bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Pathway in the Treatment of Nocardial Brain Abscesses following Systemic Infections
Authors: Zheng Yun-Cong , Wang Tse-Lun , Hsu Jee-Ching , Hsu Yung-Hsing , Hsu Wen-Hsing , Wang Chih-Liang , Kwan Aij-Lie , Lin Chih-Lung
Published: August 2014

Nocardial infections are commonly encountered in patients with immunocompromised states. Cerebral nocardiosis is an uncommon clinical entity, representing only 2% of all cerebral abscesses. It has a higher mortality rate, especially for multiple cerebral lesions in immunocompromised hosts following systemic infections. However, an optimal treatment policy to deal with these immunocompromised patients in Asia is still lacking. We retrospectively reviewed the subjects with nocardial brain abscesses from 2001 to 2011 at our medical center. All of them had multiple brain abscesses, underlying with immunocompromised state following systemic infections. All cases were under steroid control due to their comorbidities for more than six months. The comorbidities and misdiagnosis often lead to poor prognosis. The change in the environments of the microorganisms caused by immunosuppressive agents and multiple antibiotic uses may play an important role in this critical disorder. Aggressive craniotomy should be performed in time to avoid grievous neurological outcomes. Our conclusion is that early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic uses should be implemented promptly, and aggressive craniotomy should be performed for nocardial brain abscesses in subjects with systemic infections under an immunocompromised status.
Noncoding RNAs as Novel Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Rönnau C. G. H. , Verhaegh G. W. , Luna-Velez M. V. , Schalken J. A.
Published: August 2014

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common diagnosed malignant disease in men worldwide. Although serum PSA test dramatically improved the early diagnosis of PCa, it also led to an overdiagnosis and as a consequence to an overtreatment of patients with an indolent disease. New biomarkers for diagnosis, prediction, and monitoring of the disease are needed. These biomarkers would enable the selection of patients with aggressive or progressive disease and, hence, would contribute to the implementation of individualized therapy of the cancer patient. Since the FDA approval of the long noncodingPCA3RNA-based urine test for the diagnosis of PCa patients, many new noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) associated with PCa have been discovered. According to their size and function, ncRNAs can be divided into small and long ncRNAs. NcRNAs are expressed in (tumor) tissue, but many are also found in circulating tumor cells and in all body fluids as protein-bound or incorporated in extracellular vesicles. In these protected forms they are stable and so they can be easily analyzed, even in archival specimens. In this review, the authors will focus on ncRNAs as novel biomarker candidates for PCa diagnosis, prediction, prognosis, and monitoring of therapeutic response and discuss their potential for an implementation into clinical practice.
Effect of the Antihypertensive Drug Enalapril on Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Enzymes in Kidney of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat
Authors: Chandran G. , Sirajudeen K. N. S. , Nik Yusoff Nik Syamimi , Swamy M. , Samarendra Mutum S.
Published: August 2014

Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a role in hypertension and hypertension induced organ damage. This study examined the effect of enalapril, an antihypertensive drug, on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) administered SHR. Male rats were divided into four groups (SHR, SHR+enalapril, SHR+L-NAME, and SHR+enalapril+L-NAME). Enalapril (30 mg kg−1day−1) was administered from week 4 to week 28 and L-NAME (25 mg kg−1day−1) was administered from week 16 to week 28 in drinking water. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured during the experimental period. At the end of experimental periods, rats were sacrificed; urine, blood, and kidneys were collected for the assessment of creatinine clearance, total protein, total antioxidant status (TAS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), as well as histopathological examination. Enalapril treatment significantly enhanced the renal TAS level (P<0.001) and SOD activity (P<0.001), reduced the TBARS levels (P<0.001), and also prevented the renal dysfunction and histopathological changes. The results indicate that, besides its hypotensive and renoprotective effects, enalapril treatment also diminishes oxidative stress in the kidneys of both the SHR and SHR+L-NAME groups.
A New Look at the Coefficients of a Reciprocal Generating Function
Authors: Ejsmont Wiktor
Published: August 2014

We study a special property of free cumulants. We prove that coefficients of a reciprocal generating function correspond to “free cumulants with the first two elements in the same block.”
Radiation Pneumonitis after Radiotherapy of Neck Lymphoma
Authors: Wei Min , Cai Jun , Tong Tao , Yu Shihua , Yang Yonghua , Zhang Weijia , Yang Jiyuan
Published: August 2014

Radiotherapy is still one of the effective means for treatment of malignant tumors up to now. Particularly, it is an indispensable effective measure for treatment of some lymphoma patients. In routine work, radiation pneumonitis (RP) is the most significant complication of acute treatment-related toxicities in lung cancer; however, serious radioactive pneumonia is rare for the radiotherapy of neck lymphoma because the volume of the lungs affected by radiation dose was very small. We report a lymphoma case, where the patient had undergone radiotherapy for the bilateral neck and bilateral supraclavicular/infraclavicular area. Following completion of radiotherapy, the patient developed severe radiation pneumonitis.
Fault Detection and Diagnosis for Gas Turbines Based on a Kernelized Information Entropy Model
Authors: Wang Weiying , Xu Zhiqiang , Tang Rui , Li Shuying , Wu Wei
Published: August 2014

Gas turbines are considered as one kind of the most important devices in power engineering and have been widely used in power generation, airplanes, and naval ships and also in oil drilling platforms. However, they are monitored without man on duty in the most cases. It is highly desirable to develop techniques and systems to remotely monitor their conditions and analyze their faults. In this work, we introduce a remote system for online condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of gas turbine on offshore oil well drilling platforms based on a kernelized information entropy model. Shannon information entropy is generalized for measuring the uniformity of exhaust temperatures, which reflect the overall states of the gas paths of gas turbine. In addition, we also extend the entropy to compute the information quantity of features in kernel spaces, which help to select the informative features for a certain recognition task. Finally, we introduce the information entropy based decision tree algorithm to extract rules from fault samples. The experiments on some real-world data show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Cognitive Multihop Wireless Sensor Networks over Nakagami-m Fading Channels
Authors: Zhang Xing , Xing Jia , Yan Zhi , Gao Yue , Wang Wenbo
Published: August 2014

Considering the effect of imperfect channel state information (CSI), we study the performance of a cluster-based cognitive multihop wireless sensor network with decode-and-forward (DF) partial relay selection over Nakagami- m fading channels. The closed-form expressions for the exact outage probability and bit error rate (BER) of the secondary system are derived and validated by simulations. Asymptotic outage analysis in high SNR regime reveals that the diversity order is determined by the minimum fading severity parameter of all the secondary transmission links, irrespective of the CSI imperfection. It is shown that the fading severity of the secondary transmission links has more influence on the outage performance than that of the interference links. We also conclude that, for secondary nodes whose transmit power is restricted by the interference constraint of the primary user, increasing the number of relaying hops is an effective way to improve their transmission performance. Besides, increasing the number of available relays in each relay cluster can mitigate the performance degradation caused by CSI imperfection.
Comparative Study between the Surgeon’s Intraoperative Evaluation and Histopathology for Diagnosis of Laryngeal Lesions
Authors: von Stülpnagel Benjamin , Hagen Robert , Olzowy Bernhard , Witt Gabriele , Pau Hans Wilhelm , Just Tino
Published: August 2014

Objective. To compare the surgeon’s evaluation and histopathology for diagnosis of laryngeal lesions. Material. A clinical survey was distributed to laryngeal surgeons, ENT clinicians, and students in 2013 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Rostock. Participants were asked to anonymously identify laryngeal pathologies and to assess the severity of the lesion starting from hyperplasia and inflammation over moderate dysplasia to early laryngeal cancer. Images of similar clinical laryngeal lesions were demonstrated in a multiple-choice modus to assess the surgeon’s intraoperative evaluation. The questionnaires were digitally processed and evaluated. The results were correlated with histopathology and compared between experienced laryngeal surgeons, clinicians inexperienced in laryngeal surgery, and medical students from the Medical Faculty of the University of Rostock. Results. Sensitivity and specificity varied among the various groups, being highest in experienced laryngeal surgeons. In this group, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy were 85%, 56%, 44%, 90%, and 65%, respectively. In 4% and 31%, laryngeal disease was underdiagnosed and overdiagnosed, respectively. In this group, Kappa statistics resulted in Kappa 0.32 (P<0.001). Conclusion. This clinical survey clearly demonstrates that conformity between histopathology and evaluation of the laryngeal lesion depends on the surgeon’s experience.
Growth of Horizontal Nanopillars of CuO on NiO/ITO Surfaces
Authors: Joshi Siddharth , Mudigere Mrunmaya , Krishnamurthy L. , Shekar G. L.
Published: August 2014

We have demonstrated hydrothermal synthesis of rectangular pillar-like CuO nanostructures at low temperature (~60°C) by selective growth on top of NiO porous structures film deposited using chemical bath deposition method at room temperature using indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass plate as a substrate. The growth of CuO not only filled the NiO porous structures but also formed the big nanopillars/nanowalls on top of NiO surface. These nanopillars could have significant use in nanoelectronics devices or can also be used as p-type conducting wires. The present study is limited to the surface morphology studies of the thin nanostructured layers of NiO/CuO composite materials. Structural, morphological, and absorption measurement of the CuO/NiO heterojunction were studied using state-of-the-art techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV spectroscopy. The CuO nanopillars/nanowalls have the structure in order of (5 ± 1.0) μm × (2.0 ± 0.3) μm; this will help to provide efficient charge transport in between the different semiconducting layers. The energy band gap of NiO and CuO was also calculated based on UV measurements and discussed.
Inequalities in the Use of Family Planning in Rural Nepal
Authors: Mehata Suresh , Paudel Yuba Raj , Dotel Bhogendra Raj , Singh Dipendra Raman , Poudel Pradeep , Barnett Sarah
Published: August 2014

This paper explores inequalities in the use of modern family planning methods among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in rural Nepal. Data from the 2012 Nepal Household Survey (HHS) were utilized, which employed a stratified, three-stage cluster design to obtain a representative sample of 9,016 households from rural Nepal. Within the sampled households, one woman of reproductive age was randomly selected to answer the survey questions related to reproductive health. Only four out of every ten rural MWRA were using a modern family planning method. Short-acting and permanent methods were most commonly used, and long-acting reversible contraceptives were the least likely to be used. Muslims were less likely to use family planning compared to other caste/ethnic groups. Usage was also lower among younger women (likely to be trying to delay or space births) than older women (likely to be trying to limit their family size). Less educated women were more likely to use permanent methods and less likely to use short-term methods. To increase the CPR, which has currently stalled, and continue to reduce the TFR, Nepal needs more focused efforts to increase family planning uptake in rural areas. The significant inequalities suggest that at-risk groups need additional targeting by demand and supply side interventions.
Development of a Test of Suprathreshold Acuity in Noise in Brazilian Portuguese: A New Method for Hearing Screening and Surveillance
Authors: Vaez Nara , Desgualdo-Pereira Liliane , Paglialonga Alessia
Published: August 2014

This paper describes the development of a speech-in-noise test for hearing screening and surveillance in Brazilian Portuguese based on the evaluation of suprathreshold acuity performances. The SUN test (Speech Understanding in Noise) consists of a list of intervocalic consonants in noise presented in a multiple-choice paradigm by means of a touch screen. The test provides one out of three possible results: “a hearing check is recommended” (redlight), “a hearing check would be advisable” (yellowlight), and “no hearing difficulties” (greenlight) (Paglialonga et al., Comput. Biol. Med. 2014). This novel test was developed in a population of 30 normal hearing young adults and 101 adults with varying degrees of hearing impairment and handicap, including normal hearing. The test had 84% sensitivity and 76% specificity compared to conventional pure-tone screening and 83% sensitivity and 86% specificity to detect disabling hearing impairment. The test outcomes were in line with the degree of self-perceived hearing handicap. The results found here paralleled those reported in the literature for the SUN test and for conventional speech-in-noise measures. This study showed that the proposed test might be a viable method to identify individuals with hearing problems to be referred to further audiological assessment and intervention.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and P2Y12Induction by Oligochitosan Accelerates Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Periayah Mercy Halleluyah , Halim Ahmad Sukari , Yaacob Nik Soriani , Mat Saad Arman Zaharil , Hussein Abdul Rahim , Abdul Rashid Ahmad Hazri , Ujang Zanariah
Published: August 2014

Platelet membrane receptor glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (gpiibiiia) is a receptor detected on platelets. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) activates gpiibiiia and P2Y12, causing platelet aggregation and thrombus stabilization during blood loss. Chitosan biomaterials were found to promote surface induced hemostasis and were capable of activating blood coagulation cascades by enhancing platelet aggregation. Our current findings show that the activation of the gpiibiiia complex and the major ADP receptor P2Y12is required for platelet aggregation to reach hemostasis following the adherence of various concentrations of chitosan biomaterials [7% N,O-carboxymethylchitosan (NO-CMC) with 0.45 mL collagen, 8% NO-CMC, oligochitosan (O-C), and oligochitosan 53 (O-C 53)]. We studied gpiibiiia and P2Y12through flow cytometric analysis and western blotting techniques. The highest expression of gpiibiiia was observed with Lyostypt (74.3 ± 7.82%), followed by O-C (65.5 ± 7.17%). Lyostypt and O-C resulted in gpiibiiia expression increases of 29.2% and 13.9%, respectively, compared with blood alone. Western blot analysis revealed that only O-C 53 upregulated the expression of P2Y12(1.12 ± 0.03-fold) compared with blood alone. Our findings suggest that the regulation of gpiibiiia and P2Y12levels could be clinically useful to activate platelets to reach hemostasis. Further, we show that the novel oligochitosan is able to induce the increased expression of gpiibiiia and P2Y12, thus accelerating platelet aggregationin vitro.
A Note on Starshaped Sets in 2-Dimensional Manifolds without Conjugate Points
Authors: Kılıcman Adem , Saleh Wedad
Published: August 2014

LetWnbeC∞complete, simply connectedn-dimensional Riemannian manifolds without conjugate points. Assume thatS⊂W2is starshaped wherekerS≠S. For every pointx∈S∖kerS, defineA(x)={y:ylies on some geodesic segment inSfromxto a point of kerS}. There is a finite collectionAof all maximalAsets whose union isS. Further, kerS=∩{A:AinA}.
Finite and Infinite Arithmetic Progressions Related to Beta-Expansion
Authors: Li Bing , Ma Chao
Published: August 2014

Let1<β<2andε(x,β)be theβ-expansion ofx∈[0,1). Denote byAβ(x)the set of positions where the digit 1 appears inε(x,β). We consider the sets of pointsxsuch thatAβ(x)contains arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions and includes infinite arithmetic progressions, respectively. Their sizes are investigated from the topological, metric, and dimensional viewpoints.
Spectral Analysis of the Bounded Linear Operator in the Reproducing Kernel SpaceW2m(D)
Authors: Guo Lihua , Li Songsong , Wu Boying , Zhang Dazhi
Published: August 2014

We first introduce some related definitions of the bounded linear operatorLin the reproducing kernel spaceW2m(D). Then we show spectral analysis ofLand derive several property theorems.
Inhibition of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Prevents the Melanogenesis in Murine B16/F10 Melanoma Cells
Authors: Chen Jiun-Han , Chang Junn-Liang , Chen Pei-Ru , Chuang Yun-Ju , Tang Shih-Tsang , Pan Shwu-Fen , Lin Tzer-Bin , Chen Kang-Hua , Chen Mei-Jung
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate if PPARγplays a role in the melanogenesis. B16/F10 cells were divided into five groups: control, melanin stimulating hormone (α-MSH),α-MSH+retinol,α-MSH+GW9662 (PPARγantagonist), and GW9662. Cells in the control group were cultured in the Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) for 48 hrs. To initiate the melanogenesis, cells in allα-MSH groups were cultured in medium containingα-MSH (10 nM) for 48 hrs. Cells were treated simultaneously with retinol (5 μM) in theα-MSH+retinol group. Instead of retinol, GW9662 (10 μM) was cocultured in theα-MSH+GW9662 group. Cells in the final group were cultured in the DMEM with GW9662. All the analyses were carried out 48 hours after treatments. Theα-MSH was able to increase cell number, melanin production, and the activity of tyrosinase, the limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. Theseα-MSH-induced changes were prevented either by retinol or by GW9662. Further analyses of the activities of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione, catalase, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed thatα-MSH treatment raised the activity of SOD which was dependent on PPARγlevel. According to our results, theα-MSH-induced melanogenesis was PPARγdependent, which also modulated the expression of SOD.
Dynamic Time‐Delay Characteristics and Structural Optimization Design of Marine Gas Turbine Intercooler
Authors: Zhao Ning-bo , Wen Xue-you , Li Shu-ying
Published: August 2014

Aiming at the rapid mobility of marine gas turbine and the dynamic time‐delay problem of intercooler for intercooled cycle marine gas turbine, the dynamic simulation model of intercooler was set up based on effectiveness‐number of transfer units (ε‐NTU) and lumped parameter method in this paper. The model comprehensively considers related physical properties dependent on temperature. Dynamic response characteristics of gas outlet temperature and pressure and coolant outlet temperature of intercooler with different materials and coolants in the change of operation condition of marine gas turbine were analyzed in detail. Besides, this paper explored the use of simulated annealing algorithm for structural optimization of intercooler. The results showed that both material and coolant were the significant factors that affected the heat transfer and dynamic performance of intercooler. The heat transfer and dynamic performance of the intercooler obtained by using simulated annealing algorithm were better than those of preliminary design.
Effect of the Amount of Water in the Synthesis of B-TiO2: Orange II Photodegradation
Authors: May-Lozano M. , Ramos-Reyes G. M. , López-Medina R. , Martínez-Delgadillo S. A. , Flores-Moreno J. , Hernández-Pérez I.
Published: August 2014

A series of boron-doped TiO2 photocatalysts (2% B-TiO2) with different water/alkoxide molar ratio were synthesized by conventional sol-gel method. The prepared samples were characterized by BET measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS), and diffuse-reflectance UV-vis. The phase anatase was present, but unexpectedly a small amount of rutile phase was formed with low and excess water in the synthesis. Additionally it has been observed that the increase in the molar ratio of water significantly increases the values of band gap energy and the specific surface area. Results showed that degradation of Orange II azo dye increases with surface area, particle size, boron, and water content in photocatalysis. The boron species were introduced in the tricoordinated form.
In-Line Ultrasonic Monitoring for Sediments Stuck on Inner Wall of a Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe
Authors: Seo Hogeon , Lee Kyoungjun , Jhang Kyung-Young
Published: August 2014

This research verified the applicability and effectiveness of the ultrasonic monitoring of sediments stuck on the inner wall of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. For identifying the transmittance of acoustic energy and the speed of sound in the PVC material, the pulse-echo ultrasonic testing was conducted for PVC sheets of different thicknesses. To simulate the solidified sediment, the hot melt adhesive (HMA) was covered on the inner wall of the PVC pipe in different heights. From the experiment, the speeds of sound in the PVC and the HMA materials were obtained as about 2258 and 2000 m/s, respectively. The thickness of the materials was calculated through the signal processing such as taking the absolute value and low pass filtering, the echo detection, and the measurement of the time of flight. The errors between actual and measured thicknesses of PVC sheets were below 5%. In the case of the substance stuck on the inner wall, the errors were below 2.5%. Since the pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection is available on the outer surface and its measurement accuracy was over 95%, it can be an efficient and effective in-service structural health monitoring for the sediment on the wall of PVC pipes.
A Hybrid Metaheuristic‐Based Approach for the Aerodynamic Optimization of Small Hybrid Wind Turbine Rotors
Authors: Herbert-Acero José F. , Martínez-Lauranchet Jaime , Probst Oliver , Méndez-Díaz Santos , Castillo-Villar Krystel K. , Valenzuela-Rendón Manuel , Réthoré Pierre-Elouan
Published: August 2014

This work presents a novel framework for the aerodynamic design and optimization of blades for small horizontal axis wind turbines (WT). The framework is based on a state‐of‐the‐art blade element momentum model, which is complemented with the XFOIL 6.96 software in order to provide an estimate of the sectional blade aerodynamics. The framework considers an innovative nested‐hybrid solution procedure based on two metaheuristics, the virtual gene genetic algorithm and the simulated annealing algorithm, to provide a near‐optimal solution to the problem. The objective of the study is to maximize the aerodynamic efficiency of small WT (SWT) rotors for a wide range of operational conditions. The design variables are (1) the airfoil shape at the different blade span positions and the radial variation of the geometrical variables of (2) chord length, (3) twist angle, and (4) thickness along the blade span. A wind tunnel validation study of optimized rotors based on the NACA 4‐digit airfoil series is presented. Based on the experimental data, improvements in terms of the aerodynamic efficiency, the cut‐in wind speed, and the amount of material used during the manufacturing process were achieved. Recommendations for the aerodynamic design of SWT rotors are provided based on field experience.
Static and Dynamic Experimental Analysis of the Galloping Stability of Porous H-Section Beams
Authors: Gandia F. , Meseguer J. , Sanz-Andrés A.
Published: August 2014

The phenomenon of self-induced vibrations of prismatic beams in a cross-flow has been studied for decades, but it is still of great interest due to their important effects in many different industrial applications. This paper presents the experimental study developed on a prismatic beam with H-section. The aim of this analysis is to add some additional insight into the behaviour of the flow around this type of bodies, in order to reduce galloping and even to avoid it. The influence of some relevant geometrical parameters that define the H-section on the translational galloping behaviour of these beams has been analysed. Wind loads coefficients have been measured through static wind tunnel tests and the Den Hartog criterion applied to elucidate the influence of geometrical parameters on the galloping properties of the bodies under consideration. These results have been completed with surface pressure distribution measurements and, besides, dynamic tests have been also performed to verify the static criterion. Finally, the morphology of the flow past the tested bodies has been visualised by using smoke visualization techniques. Since the rectangular section beam is a limiting case of the H-section configuration, the results here obtained are compared with the ones published in the literature concerning rectangular configurations; the agreement is satisfactory.
A Miniature Integrated Navigation System for Rotary-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Xu Yu , Sun Wenda , Li Ping
Published: August 2014

This paper presents the development of a low cost miniature navigation system for autonomous flying rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system incorporates measurements from a low cost single point GPS and a triaxial solid state inertial/magnetic sensor unit. The navigation algorithm is composed of three modules running on a microcontroller: the sensor calibration module, the attitude estimator, and the velocity and position estimator. The sensor calibration module relies on a recursive least square based ellipsoid hypothesis calibration algorithm to estimate biases and scale factors of accelerometers and magnetometers without any additional calibration equipment. The attitude estimator is a low computational linear attitude fusion algorithm that effectively incorporates high frequency components of gyros and low frequency components of accelerometers and magnetometers to guarantee both accuracy and bandwidth of attitude estimation. The velocity and position estimator uses two cascaded complementary filters which fuse translational acceleration, GPS velocity, and position to improve the bandwidth of velocity and position. The designed navigation system is feasible for miniature UAVs due to its low cost, simplicity, miniaturization, and guaranteed estimation errors. Both ground tests and autonomous flight tests of miniature unmanned helicopter and quadrotor have shown the effectiveness of the proposed system, demonstrating its promise in UAV systems.
AREDS Formula, Warfarin, and Bleeding: A Case Report from the Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Puroll Eric , Heidt Steven T. , Haymart Brian , Froehlich James B. , Kline-Rogers Eva , Barnes Geoffrey D.
Published: August 2014

Importance.The anticoagulant warfarin has been shown to interact with other medications, vitamin K containing foods, and over-the-counter products. These interactions may inhibit or potentiate the effect of warfarin, resulting in serious clotting or bleeding events.Observations.We report the case of an 84-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation, prescribed warfarin in May 2010 for stroke prevention. Her international normalized ratio (INR) was stable until April 2013, when she was prescribed AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease Study) formula pills, an eye vitamin compound, to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. This change was not reported to the Anticoagulation Service. Eighteen days later, she presented to the ED with groin and back pain and an INR of 10.4. An abdominal CT revealed a retroperitoneal hemorrhage with extension in multiple muscles. Both warfarin and AREDS were discontinued and the patient was discharged to subacute rehabilitation. This case was reviewed by the Anticoagulation Service and actions were taken to prevent similar adverse events.Conclusions.This report provides an example of the potential danger of supplement use, in this case, AREDS formula, in patients prescribed warfarin, and the importance of communicating medication changes to the providers responsible for warfarin management.
Novel RNA Markers in Prostate Cancer: Functional Considerations and Clinical Translation
Authors: Pickl Julia M. A. , Heckmann Doreen , Ratz Leonie , Klauck Sabine M. , Sültmann Holger
Published: August 2014

The availability of ultra-high throughput DNA and RNA sequencing technologies in recent years has led to the identification of numerous novel transcripts, whose functions are unknown as yet. Evidence is accumulating that many of these molecules are deregulated in diseases, including prostate cancer, and potentially represent novel targets for diagnosis and therapy. In particular, functional genomic analysis of microRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in cancer is likely to contribute insights into tumor development. Here, we compile recent efforts to catalog differential expression of miRNA and lncRNA in prostate cancer and to understand RNA function in tumor progression. We further highlight technologies for molecular characterization of noncoding RNAs and provide an overview of current activities to exploit them for the diagnosis and therapy of this complex tumor.
Existence of Multiple Solutions for Fourth-Order Elliptic Problem
Authors: Gu Hua , An Tianqing
Published: August 2014

By using the variant fountain theorem, we study the existence of multiple solutions for a class of superquadratic fourth-order elliptic problem with Navier boundary value condition.
Study on the Response of Ecological Capacity to Land-Use/Cover Change in Wuhan City: A Remote Sensing and GIS Based Approach
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Xiangmei , Li Jiangfeng
Published: August 2014

This research examined the spatiotemporal patterns of land-use/cover and the dynamics of ecological capacity in response to land-use/cover change in Wuhan city, central China. The data were derived from five years’ remote-sensed images, that is, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. This paper used an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS techniques, ecological capacity and the bilateral dynamic degree models. The results are as follows. (1) From 1990 to 2010, remarkable changes in land-use/cover have occurred within the studied area, and the most prominent characteristics of the changes were continuous decline of arable land and rapid increase of built-up land. (2) The total ecological capacity dropped from450.55×104 ghm2in 1990 to447.35×104 ghm2in 2010. The eastern, western, and southern parts had higher ecological capacity whereas the northwestern hilly areas and the central district had lower ecological capacity. (3) Due to the conversion from arable land to built-up land, the ecological capacity losses during 1990–1995, 1995–2000, 2000–2005, and 2005–2010 were155.52×102 ghm2,114.12×102 ghm2,455.48×102 ghm2, and325.26×102 ghm2, respectively. The study would contribute to better understanding of the effects of land-use dynamics and the evolution of ecological capacity, which can provide scientific basis for land management and environment protection.
Mathematical Analysis of an Epidemic‐Species Hybrid Dynamical System
Authors: Hui Jing , Pang Jian-Hua , Lin Dong-Rong
Published: August 2014

We consider an epidemic‐species hybrid dynamical system. The disease is spread among the prey only and the infected prey can reproduce virus. The predator only eats the infected prey. Mathematical analyses are given for the system with regard to the existence of
equilibria, local stability, Hopf bifurcation, and the orbital stability of the Hopf bifurcating limit cycle. We further analyse the system under impulsive releasing of virus and predator.
On Power Idealization Filter Topologies of Lattice Implication Algebras
Authors: Bai Shi-Zhong , Wu Xiu-Yun
Published: August 2014

The aim of this paper is to introduce power idealization filter topologies with respect to filter topologies and power ideals of lattice implication algebras, and to investigate some properties of power idealization filter topological spaces and their quotient spaces.
The Galloyl Catechins Contributing to Main Antioxidant Capacity of Tea Made fromCamellia sinensisin China
Authors: Zhao Chunjian , Li Chunying , Liu Shuaihua , Yang Lei
Published: August 2014

Total polyphenol content, catechins content, and antioxidant capacities of green, dark, oolong, and black teas made fromCamellia sinensisin China were evaluated. The total polyphenol content of 20 samples of tea was in the range of 7.82–32.36%. Total catechins content was in the range of 4.34–24.27%. The antioxidant capacity of tea extract was determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) test and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging test. Total polyphenol content, catechins content, and antioxidant capacity decreased in the following order: green > oolong > black > dark tea. A positive correlation existed between the antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content or catechins content (R2=0.67–0.87). The antioxidant capacities of five major catechins (epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and catechin) were determined by online HPLC DPPH radical-scavenging; the antioxidant activity of tea was mainly attributed to the esterified catechins (EGCG or ECG).
LRRK2 G2385R and R1628P Mutations Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease in the Malaysian Population
Authors: Gopalai Aroma Agape , Lim Shen-Yang , Chua Jing Yi , Tey Shelisa , Lim Thien Thien , Mohamed Ibrahim Norlinah , Tan Ai Huey , Eow Gaik Bee , Abdul Aziz Zariah , Puvanarajah Santhi Datuk , Viswanathan Shanthi , Looi Irene , Lim Soo Kun , Tan Li Ping , Chong Yip Boon , Tan Chong Tin , Zhao Yi , Tan E. K. , Ahmad-Annuar Azlina
Published: August 2014

TheLRRK2gene has been associated with both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The G2019S variant is commonly found in North African Arab and Caucasian PD patients, but this locus is monomorphic in Asians. The G2385R and R1628P variants are associated with a higher risk of developing PD in certain Asian populations but have not been studied in the Malaysian population. Therefore, we screened the G2385R and R1628P variants in 1,202 Malaysian subjects consisting of 695 cases and 507 controls. The G2385R and R1628P variants were associated with a 2.2-fold (P=0.019) and 1.2-fold (P=0.054) increased risk of PD, respectively. Our data concur with other reported findings in Chinese, Taiwanese, Singaporean, and Korean studies.
Lentivirus Mediated siRNA against GluN2B Subunit of NMDA Receptor Reduces Nociception in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Wu Feixiang , Pan Ruirui , Chen Jiaying , Sugita Megumi , Chen Caiyang , Tao Yong , Yu Weifeng , Sun Yuming
Published: August 2014

Although neuropathic pain (NP) is still not fully understood by scientists and clinicians alike, studies suggest that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an important role in the induction and maintenance of NP. A promising treatment for NP is through the downregulation of NMDA subunit GluN2B by RNA interference; however, naked siRNA (small interference RNA) is not effective in long-term treatments. In order to concoct a viable prolonged treatment for NP, Lv-siGluN2B (lentivirus carrying siRNA targeting GluN2B subunit) was prepared and the antinociception effects were observed in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats in the present study. Results showed that Lv-siGluN2B was transduced into spinal cord cells after intrathecal injections and effectively reduced the nociception induced by sciatic nerve ligation while inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of GluN2B. This antinociception effect lasted approximately 7 weeks. These findings suggest that GluN2B subunit could be a target for NP treatment and Lv-siGluN2B represents a new potential option for long-term treatment of NP.
Radiofrequency Thermoablation of HCC Larger Than 3 cm and Less Than 5 cm Proximal to the Gallbladder without Gallbladder Isolation: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Orlacchio Antonio , Chegai Fabrizio , Del Giudice Costantino , Massaccesi Mariangela , Costanzo Elisa , Di Caprera Elena , Simonetti Giovanni
Published: August 2014

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective minimally invasive treatment for nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but ablation of tumors close to the gallbladder could be associated with several complications. We report our experience on the treatment of HCC close to the gallbladder with RFA. Eight RFA procedures were performed in eight patients with HCC larger than 3 cm and less than 5 cm close to the gallbladder. In all cases, a percutaneous approach was used. There were no major complications. Only in two patients a minimal wall thickening of the gallbladder was observed. Contrast enhanced computed tomography carried out after 30 days from the first procedure showed complete necrosis in seven patients (87%). Only one patient had local recurrence at 11 months of followup. Although limited, our experience suggests that, after careful preprocedural planning, in experienced hands and with appropriate technology, percutaneous RFA could be safely performed even for lesions larger than 3 cm located in close adjacency to the gallbladder.
Maternal Opioid Drug Use during Pregnancy and Its Impact on Perinatal Morbidity, Mortality, and the Costs of Medical Care in the United States
Authors: Whiteman Valerie E. , Salemi Jason L. , Mogos Mulubrhan F. , Cain Mary Ashley , Aliyu Muktar H. , Salihu Hamisu M.
Published: August 2014

Objective. To identify factors associated with opioid use during pregnancy and to compare perinatal morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs between opioid users and nonusers.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of pregnancy-related discharges from 1998 to 2009 using the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the United States. We scanned ICD-9-CM codes for opioid use and perinatal outcomes. Costs of care were estimated from hospital charges. Survey logistic regression was used to assess the association between maternal opioid use and each outcome; generalized linear modeling was used to compare hospitalization costs by opioid use status.Results. Women who used opioids during pregnancy experienced higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic medical conditions. After adjusting for confounders, opioid use was associated with increased odds of threatened preterm labor, early onset delivery, poor fetal growth, and stillbirth. Users were four times as likely to have a prolonged hospital stay and were almost four times more likely to die before discharge. The mean per-hospitalization cost of a woman who used opioids during pregnancy was $5,616 (95% CI: $5,166–$6,067), compared to $4,084 (95% CI: $4,002–$4,166) for nonusers.Conclusion. Opioid use during pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and increased healthcare costs.
Fast Stiffness Matrix Calculation for Nonlinear Finite Element Method
Authors: Gülümser Emir , Güdükbay Uğur , Filiz Sinan
Published: August 2014

We propose a fast stiffness matrix calculation technique for nonlinear finite element method (FEM). Nonlinear stiffness matrices are constructed using Green-Lagrange strains, which are derived from infinitesimal strains by adding the nonlinear terms discarded from small deformations. We implemented a linear and a nonlinear finite element method with the same material properties to examine the differences between them. We verified our nonlinear formulation with different applications and achieved considerable speedups in solving the system of equations using our nonlinear FEM compared to a state-of-the-art nonlinear FEM.
Multiple Analytical Approaches Demonstrate a Complex Relationship of Genetic and Nongenetic Factors with Cisplatin- and Carboplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Liu H. Eugene , Bai Kuan-Jen , Hsieh Yu-Chen , Yu Ming-Chih , Lee Chun-Nin , Chang Jer-Hua , Hsu Han-Lin , Lu Pei-Chih , Chen Hsiang-Yin
Published: August 2014

Background. Cisplatin and carboplatin cause nephrotoxicity by forming platinum-DNA adducts and lead to cell death.Methods. One-hundred and sixteen Taiwanese lung cancer patients who received cisplatin or carboplatin more than twice were recruited, and their genotypes were determined. The risk of renal dysfunction, injury to the kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function, and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria were used to evaluate the occurrence of nephrotoxicity. A logistic regression, multiple regression with a classification and regression tree (CART), and the Framingham study risk score were used to analyze interactions between genetic and nongenetic factors in producing platinum-induced nephrotoxicity.Results.ERCC1118C andTP5372Arg polymorphisms were associated with increased risks of platinum-induced nephrotoxicity. Other risk factors found included the platinum type, baseline serum creatinine (Scr), coadministration of vinorelbine, and the number of chemotherapy cycles. The overall prediction rate of the CART was 82.7%, with a sensitivity of 0.630 and specificity of 0.896. The Framingham study risk prediction model contained 7 factors. Its prediction rate was 84.5%, with a sensitivity of 0.643 and specificity of 0.909.Conclusions. Genetic polymorphisms ofERCC1andTP53are risk factors for nephrotoxicity. The CART analysis may provide a clinically applicable model to predict the risk of cisplatin- and carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Altered Regional Homogeneity in Rolandic Epilepsy: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Tang Ye-Lei , Ji Gong-Jun , Yu Yang , Wang Jue , Wang Zhong-Jin , Zang Yu-Feng , Liao Wei , Ding Mei-Ping
Published: August 2014

Children with rolandic epilepsy (RE) are often associated with cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. Findings from neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies in RE have now demonstrated dysfunction not only in rolandic focus, but also in distant neuronal circuits. Little is known, however, about whether there is distributed abnormal spontaneous brain activity in RE. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI), the present study aimed to determine whether children with RE show abnormal local synchronization during resting state and, if so, whether these changes could be associated with the behavioral/clinical characteristics of RE. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) in children with RE(n=30)and healthy children(n=20)was computed on resting-state functional MRI data. In comparison with healthy children, children with RE showed increased ReHo in the central, premotor, and prefrontal regions, while they showed decreased ReHo in bilateral orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. In addition, the ReHo value in the left orbitofrontal cortex negatively was corrected with performance intelligence quotient in the children with RE. The aberrant local synchronization, not strictly related to primary site of the typical rolandic focus, indicates the neuropathophysiological mechanism of RE. The study findings may shed new light on the understanding of neural correlation of neuropsychological deficiencies in the children with RE.
A New Wavelet Method for Solving a Class of Nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm Integral Equations
Authors: Wang Xiaomin
Published: August 2014

A new approach, Coiflet-type wavelet Galerkin method, is proposed for numerically solving the Volterra-Fredholm integral equations. Based on the Coiflet-type wavelet approximation scheme, arbitrary nonlinear term of the unknown function in an equation can be explicitly expressed. By incorporating such a modified wavelet approximation scheme into the conventional Galerkin method, the nonsingular property of the connection coefficients significantly reduces the computational complexity and achieves high precision in a very simple way. Thus, one can obtain a stable, highly accurate, and efficient numerical method without calculating the connection coefficients in traditional Galerkin method for solving the nonlinear algebraic equations. At last, numerical simulations are performed to show the efficiency of the method proposed.
Continuous Electrical Current and Zinc Sulphate Administered by Transdermal Iontophoresis Improves Skin Healing in Diabetic Rats Induced by Alloxan: Morphological and Ultrastructural Analysis
Authors: Langoni Cassettari Lucas , Colli Rocha Dias Pedro , Natália Lucchesi Amanda , Ferraz de Arruda Maurício , Veruska Paiva Ortolan Érika , Marques Mariângela Esther A. , Spadella César Tadeu
Published: August 2014

Purpose.Evaluated the effects of continuous electrical current (CEC) or zinc administrated by transdermal iontophoresis (Zn+TDI).Methods.120 male Wistar rats were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and distributed into 6 experimental groups with 40 animals: 3 diabetic groups and 3 normal groups, untreated and treated with CEC alone or with Zn + TDI. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups with 10 rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period, clinical and laboratory parameters from the animals were analyzed.Results. The analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a delay in the phases of wound healing in diabetic rats without treatment in all periods of the experiment; breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats when compared to other groups. In contrast, BS in skin scars of nondiabetic groups and diabetic rats treated with Zn + TDI showed significant increase in those, besides not presenting delayed healing.Conclusion. Electrical stimulation of surgical wounds used alone or in association with zinc by TDI is able to consistently improve the morphological and ultrastructural changes observed in the healing of diabetic animals.
MYCN-Dependent Expression of Sulfatase-2 Regulates Neuroblastoma Cell Survival
Authors: Solari Valeria , Borriello Lucia , Turcatel Gianluca , Shimada Hiroyuki , Sposto Richard , Fernandez G. Esteban , Asgharzadeh Shahab , Yates Edwin A. , Turnbull Jeremy E. , DeClerck Yves A.
Published: August 2014

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) play a critical role in the interaction of tumor cells and their microenvironment. HSPG activity is dictated by sulfation patterns controlled by sulfotransferases, which add sulfate groups, and sulfatases (Sulf), which remove 6-O-sulfates. Here, we report altered expression of these enzymes in human neuroblastoma cells with higher levels of Sulf-2 expression, a specific feature of MYCN-amplified cells (MYCN-A cells) that represent a particularly aggressive subclass. Sulf-2 overexpression in neuroblastoma cells lacking MYCN amplification (MYCN-NA cells) increased their in vitro survival. Mechanistic investigations revealed evidence of a link between Sulf-2 expression and MYCN pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of Sulf-2 protein expression in 65 human neuroblastoma tumors demonstrated a higher level of Sulf-2 expression in MYCN-A tumors than in MYCN-NA tumors. In two different patient cohorts, we confirmed the association in expression patterns of Sulf-2 and MYCN and determined that Sulf-2 overexpression predicted poor outcomes in a nonindependent manner with MYCN. Our findings define Sulf-2 as a novel positive regulator of neuroblastoma pathogenicity that contributes to MYCN oncogenicity. Cancer Res; 74(21); 5999–6009. ©2014 AACR.