bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Brazilian experience of nucleic acid testing to detect human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus infections in blood donors
Authors: Rocha Daniele , Andrade Elisabete , Godoy Daniela T. , Fontana‐Maurell Marcela , Costa Elaine , Ribeiro Marisa , Ferreira Antônio G.P. , Brindeiro Rodrigo , Tanuri Amilcar , Alvarez Patrícia
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

The history of the development and implementation of the Brazilian nucleic acid testing (NAT) platform to detect and discriminate among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in blood donors is described here. The results for the sensitivity, reproducibility, and NAT yield of the platform since program implementation are provided.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The Brazilian NAT HIV, HCV, and HBV kit was developed and evaluated with regard to analytical sensitivity, specificity, intralot and interlot reproducibility, interfering substances, and genotype and diagnostic sensitivity. Additionally, a sample of identified NAT‐yield cases was characterized with regard to viral load.

RESULTS

The 95% limits of detection for HIV, HCV, and HBV were 68.02, 102.35, and 9.08 IU/mL, respectively. All replicates were detected with reproducibility assays between the acceptable values. A total of 13,610,536 blood donors was screened from 2010 to 2016, and 63 HIV‐yield cases and 28 HCV‐yield cases were detected. Among 5,795,424 blood donors screened for HBV from 2014 to 2016, 42 yield cases were found.

CONCLUSION

The Brazilian NAT HIV, HCV, and HBV kit is an automated NAT system suitable for routine blood donor screening in a completely traceable process. The analytical sensitivity as well as the diagnostic sensitivity fulfilled all requirements set by the health ministry for blood donor screening. A significant number of transmission cases were prevented by the implementation of this important program.
Photodegradation of phenol red in the presence of oxyhydroxide of Fe(III) (Goethite) under artificial and a natural light
Authors: Belattar Sara , Debbache Nadra , Ghoul Imen , Sehili Tahar , Abdessemed Ala
Published: January 2018

The (α‐FeOOH) Goethite composite is a stable and an efficient catalyst in aqueous suspension under irradiation at 365 nm and by solar light. The photocatalytic activities of this composite were evaluated using Phenol Red (PR) dye (phenolsulfonphthalein class). In the dark, controlling factors, such as the pH and the adsorption of PR on Goethite surface were evaluated (before starting the photochemical experiments). It was found that the system PR‐Goethite present a small decrease in the main band of the dye (435 nm) which was explained by the low rate of adsorption of this dye on the Goethite. Also, we note that 40% of PR decolourisation was obtained after 200 min by the system PR‐Goethite‐hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in dark due to the formation of •OH by thermal decomposition of H2O2 on the surface of Goethite. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as initial dye concentration, pH, photocatalyst amount, tert‐Butyl alcohol effect and H2O2 addition were investigated in the study of photodegradation of the dye. The results showed that the photodegradation of PR under UV‐A (365 nm) irradiation could be enhanced greatly in the presence of H2O2. Natural radiation tests (under sunlight) showed that degradation was faster comparing with that obtained using the artificial one at 365 nm. Studies of the mineralization using total organic carbon method under naturel light certify that this method, compatible with the environment, may be considered in the treatment of wastewater and generally in the process of removal of this kind of pollutant.
Three-wire method to characterize the thermoelectric properties of one-dimensional materials
Authors: Ma Weigang , Shi Shaoyi , Zhang Xing
Published: January 2018

A three-wire method has been proposed to characterize the thermoelectric properties, including thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of micro/nanoscale one-dimensional materials. The measurement system is composed of three wires, a hot wire and two probing wires, which are attached to the heat sinks and roughly horizontal and parallel to each other. The test sample is suspended on three wires at the central position with three junctions, while one end is adhered to the hot wire and the other end is connected with a probing wire. When a constant direct current is applied to the hot wire, the interaction of Joule heating and heat conduction along the sample will generate different temperature rises at the two junctions of the sample and two probing wires. The thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the sample can be determined by measuring the resistances of probing wires and the Seebeck potential. The electrical conductivity can also be measured using the same device. In the present three-wire method, the effect of thermal contact resistance (TCR) is greatly reduced. A verification experiment in microscale has been conducted in the range of 200–300 K.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Strains of a Novel
Rhizobiales
Species Isolated from Forest Soil
Authors: Pold Grace , Huntemann Marcel , Pillay Manoj , Mikhailova Natalia , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy T. B. K. , Daum Chris , Shapiro Nicole , Kyrpides Nikos , Woyke Tanja , DeAngelis Kristen M.
Published: January 2018

Three strains of a novel
Rhizobiales
species were isolated from temperate deciduous forest soil in central Massachusetts. Their genomes consist of 9.09 to 10.29 Mb over 3 to 4 scaffolds each and indicate that diverse nitrogenous compounds are used by these organisms.
Complete Genome Sequences of
Sweet potato feathery mottle virus
and
Sweet potato virus G
from Brazil
Authors: Souza Caroline A. , Rossato Maurício , Melo Fernando L. , Pereira-Carvalho Rita C.
Published: January 2018

In Brazil,
Potyvirus
species in sweet potatoes have been detected mostly by serology. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of two
Potyvirus
species,
Sweet potato feathery mottle virus
strain (SPFMV-UNB-01) and
Sweet potato virus G
strain (SPVG-UNB-01).
Draft Genome Sequence of
Bacillus altitudinis
Strain KU-skv2(2), Isolated from a Microbial Mat on an Anthropogenic Pipe from Caldera Uzon (Kamchatka, Russia)
Authors: Rozanov Aleksey S. , Korzhuk Anton V. , Shipova Aleksandra A. , Bryanskaya Alla V. , Peltek Sergey E.
Published: January 2018

Bacillus altitudinis
strain KU-skv2(2) was isolated from a microbial mat on an anthropogenic pipe from Caldera Uzon (Kamchatka, Russia, 54°30′0.23″N, 160°0′15.18″E). The sequenced and annotated genome is 3,739,340 bp in size and encodes 3,929 genes.
Functional Optimization of Broadly Neutralizing HIV-1 Antibody 10E8 by Promotion of Membrane Interactions
Authors: Rujas Edurne , Leaman Daniel P. , Insausti Sara , Ortigosa-Pascual Lei , Zhang Lei , Zwick Michael B. , Nieva José L.
Published: January 2018

The 10E8 antibody targets a helical epitope in the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) and transmembrane domain (TMD) of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) subunit gp41 and is among the broadest known neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. Accordingly, this antibody and its mechanism of action valuably inform the design of effective vaccines and immunotherapies. 10E8 exhibits unusual adaptations to attain specific, high-affinity binding to the MPER at the viral membrane interface. Reversing the charge of the basic paratope surface (from net positive to net negative) reportedly lowered its neutralization potency. Here, we hypothesized that by increasing the net positive charge in similar polar surface patches, the neutralization potency of the antibody may be enhanced. We found that an increased positive charge at this paratope surface strengthened an electrostatic interaction between the antibody and lipid bilayers, enabling 10E8 to interact spontaneously with membranes. Notably, the modified 10E8 antibody did not gain any apparent polyreactivity and neutralized virus with a significantly greater potency. Binding analyses indicated that the optimized 10E8 antibody bound with a higher affinity to the epitope peptide anchored in lipid bilayers and to Env spikes on virions. Overall, our data provide a proof of principle for the rational optimization of 10E8 via manipulation of its interaction with the membrane element of its epitope. However, the observation that a similar mutation strategy did not affect the potency of the first-generation anti-MPER antibody 4E10 shows possible limitations of this principle. Altogether, our results emphasize the crucial role played by the viral membrane in the antigenicity of the MPER-TMD of HIV-1.

IMPORTANCE
The broadly neutralizing antibody 10E8 blocks infection by nearly all HIV-1 isolates, a capacity which vaccine design seeks to reproduce. Engineered versions of this antibody also represent a promising treatment for HIV infection by passive immunization. Understanding its mechanism of action is therefore important to help in developing effective vaccines and biologics to combat HIV/AIDS. 10E8 engages its helical MPER epitope where the base of the envelope spike submerges into the viral membrane. To enable this interaction, this antibody evolved an unusual property: the ability to interact with the membrane surface. Here, we provide evidence that 10E8 can be made more effective by enhancing its interactions with membranes. Our findings strengthen the idea that to elicit antibodies similar to 10E8, vaccines must reproduce the membrane environment where these antibodies perform their function.
Evaluation of a health system strengthening initiative in the Zambian prison system
Authors: Topp Stephanie M , Sharma Anjali , Moonga Clement N , Chileshe Chisele , Magwende George , Henostroza German
Published: January 2018

Introduction

In 2013, the Zambian Correctional Service (ZCS) partnered with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia on the Zambian Prisons Health System Strengthening project, seeking to tackle structural, organisational and cultural weaknesses within the prison health system. We present findings from a nested evaluation of the project impact on high, mid-level and facility-level health governance and health service arrangements in the Zambian Correctional Service .

Methods

Mixed methods were used, including document review, indepth interviews with ministry (11) and prison facility (6) officials, focus group discussions (12) with male and female inmates in six of the eleven intervention prisons, and participant observation during project workshops and meetings. Ethical clearance and verbal informed consent were obtained for all activities. Analysis incorporated deductive and iterative inductive coding.

Results

Outcomes: Improved knowledge of the prison health system strengthened political and bureaucratic will to materially address prison health needs. This found expression in a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Community Development, and in the appointment of a permanent liaison between MOH and ZCS. Capacity-building workshops for ZCS Command resulted in strengthened health planning and management outcomes, including doubling ZCS health professional workforce (from 37 to78 between 2014 and 2016), new preservice basic health training for incoming ZCS officers and formation of facility-based prison health committees with a mandate for health promotion and protection.Mechanisms: continuous and facilitated communication among major stakeholders and the emergence of interorganisational trust were critical. Enablingcontextual factorsincluded a permissive political environment, a shift within ZCS from a ‘punitive’ to ‘correctional’ organisational culture, and prevailing political and public health concerns about the spread of HIV and tuberculosis.

Conclusion

While not a panacea, findings demonstrate that a ‘systems’ approach to seemingly intractable prison health system problems yielded a number of short-term tactical and long-term strategic improvements in the Zambian setting. Context-sensitive application of such an approach to other settings may yield positive outcomes.
Combining medical, physiotherapy and nursing undergraduates in high-fidelity simulation: determining students’ perceptions
Authors: Seale Josephine , Ikram Sabina , Whittingham Lewis , Butchers Colin
Published: January 2018

High-fidelity simulation (Hi-Fi SIM) is increasingly used to provide undergraduate interprofessional education (IPE). Although research has reported positive student feedback, studies have predominantly involved medical and nursing specialties. The present study sought to further explore this area by determining the perceptions of medical, physiotherapy and nursing students participating in the same simulation session. A total of 145 medical, physiotherapy and nursing undergraduate students jointly participated in a novel Hi-Fi SIM IPE programme. Immediately before and after their session, students completed the KidSIM ATTITUDES questionnaire where statements were rated regarding simulation, IPE and human factors. A high score indicated a more positive attitude. Physiotherapy students reported the lowest level of previous Hi-Fi SIM experience. Students from each specialty had more positive attitudes related to simulation, IPE and human factors following their simulation. Physiotherapy students had predominantly less positive attitudes compared with nursing and medical students. Participation in an IPE Hi-Fi SIM session positively impacted on the perceptions of medical, physiotherapy and nursing students regarding the relevance of simulation, IPE and the importance of human factors. Such findings support the use of this learning modality for the provision of IPE in a range of specialties.
Socioeconomic deprivation and mode-specific outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Witte Klaus K , Patel Peysh A , Walker Andrew M N , Schechter Clyde B , Drozd Michael , Sengupta Anshuman , Byrom Rowenna , Kearney Lorraine C , Sapsford Robert J , Kearney Mark T , Cubbon Richard M
Published: January 2018

Objective

To characterise the association between socioeconomic deprivation and adverse outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods

We prospectively observed 1802 patients with CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45%, recruited in four UK hospitals between 2006 and 2014. We assessed the association between deprivation defined by the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and: mode-specific mortality (mean follow-up 4 years); mode-specific hospitalisation; and the cumulative duration of hospitalisation (after 1 year).

Results

A 45-point difference in mean IMD score was noted between patients residing in the least and most deprived quintiles of geographical regions. Deprivation was associated with age, sex and comorbidity, but not CHF symptoms, LVEF or prescribed drug therapy. IMD score was associated with the risk of age-sex adjusted all-cause mortality (6% higher risk per 10-unit increase in IMD score; 95% CI 2% to 10%; P=0.004), and non-cardiovascular mortality (9% higher risk per 10-unit increase in IMD score; 95% CI 3% to 16%; P=0.003), but not cardiovascular mortality. All-cause, but not heart failure-specific, hospitalisation was also more common in the most deprived patients. Overall, patients spent a cumulative 3.3 days in hospital during 1 year of follow-up, with IMD score being associated with the age-sex adjusted cumulative duration of hospitalisations (4% increase in duration per 10-unit increase in IMD score; 95% CI 3% to 6%; P<0.0005).

Conclusions

Socioeconomic deprivation in people with CHF is linked to increased risk of death and hospitalisation due to an excess of non-cardiovascular events.
Associations between cardiac troponin, mortality and subsequent use of cardiovascular services: differences in sex and ethnicity
Authors: Winchester David E , Kline Kristopher , Estel Christopher , Mahtta Dhruv , Taasan Sean , Peacock Franck W
Published: January 2018

Background

The impact of cardiac troponin (cTn) testing on the downstream use of cardiovascular services is not well understood. We conducted this large-scale single centre cohort study to investigate the patterns of testing that result from the use of cTn.

Methods

We conducted this investigation using data collected between 1 January 2013 and 18 December 2015 from an academically affiliated tertiary care centre. Data from all hospitalised patients evaluated with cTn (Roche Elecsys cTn-T) assay were collected from our integrated data repository and divided into two cohorts: all cTn assays negative (<0.03 µg/L) versus at least one elevated (≥0.03 µg/L). The main outcomes were the frequency of use cardiovascular services and mortality.

Results

Among 26 663 subjects, 18.6% had at least one elevated cTn assay; acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 3.9% overall. More men received cardiac catheterisation and cardiology consultation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.39 and OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.61) while African-American patients were less likely to have either catheterisation (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.93) or consultation (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.82) performed. Mortality was associated with detectable cTn (HR 2.05, P<0.0001).

Conclusions

Among hospitalised patients evaluated with cTn, we observed patterns of underuse and overuse of cardiovascular services. These patterns may have further relevance when high-sensitivity cTn assays are available in the USA. Sex and race-based disparities in cardiovascular services persist.
A Machine Learning-Based Method for Intracoronary OCT Segmentation and Vulnerable Coronary Plaque Cap Thickness Quantification
Authors: Guo Xiaoya , Tang Dalin , Molony David , Yang Chun , Samady Habib , Zheng Jie , Mintz Gary S. , Maehara Akiko , Wang Liang , Pei Xuan , Li Zhi-Yong , Ma Genshan , Giddens Don P.
Published: January 2018

Accurate cap thickness quantification is of fundamental importance for vulnerable plaque detection in cardiovascular research. A segmentation method for intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) image based on least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) was performed to characterize plaque component borders and quantify fibrous cap thickness. Manual segmentation of OCT images were performed by experts based on combination of virtual-histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) and OCT images and used as gold standard. The segmentation methods based on LS-SVM provided accurate plaque cap thickness (an 8.6% error by LS-SVM vs. 71% error by IVUS50) serving as solid basis for plaque modeling and assessment.
Disulfide-bridge dimeric porphyrin and their reference compounds for glutathione-based specific tumor-activation
Authors: Alpugan Serkan , Topkaya Derya , Dumoulin Fabienne
Published: January 2018

The tumor micro-environment is rich in glutathione. To exploit this feature for tumor-activatable porphyrin-based photosensitizers, a dimeric disulfide-bridged porphyrin has been designed and prepared, together with two reference derivatives, a non-cleavable dimer and a monomer. The three compounds have been investigated from a photochemical and photophysical point of view. It appears that the disulfide-bridged derivative exhibited intramolecular aggregation, but to an insufficient extent to induce a satisfying self-quenching of its photoproperties. Unlike expected, the non-cleavable dimer behaved like the monomeric derivative, due to the superior flexibility of the alkyl bridge over the disulfide bridge.
Explaining Unemployment among Uighurs in China
Authors: SHAN Wei
Published: January 2018

The high unemployment rate in China’s Uighur community has been cited as a factor for the occurrence of a series of ethnic violence. Uighurs are disadvantaged in the job market mainly because of their poor Mandarin language ability. They are socially insulated from the Han-dominated business networks, and are less proactive and enterprising in work than Han. Overall, the unemployment issue of Uighurs is a product of multiple causes, which requires a comprehensive policy plan.
A Novel Image-Centric Approach Toward Direct Volume Rendering
Authors: Khan Naimul Mefraz , Ksantini Riadh , Guan Ling
Published: January 2018

Transfer function (TF) generation is a fundamental problem in direct volume rendering (DVR). A TF maps voxels to color and opacity values to reveal inner structures. Existing TF tools are complex and unintuitive for the users who are more likely to be medical professionals than computer scientists. In this article, we propose a novel image-centric method for TF generation where instead of complex tools, the user directly manipulates volume data to generate DVR. The user’s work is further simplified by presenting only the most informative volume slices for selection. Based on the selected parts, the voxels are classified using our novel sparse nonparametric support vector machine classifier, which combines both local and near-global distributional information of the training data. The voxel classes are mapped to aesthetically pleasing and distinguishable color and opacity values using harmonic colors. Experimental results on several benchmark datasets and a detailed user survey show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Hardware Pipeline with High Energy and Resource Efficiency for FMM Acceleration
Authors: Huang Tian , Zhu Yongxin , Ha Yajun , Wang Xu , Qiu Meikang
Published: January 2018

The fast multipole method (FMM) is a promising mathematical technique that accelerates the calculation of long-ranged forces in the large-sized n-body problem. Existing implementations of the FMM on general-purpose processors are energy and resource inefficient. To mitigate these issues, we propose a hardware pipeline that accelerates three key FMM steps. The pipeline improves energy efficiency by exploiting fine-granularity parallelism of the FMM. We reuse the pipeline for different FMM steps to reduce resource usage by 66%. Compared to the state-of-the-art implementations on CPUs and GPUs, our implementation requires 15% less energy and delivers 2.61 times more floating-point operations.
Palmitate induces glycosylation of cyclooxygenase-2 in primary human vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Raman Puneet , Madhavpeddi Lakshmi , Gonzales Rayna J.
Published: January 2018

Vascular basal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and activity can be induced by endotoxin, hypoxia, or ischemia. During vascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis, increases in COX-2 activity result in prostanoid production, a contributor to the development and progression of vascular inflammation leading to unstable atherosclerotic plaques and increased risk for thrombotic events. Recent studies demonstrate that select free fatty acids, such as palmitate, can act as proinflammatory mediators. However, the effect of palmitate on COX-2 expression and activity, and its impact on the development and progression of vascular inflammation, are not well elucidated. We investigated the effect of palmitate on COX-2 expression and function in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Cells were treated with palmitate, COX-2 protein levels were assessed using Western analysis, and activity was assessed via ELISA. We observed that palmitate dose-dependently increased COX-2 levels and specifically enhanced band intensity of the COX-2 74 kDa band (slowest migrating band). This response was attenuated by N-linked glycosylation inhibition, suggesting that palmitate impacts expression of the fully activated glycoform of COX-2. Palmitate-induced increases in COX-2 levels correlated with an increase in prostaglandin E2 production that was also attenuated by a glycosylation inhibitor. Additionally, palmitate altered cell morphology and increased cell density which were reversed by selective COX-2 inhibition. Thus, we conclude that palmitate acts on COX-2 by two separate mechanisms of action in human vascular smooth muscle. It elicits dose-dependent increases in COX-2 protein expression and modulates regulation of COX-2 activity via modification of posttranslational glycosylation.
Mouse models of SLC4-linked disorders of HCO3−-transporter dysfunction
Authors: Parker Mark D.
Published: January 2018

The SLC4 family Cl−/[Formula: see text] cotransporters (NBCe1, NBCe2, NBCn1, and NBCn2) contribute to a variety of vital physiological processes including pH regulation and epithelial fluid secretion. Accordingly, their dysfunction can have devastating effects. Disorders such as epilepsy, hemolytic anemia, glaucoma, hearing loss, osteopetrosis, and renal tubular acidosis are all genetically linked to SLC4-family gene loci. This review summarizes how studies of Slc4-modified mice have enhanced our understanding of the etiology of SLC4-linked pathologies and the interpretation of genetic linkage studies. The review also surveys the novel disease signs exhibited by Slc4-modified mice which could either be considered to presage their description in humans, or to highlight interspecific differences. Finally, novel Slc4-modified mouse models are proposed, the study of which may further our understanding of the basis and treatment of SLC4-linked disorders of [Formula: see text]-transporter dysfunction.
An Extremely Rare Bile Leakage: Aberrant Bile Duct in Left Triangular Ligament (Appendix Fibrosa Hepatis)
Authors: Yıldız İhsan , Koca Yavuz Savaş , Kantar Sezayi
Published: January 2018

Background. The anatomical variability of bile ducts can leave surgeons in very difficult conditions.Ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRCP) and endoscopic imaging methods are used in diagnosis. In addition to conservative approaches, endoscopic procedures and laparoscopic or open surgical interventions may be necessary for treatment. In this article, we present a case of aberrant bile duct in left triangular ligament (appendix fibrosa hepatis), which is rarely seen. Case. We report the case of a 67-year-old female patient who was operated on due to dumping syndrome symptoms and hiatal hernia. There was a drainage of bile from the left side of the liver which was placed under the cardioesophageal junction. MRCP found bile esophageal in the left triangular ligament of the liver. Aberrant bile ducts were found in the left triangular ligament and ligated. The patient was discharged on the 7th day after operation. Conclusion. The anatomical variability of bile ducts can leave surgeons in very difficult conditions. We recommend that the dissected left triangular ligament should be ligated for the aberrant bile duct, especially in female patient.
Levels and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil, Water, and Vegetables of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Kacholi David Sylvester , Sahu Minati
Published: January 2018

This study assesses heavy metals’ levels in water, soil, and vegetables (Ipomoea batatas (Matembele), Amaranthus hybridus (Mchicha), Abelmoschus esculentus (Bamia), and Solanum melongena (Bilinganya)) from the Chang’ombe police garden located in Temeke district, Tanzania. Also, it examines potential health risks from consumption of the vegetables. The samples of soils, water, and vegetables were randomly collected, processed, and analyzed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The heavy metals’ levels in soil, water, and vegetables were in the order of Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu. Among the vegetables, I. batatas had highest heavy metal content followed by A. hybridus, S. melongena, and A. esculentus. The average daily intake for Pb (63 mg/person/day) was above the permissible maximum tolerable daily intake of 0.21 mg/person/day endorsed by WHO/FAO. Hazard quotient of Pb for I. batatas (7.12) and A. hybridus (2.46) as well as the hazard indices of I. batatas (7.99) and A. hybridus (2.88) exceeded unity, signifying presence of health risks from consumption of the vegetables. This study recommends regular monitoring of heavy metals in soils, water, and foodstuffs to prevent excessive accrual in food chain.
Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Proximal Femoral Shaft Fracture in a Patient with Bilateral Congenital Hip Disease
Authors: Kanata Stefania , Anastasiadis Antonios
Published: January 2018

We present a rare case of a femoral shaft fracture in a 74-year-old woman with a preexisting untreated bilateral congenital hip dislocation and with concomitant leg length discrepancy. Because of the marked deformity of the upper femur, a derivative of the congenital hip disease, an open reduction and internal fixation was performed, with the use of an anatomic femur plate originally designed for the treatment of periprosthetic fractures. The patient was treated successfully and returned to her previous status of activity. The management of a femoral fracture in the presence of ipsilateral hip disease is a challenging issue. The surgical treatment choice in such cases has to be individualized, taking into consideration several anatomic and medical parameters.
Shisha Smoking Habit among Dental School Students in the United Arab Emirates: Enabling Factors and Barriers
Authors: Al-Rawi Natheer H. , Alnuaimi Ahmed S. , Uthman Asmaa T.
Published: January 2018

Objectives. The objective of the present study was to assess shisha smoking among dental school students in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, the role of suggested barriers and enabling factors in shisha smoking was also evaluated.Methods. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted at the College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, between February and May 2016. The questions were adapted from previously published water pipe smoking studies. The collected data were analyzed to identify the relationship between shisha smoking and sociodemographic characteristics. Relevant questions were further categorized as enabling factors and barriers for shisha smoking.Results. Three enabling questionnaire items related to social environment were significantly associated with an increased risk of being a current smoker. The most powerful is peer pressure (“friends smoke shisha”), which increased the odds ratio of shisha smoking 11.3 times, followed by smoker sibling with increase in odd ratio by 4.52 times, then the belief of social acceptance with increase in odd ratio by 4.31 times.Conclusion. Shisha smoking is a serious problem among university students. Any intervention program in the university curricula should consider teaching students that shisha is no less risky than cigarettes and is addictive.
Dielectric Characteristics of Unsaturated Loess and the Safety Detection of the Road Subgrade Based on GPR
Authors: Lv Gao , Yang Jie , Li Ning , Hu Dexiu , Zhang Yan , Zhao Feng
Published: January 2018

We present a moisture content and permittivity model to simultaneously detect and estimate defects in loess subgrade. Based on the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method, the dielectric properties of loess in the northwest of China and the imaging feature of the moisture content of different strata were studied. The relative permittivity of loess with different moisture contents was experimented in the laboratory. It was found that the relative permittivity of unsaturated loess was positively related to moisture content. The relationship between relative permittivity and moisture content in different antenna frequencies of GPR was analyzed. Electromagnetic wave reflection rules in the loess interface were studied using the numerical method with different moisture contents. With the increase in moisture content, the amplitude of GPR was increased. When the above conclusions were applied in the engineering practices, there are good effects to detect the defects of the road subgrade. It is a significant guidance for determining the qualitative research of defects in the roadbed.
Development of a Multiaction Hybrid Damper for Passive Energy Dissipation
Authors: Roh Ji-Eun , Hur Moo-Won , Choi Hyun-Hoon , Lee Sang-Hyun
Published: January 2018

A multiaction hybrid damper (MHD) is designed to have independent hysteretic characteristics under small and large loading conditions, and its control performance for building structures excited by wind or earthquake load is verified. The MHD is composed of steel elements, two friction pads, and two lead rubber bearings (LRBs). Because the friction pads and the LRBs are in series connection, only the LRBs deform before the friction pad slippage occurs. After the friction slippage, the damper deformation concentrates on the friction pads. The initial stiffness and hysteresis are dependent on the properties of the LRB, and the maximum force is determined by the friction pad. Accordingly, the load‐deformation behaviors before/after the friction slippage can be independently designed to show optimal performance for a building structure subject to wind and earthquake loads. The cyclic loading tests of a full scale MHD were conducted to evaluate the multiaction behaviors and energy dissipation capacity of the MHD. The control performance of the MHD damper is analytically investigated by using a 20‐story steel structure subject to wind loads and a 15‐story RC structure excited by earthquake loads. The MHD damper showed good performance for reducing both the linear wind‐induced and nonlinear earthquake‐induced responses.
Revealing the Amylase Interactome in Whole Saliva Using Proteomic Approaches
Authors: Crosara Karla Tonelli Bicalho , Zuanazzi David , Moffa Eduardo Buozi , Xiao Yizhi , Machado Maria Aparecida de Andrade Moreira , Siqueira Walter Luiz
Published: January 2018

Understanding proteins present in saliva and their function when isolated is not enough to describe their real role in the mouth. Due to protein-protein interactions, structural changes may occur in macromolecules leading to functional modulation or modification. Besides amylase’s function in carbohydrate breakdown, amylase can delay proteolytic degradation of protein partners (e.g., histatin 1) when complexed. Due to its biochemical characteristics and high abundance in saliva, amylase probably interacts with several proteins acting as a biological carrier. This study focused on identifying interactions between amylase and other proteins found in whole saliva (WS) using proteomic approaches. Affinity chromatography was used, followed by gel electrophoresis methods, sodium dodecyl sulfate and native, tryptic in-solution and in-gel digestion, and mass spectrometry. We identified 66 proteins that interact with amylase in WS. Characterization of the identified proteins suggests that acidic (pI < 6.8) and low molecular weight (MW < 56 kDa) proteins have preference during amylase complex formation. Most of the identified proteins present biological functions related to host protection. A new protein-amylase network was constructed using the STRING database. Further studies are necessary to investigate individualities of the identified amylase interactors. These observations open avenues for more comprehensive studies on not yet fully characterized biological function of amylase.
Torsion of the Omentum: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in a 14-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Chinaka Chijioke , Mansoor Shahbaz , Salaheidin Mohamed
Published: January 2018

Acute abdominal pain is a common surgical presentation, and most often, the first line of consideration is to rule out acute appendicitis; this is more so when the patient is an adolescent or within younger age group. In most cases, other differentials are considered before omental torsion. Omental torsion is a cause of acute abdominal pain and sometimes mimics acute appendicitis in its presentation. We present a case of a 14-yr-old boy who presented with acute abdomen with symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis. Laparoscopy revealed torsion of the omentum. Omentectomy and appendicectomy were done, and the child discharged four days after following a remarkable recovery.
Novel Compliant Scaffold with Specific Design for Venous System: Results of a Porcine Model Study
Authors: Veroux Pierfrancesco , Giaquinta Alessia , Virgilio Carla , Zani Davide Danilo , Ravasio Giuliano , Ardita Vincenzo , Secchiero Paola , Scanziani Eugenio , Zamboni Paolo , Veroux Massimiliano
Published: January 2018

Background. Stenting has become the first-line treatment of obstructive venous disease because of poor results of balloon angioplasty. This preclinical study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy profile of a novel compliant venous scaffold (CVS) denominated Petalo CVS, specifically designed for venous diseases. Materials and Methods. Twelve healthy pigs weighing 90 kg were used to test Petalo CVS. The devices were implanted into the internal jugular veins (IJVs) using a femoral vein percutaneous approach. The safety profile including the success rate of device releasing, anchoring, and positioning was evaluated immediately. Fracture, migration, primary patency, and endothelial response were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the study procedure. Results. A total of 32 devices were successfully released in both IJVs. No procedure- or device-related complications were reported, and all pigs successfully completed the different scheduled follow-up periods. The primary patency rate was 100%, and no fracture or migration of the device into the brachiocephalic trunk was reported. Histological examination revealed only minimal lesions with minimal or absent inflammatory reaction surrounding the incorporated metallic rods. Conclusions. This porcine model study showed a promising safety and efficacy profile of Petalo CVS, a novel endovenous device based on specific concepts.
Damage Detection of Refractory Based on Principle Component Analysis and Gaussian Mixture Model
Authors: Liu Changming , Zhou Di , Wang Zhigang , Yang Dan , Song Gangbing
Published: January 2018

Acoustic emission (AE) technique is a common approach to identify the damage of the refractories; however, there is a complex problem since there are as many as fifteen involved parameters, which calls for effective data processing and classification algorithms to reduce the level of complexity. In this paper, experiments involving three‐point bending tests of refractories were conducted and AE signals were collected. A new data processing method of merging the similar parameters in the description of the damage and reducing the dimension was developed. By means of the principle component analysis (PCA) for dimension reduction, the fifteen related parameters can be reduced to two parameters. The parameters were the linear combinations of the fifteen original parameters and taken as the indexes for damage classification. Based on the proposed approach, the Gaussian mixture model was integrated with the Bayesian information criterion to group the AE signals into two damage categories, which accounted for 99% of all damage. Electronic microscope scanning of the refractories verified the two types of damage.
Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies of Microwave Sintered Al-SiC Nanocomposites and Their Properties
Authors: Himyan M. A. , Penchal Reddy M. , Ubaid F. , Shakoor R. A. , Mohamed A. M. A.
Published: January 2018

Al-metal matrix composites (AMMCs) reinforced with diverse volume fraction of SiC nanoparticles were synthesized using microwave sintering process. The effects of the reinforcing SiC particles on physical, microstructure, mechanical, and electrical properties were studied. The phase, microstructural, and surface analyses of the composites were systematically conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and surface profilometer techniques, respectively. The microstructural examination revealed the homogeneous distribution of SiC particles in the Al matrix. Microhardness and compressive strength of nanocomposites were found to be increasing with the increasing volume fraction of SiC particles. Electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites decreases with increasing the SiC content.
Study of Fast Transient Pressure Drop in VVER-1000 Nuclear Reactor Using Acoustic Phenomenon
Authors: Heidari Sangestani Soroush , Rahgoshay Mohammad , Vosoughi Naser , Athari Allaf Mitra
Published: January 2018

This article aims to simulate the sudden and fast pressure drop of VVER-1000 reactor core coolant, regarding acoustic phenomenon. It is used to acquire a more accurate method in order to simulate the various accidents of reactor core. Neutronic equations should be solved concurrently by means of DRAGON 4 and DONJON 4 coupling codes. The results of the developed package are compared with WIMS/CITATION and final safety analysis report of Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor (FSAR). Afterwards, time dependent thermal-hydraulic equations are answered by employing Single Heated Channel by Sectionalized Compressible Fluid method. Then, the obtained results were validated by the same transient simulation in a pressurized water reactor core. Then, thermal-hydraulic and neutronic modules are coupled concurrently by use of producing group constants regarding the thermal feedback effect. Results were compared to the mentioned transient simulation in RELAP5 computer code, which show that mass flux drop is sensed at the end of channel in several milliseconds which causes heat flux drop too. The thermal feedback resulted in production of some perturbations in the changes of these parameters. The achieved results for this very fast pressure drop represent accurate calculations of thermoneutronic parameters fast changes.
Improved Chicken Swarm Optimization Method for Reentry Trajectory Optimization
Authors: Wu Yu , Yan Bo , Qu Xiangju
Published: January 2018

Reentry trajectory optimization has been researched as a popular topic because of its wide applications in both military and civilian use. It is a challenging problem owing to its strong nonlinearity in motion equations and constraints. Besides, it is a high-dimensional optimization problem. In this paper, an improved chicken swarm optimization (ICSO) method is proposed considering that the chicken swarm optimization (CSO) method is easy to fall into local optimum when solving high-dimensional optimization problem. Firstly, the model used in this study is described, including its characteristic, the nonlinear constraints, and cost function. Then, by introducing the crossover operator, the principles and the advantages of the ICSO algorithm are explained. Finally, the ICSO method solving the reentry trajectory optimization problem is proposed. The control variables are discretized at a set of Chebyshev collocation points, and the angle of attack is set to fit with the flight velocity to make the optimization efficient. Based on those operations, the process of ICSO method is depicted. Experiments are conducted using five algorithms under different indexes, and the superiority of the proposed ICSO algorithm is demonstrated. Another group of experiments are carried out to investigate the influence of hen percentage on the algorithm’s performance.
Effects of Wax Coating on the Moisture Loss of Cucumbers at Different Storage Temperatures
Authors: Li Jian , Li Qing , Lei Xiaojuan , Tian Weina , Cao Jiankang , Jiang Weibo , Wang Meng
Published: January 2018

The effects of wax coating on moisture loss of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L., cv. Jinglv) were investigated at different temperatures. Cucumbers were treated with 10% (volume : volume) wax and then stored at 15, 20, 25, or 30°C and 55% relative humidity. The changes in the mass of samples were recorded every 6 h. Results showed that wax coating along with low temperature was very effective in preventing moisture loss of cucumbers during simulated distribution. After 48 h storage, moisture loss in wax treated cucumbers at 15°C was 45% lower than the control at 30°C. Furthermore, a kinetic model was developed to study the influence of temperature on moisture loss based on the Arrhenius law. The model successfully described changes in cucumber moisture loss at different temperatures during storage. The shelf life of cucumber was also predicted using the kinetic model. A synergistic effect was found between wax coating and storage temperature on cucumber shelf life. Wax coating combined with low storage temperature was an effective method to extend the shelf life of cucumber fruit.
Revenue‐Maximizing Radio Access Technology Selection with Net Neutrality Compliance in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks
Authors: Khloussy Elissar , Jiang Yuming
Published: January 2018

The net neutrality principle states that users should have equal access to all Internet content and that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should not practice differentiated treatment on any of the Internet traffic. While net neutrality aims to restrain any kind of discrimination, it also grants exemption to a certain category of traffic known as specialized services (SS), by allowing the ISP to dedicate part of the resources for the latter. In this work, we consider a heterogeneous LTE/WiFi wireless network and we investigate revenue‐maximizing Radio Access Technology (RAT) selection strategies that are net neutrality‐compliant, with exemption granted to SS traffic. Our objective is to find out how the bandwidth reservation for SS traffic would be made in a way that allows maximizing the revenue while being in compliance with net neutrality and how the choice of the ratio of reserved bandwidth would affect the revenue. The results show that reserving bandwidth for SS traffic in one RAT (LTE) can achieve higher revenue. On the other hand, when the capacity is reserved across both LTE and WiFi, higher social benefit in terms of number of admitted users can be realized, as well as lower blocking probability for the Internet access traffic.
LPA Induces Metabolic Reprogramming in Ovarian Cancer via a Pseudohypoxic Response
Authors: Ha Ji Hee , Radhakrishnan Rangasudhagar , Jayaraman Muralidharan , Yan Mingda , Ward Jeremy D. , Fung Kar-Ming , Moxley Katherine , Sood Anil K. , Isidoro Ciro , Mukherjee Priyabrata , Song Yong Sang , Dhanasekaran Danny N.
Published: January 2018

Although hypoxia has been shown to reprogram cancer cells toward glycolytic shift, the identity of extrinsic stimuli that induce metabolic reprogramming independent of hypoxia, especially in ovarian cancer, is largely unknown. In this study, we use patient-derived ovarian cancer cells and high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell lines to demonstrate that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid growth factor and GPCR ligand whose levels are substantially increased in ovarian cancer patients, triggers glycolytic shift in ovarian cancer cells. Inhibition of the G protein α-subunit Gαi2 disrupted LPA-stimulated aerobic glycolysis. LPA stimulated a pseudohypoxic response via Rac-mediated activation of NADPH oxidase and generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in activation of HIF1α. HIF1α in turn induced expression of glucose transporter-1 and the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase-2 (HKII). Treatment of mice bearing ovarian cancer xenografts with an HKII inhibitor, 3-bromopyruvate, attenuated tumor growth and conferred a concomitant survival advantage. These studies reveal a critical role for LPA in metabolic reprogramming of ovarian cancer cells and identify this node as a promising therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Significance: These findings establish LPA as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer, revealing its role in the activation of HIF1α-mediated metabolic reprogramming in this disease. Cancer Res; 78(8); 1923–34. ©2018 AACR.