bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Three-Dimensional Spiral WSe
2
Plasmonic Structures for Highly Efficient Second-Order Nonlinear Parametric Processes
Authors: Lin Xianqing , Liu Yingying , Wang Kang , Liu Xiaolong , Yan Yongli , Li Yong Jun , Yao Jiannian , Zhao Yong Sheng
Published: December 2018

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, with large second-order nonlinear susceptibility, are currently growing as an ideal candidate for fulfilling tunable nanoscale coherent light through the second-order nonlinear optical parametric processes. However, the atomic thickness of 2D layered materials leads to poor field confinement and weak light-matter interaction at nanoscale, resulting in low nonlinear conversion efficiency. Here, hybrid three-dimensional (3D) spiral WSe
2
plasmonic structures are fabricated for highly efficient second harmonic generation (SHG) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) based on the enhanced light-matter interaction in hybrid plasmonic structures. The 3D spiral WSe
2
, with AA lattice stacking, exhibits efficient SH radiation due to the constructive interference of nonlinear polarization between the neighboring atomic layers. Thus, extremely high external SHG conversion efficiency (about 2.437×10
−5
) is achieved. Moreover, the ease of phase-matching condition combined with the enhanced light-matter interaction in hybrid plasmonic structure brings about efficient SHG and SFG simultaneously. These results would provide enlightenment for the construction of typical structures for efficient nonlinear processes.
Seizure and Acute Vision Loss in a Filipino Lupus Patient: A Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome with Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage
Authors: Gauiran Deonne Thaddeus V. , Lladoc-Natividad Therese Eileen B. , Rocha Ida Ingrid I. , Manapat-Reyes Bernadette Heizel
Published: December 2018

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare and poorly understood neurologic condition that has been described in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Intracerebral hemorrhage is a unique and atypical presentation of PRES and has been described only in a small number of patients with SLE. We present the case of a 33-year-old female, diagnosed with SLE and active nephritis, who was admitted for seizures. She had acute-onset headache, confusion, and bilateral vision loss associated with severe hypertension. CT scan revealed right occipital and parietal lobe hemorrhage. MRI showed vasogenic edema and hyperintense foci in bilateral cortical and subcortical regions of the occipital and posterior parietal lobes which are consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Strict blood pressure control and medical ICP-lowering treatment were immediately instituted, while maintaining her on anticonvulsants, high-dose steroids, and mycophenolate mofetil. The patient was discharged with improvement in vision and resolution of headache. On follow-up, she had gained her premorbid visual acuity and reported no recurrence of headache or seizures. Despite its name, reversibility remains to be conditional in PRES. A high index of suspicion is important, especially among those who present with seizure, headache, and visual loss. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of therapy is recommended, as clinical symptoms are potentially reversible and delayed therapy may result in life-threatening complications, such as coma or death.
Numerical and Experimental Analyses of the Effect of Heat Treatments on the Phase Stability of Inconel 792
Authors: Cueto-Rodriguez Maria M. , Avila-Davila Erika O. , Lopez-Hirata Victor M. , Saucedo-Muñoz Maribel L. , Palacios-Pineda Luis M. , Trapaga-Martinez Luis G. , Alvarado-Orozco Juan M.
Published: December 2018

A study about the precipitation and phase stability was carried out in an IN‐792 superalloy used as a blade in a gas turbine. Microstructure analysis was conducted experimentally on three different cross sections of the blade designated as high temperature (HT), medium temperature (MT), and low temperature (LT). To identify the HT, MT, and LT sections, a numerical thermal analysis was performed using ANSYS software. To obtain the distribution gradient of temperature in the blade, the real conditions of operation in steady state of the gas turbine were considered. A numerical study about the occurrence of phases in the IN‐792 superalloy was carried out with Thermo‐Calc and TC‐PRISMA software. The analysis of the as‐cast IN‐792 superalloy with Scheil‐Gulliver equations permitted to explain the phase formation during the solidification process. The calculated time‐temperature‐precipitation (TTP) diagram explains consistently the precipitation process observed after two different heat treatment conditions applied experimentally and numerically to regenerate the original microstructure of the IN‐792 superalloy. The experimental results were consistent with the calculated isoplethic and TTP diagrams. In terms of accuracy, the further development of the Thermo‐Calc databases for thermodynamic calculations in superalloys is evident. It was possible to calculate precipitation temperatures and the local evolution of precipitated particles for two different heat treatment conditions.
GANs with Multiple Constraints for Image Translation
Authors: Gan Yan , Gong Junxin , Ye Mao , Qian Yang , Liu Kedi , Zhang Su
Published: December 2018

Unpaired image translation is a challenging problem in computer vision, while existing generative adversarial networks (GANs) models mainly use the adversarial loss and other constraints to model. But the degree of constraint imposed on the generator and the discriminator is not enough, which results in bad image quality. In addition, we find that the current GANs‐based models have not yet been implemented by adding an auxiliary domain, which is used to constrain the generator. To solve the problem mentioned above, we propose a multiscale and multilevel GANs (MMGANs) model for image translation. In this model, we add an auxiliary domain to constrain generator, which combines this auxiliary domain with the original domains for modelling and helps generator learn the detailed content of the image. Then we use multiscale and multilevel feature matching to constrain the discriminator. The purpose is to make the training process as stable as possible. Finally, we conduct experiments on six image translation tasks. The results verify the validity of the proposed model.
Prediction of Settling Velocity of Nonspherical Soil Particles Using Digital Image Processing
Authors: Kim Donggeun , Son Younghwan , Park Jaesung
Published: December 2018

Digital image processing (DIP) is used to measure shape properties and settling velocity of soil particles. Particles with diameters of 1 to 10 mm are arbitrarily sampled for the test. The size of each particle is also measured by a Vernier caliper for comparison with the classification results using the shape classification table. The digital images were taken with a digital camera (Canon EOS 100d). Shape properties are calculated by image analysis software. Settling velocity of soil particles is calculated by displacement and time difference of images during settling. The fastest settling particles are spherical shaped. Shape factors well explain the difference of settling velocity by a particle shape. In particular, the aspect ratio has a high negative correlation with residual of settling velocity versus mean diameter. Especially, DIP has a higher applicability than classification using the shape classification table because it can measure a number of particles at once. The settling velocity of soil particles is expressed as a function of mean diameter and aspect ratio.
Schistosoma Egg Antigen Induces Oncogenic Alterations in Human Prostate Cells
Authors: Tuffour Isaac , Ayi Irene , Gwira Theresa Manful , Dumashie Edward , Ashong Yvonne , Appiah-Opong Regina
Published: December 2018

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects 200 million people and accounts for 100,000 deaths annually. In endemic geographical areas, schistosomiasis has been implicated as an etiological agent in the pathogenesis of bladder, colorectal, and renal carcinoma largely due to Schistosoma eggs in tissues that comes with chronic infection. Several studies have also reported cases of association between Schistosoma infection and prostate cancer. The possible causal association is however poorly understood. We hypothesized in this study that infection of the prostate cells with Schistosoma spp promotes cancer. Urine samples from individuals living in Galilea, a schistosomiasis endemic community in the Ga South District of Ghana, were collected and screened for Schistosoma infection via microscopy and multiplex PCR. Soluble egg antigens (SEA) were prepared from Schistosoma egg-positive urine samples and assessed for the ability to induce cancer-like phenotypes including excessive proliferation, oxidative stress (reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion), and diminished apoptosis in cultured human prostate (PNT2) cells. Molecular analysis revealed infecting schistosome species to be S. haematobium and S. mansoni. Prostate cell proliferation was significantly induced by 12.5 μg/ml SEA (p=0.029). Also, SEA dose-dependently depleted cellular GSH. Flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence staining revealed that SEA dose-dependently diminished apoptosis, significantly, in prostate cells. Findings of this study suggest that schistosome infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. In vivo studies are however needed to confirm this association.
Spectral CT Analysis of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules for Differentiating Malignancy from Benignancy: The Value of Iodine Concentration Spatial Distribution Difference
Authors: Wu Linyu , Cao Guoquan , Zhao Liang , Tang Kun , Lin Jie , Miao Shouliang , Lin Tingting , Sun Jieke , Zheng Xiangwu
Published: December 2018

Objective. The objective is to assess the value of spatial distribution difference in iodine concentration between malignant and benign solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) by analyzing multiple parameters of spectral CT. Methods. Sixty patients with 39 malignant nodules and 21 benign nodules underwent chest contrast CT scans using spectral imaging mode during pulmonary arterial phase (PP), arterial phase (AP), and venous phase (VP). Iodine concentrations of proximal and distal regions in pulmonary nodules on iodine-based material decomposition images were recorded. Normalized iodine concentration (NIC) and the differences in NIC between the proximal and the distal regions (dNIC) were calculated. The two-sample t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test were performed to compare the multiple parameters generated from spectral CT between malignant and benign nodules. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Results. NIC in the proximal region (NICpro) and NIC in the distal region (NICdis) between malignant and benign nodules at AP (NICpro, P=0.012; NICdis, P=0.024), and VP (NICpro, P=0.005; NICdis, P =0.004) were significantly different. NICpro at PP (P = 0.037) was also found significantly different between malignant and benign nodules; however, no significant differences were found in NICdis at PP (P = 0.093). In addition, the dNIC of malignant nodules was significantly higher than that of benign ones at PP (median and interquartiles (0.31, 0.11, 0.57 versus -0.26, -0.5, -0.1); p≤0.001), AP (mean dNIC, 0.093 ±0.094 versus -0.075±0.060; p≤0.001), and VP (mean dNIC, 0.171±0.137 versus -0.183±0.127; p≤0.001). The sensitivity and specificity (93%, 95%, respectively) of dNIC during VP were higher than other parameters, with a threshold value of -0.07. Conclusions. Spectral CT imaging with multiple parameters such as NICpro, NICdis, and dNIC may be a new method for differentiating malignant SPNs from benign ones.
The Autoantigenic Proinsulin B-Chain Peptide B11-23 Synergises with the 70 kDa Heat Shock Protein DnaK in Macrophage Stimulation
Authors: Blasius Elias , Gülden Elke , Kolb Hubert , Habich Christiane , Burkart Volker
Published: December 2018

Background. Heat shock proteins (Hsp) act as intracellular chaperones and in addition are used as adjuvant in vaccines of peptides complexed with recombinant Hsp. By interacting with autologous peptides, Hsp may promote the induction of autoimmune reactivity.Objective. Here, we analysed whether the effect of Hsp on macrophages is modulated by insulin peptides known to interact with Hsp.Results. Combinations of the 70 kDa Hsp DnaK with peptide B11-23 from the core region of the proinsulin B-chain induced the release of the inflammatory mediators interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorα, and interleukin-1βfrom cells of human and murine macrophage lines. In parallel, there was high-affinity binding of B11-23 to DnaK. DnaK mixed with peptides from other regions of the insulin molecule did not stimulate cytokine secretion. DnaK alone induced little cytokine production, and peptides alone induced none.Conclusion. The macrophage-stimulating potential of Hsp70 family proteins when combined with the proinsulin B-chain peptide B11-23 may contribute to the immunodominance of this peptide in the development of beta cell-directed autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes.
Greedy Expansions with Prescribed Coefficients in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Valiullin Artur R. , Valiullin Albert R. , Galatenko Vladimir V.
Published: December 2018

Greedy expansions with prescribed coefficients, which have been studied by V. N. Temlyakov in Banach spaces, are considered here in a narrower case of Hilbert spaces. We show that in this case the positive result on the convergence does not require monotonicity of coefficient sequence C. Furthermore, we show that the condition sufficient for the convergence, namely, the inclusion C∈l2∖l1, can not be relaxed at least in the power scale. At the same time, in finite-dimensional spaces, the condition C∈l2 can be replaced by convergence of C to zero.
Synthesis and Characterization of O-Acetyl-chitosan Acetic Ester
Authors: Cheng Fangfang , Wang Bingbing , Xia Yanzhi
Published: December 2018

A novel amphipathic chitosan derivative, O-acetyl-chitosan acetic ester (ACHA), was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan with acetic acid in the presence of thionyl chloride. The physicochemical properties of ACHA were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA, and XRD. The yield (Y) of ACHA was 79.4%, and the degree of acetylation (DA) of ACHA was 1.04. Compared to CS, ACHA could be dissolved in many organic solvents, deionized water, and aqueous solution. Our results showed that ACHA exhibited a superior antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicated that ACHA was preferable for use as antimicrobial agents in wound healing, food preservative, and tissue engineering.
Versatile Solver of Nonconformal Volume Integral Equation Based on SWG Basis Function
Authors: Luo Chunbei , Pang Mingjie , Lin Hai
Published: December 2018

In this paper, a versatile solver of a nonconformal volume integral equation based on the Schaubert-Wilton-Glisson (SWG) basis function is presented. Instead of using a piecewise constant function, the robust conventional SWG basis function is chosen and used directly for discontinuous boundaries. A new map method technique is proposed for constructing SWG pairs, which reduces the complexity from ON2 to ONlogN compared with a brute-force method. The integral equation is solved by the method of moments (MoM) and further accelerated by the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA). What’s more, the hybrid scheme of MLFMA and adaptive cross approximation (ACA) is developed to resolve the low-frequency (LF) breakdown when dealing with over-dense mesh objects. Numerical results show that when in analysis of radiation or scattering problems from inhomogeneous dielectric objects or in LF conditions, the proposed solver shows high efficiency without loss of accuracy, which demonstrates the versatile performance of the proposed method.
Finite-Time Boundedness Control for Nonlinear Networked Systems with Randomly Occurring Multi-Distributed Delays and Missing Measurements
Authors: Hou Ling , Chen Dongyan
Published: December 2018

This paper investigates the stochastic finite-time H∞ boundedness problem for nonlinear discrete time networked systems with randomly occurring multi-distributed delays and missing measurements. The randomly occurring multi-distributed delays and missing measurements are described as Bernoulli distributed white noise sequence. The goal of this paper is to design a full-order output-feedback controller to guarantee that the corresponding closed-loop system is stochastic finite-time H∞ bounded and with desired H∞ performance. By constructing a new Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, sufficient conditions for the existence of output-feedback are established. The desired full-order output-feedback controller is designed in terms of the solution to linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, a numerical example is provided to show the validity of the designed method.
Autoimmune Hepatitis with Concomitant Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Diagnosed by Transjugular Liver Biopsy
Authors: Fukuda Hiromi , Takata Kazuhide , Kitaguchi Takanori , Yamauchi Ryo , Kunimoto Hideo , Tanaka Takashi , Yokoyama Keiji , Morihara Daisuke , Takeyama Yasuaki , Shakado Satoshi , Mogi Ai , Kora Shinichi , Koga Kaori , Takeshita Morishige , Yoshimitsu Kengo , Sakisaka Shotaro
Published: December 2018

Patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may sometimes have concomitant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Severe thrombocytopenia in ITP interferes with percutaneous liver biopsy for pathological diagnosis of AIH. Here, we report a case of AIH with ITP in a 63-year-old woman. The patient presented to our hospital with liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia. For histological examination, transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) was performed, leading to a diagnosis of AIH. Corticosteroids treatment led to an improvement in her liver enzyme levels and platelet count. In conclusion, patients with AIH may sometimes have concomitant ITP. TJLB was effective for making the diagnosis of AIH with severe thrombocytopenia due to ITP.
Zinc in Keratinocytes and Langerhans Cells: Relevance to the Epidermal Homeostasis
Authors: Ogawa Youichi , Kinoshita Manao , Shimada Shinji , Kawamura Tatsuyoshi
Published: December 2018

In the skin, the epidermis is continuously exposed to various kinds of external substances and stimuli. Therefore, epidermal barriers are crucial for providing protection, safeguarding health, and regulating water balance by maintaining skin homeostasis. Disruption of the epidermal barrier allows external substances and stimuli to invade or stimulate the epidermal cells, leading to the elicitation of skin inflammation. The major components of the epidermal barrier are the stratum corneum (SC) and tight junctions (TJs). The presence of zinc in the epidermis promotes epidermal homeostasis; hence, this study reviewed the role of zinc in the formation and function of the SC and TJs. Langerhans cells (LCs) are one of the antigen-presenting cells found in the epidermis. They form TJs with adjacent keratinocytes (KCs), capture external antigens, and induce antigen-specific immune reactions. Thus, the function of zinc in LCs was examined in this review. We also summarized the general knowledge of zinc and zinc transporters in the epidermis with updated findings.
An Implementable SAA Nonlinear Lagrange Algorithm for Constrained Minimax Stochastic Optimization Problems
Authors: Wang Chuanmei , He Suxiang , Wu Haiying
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes an implementable SAA (sample average approximation) nonlinear Lagrange algorithm for the constrained minimax stochastic optimization problem based on the sample average approximation method. A computable nonlinear Lagrange function with sample average approximation functions of original functions is minimized and the Lagrange multiplier is updated based on the sample average approximation functions of original functions in the algorithm. And it is shown that the solution sequences obtained by the novel algorithm for solving subproblem converge to their true counterparts with probability one as the sample size approximates infinity under some moderate assumptions. Finally, numerical experiments are carried out for solving some typical test problems and the obtained numerical results preliminarily demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is promising.
Structure-Mediated Excitation of Air Plasma and Silicon Plasma Expansion in Femtosecond Laser Pulses Ablation
Authors: Wang Qingsong , Jiang Lan , Sun Jingya , Pan Changji , Han Weina , Wang Guoyan , Wang Feifei , Zhang Kaihu , Li Ming , Lu Yongfeng
Published: December 2018

Femtosecond laser-induced surface structures upon multiple pulses irradiation are strongly correlated with the pulse number, which in turn significantly affects successive laser-material interactions. By recording the dynamics of femtosecond laser ablation of silicon using time-resolved shadowgraphy, here we present direct visualization of the excitation of air plasma induced by the reflected laser during the second pulse irradiation. The interaction of the air plasma and silicon plasma is found to enhance the shockwave expansion induced by silicon ablation in the longitudinal direction, showing anisotropic expansion dynamics in different directions. We further demonstrate the vanishing of air plasma as the pulse number increases because of the generation of a rough surface without light focusing ability. In the scenario, the interaction of air plasma and silicon plasma disappears; the expansion of the silicon plasma and shockwave restores its original characteristic that is dominated by the laser-material coupling. The results show that the excitation of air plasma and the laser-material coupling involved in laser-induced plasma and shockwave expansion are structure mediated and dependent on the pulse number, which is of fundamental importance for deep insight into the nature of laser-material interactions during multiple pulses ablation.
Provenance Variation on Early Survival Rate and Growth Performance ofOxytenanthera abyssinica(A. Rich.) Munro Seedlings at Green House: An Indigenous Lowland Bamboo Species in Ethiopia
Authors: Bahru Tinsae , Kidane Berhane , Mulatu Yigardu
Published: December 2018

Background. Lowland Bamboo (O. abyssinica) is an indigenous multipurpose species in Ethiopia and endemic to Africa.Aims. The present study was aimed at investigating provenance variation on early survival rate and growth performance ofO. abyssinicaseedlings so as to obtain suitable provenance for production of high quality seedlings.Methods. Seeds were collected from Pawe and Sherkole districts. Following raise of seedlings data on survival count, culm height, root collar diameter (RCD), number of leaves, and biomass were recorded.Results. Pawe provenance had slightly higher survival rate (91%). Except seedlings RCD, rhizomes length, and roots fresh and dry weights, higher mean values of other morphological parameters were recorded in Sherkole provenance. Biomass of leaves and culms was higher in Shekole provenance, while root biomass was exceeded by the Pawe provenance. However, significant variations (P<0.05) between provenances were observed in RCD, rhizomes length, weight of fresh culms, and fresh and dry root system. Seedlings growth parameters (height and RCD) were positively and significantly correlated with Biomass variables and hence could be considered as better evaluation criteria for seedling quality at green house.Conclusion. Sherkole provenance should be considered for raisingO. abyssinicaseedlings at green house.
Characteristics and Mechanism Analysis of Aerodynamic Noise Sources for High‐Speed Train in Tunnel
Authors: Tan Xiao-Ming , Liu Hui-fang , Yang Zhi-Gang , Zhang Jie , Wang Zhong-gang , Wu Yu-wei
Published: December 2018

We aim to study the characteristics and mechanism of the aerodynamic noise sources for a high‐speed train in a tunnel at the speeds of 50 m/s, 70 m/s, 83 m/s, and 97 m/s by means of the numerical wind tunnel model and the nonreflective boundary condition. First, the large eddy simulation model was used to simulate the fluctuating flow field around a 1/8 scale model of a high‐speed train that consists of three connected vehicles with bogies in the tunnel. Next, the spectral characteristics of the aerodynamic noise source for the high‐speed train were obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the fluctuating pressure. Finally, the mechanism of the aerodynamic noise was studied using the sound theory of cavity flow and the flow field structure. The results show that the spectrum pattern of the sound source energy presented broadband and multipeak characteristics for the high‐speed train. The dominant distribution frequency range is from 100 Hz to 4 kHz for the high‐speed train, accounting for approximately 95.1% of the total sound source energy. The peak frequencies are 400 Hz and 800 Hz. The sound source energy at 400 Hz and 800 Hz is primarily from the bogie cavities. The spectrum pattern of the sound source energy has frequency similarity for the bottom structure of the streamlined part of the head vehicle. The induced mode of the sound source energy is probably the dynamic oscillation mode of the cavity and the resonant oscillation mode of the cavity for the under‐car structure at 400 Hz and 800 Hz, respectively. The numerical computation model was checked by the wind tunnel test results.
Assessment Model and Virtual Simulation for Fatigue Damage Evolution of Asphalt Mortar and Mixture
Authors: Wang Danhua , Ding Xunhao , Gu Linhao , Ma Tao
Published: December 2018

Focused on the fatigue performance of the asphalt mortar, this study proposed an assessment model for fatigue damage evolution based on the continuum mechanics. From the perspective of the material scale rather than the macrostructure, the proposed damage model was set by concentrating on the stress‐strain state of a tiny point which could characterize the material performance accurately. By the mechanical formula derivation and based on the four‐point bending fatigue tests, the damage evolution law was determined and then the proposed model was verified. Based on the finite element method (FEM), a commercial software named ABAQUS was utilized to develop the random mixtures consisting of coarse aggregates, mortar, and voids. Eventually, combined with the damage model and virtual simulation of bending tests, the factors influencing the fatigue resistance of the whole asphalt mixtures were analyzed further.
Management of the Knee Extension Deficit after Acute Trauma
Authors: do Amaral Thiago Alvim , Sadigursky David
Published: December 2018

A 25-year-old man initially presented with right knee extension deficit after an acute trauma, caused by a condition known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition. This should not be confused with a mechanical block caused by intra-articular pathology. The loss of knee extension, even if minimal, is disabling and leads to worse results after knee surgical treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize and diagnose arthrogenic muscle inhibition to ensure the best treatment for patients with this condition. In this case report, the patient was managed with a rehabilitation technique resulting in an effective functional gain of the quadriceps and full restoration of knee extension.
Simultaneous Evaluation of the Influence of Panax ginseng on the Pharmacokinetics of Three Diester Alkaloids after Oral Administration of Aconiti Lateralis Radix in Rats Using UHPLC/QQQ‐MS/MS
Authors: Yang Liang , Wang Yuguang , Huang Guangyao , Li Jian , Zhang Zhaoyan , Ma Zengchun , Gao Yue
Published: December 2018

Objectives. To investigate whether Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) could affect the metabolism of Diester Alkaloids (DAs) derived from Aconiti Lateralis Radix in vivo. Methods and Results. 24 male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomized for 7‐day treatment with P. ginseng (low, middle, and high), or vehicle. Aconiti Lateralis Radix was administered orally to each group on the 8th day. Plasma samples were collected, and Xevo TQ‐S was used to detect the concentration of aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine in plasma. We describe a fast and reproducible method to detect the concentration of aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine in plasma. Compared to the control group, the AUC(0-t) of three DAs increased in both the middle and high dosing groups. The Vz/F of three DAs in these groups as well as the CLz/F of aconitine in all P. ginseng groups and the CLz/F of mesaconitine and hypaconitine in P. ginseng middle and high groups were decreased compared to the control group. Conclusion. Orally administrated P. ginseng potentially inhibits the metabolism of DAs from Aconiti Lateralis Radix in rats.
The Process of Acclimation to Chronic Hypoxia Leads to Submandibular Gland and Periodontal Alterations: An Insight on the Role of Inflammatory Mediators
Authors: Terrizzi Antonela Romina , Conti María Inés , Martínez María Pilar , Fernández-Solari Javier
Published: December 2018

The exposition to hypoxia is a stressful stimulus, and the organism develops acclimation mechanisms to ensure homeostasis, but if this fails, it leads to the development of pathological processes. Considering the large number of people under hypoxic conditions, it is of utmost importance to study the mechanisms implicated in hypoxic acclimation in oral tissues and the possible alteration of some important inflammatory markers that regulate salivary and periodontal function. It is the aim of the present study to analyze submandibular (SMG) and periodontal status of animals chronically exposed to continuous (CCH) or intermittent (CIH) hypoxia in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that may lead to hypoxic acclimation. Adult Wistar rats were exposed to CCH or CIH simulating 4200 meters of altitude during 90 days. Salivary secretion was decreased in animals exposed to hypoxia, being lower in CIH, together with increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content, TBARS concentration, and the presence of apoptotic nuclei and irregular secretion granules in SMG. AQP-5 mRNA levels decreased in both hypoxic groups. Only the CCH group showed higher HIF-1α staining, while CIH alone exhibited interradicular bone loss and increased concentration of the bone resorption marker CTX-I. In summary, animals exposed to CIH show a worse salivary secretion rate, which related with higher levels of PGE2, suggesting a negative role of this inflammatory mediator during hypoxia acclimation. We link the weak immunorreactivity of HIF-1α in CIH with improper hypoxia acclimation, which is necessary to sustaining SMG physiology under this environmental condition. The alveolar bone loss observed in CIH rats could be due mainly to a direct effect of PGE2, as suggested by its higher content in gingival tissue, but also to the indirect effect of hyposalivation. This study may eventually contribute to finding therapeutics to treat the decreased salivary flow, improving in that way oral health.
A Case of a Patient Who Is Diagnosed with Mild Acquired Hemophilia A after Tooth Extraction Died of Acute Subdural Hematoma due to Head Injury
Authors: Kitamura Tomohisa , Sato Tsuyoshi , Ikami Eiji , Fukushima Yosuke , Yoda Tetsuya
Published: December 2018

Background. Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare disorder which results from the presence of autoantibodies against blood coagulation factor VIII. The initial diagnosis is based on the detection of an isolated prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) with negative personal and family history of bleeding disorder. Definitive diagnosis is the identification of reduced FVIII levels with evidence of FVIII neutralizing activity. Case report. We report a case of a 93-year-old female who was diagnosed as AHA after tooth extraction at her home clinic. Prolongation of aPTT and a reduction in factor VIII activity levels were observed with the presence of factor VIII inhibitor. AHA condition is mild. However, acute subdural hematoma of this patient occurred due to an unexpected accident in our hospital. Hematoma was gradually increased and the patient died 13 days after admission. Discussion. Although AHA is mild, intracranial bleeding is a life-threatening condition. We also should pay attention to the presence of AHA patients when we extract teeth.
An Algorithm for Curve Identification in the Presence of Curve Intersections
Authors: Gnecco Giorgio
Published: December 2018

In the paper, a simple but effective algorithm is proposed to solve the problem of curve identification in the presence of curve intersections. The problem is motivated by the fact that, in several engineering problems, one has to deal with samples of possibly intersecting curves, and a successful identification can significantly improve their visualization through a successive function interpolation step. Numerical results are presented, together with possible areas of application of the algorithm.
Boundedness of the Solutions to Certain Delay Dynamic Integrodifferential Systems on Time Scales
Authors: Fan Min , Tian Yazhou
Published: December 2018

In this paper, the bounds on the solutions of certain delay dynamic integrodifferential systems on time scales are considered. Based on a new Gronwall-Bellman type delay integral inequality, we can estimate the boundedness of solutions to integrodifferential systems. At the end, an example is presented to state the main results.
Anticoagulant Related Nephropathy Induced by Dabigatran
Authors: Sharfuddin Nazia , Nourbakhsh Mahra , Box Alan , Benediktsson Hallgrimur , Muruve Daniel A.
Published: December 2018

We describe a case of biopsy-proven dabigatran related nephropathy in a patient without underlying IgA nephropathy. To date, dabigatran related nephropathy was only reported in patients with concurrent or undiagnosed IgA nephropathy, suggesting that it may predispose patients to dabigatran associated injury. The patient is an 81-year-old woman with multiple medical comorbidities, including nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, who was anticoagulated with dabigatran. She presented to hospital with acute kidney injury in the setting of volume overload. Her estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased from a baseline of 57 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 4 mL/min/1.73 m2, necessitating hemodialysis. Renal ultrasound findings, fractional excretion of sodium, and urinalysis suggested acute kidney injury. Renal biopsy showed acute tubular injury, tubular red blood cell casts, and an absence of active glomerulonephritis, similar to the pathological findings of warfarin related nephropathy. A diagnosis of anticoagulant related nephropathy secondary to dabigatran was therefore established. This case demonstrates that dabigatran, like warfarin, may increase tubular bleeding risk in patients, irrespective of underlying kidney or glomerular disease.
Multiobjective Cognitive Cooperative Jamming Decision-Making Method Based on Tabu Search-Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Ye Fang , Che Fei , Gao Lipeng
Published: December 2018

For the future information confrontation, a single jamming mode is not effective due to the complex electromagnetic environment. Selecting the appropriate jamming decision to coordinately allocate the jamming resources is the development direction of the electronic countermeasures. Most of the existing studies about jamming decision only pay attention to the jamming benefits, while ignoring the jamming cost. In addition, the conventional artificial bee colony algorithm takes too many iterations, and the improved ant colony (IAC) algorithm is easy to fall into the local optimal solution. Against the issue, this paper introduces the concept of jamming cost in the cognitive collaborative jamming decision model and refines it as a multiobjective one. Furthermore, this paper proposes a tabu search-artificial bee colony (TSABC) algorithm to cognitive cooperative-jamming decision. It introduces the tabu list into the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm and stores the solution that has not been updated after a certain number of searches into the tabu list to avoid meeting them when generating a new solution, so that this algorithm reduces the unnecessary iterative process, and it is not easy to fall into a local optimum. Simulation results show that the search ability and probability of finding the optimal solution of the new algorithm are better than the other two. It has better robustness, which is better in the “one-to-many” jamming mode.
Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Noncirrhotic Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Suarez Oscar , Perez María , Garzon Martin , Daza Rodrigo , Hernandez Geovanny , Salinas Carolina , Ceballos Jorge , Leon Enrique P. de , Mugnier Jacqueline , Beltrán Oscar , Varón Adriana
Published: December 2018

Fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma is an infrequent liver tumor, currently considered to be a variant different from hepatocarcinoma. The differences lie in genomic alterations, a greater prevalence of fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma in young patients, and its lack of association with underlying liver disease. The clinical presentation is unspecific, with symptoms ranging from abdominal pain, malaise, and weight loss to atypical manifestation which include hyperammonemic encephalopathy. We present the case of a 33-year-old woman with no prior medical history who presented with a coma and a diagnosis of inoperable fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma requiring a cadaver donor transplant. While she was on the waiting list, she received hemofiltration and ammonium benzoate treatment, with progressive improvement in her state of consciousness.
A Combination of Surgical Techniques to Repair a Giant Traumatic Macular Hole
Authors: Ch’ng Soon Wai , Elaraoud Ibrahim , Karl David , Kalogeropoulos Dimitrios , Lee Rynn , Carreras Elisa
Published: December 2018

A 38-year-old man with a traumatic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) presented to our eye casualty department with a sudden deterioration of his right eye vision to hand movements over the past one week. The suspected traumatic FTMH was present since he was 13 years old from a direct impact of a golf ball in his right eye and his best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) has always remained at 1/60 Snellen vision. On examination, he had a very large FTMH measuring 1635 µm with central foveal retinal detachment. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with large inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel flap, 5000 Cs silicone oil tamponade, and autologous platelets implantation was performed. Follow-up visits revealed that the FTMH was closed under silicone oil. The silicone oil was removed six months after the surgery and the FTMH remained close with the retina remaining attached. His BCVA was restored to his previous baseline level of 1/60 Snellen vision. With the advent of multiple techniques to repair FTMH such as the ILM flaps, we have combined this technique with older proven techniques such as silicone oil tamponade and autologous platelets implantation to close the giant traumatic FTMH. This case study demonstrates that combining techniques can help close a FMTH that is otherwise deemed impossible in the past.
A New Robust Dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis Approach for Sustainable Supplier Evaluation
Authors: Nikfarjam Hava , Rostamy-Malkhalifeh Mohsen , Noura Abbasali
Published: December 2018

Supplier selection is one of the intricate decisions of managers in modern business era. There are different methods and techniques for supplier selection. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a popular decision-making method that can be used for this purpose. In this paper, a new dynamic DEA approach is proposed which is capable of evaluating the suppliers in consecutive periods based on their inputs, outputs, and the relationships between the periods classified as desirable relationships, undesirable relationships, and free relationships with positive and negative natures. To this aim various social, economic, and environmental criteria are taken into account. A new method for constructing an ideal decision-making unit (DMU) is proposed in this paper which differs from the existing ones in the literature according to its capability of considering periods with unit efficiencies which do not necessarily belong to a unique DMU. Furthermore, the new ideal DMU has the required ability to rank the suppliers with the same efficiency ratio. In the concerned problem, the supplier that has unit efficiency in each period is selected to construct an ideal supplier. Since it is possible to have more than one supplier with unit efficiency in each period, the ideal supplier can be made with different scenarios with a given probability. To deal with such uncertain condition, a new robust dynamic DEA model is elaborated based on a scenario-based robust optimization approach. Computational results indicate that the proposed robust optimization approach can evaluate and rank the suppliers with unit efficiencies which could not be ranked previously. Furthermore, the proposed ideal DMU can be appropriately used as a benchmark for other DMUs to adjust the probable improvement plans.
A Water-Area Recognition Approach Based on “Tuned” Texture Mask and Cuckoo Search Algorithm
Authors: Chen Zhongwei , Peng Kangbo , Huang Lai , Wang Yichao , Wu Xiaozhong , Xiao Zhenfeng
Published: December 2018

Texture feature extraction is a key topic in many applications of image analysis; a lot of techniques have been proposed to measure the characteristics of this field. Among them, texture energy extracted with a mask is a rotation and scale invariant texture descriptor. However, the tuning process is computationally intensive and easily trap into the local optimum. In the proposed approach, a “Tuned” mask is utilized to extract water and nonwater texture; the optimal “Tuned” mask is acquired by maximizing the texture energy value via a newly proposed cuckoo search (CS) algorithm. Experimental results on samples and images show that the proposed method is suitable for texture feature extraction, the recognition accuracy is higher than the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the gravitational search algorithm (GSA) optimized “Tuned” mask scheme, and the water area could be well recognized from the original image. Experimental results show that the proposed method could exhibit better performance than other methods involved in the paper in terms of optimization ability and recognition result.
Seasonal Variation in Essential Oils Composition and the Biological and Pharmaceutical Protective Effects of Mentha longifolia Leaves Grown in Tunisia
Authors: Zouari-Bouassida Karama , Trigui Mohamed , Makni Samar , Jlaiel Lobna , Tounsi Slim
Published: December 2018

This research assessed the seasonal variation of the chemical composition and antibacterial and anticholinesterase activities of essential oils extracted from M. longifolia leaves. The leaves organic fractions were also investigated for their biological activities and pharmacological functions. The essential oil highest yield was recorded in the spring season. Pulegone (26.92%), 1.8 cineole (21.3 %), and L-menthone (10.66 %) were determined as its major compounds in the winter season. In the spring oil, the main components were pulegone (38.2 %) and oleic and palmitic acids (23.79 % and 15. 26 %, respectively). Oxygenated monoterpenes were predominant in the two analyzed samples. The tested oils and organic extracts exhibited promising antibacterial effects against all of the tested bacterial strains. Thanks to its richness in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, the ethyl acetate fraction (Ml EtOAcF) displayed the most active DPPH scavenging ability (IC50 =12.64 μg/ml) and an interesting β-carotene bleaching inhibition (IC50 =34.75 μg/ml) making it a potential candidate for anti-inflammatory evaluation on rats. This evaluation evidenced that M. longifolia pretreated rats showed a marked decrease in paw oedema and inflammatory cells. Additionally, a remarkable acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the Ml EtOAcF (IC50 = 12.3μg/ml) and essential oils were also observed suggesting their neuroprotective property against Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it was found that its activity level was season dependent. Our investigation, therefore, clearly revealed the medicinal characteristics of M. longifolia leave indicating their potential uses for natural remedies.
Rhaponticum carthamoides Transformed Root Extract Has Potent Anticancer Activity in Human Leukemia and Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Skała Ewa , Synowiec Ewelina , Kowalczyk Tomasz , Śliwiński Tomasz , Sitarek Przemysław
Published: December 2018

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. is an endemic plant species, which is important in Siberian medicine. It possesses adaptogenic properties and has been used for treatment of overstrain and weakness after illness, physical weakness, and mental weariness. The roots of this species obtained after Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation are rich in caffeoylquinic acid derivatives known as strong antioxidant compounds. The study makes the first evaluation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic activity of transformed root extract (Rc TR extract) in various human cancer cell lines: leukemia cells (K‐562 and CCRF‐CEM) and lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549). It was found that Rc TR extract inhibited the cell viability of all tested cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner, and leukemia cell lines were more sensitive to plant extract than A549 lung cancer cell line. Additionally, the Rc TR extract reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and demonstrated genotoxicity against tested cell lines by increasing mitochondrial DNA lesions in ND1 and ND5 genes and causing nuclear DNA damage in TP53 gene. Our results show that Rc TR extract may effectively treat cancer cells by inducing dysfunction of mitochondria. Additionally, the role of mtDNA may be a promising factor in chemotherapy, and it needs further studies.
Exposure to Patterned Auditory Stimuli during Acute Stress Prevents Despair-Like Behavior in Adult Mice That Were Previously Housed in an Enriched Environment in Combination with Auditory Stimuli
Authors: Flores-Gutiérrez Enrique , Cabrera-Muñoz Edith Araceli , Vega-Rivera Nelly Maritza , Ortiz-López Leonardo , Ramírez-Rodríguez Gerardo Bernabé
Published: December 2018

Several interventions have been shown to counteract the effects of stress that may be related to improved neuroplasticity and neuronal activation. In this sense, environmental enrichment (ENR) protects against acute stress and increases neuroplasticity. It has been suggested that the use of patterned auditory stimuli (PAS) may be beneficial in increasing the effectiveness of ENR on disorders related to stress, such as depression and anxiety. Examples of PAS are classical music compositions that have interesting effects at both clinical and preclinical levels. Thus, we analyzed the effects of the exposure to PAS, represented in this study by Mozart’s compositions, during ENR housing for 35 days in adult male Balb/C mice to evaluate depression-associated behavior using the forced-swim test (FST) paradigm with an additional short exposure to PAS. We found that the ENR mice that were exposed to PAS during both housing and behavioral task (ENR + PAS/FST + PAS) show decreased immobility and the number of despair episodes within a higher latency to show the first bout of immobility. Additionally, we found increased neuronal activation evaluated by the identification of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein- (Arc-) labeled cells in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in mice exposed to PAS during housing and in the absence or presence of PAS during FST. Moreover, we found increased neuronal activation in the auditory cortex (AuCx) of mice exposed to PAS during FST. Our study suggests that the exposure to PAS during an emotional challenge decreases despair-like behavior in rodents that were previously housed in an enriched environment in combination with auditory stimuli. Thus, our data indicate that the role of the exposure to PAS as an intervention or in combination with positive environment to aid in treating neuropsychiatric disorders is worth pursuing.