bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Approaches in Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Autophagy in Uremic Cachexia: Role of Aerobic Exercise
Authors: Zhang Yumei , Liu Yuqing , Bi Xiao , Hu Chun , Ding Feng , Ding Wei
Published: August 2019

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes several systemic changes, including muscular homeostasis, and eventually results in muscle atrophy. CKD-induced muscle atrophy is highly prevalent, and exercise is well known to enhance muscle function in these cases, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. Here, we aim to assess whether the protective effect of aerobic exercise in 5/6 nephrectomized (CKD) mice is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, or inflammation. C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated into 3 different experimental groups: Sham, CKD, and CKD+aerobic exercise (CKD+AE). Renal function was assessed via serum creatinine and urea levels, and histological PAS and Masson staining were performed. Muscle wasting was determined based on grip strength, cross-sectional area (CSA), and MyHC protein expression. We also measured mitochondrial dysfunction in mice by assessing mtDNA, ROS, ATP production, and mitochondrial configuration. Autophagy was determined via assessments for Atg7, LC3, and SQSTM1 on western blotting. Inflammation was identified via proinflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome components using real-time PCR and western blotting. We found that CKD mice exhibited higher BUN and creatinine levels and more severe glomerulosclerosis in the glomeruli and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, relative to the Sham group; all these effects were relieved by aerobic exercise. Moreover, grip strength, CSA, and MyHC protein expression were improved after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise. Furthermore, aerobic exercise significantly decreased MDA levels, increased SOD2 activity and ATP production, and improved mitochondrial configuration, relative to the CKD group. In addition, aerobic exercise downregulated the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome components and balanced the mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy-lysosomal system. Thus, we observed that aerobic exercise may ameliorate CKD-induced muscle wasting by improving mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and autophagy-lysosomal system in uremic cachexia.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Myopia in Spain
Authors: Alvarez-Peregrina Cristina C. , Sanchez-Tena Miguel Angel M. A. , Martinez-Perez Clara C. , Villa-Collar Cesar C.
Published: August 2019

Objective. To analyse the prevalence of myopia among a sample of more than 6000 children in Spain as well as to determine the impact of risk factors in its progression. Methodology. A total of 6,152 children aged from 5 to 7 were examined. The participants underwent an eye examination that included visual acuity, refraction without cycloplegia, and tests of accommodative and binocular function. In addition, a questionnaire regarding their lifestyle, family history, and geographical data was carried out. Finally, data were analysed using the SPSS version 25 program. Results. The prevalence of myopia in the sample of children studied has increased from 17% in 2016 to 20% in 2017. Likewise, the number of children with high myopia has also increased, from 1.7% in 2016 to 3.6% in 2017. 43.3% of the participants spent more than 3 hours a day doing near activities, and 48.9% of this group spent more than 50% of this time using electronic devices. In addition, only 9.7% spent more than 2.5 hours outdoors each day. Conclusion. Myopia prevalence appears to be increasing in Spain. Lifestyle factors appear to be increasing the risk of myopia.
A Robust Channel Estimation Scheme for 5G Massive MIMO Systems
Authors: Khan Imran , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C. , Al-Muhtadi Jalal , Khattak Muhammad Irfan , Khan Yousaf , Altaf Farhan , Mirjavadi Seyed Sajad , Choi Bong Jun
Published: August 2019

Channel state information (CSI) feedback in massive MIMO systems is too large due to large pilot overhead. It is due to the large channel matrix dimension which depends on the number of base station (BS) antennas and consumes the majority of scarce radio resources. To solve this problem, we proposed a scheme for efficient CSI acquisition and reduced pilot overhead. It is based on the separation mechanism for the channel matrix. The spatial correlation among multiuser channel matrices in the virtual angular domain is utilized to split the channel matrix. Then, the two parts of the matrix are estimated by deploying the compressed sensing (CS) techniques. This scheme is novel in the sense that the user equipment (UE) directly transmits the received symbols from the BS to the BS, so a joint CSI recovery is performed at the BS. Simulation results show that the proposed channel estimation scheme effectively estimates the channel with reduced pilot overhead and improved performance as compared with the state-of-the-art schemes.
FcgRIII Deficiency and FcgRIIb Deficiency Promote Renal Injury in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Zhang Rui , Wang Tingli , Yin Qinhua , Zhang Junlin , Li Li , Guo Ruikun , Han Qianqian , Li Hanyu , Wang Yiting , Wang Jiali , Gurung Pramesh , Lu Yanrong , Cheng Jingqiu , Bai Lin , Zhang Jie , Liu Fang
Published: August 2019

The immune system is involved in the development of diabetes complications and IgG Fc gamma receptors (FcgRs) are key immune receptors responsible for the effective control of both humoral and innate immunity. We investigated the effects of members of the FcgR superfamily into both the streptozotocin plus high fat-induced type 2 diabetes and high fat diet (HFD) models. FcgRIII-/- diabetic mice and FcgRIIb-/- diabetic mice had elevated levels of serum creatinine compared with wildtype (WT) diabetic mice. Renal histology of diabetic FcgRIII knockout and FcgRIIb knockout mice showed mesangial expansion and GBM thickening; the mechanistic study indicated a higher expression of TGF-β1, TNF-α, and p-NFκB-p65 compared with wild type mouse. The HFD mouse with FcgRIII knockout or FcgRIIb knockout had increased biochemical and renal injury factors, but oxLDL deposition was higher than in FcgRIII-/- diabetic mice and FcgRIIb-/- diabetic mice. In vitro we further examined the mechanism by which the Fc gamma receptor promoted renal injury and transfected glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) with FcgRI siRNA attenuated the level of TGF-β1, TNF-α expression. In summary, FcgRI knockdown downregulated kidney inflammation and fibrosis and FcgRIIb knockout accelerated inflammation, fibrosis, and the anomalous deposition of oxLDL whereas FcgRIII deficiency failed to protect kidney from diabetic renal injury. These observations suggested that FcgRs might represent a novel target for the therapeutic intervention of diabetic nephropathy.
Contributions of Limb Joints to Energy Absorption during Landing in Cats
Authors: Wu Xueqing , Pei Baoqing , Pei Yuyang , Wu Nan , Zhou Kaiyuan , Hao Yan , Wang Wei
Published: August 2019

There is a high risk of serious injury to the lower limbs in a human drop landing. However, cats are able to jump from the same heights without any sign of injury, which is attributed to the excellent performance of their limbs in attenuating the impact forces. The bionic study of the falling cat landing may therefore contribute to improve the landing-shock absorbing ability of lower limbs in humans. However, the contributions of cat limb joints to energy absorption remain unknown. Accordingly, a motion capture system and plantar pressure measurement platform were used to measure the joint angles and vertical ground reaction forces of jumping cats, respectively. Based on the inverse dynamics, the joint angular velocities, moments, powers, and work from different landing heights were calculated to expound the synergistic mechanism and the dominant muscle groups of cat limb joints. The results show that the buffering durations of the forelimbs exhibit no significant difference with increasing height while the hindlimbs play a greater role than the forelimbs in absorbing energy when jumping from a higher platform. Furthermore, the joint angles and angular velocities exhibit similar variations, indicating that a generalized motor program can be adopted to activate limb joints for different landing heights. Additionally, the elbow and hip are recognized as major contributors to energy absorption during landing. This experimental study can accordingly provide biological inspiration for new approaches to prevent human lower limb injuries.
Investigation of Acid-Base Indicator Property of Plumbagin fromPlumbago zeylanicaLinn
Authors: Adusei Emmanuel B. A. , Adosraku Reimmel K. , Oppong-Kyekyeku James , Amengor Cedric D. K.
Published: August 2019

There has been an increasing interest in the search for colour indicators of natural origin for titrimetric analysis. This is due to some challenges associated with the currently used synthetic ones. This study evaluates and validates the acid-base indicator property of plumbagin isolated fromPlumbago zeylanicaLinn. Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) was isolated from the roots ofPlumbago zeylanicaLinn using silica gel chromatography and characterized using spectroscopic methods in comparison with those reported in the literature. Its acid-base indicator property was evaluated alongside phenolphthalein and methyl orange, after it was found to exhibit a sharp change in colour at various pH ranges. The plumbagin indicator was successfully used to assay ibuprofen powder and tablets (400 mg) using the British Pharmacopoeia (2013) method. Data obtained were analyzed statistically by Student’st-test and one-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism (version 5.01, 2010). Analysis of the use of the plumbagin indicator in acid-base titrations between strong acids and strong bases and between weak acids and strong bases has been evaluated and validated according to the ICH guidelines. Plumbagin use in ibuprofen powder and tablets has also been verified. Plumbagin has been validated for use as an indicator suitable for different acid-base titrations and the analysis of ibuprofen.
Meteorological Temperature and Humidity Prediction from Fourier-Statistical Analysis of Hourly Data
Authors: Castañeda-Miranda Alejandro , Icaza-Herrera M. de , Castaño Víctor M.
Published: August 2019

The temperature readings for all the 365 days and the 24 hours may be fitted through a 3 × 3 matrix (the so-called T-matrix). The mean square deviation between this fit and the actual meteorological measurements is smaller than three degrees Celsius. Four entries of this (nonsymmetric) matrix may be fixed by other means, leaving only five independent components. However, the same method applied to the humidity measurements produces a larger mean square deviation. A strong stochastical connection is found between the T-temperature matrix and the U-humidity matrix. The computer program, in C, may be used to adjust a (2M + 1) × (2m + 1) matrix simply by changing the arguments at the command line and has been tested with m and M ranging from zero to 11 (eleven) (more than 24 readings per day are necessary for larger values of m). The physical meaning of these constants is given only in the case m = M = 1. Our results have also been connected to fundamental cosmological properties: Earth’s orbit, the ecliptic angle, and the latitude of Querétaro (or whatever geographical location is chosen). A separate program calculates the angular position of the Sun as measured in the sky of Querétaro, to determine the length of the day or the mean value of the solar cosine. This work introduces several new variables which happen to be stochastically connected.
Cyclopentadienyl Ruthenium(II) Complex-Mediated Oxidation of Benzylic and Allylic Alcohols to Corresponding Aldehydes
Authors: Chern Ching-Yuh , Tseng Ching-Chun , Hsiao Rong-Hong , Wong Fung Fuh , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung
Published: August 2019

This work reports an efficient method for the oxidation reaction of aliphatic, aromatic allylic, and benzylic alcohols into aldehydes catalyzed by the cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complex (RuCpCl(PPh3)2) with bubbled O2. Through further optimizing controlled studies, the tendency order of oxidation reactivity was determined as follows: benzylic alcohols > aromatic allylic alcohols >> aliphatic alcohols. In addition, this method has several advantages, including a small amount of catalyst (0.5 mol%) and selective application of high discrimination activity of aliphatic, aromatic allylic, and benzylic alcohols.
SITbench 1.0: A Novel Switch-Based Interaction Technique Benchmark
Authors: Esiyok Cagdas , Albayrak Sahin
Published: August 2019

Evaluation process of a switch-based interaction technique (SIT) requires an interdisciplinary team effort and takes a considerable amount of time. Collecting subjective evaluation data from the users is a very common approach, but the subjective evaluation data alone might be manipulated and unreliable for comparing performances in many cases. Thus, therapists generally cannot succeed in determining the optimum SIT setup (i.e., determining the most appropriate combination of setup variables such as the switch type or switch site) at first attempts since it is hard to evaluate the measurable performance by collecting subjective data instead of objective data. Inevitably, each unsuccessful attempt to reach the optimum SIT setup results in a loss of serious time and effort. On the contrary, a benchmark application is also required to make performance evaluation of SITs by using a number of standard tests and empirical attributes. It is obvious that a quicker and more accurate SIT evaluation process provides a better cost and schedule management considering the increasing number of SIT users in the world. Therefore, we propose a novel benchmark for performance evaluation called SITbench that provides a quicker and more accurate switch evaluation process by collecting and saving the objective data automatically. We conducted a user study with eight participants and demonstrated that the objective data collected via the SITbench helped to determine the optimum SIT setup accurately. Result of a questionnaire applied to evaluate the SITbench itself was also satisfactory. SITbench is expected to help researchers and therapists to make a better evaluation according to any change done in SIT setup variables (switch type, activation method, etc.) with the aim of reaching the optimum SIT setup, which leads to a better cost and schedule management. As the first benchmark application compatible with all SITs, which can emulate keyboard characters or mouse clicks, it can be utilized by assistive technology professionals to make comparisons and evaluations automatically via standardized tests.
Effects of Acute Consumption of Noni and Chokeberry Juices vs. Energy Drinks on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Blood Glucose in Young Adults
Authors: Nowak Dariusz , Gośliński Michał , Wesołowska Anna , Berenda Karolina , Popławski Cezary
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study has been to determine the effect of acute consumption of noni and chokeberry juices vs. energy drinks on blood pressure, heart rate, and blood glucose. The subjects divided into 4 groups, which consumed three portions of noni or chokeberry juices (30 mL or 200 mL, respectively) and energy drink (ED) or water (200 mL) at one-hour intervals. All participants had their blood pressure (BP), both systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), as well as heart rate (HR) and blood glucose (BG), measured. Consumption of noni juice caused a significant decrease in SBP and DBP of 5.0% and 7.5%, respectively, while, the consumption of chokeberry juice slightly decreased only DBP by 3.6%. On the contrary, consumption of three portions of EDs caused a significant increase in DBP by 14.7%. The BG of participants consuming noni juice decreased by 7.3%, while the consumption of EDs increased BG by as much as 15.8%. Acute consumption of noni juice contributed to a significantly decreased SBP, DBP, and HR as well as a mild reduction of BG. Consumption of chokeberry juice caused only a slight reduction of DBP. Contrary to juices, EDs consumption resulted in an increase of blood pressure (especially DBP) and blood glucose. The results of the study showed that noni juice may be effective in lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels, but there is a need to continue research on the long-term effect of this juice.
Protective Effect of Fat Extract on UVB-Induced Photoaging In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Deng Mingwu , Xu Yuda , Yu Ziyou , Wang Xiangsheng , Cai Yizuo , Zheng Hongjie , Li Wei , Zhang Wenjie
Published: August 2019

Background. Nanofat can protect against ultraviolet B- (UVB-) induced damage in nude mice. Fat extract (FE) is a cell-free fraction isolated from nanofat that is enriched with a variety of growth factors. Objective. To determine whether FE can protect against UVB-induced photoaging in cultured dermal fibroblasts and in nude mice. Method. For the in vitro study, human dermal skin fibroblasts were pretreated with FE 24 h prior to UVB irradiation. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed immediately following irradiation, while cell cycle analysis was performed 24 h after UVB irradiation. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) expression, cell proliferation, and expression of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX-1), catalase, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), SOD-2, and collagen type 1 (COL-1) were investigated 72 h after UVB irradiation. For the in vivo study, the dorsal skin of nude mice was irradiated with UVB and mice were then treated with FE for 8 weeks. The thickness of the dermis, capillary density, and apoptotic cells in skin tissue sections were investigated after treatment. The expression of GPX-1, catalase, SOD-2, SOD-1, and COL-1 in the tissue was also measured. Result. FE significantly increased cell proliferation and protected cells against UVB-induced cell death and cell cycle arrest. FE reduced ROS and the number of aged cells induced by UVB irradiation. FE promoted the expression of COL-1 and GPX-1 in cultured dermal fibroblasts. FE treatment of UVB-irradiated skin increased dermal thickness and capillary density, decreased the number of apoptotic cells, and promoted the expression of COL-1 and GPX-1. Conclusion. FE protects human dermal fibroblasts and the skin of nude mice from UVB-induced photoaging through its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and proangiogenic activities.
Role of Customized Bus Services in the Transportation System: Insight from Actual Performance
Authors: Wang Jiangbo , Yamamoto Toshiyuki , Liu Kai
Published: August 2019

After attaining great prevalence from the end of 2013, customized bus (CB) transit services have experienced a huge decline in China. The feasibility of this new bus sharing system is thus being questioned. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the actual role of CB services in the overall transportation system based on successful cases, as the role of the CB service determines its primary service object, system construction, marketing orientation, and even government function. To examine the role of CB services, this study investigates the practical performance, advantages, and spatial and temporal coverage of a successful CB system based on practical subscription data for more than two years. The results illustrate that the CB service is an eclectic choice that can balance service quality and cost between traveling by traditional public transportation (PT) and private cars/taxis. Even though the travel cost increased to a limited extent, the CB service significantly improved the travel experience in terms of the travel time, travel speed, number of stations, and difference arrival time compared to PT services. The multinomial logit model and regression models demonstrate a significant positive relationship between the relative advantage and amount of demand for the CB services. Furthermore, the CB service primarily serves trips generated during the peak traffic hours of the city and supplements traditional PT service in areas with poor coverage levels.
The Petrogenesis of the Permian Podong Ultramafic Intrusion in the Tarim Craton, Western China: Constraints from C-He-Ne-Ar Isotopes
Authors: Zhang Mingjie , Feng Pengyu , Li Tong , Li Liwu , Fu Juerong , Wang Peng , Wang Yuekun , Li Zhongping , Wang Xiaodong
Published: August 2019

The Podong Permian ultramafic intrusion is only one ultramafic intrusion with massif Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization in the Pobei layered mafic-ultramafic complex, western China. It is obviously different in sulfide mineralization from the nearby coeval Poyi ultramafic intrusion with the largest disseminated Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization and mantle plume contribution (Zhang et al., 2017). The type and addition mechanism of the confirmed crustal contaminations and possible mantle plume involved in the intrusion formation require evidences from carbon and noble gas isotopic compositions. In the present study, we have measured C, He, Ne, and Ar isotopic compositions of volatiles from magmatic minerals in the Podong ultramafic intrusion. The results show that olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase minerals in the Podong intrusion have variable δ13C of CO2 (-24.5‰ to -3.2‰). The CH4, C2H6, C3H8, and C4H10 hydrocarbon gases show normal or partial reversal distribution patterns of carbon isotope with carbon number and light δ13C1 value of CH4, indicating the hydrocarbon gases of biogenic origin. The δ13C of CO2 and CH4 suggested the magmatic volatile of the mantle mixed with the volatiles of thermogenic and crustal origins. Carbon and noble gas isotopes indicated that the Podong intrusion could have a different petrogenesis from the Poyi ultramafic intrusion. Two types of contaminated crustal materials can be identified as crustal fluids from subducted altered oceanic crust (AOC) in the lithospheric mantle source and a part of the siliceous crust. The carbon isotopes for different minerals show that magma spent some time crystallizing in a magma chamber during which assimilation of crustal material occurred. Subduction-devolatilization of altered oceanic crust could be the best mechanism that transported large proportion of ASF (air-saturated fluid) and crustal components into the mantle source. The mantle plume existing beneath the Poyi intrusion could provide less contribution of real materials of silicate and fluid components.
Seismic Damage and Collapse Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Frame Structures Using a Component‐Classification Weighted Algorithm
Authors: Su Jizhi , Liu Boquan , Xing Guohua , Ma Yudong , Huang Jiao
Published: August 2019

The seismic performance of reinforced concrete members under earthquake excitation is different from that of whole structures; collapse mechanism may occur because of severe damage to individual members, even if the structural damage is not significant. Therefore, the potential seismic damage of each member should be investigated specifically apart from that of overall structure. In this study, a global damage model based on component classification is proposed to analyze the structural damage evolution rule and failure mechanism; then, the computed damage is compared with the experimental phenomena of three 1/3‐scale models of three‐storey, three‐bay reinforced concrete frame structures under low‐reversed cyclic loading. In addition, a probabilistic approach is finally adopted to quantify the seismic performance of RC frame structures based on the proposed global damage model. Results indicate that the structures with lower vertical axial force and beam‐to‐column linear stiffness ratio still maintain a certain load‐bearing capacity even when the interstorey drift angle exceeds the elastoplastic limit value and the cumulative damage of structures is mainly concentrated on the beam ends and column bottoms of the first floor at final collapse. Moreover, the structural failure probability at different performance levels would increase significantly if reinforced concrete frame structures suffer ground motions higher than the design fortification intensity, even up to eight times.
MSC-Derived Exosomes-Based Therapy for Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy
Authors: Dong Ruiqi , Liu Yumei , Yang Yuxiang , Wang Haojie , Xu Yaolu , Zhang Ziqiang
Published: August 2019

Although significant advances have been made in synthetic nerve conduits and surgical techniques, complete regeneration following peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains far from optimized. The repair of PNI is a highly heterogeneous process involving changes in Schwann cell phenotypes, the activation of macrophages, and the reconstruction of the vascular network. At present, the efficacy of MSC-based therapeutic strategies for PNI can be attributed to paracrine secretion. Exosomes, as a product of paracrine secretion, are considered to be an important regulatory mediator. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can shuttle bioactive components (proteins, lipids, mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and DNA) that participate in almost all of the abovementioned processes. Thus, MSC exosomes may represent a novel therapeutic tool for PNI. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of MSC exosomes related to peripheral nerve repair and provide insights for developing a cell-free MSC therapeutic strategy for PNI.
Structural Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Effect of Black Seed Oil
Authors: Mohammed Sewara J. , Amin Hassan H. H. , Aziz Shujahadeen B. , Sha Aram M. , Hassan Sarwar , Abdul Aziz Jeza M. , Rahman Heshu S.
Published: August 2019

This study was aimed to investigate the structure of bioactive components of black seed oil (BSO) and their antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects. Initially, the structural examination was conducted using various spectroscopic techniques, such as FTIR, TLC, and UV-visible spectroscopy, which are important in determining substituents, functional groups, and the presence of conjugated double bonds in BSO. From the FTIR spectra, a variety of sharp, strong, and weak peaks were specified relating to the main components of thymoquinone (TQ), dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol in BSO. The results of UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the presence of thymoquinone as a major compound, and conjugated double bonds were also found. In addition, qualitative TLC analysis was used to identify thymoquinone from the methanol-extracted layer in BSO, by calculating the retention factor (Rf) value. Furthermore, antimicrobial activity of BSO was studied against various types of bacteria. Strong bacterial inhibitory effects were observed, especially against Bacillus subtilis, with an average inhibition zone of 15.74 mm. Moreover, through the use of the MTT assay in vitro, it was shown that BSO does not exhibit any cytotoxicity towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). It was also found from the structural characterization of BSO that the existence of TQ is responsible for potential antibacterial activity without any cytotoxic effects. The main observation of this work is that BSO has antimicrobial activity even against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
High-Resolution Elevation Model of Lop Nur Playa Derived from TanDEM-X
Authors: Geng Yuyang , Shao Yun , Zhang Tingting , Gong Huaze , Yang Lan
Published: August 2019

In this paper, a digital elevation model (DEM) was produced for Lop Nur playa produced with the data from TanDEM-X mission. The spatial resolution is 10 m. It covers an area of 38,000 km2for orthometric height from 785 m to 900 m above sea level, which is composed of 42 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) scenes. A least-square adjustment approach was used to reduce the systematic errors in each DEM scene. The DEM produced was validated with data from other sensors including Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) and aerial Structure-from-Motion (SfM) DEM. The results show that global elevation root mean square error to GLAS is 0.57 m, and the relative height error to SfM DEM in complicated terrain is 3 m. The excellent height reliability of TanDEM InSAR DEM in Lop region was proved in this paper. A reliable high-resolution basic topographic dataset for researches of Lop Nur was provided.
Secure Communication of Fractional Complex Chaotic Systems Based on Fractional Difference Function Synchronization
Authors: Liu Jiaxun , Wang Zuoxun , Shu Minglei , Zhang Fangfang , Leng Sen , Sun Xiaohui
Published: August 2019

Fractional complex chaotic systems have attracted great interest recently. However, most of scholars adopted integer real chaotic system and fractional real and integer complex chaotic systems to improve the security of communication. In this paper, the advantages of fractional complex chaotic synchronization (FCCS) in secure communication are firstly demonstrated. To begin with, we propose the definition of fractional difference function synchronization (FDFS) according to difference function synchronization (DFS) of integer complex chaotic systems. FDFS makes communication secure based on FCCS possible. Then we design corresponding controller and present a general communication scheme based on FDFS. Finally, we respectively accomplish simulations which transmit analog signal, digital signal, voice signal, and image signal. Especially for image signal, we give a novel image cryptosystem based on FDFS. The results demonstrate the superiority and good performances of FDFS in secure communication.
A Kriging‐Based Active Learning Algorithm for Mechanical Reliability Analysis with Time‐Consuming and Nonlinear Response
Authors: Tong Cao , Wang Jian , Liu Jinguo
Published: August 2019

When the reliability analysis of the mechanical products with high nonlinearity and time‐consuming response is carried out, there will be the problems of low precision and huge computation using the traditional reliability methods. To solve these issues, the active learning reliability methods have been paid much attention in recent years. It is the key to choose an efficient learning function (such as U, EFF, and ERF). The aim of this study is to further decrease the computation and improve the accuracy of the reliability analysis. Inspired from these learning functions, a new point‐selected learning function (called HPF) is proposed to update DOE, and a new point is sequentially added step by step to the DOE. The proposed learning function can consider the features like the sampling density, the probability to be wrongly predicted, and the local and global uncertainty close to the limit state. Based on the stochastic property of the Kriging model, the analytic expression of HPF is deduced by averaging a hybrid indicator throughout the real space. The efficiency of the proposed method is validated by two explicit examples. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the mechanical reliability analysis (involving time‐consuming and nonlinear response). By comparing with traditional mechanical reliability methods, the results show that the proposed method can solve the problems of large computation and low precision.
Social and Cultural Factors Leading to Suicide Attempt via Organophosphate Poisoning in Nepal
Authors: Licata Christine , Liu Lawrence , Mole Dale , Thorp Jonathon , Chand Rajesh , Chaulagain Sabin
Published: August 2019

Organophosphates are commonly used in rural, agricultural communities worldwide. Poisoning in Nepal is commonly a result of suicide attempt via ingestion with a mortality rate of 41 times higher than in the United States even after appropriate treatment. The patient discussed in this case is a 46-year-old Nepalese female with a complicated psychosocial history that presented with a suicide attempt via organophosphate ingestion. She required higher doses and greater lengths of treatment of atropine and pralidoxime to resolve symptoms of toxicity that resulted in atropine-induced psychosis, a side effect rarely cited in the literature. This patient was one of many who attempt suicide in Nepal, where suicide is the leading cause of death for young to middle aged women in the country.
Lymphoma-Associated Monoclonal Cryoglobulinemic Glomerulonephritis and Relationship with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Case Report
Authors: Mutnuri Sangeeta , Kassem Hania , Badalamenti John , Qian You-Wen , Marquez Christopher , Afrouzian Marjan
Published: August 2019

We report a case of type I cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C who presented with acute renal failure. The renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) due to cryoglobulinemia with unexpected monoclonal Kappa restriction on immunofluorescence microscopy, suggesting an underlying hematopoietic malignancy. The bone marrow biopsy revealed presence of marginal zone lymphoma. Our case raises awareness regarding possibility of monoclonality in the renal biopsy of HCV-infected patients and exemplifies the crucial role the renal biopsy plays in detecting lymphoid malignancies where clinical features are ambiguous.
Antimalarial Activity of Cordia africana (Lam.) (Boraginaceae) Leaf Extracts and Solvent Fractions in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice
Authors: Wondafrash Dawit Zewdu , Bhoumik Dayananda , Altaye Birhanetensay Masresha , Tareke Helen Bitew , Assefa Brhane Teklebrhan
Published: August 2019

Background. Malaria remains a major worldwide public health problem leading to death of millions of people. Spread and emergence of antimalarial drug resistance are the major challenge in malaria control. Medicinal plants are the key source of new effective antimalarial agents. Cordia africana (Lam.) is widely used for traditional management of malaria by local people in different parts of Ethiopia. The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo antimalarial effects of leaf extracts and solvent fractions of Cordia africana on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Methods. The leaf extracts were prepared and tested for oral acute toxicity according to the OECD guideline. In vivo antimalarial effects of various doses of C. africana extracts and solvent fractions were determined using the four-day suppression test (both crude and fractions), as well as curative and chemoprophylactic tests (crude extracts). Results. The acute toxicity test of the plant extract revealed that the medium lethal dose is higher than 2000 mg/kg. The crude extract of the plant exhibited significant parasitemia suppression in the four-day suppression (51.19%), curative (57.14%), and prophylactic (46.48%) tests at 600 mg/kg. The n-butanol fraction exhibited the highest chemosuppression (55.62%) at 400 mg/kg, followed by the chloroform fraction (45.04%) at the same dose. Conclusion. Our findings indicated that both the crude leaf extracts and fractions of C. africana possess antimalarial effects, supporting the traditional claim of the plant.
Fermentation of Musa paradisiaca Peels to Produce Citric Acid
Authors: Monrroy Mariel , Rueda Lineth , Aparicio Anaís L. , García José Renán
Published: August 2019

Among organic acids, citric acid (CA) features the highest production volume and the greatest economic potential. The steadily increasing demand for CA necessitates the improvement and diversification of the corresponding production techniques via the incorporation of more environmentally friendly and less costly processes such as the bioconversion of agroindustrial by-products. Musa paradisiaca, known as plantain, is a food product of global importance; however, the related by-products are scarcely utilized. Herein, we investigate CA production from M. paradisiaca peels via fermentation with Aspergillus niger. Compositional analysis shows that the above peels contain 623 g·kg−1 total carbohydrates, 374 g·kg−1 starch, and 91 g·kg−1 protein and therefore are rather rich in carbon, with other elements contained in substantial amounts corresponding to K (28 g·kg−1), N (10 g·kg−1), Fe (39 mg·kg−1), Na (71 mg·kg−1), Zn (16 mg·kg−1), and Cu (18 mg·kg−1). Evaluation of solid-substrate fermentation conditions (pH and inoculum loading) reveals that CA production is maximized (29 g·kg−1) at 10% consistency, 30°C, pH 1.4, and inoculum loading = 20 mg, demonstrating that pH is the most important parameter determining fermentation efficiency. As a result, M. paradisiaca peels are concluded to be a suitable substrate for CA biosynthesis via fermentation with A. niger under optimal nutritional conditions.
Estimating Network Flow Length Distributions via Bayesian Nonnegative Tensor Factorization
Authors: Kurt Barış , Cemgil Ali Taylan , Kurt Güneş Karabulut , Zeydan Engin
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we develop a framework to estimate network flow length distributions in terms of the number of packets. We model the network flow length data as a three-way array with day-of-week, hour-of-day, and flow length as entities where we observe a count. In a high-speed network, only a sampled version of such an array can be observed and reconstructing the true flow statistics from fewer observations becomes a computational problem. We formulate the sampling process as matrix multiplication so that any sampling method can be used in our framework as long as its sampling probabilities are written in matrix form. We demonstrate our framework on a high-volume real-world data set collected from a mobile network provider with a random packet sampling and a flow-based packet sampling methods. We show that modeling the network data as a tensor improves estimations of the true flow length histogram in both sampling methods.
Human Activity Recognition Using Gaussian Mixture Hidden Conditional Random Fields
Authors: Siddiqi Muhammad Hameed , Alruwaili Madallah , Ali Amjad , Alanazi Saad , Zeshan Furkh
Published: August 2019

In healthcare, the analysis of patients’ activities is one of the important factors that offer adequate information to provide better services for managing their illnesses well. Most of the human activity recognition (HAR) systems are completely reliant on recognition module/stage. The inspiration behind the recognition stage is the lack of enhancement in the learning method. In this study, we have proposed the usage of the hidden conditional random fields (HCRFs) for the human activity recognition problem. Moreover, we contend that the existing HCRF model is inadequate by independence assumptions, which may reduce classification accuracy. Therefore, we utilized a new algorithm to relax the assumption, allowing our model to use full-covariance distribution. Also, in this work, we proved that computation wise our method has very much lower complexity against the existing methods. For the experiments, we used four publicly available standard datasets to show the performance. We utilized a 10-fold cross-validation scheme to train, assess, and compare the proposed model with the conditional learning method, hidden Markov model (HMM), and existing HCRF model which can only use diagonal-covariance Gaussian distributions. From the experiments, it is obvious that the proposed model showed a substantial improvement with p value ≤0.2 regarding the classification accuracy.
High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Levels Are Detectable in the Serum of Patients with Lung Cancer and May Be Exploited as Screening Biomarkers
Authors: Rossi Alessandra , Voigtlaender Minna , Klose Hans , Schlüter Hartmut , Schön Gerhard , Loges Sonja , Paolini Moreno , Bokemeyer Carsten , Reck Martin , Tarro Giulio , Binder Mascha
Published: August 2019

Objectives. Since early detection improves overall survival in lung cancer, identification of screening biomarkers for patients at risk represents an area of intense investigation. Tumor liberated protein (TLP) has been previously described as a tumor-associated antigen (complex) present in the sera from lung cancer patients. Here, we set out to identify the nature of TLP to develop this as a potential biomarker for lung cancer screening. Materials and Methods. Beginning from the peptide epitope RTNKEASI previously identified from the TLP complex, we produced a rabbit anti-RTNKEASI serum and evaluated it in the lung cancer cell line A549 by means of immunoblot and peptide completion assay (PCA). The TLP sequence identification was conducted by mass spectrometry. The detected protein was, then, analyzed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and benign lung pathologies and healthy donors, by ELISA. Results. The anti-RTNKEASI antiserum detected and immunoprecipitated a 55 kDa protein band in the lysate of A549 cells identified as aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1A1, revealing the molecular nature of at least one component of the previously described TLP complex. Next, we screened blood samples from a non-tumor cohort of 26 patients and 45 NSCLC patients with different disease stages for the presence of ALDH1A1 and global ALDH. This analysis indicated that serum positivity was highly restricted to patients with NSCLC (ALDH p<0.001; ALDH1A1 p=0.028). Interestingly, the global ALDH test resulted positive in more NSCLC samples compared to the ALDH1A1 test, suggesting that other ALDH isoforms might add to the sensitivity of the assay. Conclusion. Our data indicate that ALDH levels are elevated in the sera of NSCLC patients, even with early stage disease, and may thus be evaluated as part of a marker panel for non-invasive detection of NSCLC.
Synergistic Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin and 1% Alendronate in Periodontal Bone Regeneration: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Feifei , Jiang Peipei , Pan Jinhai , Liu Chengcheng , Zheng Liwei
Published: August 2019

Periodontal bone regeneration relies on coupled and cooperative bone formation and resorption. Accordingly a novel strategy on concurrent use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) (anabolic agent) and 1% alendronate (ALN) (anticatabolic agent) was proposed recently in regenerative periodontal treatment. It was supposed to enhance bone formation and reduce bone resorption simultaneously. However, there is a lack of evidence-based studies to answer whether this concurrent application was superior to single application until now. Besides, concerns on ALN lead to some reservation on this synergistic way. ALN may impair new bone formation and necrotize jaws. Thus, in order to compare the clinical efficacy between PRF plus 1%ALN and PRF alone on periodontal bone regeneration, we performed present systematic review and meta-analysis. Because it is the prerequisite for measuring the combined efficacy of PRF plus 1%ALN, firstly we evaluated the effectiveness of 1%ALN. Our data indicated that adjunctive 1%ALN was effective in promoting periodontal bone repair. Further, PRF plus 1%ALN showed a greater capacity for periodontal regeneration than PRF alone with statistical significance. The findings of this study revealed the promising prospects on synergistic application of bone anabolic agents (PRF) and antiresorption medications (1%ALN) in regenerative periodontal treatment.
Functional Role of SIL1 in Neurodevelopment and Learning
Authors: Xu Shilian , Zhu Jia , Mi Kai , Shen Yan , Zhang Xiaomin
Published: August 2019

Background. Sil1 is the causative gene of Marinesco-Sjӧgren Syndrome (MSS). The mutated Sil1 generates shortened SIL1 protein which will form aggregation and be degraded rapidly. Mental retardation is a major symptom of MSS which suggests a role of SIL1 in the development of the central nervous system, but how SIL1 functions remains unclear. Objectives. The aim of this study is to explore the role of SIL1 in regulating cerebral development and its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods. The basic expression pattern of SIL1 in tissues and cultured cortical neurons is measured by immunostaining and Western blot. The expression of SIL1 is reduced in vitro and in vivo through RNA interference delivered by a lentivirus. The expression of NMDA receptor subunits and the function of the Reelin signaling pathway are then examined by surface biotinylation and Western blot subsequently. Finally, the spatial learning of young mice was assessed by the Barnes maze task. Results. SIL1 deficiency caused a diminished expression of both Reelin receptors and therefore impaired the Reelin signaling pathway. It then inhibited the developmental expression of GluN2A and impaired the spatial learning of 5-week-old mice. Conclusions. These results suggested that SIL1 is required for the development of the central nervous system which is associated with its role in Reelin signaling.
Optimizing the WEEE Recovery Network Associated with Environmental Protection Awareness and Government Subsidy by Nonlinear Mixed Integer Programming
Authors: Bo Yanan , Wang Yanqi , Wan Zhong
Published: August 2019

Recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) plays an important role in protecting environment and conserving resources. Design of a more efficient WEEE recovery system is an imperative need for the relevant decision-makers, such as alleviation of overcapacity or insufficient recycling in many developing countries. In this paper, we optimize the WEEE recovery network which is associated with recycling prices and government subsidies by a nonlinear mixed integer programming approach. An integrated model is first proposed to formulate a design problem of WEEE recovery network, being involved with collection centers, two types of transfer stations, processing centers, incineration plants, landfill plants, secondhand product markets, and government subsides. The recycling prices and the transported quantities of WEEE (the number of batches) are endogenous variables of the model, being subject to a number of practical constraints. For solving this model, an algorithm is developed based on the branch and bound method. Scenario analysis and numerical experiments indicate that: (1) appropriate capacities of transfer stations can be provided by the proposed model for designing an environmentally and economically efficient WEEE recycling system, especially for alleviating the existing overcapacity or insufficient recycle. (2) An optimal governmental subsidy can be obtained in virtue of the proposed model and algorithm. (3) Diversity of transportation modes and permission of more than one mode in the same delivery route can greatly reduce the cost of recycling WEEE. (4) Preferred awareness of environmental protection can increase the profit and the recycled quantities, as well as reduction of the total recycling cost.