bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significantly reduced lymphadenopathy, salivary gland infiltrates and proteinuria in MRL-lpr/lprmice treated with ultrasoluble curcumin/turmeric: increased survival with curcumin treatment
Authors: Kurien Biji T , Harris Valerie M , Quadri Syed M S , Coutinho-de Souza Patricia , Cavett Joshua , Moyer Amanda , Ittiq Bilal , Metcalf Angela , Ramji Husayn F , Truong Dat , Kumar Ramesh , Koelsch Kristi A , Centola Mike , Payne Adam , Danda Debashish , Scofield R Hal
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Commercial curcumin (CU), derived from food spice turmeric (TU), has been widely studied as a potential therapeutic for a variety of oncological and inflammatory conditions. Lack of solubility/bioavailability has hindered curcumin's therapeutic efficacy in human diseases. We have solubilised curcumin in water applying heat/pressure, obtaining up to 35-fold increase in solubility (ultrasoluble curcumin (UsC)). We hypothesised that UsC or ultrasoluble turmeric (UsT) will ameliorate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-like disease in MRL-lpr/lprmice.

Methods

Eighteen female MRL-lpr/lpr(6 weeks old) and 18 female MRL-MpJ mice (6 weeks old) were used. Female MRL-lpr/lprmice develop lupus-like disease at the 10th week and die at an average age of 17 weeks. MRL-MpJ mice develop lupus-like disease around 47 weeks and typically die at 73 weeks. Six mice of each strain received autoclaved water only (lpr-water or MpJ-water group), UsC (lpr-CU or MpJ-CU group) or UsT (lpr-TU or MpJ-TU group) in the water bottle.

Results

UsC or UsT ameliorates SLE in the MRL-lpr/lprmice by significantly reducing lymphoproliferation, proteinuria, lesions (tail) and autoantibodies.lpr-CU group had a 20% survival advantage overlpr-water group. However,lpr-TU group lived an average of 16 days shorter thanlpr-water group due to complications unrelated to lupus-like illness. CU/TU treatment inhibited lymphadenopathy significantly compared withlpr-water group (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively) by induction of apoptosis. Average lymph node weights were 2606±1147, 742±331 and 385±68 mg, respectively, forlpr-water,lpr-CU andlpr-TU mice. Transferase dUTP nick end labelling assay showed that lymphocytes in lymph nodes oflpr-CU andlpr-TU mice underwent apoptosis. Significantly reduced cellular infiltration of the salivary glands in thelpr-TU group compared withthe lpr-water group, and a trend towards reduced kidney damage was observed in thelpr-CU andlpr-TU groups.

Conclusions

These studies show that UsC/UsT could prove useful as a therapeutic intervention in SLE/SS.
Sulforaphane modulates telomerase activity via epigenetic regulation in prostate cancer cell lines
Authors: Abbas Ata , Hall J. Adam , Patterson William L. , Ho Emily , Hsu Anna , Al-Mulla Fahd , Georgel Philippe T.
Published: September 2015

Epidemiologic studies have revealed that diets rich in sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, are associated with a marked decrease in prostate cancer incidence. The chemo-preventive role of SFN is associated with its histone de-acetylase inhibitor activity. However, the effect of SFN on chromatin composition and dynamic folding, especially in relation to HDAC inhibitor activity, remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that SFN can inhibit the expression and activity of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of telomerase, in 2 prostate cancer cell lines. This decrease in gene expression is correlated with SFN-induced changes in chromatin structure and composition. The SFN-mediated changes in levels of histone post-translational modifications, more specifically acetylation of histone H3 lysine 18 and di-methylation of histone H3 lysine 4, 2 modifications linked with high risk of prostate cancer recurrence, were associated with regulatory elements within the hTERT promoter region. Chromatin condensation may also play a role in SFN-mediated hTERT repression, since expression and recruitment of MeCP2, a known chromatin compactor, were altered in SFN treated prostate cancer cells. Chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) of MeCP2 showed enrichment over regions of the hTERT promoter with increased nucleosome density. These combined results strongly support a role for SFN in the mediation of epigenetic events leading to the repression of hTERT in prostate cancer cells. This ability of SFN to modify chromatin composition and structure associated with target gene expression provides a new model by which dietary phytochemicals may exert their chemoprevention activity.
A DFT-D study on the stability and intramolecular interactions of the energetic salts of 3,6-dihydrazido-1,2,4,5-tetrazine
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Gong Xuedong
Published: September 2015

Structures of the salts I–IV formed by 3,6-dihydrazido-1,2,4,5-tetrazine with HNO3, HN(NO2)2, HClO4, and HC(NO2)3, respectively, were studied using dispersion-corrected density functional theory. The intramolecular hydrogen bond energies of I–IV were estimated using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The total hydrogen bond energies (EH,tot) have the order of I (65.60 kcal/mol) > II (46.24 kcal/mol) > III (39.13 kcal/mol) > IV (19.68 kcal/mol). In addition, the charge transfer (q), binding energy (Eb), lattice energy (HL), dispersion energy (Edis), and second-order perturbation energy (E2) were evaluated for studying the intramolecular interactions between the cation and anion. Linear relationships exist between any two of EH,tot, qtot, Eb, and E2,tot. HLs have the same variation trend as h50s (characteristic height) and may be used as the indicator of impact sensitivity. The HOMOs and LUMOs of I–IV are derived from the HOMOs of the isolated anions and the LUMOs of the isolated cations, respectively. Ultraviolet spectra of I–IV have the strongest absorptions at around 442, 445, 427, and 587 nm, respectively. The excitations HOMO→LUMO to HOMO–7→LUMO play important roles in the first three excited states.
A new elasmobranch assemblage from the early Eocene (Ypresian) Fishburne Formation of Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA
Authors: Case Gerard R. , Cook Todd D. , Wilson Mark V.H.
Published: September 2015

A rich elasmobranch assemblage was recovered from the early Eocene (Ypresian) Fishburne Formation in a limestone quarry at Jamestown, Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA. Reported herein are 22 species belonging to 8 orders, at least 15 families, and 21 genera. It includes the first occurrence of Protoginglymostoma from North America. Many of the reported species have large palaeobiogeographical ranges and inhabited waters on both sides of the Atlantic, whereas others were endemic to the east coast of North America. The paucity of sizeable dentition from several of the larger species in this assemblage, and the apparent absence of relatively large macrophagous species found in contemporaneous deposits elsewhere, suggests the Jamestown site may represent a nursery ground and refuge for young and smaller individuals.
The effect of quasiparticle self-energy on Cd2Re2O7 superconductor
Authors: Razavi F.S. , Rohanizadegan Y. , Hajialamdari M. , Reedyk M. , Kremer R.K. , Mitrović B.
Published: September 2015

The magnitude and the temperature dependence of the superconducting order parameter Δ(T) of single crystals of Cd2Re2O7 (Tc = 1.02 K) was measured using point-contact spectroscopy. To fit the conductance spectra and to extract the order parameter at different temperatures we generalized the Blonder–Tinkham–Klapwijk theory by including the self-energy of the quasiparticles into the Bogoliubov equations. This modification enabled excellent fits of the conductance spectra. Δ(T) increases steeply below the superconducting transition temperature of 1.02 K and levels off below ∼0.8 K at a value of 0.22(1) meV, ≈40% larger than the BCS value. Our results indicate the presence of a strong electron–phonon interaction and an enhanced quasiparticle damping and may be related to a possible phase transition within the superconducting region at ∼0.8 K.
Edge universality for deformed Wigner matrices
Authors: Lee Ji Oon , Schnelli Kevin
Published: September 2015

We consider N × N random matrices of the form H = W + V where W is a real symmetric Wigner matrix and V a random or deterministic, real, diagonal matrix whose entries are independent of W. We assume subexponential decay for the matrix entries of W and we choose V so that the eigenvalues of W and V are typically of the same order. For a large class of diagonal matrices V, we show that the rescaled distribution of the extremal eigenvalues is given by the Tracy–Widom distribution F1 in the limit of large N. Our proofs also apply to the complex Hermitian setting, i.e. when W is a complex Hermitian Wigner matrix.
Twelve-quark hypernuclei with A = 4 in a relativistic quark–gluon model
Authors: Gerasyuta S. M. , Matskevich E. E.
Published: September 2015

Hypernuclei [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], with the atomic (baryon) number [Formula: see text], are described by the relativistic twelve-quark equations in the framework of the dispersion relation technique. Hypernuclei as the systems of interacting quarks and gluons are considered. The relativistic twelve-quark amplitudes of hypernuclei, including the constituent quarks of three flavors [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are calculated. The approximate solutions of these equations are obtained using a method based on extraction of leading singularities of the amplitudes. The poles of the multiquark amplitudes allow us to determine the masses and the binding energy of hypernuclei with [Formula: see text]. The mass and the binding energy of state [Formula: see text] with the isospin projection [Formula: see text] and the spin-parity [Formula: see text] is equal to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. We predict the mass spectrum of hypernuclei with [Formula: see text], which is valuable for further experimental study of the hypernuclei.
Microscopic description of large amplitude collective motion in the nuclear astrophysics context
Authors: Lacroix Denis , Tanimura Yusuke , Scamps Guillaume , Simenel Cédric
Published: September 2015

In the last 10 years, we have observed an important increase of interest in the application of time-dependent energy density functional (TD-EDF) theory. This approach allows to treat nuclear structure and nuclear reaction from small to large amplitude dynamics in a unified framework. The possibility to perform unrestricted three-dimensional simulations using state-of-the-art effective interactions has opened new perspectives. In the present paper, an overview of applications where the predictive power of TD-EDF has been benchmarked is given. A special emphasize is made on processes that are of astrophysical interest. Illustrations discussed here include giant resonances, fission, binary and ternary collisions leading to fusion, transfer and deep inelastic processes.
MeSHSim: An R/Bioconductor package for measuring semantic similarity over MeSH headings and MEDLINE documents
Authors: Zhou Jing , Shui Yuxuan , Peng Shengwen , Li Xuhui , Mamitsuka Hiroshi , Zhu Shanfeng
Published: September 2015

Currently, all MEDLINE documents are indexed by medical subject headings (MeSH). Computing semantic similarity between two MeSH headings as well as two documents has become very important for many biomedical text mining applications. We develop an R package, MeSHSim, which can compute nine similarity measures between MeSH nodes, by which similarity between MeSH headings as well as MEDLINE documents can be easily computed. Also, MeSHSim supports querying hierarchy information of a MeSH heading and retrieving MeSH headings of a query document, and can be easily integrated into pipelines for any biomedical text analysis tasks. MeSHSim is released under general public license (GPL), and available through Bioconductor and from Github at https://github.com/JingZhou2015/MeSHSim .
Synchronous and Asynchronous Application of a Filtering Method for Underwater Robot Localization
Authors: Ko Nak Yong , Kim Tae Gyun , Choi Hyun Taek
Published: September 2015

This paper reports a method that fuses multiple sensor measurements for location estimation of an underwater robot. Synchronous and asynchronous (AS) implementation of the method are also proposed. Extended Kalman filter (EKF) is used to fuse four types of measurements: linear velocity by Doppler velocity log (DVL), angular velocity by gyroscope, ranges to acoustic beacons, and depth. The EKF approach is implemented in three ways to deal with asynchrony in measurements in correction step. The three implementation methods are synchronous collective (SC), synchronous individual (SI), and AS application. These methods are verified and compared through simulation and test tank experiments. The test reveals that the application methods need to be selected depending on the measurement properties: dependency between the measurements and degree of asynchrony. The distinctive features proposed in this study are three application methods together with derivation of an EKF approach to sensor fusion for underwater navigation.
Toll-like receptor 4-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to impairment of vasodilator action of insulin
Authors: Kim Jeong-a , Jang Hyun-Ju , Hwang Daniel H.
Published: September 2015

Impairment of vasodilator action of insulin is associated with endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance. Activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) induces proinflammatory response and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) activate TLR4, which induces ER stress and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we determined whether TLR4-mediated ER stress is an obligatory step mediating SFA-induced endothelial dysfunction. Palmitate stimulated proinflammatory responses and ER stress, and this was suppressed by knockdown of TLR4 in primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Next, we examined the role of TLR4 in vasodilatory responses in intact vessels isolated from wild-type (WT, C57BL/6) and TLR4-KO mice after feeding high-fat (HFD) or normal chow diet (NCD) for 12 wk. Arterioles isolated from HFD WT mice exhibited impaired insulin-stimulated vasodilation compared with arterioles isolated from NCD WT mice. Deficiency of TLR4 was protective from HFD-induced impairment of insulin-stimulated vasodilation. There were no differences in acetylcholine (Ach)- or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated vasodilation between the two groups. Furthermore, we examined whether ER stress is involved in SFA-induced impairment of vasodilator actions of insulin. Infusion of palmitate showed the impairment of vasodilatory response to insulin, which was ameliorated by coinfusion with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an ER stress suppressor. Taken together, the results suggest that TLR4-induced ER stress may be an obligatory step mediating the SFA-mediated endothelial dysfunction.
Global deletion ofBCATmincreases expression of skeletal muscle genes associated with protein turnover
Authors: Lynch Christopher J. , Kimball Scot R. , Xu Yuping , Salzberg Anna C. , Kawasawa Yuka Imamura
Published: September 2015

Consumption of a protein-containing meal by a fasted animal promotes protein accretion in skeletal muscle, in part through leucine stimulation of protein synthesis and indirectly through repression of protein degradation mediated by its metabolite, α-ketoisocaproate. Mice lacking the mitochondrial branched-chain aminotransferase ( BCATm/Bcat2), which interconverts leucine and α-ketoisocaproate, exhibit elevated protein turnover. Here, the transcriptomes of gastrocnemius muscle from BCATm knockout (KO) and wild-type mice were compared by next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify potential adaptations associated with their persistently altered nutrient signaling. Statistically significant changes in the abundance of 1,486/∼39,010 genes were identified. Bioinformatics analysis of the RNA-Seq data indicated that pathways involved in protein synthesis [eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-2, mammalian target of rapamycin, eIF4, and p70S6K pathways including 40S and 60S ribosomal proteins], protein breakdown (e.g., ubiquitin mediated), and muscle degeneration (apoptosis, atrophy, myopathy, and cell death) were upregulated. Also in agreement with our previous observations, the abundance of mRNAs associated with reduced body size, glycemia, plasma insulin, and lipid signaling pathways was altered in BCATm KO mice. Consistently, genes encoding anaerobic and/or oxidative metabolism of carbohydrate, fatty acids, and branched chain amino acids were modestly but systematically reduced. Although there was no indication that muscle fiber type was different between KO and wild-type mice, a difference in the abundance of mRNAs associated with a muscular dystrophy phenotype was observed, consistent with the published exercise intolerance of these mice. The results suggest transcriptional adaptations occur in BCATm KO mice that along with altered nutrient signaling may contribute to their previously reported protein turnover, metabolic and exercise phenotypes.
Dissecting the Potential Interplay of DEK Functions in Inflammation and Cancer
Authors: Pease Nicholas A. , Wise-Draper Trisha , Privette Vinnedge Lisa
Published: September 2015

There is a long-standing correlation between inflammation, inflammatory cell signaling pathways, and tumor formation. Understanding the mechanisms behind inflammation-driven tumorigenesis is of great research and clinical importance. Although not entirely understood, these mechanisms include a complex interaction between the immune system and the damaged epithelium that is mediated by an array of molecular signals of inflammation—including reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokines, and NFκB signaling—that are also oncogenic. Here, we discuss the association of the unique DEK protein with these processes. Specifically, we address the role of DEK in chronic inflammation via viral infections and autoimmune diseases, the overexpression and oncogenic activity of DEK in cancers, and DEK-mediated regulation of NFκB signaling. Combined, evidence suggests that DEK may play a complex, multidimensional role in chronic inflammation and subsequent tumorigenesis.
Cosmic Rays Report from the Structure of Space
Authors: Annila A.
Published: September 2015

Spectrum of cosmic rays follows a broken power law over twelve orders of magnitude. Since ubiquitous power laws are manifestations of the principle of least action, we interpret the spectrum accordingly. Our analysis complies with understanding that low-energy particles originate mostly from rapidly receding sources throughout the cosmos. The flux peaks about proton rest energy whereafter it decreases because fewer and fewer receding sources are energetic enough to provide particles with high enough velocities to compensate for the recessional velocities. Above 1015.6 eV the flux from the expanding Universe diminishes below the flux from the nearby nonexpanding part of the Universe. In this spectral feature, known as the “knee,” we relate to a distance of about 1.3 Mpc where the gravitational potential tallies the energy density of free space. At higher energies particles decelerate in a dissipative manner to attain thermodynamic balance with the vacuum. At about 1017.2 eV a distinct dissipative mechanism opens up for protons to slow down by electron-positron pair production. At about 1019.6 eV a more effective mechanism opens up via pion production. All in all, the universal principle discloses that the broad spectrum of cosmic rays probes the structure of space from cosmic distances down to microscopic details.
Importance ofNAB2-STAT6Fusion in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Solitary Fibrous Tumor with Hamartoma-Like Features: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Tanaka Kei , Kishimoto Takashi , Ohtsuka Masayuki , Nakatani Yukio , Miyazaki Masaru
Published: September 2015

We report a case of pancreatic hamartoma-like solitary fibrous tumor which was differentiated from pancreatic hamartoma with the detection ofNAB2-STAT6fusion, a specific mutation for solitary fibrous tumors. A pancreatic well-demarcated solid nodule,21×17 mm, of 82-year-old man was surgically enucleated. Microscopic findings were close to a pancreatic hamartoma that consisted of sparsely distributed pancreatic ducts and acini in heavily collagenized fibrous stroma. Neither islet nor peripheral nerve existed in the tumor. The fibroblastic cells in the stroma were immune-positive for CD34, CD99, and bcl-2. But these expressions were not decisive in the differentiation between solitary fibrous tumor and pancreatic hamartoma, because CD34 was positive for both tumors, and CD99 and bcl-2 expressions were not elucidated in the previous cases of pancreatic hamartomas. Thus, we evaluatedNAB2-STAT6fusion. The fibroblastic cells were positive for STAT6 and sequencing analysis revealed the gene fusion betweenNAB2exon 4 andSTAT6exon 2, with which the final diagnos is of solitary fibrous tumor was achieved. In conclusion, detection ofNAB2-STAT6fusion has a great diagnostic value for pancreatic solitary fibrous tumors with hamartoma-like features.
Oscillation Criteria for Some Higher Order Integrodynamic Equations on Timescales
Authors: Grace Said R. , El-Beltagy Mohamed A.
Published: September 2015

We study the oscillation behavior for some higher order integrodynamic equations on timescales. We establish some new sufficient conditions guaranteeing that all solutions of theses equations are oscillatory. Some numerical examples in the continuous case are given to validate the theoretical results.
Prevalence, Clinical Correlates, and Use of Glucose-Lowering Drugs among Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Living in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Bo Mario , Gallo Stefano , Zanocchi Mauro , Maina Paola , Balcet Luisa , Bonetto Martina , Marchese Lorenzo , Mastrapasqua Annalisa , Aimonino Ricauda Nicoletta
Published: September 2015

Prevalence, clinical correlates, and use of glucose-lowering drugs were comprehensively evaluated among 863 nursing home older patients with diabetes (mean age 82.9 ± 2.1 years): functional dependence and cognitive impairment were present in 84.1% and 68% of patients, respectively, and 66.3% of patients had 2–4 comorbidities. HbA1c values < 7.0% were documented in 54.9% of diabetic; significantly lower HbA1c levels were observed in demented patients than in nondemented subjects. Documented hypoglycemic episodes were reported for 57 patients (6.6%), without significant association with age, functional dependence, cognitive impairment, or HbA1c levels. About one-fifth of older long-term facilities residents have diabetes, with concomitant poor health conditions and high prevalence of cognitive impairment and functional dependence. Roughly three-fourths of these older and frail diabetic patients have HbA1c values lower than optimal, suggesting a potential for hypoglycemic harm especially among patients with severe cognitive impairment.
Electrochemical Characterization of Nanoporous Nickel Oxide Thin Films Spray-Deposited onto Indium-Doped Tin Oxide for Solar Conversion Scopes
Authors: Awais Muhammad , Dowling Denis P. , Decker Franco , Dini Danilo
Published: September 2015

Nonstoichiometric nickel oxide (NiOx) has been deposited as thin film utilizing indium-doped tin oxide as transparent and electrically conductive substrate. Spray deposition of a suspension ofNiOxnanoparticles in alcoholic medium allowed the preparation of uniformNiOxcoatings. Sintering of the coatings was conducted at temperatures below 500°C for few minutes. This scalable procedure allowed the attainment ofNiOxfilms with mesoporous morphology and reticulated structure. The electrochemical characterization showed thatNiOxelectrodes possess large surface area (about 1000 times larger than their geometrical area). Due to the openness of theNiOxmorphology, the underlying conductive substrate can be contacted by the electrolyte and undergo redox processes within the potential range in whichNiOxis electroactive. This requires careful control of the conditions of polarization in order to prevent the simultaneous occurrence of reduction/oxidation processes in both components of the multilayered electrode. The combination of the open structure with optical transparency and elevated electroactivity in organic electrolytes motivated us to analyze the potential of the spray-depositedNiOxfilms as semiconducting cathodes of dye-sensitized solar cells of p-type when erythrosine B was the sensitizer.
Noncholesteatomatous Cyst of the Tympanic Membrane: A Nonpublished Entity?
Authors: Ramírez-Camacho Rafael , Salas Isabel , Trinidad Almudena , Villarreal Ithzel Maria
Published: September 2015

Introduction. The presence of a serous cyst in the tympanic membrane implies the description of a new or unpublished entity based on our knowledge whose origin may be very unlikely explained on actual embryologic and anatomic background.Clinical Case. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman with progressing right hearing loss. Physical examination revealed a whitish, round-shaped malformation in the posterior-inferior quadrant of the right tympanic membrane. The cyst was removed with a transcanal tympanoplasty.Discussion. A thorough PubMed search that involved the terms tympanic membrane gland, epithelial inclusion cysts, mucous-secreting cyst, and tympanic cyst has shown no positive results. The first description of an unknown entity, such as a tympanic membrane serous cyst, may be the key for clinicians to start paying attention to patients who suffer from similar pathologies and may pass unnoticed because of their rarity or peculiarity.
The Efficacy of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ji Mei , Wang Xiaoxia , Chen Meijuan , Shen Yan , Zhang Xu , Yang Jin
Published: September 2015

Background. Sciatica is one of the most frequently reported complaints; it affects quality of life and reduces social and economic efficacy. Clinical studies on the efficacy of acupuncture therapy in sciatica are increasing, while systematic reviews assessing the efficacy of acupuncture therapy are still lacking.Objective. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for sciatica.Methods. Comprehensive searches of 8 databases were conducted up until April 2015. Outcomes included effectiveness (proportion of patients who improved totally or partly in clinical symptoms), pain intensity, and pain threshold. Effect sizes were presented as risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD). Pooled effect sizes were calculated by fixed effects or random effects model.Results. A total of 12 studies (involving 1842 participants) were included. Results showed that acupuncture was more effective than conventional Western medicine (CWM) in outcomes effectiveness (RR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.16–1.25), pain intensity (MD −1.25, 95% CI: −1.63 to −0.86), and pain threshold (MD: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.98–1.17). Subgroup and sensitivity analysis found that the results did not change in different treatment method and drug categories substantially. The reported adverse effects were acceptable.Conclusions. Acupuncture may be effective in treating the pain associated with sciatica.
Targeted Therapies in Adult B-Cell Malignancies
Authors: Rossi Jean-François
Published: September 2015

B-lymphocytes are programmed for the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) after antigen presentation, in the context of T-lymphocyte control within lymphoid organs. During this differentiation/activation process, B-lymphocytes exhibit different restricted or common surface markers, activation of cellular pathways that regulate cell cycle, metabolism, proteasome activity, and protein synthesis. All molecules involved in these different cellular mechanisms are potent therapeutic targets. Nowadays, due to the progress of the biology, more and more targeted drugs are identified, a situation that is correlated with an extended field of the targeted therapy. The full knowledge of the cellular machinery and cell-cell communication allows making the best choice to treat patients, in the context of personalized medicine. Also, focus should not be restricted to the immediate effects observed as clinical endpoints, that is, response rate, survival markers with conventional statistical methods, but it should consider the prediction of different clinical consequences due to other collateral drug targets, based on new methodologies. This means that new reflection and new bioclinical follow-up have to be monitored, particularly with the new drugs used with success in B-cell malignancies. This review discussed the principal aspects of such evident bioclinical progress.
Crystal Structure, Spectroscopy, SEM Analysis, and Computational Studies of N-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2yl)benzamide
Authors: Bülbül Hakan , Köysal Yavuz , Dege Necmi , Gümüş Sümeyye , Ağar Erbil
Published: September 2015

The compound N-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2yl)benzamide, C15H10N2O3, was prepared by the heating of an ethanolic solution of 2-hydroxy-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione and 4-chloroaniline. The product was characterised using a combination of IR spectroscopy, SEM, and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In addition to the experimental analysis, theoretical calculations were used to investigate the crystal structure in order to compare experimental and theoretical values. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the compound crystallises in the monoclinic space group P21/c with the geometric parameters of a=13.5324(11) Å, b=9.8982(8) Å, c=9.7080(8) Å, and β=95.425(6)°. The crystal structure is held together by a network of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the carboxamide group.
Enamel Pearls Implications on Periodontal Disease
Authors: Zenóbio Elton Gonçalves , Vieira Thaís Ribeiral , Bustamante Roberta Paula Colen , Gomes Hayder Egg , Shibli Jamil Awad , Soares Rodrigo Villamarin
Published: September 2015

Dental anatomy is quite complex and diverse factors must be taken into account in its analysis. Teeth with anatomical variations present an increase in the rate of severity periodontal tissue destruction and therefore a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. In this context, this paper reviews the literature regarding enamel pearls and their implications in the development of severe localized periodontal disease as well as in the prognosis of periodontal therapy. Radiographic examination of a patient complaining of pain in the right side of the mandible revealed the presence of a radiopaque structure around the cervical region of lower right first premolar. Periodontal examination revealed extensive bone loss since probing depths ranged from 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm and additionally intense bleeding and suppuration. Surgical exploration detected the presence of an enamel pearl, which was removed. Assessment of the remaining supporting tissues led to the extraction of tooth 44. Local factors such as enamel pearls can lead to inadequate removal of the subgingival biofilm, thus favoring the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases.
New Combined Weighting Model Based on Maximizing the Difference in Evaluation Results and Its Application
Authors: Meng Bin , Chi Guotai
Published: September 2015

This paper presents an approach for weighting indices in the comprehensive evaluation. In accordance with the principle that the entire difference of various evaluation objects is to be maximally differentiated, an adjusted weighting coefficient is introduced. Based on the idea of maximizing the difference between the adjusted evaluation scores of each evaluation object and their mean, an objective programming model is established with more obvious differentiation between evaluation scores and the combined weight coefficient determined, thereby avoiding contradictory and less distinguishable evaluation results of single weighting methods. The proposed model is demonstrated using 2,044 observations. The empirical results show that the combined weighting method has the least misjudgment probability, as well as the least error probability, when compared with four single weighting methods, namely, G1, G2, variation coefficient, and deviation methods.
Mechanic and Acoustic Properties of the Sound-Absorbing Material Made from Natural Fiber and Polyester
Authors: Peng Limin , Song Boqi , Wang Junfeng , Wang Dong
Published: September 2015

A sound-absorbing composite material made of wood fiber and polyester fiber was produced using polyester foam technology and wood-based composite technology. This study investigated the physical and mechanical properties and the effects of the airflow resistivity of the materials and the depth of the cavities behind on sound-absorbing performance of the composite material. The results showed that the composite of best physical and mechanical properties and sound absorption was made with a 150°C hot-pressing temperature, 10 min hot-press time, 3 : 1 the ratio of wood fiber to polyester fiber, foaming agent content of 8%, and the nominal density of 0.2 g/cm3; the composite material yielded superior sound absorption property with the airflow resistivity of 1.98 × 105 Pa·s/m2; the acoustic absorption peak moved to lower frequencies when length of the cavities was increased.
Yeast Actin-Related Protein ARP6 Negatively RegulatesAgrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Yeast Cell
Authors: Luo Yumei , Chen Zikai , Zhu Detu , Tu Haitao , Pan Shen Quan
Published: September 2015

The yeasts, includingSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandPichia pastoris, are single-cell eukaryotic organisms that can serve as models for human genetic diseases and hosts for large scale production of recombinant proteins in current biopharmaceutical industry. Thus, efficient genetic engineering tools for yeasts are of great research and economic values.Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (AMT) can transfer T-DNA into yeast cells as a method for genetic engineering. However, how the T-DNA is transferred into the yeast cells is not well established yet. Here our genetic screening of yeast knockout mutants identified a yeast actin-related proteinARP6as a negative regulator of AMT.ARP6is a critical member of the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex (SWR-C); knocking out some other components of the complex also increased the transformation efficiency, suggesting thatARP6might regulate AMT via SWR-C. Moreover, knockout ofARP6led to disruption of microtubule integrity, higher uptake and degradation of virulence proteins, and increased DNA stability inside the cells, all of which resulted in enhanced transformation efficiency. Our findings have identified molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating AMT and a potential target for enhancing the transformation efficiency in yeast cells.
Identification of Flexural Rigidity in a Kirchhoff Plates Model Using a Convex Objective and Continuous Newton Method
Authors: Jadamba B. , Kahler R. , Khan A. A. , Raciti F. , Winkler B.
Published: September 2015

This work provides a detailed theoretical and numerical study of the inverse problem of identifying flexural rigidity in Kirchhoff plate models. From a mathematical standpoint, this inverse problem requires estimating a variable coefficient in a fourth-order boundary value problem. This inverse problem and related estimation problems associated with general plates and shell models have been investigated by numerous researchers through an optimization framework using the output least-squares (OLSs) formulation. OLS yields a nonconvex framework and hence it is suitable for investigating only the local behavior of the solution. In this work, we propose a new convex framework for the inverse problem of identifying a variable parameter in a fourth-order inverse problem. Existence results, optimality conditions, and discretization issues are discussed in detail. The discrete inverse problem is solved by using a continuous Newton method. Numerical results show the feasibility of the proposed framework.
The Structural and Magnetic Properties of Gadolinium Doped CoFe2O4 Nanoferrites
Authors: Lin Qing , Lin Jinpei , He Yun , Wang Ruijun , Dong Jianghui
Published: September 2015

Gadolinium substituted cobalt ferrite CoGdxFe2−xO4 (x = 0, 0.04, 0.08) powders have been prepared by a sol‐gel autocombustion method. XRD results indicate the production of a single cubic phase of ferrites. The lattice parameter increases and the average crystallite size decreases with the substitution of Gd3+ ions. SEM shows that the ferrite powers are nanoparticles. Room temperature Mössbauer spectra of CoGdxFe22−xO4 are two normal Zeeman‐split sextets, which display ferrimagnetic behavior. The saturation magnetization decreases and the coercivity increases by the Gd3+ ions.
Shaped Beam Pattern Synthesis of Antenna Arrays Using Composite Differential Evolution with Eigenvector-Based Crossover Operator
Authors: Goudos Sotirios K.
Published: September 2015

This paper addresses the problem of designing shaped beam patterns with arbitrary arrays subject to constraints. The constraints could include the sidelobe level suppression in specified angular intervals, the mainlobe halfpower beamwidth, and the predefined number of elements. In this paper, we propose a new Differential Evolution algorithm, which combines Composite DE with an eigenvector-based crossover operator (CODE-EIG). This operator utilizes eigenvectors of covariance matrix of individual solutions, which makes the crossover rotationally invariant. We apply this novel design method to shaped beam pattern synthesis for linear and conformal arrays. We compare this algorithm with other popular algorithms and DE variants. The results show CODE-EIG outperforms the other DE algorithms in terms of statistical results and convergence speed.
Noncoercive Perturbed Densely Defined Operators and Application to Parabolic Problems
Authors: Asfaw Teffera M.
Published: September 2015

LetXbe a real locally uniformly convex reflexive separable Banach space with locally uniformly convex dual spaceX∗. LetT:X⊇D(T)→2X∗be maximal monotone andS:X⊇D(S)→X∗quasibounded generalized pseudomonotone such that there exists a real reflexive separable Banach spaceW⊂D(S), dense and continuously embedded inX. Assume, further, that there existsd≥0such that〈v∗+Sx,x〉≥-dx2for allx∈D(T)∩D(S)andv∗∈Tx. New surjectivity results are given for noncoercive, not everywhere defined, and possibly unbounded operators of the typeT+S. A partial positive answer for Nirenberg's problem on surjectivity of expansive mapping is provided. Leray-Schauder degree is applied employing the method of elliptic superregularization. A new characterization of linear maximal monotone operatorL:X⊇D(L)→X∗is given as a result of surjectivity ofL+S, whereSis of type(M)with respect toL. These results improve the corresponding theory for noncoercive and not everywhere defined operators of pseudomonotone type. In the last section, an example is provided addressing existence of weak solution inX=Lp(0,T;W01,p(Ω))of a nonlinear parabolic problem of the typeut-∑i=1n(∂/∂xi)ai(x,t,u,∇u)=f(x,t),  (x,t)∈Q;u(x,t)=0,  (x,t)∈∂Ω×(0,T);u(x,0)=0,  x∈Ω, wherep>1,Ωis a nonempty, bounded, and open subset ofRN,ai:Ω×(0,T)×R×RN→R  (i=1,2,…,n)satisfies certain growth conditions, andf∈Lp′(Q),Q=Ω×(0,T), andp′is the conjugate exponent ofp.
STA-MCA Bypass as a “Bridge” to Pituitary Surgery in a Patient with an Adenoma Occluding the Internal Carotid Artery: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Lanterna Luigi A. , Brembilla Carlo , Signorelli Antonio , Gritti Paolo , Costi Emanuele , Dorelli Gianluigi , Bernucci Claudio
Published: September 2015

Occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by a pituitary adenoma with resulting cerebral ischemia is a very rare but devastating occurrence. The authors present a case in which a condition of symptomatic ICA occlusion due to a giant pituitary adenoma was successfully treated using a preliminary extraintracranial bypass as a “bridge” to the tumor removal. A 52-year-old patient presented with a minor stroke followed by pressure-dependent transient ischemic attacks consistent with a condition of hypoperfusion. MR imaging and a digital subtraction angiography revealed a pituitary adenoma occluding the ICA on the right side. He underwent a superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass with the aim of revascularizing the ischemic hemisphere and reducing the risk of perioperative stroke or stroke evolution. The patient was subsequently operated on to remove the adenoma through a transsphenoidal approach. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has suffered no further ischemic events. When there are no emergency indications to decompress the optical pathways but the patient is at risk of impending stroke because of ICA occlusion, a two-step strategy consisting of a bypass and subsequent removal of the pituitary adenoma may be a valuable option.
Numerical Analysis and Demonstration: Transmission Shaft Influence on Meshing Vibration in Driving and Driven Gears
Authors: Jinli Xu , Xingyi Su , Bo Peng
Published: September 2015

The variable axial transmission system composed of universal joint transmission shafts and a gear pair has been applied in many engineering fields. In the design of a drive system, the dynamics of the gear pair have been studied in detail. However few have paid attention to the effect on the system modal characteristics of the gear pair, arising from the universal joint transmission shafts. This work establishes a torsional vibration mathematical model of the transmission shaft, driving gear, and driven gear based on lumped masses and the main reducer system assembly of a CDV (car-based delivery vehicle) car. The model is solved by the state space method. The influence of the angle between transmission shafts and intermediate support stiffness on the vibration and noise of the main reducer is obtained and verified experimentally. A reference for the main reducer and transmission shaft design and the allied parameter matching are provided.
Turnback Capacity Assessment and Delay Management at a Rail Transit Terminal with Two-Tail Tracks
Authors: Jiang Zhibin , Tan Yuyan , Wang Feng , Bu Lei
Published: September 2015

Terminal capacity and performance have become a major concern for rail transit agencies in China due to the ever increasing passenger demand. This paper develops a mixed integer programming (MIP) optimization model to estimate the turnback capacity and performance of a rail transit terminal with two-tail tracks. The capacity evaluation and delay propagation are described and assessed as anN-track integrated model with minimal time span and train delay. Operations and design parameters such as tail track allocation strategies, maximum layover time, headway pattern, buffer time distribution scheme, and primary delay are also considered in this model. The effectiveness of the model is tested by a case study with computation results drawn from one terminal station in Shanghai, China. The case study results show that unfixed platform time and flexible tail track allocation strategies can improve the capacity of turnback operation, and the strategy of allowing swapping of the tail tracks has a significantly positive impact on delay absorption.
Network Latency in Systems Event Monitoring for Multiple Locations
Authors: Kufel Lukasz
Published: September 2015

Network latency is one of the key parameters to consider when designing and implementing remote monitoring for security and system events. This paper describes how network latency may impact monitoring over wide area networks, especially when the monitoring system is hundreds or thousands of miles away from the monitored servers. Furthermore, an idea of local distributor is proposed to reduce the time of events data collection from multiple geographic locations.
The MANGUA Project: A Population-Based HIV Cohort in Guatemala
Authors: García Juan Ignacio , Samayoa Blanca , Sabidó Meritxell , Prieto Luis Alberto , Nikiforov Mikhail , Pinzón Rodolfo , Santa Marina de León Luis Roberto , Ortiz José Fernando , Ponce Ernesto , Mejía Carlos Rodolfo , Arathoon Eduardo , Casabona Jordi , Study Group The Mangua Cohort
Published: September 2015

Introduction.The MANGUA cohort is an ongoing multicenter, observational study of people living with HIV/AIDS in Guatemala. The cohort is based on the MANGUA application which is an electronic database to capture essential data from the medical records of HIV patients in care.Methods.The cohort enrolls HIV-positive adults ≥16 years of age. A predefined set of sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and laboratory data are registered at entry to the cohort study.Results.As of October 1st, 2012, 21 697 patients had been included in the MANGUA cohort (median age: 33 years, 40.3% female). At enrollment 74.1% had signs of advanced HIV infection and only 56.3% had baseline CD4 cell counts. In the first 12 months after starting antiretroviral treatment 26.9% (n=3938) of the patients were lost to the program.Conclusions.The implementation of a cohort of HIV-positive patients in care in Guatemala is feasible and has provided national HIV indicators to monitor and evaluate the HIV epidemic. The identified percentages of late presenters and high rates of LTFU will help the Ministry to target their current efforts in improving access to diagnosis and care.
Clinical Significance of SASH1 Expression in Glioma
Authors: Yang Liu , Zhang Haitao , Yao Qi , Yan Yingying , Wu Ronghua , Liu Mei
Published: September 2015

Objective.SAM and SH3 domain containing 1 (SASH1) is a recently discovered tumor suppressor gene. The role of SASH1 in glioma has not yet been described. We investigated SASH1 expression in glioma cases to determine its clinical significance on glioma pathogenesis and prognosis.Methods.We produced tissue microarrays using 121 patient-derived glioma samples and 30 patient-derived nontumor cerebral samples. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to evaluate SASH1 expression. We usedFisher’s exact tests to determine relationships between SASH1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics; Cox regression analysis to evaluate the independency of different SASH1 expression; Kaplan-Meier analysis to determine any correlation of SASH1 expression with survival rate.Results.SASH1 expression was closely correlated with the WHO glioma grade. Of the 121 cases, 66.9% with low SASH1 expression were mostly grade III-IV cases, whereas 33.1% with high SASH1 expression were mostly grades I-II. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between SASH1 expression and postoperative survival.Conclusions.SASH1 was widely expressed in normal and low-grade glioma tissues. SASH1 expression strongly correlated with glioma grades, showing higher expression at a lower grade, which decreased significantly as grade increased. Furthermore, SASH1 expression was positively correlated with better postoperative survival in patients with glioma.
An Improved Shock Factor to Evaluate the Shock Environment of Small-Sized Structures Subjected to Underwater Explosion
Authors: Zhang Wenzheng , Jiang Weikang
Published: September 2015

Shock factor is conventionally used to assess the effect of an underwater explosion on a target. The dimensions of some structures are much smaller than the wavelength of incident wave induced by the underwater explosion. The conventional shock factor may be excessively severe for small-sized structures because it neglects the effect of scattering; so it is necessary to study the shock factor for small objects. The coupled mode method is applied to study the scattering field surrounding the cylindrical shells. A nonlinear relation differential is derived from the impact received by the cylindrical shells and the ratio between the diameters of the shells and the wavelength of the incident wave. An improved shock factor is developed based on the fitted curve, considering the scattering effect caused by the diameters of the submerged cylindrical shells. A set of numerical simulations are carried out to validate the accuracy of the proposed approach. The results show that the cylindrical shells and spherical shells under different conditions, but with the same shock factor, have almost the same shock responses.