bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted activation of primitive neural stem cells in the mouse brain
Authors: Reeve Rachel L. , Yammine Samantha Z. , DeVeale Brian , van der Kooy Derek
Published: March 2016

Primitive neural stem cells (pNSCs) are the earliest NSCs to appear in the developing forebrain. They persist into the adult forebrain where they can generate all cells in the neural lineage and therefore hold great potential for brain regeneration. Thus, pNSCs are an ideal population to target to promote endogenous NSC activation. pNSCs can be isolated from the periventricular region as leukaemia inhibitory factor‐responsive cells, and comprise a rare population in the adult mouse brain. We hypothesized that the pup periventricular region gives rise to more clonal pNSC‐derived neurospheres but that pup‐derived pNSCs are otherwise comparable to adult‐derived pNSCs, and can be used to identify selective markers and activators of endogenous pNSCs. We tested the self‐renewal ability, differentiation capacity and gene expression profile of pup‐derived pNSCs and found them each to be comparable to adult‐derived pNSCs, including being GFAP−, nestinmid, Oct4+. Next, we used pup pNSCs to test pharmacological compounds to activate pNSCs to promote endogenous brain repair. We hypothesized that pNSCs could be activated by targeting the cell surface proteins C‐Kit and ErbB2, which were enriched in pNSCs relative to definitive NSCs (dNSCs) in an in vitro screen. C‐Kit and ErbB2 signalling inhibition had distinct effects on pNSCs and dNSCs in vitro, and when infused directly into the adult brain in vivo. Targeted activation of pNSCs with C‐Kit and ErbB2 modulation is a valuable strategy to activate the earliest cell in the neural lineage to contribute to endogenous brain regeneration.
Unihemispheric concurrent dual‐site cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation: the effects on corticospinal excitability
Authors: Vaseghi Bita , Zoghi Maryam , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: March 2016

We aimed to assess the effects of concurrent cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c‐tDCS) of two targets in a hemisphere, termed unihemispheric concurrent dual‐site cathodal tDCS (c‐tDCSUHCDS), on the size of M1 corticospinal excitability and its lasting effect. Secondary aims were to identify the mechanisms behind the efficacy of c‐tDCSUHCDS and to evaluate the side effects of this new technique. Twelve healthy volunteers received 20 min c‐tDCS under five conditions in a random order: M1 c‐tDCS, c‐tDCSUHCDS of M1–dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), M1–primary sensory cortex (S1), M1–primary visual cortex (V1) and sham. The M1 corticospinal excitability of the first dorsal interossei muscle was assessed before, immediately after, and 30 min, 60 min and 24 h after the interventions. Short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were also assessed, using a paired‐pulse paradigm. Compared to conventional M1 c‐tDCS, corticospinal excitability significantly increased following c‐tDCSUHCDS of M1‐DLPFC and M1‐V1 for up to 24 h (P = 0.001). Significant increases in ICF were observed following c‐tDCSUHCDS of M1‐DLPFC (P = 0.005) and M1‐V1 (P = 0.002). Compared to baseline values, ICF and SICI increased significantly at T60 (P < 0.001) and T24 h (P < 0.001) following the concurrent c‐tDCS of M1 and V1. Sham c‐tDCSUHCDS did not induce any significant alteration. The corticospinal excitability increase was mainly accompanied by ICF increase, which indirectly indicates the activity of glutamergic mechanisms. The findings may help us to more fully understand the brain function and develop future motor learning studies. No significant excitability change induced by sham c‐tDCSUHCDS suggests that there is no placebo effect associated with this new tDCS technique.
Differences in field‐scale N2O flux linked to crop residue removal under two tillage systems in cold climates
Authors: Congreves Katelyn A. , Brown Shannon E. , Németh Deanna D. , Dunfield Kari E. , Wagner‐Riddle Claudia
Published: March 2016

Residue removal for biofuel production may have unintended consequences for N2O emissions from soils, and it is not clear how N2O emissions are influenced by crop residue removal from different tillage systems. Thus, we measured field‐scale N2O flux over 5 years (2005–2007, 2010–2011) from an annual crop rotation to evaluate how N2O emissions are influenced by no‐till (NT) compared to conventional tillage (CV), and how crop residue removal (R−) rather than crop residue return to soil (R+) affects emissions from these two tillage systems. Data from all 5 years indicated no differences in N2O flux between tillage practices at the onset of the growing season, but CT had 1.4–6.3 times higher N2O flux than NT overwinter. Nitrous oxide emissions were higher due to R− compared to R+, but the effect was more marked under CT than NT and overwinter than during spring. Our results thus challenge the assumption based on IPCC methodology that crop residue removal will result in reduced N2O emissions. The potential for higher N2O emission with residue removal implies that the benefit of utilizing biomass as biofuels to mitigate greenhouse gas emission may be overestimated. Interestingly, prior to an overwinter thaw event, dissolved organic C (DOC) was negatively correlated to peak N2O flux (r = −0.93). This suggests that lower N2O emissions with R+ vs. R− may reflect more complete stepwise denitrification to N2 during winter and possibly relate to the heterotrophic microbial capacity for processing crop residue into more soluble C compounds and a shift in the preferential C source utilized by the microbial community overwinter.
Dense SiC Coatings as Barrier Layer on Graphite Heat Elements in Furnaces for Smelting Silicon in Photovoltaic Industry
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Zhaofeng , Yu ShengJie , Luo Ruiying , Wang Jiufeng
Published: March 2016

This study puts forward an application of a dense SiC coating of graphite heat elements as a barrier layer to prevent the spoilage of the purity of photovoltaic Si elements by impurities of the graphite. The SiC barrier performance in high‐temperature vacuum environment has been analyzed measuring the mass loss of graphite with/without coating of 5, 20, 30 μm 1200, 1400, and 1600°C. A thickness of 20 μm showed to be the best choice and could reduce the weight loss by more than 90%. The adhesion strength of samples decreased with the increase in heat treatment temperature.
1916 and all that: Lessons from a decade of centenaries for Ireland and the UK
Authors: Kidd Colin
Published: March 2016

As we approach what might be the crescendo of a decade of politically loaded centenaries, Colin Kidd considers how the foundational events of 1912‐1922 affected the development of Ireland's politics and its relationship with the UK, and finds lessons there for the British left on how to engage with nationalism as a live and legitimate political sentiment.
Pragmatism, idealism and basic income: A transformative investment in human potential
Authors: Painter Anthony
Published: March 2016

Far from being a utopian pipedream, a basic income has been successful whenever it has been trialled. Anthony Painter argues that those on the left who pride themselves on their pragmatism should consider the evidence: a basic income is not only a sound investment, but a new approach to progressive statecraft capable of responding to the needs of our times.
High pressure for low emissions: How civil society created the Paris climate agreement
Authors: Jacobs Michael
Published: March 2016

A huge diplomatic achievement, the Paris agreement signed in late 2015 was also the outcome of an unprecedented show of political power by a broad and diverse coalition of forces from global civil society. Michael Jacobs describes how this alliance forced the hands of the world's major polluters, and forged a new politics of climate.
Job quality and inequality: The unequal world of work in the UK, 1986–2012
Authors: Green Francis , Felstead Alan , Gallie Duncan
Published: March 2016

Job quality has become a prominent issue in recent years ‐ and with good reason, say Francis Green, Alan Felstead and Duncan Gallie. Their findings on inequality and job quality and how they have changed illuminate the true state of Britain's labour market, and make clear the need for changes in policy to improve working lives.
Team Incentives and Reference‐Dependent Preferences
Authors: Daido Kohei , Murooka Takeshi
Published: March 2016

We investigate a multi‐agent moral‐hazard model where agents have expectation‐based reference‐dependent preferences à la Kőszegi and Rabin (2006, 2007). We show that even when each agent's probability of success in a project is independent, a principal may employ team incentives. Because the agents are loss averse, they have first‐order risk aversion to wage uncertainty. This causes the agents to work harder when their own failure is stochastically compensated through other agents' performance. In the optimal contract, agents with high performance are always rewarded, whereas agents with low performance are rewarded if and only if other agents' performance is high.
Influence of Air Temperature on Physical Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds in Vacuum Drying of Arthrospira Spirulina
Authors: Larrosa A.P.Q. , Comitre A.A. , Vaz L.B. , Pinto L.A.A.
Published: March 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different temperatures in vacuum drying of Arthrospira Spirulina sp. on the physical properties and on the bioactive compounds, and to compare with the traditional oven dryer. The samples were evaluated according to phycocyanin content, phenolic compounds, lipid oxidation, color parameters and rehydration. The phenolic methanol extracts were analyzed by FTIR, and thermal analysis (DSC), scanning electronic microscopy and X‐ray diffraction of the samples were also performed. The results showed that the characteristics of the dried products were influenced by the different temperatures of the drying methods. Vacuum drying at 40C was the more suitable to dry Arthrospira Spirulina sp. in relation to the characteristics products due to the minor losses of phycocyanin content, the great source of phenolic compounds, the minor lipid oxidation, the good rehydration capacity and the highest thermal stability.

Pratical Applications

Arthrospira Spirulina sp. is a microalgae which is a promising source of compounds with biological activity that could be used as functional ingredients, due to presence of pigments, phenolic compounds and fatty acids. However, this algae is very perishable and it should be dried after cultivation in order to prevent fungal deterioration. Phycocyanin content, phenolic compounds and lipid oxidation of the Arthrospira Spirulina sp. are affected by temperature and time drying processing. Thus, the vacuum drying process is a technique which leads to a product with best quality due to the low air temperatures and less oxygen content present in environment of dryer under subatmospheric pressure. Therefore, selection of the most appropriate technique and the drying conditions are very important to avoid major losses of bioactive compounds during the drying process of Arthrospira Spirulina sp.
Alkaline phosphatase at diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis and 1 year later: evaluation of prognostic value
Authors: de Vries Elisabeth M. G. , Wang Junfeng , Leeflang Mariska M. G. , Boonstra Kirsten , Weersma Rinse K. , Beuers Ulrich H. , Geskus Ronald B. , Ponsioen Cyriel Y.
Published: March 2016

Background

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a slowly progressive liver disease. Reliable biomarkers to predict outcome are urgently needed to serve as surrogate endpoints and/or stratifiers in clinical trials. Reduction in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has been proposed as prognostic surrogate marker in PSC. The aim of this study was to asses if ALP at diagnosis (T0), 1 year later (T1), and percentage change between both time points hold prognostic value, and to determine the optimal threshold.

Methods

We retrospectively collected ALP levels at T0 and T1 for patients included in a large PSC cohort. The association of ALP at T0, T1, and percentage change with the combined endpoint (PSC‐related death, liver transplantation) was analysed. Predictive value was determined using C‐statistics.

Results

A total of 366 patients were included, of whom 66 (18%) reached an endpoint: 26 (7%) PSC‐related death, 40 (11%) liver transplantation. At T0 and T1, 84% used ursodeoxycholic acid. A positive association was observed between level of ALP at T0 and T1 and the hazard of reaching an endpoint, up to values around 2.5 times upper limit of normal (xULN). A larger decrease in ALP between T0 and T1 decreased the event rate. A range of thresholds (0.5–3×ULN) with about similar C‐statistics was found. In this cohort, the optimal threshold was 1.3×ULN at T1.

Conclusion

ALP can be used to discriminate between PSC patients with a good and a poor prognosis. These findings indicate that ALP can serve as stratifier, and potentially as surrogate endpoint for clinical trials in PSC.
The Listeria monocytogenes Fur‐regulated virulence protein FrvA is an Fe(II) efflux P1B4‐type ATPase
Authors: Pi Hualiang , Patel Sarju J. , Argüello José M. , Helmann John D.
Published: March 2016

Listeria monocytogenes FrvA (Lmo0641) is critical for virulence in the mouse model and is an ortholog of the Bacillus subtilis Fur‐ and PerR‐regulated Fe(II) efflux P1B4‐type ATPase PfeT. Previously, FrvA was suggested to protect against heme toxicity. Here, we demonstrate that an frvA mutant is sensitive to iron intoxication, but not to other metals. Expression of frvA is induced by high iron and this induction requires Fur. FrvA functions in vitro as a divalent cation specific ATPase most strongly activated by ferrous iron. When expressed in B. subtilis, FrvA increases resistance to iron both in wild‐type and in a pfeT null strain. FrvA is a high affinity Fe(II) exporter and its induction imposes severe iron limitation in B. subtilis resulting in derepression of both Fur‐ and PerR‐regulated genes. FrvA also recognizes Co(II) and Zn(II) as substrates and can complement B. subtilis strains defective in the endogenous export systems for these cations. Building on these results, we conclude that FrvA functions in the efflux of Fe(II), and not heme during listerial infection.
Polypeptide release factors and stop codon recognition in the apicoplast and mitochondrion of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Vaishya Suniti , Kumar Vikash , Gupta Ankit , Siddiqi Mohammad Imran , Habib Saman
Published: March 2016

Correct termination of protein synthesis would be a critical step in translation of organellar open reading frames (ORFs) of the apicoplast and mitochondrion of the malaria parasite. We identify release factors (RFs) responsible for recognition of the UAA and UGA stop‐codons of apicoplast ORFs and the sole UAA stop‐codon that terminates translation from the three mitochondrial ORFs. A single nuclear‐encoded canonical RF2, PfRF2Api, localizes to the apicoplast. It has a conserved tripeptide motif (SPF) for stop‐codon recognition and is sufficient for peptidyl‐tRNA hydrolysis (PTH) from both UAA and UGA. Two RF family proteins are targeted to the parasite mitochondrion; a canonical RF1, PfRF1Mit, with a variant codon‐recognition motif (PxN instead of the conserved RF1 PxT) is the major peptidyl‐hydrolase with specific recognition of the UAA codon relevant to mitochondrial ORFs. Mutation of the N residue of the PfRF1Mit PxN motif and two other conserved residues of the codon recognition domain lowers PTH activity from pre‐termination ribosomes indicating their role in codon‐recognition. The second RF imported by the mitochondrion is the non‐canonical PfICT1 that functions as a dimer and mediates codon nonspecific peptide release. Our results help delineate a critical step in organellar translation in Plasmodium, which is an important target for anti‐malarials.
Broad taxonomic characterization of Verticillium wilt resistance genes reveals an ancient origin of the tomato Ve1 immune receptor
Authors: Song Yin , Zhang Zhao , Seidl Michael F. , Majer Aljaz , Jakse Jernej , Javornik Branka , Thomma Bart P. H. J.
Published: March 2016

Plant‐pathogenic microbes secrete effector molecules to establish themselves on their hosts, whereas plants use immune receptors to try and intercept such effectors in order to prevent pathogen colonization. The tomato cell surface‐localized receptor Ve1 confers race‐specific resistance against race 1 strains of the soil‐borne vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae which secrete the Ave1 effector. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of Ve1 homologues from tobacco (Nicotiana glutinosa), potato (Solanum tuberosum), wild eggplant (Solanum torvum) and hop (Humulus lupulus), and demonstrate that particular Ve1 homologues govern resistance against V. dahliae race 1 strains through the recognition of the Ave1 effector. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Ve1 homologues are widely distributed in land plants. Thus, our study suggests an ancient origin of the Ve1 immune receptor in the plant kingdom.
Dock1 promotes the mesenchymal transition of glioma and is modulated by MiR‐31
Authors: Zhang Baogang , Li Hongli , Yin Chonggao , Sun Xuemei , Zheng Shuxian , Zhang Changjie , Shi Lihong , Liu Yuqing , Lu Shijun
Published: March 2016

Aims

This research aimed to examine the relationship between Dock1 and miR‐31 and to determine the effect of miR‐31 on the mesenchymal transition and invasiveness of glioma.

Methods

Real‐time PCR was used to measure the expression of miR‐31 and other RNAs. The transfection was used to manipulate the expression levels of Dock1 and miR‐31 in cancer cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Dock1 and other related proteins. Wound healing, Matrigel invasion and chemotaxis assays were performed to detect the invasion and migration of glioma cell lines. The actual binding site of miR‐31 to the 3′‐untranslated region of Dock1 was confirmed through luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Methylation‐specific PCR was performed to detect the methylation level of miR‐31 in both glioma cell lines and tissues.

Results

Dock1 can promote the IL8‐induced chemotaxis and mesenchymal transition of glioma cells through the NF‐κB/Snail signalling pathway. The protein levels of Dock1 in glioma cell lines and clinical specimens were negatively correlated with miR‐31 expression, and Dock1 was directly targeted by miR‐31. Animal experiments showed that Dock1 downregulation and miR‐31 overexpression reduced glioma cell invasion. Investigation of the underlying molecular mechanism revealed that miR‐31 downregulation was attributable to the hypermethylation of the promoter region of miR‐31 in glioma cells.

Conclusion

Dock1 modulation by miR‐31 plays an important function in glioma invasion both in vitro and in vivo. This study provides new insights into the invasion of glioma cells and might therefore contribute to the development of new antiglioma strategies.
Everyday nationalism and international hockey: contesting Canadian national identity
Authors: Watson Scott D.
Published: March 2016

This paper examines how hockey is used to construct and demarcate the Canadian national community from external others, namely, the USA, Europe and Russia/USSR. The paper suggests popular nationalist narratives around the sport of hockey construct difference from external others in ways that place them in tension with state and corporate interests. Drawing on the concept of everyday nationalism, this article explores how the interplay between international competition, national identity and commercial sport has made hockey an ambiguous and contested national symbol in Canada.
Baseline features and differences in 48 week clinical outcomes in patients with gastroparesis and type 1 vs type 2 diabetes
Authors: Koch K. L. , Hasler W. L. , Yates K. P. , Parkman H. P. , Pasricha P. J. , Calles‐Escandon J. , Snape W. J. , Abell T. L. , McCallum R. W. , Nguyen L. A. , Sarosiek I. , Farrugia G. , Tonascia J. , Lee L. , Miriel L. , Hamilton F. ,   the NIDDK Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium (GpCRC)
Published: March 2016

Background

In studies of diabetic gastroparesis, patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM, T2DM) are often combined for analyses. We compared gastroparesis severity, healthcare utilization, psychological function, and quality of life in T1DM vs T2DM gastroparesis patients.

Methods

Questionnaire, laboratory, and scintigraphy data from patients with gastroparesis and T1DM and T2DM from seven centers of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium Registry were compared at enrollment and after 48 weeks. Multiple regression models assessed baseline and follow‐up differences between diabetes subtypes.

Key Results

At baseline, T1DM patients (N = 78) had slower gastric emptying, more hospitalizations, more gastric stimulator implantations, higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and more anxiety vs T2DM patients (N = 59). Independent discriminators of patients with T1DM vs T2DM included worse gastroesophageal reflux disease, less bloating, more peripheral neuropathy, and fewer comorbidities (p ≤ 0.05). On follow‐up, gastrointestinal (GI) symptom scores decreased only in T2DM (p < 0.05), but not in T1DM patients who reported greater prokinetic, proton pump inhibitor, anxiolytic, and gastric stimulator usage over 48 weeks (p ≤ 0.03). Gastrointestinal symptoms at baseline and 48 weeks with both subtypes were not associated with HbA1c, peripheral neuropathy, psychological factors, or quality of life.

Conclusions & Inferences

Baseline symptoms were similar in T1DM and T2DM patients, even though T1DM patients had worse gastric emptying delays and higher HbA1c suggesting other factors mediate symptom severity. Symptom scores at 48 weeks decreased in T2DM, but not T1DM patients, despite increased medical and surgical treatment utilization by T1DM patients. Defining causes of different outcomes in diabetic gastroparesis warrants further investigation.
Combination of two different homozygote mutations in Pompe disease
Authors: Arslan Alev , Poyrazoğlu Hatice Gamze , Kiraz Aslihan , Özcan Alper , Işık Halid , Ergul Ayse Betül , Mungan Neslihan Önenli , Streubel Berthold , Ceylaner Serdar , Altuner Torun Yasemin
Published: March 2016

Pompe disease (OMIM no 232300) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder, caused by glycogen accumulation in the lysosome due to deficiency of the lysosomal acid 03B1‐glucosidase enzyme. Here we report the case of an 8‐month‐old girl of consanguineous Turkish parents, who was diagnosed with the infantile form of Pompe disease. Two different uncommon homozygote mutations (c.32‐13 T > G homozygote and c.1856G > A homozygote) were detected. The patient had a more progressive clinical course than expected. We emphasize the rare combination of genetic mutations in this Turkish family with Pompe disease.
The Incremental Utility of Emotion Regulation But Not Emotion Reactivity in Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury
Authors: Zelkowitz Rachel L. , Cole David A. , Han Gloria T. , Tomarken Andrew J.
Published: March 2016

This study assessed the incremental utility of emotion reactivity and emotion regulation in relation to nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI). Participants included 379 college students aged 18–22 who completed self‐report measures of emotion regulation, emotion reactivity, and NSSI. Emotion regulation was significantly related to NSSI both ignoring and controlling for reactivity, but the reverse was not true. Participants' use of NSSI for affect regulation appeared to moderate this relation. Findings support emotion regulation deficits as a target for intervention over and above heightened emotion reactivity, especially in those who use NSSI to regulate negative affect.
Decision Making in Social Context in Patients with Suicide Attempt History
Authors: Sánchez‐Loyo Luis , Ventura‐Martínez Eva , González‐Garrido Andrés Antonio
Published: March 2016

Decision making has been found to be altered in suicide attempters, but little is known of their performance in social contexts. Twenty‐seven depressed suicide attempters (DSA), 25 nonsuicidal depressed patients (DP), and 60 healthy participants (HC) were evaluated by a decision‐making task in social context. Results indicated DSA and DP obtained lower gains and invested more money with angry partners. DSA were found to invest less money than DP and HC with happy partners. DSA showed insensitivity toward rewards/punishment contingency, and they did not use the socioemotional stimuli to guide their decisions.
Young Children Treat Robots as Informants
Authors: Breazeal Cynthia , Harris Paul L. , DeSteno David , Kory Westlund Jacqueline M. , Dickens Leah , Jeong Sooyeon
Published: March 2016

Children ranging from 3 to 5 years were introduced to two anthropomorphic robots that provided them with information about unfamiliar animals. Children treated the robots as interlocutors. They supplied information to the robots and retained what the robots told them. Children also treated the robots as informants from whom they could seek information. Consistent with studies of children's early sensitivity to an interlocutor's non‐verbal signals, children were especially attentive and receptive to whichever robot displayed the greater non‐verbal contingency. Such selective information seeking is consistent with recent findings showing that although young children learn from others, they are selective with respect to the informants that they question or endorse.
Antinociceptive properties of shikonin: in vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Gupta Bhawana , Chakraborty Sabyasachi , Saha Soumya , Chandel Sunita Gulabsingh , Baranwal Atul Kumar , Banerjee Manish , Chatterjee Mousumi , Chaudhury Ashok
Published: March 2016

Shikonin possess a diverse spectrum of pharmacological properties in multiple therapeutic areas. However, the nociceptive effect of shikonin is not largely known. To investigate the antinociceptive potential of shikonin, panel of GPCRs, ion channels, and enzymes involved in pain pathogenesis were studied. To evaluate the translation of shikonin efficacy in vivo, it was tested in 3 established rat pain models. Our study reveals that shikonin has significant inhibitory effect on pan sodium channel/N1E115 and NaV1.7 channel with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 7.6 μmol/L and 6.4 μmol/L, respectively, in a cell-based assay. Shikonin exerted significant dose dependent antinociceptive activity at doses of 0.08%, 0.05%, and 0.02% w/v in pinch pain model. In mechanical hyperalgesia model, dose of 10 and 3 mg/kg (intraperitoneal) produced dose-dependent analgesia and showed 67% and 35% reversal of hyperalgesia respectively at 0.5 h. Following oral administration, it showed 39% reversal at 30 mg/kg dose. When tested in first phase of formalin induced pain, shikonin at 10 mg/kg dose inhibited paw flinching by ∼71%. In all studied preclinical models, analgesic effect was similar or better than standard analgesic drugs. The present study unveils the mechanistic role of shikonin on pain modulation, predominantly via sodium channel modulation, suggesting that shikonin could be developed as a potential pain blocker.
A novel diversiform stochastic resonance of a domain wall and its performance at different states
Authors: Zhang Haibin , Ouyang Kesai , He Qingbo , Kong Fanrang
Published: March 2016

The response of an underdamped stochastic resonance (SR) with a new pining potential model of domain wall (DW) in ferromagnetic strips driven by additive Gaussian white noise to an additive weak harmonic forcing is investigated. We address that the new nonlinear system can be converted between bi-stable and mono-stable freely by tuning the system parameters. Analytical expressions of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the bi-stable stage is obtained based on the linear response theory. In addition, another type of SR, which occurs when the system is mono-stable, is also reported with the intrinsic frequency derived analytically. The SR in mono-stable stage confirms to the typical physical resonance better with frequency-selection characteristic. Numerical simulation of both stages is carried out with outputs conforming to the theoretical derivation. Owing to the diversity of potential model, the new system possesses considerable merits for engineering applications.
Average characteristics of π−-mesons in HeC and CC interactions at high energies
Authors: Ajaz M. , Khan K. H. , Suleymanov M. K. , Zaman Ali , Younis H. , Wazir Z. , Ali B.
Published: March 2016

The study of average characteristics of [Formula: see text]-mesons in Helium–Carbon and Carbon–Carbon interactions at 4.2[Formula: see text]A GeV/c is presented. The average values of multiplicity, momentum and transverse momentum of [Formula: see text]-mesons are analyzed as a function of the number of identified protons in an event. The latter is used to fix the centrality of collisions. The results are compared with Cascade model and modified Fritiof model. Some deviations of experimental data are observed than the models, which could be connected to collective interaction of inner nucleus nucleons.
Application of the triaxial quadrupole–octupole rotor to the ground and negative-parity levels of actinide nuclei
Authors: Nadirbekov M. S. , Minkov N. , Strecker M. , Scheid W.
Published: March 2016

In this work, we examine the possibility to describe yrast positive- and negative-parity excitations of deformed even–even nuclei through a collective rotation model in which the nuclear surface is characterized by triaxial quadrupole and octupole deformations. The nuclear moments of inertia are expressed as sums of quadrupole and octupole parts. By assuming an adiabatic separation of rotation and vibration degrees of freedom, we suppose that the structure of the positive- and negative-parity bands may be determined by the triaxial-rigid-rotor motion of the nucleus. By diagonalizing the Hamiltonian in a symmetrized rotor basis with embedded parity, we obtain a model description for the yrast positive- and negative-parity bands in several actinide nuclei. We show that the energy displacement between the opposite-parity sequences can be explained as the result of the quadrupole–octupole triaxiality.
Novel Multi-criteria Decision-making Approaches Based on Hesitant Fuzzy Sets and Prospect Theory
Authors: Peng Juan-Juan , Wang Jian-Qiang , Wu Xiao-Hui
Published: March 2016

Hesitant fuzzy sets (HFSs), an extension of fuzzy sets, are considered to be useful in solving decision making problems where decision makers are unable to choose between several values when expressing their preferences. The purpose of this paper is to develop two hesitant fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods based on prospect theory (PT). First, the novel component-wise ordering method for two hesitant fuzzy numbers (HFNs) is defined; however, this method does not consider the length of the two HFNs. Second, by utilizing the directed Hausdorff distance between two imprecise point sets, the generalized hesitant Hausdorff distance is developed, which overcomes the shortcomings of the existing distance measures. Third, based on the proposed comparison method and distance, as well as PT, the extended TODIM and Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) approaches are developed in order to solve MCDM problems with hesitant fuzzy information. Finally, a practical example is provided to illustrate the pragmatism and effectiveness of the proposed approaches. Sensitivity and comparison analyses are also conducted using the same example. The findings indicate that the proposed methods do not require complicated computation procedures, yet still yield a reasonable and credible solution.
High-Performance Supercapacitor Based on the NaOH Activated D-Glucose Derived Carbon
Authors: Wu Chao , Xu Jiang , Ding Jianning , Yuan Ningyi , Yan Pengtao , Zhang Ruijun , Liu Huihan
Published: March 2016

In this work, a mechanism of catalytic graphitization of D-glucose derived carbon during NaOH activation process is disclosed. The catalytic graphitization is caused by sodium atom, which is produced in the reaction between NaOH and carbon. Due to the combined action of activation and catalytic graphitization resulting from the NaOH, the activated D-glucose derived carbon behaves as a hierarchical micro- and meso-porous structure and has high electrical conductivity. Electrochemical investigations demonstrate that the activated sample exhibits an outstanding rate capability (70% of capacity retention even at a scan rate of 2[Formula: see text]V s[Formula: see text]) and high specific capacitance (106[Formula: see text]F g[Formula: see text]) in 6[Formula: see text]M KOH aqueous electrolyte, which makes it a promising electrode material for high-power supercapacitors.
Chairside Fabrication of an All-Ceramic Partial Crown Using a Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Ceramic
Authors: Rinke Sven , Pabel Anne-Kathrin , Rödiger Matthias , Ziebolz Dirk
Published: March 2016

The chairside fabrication of a monolithic partial crown using a zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramic is described. The fully digitized model-free workflow in a dental practice is possible due to the use of a powder-free intraoral scanner and the computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) of the restorations. The innovative ZLS material offers a singular combination of fracture strength (>370 Mpa), optimum polishing characteristics, and excellent optical properties. Therefore, this ceramic is an interesting alternative material for monolithic restorations produced in a digital workflow.
The Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency Combined with a Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection on Chronic Lumbar Radicular Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Munjupong Sithapan , Tontisirin Nuj , Finlayson Roderick J.
Published: March 2016

Background. Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning (PRFL) of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) can modulate neural pathways and provide prolonged relief of neuropathic pain, with limited evidence for chronic lumbosacral radicular pain (CLRP). Objective. This study compared the effect of PRFL combined with transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) to TFESI alone on CLRP. Methods. Forty adults with chronic radicular pain of at least six-month duration were randomly allocated to undergo either a PRFL of the affected DRG followed by a TFESI (treatment group) or a TFESI alone (control group). Participants and assessors were blinded to the allocation and outcomes were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months. Outcomes. Pain intensity (visual analog score, VAS) was the primary outcome and quality of life (QOL) as measured by the SF-36 was a secondary outcome. Results. There was no difference in baseline characteristics between groups. VAS was significantly lower in the treatment group at 2-month and 3-month but not 4-month follow-up. QOL measurements did not differ between groups. Conclusions. PRFL of the lumbosacral DRG combined with TFESI showed a modest advantage over TFESI alone in reducing pain intensity; however, this did not persist beyond the 3-month follow-up. There was no effect on QOL.
The Diagnostic Role of Adiponectin in Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Gul Evrim , Gul Yeliz , Yıldırım Ersin , Pepele Mustafa Safa , Yıldız Mustafa , Bozdemir Mehmet Nuri , Onur Mehmet Ruhi , Mutlu Bengü , Yıldız Feti , Alataş Ömer Doğan , İlhan Necip
Published: March 2016

Background and Aims. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a frequent disease with difficult diagnosis and high mortality. Misdiagnosis occurs in 2/3 patients and mortality rates reach up to 30%. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of adiponectin used in emergency service in diagnosis of PTE.Materials and Methods. 95 patients with suspected PTE included in the study. Plasma adiponectin and D-dimer levels were measured and chest X-ray and multidetector row computed tomography scan obtained. Diagnosis was supported by vascular filling defect on tomography. Control group consisted of patients with suspected PTE and normal chest computed tomography findings.Results. Mean D-dimer level was4241.66±1082.98 ng/mL in patients and2211.21±1765.53 ng/mL in the control group (p≤0.05). Mean adiponectin level was5.46±4.39 μg/mL in patients and7.68±4.67 μg/mL in the control group (p≤0.05). Wells and Geneva scores were higher in patients compared to the control group.Conclusions. As a result, we conclude that lower adiponectin levels have an important role in the diagnosis of PTE.
A Context-Driven Worker Selection Framework for Crowd-Sensing
Authors: Wang Jiangtao , Wang Yasha , Helal Sumi , Zhang Daqing
Published: March 2016

Worker selection for many crowd-sensing tasks must consider various complex contexts to ensure high quality of data. Existing platforms and frameworks take only specific contexts into account to demonstrate motivating scenarios but do not provide general context models or frameworks in support of crowd-sensing at large. This paper proposes a novel worker selection framework, named WSelector, to more precisely select appropriate workers by taking various contexts into account. To achieve this goal, it first provides programming time support to help task creator define constraints. Then its runtime system adopts a two-phase process to select workers who are not only qualified but also more likely to undertake a crowd-sensing task. In the first phase, it selects workers who satisfy predefined constraints. In the second phase, by leveraging the worker's past participation history, it further selects those who are more likely to undertake a crowd-sensing task based on a case-based reasoning algorithm. We demonstrate the expressiveness of the framework by implementing multiple crowd-sensing tasks and evaluate the effectiveness of the case-based reasoning algorithm for willingness-based selection by using a questionnaire-generated dataset. Results show that our case-based reasoning algorithm outperforms the currently practiced baseline method.
Computer Aided Detection System for Prediction of the Malaise during Hemodialysis
Authors: Tangaro Sabina , Fanizzi Annarita , Amoroso Nicola , Corciulo Roberto , Garuccio Elena , Gesualdo Loreto , Loizzo Giuliana , Procaccini Deni Aldo , Vernò Lucia , Bellotti Roberto
Published: March 2016

Monitoring of dialysis sessions is crucial as different stress factors can yield suffering or critical situations. Specialized personnel is usually required for the administration of this medical treatment; nevertheless, subjects whose clinical status can be considered stable require different monitoring strategies when compared with subjects with critical clinical conditions. In this case domiciliary treatment or monitoring can substantially improve the quality of life of patients undergoing dialysis. In this work, we present aComputer Aided Detection(CAD) system for the telemonitoring of patients’ clinical parameters. The CAD was mainly designed to predict the insurgence of critical events; it consisted of twoRandom Forest(RF) classifiers: the first one (RF1) predicting the onset of any malaise one hour after the treatment start and the second one (RF2) again two hours later. The developed system shows an accurate classification performance in terms of bothsensitivityandspecificity. Thespecificityin the identification of nonsymptomatic sessions and thesensitivityin the identification of symptomatic sessions forRF2are equal to 86.60% and 71.40%, respectively, thus suggesting the CAD as an effective tool to support expert nephrologists in telemonitoring the patients.
Applications of Cesàro Submethod to Trigonometric Approximation of Signals (Functions) Belonging to ClassLip(α,p)inLp-Norm
Authors: Mittal M. L. , Singh Mradul Veer
Published: March 2016

We prove two Theorems on approximation of functions belonging to Lipschitz classLip(α,p)inLp-norm using Cesàro submethod. Further we discuss few corollaries of our Theorems and compare them with the existing results. We also note that our results give sharper estimates than the estimates in some of the known results.
Simulation and test of flexural performance of polyvinyl alcohol-steel hybrid fiber reinforced cementitious composite
Authors: Zhang Jun , Wang Zhenbo , Wang Qing , Gao Yuan
Published: March 2016

The flexural performance of polyvinyl alcohol-steel hybrid fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite with characteristics of low drying shrinkage special focus on impacts of steel fiber content and matrix strength has been investigated in both experimental and theoretical aspects in this paper. Four matrix types with water to binder ratio of 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55 and three additional steel fiber contents in the composite with polyvinyl alcohol fiber content of 1.7% in volume were used in the test program. The experimental results show that cracking and flexural strength of the composites are increased with the addition of steel fiber. This enhancement becomes more and more pronounced with decreasing of water to binder ratio of the composites. Meanwhile, fracture mechanics-based flexural model is used to simulate the flexure performance of the polyvinyl alcohol -steel hybrid fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite with characteristics of low drying shrinkage. The model results show that a double peak load is expected of the composites under bending load. The first peak is controlled by the fracture toughness of matrix or cracking strength of matrix, and the second peak is governed by the fiber bridging. The effect of addition of steel fiber in engineered cementitious composite with characteristics of low drying shrinkage on the first peak is unapparent. The impact of steel fiber on the second peak is significant. This enhancement of additional steel fiber gradually decreases with the decrease of water to binder ratio of the matrix, which coincides well with the experimental findings. The test results are compared to the model and reasonable agreement is found.
Bending properties of steel faced sandwich composite panels with phenolic foam cores
Authors: Tang Zhirong , Zha Xiaoxiong , Zu Dequan
Published: March 2016

This paper investigates the mechanical properties of a new type of sandwich composite panel composed of two steel faces and a phenolic foam core under uniformly distributed load. Two groups of full-scale phenolic foam sandwich panels, which are classified as thin faced wall panels and thick faced roof panels, are tested by vacuum chamber loading method. The general formulae for calculating deformation and load bearing capacity are derived from the force-deformation relationships of differential equations, where the calculation of thin faced sandwich panels can be regarded as a special case of thick faced sandwich panels. Based on these formulae, the bending moment partition coefficient and shear partition coefficient are given for simplified calculation in design. The finite element method with software ABAQUS is used to verify the results from theoretical formulae and tests. By comparing these results, a good agreement is obtained. The sensitivity analyses show that the thin faced wall panels are very sensitive to initial geometrical imperfection, whereas the thick faced roof panels are not.
Drive-by detection of railway track stiffness variation using in-service vehicles
Authors: Quirke Paraic , Cantero Daniel , OBrien Eugene J , Bowe Cathal
Published: March 2016

Railway track stiffness is an important track property which can help with the identification of maintenance related problems. Railway track stiffness can currently be measured using stationary equipment or specialised low-speed vehicles. The concept of using trains in regular service to measure track stiffness has the potential to provide inexpensive daily ‘drive-by’ track monitoring to complement data collected by less-frequent monitoring techniques. A method is proposed in this paper for the detection of track stiffness variation through an analysis of vehicle accelerations resulting from the vehicle–track dynamic interaction. The cross-entropy optimisation technique is applied to determine the track stiffness profile, which generates a vehicle response that best fits the measured vertical accelerations of a railway carriage bogie.

Numerical validation of the concept is achieved by using a two-dimensional half-bogie dynamic model, representing a railway vehicle, to infer a global track stiffness profile along a track. The track stiffness measurement algorithm is implemented in Matlab. This paper reports the results of the numerical simulations. The proposed method gives good estimates of the track stiffness. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time an optimisation technique has been applied to the determination of railway track stiffness.
Original Research: Sickle cell anemia and pediatric strokes: Computational fluid dynamics analysis in the middle cerebral artery
Authors: Rivera Christian P , Veneziani Alessandro , Ware Russell E , Platt Manu O
Published: March 2016

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have a high incidence of strokes, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) identifies at-risk patients by measuring blood velocities in large intracerebral arteries; time-averaged mean velocities greater than 200 cm/s confer high stroke risk and warrant therapeutic intervention with blood transfusions. Our objective was to use computational fluid dynamics to alter fluid and artery wall properties, to simulate scenarios causative of significantly elevated arterial blood velocities. Two-dimensional simulations were created and increasing percent stenoses were created in silico, with their locations varied among middle cerebral artery (MCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Stenoses placed in the MCA, ICA, or ACA generated local increases in velocity, but not sufficient to reach magnitudes > 200 cm/s, even up to 75% stenosis. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the MCA, ICA, and ACA from children with SCA were generated from magnetic resonance angiograms. Using finite element method, blood flow was simulated with realistic velocity waveforms to the ICA inlet. Three-dimensional reconstructions revealed an uneven, internal arterial wall surface in children with SCA and higher mean velocities in the MCA up to 145 cm/s compared to non-SCA reconstructions. There were also greater areas of flow recirculation and larger regions of low wall shear stress. Taken together, these bumps on the internal wall of the cerebral arteries could create local flow disturbances that, in aggregate, could elevate blood velocities in SCA. Identifying cellular causes of these microstructures as adhered blood cells or luminal narrowing due to endothelial hyperplasia induced by disturbed flow would provide new targets to treat children with SCA. The preliminary qualitative results provided here point out the critical role of 3D reconstruction of patient-specific vascular geometries and provide qualitative insight to complex interplay between vascular geometry and rheological properties possibly altered by SCA.