bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LONG RANGE DEPENDENCE AND THE DYNAMICS OF EXPLOITED FISH POPULATIONS
Authors: MENDES HUGO C. , MURTA ALBERTO , MENDES R. VILELA
Published: August 2015

Long range dependence or long memory is a feature of many processes in the natural world, which provides important insights on the underlying mechanisms that generate the observed data. The usual tools available to characterize the phenomenon are mostly based on second-order correlations. However, the long memory effects may not be evident at the level of second-order correlations and may require a deeper analysis of the nature of the stochastic processes.

After a short review of the notions and tools used to characterize long range dependence, we analyze data related to the abundance of exploited fish populations which provides an example of higher order long range dependence. In particular, we find that fish population time series were thought to have short term memory only because previous studies used averages over species instead of modeling each species individually.
Synthesis of Nanosized Titanium Oxide and Nitride Through Vacuum Arc Plasma Expansion Technique
Authors: Lepeshev A. A. , Karpov I. V. , Ushakov A. V. , Fedorov L. Yu. , Shaihadinov A. A.
Published: August 2015

Physical vapor deposition techniques such vacuum arc plasma deposition — which are very commonly used in thin film technology — appear to hold much promise for the synthesis of nanocrystalline thin films as well as nanoparticles. Monodisperse and spherical titanium oxide (TiO2) and nitride nanoparticles were produced at room temperature as a cluster beam in the gas phase using a cluster-deposition source. Using the basic principles of the gas condensation method, this study has developed vacuum arc nanoparticle synthesis system. We demonstrate that major process deposition parameter is the pressure in the plasma chamber. This is the major advantage of these techniques over thermal evaporation. Our method affords TiN powders with high specific surface areas exceeding 200[Formula: see text]m2[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. TEM micrograph of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared at an oxygen pressure of 60[Formula: see text]Pa show an average particle size of 6[Formula: see text]nm. TiO2 nanoparticles prepared at an oxygen pressure of 70[Formula: see text]Pa were observed to not have a reduced average particle size.
Vibration Behavior of Composite Material with Two Overlapping Delaminations
Authors: Hammami Maroua , El Mahi Abderrahim , Karra Chafik , Haddar Mohamed
Published: August 2015

The paper presents an analysis of the vibration behavior of glass fiber reinforced composites with two overlapping delaminations. The effect of delamination length on the vibration parameters is studied. Throughout a series of vibration tests, the change of natural frequencies and modal damping due to delaminations is evaluated. A numerical simulation considering finite element analysis allows to predict the change of natural frequencies for a known damage size. Modal damping was established which evaluates the different energies dissipated in the material layers direction of the fiber reinforced composites. A comparison of the different results was performed. Next, strain energy of layers directions were established by a numerical analysis and discussed.
Thermo-Mechanical Bending Response of Exponentially Graded Thick Plates Resting on Elastic Foundations
Authors: Zenkour A. M. , Allam M. N. M. , Radwan A. F. , El-Mekawy H. F.
Published: August 2015

The trigonometric shear and normal deformations plate theory is used to study the thermo-mechanical bending analysis of exponentially graded (EG) thick rectangular plates resting on Pasternak elastic foundations. Material properties of the plate are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to an exponential law distribution, meaning that Lamé coefficients vary exponentially in a given fixed z-direction. The governing equations are derived from the principle of virtual displacements. The analytical solutions are obtained by using Navier technique and the effects of stiffness of the foundations, thermal loading, and gradient index on thermo-mechanical responses of the plates are discussed. Numerical results for the bending response for EG rectangular plates are investigated and some of them are compared with those available in the literature.
Two-color Markoff graph and minimal forms
Authors: Abe Ryuji , Aitchison Iain R. , Rittaud Benoît
Published: August 2015

Diophantine equations [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are connected with the arithmetic once punctured torus groups having Fricke coordinates [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We describe and analyze the structure of these equations by a graph, which we call a two-color Markoff graph. The faces of the graph are labeled by matrices in the corresponding once punctured torus group, the word representation of which is easily described owing to arithmetic properties of the graph. As an application, we show that these matrices define Markoff minimal forms attaining the values of the Markoff spectrum given by the positive integer solutions of these equations.
The packing radius of a poset block code
Authors: Dass B. K. , Sharma Namita , Verma Rashmi
Published: August 2015

We investigate the properties of the packing radius of a code with respect to poset block metric. In the process, we have addressed a few minor errors in the paper, “The packing radius of a code and partitioning problems: The case for poset metrics”, in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Information Theory (2014), pp. 2954–2958 by D’Oliveira and Firer.
Applied parametrized and automated airframe modeling methods in the preliminary design phase
Authors: Schwinn Dominik B.
Published: August 2015

The design process of new air- and rotorcraft is commonly separated into three different consecutive phases. In the conceptual design phase, the viability of different designs is investigated with respect to customer requirements and/or the market situation. It usually ends with the identification of a basic aircraft lay-out. In the subsequent preliminary design stage the various disciplines are introduced, thus redefining the design process as a multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) task. The objective of this design stage is to enhance the initial aircraft configuration by establishing an advanced design comprising a loft provided with primary structure. This updated aircraft configuration represents a global optimum solution for the specified requirements which will then be optimized on a local level in the concluding detailed design phase with particular regard to manufacturing aspects. The investigations in the preliminary design phase comprise the generation of numerous similar but still different analytical and finite element (FE) models. Even though computational power is constantly increasing the model generation process is still a time-consuming task. Moreover, it is also a potential source of errors which — in the worst case — may lead to time- and cost-intensive redesign activities during the detailed design. As the preliminary design stage, therefore, is of particular importance during the overall design process the model generation process benefits from parametric models and automated process chains. The presented paper overviews the tools used for the automated generation of FE models developed and used at the Institute of Structures and Design (BT) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for the subsequent use in numerical simulations. Furthermore, basic requirements for the effective use of parametrization and automation like a common data format and infrastructure will be introduced. Exemplary models and applications will be presented to illustrate the positive impact on efficiency in aircraft design. Concluding, future development steps and possible applications will be discussed.
THE IMPACT OF INTERNAL CONTROL ON FIRM’S RISK AND PERFORMANCE
Authors: LIN YU-EN , CHIH HSIANG-HSUAN , TANG CHIA-HSIEN , HUANG TAI-HSUN
Published: August 2015

Based on the annual data of internal control weakness during 2008–2012, this paper empirically analyzes Chinese listed firms’ internal control weakness and its influence on the risks and performance of banks. The aim of this paper is to examine whether the internal control weakness have long-term information content or not. In addition, this paper examines the effect of interaction term of internal control weakness and managers’ holdings on firm’s performance and risk and improves the firm’s operation. Our results are summarized as follows: First, the disclosure of internal weakness would decrease operation risk slightly but has severe effect on future performance. Second, the blockhold would decrease the operation performance for firm disclosing internal control weakness. Finally, the increase of mangers’ holdings would decrease the operating risk, and does not decrease the operating performance. These results argue that if managers increase their stock holdings after firms disclosing the internal control weakness, they would improve the firm’s operation condition and risk management.
ELUCIDATING EQUITY PREMIUM USING CORPORATE DIVIDENDS AND HABIT FORMATION
Authors: CHANG JOW-RAN , CHU HSU-HSIEN
Published: August 2015

This paper extends Longstaff and Piazzesi (2004, Journal of Financial Economics, 74, 401–421.) to a habit formation model. By combining corporate fraction ratio, and surplus consumption ratio, we derive closed-form solutions for stock values when dividends, habit ratio and consumption follow exponential affine jump-diffusion processes. We can prove that Longstaff and Piazzesi (2004) is only a special case of our model. In addition, calibrated results show that the corporate fraction and habit ratio to shocks significantly increases the equity premium and decreases the risk-free rate. The model determines realistic values for the equity premium and the risk-free rate.
Eugenics and Involuntary Sterilization: 1907–2015
Authors: Reilly Philip R.
Published: August 2015

In England during the late nineteenth century, intellectuals, especially Francis Galton, called for a variety of eugenic policies aimed at ensuring the health of the human species. In the United States, members of the Progressive movement embraced eugenic ideas, especially immigration restriction and sterilization. Indiana enacted the first eugenic sterilization law in 1907, and the US Supreme Court upheld such laws in 1927. State programs targeted institutionalized, mentally disabled women. Beginning in the late 1930s, proponents rationalized involuntary sterilization as protecting vulnerable women from unwanted pregnancy. By World War II, programs in the United States had sterilized approximately 60,000 persons. After the horrific revelations concerning Nazi eugenics (German Hereditary Health Courts approved at least 400,000 sterilization operations in less than a decade), eugenic sterilization programs in the United States declined rapidly. Simplistic eugenic thinking has faded, but coerced sterilization remains widespread, especially in China and India. In many parts of the world, involuntary sterilization is still intermittently used against minority groups.
Noninvasive Prenatal Genetic Testing: Current and Emerging Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues
Authors: Minear Mollie A. , Alessi Stephanie , Allyse Megan , Michie Marsha , Chandrasekharan Subhashini
Published: August 2015

Noninvasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) for chromosomal aneuploidy involving the analysis of cell-free fetal DNA became commercially available in 2011. The low false-positive rate of NIPT, which reduces unnecessary prenatal invasive diagnostic procedures, has led to broad clinician and patient adoption. We discuss the ethical, legal, and social issues raised by rapid and global dissemination of NIPT. The number of women using NIPT is anticipated to expand, and the number of conditions being tested for will continue to increase as well, raising concerns about the routinization of testing and negative impacts on informed decision making. Ensuring that accurate and balanced information is available to all pregnant women and that access to NIPT is equitable will require policy guidance from regulators, professional societies, and payers. Empirical evidence about stakeholders' perspectives and experiences will continue to be essential in guiding policy development so that advances in NIPT can be used effectively and appropriately to improve prenatal care.
An Extension of the Hawkins and Simon Condition Characterizing Viable Techniques
Authors: Benítez Sánchez Alberto
Published: August 2015

This paper discusses an extended version of the Hawkins and Simon condition which constitutes a synthetic formulation of the mathematical properties that viable economies must satisfy in single production models. The new version is implicit in the economic interpretations offered by them of the Hawkins and Simon condition, once a correction is introduced in one of those interpretations. Moreover, the paper details the meaning of the extended version following the interpretation of the original version proposed by Dorfman, Samuelson, and Solow. It also introduces a characteristic property of indecomposable matrices that has not previously been published.
The Concepts of Pseudo Compound Poisson and Partition Representations in Discrete Probability
Authors: Hürlimann Werner
Published: August 2015

The mathematical/statistical concepts of pseudo compound Poisson and partition representations in discrete probability are reviewed and clarified. A combinatorial interpretation of the convolution of geometric distributions in terms of a variant of Newton’s identities is obtained. The practical use of the twofold convolution leads to an improved goodness-of-fit for a data set from automobile insurance that was up to now not fitted satisfactorily.
Cloud-Assisted Scalable Video Delivery Solution over Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Zhong Lujie , Jia Shijie
Published: August 2015

Cloud computing is promising avenue for supporting high-performance and interactive streaming service. Making use of the clouds to flexibly increase the scale of video service system and provide fast search are key determinants for scalable mobile video streaming in order to ensure smooth playback experience. In this paper, we propose a novel Cloud-assisted Scalable Video Delivery Solution over mobile ad hoc networks (CSVD). CSVD makes use of the clouds to share responsibility for the load of resource management of media server, which supports fast resource searching and enhances system scalability. CSVD designs a new estimation model of resource maintenance scale in terms of quality of service- (QoS-) oriented dynamic balance between supply and demand, in order to economically use the clouds. A novel supplier scheduling algorithm that assigns resource suppliers for fast responding user request in terms of their load and serving capacity is proposed. Extensive tests show how CSVD achieves much better performance results in comparison with other state-of-the-art solutions.
Choi-Davis-Jensen Inequalities in Semifinite von Neumann Algebras
Authors: Bekjan Turdebek N. , Ospanov Kordan N. , Zulkhazhav Asilbek
Published: August 2015

We prove the Choi-Davis-Jensen type submajorization inequalities on semifinite von Neumann algebras for concave functions and convex functions.
Coincidence Anticipation Timing Performance during an Acute Bout of Brisk Walking in Older Adults: Effect of Stimulus Speed
Authors: Duncan Michael J. , Stanley Michelle , Smith Mike , Price Michael J. , Leddington Wright Sheila
Published: August 2015

This study examined coincidence anticipation timing (CAT) performance at slow and fast stimulus speeds before, during, and after an acute bout of walking in adults aged 60–76 years. Results from a series of repeated measures ANOVAs indicated significant rest versus exercise × stimulus speed × time interactions for absolute and variable errors (bothP=0.0001) whereby absolute and variable error scores, when stimulus speed was slow, improved as the duration of exercise increased. When stimulus speed was fast there were significantly greater absolute and variable errors at 18 minutes of the walking bout. There was also greater error at 18 minutes during walking compared to rest. These results suggest that, in a task involving walking and CAT, stimulus speeds plays an important role; specifically walking (exercise) enhances CAT performance at slow stimulus speeds but reduces CAT performance at fast stimulus speeds. The implications are that in everyday situations, where events require dual-task responses to be made at different speeds, for example, walking on the pavement whilst avoiding a crowd, compared to crossing a busy road, an understanding of how different stimulus speeds influence dual-task performance is extremely important, particularly in the older adult population.
Waypoint Graph Based Fast Pathfinding in Dynamic Environment
Authors: Zhu Weiping , Jia Daoyuan , Wan Hongyu , Yang Tuo , Hu Cheng , Qin Kechen , Cui Xiaohui
Published: August 2015

Pathfinding is a fundamental task in many applications including robotics, computer games, and vehicle navigation. Waypoint graph is often used for pathfinding due to its advantage in specifying the space and obstacles in a region. Currently the waypoint graph based pathfinding suffers from large computation overhead and hence long latency in dynamic environment, where the location of obstacles may change. In this paper, we propose a fast approach for waypoint graph based pathfinding in such scenario. We eliminate unnecessary waypoints and edges to make the graph sparse. And then we design a prediction-based local method to handle the dynamic change in the environment. Extensive simulation has been done and the results show that the proposed approach outperforms existing approaches.
TopicalHypericum perforatumImproves Tissue Regeneration in Full-Thickness Excisional Wounds in Diabetic Rat Model
Authors: Yadollah-Damavandi Soheila , Chavoshi-Nejad Mehdi , Jangholi Ehsan , Nekouyian Noushin , Hosseini Sahar , Seifaee Amin , Rafiee Shima , Karimi Hossein , Ashkani-Esfahani Soheil , Parsa Yekta , Mohsenikia Maryam
Published: August 2015

Delayed wound healing process is one of the most important concerns in diabetes. Healing of wounds has four phases, namely, hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. For a successful repair, all four factors must occur properly. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the healing effects ofHypericum perforatum(HP) on full-thickness diabetic skin wounds by using stereological methods. Forty-eight female diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=12): gel base treated group, HP 5% gel treated group, HP 10% gel treated group, and the control group which received no treatment. A circular 1 cm2full-thickness wound was created on the animal’s neck and wound area was measured every three days. After sacrificing the animals, skin samples were fixed and prepared for stereological evaluations. Based on the results, HP treated group showed faster wound closure rate in comparison with control and vehicle groups (P<0.05). In addition, numerical density of fibroblasts, volume density of collagen bundles, and mean diameter and volume densities of the vessels in HP group were significantly higher than control and vehicle groups. The results of this study showed that HP has the ability to improve tissue regeneration by enhancing fibroblast proliferation, collagen bundle synthesis, and revascularization.
Human Genes Encoding Transcription Factors and Chromatin-Modifying Proteins Have Low Levels of Promoter Polymorphism: A Study of 1000 Genomes Project Data
Authors: Ignatieva Elena V. , Levitsky Victor G. , Kolchanov Nikolay A.
Published: August 2015

The expression level of each gene is controlled by its regulatory regions, which determine the precise regulation in a tissue-specific manner, according to the developmental stage of the body and the necessity of a response to external stimuli. Nucleotide substitutions in regulatory gene regions may modify the affinity of transcription factors to their specific DNA binding sites, affecting the transcription rates of genes. In our previous research, we found that genes controlling the sensory perception of smell and genes involved in antigen processing and presentation were overrepresented significantly among genes with high SNP contents in their promoter regions. The goal of our study was to reveal functional features of human genes containing extremely small numbers of SNPs in promoter regions. Two functional groups were found to be overrepresented among genes whose promoters did not contain SNPs: (1) genes involved in gene-specific transcription and (2) genes controlling chromatin organization. We revealed that the 5′-regulatory regions of genes encoding transcription factors and chromatin-modifying proteins were characterized by reduced genetic variability. One important exception from this rule refers to genes encoding transcription factors with zinc-coordinating DNA-binding domains (DBDs), which underwent extensive expansion in vertebrates, particularly, in primate evolution. Hence, we obtained new evidence for evolutionary forces shaping variability in 5′-regulatory regions of genes.
Intra-Amniotic LPS Induced Region-Specific Changes in Presynaptic Bouton Densities in the Ovine Fetal Brain
Authors: Strackx Eveline , Jellema Reint K. , Rieke Rebecca , Gussenhoven Ruth , Vles Johan S. H. , Kramer Boris W. , Gavilanes Antonio W. D.
Published: August 2015

Rationale. Chorioamnionitis has been associated with increased risk for fetal brain damage. Although, it is now accepted that synaptic dysfunction might be responsible for functional deficits, synaptic densities/numbers after a fetal inflammatory challenge have not been studied in different regions yet. Therefore, we tested in this study the hypothesis that LPS-induced chorioamnionitis caused profound changes in synaptic densities in different regions of the fetal sheep brain.Material and Methods. Chorioamnionitis was induced by a 10 mg intra-amniotic LPS injection at two different exposure intervals. The fetal brain was studied at 125 days of gestation (term = 150 days) either 2 (LPS2D group) or 14 days (LPS14D group) after LPS or saline injection (control group). Synaptophysin immunohistochemistry was used to quantify the presynaptic density in layers 2-3 and 5-6 of the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, entorhinal cortex, and piriforme cortex, in the nucleus caudatus and putamen and in CA1/2, CA3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.Results. There was a significant reduction in presynaptic bouton densities in layers 2-3 and 5-6 of the motor cortex and in layers 2-3 of the entorhinal and the somatosensory cortex, in the nucleus caudate and putamen and the CA1/2 and CA3 of the hippocampus in the LPS2D compared to control animals. Only in the motor cortex and putamen, the presynaptic density was significantly decreased in the LPS14 D compared to the control group. No changes were found in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the piriforme cortex.Conclusion. We demonstrated that LPS-induced chorioamnionitis caused a decreased density in presynaptic boutons in different areas in the fetal brain. These synaptic changes seemed to be region-specific, with some regions being more affected than others, and seemed to be transient in some regions.
Improved Different Dimensional Sensors Combined Space Registration Algorithm
Authors: Bo Yuming , Chen Zhimin , Yin Mingfeng , Wang Tianxiong
Published: August 2015

To address the problem of deviation and registration of 3D radar and infrared sensor, this paper presents and improves a method based on the state value and space deviation of federated filtering of unscented Kalman filter and standard Kalman filter, which conduces to real time registering of system deviation of radar and IF sensors. In the method presented here, a covariance matching criteria-based approach was employed for judgment of filtering divergent trend, while self-adaptive attenuation factor was introduced for correction of the predicted error covariance so as to inhibit the divergent phenomenon. The experiment results indicated that the method presented here conduces to improvement of the precision and speed of space registration, showing practical value in deviation registration of 3D radars and infrared sensors.
Age-Related Reduced Somatosensory Gating Is Associated with Altered Alpha Frequency Desynchronization
Authors: Cheng Chia-Hsiung , Chan Pei-Ying S. , Baillet Sylvain , Lin Yung-Yang
Published: August 2015

Sensory gating (SG), referring to an attenuated neural response to the second identical stimulus, is considered as preattentive processing in the central nervous system to filter redundant sensory inputs. Insufficient somatosensory SG has been found in the aged adults, particularly in the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII). However, it remains unclear which variables leading to the age-related somatosensory SG decline. There has been evidence showing a relationship between brain oscillations and cortical evoked excitability. Thus, this study used whole-head magnetoencephalography to record responses to paired-pulse electrical stimulation to the left median nerve in healthy young and elderly participants to test whether insufficient stimulus 1- (S1-) induced event-related desynchronization (ERD) contributes to a less-suppressed stimulus 2- (S2-) evoked response. Our analysis revealed that the minimum norm estimates showed age-related reduction of SG in the bilateral SII regions. Spectral power analysis showed that the elderly demonstrated significantly reduced alpha ERD in the contralateral SII (SIIc). Moreover, it was striking to note that lower S1-induced alpha ERD was associated with higher S2-evoked amplitudes in the SIIc among the aged adults. Conclusively, our findings suggest that age-related decline of somatosensory SG is partially attributed to the altered S1-induced oscillatory activity.
Changes in Bone Mineral Density and Metabolic Parameters after Pulsatile Gonadorelin Treatment in Young Men with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
Authors: Li Chen-Xi , Tang Song-Tao , Zhang Qiu
Published: August 2015

To assess the prevalence of osteoporosis in young men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and to investigate the changes of BMD and metabolic parameters, a total of 22 young male patients with HH and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. BMD, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were measured in two groups. Osteoporosis was more prevalent in HH patients (45.45%) than the control subjects (10.00%) (P<0.001). The patients with HH had lower BMD in lumbar spine 2–4, femoral neck, and total hip (P<0.001, for all) and higher fasting insulin (P=0.001), HOMA-IR (P=0.002), and SHBG (P<0.001) compared to the controls. After 6 months of pulsatile gonadorelin treatment, BMI (P=0.021) and BMD in lumbar spine 2–4, femoral neck, and total hip (P=0.002,P=0.003, andP=0.003, resp.) increased dramatically and total cholesterol (P=0.034), fasting insulin (P=0.025), HOMA-IR (P=0.021), and SHBG (P=0.001) decreased significantly in HH patients. The study shows a higher prevalence of osteoporosis in young men with HH. Long-term pulsatile gonadorelin treatment indicates a positive effect on BMD and metabolic parameters of HH patients.
Ground-Truthing Validation to Assess the Effect of Facility Locational Error on Cumulative Impacts Screening Tools
Authors: Sadd J. L. , Hall E. S. , Pastor M. , Morello-Frosch R. A. , Lowe-Liang D. , Hayes J. , Swanson C.
Published: August 2015

Researchers and government regulators have developed numerous tools to screen areas and populations for cumulative impacts and vulnerability to environmental hazards and risk. These tools all rely on secondary data maintained by government agencies as part of the regulatory and permitting process. Stakeholders interested in cumulative impacts screening results have consistently questioned the accuracy and completeness of some of these datasets. In this study, three cumulative impacts screening tools used in California were compared, and ground-truth validation was used to determine the effect database inaccuracy. Ground-truthing showed substantial locational inaccuracy and error in hazardous facility databases and statewide air toxics emission inventories of up to 10 kilometers. These errors resulted in significant differences in cumulative impact screening scores generated by one screening tool, the Environmental Justice Screening Method.
Fetomaternal Hemorrhage following Placement of an Intrauterine Pressure Catheter: Report of a New Association
Authors: Mirza Fadi G. , Thaker Harshwardhan M. , Flejter Wendy L. , D’Alton Mary E.
Published: August 2015

Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) can be associated with significant perinatal mortality. Our review of the literature did not identify any cases of FMH following placement of an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC). In our case, an IUPC was inserted in a patient undergoing induction of labor at term. Fetal bradycardia ensued shortly after placement, warranting an emergent cesarean delivery. Severe neonatal anemia was identified, and evaluation of maternal blood was consistent with massive FMH. This is the first reported association between FMH and IUPC placement. If this relationship is validated in future reports, appropriate changes in clinical practice may be warranted.
Circulating S100B and Adiponectin in Children Who Underwent Open Heart Surgery and Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Varrica Alessandro , Satriano Angela , Frigiola Alessandro , Giamberti Alessandro , Tettamanti Guido , Anastasia Luigi , Conforti Erika , Gavilanes Antonio D. W. , Zimmermann Luc J. , Vles Hans J. S. , Li Volti Giovanni , Gazzolo Diego
Published: August 2015

Background. S100B protein, previously proposed as a consolidated marker of brain damage in congenital heart disease (CHD) newborns who underwent cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), has been progressively abandoned due to S100B CNS extra-source such as adipose tissue. The present study investigated CHD newborns, if adipose tissue contributes significantly to S100B serum levels.Methods. We conducted a prospective study in 26 CHD infants, without preexisting neurological disorders, who underwent cardiac surgery and CPB in whom blood samples for S100B and adiponectin (ADN) measurement were drawn at five perioperative time-points.Results. S100B showed a significant increase from hospital admission up to 24 h after procedure reaching its maximum peak(P<0.01)during CPB and at the end of the surgical procedure. Moreover, ADN showed a flat pattern and no significant differences(P>0.05)have been found all along perioperative monitoring. ADN/S100B ratio pattern was identical to S100B alone with the higher peak at the end of CPB and remained higher up to 24 h from surgery.Conclusions. The present study provides evidence that, in CHD infants, S100B protein is not affected by an extra-source adipose tissue release as suggested by no changes in circulating ADN concentrations.
A Multiplex PCR for Simultaneous Detection of Three Zoonotic ParasitesAncylostoma ceylanicum,A. caninum,andGiardia lambliaAssemblage A
Authors: Hu Wei , Wu Sheng , Yu Xingang , Abullahi Auwalu Yusuf , Song Meiran , Tan Liping , Wang Zhen , Jiang Biao , Li Guoqing
Published: August 2015

Ancylostoma ceylanicum,A. caninum, andGiardia lambliaassemblage A are common intestinal parasites of dogs and cats; they can also infect humans, causing parasitic zoonoses. In this study, a multiplex PCR method was developed for simultaneous identification and detection of those three zoonotic parasites. Three pairs of specific primers were designed based on ITS sequence ofA. ceylanicumandA. caninumand TPI gene ofG. lambliaavailable in the GenBank. The multiplex PCR reaction system was established by optimizing the reaction condition, and a series of tests on the sensitivity, specificity, and clinical application were also conducted. Results showed that three target fragments were amplified specifically; the detection limit was 10 eggs for bothA. ceylanicumandA. caninum, 72 pg DNA forG. lamblia. Of 112 clinical fecal samples, 34.8% and 17.8% samples were positive forA. caninumandA. ceylanicum, respectively, while only 2.7% samples were positive forG. lambliaassemblage A. It is concluded that the established multiplex PCR assay is a convenient, rapid, cost-effective, and high-efficiency method for molecular detection and epidemiological investigation of three zoonotic parasites.
Effect of Tongxinluo on Nephrin Expression via Inhibition of Notch1/Snail Pathway in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Cui Fangqiang , Zou Dawei , Gao Yanbin , Zhang Na , Wang Jinyang , Xu Liping , Geng Jianguo , Li Jiaoyang , Zhou Shengnan , Wang Xinyao
Published: August 2015

Podocyte injury is an important mechanism of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Accumulating evidence suggests that nephrin expression is decreased in podocyte in DN. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that tongxinluo (TXL) can ameliorate renal structure disruption and dysfunction in DN. However, the effect of TXL on podocyte injury in DN and its molecular mechanism is unclear. In order to explore the effect of TXL on podocyte injury and its molecular mechanism in DN, our in vivo and in vitro studies were performed. Our results showed that TXL increased nephrin expression in diabetic rats and in high glucose cultured podocyte. Meanwhile, TXL decreased ICN1 (the intracellular domain of notch), HES1, and snail expression in podocyte in vivo and in vitro. More importantly, we found that TXL protected podocyte from injury in DN. The results demonstrated that TXL inhibited the activation of notch1/snail pathway and increased nephrin expression, which may be a mechanism of protecting effect on podocyte injury in DN.
Restoration of Central Programmed Movement Pattern by Temporal Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Training in Patients with Spinal Cerebellar Atrophy
Authors: Huang Ying-Zu , Chang Yao-Shun , Hsu Miao-Ju , Wong Alice M. K. , Chang Ya-Ju
Published: August 2015

Disrupted triphasic electromyography (EMG) patterns of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs during fast goal-directed movements have been found in patients with hypermetria. Since peripheral electrical stimulation (ES) and motor training may modulate motor cortical excitability through plasticity mechanisms, we aimed to investigate whether temporal ES-assisted movement training could influence premovement cortical excitability and alleviate hypermetria in patients with spinal cerebellar ataxia (SCA). The EMG of the agonist extensor carpi radialis muscle and antagonist flexor carpi radialis muscle, premovement motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the flexor carpi radialis muscle, and the constant and variable errors of movements were assessed before and after 4 weeks of ES-assisted fast goal-directed wrist extension training in the training group and of general health education in the control group. After training, the premovement MEPs of the antagonist muscle were facilitated at 50 ms before the onset of movement. In addition, the EMG onset latency of the antagonist muscle shifted earlier and the constant error decreased significantly. In summary, temporal ES-assisted training alleviated hypermetria by restoring antagonist premovement and temporal triphasic EMG patterns in SCA patients. This technique may be applied to treat hypermetria in cerebellar disorders. (This trial is registered withNCT01983670.)
Extraperitoneally Ruptured, Everted, and Prolapsed Bladder: A Very Rare Complication of Pelvic Injury
Authors: Ojewola Rufus Wale , Tijani Kehinde Habeeb , Badmus Olakunle Olaleke , Oliyide Abisola Ekundayo , Osegbe Chukwudi Emmanuel
Published: August 2015

Traumatic rupture of the bladder with eversion and protrusion via the perineum is a rare complication of pelvic injury. We present a 36-year-old lady who sustained severe pelvic injury with a bleeding right-sided deep perineal laceration. She had closed reduction of pelvic fracture with pelvic banding and primary closure of perineal laceration at a private hospital. She subsequently had dehiscence of repaired perineal laceration with protrusion of fleshy mass from vulva and leakage of urine per perineum five weeks later. Examination revealed a fleshy mucosa-like mass protruding anteriorly with a bridge of tissue between it and right anterolateral vaginal wall. Upward pressure on this mass revealed the bladder neck and ureteric orifices. She had perineal and pelvic exploration with findings of prolapsed, completely everted bladder wall through a transverse anterior bladder wall rent via the perineum, and an unstable B1 pelvic disruption. She had repair of the ruptured, everted, and prolapsed bladder, double-plate and screw fixation of disrupted pelvis and repair of the pelvic/perineal defect. She commenced physiotherapy and ambulation a week after surgery. Patient now walks normally and is continent of urine. We conclude that the intrinsic urethral continent mechanism plays a significant role in maintaining continence in females.
A Multilayer Naïve Bayes Model for Analyzing User’s Retweeting Sentiment Tendency
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Zuo Wanli , Wang Ying
Published: August 2015

Today microblogging has increasingly become a means of information diffusion via user’s retweeting behavior. Since retweeting content, as context information of microblogging, is an understanding of microblogging, hence, user’s retweeting sentiment tendency analysis has gradually become a hot research topic. Targeted at online microblogging, a dynamic social network, we investigate how to exploit dynamic retweeting sentiment features in retweeting sentiment tendency analysis. On the basis of time series of user’s network structure information and published text information, we first model dynamic retweeting sentiment features. Then we build Naïve Bayes models from profile-, relationship-, and emotion-based dimensions, respectively. Finally, we build a multilayer Naïve Bayes model based on multidimensional Naïve Bayes models to analyze user’s retweeting sentiment tendency towards a microblog. Experiments on real-world dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Further experiments are conducted to understand the importance of dynamic retweeting sentiment features and temporal information in retweeting sentiment tendency analysis. What is more, we provide a new train of thought for retweeting sentiment tendency analysis in dynamic social networks.
A Study on Maneuvering Obstacle Motion State Estimation for Intelligent Vehicle Using Adaptive Kalman Filter Based on Current Statistical Model
Authors: Han Bao , Xin Guan , Xin Jia , Fan Liu
Published: August 2015

The obstacle motion state estimation is an essential task in intelligent vehicle. The ASCL group has developed such a system that uses a radar and GPS/INS. When running on the road, the acceleration of the vehicle is always changing, so it is hard for constant velocity (CV) model and constant acceleration (CA) model to describe the motion state of the vehicle. This paper introduced Current Statistical (CS) model from military field, which uses the modified Rayleigh distribution to describe acceleration. The adaptive Kalman filter based on CS model was used to estimate the motion state of the target. We conducted simulation experiments and real vehicle tests, and the results showed that the estimation of position, velocity, and acceleration can be precise.
Lornoxicam Side Effects May Lead to Surgical Mismanagement, in Case of Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Collection: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Alharbi Mohammad Bukhetan
Published: August 2015

Postoperative collection is a known complication of abdominal surgery, especially after major surgery; however, minor surgical procedures may also be associated with this phenomenon. Utilization of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as lornoxicam, and the adverse effects thereof, may affect the surgeon’s judgment regarding the need for, and extent of, draining of these collections. Here I report the case of a 25-year-old male who presented with perforated acute retrocaecal subhepatic appendicitis complicated by pleural effusion and a small abdominal collection. The pleural effusion resolved almost completely over time. However, the patient showed incomplete recovery, as demonstrated by nausea, vomiting, and mood disturbance along with abdominal pain, tachycardia, and a persistent small abdominal collection. We initially suspected infection caused by a highly virulent type of bacteria and planned to perform percutaneous drainage. However, owing to skin erythematic changes, administration of lornoxicam was ceased, which resulted in complete recovery of the symptoms and consequently in avoidance of unnecessary invasive intervention to drain the abdominal collection. These findings suggest that the utilization and adverse effects of some painkillers for postoperative pain, such as lornoxicam, may affect the surgeon’s judgment regarding the most appropriate surgical workup in cases of postoperative fluid collection.
Compressive-Sensing-Based Video Codec by Autoregressive Prediction and Adaptive Residual Recovery
Authors: Li Ran , Liu Hongbing , Xue Rui , Li Yanling
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a compressive-sensing- (CS-) based video codec which is suitable for wireless video system requiring simple encoders but tolerant, more complex decoders. At the encoder side, each video frame is independently measured by block-based random matrix, and the resulting measurements are encoded into compressed bitstream by entropy coding. Specifically, to reduce the quantization errors of measurements, a nonuniform quantization is integrated into the DPCM-based quantizer. At the decoder side, a novel joint reconstruction algorithm is proposed to improve the quality of reconstructed video frames. Firstly, the proposed algorithm uses the temporal autoregressive (AR) model to generate the Side Information (SI) of video frame, and next it recovers the residual between the original frame and the corresponding SI. To exploit the sparse property of residual with locally varying statistics, the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) is used to learn online the transform matrix adapting to residual structures. Extensive experiments validate that the joint reconstruction algorithm in the proposed codec achieves much better results than many existing methods with consideration of the reconstructed quality and the computational complexity. The rate-distortion performance of the proposed codec is superior to the state-of-the-art CS-based video codec, although there is still a considerable gap between it and traditional video codec.
Synthesis and Characterization of an Amphiphilic Linoleic Acid‐g‐Quaternary Chitosan with Low Toxicity
Authors: Fang Xiaobin , Xu Yingqi , Zhang Jinming , Lu Xianghong , Wang Yitao , Chen Meiwan
Published: August 2015

A novel amphiphilic derivative of chitosan, namely, a linoleic acid‐g‐quaternary chitosan (LA‐g‐QC), was designed and synthesized as low toxic material for biomedical applications in this study. The chemical structure of LA‐g‐QC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR), and elemental analysis. LA‐g‐QC could form nanosized micelles with self‐assembly, which was confirmed by the results of critical micelle concentration (CMC) via fluorescence spectroscopy. The average size of LA‐g‐QC was 140 nm and its zeta potential was approximately +35.50 mV. CMC value was 31.00 mg/mL. Furthermore, LA‐g‐QC micelles, at final concentrations between 0.94 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL, did not inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 or SMMC 7721 cell lines. Taken together, LA‐g‐QC has low cytotoxicity and high potential for the preparation of novel drug‐delivery micelles.
The Effects of TiO2Nanodot Films with RGD Immobilization on Light-Induced Cell Sheet Technology
Authors: Yu Meng-Liu , Yu Meng-Fei , Zhu Li-Qin , Wang Tian-Tian , Zhou Yi , Wang Hui-Ming
Published: August 2015

Cell sheet technology is a new strategy in tissue engineering which could be possible to implant into the body without a scaffold. In order to get an integrated cell sheet, a light-induced method via UV365 is used for cell sheet detachment from culture dishes. In this study, we investigated the possibility of cell detachment and growth efficiency on TiO2nanodot films with RGD immobilization on light-induced cell sheet technology. Mouse calvaria-derived, preosteoblastic (MC3T3-E1) cells were cultured on TiO2nanodot films with (TR) or without (TN) RGD immobilization. After cells were cultured with or without 5.5 mW/cm2UV365 illumination, cell morphology, cell viability, osteogenesis related RNA and protein expression, and cell detachment ability were compared, respectively. Light-induced cell detachment was possible when cells were cultured on TR samples. Also, cells cultured on TR samples showed better cell viability, alongside higher protein and RNA expression than on TN samples. This study provides a new biomaterial for light-induced cell/cell sheet harvesting.
Deformation of Soft Tissue and Force Feedback Using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Liu Xuemei , Wang Ruiyi , Li Yunhua , Song Dongdong
Published: August 2015

We study the deformation and haptic feedback of soft tissue in virtual surgery based on a liver model by using a force feedback device named PHANTOM OMNI developed by SensAble Company in USA. Although a significant amount of research efforts have been dedicated to simulating the behaviors of soft tissue and implementing force feedback, it is still a challenging problem. This paper introduces a kind of meshfree method for deformation simulation of soft tissue and force computation based on viscoelastic mechanical model and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Firstly, viscoelastic model can present the mechanical characteristics of soft tissue which greatly promotes the realism. Secondly, SPH has features of meshless technique and self-adaption, which supply higher precision than methods based on meshes for force feedback computation. Finally, a SPH method based on dynamic interaction area is proposed to improve the real time performance of simulation. The results reveal that SPH methodology is suitable for simulating soft tissue deformation and force feedback calculation, and SPH based on dynamic local interaction area has a higher computational efficiency significantly compared with usual SPH. Our algorithm has a bright prospect in the area of virtual surgery.
Posterior Cingulate Lactate as a Metabolic Biomarker in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Weaver Kurt E. , Richards Todd L. , Logsdon Rebecca G. , McGough Ellen L. , Minoshima Satoshi , Aylward Elizabeth H. , Kleinhans Natalia M. , Grabowski Thomas J. , McCurry Susan M. , Teri Linda
Published: August 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction represents a central factor within the pathogenesis of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) spectrum. We hypothesized that in vivo measurements of lactate (lac), a by-product of glycolysis, would correlate with functional impairment and measures of brain health in a cohort of 15 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) individuals. Lac was quantified from the precuneus/posterior cingulate (PPC) using 2-dimensional J-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Additionally, standard behavioral and imaging markers of aMCI disease progression were acquired. PPC lac was negatively correlated with performance on the Wechsler logical memory tests and on the minimental state examination even after accounting for gray matter, cerebral spinal fluid volume, and age. No such relationships were observed between lac and performance on nonmemory tests. Significant negative relationships were also noted between PPC lac and hippocampal volume and PPC functional connectivity. Together, these results reveal that aMCI individuals with a greater disease progression have increased concentrations of PPC lac. Because lac is upregulated as a compensatory response to mitochondrial impairment, we propose that J-resolved MRS of lac is a noninvasive, surrogate biomarker of impaired metabolic function and would provide a useful means of tracking mitochondrial function during therapeutic trials targeting brain metabolism.