bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of diets containing linseed oil or lard and supplemented with pumpkin seeds on oxidative status, blood serum metabolites, growth performance, and meat quality of naked neck chickens
Authors: Meineri G. , Longato E. , Peiretti P.G.
Published: April 2018

This study investigates the effect of two dietary fats, namely linseed oil (LO) and lard (LF), and supplementation with pumpkin seeds (PS) on the performance, oxidative status, and blood serum metabolites of broilers, along with the composition, oxidative stability, and fatty acid (FA) profile of broiler meat. Ninety-six 64-d-old naked neck chickens were randomly distributed into four groups of 24 chickens each (8 chickens per cage, three cages per treatment) and fed a LO diet, a LO diet supplemented with 50 g PS kg−1, a LF diet, and a LF diet supplemented with 50 g PS kg−1. The antioxidant system is increased and reactive oxygen species decreased in chickens fed PS diets. Glycemia and cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the chickens fed PS diets than in those given diets without supplementation; the cholesterol levels were also significantly lower in the chickens fed LO diets than those fed LF diets. However, the LO diet affected the fresh meat quality by decreasing pH values of the meat at 24 h after slaughter. Adding PS to the LO diet improved the oxidative stability of the muscle at day 3 of refrigerated storage. The use of LO instead of LF favourably modulates the FA profile of meat, by increasing both linoleic and α-linolenic acid content and reducing the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated FA ratio, atherogenic and thrombogenic index.
Using digital cover photography to track the canopy recovery process following a typhoon disturbance in a cool–temperate deciduous forest
Authors: Toda Motomu , Nakai Taro , Kodama Yuji , Hara Toshihiko
Published: April 2018

Climate extremes impact the function, structure, and composition of terrestrial ecosystems, while ecosystem responses to climate extremes differ with variations in frequency, intensity, and timing of the extreme event. We examined the canopy recovery processes following a typhoon disturbance in a cool–temperate deciduous forest in northern Japan based on 6-year data of canopy coverage imagery using a digital cover photography (DCP) approach that estimates canopy metrics relevant to leaf and woody masses, spatial dynamics, or arrangement of foliage elements. The DCP-derived imagery detected increases in leaf area index and foliage cover within 2∼3 years after the typhoon (i.e., recovery to the pre-typhoon state). Meanwhile, the recovery in leaf area and foliage cover observed after 6 years resulted from a spatial re-arrangement of the foliage elements (i.e., small within-crown gap fraction, foliage clumping) with increasing canopy space availability. Thus, the recovery of the spatial arrangement of foliage elements after the typhoon to the pre-typhoon state takes longer than the recovery of the leaf and woody masses. This study provides an important ecological implication in terms of possible resilience adaptation for ecosystem function and structure following extreme climate events.
Localized states near the interface with anharmonic properties between nonlinear media with different characteristics
Authors: Savotchenko S. E.
Published: April 2018

We consider the nonlinear excitation localized near the thin layer with nonlinear properties separated by different nonlinear media. The excitations are described by nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) with nonlinear potential. The problem is reduced to the solution of the NLSE with the boundary conditions of a special kind. We obtain the exact solutions of NLSEs satisfying the boundary conditions. We show that the existence of nonlinear localized excitations of four types is possible in a wide energy range. We derive the energy of localized excitations in the explicit form in the long-wave approximation. The conditions of localized state existence are found.
Vector Quantization for Speech Compression by a New Version of PRSOM
Authors: Harchli Fidae , En-Naimani Zakariae , Es-Safi Abdelatif , Ettaouil Mohamed
Published: April 2018

The self-organizing map (SOM) is a popular neural network which was designed for solving problems that involve tasks such as clustering and visualization. Especially, it provides a new strategy of clustering using a competition and co-operation principal. The probabilistic Kohonen network (PRSOM) is the stochastic version of classical one. However, determination of the optimal number of neurons, their initial weights vector and their deviation matrix is still a big problem in the literature. These parameters have a great impact on the learning process of the network, the convergence and the quality of results. Also determination of clusters’ number is a very difficult task. In this paper we propose a new method, called H-PRSOM, which looks for the optimal architecture of the map and determines the suitable codebook for speech compression. According to his hierarchical process, H-PRSOM identifies automatically, in each iteration, new initial parameters of the map. The generated parameters will be used in the learning phase of the probabilistic network. Due to its important propriety of initialization and optimization, we expect that the use of this new version of PRSOM algorithm in the vector quantization might provide good results. In order to evaluate its performance, H-PRSOM model is applied to the problem of speech compression of Arabic digits. The conducted experiments show that the proposed method is able to realize the expected goals.
An Intelligent Path Planning Approach for Humanoid Robots Using Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Sahu Chinmaya , Kumar Priyadarshi Biplab , Parhi Dayal R.
Published: April 2018

The current investigation is focused on the development of a novel navigational controller for the optimized path planning and navigation of humanoid robots. The proposed navigational controller works on the principle of adaptive particle swarm optimization. To improve the working pattern of a simple particle swarm optimization controller, some modifications are done to the controlling parameters of the algorithm. The input parameters to the controller are the sensory information in forms of obstacle distances, and the output from the controller is the required turning angle to safely reach the target position by avoiding the obstacles present in the path. By applying the logic of the adaptive particle swarm optimization, humanoid robots are tested in simulation environments. To validate the results, an experimental platform is also developed under laboratory conditions, and a comparison has been performed between the simulation and experimental results. To test the proposed controller in both static and dynamic environments, it is implemented in the navigation of single as well as multiple humanoid robots. Finally, to ensure the efficacy of the proposed controller, it is compared with some of the existing techniques available for navigational purpose.
ALGORITHMIC DIFFERENTIATION FOR DISCONTINUOUS PAYOFFS
Authors: DALUISO ROBERTO , FACCHINETTI GIORGIO
Published: April 2018

We present a general technique to compute the sensitivities of the Monte Carlo prices of discontinuous financial products. It is a natural extension of the pathwise adjoints method, which would require an almost-surely differentiable payoff; the efficiency of the latter method when many sensitivities must be calculated is preserved. We show empirically that the new algorithm is competitive in terms of accuracy and execution time when compared to benchmarks obtained by smoothing of the payoff, which benchmarks are biased and require a nonobvious tuning of their parameters.
Vibration, Buckling and Aeroelastic Analyses of Functionally Graded Multilayer Graphene-Nanoplatelets-Reinforced Composite Plates Embedded in Piezoelectric Layers
Authors: Lin H. G. , Cao D. Q. , Xu Y. Q.
Published: April 2018

This paper deals with the vibration characteristics and nonlinear aeroelastic response of the functionally graded (FG) multilayer composite plate reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) subjected to in-plane excitations and applied voltage. The different GPL nanofillers distribution patterns across the thickness are discussed, in which the effective Young’s modulus is determined by modified Halpin–Tsai model. Based on high-order shear deformation theory, the motion equations of the FG plate system considering the von Kármán geometric nonlinearity are derived using the Hamilton’s principle. The Galerkin method is applied to discretize the partial differential governing equations into the ordinary differential nonlinear system. The effects of many influential parameters, i.e., GPLs weight fraction, distribution pattern, geometry size, applied voltage and the number of layers, on the vibration and aeroelastic behaviors are presented in detail. Numerical results show that a small amount of GPLs reinforcement can have a significant enhancement effect on the performance of the composite plate structure. Moreover, the in-plane force and aerodynamic pressure play an opposite effect on the dynamic stability, and the jumping phenomena, quasi-periodic motion can be observed with the compressive force increased further.
Imperfection Sensitivity of Post-Buckling Behavior and Vibration Response in Pre- and Post-Buckled Regions of Nanoscale Plates Considering Surface Effects
Authors: Gholami Raheb , Ansari Reza
Published: April 2018

This paper aims to investigate the imperfection sensitivity of the post-buckling behavior and the free vibration response under pre- and post-buckling of nanoplates with various edge supports in the thermal environment. Formulation is based on the higher-order shear deformation plate theory, von Kármán kinematic hypothesis including an initial geometrical imperfection and Gurtin–Murdoch surface stress elasticity theory. The discretized nonlinear coupled in-plane and out-of-plane equations of motion are simultaneously obtained using the variational differential quadrature (VDQ) method and Hamilton’s principle. To this end, the displacement vector and nonlinear strain–displacement relations corresponding to the bulk and surface layers are matricized. Also, the variations of potential strain energies, kinetic energies and external work are obtained in matrix form. Then, the VDQ method is employed to discretize the obtained energy functional on space domain. By Hamilton’s principle, the discretized quadratic form of nonlinear governing equations is derived. The resulting equations are solved employing the pseudo-arc-length technique for the post-buckling problem. Moreover, considering a time-dependent small disturbance around the buckled configuration, the vibrational characteristics of pre- and post-buckled nanoplates are determined. The influences of initial imperfection, thickness, surface residual stress and temperature rise are examined in the numerical results.
Experimental Studies on Strengthening and Failure Mechanism for the Metal/Silicone Rubber/Metal Bonding System
Authors: Li Jingchuan , Liang Lihong , Liu Xiaoming , Ma Hansong , Song Jingru , Wei Yueguang
Published: April 2018

In the present research, we carry out a systematical experimental investigation on the strength, toughness and failure mechanism of the metal/silicone rubber/metal bonding system. For the case of the aluminum alloy cylinder/silicone rubber/aluminum alloy cylinder bonding system, we measure the tensile deformation and failure behaviors, including the dependence of the failure loading on the adhesive layer thickness and scarf angle. Through introducing a series of definitions, such as average normal stress, average shear stress, average normal strain and average shear strain, along the bonding interface, we realize the measurements on interfacial failure strength, and obtain the relationship between the interfacial strength and the interfacial scarf angle as well as adhesive layer thickness, and we further obtain the failure strength surface, interfacial fracture energy, as well as the energy release rate for the bonding system. The obtained results can provide a scientific basis for deeply understanding the strength and toughness properties as well as the failure mechanism of the metal-adhesive bonding system, and have an important guidance on optimization design and property evolution of the bonding system.
A diffusive predator–prey system with additional food and intra-specific competition among predators
Authors: Yang Ruizhi , Liu Ming , Zhang Chunrui
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a diffusive predator–prey system with additional food and intra-specific competition among predators subject to Neumann boundary condition is investigated. For non-delay system, global stability, Turing instability and Hopf bifurcation are studied. For delay system, instability and Hopf bifurcation induced by time delay and global stability of boundary equilibrium are discussed. By the theory of normal form and center manifold method, the conditions for determining the bifurcation direction and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solution are derived.
Study on the effect of DMSO on the changes in the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS
Authors: Hwang Ki-Hwan , Kim Dong In , Nam Sang-Hun , Seo Hyeon Jin , Boo Jin-Hyo
Published: April 2018

There is a growing interest in the change in the conductivity of the conductive polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). However, there is lack of research on the change in the conductivity of organic-based conductive materials compared to inorganic-based conductive materials. This study looks at the change in the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixing. The 4-point probe was used for observing the sheet-resistance changes. The relational degree of doping of PEDOT:PSS was confirmed by use of the Raman spectra. From the study, it was confirmed that PSS decreased in the UV-Vis spectra. We also observed that topology changes with the amount of DMSO through the AFM image. From the whole mobility and these analyses, we propose a reasonable conductive improvement mechanism of PEDOT:PSS.
Trasfugen: Traffic assignment of urban network by an approximation fuzzy genetic algorithm
Authors: Kherad Mahdi , Vahdat-Nejad Hamed , Araghi Morteza
Published: April 2018

This paper proposes the Trasfugen method for traffic assignment aimed at solving the user equilibrium problem. To this end, the method makes use of a genetic algorithm. A fuzzy system is proposed for controlling the mutation and crossover rates of the genetic algorithm, and the corrective strategy is exploited for handling the equilibrium problem constraints. In the model, an approximation algorithm is proposed for obtaining the paths between the origin–destination pairs in the demand matrix. Unlike the traditional deterministic algorithm that has exponential time complexity, this approximation algorithm has polynomial time complexity and is executed much faster. Afterward, the Trasfugen method is applied to the urban network of Tehran metropolitan and the efficiency is investigated. Upon comparing the results obtained from the proposed model with those obtained from the conventional traffic assignment method, namely, the Frank–Wolfe method; it is shown that the proposed algorithm, while acting worse during the initial iterations, achieves better results in the subsequent iterations. Moreover, it prevents the occurrence of local optimal points as well as early/premature convergence, thus producing better results than the Frank–Wolfe algorithm.
Giant permittivity and good thermal stability of LiCuNb3O9-Bi(Mg0.5Zr0.5)O3solid solutions
Authors: Chen Xiuli , Li Xiaoxia , Huang Guisheng , Liu Gaofeng , Yan Xiao , Zhou Huanfu
Published: April 2018

([Formula: see text])LiCuNb3O9-[Formula: see text]Bi(Mg[Formula: see text]Zr[Formula: see text])O3ceramics (([Formula: see text])LCN-[Formula: see text]BMZ) with [Formula: see text] were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The phase structure of ([Formula: see text])LCN-[Formula: see text]BMZ ceramics was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which revealed that the ceramics were distorted cubic perovskite structures. Apparent giant permittivity of [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] at 100[Formula: see text]kHz over the measured temperature range (25[Formula: see text]C–250[Formula: see text]C) was observed in the sintered ([Formula: see text])LCN-[Formula: see text]BMZ ([Formula: see text]) ceramics. Especially for the sample of [Formula: see text]0.04, the temperature stability of permittivity was markedly increased ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]%), and high relative permittivity ([Formula: see text]) were obtained over a wide temperature range from 100[Formula: see text]C to 250[Formula: see text]C at 100[Formula: see text]kHz, which indicates that this ceramic is a promising dielectric material for elevated temperature dielectrics. The giant dielectric property of ([Formula: see text])LCN-[Formula: see text]BMZ ceramics are profoundly concerned with the Maxwell–Wagner effect.
A scale-up nanoporous membrane centrifuge for reverse osmosis desalination without fouling
Authors: Tu Qingsong , Li Tiange , Deng Ao , Zhu Kevin , Liu Yifei , Li Shaofan
Published: April 2018

A scale-up nanoporous membrane centrifuge is designed and modeled. It can be used for nanoscale scale separation including reverse osmosis desalination. There are micron-size pores on the wall of the centrifuge and nanoscale pores on local graphene membrane patches that cover the micron-size pores. In this work, we derived the critical angular velocity required to counter-balance osmosis force, so that the reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination process can proceed. To validate this result, we conducted a large scale (four million atoms) full atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to examine the critical angular velocity required for reverse osmosis at nanoscale. It is shown that the analytical results derived based on fluid mechanics and the simulation results observed in MD simulation are consistent and well matched. The main advantage of such nanomaterial based centrifuge is its intrinsic anti-fouling ability to clear [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions accumulated at the vicinity of the pores due to the Coriolis effect. Analyses have been conducted to study the relation between osmotic pressure, centrifugal pressure, and water permeability.
The Ameliorating Effect of Berberine‐Rich Fraction against Gossypol‐Induced Testicular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Saleh Samar R. , Attia Rana , Ghareeb Doaa A.
Published: April 2018

This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of berberine‐rich fraction (BF) as a protective and/or a therapeutic agent against inflammation and oxidative stress during male infertility. Sexually mature Sprague‐Dawley male rats were divided into five groups treated with either corn oil, BF (100 mg/kg BW, orally, daily for 30 days), gossypol acetate (5 mg/kg BW, i.p.) eight times for 16 days, BF alone for 14 days then coadministered with gossypol acetate for the next 16 days (protected group), or gossypol acetate for 16 days then treated with BF for 30 days (treated group). All animals completed the experimental period (46 days) without obtaining any treatments in the gap period. Sperm parameters, oxidative index, and inflammatory markers were measured. Gossypol injection significantly decreased the semen quality and testosterone level that resulted from the elevation of testicular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (TBARS and NO), TNF‐α, TNF‐α‐converting enzyme, and interleukins (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐18) by 230, 180, 12.5, 97.9, and 300%, respectively, while interleukin‐12 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases‐3 were significantly decreased by 59 and 66%, respectively. BF (protected and treated groups) significantly improved the semen quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation associated with male infertility. It is suitable to use more advanced studies to validate these findings.
Positive Association between EDN1 rs5370 (Lys198Asn) Polymorphism and Large Artery Stroke in a Ukrainian Population
Authors: Dubovyk Yevhen I. , Oleshko Tetyana B. , Harbuzova Viktoriia Yu. , Ataman Alexander V.
Published: April 2018

There are a lot of convincing evidences about the involvement of endothelin pathway proteins in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its fatal complications. In this study, the analysis of a possible association between EDN1 rs5370 and EDNRA rs5335 gene polymorphisms and the risk of large artery stroke (LAS) in a Ukrainian population was conducted. 200 LAS patients and 200 unrelated controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP) was used for SNP genotyping. Our results revealed that EDN1 rs5370 polymorphism was associated with LAS development both before and after adjustment for atherosclerosis risk factors (sex, age, body mass index, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking). The risk for a LAS incident in rs5370-T allele carriers was 1.6 times higher (CI = 1.066–2.403; P=0.020) than in subjects with the GG genotype. No link between EDNRA rs5335 and LAS risk in a Ukrainian population was found. The present study indicated that EDN1 rs5370, but not EDNRA rs5335, can be the strong genetic predictor for LAS development in a Ukrainian population.
A Predictable Aesthetic Rehabilitation of Deciduous Anterior Teeth in Early Childhood Caries
Authors: Agarwal Priyanka , Nayak Rashmi , Elangovan Ghayathri
Published: April 2018

Aesthetic dentistry plays a significant role not only in adults but also in pediatric patients. However, a pediatric dentist is faced with the dual problem of satisfying the aesthetic expectations of the patient and parents as well as managing the pediatric patient. In the present era, there are numerous restorative techniques that can be applied to different clinical scenarios. However, we have to choose the technique that best suits our patient, not only biologically but also aesthetically, psychologically, functionally, and financially. The following paper presents the clinical sequence of rehabilitation of severely carious maxillary anterior teeth from left to right lateral incisors in a child with early childhood caries. Severely carious anterior teeth were endodontically treated. The central incisors were restored with gamma loop posts which is mainly used for pediatric patients in endodontically treated teeth. Lateral incisors were treated with Ribbond polyethylene fibre posts. Following this, all the teeth were restored aesthetically with free-hand composite buildup after proper shade selection. The occlusion was restored, and the restorations were finished and polished.
Pretreatment of Real Wastewater from the Chocolate Manufacturing Industry through an Integrated Process of Electrocoagulation and Sand Filtration
Authors: García-Morales Marco A. , Juárez Julio César González , Martínez-Gallegos Sonia , Roa-Morales Gabriela , Peralta Ever , del Campo López Eduardo Martin , Barrera-Díaz Carlos , Miranda Verónica Martínez , Blancas Teresa Torres
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of suspended solids in terms of turbidity, color, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) when integrating the electrocoagulation process using aluminum sacrificial anodes and the sand filtration process as a pretreatment of wastewater from the chocolate manufacturing plant in Toluca, México. Wastewater from the chocolate manufacturing industry used in this study is classified as nontoxic, but is characterized as having a high content of color (5952 ± 76 Pt-Co), turbidity (1648 ± 49 FAU), and COD (3608 ± 250 mg/L). Therefore, enhanced performance could be achieved by combining pretreatment techniques to increase the efficiencies of the physical, chemical, and biological treatments. In the integrated process, there was a turbidity reduction of 96.1 ± 0.2% and an increase in dissolved oxygen from 3.8 ± 0.05 mg/L (inlet sand filtration) to 6.05 ± 0.03 mg/L (outlet sand filtration) after 120 min of treatment. These results indicate good water quality necessary for all forms of elemental life. Color and COD removals were 98.2 ± 0.2% and 39.02 ± 2.2%, respectively, during the electrocoagulation process (0.2915 mA/cm2current density and 120 min of treatment). The proposed integrated process could be an attractive alternative of pretreatment of real wastewater to increase water quality of conventional treatments.
High-Density Lipoprotein Reduction Differentially Modulates to Classical and Nonclassical Monocyte Subpopulations in Metabolic Syndrome Patients and in LPS-Stimulated Primary Human Monocytes In Vitro
Authors: Grün Johanna L. , Manjarrez-Reyna Aaron N. , Gómez-Arauz Angélica Y. , Leon-Cabrera Sonia , Rückert Felix , Fragoso José M. , Bueno-Hernández Nallely , Islas-Andrade Sergio , Meléndez-Mier Guillermo , Escobedo Galileo
Published: April 2018

The effect of metabolic syndrome on human monocyte subpopulations has not yet been studied. Our main goal was to examine monocyte subpopulations in metabolic syndrome patients, while also identifying the risk factors that could directly influence these cells. Eighty-six subjects were divided into metabolic syndrome patients and controls. Monocyte subpopulations were quantified by flow cytometry, and interleukin- (IL-) 1β secretion levels were measured by ELISA. Primary human monocytes were cultured in low or elevated concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The nonclassical monocyte (NCM) percentage was significantly increased in metabolic syndrome patients as compared to controls, whereas classical monocytes (CM) were reduced. Among all metabolic syndrome risk factors, HDL reduction exhibited the most important correlation with monocyte subpopulations and then was studied in vitro. Low HDL concentration reduced the CM percentage, whereas it increased the NCM percentage and IL-1β secretion in LPS-treated monocytes. The LPS effect was abolished when monocytes were cultured in elevated HDL concentrations. Concurring with in vitro results, IL-1β serum values significantly increased in metabolic syndrome patients with low HDL levels as compared to metabolic syndrome patients without HDL reduction. Our data demonstrate that HDL directly modulates monocyte subpopulations in metabolic syndrome.
Study of Rare Semileptonic Bc+→D+νν- Decay in the Light-Cone Quark Model
Authors: Dhiman Nisha , Dahiya Harleen
Published: April 2018

We study the exclusive semileptonic rare Bc+→D+νν¯ decay in the framework of light-cone quark model. The transition form factors f+(q2) and fT(q2) are evaluated in the timelike region using the analytic continuation method in q+=0 frame. The analytic solutions of these form factors are compared with the results obtained from the double pole parametric form. The branching ratio for Bc+→D+νν¯ decay is calculated and compared with the other theoretical model predictions. The predicted results in this model can be tested at the LHCb experiments in near future which will help in testing the unitarity of CKM quark mixing matrix, thus providing an insight into the phenomenon of CP violation.
The Design and Comparison of Central and Distributed Light Sensored Smart LED Lighting Systems
Authors: Özçelik Mehmet Ali
Published: April 2018

There is a lack of published peer-reviewed research comparing the efficiencies of distributed versus central sensor-controlled LED lighting systems. This research proposes improving the smart illumination of a room with external fenestration using central and distributed light sensors. The optical and electrical measurements of the daylight have been made in the case where the light was not distributed evenly and not sufficient. Test results show that the proposed distributed light sensor illumination system has increased the efficiency by 28% when compared to the proposed central system. It has also been shown that the two tested systems are more cost-effective than common smart illumination systems.
Association of NLRP1 and NLRP3 Polymorphisms with Psoriasis Vulgaris Risk in the Chinese Han Population
Authors: Yu Pei , Hao Siyu , Zheng Hewei , Zhao Xueying , Li Yuzhen
Published: April 2018

Aim. To clarify the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NLRP1 and NLRP3 and Psoriasis Vulgaris (PsV) in the Chinese Han population. Methods. We genotyped eight SNPs, four from NLRP1 (rs8079034, rs11651270, rs11657747, and rs878329) and NLRP3 (rs7512998, rs3806265, rs10754557, and rs10733113) each in 540 patients with PsV and 612 healthy controls in the Chinese Han population using an improved multiplexed ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) method. The genotype and haplotype frequencies were analyzed using a case-control study design. Results. We identified two SNPs, rs3806265 and rs10754557, in NLRP3 that were significantly associated with PsV. The genotype distribution of the rs3806265 SNP was significantly different between cases and controls (p=0.0451; OR = 0.791; 95% CI = 0.627–0.998). In the recessive model, the genotype distribution of the rs10754557 SNP was significantly different between cases and controls (p=0.0344; OR = 1.277; 95% CI = 0.987–1.652). The haplotype analysis of rs3806265 and rs10754557 also presented a significant association of TA haplotype with PsV (χ2=4.529; p=0.033). Conclusion. NLRP3 may play a role in PsV susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.
Enhanced As (V) Removal from Aqueous Solution by Biochar Prepared from Iron-Impregnated Corn Straw
Authors: Fan Jiaming , Xu Xin , Ni Qunli , Lin Qi , Fang Jing , Chen Qian , Shen Xiaodong , Lou Liping
Published: April 2018

Fe-loaded adsorbents have received increasing attention for the removal of arsenic in contaminated water or soil. In this study, Fe-loaded biochar was prepared from iron-impregnated corn straw under a pyrolysis temperature of 600°C. The ratio of crystalline Fe oxides including magnetite and natrojarosite to amorphous iron oxyhydroxide in the composite was approximately 2 : 3. Consisting of 24.17% Fe and 27.76% O, the composite exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 14.77 mg g−1 despite low surface areas (4.81 m2 g−1). The pH range of 2.0–8.0 was optimal for arsenate removal and the adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherms closely. In addition, pseudo-second-order kinetics best fit the As removal data. Fe oxide constituted a major As-adsorbing sink. Based on the X-ray diffraction spectra, saturation indices, and selective chemical extraction, the data suggested three main mechanisms for arsenate removal: sorption of arsenate, strong inner-sphere surface complexes with amorphous iron oxyhydroxide, and partial occlusion of arsenate into the crystalline Fe oxides or carbonized phase. The results indicated that the application of biochar prepared from iron-impregnated corn straw can be an efficient method for the remediation of arsenic contaminated water or soil.
High Visceral to Subcutaneous Fat Ratio Is Associated with Increased Postoperative Inflammatory Response after Colorectal Resection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wei Yao , Zhu Feng , Gong Jianfeng , Yang Jianbo , Zhang Tenghui , Gu Lili , Zhu Weiming , Guo Zhen , Li Yi , Li Ning , Li Jieshou
Published: April 2018

Aim. Excessive postoperative inflammatory response, which is characterized by overproduction of cytokines, often leads to complications after colorectal surgery. However, the impact of body composition on postoperative inflammatory response is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether body fat amount and its distribution affects postoperative inflammation after colorectal surgery in IBD patients. Methods. Eighty-six patients undergoing colorectal resection for IBD from June 2014 to Jan 2017 were enrolled. Abdominal CT images within one week prior to surgery were assessed for visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and muscle mass. Postoperative inflammatory response was evaluated using serum CRP, PCT, and IL-6 levels on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5. Univariate analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for infectious complications. The correlation between body composition and postoperative plasma concentration of inflammatory markers was analyzed using a linear regression model. ROC curve was applied to analyze the effect of different body composition parameters on postoperative infectious complications and to determine the relationship between inflammatory markers and infectious complications. Results. Neither volume of fat or muscle was related to postoperative plasma concentrations of CRP, IL-6, and PCT. However, visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio was associated with PCT levels on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, and 5, with the highest regression coefficient on POD1 (β=0.360; 95% CI, 0.089–0.631; P=0.010). Body composition did not predict postoperative infectious complications, while CRP on POD 3 was predictive of infectious complications. Conclusion. Increased visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio was associated with postoperative inflammatory response in IBD patients undergoing colorectal resection. This may partly explain the increased incidence of postoperative complications in patients with visceral obesity.
Code‐Hopping Based Transmission Scheme for Wireless Physical‐Layer Security
Authors: Yin Liuguo , Hao Wentao
Published: April 2018

Due to the broadcast and time‐varying natures of wireless channels, traditional communication systems that provide data encryption at the application layer suffer many challenges such as error diffusion. In this paper, we propose a code‐hopping based secrecy transmission scheme that uses dynamic nonsystematic low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) codes and automatic repeat‐request (ARQ) mechanism to jointly encode and encrypt source messages at the physical layer. In this scheme, secret keys at the transmitter and the legitimate receiver are generated dynamically upon the source messages that have been transmitted successfully. During the transmission, each source message is jointly encoded and encrypted by a parity‐check matrix, which is dynamically selected from a set of LDPC matrices based on the shared dynamic secret key. As for the eavesdropper (Eve), the uncorrectable decoding errors prevent her from generating the same secret key as the legitimate parties. Thus she cannot select the correct LDPC matrix to recover the source message. We demonstrate that our scheme can be compatible with traditional cryptosystems and enhance the security without sacrificing the error‐correction performance. Numerical results show that the bit error rate (BER) of Eve approaches 0.5 as the number of transmitted source messages increases and the security gap of the system is small.
Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis and Associated Factors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Asgedom Solomon Weldegebreal , Teweldemedhin Mebrahtu , Gebreyesus Hailay
Published: April 2018

Background. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has continued to be a challenge for tuberculosis (TB) control globally. Ethiopia is one of the countries with high MDR-TB burden. Objective. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MDR-TB and associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods. A systematic review of the literatures on prevalence of MDR-TB and associated factors was conducted in the country. Results. In our electronic search, 546 citations were depicted. Among the total 546 citations described, a total of 22 articles met eligibility criteria and were included in the review article. According to our review, the prevalence of MDR-TB ranged from 0 to 46.3%. The average mean rate of MDR-TB in Ethiopia was found to be 12.6±15.9%. The overall prevalence of MDR-TB in all TB cases was estimated to be 1.4%. From a total of 3849 patients studied, 527 had MDR-TB. Previous exposure to antituberculosis treatment was the most commonly identified risk factor of MDR-TB in Ethiopia. Conclusion. Despite relative decline in incidence of MDR-TB, the distribution and prevalence of MDR-TB continued to be a serious challenge for TB control in Ethiopia. Previous exposure to antituberculosis treatment was also the most common risk factor for MDR-TB. Therefore, strong TB and MDR-TB treatment along with tight introduction of follow-up strategies should be applied for better TB control.
Unique ECG Findings in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: STE with Reciprocal Changes and Pathologic Q Wave
Authors: Grant-Orser Amanda , Ballantyne Brennan , Haddara Wael
Published: April 2018

A 68-year-old male presented to the emergency department with retrosternal chest pain, presyncope, and then a pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest. An ECG prior to his arrest revealed ST elevations in leads V1–V3, Q waves in lead V2, and reciprocal ST depressions in the lateral and inferior leads. He received thrombolytic therapy for a presumptive diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved and he underwent a coronary angiogram. No critical disease was found and his left ventriculogram showed normal contraction. His ongoing metabolic acidosis and dependence on an intra-aortic balloon pump, despite adequate cardiac output, prompted a CT pulmonary angiogram which showed multiple segmental filling defects. He was treated for a pulmonary embolism and was discharged 5 days later. Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has variable clinical presentations. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an APE presenting with these ECG findings suggestive of myocardial ischemia. In this case report, we discuss the underlying physiological mechanisms responsible and offer management suggestions for emergency department and critical care physicians to better expedite the treatment of APE mimicking acute coronary syndrome on ECG.
Preliminary Estimate of Coriolis Force of Vapor Flow in Rotating Heat Pipes Based on Analytical Solution
Authors: Wang Huanguang , Yu Qi
Published: April 2018

In current theory models for rotating heat pipes, the temperature field of the vapor phase is often supposed to be homogenous, and as a result of such simplification, the experiment result of the heat transfer performance for high rotating speed has some discrepancy with that predicted by theory models. In this paper, the analytical solution of the vapor flow in rotating heat pipes was obtained on the hypothesis of potential flow and with the method of variable separation. A specific rotating heat pipe was examined under three kinds of boundary conditions: linear distribution, uniform but asymmetric distribution, and uniform as well as symmetric distribution of heat load. The flow field was calculated, the Coriolis force is estimated, and it is found that (1) for a rotating heat pipe with high speed or large heat load, it is necessary to consider the Coriolis force, as its magnitude can be that of the gravitational acceleration; (2) the maximum Coriolis force is located at the vapor-liquid interface at the evaporator and condenser sections, and the directions in these two sections are opposite; (3) the Coriolis force is closely related with working conditions and working fluids, and it decreased with working temperature and increased with the heat load; and (4) the maximum viscous shear stress is located at the adiabatic section.
High-Resolution Wellbore Temperature Logging Combined with a Borehole-Scale Heat Budget: Conceptual and Analytical Approaches to Characterize Hydraulically Active Fractures and Groundwater Origin
Authors: Meyzonnat Guillaume , Barbecot Florent , Corcho-Alvarado José A. , Tognelli Antoine , Zeyen Hermann , Mattei Alexandra , McCormack Renald
Published: April 2018

This work aims to provide an overview of the thermal processes that shape wellbore temperature profiles under static and dynamic conditions. Understanding of the respective influences of advection and conduction heat fluxes is improved through the use of a new heat budget at the borehole scale. Keeping in mind the thermal processes involved, a qualitative interpretation of the temperature profiles allows the occurrence, the position, and the origin of groundwater flowing into wellbores from hydraulically active fractures to be constrained. With the use of a heat budget developed at the borehole scale, temperature logging efficiency has been quantitatively enhanced and allows inflow temperatures to be calculated through the simultaneous use of a flowmeter. Under certain hydraulic or pumping conditions, both inflow intensities and associated temperatures can also be directly modelled from temperature data and the use of the heat budget. Theoretical and applied examples of the heat budget application are provided. Applied examples are shown using high-resolution temperature logging, spinner flow metering, and televiewing for three wells installed in fractured bedrock aquifers in the St-Lawrence Lowlands, Quebec, Canada. Through relatively rapid manipulations, thermal measurements in such cases can be used to detect the intervals or discrete positions of hydraulically active fractures in wellbores, as well as the existence of ambient flows with a high degree of sensitivity, even at very low flows. Heat budget calculations at the borehole scale during pumping indicate that heat advection fluxes rapidly dominate over heat conduction fluxes with the borehole wall. The full characterization of inflow intensities provides information about the distribution of hydraulic properties with depth. The full knowledge of inflow temperatures indicates horizons that are drained from within the aquifer, providing advantageous information on the depth from which groundwater originates during pumping.
Mutation Profiling of Key Cancer Genes in Primary Breast Cancers and Their Distant Metastases
Authors: Schrijver Willemijne A.M.E. , Selenica Pier , Lee Ju Youn , Ng Charlotte K.Y. , Burke Kathleen A. , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Berman Samuel H. , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Weigelt Britta , van Diest Paul J. , Moelans Cathy B.
Published: April 2018

Although the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations of primary breast cancers has been extensively catalogued, the genetic differences between primary and metastatic tumors have been less studied. In this study, we compared somatic mutations and gene copy number alterations of primary breast cancers and their matched metastases from patients with estrogen receptor (ER)–negative disease. DNA samples obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ER-negative/HER2-positive (n = 9) and ER-, progesterone receptor (PR-), HER2-negative (n = 8) primary breast cancers and from paired brain or skin metastases and normal tissue were subjected to a hybridization capture-based massively parallel sequencing assay, targeting 341 key cancer genes. A large subset of nonsynonymous somatic mutations (45%) and gene copy number alterations (55%) was shared between the primary tumors and paired metastases. However, mutations restricted to either a given primary tumor or its metastasis, the acquisition of loss of heterozygosity of the wild-type allele, and clonal shifts of genes affected by somatic mutations, such as TP53 and RB1, were observed in the progression from primary tumors to metastases. No metastasis location-specific alterations were identified, but synchronous metastases showed higher concordance with the paired primary tumor than metachronous metastases. Novel potentially targetable alterations were found in the metastases relative to their matched primary tumors. These data indicate that repertoires of somatic genetic alterations in ER-negative metastatic breast cancers may differ from those of their primary tumors, even by the presence of driver and targetable somatic genetic alterations.

Significance: Somatic genetic alterations in ER-negative breast cancer metastases may be distinct from those of their primary tumors, suggesting that for treatment-decision making, genetic analyses of DNA obtained from the metastatic lesion rather than from the primary tumor should be considered. Cancer Res; 78(12); 3112–21. ©2018 AACR.
Cell-Free DNA Modification Dynamics in Abiraterone Acetate-Treated Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Gordevičius Juozas , Kriščiūnas Algimantas , Groot Daniel E. , Yip Steven M. , Susic Miki , Kwan Andrew , Kustra Rafal , Joshua Anthony M. , Chi Kim N. , Petronis Art , Oh Gabriel
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Primary resistance to abiraterone acetate (AA), a key medication for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, occurs in 20% to 40% of patients. We aim to identify predictive biomarkers for AA-treatment response and understand the mechanisms related to treatment resistance.

Experimental Design: We used the Infinium Human Methylation 450K BeadChip to monitor modification profiles of cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) in 108 plasma samples collected from 33 AA-treated patients.

Results: Thirty cytosines showed significant modification differences (FDR Q < 0.05) between AA-sensitive and AA-resistant patients during the treatment, of which 21 cytosines were differentially modified prior to treatment. In addition, AA-sensitive patients, but not AA-resistant patients, lost interindividual variation of cfDNA modification shortly after starting AA treatment, but such variation returned to initial levels in the later phases of treatment.

Conclusions: Our findings provide a list of potential biomarkers for predicting AA-treatment response, highlight the prognostic value of using cytosine modification variance as biomarkers, and shed new insights into the mechanisms of prostate cancer relapse in AA-sensitive patients. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3317–24. ©2018 AACR.
An Effective Epigenetic-PARP Inhibitor Combination Therapy for Breast and Ovarian Cancers Independent of BRCA Mutations
Authors: Pulliam Nicholas , Fang Fang , Ozes Ali R. , Tang Jessica , Adewuyi Adeoluwa , Keer Harold , Lyons John , Baylin Stephen B. , Matei Daniela , Nakshatri Harikrishna , Rassool Feyruz V. , Miller Kathy D. , Nephew Kenneth P.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are primarily effective against BRCA1/2-mutated breast and ovarian cancers, but resistance due to reversion of mutated BRCA1/2 and other mechanisms is common. Based on previous reports demonstrating a functional role for DNMT1 in DNA repair and our previous studies demonstrating an ability of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) to resensitize tumors to primary therapies, we hypothesized that combining a DNMTi with PARPi would sensitize PARPi-resistant breast and ovarian cancers to PARPi therapy, independent of BRCA status.

Experimental Design: Breast and ovarian cancer cell lines (BRCA-wild-type/mutant) were treated with PARPi talazoparib and DNMTi guadecitabine. Effects on cell survival, ROS accumulation, and cAMP levels were examined. In vivo, mice bearing either BRCA-proficient breast or ovarian cancer cells were treated with talazoparib and guadecitabine, alone or in combination. Tumor progression, gene expression, and overall survival were analyzed.

Results: Combination of guadecitabine and talazoparib synergized to enhance PARPi efficacy, irrespective of BRCA mutation status. Coadministration of guadecitabine with talazoparib increased accumulation of ROS, promoted PARP activation, and further sensitized, in a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner, breast and ovarian cancer cells to PARPi. In addition, DNMTi enhanced PARP “trapping” by talazoparib. Guadecitabine plus talazoparib decreased xenograft tumor growth and increased overall survival in BRCA-proficient high-grade serous ovarian and triple-negative breast cancer models.

Conclusions: The novel combination of the next-generation DNMTi guadecitabine and the first-in-class PARPi talazoparib inhibited breast and ovarian cancers harboring either wild-type– or mutant-BRCA, supporting further clinical exploration of this drug combination in PARPi-resistant cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 24(13); 3163–75. ©2018 AACR.