bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applications of Air Mass Trajectories
Authors: Pérez Isidro A. , Artuso Florinda , Mahmud Mastura , Kulshrestha Umesh , Sánchez M. Luisa , García M. Ángeles
Published: March 2015

Air trajectory calculations are commonly found in a variety of atmospheric analyses. However, most of reported research usually focuses upon the transport of pollutants via trajectory routes and not on the trajectory itself. This paper explores the major areas of research in which air trajectory analyses are applied with an effort to gain deeper insights into the key points which highlight the necessity of such analyses. Ranging from meteorological applications to their links with living beings, air trajectory calculations become important tool especially when alternative procedures do not seem possible. This review covers the reports published during last few years illustrating the geographical distribution of trajectory applications and highlighting the regions where trajectory application research proves most active and useful. As a result, relatively unexplored areas such as microorganism transport are also included, suggesting the possible ways in which successful use of air trajectory research should be extended.
Propolis Is an Efficient Fungicide and Inhibitor of Biofilm Production by VaginalCandida albicans
Authors: Capoci Isis Regina Grenier , Bonfim-Mendonça Patrícia de Souza , Arita Glaucia Sayuri , Pereira Raphaela Regina de Araújo , Consolaro Marcia Edilaine Lopes , Bruschi Marcos Luciano , Negri Melyssa , Svidzinski Terezinha Inez Estivalet
Published: March 2015

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common genital infections in women. The therapeutic arsenal remains restricted, and some alternatives to VVC treatment are being studied. The present study evaluated the influence of a propolis extractive solution (PES) on biofilm production byCandida albicansisolated from patients with VVC. Susceptibility testing was used to verify the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PES, with fluconazole and nystatin as controls. The biofilm formation of 29 vaginal isolates ofC. albicansand a reference strain that were exposed to PES was evaluated using crystal violet staining. Colony-forming units were evaluated, proteins and carbohydrates of the matrix biofilm were quantified, and scanning electron microscopy was performed. The MIC of PES ranged from 68.35 to 546.87 μg/mL of total phenol content in gallic acid. A concentration of 546.87 μg/mL was able to cause the death of 75.8% of the isolates. PES inhibited biofilm formation byC. albicansfrom VVC. Besides antifungal activity, PES appears to present important antibiofilm activity on abiotic surfaces, indicating that it may have an additional beneficial effect in the treatment of VVC.
Assessment of Dynamic Pressures at Vertical and Perforated Breakwaters through Diffusive SPH Schemes
Authors: Aristodemo Francesco , Meringolo Domenico Davide , Groenenboom Paul , Lo Schiavo Andrea , Veltri Paolo , Veltri Massimo
Published: March 2015

This paper deals with the development of a 2D weakly compressible SPH model to simulate wave pressures acting on vertical and slotted coastal structures. Attention is devoted to investigate the diffusive term in the continuity equation in order to smooth out the high-frequency numerical noise in the pressure field. A hybrid formulation based on two literature diffusive models is proposed. The interaction between regular waves with vertical and perforated breakwaters is analyzed in time, space, and frequency domain. Numerical results are compared with laboratory experiments and other diffusive SPH formulations, varying the magnitude of the adopted diffusive term. On the basis of an error analysis, the results show that the hybrid formulation gives a better agreement with the experimental data for the majority of the investigated cases. Moreover, SPH simulations highlight nonlinear trends of dynamic pressures in correspondence with geometrical singularities, such as the holes of slotted walls, due to strong pressure drops induced by the flow motion.
Bilevel Programming and Applications
Authors: Kalashnikov Vyacheslav V. , Dempe Stephan , Pérez-Valdés Gerardo A. , Kalashnykova Nataliya I. , Camacho-Vallejo José-Fernando
Published: March 2015

A great amount of new applied problems in the area of energy networks has recently arisen that can be efficiently solved only as mixed-integer bilevel programs. Among them are the natural gas cash-out problem, the deregulated electricity market equilibrium problem, biofuel problems, a problem of designing coupled energy carrier networks, and so forth, if we mention only part of such applications. Bilevel models to describe migration processes are also in the list of the most popular new themes of bilevel programming, as well as allocation, information protection, and cybersecurity problems. This survey provides a comprehensive review of some of the above-mentioned new areas including both theoretical and applied results.
Intertoe Squamous Cell Carcinoma Developed in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis under Etanercept Therapy
Authors: Rallis Efstathios , Bournia Vasiliki-Kalliopi , Verros Constantinos , Iliopoulos Alexios
Published: March 2015

The use of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) inhibitors in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions has altered the field of medical therapeutics. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the skin, usually affecting sun-exposed areas of the body. We present here the case of a 75-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, who developed an intertoe squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the right foot. According to her history, she received etanercept and methotrexate for 5 years for rheumatoid arthritis. The rare localization of this cancer could suggest a possible linkage of the malignancy to the chronic intake of anti-TNF-αtreatment. This is the first reported case of an interdigital SCC developed under the use of an anti-TNF-αagent.
Chaotic Stream Cipher-Based Secure Data Communications over Intelligent Transportation Network
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tang Shanyu , Zhang Liping , Ma Zhao , Song Jun
Published: March 2015

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are advanced applications in which the transportation industry is adapted to the information technology revolution. As an important development direction of ITS, the electronic toll collection (ETC) subsystem, which enables an efficient and speedy toll collection, has gained widespread popularity in the world. In an ETC system, toll transaction data are transmitted over intelligent transportation networks, which is vulnerable to eavesdropping, interfering, and tampering attacks. To address the above security problems, we proposed a chaotic stream cipher-based cryptographic scheme to realise secure data communications over wireless sensor network (WSN), which is a part of ITS. The proposed cryptographic scheme allowed ITS to achieve key negotiation and data encryption between sensor nodes in the WSN, whileas reduced computational costs and power consumption. Security analysis and experimental results showed that the proposed scheme could protect data transmission between wireless sensor nodes from being attacked, and significantly reduced the communication overhead for the whole system compared to the existing ECC_AES scheme, thus satisfying the real-time data transmission requirement of ITS.
Lack of Association betweenJAK3Gene Polymorphisms and Cardiovascular Disease in Spanish Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: García-Bermúdez Mercedes , López-Mejías Raquel , Genre Fernanda , Castañeda Santos , Corrales Alfonso , Llorca Javier , González-Juanatey Carlos , Ubilla Begoña , Miranda-Filloy José A. , Pina Trinitario , Gómez-Vaquero Carmen , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Luis , Fernández-Gutiérrez Benjamín , Balsa Alejandro , Pascual-Salcedo Dora , López-Longo Francisco J. , Carreira Patricia , Blanco Ricardo , Martín Javier , González-Gay Miguel A.
Published: March 2015

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a polygenic disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular (CV) mortality. JAK/STAT signalling pathway is involved in autoimmune diseases and in the atherosclerotic process. JAK3 is a highly promising target for immunomodulatory drugs and polymorphisms inJAK3gene have been associated with CV events in incident dialysis patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the potential role ofJAK3polymorphisms in the development of CV disease in patients with RA. 2136 Spanish RA patients were genotyped for the rs3212780 and rs3212752JAK3gene polymorphisms by TaqMan assays. Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated in 539 of these patients by carotid ultrasonography (US). No statistically significant differences were found when each polymorphism was assessed according to carotid intima-media thickness values and presence/absence of carotid plaques in RA, after adjusting the results for potential confounders. Moreover, no significant differences were obtained when RA patients were stratified according to the presence/absence of CV events after adjusting for potential confounders. In conclusion, our results do not confirm association betweenJAK3polymorphisms and CV disease in RA.
Protective Actions of 17β-Estradiol and Progesterone on Oxidative Neuronal Injury Induced by Organometallic Compounds
Authors: Ishihara Yasuhiro , Takemoto Takuya , Ishida Atsuhiko , Yamazaki Takeshi
Published: March 2015

Steroid hormones synthesized in and secreted from peripheral endocrine glands pass through the blood-brain barrier and play a role in the central nervous system. In addition, the brain possesses an inherent endocrine system and synthesizes steroid hormones known as neurosteroids. Increasing evidence shows that neuroactive steroids protect the central nervous system from various harmful stimuli. Reports show that the neuroprotective actions of steroid hormones attenuate oxidative stress. In this review, we summarize the antioxidative effects of neuroactive steroids, especially 17β-estradiol and progesterone, on neuronal injury in the central nervous system under various pathological conditions, and then describe our recent findings concerning the neuroprotective actions of 17β-estradiol and progesterone on oxidative neuronal injury induced by organometallic compounds, tributyltin, and methylmercury.
Effective Binding of a Phosphatidylserine-Targeting Antibody to Ebola Virus Infected Cells and Purified Virions
Authors: Dowall S. D. , Graham V. A. , Corbin-Lickfett K. , Empig C. , Schlunegger K. , Bruce C. B. , Easterbrook L. , Hewson R.
Published: March 2015

Ebola virus is responsible for causing severe hemorrhagic fevers, with case fatality rates of up to 90%. Currently, no antiviral or vaccine is licensed against Ebola virus. A phosphatidylserine-targeting antibody (PGN401, bavituximab) has previously been shown to have broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Here, we demonstrate that PGN401 specifically binds to Ebola virus and recognizes infected cells. Our study provides the first evidence of phosphatidylserine-targeting antibody reactivity against Ebola virus.
Distributed Joint Cluster Formation and Resource Allocation Scheme for Cooperative Data Collection in Virtual MIMO-Based M2M Networks
Authors: Luan Xi , Wu Jianjun , Cheng Yuxin , Xiang Haige
Published: March 2015

An efficient data collection scheme plays an important role for the real-time intelligent monitoring in many machine-to-machine (M2M) networks. In this paper, a distributed joint cluster formation and resource allocation scheme for data collection in cluster-based M2M networks is proposed. Specifically, in order to utilize the advantages of cooperation, we first propose a hierarchical transmission model which contains two communication phases. In the first phase, the intracluster information sharing is carried out by all the nodes within the same cluster. Then these nodes transmit the total information to the BS cooperatively with virtual-MIMO (VMIMO) protocol in the second phase. To grasp the properties and advantages of this cooperative transmission strategy, the theoretical analysis results are provided. The key issue in this system is to form the clusters and allocate resources efficiently. Since the optimization problem on this issue is an NP-hard problem, a feasible joint scheme for the cluster formation and resource allocation is proposed in this paper, which is carried out via coalition formation game with a distributed algorithm. This scheme can reduce the complexity while keeping an attractive performance. Simulation results show the properties of the proposed scheme and its advantages when comparing with the noncooperative scheme for the data collection in a practical scenario.
Investigation of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism at Hutt Valley Hospital with CT Pulmonary Angiography: Current Practice and Opportunities for Improvement
Authors: Kennedy Nick , Jayathissa Sisira , Healy Paul
Published: March 2015

Aims. To study the use of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at Hutt Hospital and investigate the use of pretest probability scoring in the assessment of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).Methods. We studied patients with suspected PE that underwent CTPA between January and May 2012 and collected data on demographics, use of pretest probability scoring, and use of D Dimer and compared our practice with the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guideline.Results. 105 patients underwent CTPA and 15% of patients had PE. 13% of patients had a Wells score prior to their scan. Wells score calculated by researchers revealed 54%, 36%, and 8% patients had low, medium, and high risk pretest probabilities and 8%, 20%, and 50% of these patients had positive scans. D Dimer was performed in 58% of patients and no patients with a negative D Dimer had a PE.Conclusion. The CTPA positive rate was similar to other contemporary studies but lower than previous New Zealand studies and some international guidelines. Risk stratification of suspected PE using Wells score and D Dimer was underutilised. A number of scans could have been safely avoided by using accepted guidelines reducing resources use and improving patient safety.
Jordan Type Inequalities for Hyperbolic Functions and Their Applications
Authors: Yang Zhen-Hang , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: March 2015

We present the best possible parametersp,q∈0,∞such that the double inequality1/3p2cosh(px)+1-1/3p2<sinh(x)/x<1/3q2cosh(qx) + 1 - 1/3q2holds for allx∈0,∞. As applications, some new inequalities for certain special function and bivariate means are found.
Ionospheric Correction Based on Ingestion of Global Ionospheric Maps into the NeQuick 2 Model
Authors: Yu Xiao , She Chengli , Zhen Weimin , Bruno Nava , Liu Dun , Yue Xinan , Ou Ming , Xu Jisheng
Published: March 2015

The global ionospheric maps (GIMs), generated by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) during a period over 13 years, have been adopted as the primary source of data to provide global ionospheric correction for possible single frequency positioning applications. The investigation aims to assess the performance of new NeQuick model, NeQuick 2, in predicting global total electron content (TEC) through ingesting the GIMs data from the previous day(s). The results show good performance of the GIMs‐driven‐NeQuick model with average 86% of vertical TEC error less than 10 TECU, when the global daily effective ionization indices (Az) versus modified dip latitude (MODIP) are constructed as a second order polynomial. The performance of GIMs‐driven‐NeQuick model presents variability with solar activity and behaves better during low solar activity years. The accuracy of TEC prediction can be improved further through performing a four‐coefficient function expression of Az versus MODIP. As more measurements from earlier days are involved in the Az optimization procedure, the accuracy may decrease. The results also reveal that more efforts are needed to improve the NeQuick 2 model capabilities to represent the ionosphere in the equatorial and high‐latitude regions.
A Wide Tuning-Range CMOS VCO with a Tunable Active Inductor
Authors: Kao Hsuan-Ling , Lee Ping-Che , Chiu Hsien-Chin
Published: March 2015

This study describes a wide tuning-range VCO using tunable active inductor (TAI) topology and cross-coupled pair configuration for radio frequency operation. The TAI used two feedback loops to form a cascode circuit to obtain more degrees of freedom for inductance value. The TAI-VCO was fabricated using a 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The coarse frequency tuning is achieved by TAIs while the fine tuning is controlled by varactors. The fabricated circuit provides an output frequency range from 0.6 to 7.2 GHz (169%). The measured phase noise is from −110.38 to −86.01 dBc/Hz at a 1 MHz offset and output power is from −11.11 to −3.89 dBm within the entire frequency range under a 1.8 V power supply.
Rare Occurrence of Lip Spindle Cell Lipoma
Authors: Girgis Sandra , Cheng Leo
Published: March 2015

Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a rare distinct variant of lipoma, which presents as a painless, circumscribed, slow-growing, superficial lesion on the lip and can mimic a minor salivary gland tumour. We present a slow growing lower lip lesion and its management.Case Report. A 38-year-old female gave an eight-year history of a slow-growing mass on her lower lip with intermittent change in size. She presented with a submucosal nodule and thin overlying mucosa adjacent to the vermilion border. Surgical excision was carried as the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.Conclusion. Lip SCL is rare, and surgical excision is advocated in order to exclude underlying pathology and minor salivary gland tumours.
The Prescription Pattern of Chinese Herbal Products ContainingGinsengamong Tamoxifen-Treated Female Breast Cancer Survivors in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Hsu Wei-Lung , Tsai Yueh-Ting , Wu Chien-Tung , Lai Jung-Nien
Published: March 2015

Background.The purpose of our study is to analyze the association between prescribed Chinese herbal products (CHPs) containingGinsengand the risk of endometrial cancer among tamoxifen (TMX) users and to identify any possible interactive effects betweenGinsengand TMX with respect to preventing the development of subsequent endometrial cancer in an estrogen-dependent breast cancer population in Taiwan.Methods.All patients newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer receiving tamoxifen treatment from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2008, were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database. The usage, frequency of service, and CHP-Ginsengprescribed across the 30,556 TMX-treated breast cancer (BC) survivors were evaluated. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for the utilization of CHP-Ginseng. Cox’s proportional hazard regression was performed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for endometrial cancer associated withGinsenguse among the TMX-treated BC cohort.Results.The HR for the development of endometrial cancer among breast cancer survivors who had ever takenGinsengafter TXM treatment was significantly decreased compared to those who never used CHP.Conclusion.A significant inhibitory relationship betweenGinsengconsumption and subsequent endometrial cancer less than 2 years after TMX treatment was detected among BC survivors.
Analysis of Monocytic and Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Subsets in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Their Clinical Significance
Authors: Ning Gang , She Lanhui , Lu Lirong , Liu Ying , Zeng Yingfu , Yan Ying , Lin Chaoshuang
Published: March 2015

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been shown to inhibit T-cell responses in many diseases, but, in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients, MDSCs are still poorly studied. In this assay, we investigated the phenotype and frequency of two new populations of MDSCs denoted as monocytic and granulocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs and G-MDSCs) in HCV infected patients and analyzed their clinical significance in these patients respectively. We found that the frequency of CD14+HLA-DR-/lowcells (M-MDSCs) from HCV infected patients (mean ± SE, 3.134% ± 0.340%) was significantly increased when compared to healthy controls (mean ± SE, 1.764% ± 0.461%) (Z= −2.438,P= 0.015), while there was no statistical difference between the frequency ofHLA-DR-/lowCD33+CD11b+CD15+(G-MDSCs) of HCV infected patients and healthy donors (0.201% ± 0.038% versus 0.096% ± 0.026%,P> 0.05), which suggested that HCV infection could cause the proliferation of M-MDSCs instead of G-MDSCs. Besides, we found that the frequency of M-MDSCs in HCV infected patients had certain relevance with age (r= 0.358,P= 0.003); patients older than 40 years old group (mean ± SE, 3.673% ± 0.456%) had a significantly higher frequency of M-MDSCs than that of age less than 40 years old group (mean ± SE, 2.363% ± 0.482%) (Z= −2.685,P= 0.007). The frequency of M-MDSCs, however, had no correlation with HCV RNA loads, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the level of liver inflammation degree.
Oxidative Stress: Dual Pathway Induction in Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 1 Pathogenesis
Authors: Virzì Grazia Maria , Clementi Anna , de Cal Massimo , Brocca Alessandra , Day Sonya , Pastori Silvia , Bolin Chiara , Vescovo Giorgio , Ronco Claudio
Published: March 2015

Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 1 (Type 1) is a specific condition which is characterized by a rapid worsening of cardiac function leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Even though its pathophysiology is complex and not still completely understood, oxidative stress seems to play a pivotal role. In this study, we examined the putative role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of CRS Type 1. Twenty-three patients with acute heart failure (AHF) were included in the study. Subsequently, 11 patients who developed AKI due to AHF were classified as CRS Type 1. Quantitative determinations for IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), and endogenous peroxidase activity (EPA) were performed. CRS Type 1 patients displayed significant augmentation in circulating ROS and RNS, as well as expression of IL-6. Quantitative analysis of all oxidative stress markers showed significantly lower oxidative stress levels in controls and AHF compared to CRS Type 1 patients (P<0.05). This pilot study demonstrates the significantly heightened presence of dual oxidative stress pathway induction in CRS Type 1 compared to AHF patients. Our findings indicate that oxidative stress is a potential therapeutic target, as it promotes inflammation by ROS/RNS-linked pathogenesis.
Dengue Patients Exhibit Higher Levels of PrM and E Antibodies Than Their Asymptomatic Counterparts
Authors: Yeo Adeline Syin Lian , Rathakrishnan Anusyah , Wang Seok Mui , Ponnampalavanar Sasheela , Manikam Rishya , Sathar Jameela , Kumari Natkunam Santha , Sekaran Shamala Devi
Published: March 2015

Dengue virus infection is a common tropical disease which often occurs without being detected. These asymptomatic cases provide information in relation to the manifestation of immunological aspects. In this study, we developed an ELISA method to compare neutralizing effects of dengue prM and E antibodies between dengue patients and their asymptomatic household members. Recombinant D2 premembrane (prM) was constructed, cloned, and tested for antigenicity. The recombinant protein was purified and tested with controls by using an indirect ELISA method. Positive dengue serum samples with their asymptomatic pair were then carried out onto the developed ELISA. In addition, commercially available recombinant envelope (E) protein was used to develop an ELISA which was tested with the same set of serum samples in the prM ELISA. Asymptomatic individuals showed preexisting heterotypic neutralizing antibodies. The recombinant prM was antigenically reactive in the developed ELISA. Dengue patients had higher prM and E antibodies compared to their household members. Our study highlights the neutralizing antibodies levels with respect to dengue prM and E between dengue patients and asymptomatic individuals.
Curcumin Mitigates Accelerated Aging after Irradiation inDrosophilaby Reducing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Seong Ki Moon , Yu Mira , Lee Kyu-Sun , Park Sunhoo , Jin Young Woo , Min Kyung-Jin
Published: March 2015

Curcumin, belonging to a class of natural phenol compounds, has been extensively studied due to its antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antineurodegenerative effects. Recently, it has been shown to exert dual activities after irradiation, radioprotection, and radiosensitization. Here, we investigated the protective effect of curcumin against radiation damage usingD. melanogaster. Pretreatment with curcumin (100 μM) recovered the shortened lifespan caused by irradiation and increased eclosion rate. Flies subjected to high-dose irradiation showed a mutant phenotype of outstretched wings, whereas curcumin pretreatment reduced incidence of the mutant phenotype. Protein carbonylation and formation ofγH2Ax foci both increased following high-dose irradiation most likely due to generation of reactive oxygen species. Curcumin pretreatment reduced the amount of protein carbonylation as well as formation ofγH2Ax foci. Therefore, we suggest that curcumin acts as an oxidative stress reducer as well as an effective protective agent against radiation damage.
Effect of Recombinant Prophenin 2 on the Integrity and Viability ofTrichomonas vaginalis
Authors: Hernandez-Flores J. L. , Rodriguez M. C. , Gastelum Arellanez A. , Alvarez-Morales A. , Avila E. E.
Published: March 2015

Trichomonas vaginalisis the causal agent of trichomoniasis, which is associated with preterm child delivery, low birth weight, and an increased risk of infection by human papilloma virus and human immunodeficiency virus following exposure. Several reports have established increasing numbers of trichomoniasis cases resistant to metronidazole, the agent used for treatment, and it is therefore important to identify new therapeutic alternatives. Previously, our group reported the effect of tritrpticin, a synthetic peptide derived from porcine prophenin, onT. vaginalis; however, the hemolytic activity of this small peptide complicates its possible use as a therapeutic agent. In this study, we report that the propeptide and the processed peptide of prophenin 2 (cleaved with hydroxylamine) affected the integrity and growth ofT. vaginalisand that pro-prophenin 2 displays some resistance to proteolysis byT. vaginalisproteinases at 1 h. Its effect onT. vaginalisas well as its low hemolytic activity and short-time stability to parasite proteinases makes prophenin 2 an interesting candidate for synergistic or alternative treatment againstT. vaginalis.
Effects of Passive Hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu) in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: Results of a Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Schitter Agnes M. , Nedeljkovic Marko , Baur Heiner , Fleckenstein Johannes , Raio Luigi
Published: March 2015

Background. WATSU (WaterShiatsu) is a complementary therapeutic treatment method comprising passive stretches and massage techniques administered in 35°C warm water. Pregnant women claim safe methods to reduce pain, stress, and fatigue. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study evaluating the effects of WATSU on pregnancy-related complaints in third trimester pregnant women.Methods. Nine healthy pregnant women at gestational week ≥34 were included in an intervention group (receiving WATSU) and compared to eight women in a passive control group (receiving no treatment). WATSU was performed on days 1 and 4 of the study, accompanied by ultrasound examinations. Outcomes include physiological and psychometric as well as qualitative data. Participants in the control group completed questionnaires only.Results. WATSU was found to significantly lower participants’ levels of stress and pain and to improve their mental health-related quality of life and mood. In comparison to the passive control group, participants in the intervention group reported reduction in perceived stress from day 1 to day 8 (P=0.036, Cohen’sf=0.57). Qualitative data indicate that WATSU was appreciated as enjoyable and deeply relaxing. No negative side effects were reported.Conclusion. Our findings support the notion that WATSU yields therapeutic benefits for pregnant women and warrant further research. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01708018.
MRI Segmentation of the Human Brain: Challenges, Methods, and Applications
Authors: Despotović Ivana , Goossens Bart , Philips Wilfried
Published: March 2015

Image segmentation is one of the most important tasks in medical image analysis and is often the first and the most critical step in many clinical applications. In brain MRI analysis, image segmentation is commonly used for measuring and visualizing the brain’s anatomical structures, for analyzing brain changes, for delineating pathological regions, and for surgical planning and image-guided interventions. In the last few decades, various segmentation techniques of different accuracy and degree of complexity have been developed and reported in the literature. In this paper we review the most popular methods commonly used for brain MRI segmentation. We highlight differences between them and discuss their capabilities, advantages, and limitations. To address the complexity and challenges of the brain MRI segmentation problem, we first introduce the basic concepts of image segmentation. Then, we explain different MRI preprocessing steps including image registration, bias field correction, and removal of nonbrain tissue. Finally, after reviewing different brain MRI segmentation methods, we discuss the validation problem in brain MRI segmentation.
Antibacterial Activity of Synthetic Peptides Derived from Lactoferricin againstEscherichia coliATCC 25922 andEnterococcus faecalisATCC 29212
Authors: León-Calvijo María A. , Leal-Castro Aura L. , Almanzar-Reina Giovanni A. , Rosas-Pérez Jaiver E. , García-Castañeda Javier E. , Rivera-Monroy Zuly J.
Published: March 2015

Peptides derived from human and bovine lactoferricin were designed, synthesized, purified, and characterized using RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. Specific changes in the sequences were designed as (i) the incorporation of unnatural amino acids in the sequence, the (ii) reduction or (iii) elongation of the peptide chain length, and (iv) synthesis of molecules with different number of branches containing the same sequence. For each peptide, the antibacterial activity againstEscherichia coliATCC 25922 andEnterococcus faecalisATCC 29212 was evaluated. Our results showed that Peptides I.2 (RWQWRWQWR) and I.4 ((RRWQWR)4K2Ahx2C2) exhibit bigger or similar activity againstE. coli(MIC 4–33 μM) andE. faecalis(MIC 10–33 μM) when they were compared with lactoferricin protein (LF) and some of its derivate peptides as II.1 (FKCRRWQWRMKKLGA) and IV.1 (FKCRRWQWRMKKLGAPSITCVRRAE). It should be pointed out that Peptides I.2 and I.4, containing the RWQWR motif, are short and easy to synthesize; our results demonstrate that it is possible to design and obtain synthetic peptides that exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity using a methodology that is fast and low-cost and that allows obtaining products with a high degree of purity and high yield.
Chronic Ingestion of High Dosed Phikud Navakot Extraction Induces Mesangiolysis in Rats with Alteration of AQP1 and Hsp60 Expressions
Authors: Kengkoom Kanchana , Ampawong Sumate
Published: March 2015

Phikud Navakot (PN) is commonly used in Thai traditional medicine for alleviation of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular symptoms; however little is known about the chronic toxicity effects of the extracts from the herbs in PN. Repeated extraction doses of 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/kg/day were randomly administered to both male and female Sprague Dawley rats for 12 months. Histopathological study revealed that mesangiolysis was predominately found at the highest dose. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) expression in the mesangiolytic glomeruli was significantly lower than in the intact glomeruli. This may be relevant to an imbalance of vascular function manifested by AQP1 alteration. In the mesangiolytic glomeruli, 60 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp60) was significantly upregulated on the endothelial lining cells of aneurysm and vascular cyst. Hsp60 increase may be related to endothelial cell damage due to its intracellular protective role. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels remained within their normal range indicating well-functioning renal reserve function. In conclusion, high dosed PN may affect the endothelium leading to inability of vascular permeability and consequence to mesangiolysis. Our results suggest that only a high dose of chronic oral administration of PN is relatively toxic in association with mesangiolysis. The NOAEL was determined to be 100 mg/kg/day.
Enhanced Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines in Hong Kong: A Study Protocol for Three Common Diseases
Authors: Shi Nannan , Zhong Linda L. D. , Han XueJie , Ziea Tat Chi , Ng Bacon , Bian Zhaoxiang , Lu Aiping
Published: March 2015

We presented a study protocol of developing Chinese medicine clinical practice guidelines for three common diseases in Hong Kong, including insomnia, chronic gastritis, and cerebral infarction. This research project will be conducted in three phases. First phase is the preparation stage which consists of the establishment of steering committee and panel. Second phase involves 6 steps, which are searching and identifying evidence, text mining process, Delphi survey, synthesizing of data, consensus conference, and drafting guidelines. In this phase, text mining technique, evidence-based method, and formal consensus method are combined to get consolidated supporting data as the source of CM CPGs. The final phase comprised external reviews, dissemination, and updating. The outputs from this project will provide three CM CPGs for insomnia, chronic gastritis, and cerebral infarction for Hong Kong local use.
A Game System for Cognitive Rehabilitation
Authors: Shapi’i Azrulhizam , Mat Zin Nor Azan , Elaklouk Ahmed Mohammed
Published: March 2015

Brain injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke is the major cause of long-term disabilities in many countries. The increasing rate of brain damaged victims and the heterogeneity of impairments decrease rehabilitation effectiveness and competence resulting in higher cost of rehabilitation treatment. On the other hand, traditional rehabilitation exercises are boring, thus leading patients to neglect the prescribed exercises required for recovery. Therefore, we propose game-based approach to address these problems. This paper presents a rehabilitation gaming system (RGS) for cognitive rehabilitation. The RGS is developed based on a proposed conceptual framework which has also been presented in this paper.
Study of Aerosol Influence on Nighttime Land Surface Temperature Retrieval Based on Two Methods
Authors: Gao Caixia , Zhao Enyu , Li Chuanrong , Qian Yonggang , Ma Lingling , Tang Lingli , Jiang Xiaoguang , Huo Hongyuan
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study is to evaluate the aerosol influence on LST retrieval with two algorithms (split-window (SW) method and a four-channel based method) using simulated data under typical conditions. The results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) decreases to approximately 2.3 K for SW method and 1.5 K for four channel based method when VZA = 60° and visibility = 3 km; an RMSE would be increased by approximately 1.0 K when visibility varies from 3 km to 23 km. Moreover, a detailed sensitivity analysis under a visibility of 3 km and 23 km is performed in terms of uncertainties of land surface emissivity (LSE), water vapor content (WVC), and instrument noise, respectively. It is noted that the four-channel based method is more sensitive to LSE than SW method, especially for dry atmosphere; LST error caused by a WVC uncertainty of 20% is within 1.5 K for SW method and within 0.8 K for four-channel based method; the instrument noise would introduce LST error with a maximum standard deviation of 0.5 K and 0.04 K for the four-channel based method and SW method, respectively.
Current and Emerging Cell Culture Manufacturing Technologies for Influenza Vaccines
Authors: Milián Ernest , Kamen Amine A.
Published: March 2015

Annually, influenza virus infects millions of people worldwide. Vaccination programs against seasonal influenza infections require the production of hundreds of million doses within a very short period of time. The influenza vaccine is currently produced using a technology developed in the 1940s that relies on replicating the virus in embryonated hens’ eggs. The monovalent viral preparation is inactivated and purified before being formulated in trivalent or tetravalent influenza vaccines. The production process has depended on a continuous supply of eggs. In the case of pandemic outbreaks, this mode of production might be problematic because of a possible drastic reduction in the egg supply and the low flexibility of the manufacturing process resulting in a lack of supply of the required vaccine doses in a timely fashion. Novel production systems using mammalian or insect cell cultures have emerged to overcome the limitations of the egg-based production system. These industrially well-established production systems have been primarily selected for a faster and more flexible response to pandemic threats. Here, we review the most important cell culture manufacturing processes that have been developed in recent years for mass production of influenza vaccines.
EULAR Task Force Recommendations on Annual Cardiovascular Risk Assessment for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Audit of the Success of Implementation in a Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Ikdahl Eirik , Rollefstad Silvia , Olsen Inge C. , Kvien Tore K. , Hansen Inger Johanne Widding , Soldal Dag Magnar , Haugeberg Glenn , Semb Anne Grete
Published: March 2015

Objective. EULAR recommendations for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management include annual CVD risk assessments for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the recording of CVD risk factors (CVD-RF) in a rheumatology outpatient clinic, where EULAR recommendations had been implemented. Further, we compared CVD-RF recordings between a regular rheumatology outpatient clinic (RegROC) and a structured arthritis clinic (AC).Methods. In 2012, 1142 RA patients visited the rheumatology outpatient clinic: 612 attended RegROC and 530 attended AC. We conducted a search in the patient journals to ascertain the rate of CVD-RF recording.Results. The overall CVD-RF recording rate was 40.1% in the rheumatology outpatient clinic, reflecting a recording rate of 59.1% in the AC and 23.6% in the RegROC. The odds ratios for having CVD-RFs recorded for patients attending AC compared to RegROC were as follows: blood pressure: 12.4, lipids: 5.0-6.0, glucose: 9.1, HbA1c: 6.1, smoking: 1.4, and for having all the CVD-RFs needed to calculate the CVD risk by the systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE): 21.0.Conclusion. The CVD-RF recording rate was low in a rheumatology outpatient clinic. However, a systematic team-based model was superior compared to a RegROC. Further measures are warranted to improve CVD-RF recording in RA patients.
Asynchronous Two-Way Relaying Networks Using Distributed Differential Space-Time Coding
Authors: Qian Minjie , Jin Yanliang , Wu Zhuo , Wang Tao
Published: March 2015

A signal detection scheme is proposed for two-way relaying network (TWRN) using distributed differential space-time coding (DDSTC) under imperfect synchronization. Unlike most of existing work, which assumed perfect synchronization and channel state information (CSI) at all nodes, a more realistic scenario is investigated here by considering the signals transmitted from the two source nodes arriving at the relay not exactly at the same time due to the distributed nature of the nodes, and no CSI is available at any node. The proposed signal detection scheme is then demonstrated to remove the imperfect synchronization effect significantly through simulation results. Furthermore, pairwise error probability (PEP) of the asynchronous TWRN is analyzed and derived for both source nodes. Based on the simplified PEP expression, an optimum power allocation (OPA) scheme is then determined to further improve the whole system performance, when neither the source nor the relay has any knowledge of the CSI.
Effect of Supplemental Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Serum, Macular Pigmentation, and Visual Performance in Patients with Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Huang Yang-Mu , Dou Hong-Liang , Huang Fei-Fei , Xu Xian-Rong , Zou Zhi-Yong , Lin Xiao-Ming
Published: March 2015

Purpose. To compare the 2-year effect of multiple doses of lutein/zeaxanthin on serum, macular pigmentation, and visual performance on patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods. In this randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial, 112 early AMD patients randomly received either 10 mg lutein, 20 mg lutein, a combination of lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (10 mg), or placebo daily for 2 years. Serum concentration of lutein/zeaxanthin, macular pigment optical density (MPOD), visual functions including best-spectacle corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), flash recovery time (FRT), and vision-related quality of life (VFQ25) was quantified.Results. Serum lutein concentration and MPOD significantly increased in all the active treatment groups. Supplementation with 20 mg lutein was the most effective in increasing MPOD and CS at 3 cycles/degree for the first 48 weeks. However, they both significantly increased to the same peak value following supplementation with either 10 mg or 20 mg lutein during the intervention. No statistical changes of BCVA or FRT were observed during the trial.Conclusions. Long-term lutein supplementation could increase serum lutein concentration, MPOD, and visual sensitivities of early AMD patients. 10 mg lutein daily might be an advisable long-term dosage for early AMD treatment.
Preclinical Evaluation on the Tumor Suppression Efficiency and Combination Drug Effects of Fermented Wheat Germ Extract in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Wang Chia-Woei , Wang Chien-Kai , Chang Yu-Jia , Choong Chen-Yen , Lin Chi-Shian , Tai Cheng-Jeng , Tai Chen-Jei
Published: March 2015

Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE) is a nutrient supplement and a potential antitumor ingredient for developing an integrated chemotherapy with standard chemotherapeutic drugs for treating ovarian cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the tumor suppression efficiency of FWGE in human ovarian carcinoma cells, SKOV-3 and ES-2, and found the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) to be 643.76 μg/mL and 246.11 μg/mL after 48 h of FWGE treatment. FWGE treatment also induced programmed cell death by activating the caspase-7 cleavage in both SKOV-3 and ES-2 cells, but only caspase-3 and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase cleavages were activated in SKOV-3 cells. Moreover, FWGE exhibited combination drug effects with cisplatin and docetaxel in SKOV-3 and ES-2 cells by enhancing the cytotoxicity of both drugs. In conclusion, we found that FWGE not only suppressed cell growth but also induced caspase-3-related and caspase-7-related cell death in human ovarian carcinoma cells. FWGE treatment further enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and docetaxel, suggesting that FWGE is a potential ingredient in the development of adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin or docetaxel for treating ovarian cancer patients.
Phantoms for Development of Microwave Sensors for Noninvasive Blood Glucose Monitoring
Authors: Vrba Jan , Karch Jakub , Vrba David
Published: March 2015

A suitability of two different liquid phantoms of blood-glucose solutions as phantoms for development of microwave sensors for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring is compared. The two phantoms are physiological saline-glucose and pig blood-glucose solutions. For this purpose a simple microwave sensor is developed for in vitro monitoring of blood glucose levels. The sensor consists of a microstrip antenna and of a small rectangular container on the top of the antenna. The container is filled with one of the liquid phantoms. Both phantoms with different glucose concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 mg/dL are considered. Dependence of sensor’s resonant frequency on glucose concentration of LUTs is both estimated by aid of numerical simulations and measured. The results are discussed and compared with some results reported in the literature.
Chinese Herbal Decoction Based on Syndrome Differentiation as Maintenance Therapy in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: An Exploratory and Small Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Rui , He Shu lin , Zhao Yuan chen , Zheng Hong gang , Li Cong huang , Bao Yan ju , Qin Ying gang , Hou Wei , Hua Bao Jin
Published: March 2015

Objective. To investigate the treatment effect and treatment length of Chinese herbal decoction (CHD) as maintenance therapy on patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and to reflect the real syndrome differentiation (Bian Zheng) practices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Patients and Methods. Different CHDs were prescribed for each patient based on syndrome differentiation. The length of CHD treatment was divided into two phases for analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and postprogression survival (PPS).Results. Three hundred and fifty-seven CHDs were prescribed based on syndrome differentiation during the study period. Median PFS was significantly longer in patients who received CHD >3 months than patients who received CHD ≤3 months in the first phase (8.7 months versus 4.5 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41–0.99;P=0.0009). Median PPS was significantly longer in patients who received CHD >7 months than patients who received CHD ≤7 months in the second phase (11.7 months versus 5.1 months; HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.90–2.74;P=0.002).Conclusion. CHD could improve PFS and PPS, which are closely related to treatment time and deepness of response of first-line therapy. In addition, CHD could improve body function and keep patients in a relatively stable state.
Molecular Detection and Sensitivity to Antibiotics and Bacteriocins of Pathogens Isolated from Bovine Mastitis in Family Dairy Herds of Central Mexico
Authors: León-Galván Ma. Fabiola , Barboza-Corona José E. , Lechuga-Arana A. Arianna , Valencia-Posadas Mauricio , Aguayo Daniel D. , Cedillo-Pelaez Carlos , Martínez-Ortega Erika A. , Gutierrez-Chavez Abner J.
Published: March 2015

Thirty-two farms (n=535cows) located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, were sampled. Pathogens from bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CLM) were identified by 16S rDNA and the sensitivity to both antibiotics and bacteriocins ofBacillus thuringiensiswas tested. Forty-six milk samples were selected for their positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) (≥3) and any abnormality in the udder or milk. The frequency of SCM and CLM was 39.1% and 9.3%, respectively. Averages for test day milk yield (MY), lactation number (LN), herd size (HS), and number of days in milk (DM) were 20.6 kg, 2.8 lactations, 16.7 animals, and 164.1 days, respectively. MY was dependent on dairy herd (DH), LN, HS, and DMP<0.01, and correlations between udder quarters from the CMT were around 0.49P<0.01. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were mainly identified, as well asStaphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus uberis,Brevibacterium stationis,B. conglomeratum, andStaphylococcus agnetis. Bacterial isolates were resistant to penicillin, clindamycin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime. Bacteriocins synthesized byBacillus thuringiensisinhibited the growth of multiantibiotic resistance bacteria such asS. agnetis,S. equorum,Streptococcus uberis,Brevibacterium stationis, andBrachybacterium conglomeratum, but they were not active againstS. sciuri, a microorganism that showed an 84% resistance to antibiotics tested in this study.