , Yiu J. , Ho K.K.S. , Pun W.K.
Published: December 2017

Predicting the mobility and delineating the extent of geophysical flows remains a challenge for engineers. The accuracy of predictions hinges on the reliability of input parameters of runout models. Currently, limited field data for landslide case histories are available for benchmarking the performance of runout models. Key rheological parameters, such as the equivalent internal friction angle, cannot be measured directly using laboratory experiments and must instead be determined through back-analyses. A series of dynamic back-analyses was carried out for notable landslide case histories in Hong Kong, accounting for the effects of pore-water pressure on the equivalent internal friction angle, using a three-dimensional finite-element mobility model. The recorded and simulated run-out distances, as well as lateral spreading, were compared. Results reveal that the back-analysed equivalent internal friction angles resulting from open-hillslope failures and from channelized geophysical flows range from 25° to 30° and 15° to 20°, respectively. This is attributed to incised geophysical flow channels having an elevated water head and higher degree of saturation compared to open-hillside slope surfaces, wherein the induced elevated pore-water pressure profoundly lowers the equivalent internal friction angle. The back-calculated values may be useful for finite-element-based design of mitigation measures.
Influence of a cocktail of protease and xylanase in different energy densities of corn- and soybean-meal-based diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass quality, and gas emission in broilers
Authors: Nguyen D.H. , Tran H.N. , Yun H.M. , Kim I.H.
Published: December 2017

A total of 480 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers with an average initial body weight (BW) of 42 ± 1 g was randomly divided into four treatments (8 replicates/treatment, 15 birds/replicate) by their BW to evaluate the influence of a cocktail of protease and xylanase in different energy density of corn- and soybean-meal-based diet on broilers. This experiment lasted for 35 d and there were two phases; starter (1–18 d) and finisher (19–35 d). The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of metabolizable energy and the cocktail enzyme with 200 mg of protease kg−1 diet and 100 FXU xylanase kg−1 diet. Both high-nutrient density and cocktail enzyme supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the body weight gain (BWG) during day 1–18 and day 1–35 as well as dry matter retention on day 35. Broilers fed the high-nutrient-density diets had higher (P < 0.05) energy retention on day 35 and relative breast muscle weight. Broilers fed the cocktail enzyme diets significantly increased nitrogen (N) retention and decreased the levels of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emission. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of the cocktail enzyme component improved BWG, N retention, and reduced excreta noxious gas emission in broilers.
Nuclear longitudinal structure function in eA processes at the LHeC
Authors: Boroun G. R. , Rezaei B. , Heidari S.
Published: December 2017

The nucleon and nuclear longitudinal structure functions are determined by the Kharzeev–Levin–Nardin (KLN) model of the low-[Formula: see text] gluon distribution. The behavior of the gluon distribution ratio [Formula: see text] and the ratio [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] processes are shown in this paper. The heavy longitudinal structure function ratios in [Formula: see text] processes at the LHeC region are discussed. Heavy contributions to the ratio of the total longitudinal structure function are considerable and should not be neglected especially at smaller [Formula: see text] of the LHeC project. In the KLN model, the new geometrical scaling for transition from the linear to nonlinear regions in accordance with the LHeC processes is used, whose results intensively depended on the heavy quark mass effect.
D-PUF
Authors: Sutar Soubhagya , Raha Arnab , Kulkarni Devadatta , Shorey Rajeev , Tew Jeffrey , Raghunathan Vijay
Published: December 2017

Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have proved to be an effective and low-cost measure against counterfeiting by providing device authentication and secure key storage services. Memory-based PUF implementations are an attractive option due to the ubiquitous nature of memory in electronic devices and the requirement of minimal (or no) additional circuitry. Dynamic Random Access Memory-- (DRAM) based PUFs are particularly advantageous due to their large address space and multiple controllable parameters during response generation. However, prior works on DRAM PUFs use a static response-generation mechanism making them vulnerable to security attacks. Further, they result in slow device authentication, are not applicable to commercial off-the-shelf devices, or require DRAM power cycling prior to authentication. In this article, we propose D-PUF, an
intrinsically reconfigurable
DRAM PUF based on the idea of DRAM refresh pausing. A key feature of the proposed DRAM PUF is
reconfigurability
, that is, by varying the DRAM refresh-pause interval, the challenge-response behavior of the PUF can be altered, making it robust to various attacks. The article is broadly divided into two parts. In the first part, we demonstrate the use of D-PUF in performing device authentication through a secure, low-overhead methodology. In the second part, we show the generation of true random numbers using D-PUF. The design is implemented and validated using an Altera Stratix IV GX FPGA-based Terasic TR4-230 development board and several off-the-shelf 1GB DDR3 DRAM modules. Our experimental results demonstrate a 4.3×-6.4× reduction in authentication time compared to prior work. Using controlled temperature and accelerated aging tests, we also demonstrate the robustness of our authentication mechanism to temperature variations and aging effects. Finally, the ability of the design to generate random numbers is verified using the NIST Statistical Test Suite.
The Parametric Closure Problem
Authors: Eppstein David
Published: December 2017

We define the
parametric closure problem
, in which the input is a partially ordered set whose elements have linearly varying weights and the goal is to compute the sequence of minimum-weight downsets of the partial order as the weights vary. We give polynomial time solutions to many important special cases of this problem including semiorders, reachability orders of bounded-treewidth graphs, partial orders of bounded width, and series-parallel partial orders. Our result for series-parallel orders provides a significant generalization of a previous result of Carlson and Eppstein on bicriterion subtree problems.
Fuse
Authors: Neill Richard , Drebes Andi , Pop Antoniu
Published: December 2017

Collecting hardware event counts is essential to understanding program execution behavior. Contemporary systems offer few Performance Monitoring Counters (PMCs), thus only a small fraction of hardware events can be monitored simultaneously. We present new techniques to acquire counts for all available hardware events with high accuracy by multiplexing PMCs across multiple executions of the same program, then carefully reconciling and merging the multiple profiles into a single, coherent profile. We present a new metric for assessing the similarity of statistical distributions of event counts and show that our execution profiling approach performs significantly better than Hardware Event Multiplexing.
A Framework for Automated and Controlled Floating-Point Accuracy Reduction in Graphics Applications on GPUs
Authors: Angerd Alexandra , Sintorn Erik , Stenström Per
Published: December 2017

Reducing the precision of floating-point values can improve performance and/or reduce energy expenditure in computer graphics, among other, applications. However, reducing the precision level of floating-point values in a controlled fashion needs support both at the compiler and at the microarchitecture level. At the compiler level, a method is needed to automate the reduction of precision of each floating-point value. At the microarchitecture level, a lower precision of each floating-point register can allow more floating-point values to be packed into a register file. This, however, calls for new register file organizations.

This article proposes an automated precision-selection method and a novel GPU register file organization that can store floating-point register values at arbitrary precisions densely. The automated precision-selection method uses a data-driven approach for setting the precision level of floating-point values, given a quality threshold and a representative set of input data. By allowing a small, but acceptable, degradation in output quality, our method can remove a significant amount of the bits needed to represent floating-point values in the investigated kernels (between 28% and 60%). Our proposed register file organization exploits these lower-precision floating-point values by packing several of them into the same physical register. This reduces the register pressure per thread by up to 48%, and by 27% on average, for a negligible output-quality degradation. This can enable GPUs to keep up to twice as many threads in flight simultaneously.
An
O
(
n
ϵ
) Space and Polynomial Time Algorithm for Reachability in Directed Layered Planar Graphs
Authors: Chakraborty Diptarka , Tewari Raghunath
Published: December 2017

Given a graph
G
and two vertices
s
and
t
in it,
graph reachability
is the problem of checking whether there exists a path from
s
to
t
in
G
. We show that reachability in directed layered planar graphs can be decided in polynomial time and
O
(
n
ϵ
) space, for any ϵ > 0. The previous best-known space bound for this problem with polynomial time was approximately
O
(√
n
) space (Imai et al. 2013).

Deciding graph reachability in SC (Steve's class) is an important open question in complexity theory, and in this article, we make progress toward resolving this question.
Neuronal dynamics supporting formation and recombination of cross-modal olfactory-tactile association in the rat hippocampal formation
Authors: Boisselier Lise , Gervasoni Damien , Garcia Samuel , Ferry Barbara , Gervais Rémi
Published: December 2017

The present study is aimed at describing some aspects of the neural dynamics supporting discrimination of olfactory-tactile paired-associated stimuli during acquisition of new pairs and during recombination of previously learned pairs in the rat. To solve the task, animals have to identify one odor-texture (OT) combination associated with a food reward among three cups with overlapping elements. Previous experiments demonstrated that the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) is involved in the processes underlying OT acquisition, whereas the dorsal hippocampus (DH) is selectively involved in the recombination processes. In the present study, local field potentials were recorded form the anterior piriform cortex (aPC), LEC, and DH in freely moving rats performing these tasks. Signal analysis focused on theta (5–12 Hz)- and beta-band (15–40 Hz) oscillatory activities in terms of both amplitude and synchrony. The results show that cue sampling was associated with a significant increase in the beta-band activity during the choice period in both the aPC and the LEC, and is modulated by level of expertise and the animal’s decision. In addition, this increase was significantly higher during the recombination compared with the acquisition of the OT task, specifically when animals had to neglect the odor previously associated with the reward. Finally, a significant decrease in coherence in the theta band between LEC and DH was observed in the recombination but not in the acquisition task. These data point to specific neural signatures of simple and complex cross-modal sensory processing in the LEC-DH complex.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first to describe electrophysiological correlates of cross-modal olfactory-tactile integration in rats. Recordings were sought from the lateral entorhinal cortex and the dorsal hippocampus because previous studies have shown their role in the formation and in the recombination of previously learned associations. We identified specific oscillatory-evoked neural responses in these structures in the theta and beta bands, which characterize acquisition and recombination of cross-modal olfactory-tactile pairs.
TRIM63 (MuRF-1) gene polymorphism is associated with biomarkers of exercise-induced muscle damage
Authors: Baumert P. ,   G-REX Consortium,, Lake M. J. , Drust B. , Stewart C. E. , Erskine R. M.
Published: December 2017

Unaccustomed strenuous exercise can lead to muscle strength loss, inflammation and delayed-onset muscle soreness, which may be influenced by genetic variation. We investigated if a missense single nucleotide polymorphism (A>G, rs2275950 ) within the TRIM63 gene (encoding MuRF-1 and potentially affecting titin mechanical properties) was associated with the variable response to unaccustomed eccentric exercise. Sixty-five untrained, healthy participants (genotyped for rs2275950 : AA, AG, and GG) performed 120 maximal eccentric knee extensions (ECC) to induce muscle damage. Isometric and isokinetic maximal voluntary knee extension contractions (MVCs) and muscle soreness were assessed before, immediately after, and 48 h after ECC. AA homozygotes were consistently stronger [baseline isometric MVC: 3.23 ± 0.92 Nm/kg (AA) vs. 2.09 ± 0.67 Nm/kg (GG); P = 0.006] and demonstrated less muscle soreness over time ( P = 0.022) compared with GG homozygotes. This may be explained by greater titin stiffness in AA homozygotes, leading to intrinsically stronger muscle fibers that are more resistant to eccentric damaging contractions.
On Numerical Simulation Approach for Multiple Resonance Modes in Servo Systems
Authors: Zhu Qixin , Liu Hongli , Yin Yiyi , Xiong Lei , Zhu Yonghong
Published: December 2017

Mechanical resonance is one of the most pervasive problems in servo control. Closed-loop simulations are requisite when the servo control system with high accuracy is designed. The mathematical model of resonance mode must be considered when the closed-loop simulations of servo systems are done. There will be a big difference between the simulation results and the real actualities of servo systems when the resonance mode is not considered in simulations. Firstly, the mathematical model of resonance mode is introduced in this paper. This model can be perceived as a product of a differentiation element and an oscillating element. Secondly, the second-order differentiation element is proposed to simulate the resonant part and the oscillating element is proposed to simulate the antiresonant part. Thirdly, the simulation approach for two resonance modes in servo systems is proposed. Similarly, this approach can be extended to the simulation of three or even more resonances in servo systems. Finally, two numerical simulation examples are given.
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma of the Submandibular Salivary Gland as an Unusual Manifestation of Richter’s Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Gorodetskiy Vadim R. , Probatova Natalya A. , Kondratieva Tatiana T.
Published: December 2017

Richter’s syndrome is the development of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or Hodgkin lymphoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). In most patients with Richter’s syndrome, the high-grade NHL is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Only a small minority of CLL/SLL patients develop T-cell malignancies. Herein, we describe a 40-year-old male patient presenting with peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) in the submandibular salivary gland, two years after the diagnosis of CLL/SLL. The PTCL-NOS consisted of small lymphocytes, which complicated diagnosis. Immunohistochemical, cytological, and molecular studies allowed the correct diagnosis of composite lymphoma (SLL/PTCL-NOS) of the submandibular salivary gland. The PTCL-NOS had a cytotoxic phenotype and aberrant expression of CD79a. There was no evidence to suggest that the PTCL-NOS of the submandibular salivary gland developed from an intimately associated submandibular lymph node or by PTCL-NOS dissemination. A review of the literature and presented case suppose that the PTCLs developed following CLL/SLL have the cytotoxic phenotype and can clinically mimic typical Richter’s syndrome.
Hemiataxia: A Novel Presentation of Anti-NMDA Receptor Antibody Mediated Encephalitis in an Adolescent
Authors: Phillips Greg D. , Jones Gillian N. , Callaghan Maureen , DiFazio Marc P.
Published: December 2017

Anti-NMDA receptor antibody associated encephalitis as a cause of new-onset neuropsychiatric manifestations in children and adults can represent a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Clinical signs often include encephalopathy, new-onset psychosis, and movement phenomenon. Although orofacial dyskinesias were initially identified as a characteristic movement phenomenon in this type of encephalitis, an expanded range of abnormalities has recently been reported, including isolated ataxia. We report a case of isolated hemiataxia in a young adult with mild initial psychiatric manifestations. A personal and family history of preceding neuropsychiatric symptoms produced diagnostic confusion and resulted in a significant diagnostic and therapeutic delay. Our case confirms the unilateral movement manifestations that have been emphasized in recent reports. Additionally, it confirms the need for involvement of neurologic as well as psychiatric services in the evaluation of such cases and emphasizes the importance of the neurologic examination in presentations with an initial psychiatric predominance.
Effects of Impeller Diameter on High‐Speed Rescue Pump
Authors: Bai Yuxing , Kong Fanyu , Xia Bin , Zhao Fei , Liu Yingying
Published: December 2017

Impeller diameter is a crucial design parameter of high‐speed rescue pumps because it affects the performance and inner flow characteristics of these pumps. In this study, a pump with an impeller diameter of 248 mm was modeled and its performance was tested. Numerical simulations were conducted under steady and unsteady states, in which the sizes of the impeller diameters were designated as 248 mm (original), 235.6 mm (5% trimmed), 223.2 mm (10% trimmed), and 210.8 mm (15% trimmed). ANSYS software was used to test the shear stress transport (SST k‐ω) of the four models, and results agreed well with experimental data. Diameter size affected impeller characteristics in both steady and unsteady states. Subsequently, the differences in performance, hydraulic loss, pressure pulsation, and radial force of the impellers were evaluated. In the performance test, the head and efficiency of the pump decreased as impeller diameter was reduced. The result trends are in accordance with the trim law within the acceptable error range. In terms of hydraulic loss, the impeller and diffuser vane components presented opposite trends with flow rate increase. Finally, in terms of pressure pulsation and radial force, the amplitude diminished while periodicity improved as impeller diameter decreased.
Antidepressant‐Like Effect of Lipid Extract of Channa striatus in Postpartum Model of Depression in Rats
Authors: Abdul Shukkoor Mohamed Saleem , Baharuldin Mohamad Taufik Hidayat Bin , Mat Jais Abdul Manan , Mohamad Moklas Mohamad Aris , Fakurazi Sharida , Basir Rusliza
Published: December 2017

Postpartum depression affects 15% of women. Channa striatus, a freshwater fish, is consumed in local Malay population as a rejuvenating diet during postpartum period. This study evaluated the antidepressant‐like effect of lipid extract of C. striatus fillet and its mechanism of action in female Sprague‐Dawley rats in postpartum model of depression. The rats were ovariectomized and treated with high dose of progesterone and estradiol benzoate for 23 days to have hormone‐simulated pregnancy. The day 24 and afterwards were considered as the postpartum period. During the postpartum period, lipid extract was administered at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg through intraperitoneal route for 15 days. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was used as the positive control. On postpartum day 15, the animals were tested in forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) followed by biochemical analysis. Withdrawal of hormone administration during the postpartum period induced depressive‐like behavior in FST. Administration of lipid extract reversed that depressive‐like behavior at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg in FST. In OFT, it decreased the exploratory activity. The mechanism of the antidepressant‐like effect may be mediated through the decrease in plasma corticosterone, increase in plasma oxytocin, and decrease in nuclear factor‐kappa B in prefrontal cortex of rats.
Molecular Phylogeny and Morphological Distinctions of Two Popular Bivalves,Ctenoides scaberandCtenoides mitis
Authors: Dougherty Lindsey F. , Li Jingchun
Published: December 2017

One of the most well-known species in the bivalve family Limidae (d’Orbigny, 1846) is the brightly coloredCtenoides scaber(Born, 1778), commonly known as the rough file clam or flame scallop. Distinguishing this bivalve from its close relative,C. mitis(Lamarck, 1807), can be difficult using only morphological features and has led to much taxonomic confusion throughout the literature. In this study, morphological characters were compared to a molecular phylogeny constructed using three genes (COI, 28S, and H3) in order to differentiateC. scaberandC. mitis.The phylogeny recovered two well-supported clades that differ significantly in shell rib numbers, but not tentacle colors. The two species were then placed in a larger phylogenetic context of the Limidae family, which revealed the need for further systematic revision across genera. As these bivalves are popular in aquaria, cannot be tank-raised, and have been overcollected in the past, proper species identification is important for assessing sustainable collection practices.
Dietary Oxidized Linoleic Acid Modulates Plasma Lipids beyond Triglycerides Metabolism
Authors: Garelnabi Mahdi , Ainsworth Gregory , Mahini Halleh , Jamil Naseeha , Ochin Chinedu
Published: December 2017

Introduction. Triglyceride (TG) is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. Previous work has shown that short-term supplementations of mouse chow with oxidized linoleic acid (OxLA) significantly reduce the level of plasma triglycerides.Study Objective. This study aims to determine the effects of longer-term supplementation of mouse chow with various concentrations of oxidized linoleic acid (OxLA) on plasma triglycerides.Study Design. The study consisted of forty C57BL/6 wildtype mice divided into four groups (n=10). Two groups were kept as controls. One control group (P) was fed plain chow and the second control group (C) was fed chow supplemented with linoleic acid. The other two experimental groups (A) and (B) were fed oxidized linoleic acid supplemented chow in the following doses: 9 mg/day of oxidized linoleic acid and 18 mg/day of oxidized linoleic acid/mouse.Results and Conclusion. Mice that were on a diet supplemented with the higher dose of oxidized linoleic acid showed a 39% decrease in hepatic PPAR-αand a significant decrease in the plasma HDL levels compared to the mice that were fed diets of plain and linoleic acid supplemented chow. Interestingly, the longer-term consumption of oxidized linoleic acid may predispose to atheropathogenesis.
Metronomic Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Future Is Now?
Authors: Cazzaniga M. E. , Cortesi L. , Ferzi A. , Scaltriti L. , Cicchiello F. , Ciccarese M. , Torre S. Della , Villa F. , Giordano M. , Verusio C. , Nicolini M. , Gambaro A. R. , Zanlorenzi L. , Biraghi E. , Casini E. , Legramandi L. , Rulli E.
Published: December 2017

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) shows a very bad prognosis, even in early stages of disease. Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the minimum biologically effective dose of a chemotherapy agent given as a continuous dosing regimen with no prolonged drug-free breaks that leads to antitumor activity. In the present article, we review preclinical and clinical data of metronomic administration of chemotherapy agents with or without biological agents in TNBC cell lines and patients, contextually reporting data from the VICTOR-2 study in the subgroup of patients with TNBC, in order to stimulate new ideas for the design of clinical trials in this subset of patients.
Evidence for the Involvement of Lipid Rafts and Plasma Membrane Sphingolipid Hydrolases inPseudomonas aeruginosaInfection of Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Schiumarini Domitilla , Loberto Nicoletta , Mancini Giulia , Bassi Rosaria , Giussani Paola , Chiricozzi Elena , Samarani Maura , Munari Silvia , Tamanini Anna , Cabrini Giulio , Lippi Giuseppe , Dechecchi Maria Cristina , Sonnino Sandro , Aureli Massimo
Published: December 2017

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal genetic recessive disease caused by mutations of gene encoding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Patients with CF display a wide spectrum of symptoms, the most severe being chronic lung infection and inflammation, which lead to onset of cystic fibrosis lung disease. Several studies indicate that sphingolipids play a regulatory role in airway inflammation. The inhibition and downregulation of GBA2, the enzyme catabolizing glucosylceramide to ceramide, are associated with a significant reduction of IL-8 production in CF bronchial epithelial cells. Herein, we demonstrate that GBA2 plays a role in the proinflammatory state characterizing CF cells. We also report for the first time thatPseudomonas aeruginosainfection causes a recruitment of plasma membrane-associated glycosphingolipid hydrolases into lipid rafts of CuFi-1-infected cells. This reorganization of cell membrane may be responsible for activation of a signaling cascade, culminating in aberrant inflammatory response in CF bronchial epithelial cells upon bacterial infection. Taken together, the presented data further support the role of sphingolipids and their metabolic enzymes in controlling the inflammatory response in CF.
Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Security Options amidst Climate Variability and Change in Rural Ghana
Authors: Yamba Sampson , Appiah Divine O. , Pokuaa-Siaw Lawrencia , Asante Felix
Published: December 2017

Farming as a livelihood activity in the Bosomtwe District is threatened by climate change. This paper ascertained the alternative livelihood options of smallholder farmers against climate variability and change in the Bosomtwe District. Using a cross-sectional survey, 152 smallholder farmers were sampled from 12 communities using a multistage sampling procedure. The quantitative data collected were subjected to binary logistic regression analysis, contingency tables, frequencies, and Nagelkerke tests of association, embedded in the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) v.17. The results indicate that farmers are resorting to alternative livelihood activities that are less capital intensive and require less skill in order to secure income and household food supply. Significant determinants of farmers’ alternative livelihood are age, household size, and household food supply, which were significant at p<.030, p<.019, and p<.012, respectively. At a 95% confidence interval (CI), these variables had lower to upper CIs for each of the EXP (B), respectively, at CI = 1.134–12.524, CI = 1.359–30.224, and CI = 1.781–104.561, respectively. The paper recommends that government institutes policies that will create opportunities and draw on various local/grassroots opportunities and resources to expand farmers’ asset base for sustainable livelihood strategies.
Compact Design of Circularly Polarized Antenna with Vertical Slotted Ground for RFID Reader Application
Authors: Cheng Hesheng , Zhang Jin , Cheng Hexia , Zhao Qunli
Published: December 2017

A novel compact circular polarization (CP) microstrip antenna is proposed for UHF ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) reader applications. The proposed antenna is composed of a corner truncated square-ring radiating patch on a substrate and a vertical slotted ground surrounding four sides of the antenna. A new feeding scheme is designed from flexible impedance matching techniques. The impedance bandwidths for S11<-10 dB and 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth are 12.1% (794.5–896.5 MHz) and 2.5% (833.5–854.5 MHz), respectively.
Whole-Exome Sequencing-Based Mutational Profiling of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhan Hao , Jiang Jiahao , Sun Qiman , Ke Aiwu , Hu Jinwu , Hu Zhiqiang , Zhu Kai , Luo Chubin , Ren Ning , Fan Jia , Zhou Jian , Huang Xiaowu
Published: December 2017

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in China with increasing incidence. This study is designed to explore early genetic changes implicated in HCC tumorigenesis and progression by whole-exome sequencing. Methods. We firstly sequenced the whole exomes of 5 paired hepatitis B virus-related early-stage HCC and peripheral blood samples, followed by gene ontological analysis and pathway analysis of the single-nucleotide variants discovered. Then, the mutations of high frequency were further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Results. We identified a mutational signature of dominant T:A>A:T transversion in early HCC and significantly enriched pathways including ECM-receptor interaction, axon guidance, and focal adhesion and enriched biological processes containing cell adhesion, axon guidance, and regulation of pH. Eight genes, including MUC16, UNC79, USH2A, DNAH17, PTPN13, TENM4, PCLO, and PDE1C, were frequently mutated. Conclusions. This study reveals a mutational profile and a distinct mutation signature of T:A>A:T transversion in early-stage HCC with HBV infection, which will enrich our understanding of genetic characteristics of the early-stage HCC.
Fault Detection of High-Speed Train Wheelset Bearing Based on Impulse-Envelope Manifold
Authors: Zhuang Zhe , Ding Jianming , Tan Andy C. , Shi Ying , Lin Jianhui
Published: December 2017

A novel fault detection method employing the impulse-envelope manifold is proposed in this paper which is based on the combination of convolution sparse representation (CSR) and Hilbert transform manifold learning. The impulses with different sparse characteristics are extracted by the CSR with different penalty parameters. The impulse-envelope space is constructed through Hilbert transform on the extracted impulses. The manifold based on impulse-envelope space (impulse-envelope manifold) is executed to learn the low-dimensionality intrinsic envelope of vibration signals for fault detection. The analyzed results based on simulations, experimental tests, and practical applications show that (1) the impulse-envelope manifold with both isometric mapping (Isomap) and locally linear coordination (LLC) can be successfully used to extract the intrinsic envelope of the impulses where local tangent space analysis (LTSA) fails to perform and (2) the impulse-envelope manifold with Isomap outperforms those with LLC in terms of strengthening envelopes and the number of extracted harmonics. The proposed impulse-envelope manifold with Isomap is superior in extracting the intrinsic envelope, strengthening the amplitude of intrinsic envelope spectra, and enlarging the harmonic number of fault-characteristic frequency. The proposed technique is highly suitable for extracting intrinsic envelopes for bearing fault detection.
COMS-Based Retrieval of Daily Actual Evapotranspiration over Korea
Authors: Park Na-Yeon , Jang Jae-Dong , Kim Youngmi , Sohn Eun-Ha , Ou Mi-Lim , Park Jun-Dong , Seo Minji , Lee Kyeong-Sang , Han Kyung-Soo
Published: December 2017

Evapotranspiration (ET) from the land surface is an important hydrometeorological factor in the exchange of energy between the atmosphere and land surface. The accurate quantification for management of water resources and understanding of climate change are crucial, requiring continuous temporal and spatial monitoring. The objective of this study is to apply and estimate daily actual ET using semiempirical method, B-method, which is based on surface energy balance over heterogeneous area, Korea. To estimate daily ET, we used geostationary meteorological satellite data (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite, COMS) and polar-orbiting satellite data (Système Pour ľObservation de la Terre, SPOT). Estimated daily ET using only satellite data was relatively accurate and reflects land surface characteristics. It had high periodicity and spatial resolution over a wide area on clear-sky days. The daily ET was overestimated by about 1 mm/day at the two flux tower measurements sites, but the simulated seasonal variation and pattern were in good agreement with flux tower measurements. In the mixed forest, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.94 mm/day and the bias was 1.05 mm/day, while, in the rice paddy, RMSE was 1.12 mm/day and bias was 1.21 mm/day.
Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Wave Impact of a Circular Cylinder during the Submergence Process
Authors: Hu Xiaozhou , Jiang Yiyao , Cai Daojun
Published: December 2017

Wave slamming loads on a circular cylinder during water entry and the subsequence submergence process are predicted based on a numerical wave load model. The wave impact problems are analyzed by solving Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and VOF equations. A finite volume approach (FV) is employed to implement the discretization of the RANS equations. A two-dimensional numerical wave tank is established to simulate regular ocean waves. The wave slamming problems are investigated by deploying a circular cylinder into waves with a constant vertical velocity. The present numerical method is validated using other numerical or theoretical results in accordance with varying free surface profiles when a circular cylinder sinks in calm water. A numerical example is given to show the submergence process of the circular cylinder in waves, and both free surface profiles and the pressure distributions on the cylinder of different time instants are obtained. Time histories of hydrodynamic load on the cylinder during the submergence process for different wave impact angles, wave heights, and wave periods are obtained, and results are analyzed in detail.
Foot Reflexotherapy Induces Analgesia in Elderly Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Oliveira Bruna Hoffmann de , Silva Anna Quialheiro de Abreu da , Ludtke Daniela Dero , Madeira Fernanda , Medeiros Graciela Mendonça da Silva , Parreira Rodolfo Borges , Salgado Afonso Shiguemi Inoue , Belmonte Luiz Augusto Oliveira , Cidral-Filho Francisco José , Martins Daniel F.
Published: December 2017

Introduction. This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain. Design. Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants (n = 20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention. Results. RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.
Bounded Control of an Actuated Lower-Limb Exoskeleton
Authors: Ajayi Michael Oluwatosin , Djouani Karim , Hamam Yskandar
Published: December 2017

A bounded control strategy is employed for the rehabilitation and assistance of a patient with lower-limb disorder. Complete and partial lower-limb motor function disorders are considered. This application is centered on the knee and the ankle joint level, thereby considering a user in a sitting position. A high gain observer is used in the estimation of the angular position and angular velocities which is then applied to the estimation of the joint torques. The level of human contribution is feedback of a fraction of the estimated joint torque. This is utilised in order to meet the demands for a bounded human torque; that is, τh≤N2,n≤N1,n. The asymptotic stability of the bounded control law without human contribution and the convergence analysis of the high gain observer is verified using Lyapunov-based analysis. Simulations are performed to verify the proposed control law. Results obtained guarantee a fair trajectory tracking of the physiotherapist trajectory.
Parameter Estimation for the Field Strength of Radio Environment Maps
Authors: Gao Zhisheng , Li Yaoshun , Xie Chunzhi
Published: December 2017

The parameters of a radio environment map play an important role in radio management and cognitive radio. In this paper, a method for estimating the parameters of the radio environment map based on the sensing data of monitoring nodes is presented. According to the principles of radio transmission signal intensity losses, a theoretical variogram model based on a propagation model is proposed, and the improved theoretical variation function is more in line with the attenuation of radio signal propagation. Furthermore, a weight variogram fitting method is proposed based on the characteristics of field strength parameter estimation. In contrast to the traditional method, this method is more closely related to the physical characteristics of the electromagnetic environment parameters, and the design of the variogram and fitting method is more in line with the spatial distribution of electromagnetic environment parameters. Experiments on real and simulation data show that the proposed method performs better than the state-of-the-art method.
Enhancement of Nucleoside Production in Hirsutella sinensis Based on Biosynthetic Pathway Analysis
Authors: Liu Zhi-Qiang , Zhang Bo , Lin Shan , Baker Peter James , Chen Mao-Sheng , Xue Ya-Ping , Wu Hui , Xu Feng , Yuan Shui-Jin , Teng Yi , Wu Ling-Fang , Zheng Yu-Guo
Published: December 2017

To enhance nucleoside production in Hirsutella sinensis, the biosynthetic pathways of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides were constructed and verified. The differential expression analysis showed that purine nucleoside phosphorylase, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, and guanosine monophosphate synthase genes involved in purine nucleotide biosynthesis were significantly upregulated 16.56-fold, 8-fold, and 5.43-fold, respectively. Moreover, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, uridine nucleosidase, uridine/cytidine monophosphate kinase, and inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase genes participating in pyrimidine nucleoside biosynthesis were upregulated 4.53-fold, 10.63-fold, 4.26-fold, and 5.98-fold, respectively. To enhance the nucleoside production, precursors for synthesis of nucleosides were added based on the analysis of biosynthetic pathways. Uridine and cytidine contents, respectively, reached 5.04 mg/g and 3.54 mg/g when adding 2 mg/mL of ribose, resulting in an increase of 28.6% and 296% compared with the control, respectively. Meanwhile, uridine and cytidine contents, respectively, reached 10.83 mg/g 2.12 mg/g when adding 0.3 mg/mL of uracil, leading to an increase of 176.3% and 137.1%, respectively. This report indicated that fermentation regulation was an effective way to enhance the nucleoside production in H. sinensis based on biosynthetic pathway analysis.