bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GC/MS‐Based Metabolomics Reveals Biomarkers in Asthma Murine Model Modulated by Opuntia humifusa
Authors: Seo Seung-Ho , Kim Eun-Ju , Park Seong-Eun , Byun Sung-Hoon , Lee Soon-Young , Bok So-Hyeon , Park Dae-Hun , Son Hong-Seok
Published: November 2018

GC/MS coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was performed to identify marker metabolites in serum of mice after healing ovalbumin‐ (OVA‐) induced asthma using Opuntia humifusa. Principal component analysis (PCA) score plot showed separation among groups, with metabolite profiles of serum showing differences according to various treatments for the asthma murine model. Levels of stearic acid and arachidic acid were significantly lower in the serum from OVA‐induced group than those from the control group. Dexamethasone treatment group was characterized by higher serum levels of urea, myristic acid, and palmitic acid along with lower levels of aspartic acid compared to OVA‐induced group. O. humifusa treatment mice groups showed dose‐proportional higher levels of urea and glycerol than OVA‐induced group. These results highlight that GC/MS‐based metabolomics is a powerful technique for identifying molecular markers of asthma.
Endophytic Actinomycetes from Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis): Isolation, Abundance, Antimicrobial, and Plant-Growth-Promoting Activities
Authors: Shan Wenna , Zhou Ying , Liu Huihui , Yu Xiaomin
Published: November 2018

Endophytic actinomycetes are a promising source of novel metabolites with diverse biological activities. Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) produce arsenals of phytochemicals, which are linked to a number of medicinal and nutritional properties. However, a systematic investigation into the abundance and diversity of cultivated actinomycetes residing in tea plants has not been performed. In this study, a total of 46 actinobacteria were recovered from leaf, stem, and root samples of 15 tea cultivars collected in Fujian province, China. Their abundance and diversity were shown to be influenced by both the genotypes and tissue types of tea plants. Based on 16S RNA sequence analysis, these isolates were taxonomically grouped into 11 families and 13 genera, includingStreptomyces,Actinomadura,Kribbella,Nocardia,Kytococcus,Leifsonia,Microbacterium,Micromonospora,Mobilicoccus,Mycobacterium,Nocardiopsis,Piscicoccus, andPseudonocardia. The genusStreptomyceswas most prevalent whereas rare genera,MobilicoccusandPiscicoccus, were reported for the first time to occur as plant endophytes. PCR screening of polyketide synthase genes (PKS-I and PKS-II) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes (NRPS), along with antimicrobial assays against a set of bacterial and fungal pathogens, showed that endophytic actinomycetes associated with tea plants have a high potential for producing antimicrobial metabolites. Furthermore, indole acetic acid (IAA) production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activities were recorded in 93.5% and 21.7% of all isolates, respectively. Overall, these results indicate that endophytic actinomycetes from tea plants represent a valuable source of bioactive metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and plant-growth-promoting properties.
Effects of HD‐tDCS on Resting‐State Functional Connectivity in the Prefrontal Cortex: An fNIRS Study
Authors: Yaqub M. Atif , Woo Seong-Woo , Hong Keum-Shik
Published: November 2018

Functional connectivity is linked to several degenerative brain diseases prevalent in our aging society. Electrical stimulation is used for the clinical treatment and rehabilitation of patients with many cognitive disorders. In this study, the effects of high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD‐tDCS) on resting‐state brain networks in the human prefrontal cortex were investigated by using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The intrahemispheric as well as interhemispheric connectivity changes induced by 1 mA HD‐tDCS were examined in 15 healthy subjects. Pearson correlation coefficient‐based correlation matrices were generated from filtered time series oxyhemoglobin (ΔHbO) signals and converted into binary matrices. Common graph theory metrics were computed to evaluate the network changes. Systematic interhemispheric, intrahemispheric, and intraregional connectivity analyses demonstrated that the stimulation positively affected the resting‐state connectivity in the prefrontal cortex. The poststimulation connectivity was increased throughout the prefrontal region, while focal HD‐tDCS effects induced an increased rate of connectivity in the stimulated hemisphere. The graph theory metrics clearly distinguished the prestimulation and poststimulation networks for a range of thresholds. The results of this study suggest that HD‐tDCS can be used to increase functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex. The increase in functional connectivity can be explored clinically for neurorehabilitation of patients with degenerative brain diseases.
Computations of the M-Polynomials and Degree-Based Topological Indices for Dendrimers and Polyomino Chains
Authors: Kwun Young Chel , Farooq Adeel , Nazeer Waqas , Zahid Zohaib , Noreen Saba , Kang Shin Min
Published: November 2018

Topological indices correlate certain physicochemical properties like boiling point, stability, and strain energy of chemical compounds. In this report, we compute M-polynomials for PAMAM dendrimers and polyomino chains. Moreover, by applying calculus, we compute nine important topological indices of under-study dendrimers and chains.
Regional Node Distribution in Papillary Thyroid Cancer with Microscopic Metastasis
Authors: Hurtado-López Luis-Mauricio , Ordoñez-Rueda Alejandro , Zaldivar-Ramírez Felipe-Rafael , Basurto-Kuba Erich
Published: November 2018

Background. Optimal neck lymphadenectomy in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and microscopic lymph node metastasis needs to be defined in order to aid surgeons in their decision about the best way to proceed in these cases.Methods. Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and lymphadenectomy at levels IIa to VI were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) with macroscopic metastasis detected before surgery and Group 2 (G2) with microscopic metastasis detected in sentinel node during surgery. Odds ratio (OR) was computed for age, sex, tumor size, multicentricity, capsular invasion, vascular/lymphatic permeation, and nodes with metastasis.Results. Primary tumor size was (G1 versus G2, respectively) 3.8 cm versus 1.98 cm (P<0.001); only lymphatic permeation was correlated to an increase in metastasis in lymph nodes 65.4% versus 25% (OR=5.6, p<0.001); metastatic frequency by region was IIa 18.5% versus 1.5%, III 24.3% versus 9.9%, IV 17.4% versus 18.1%, and VI 25.9% versus 71,2%. Metastasis to level V was found only in G1.Conclusion. Selective lymphadenectomy at levels III, IV, and VI is optimal for PTC patients without preoperative evidence of lymph node disease, but who present with lymph node microscopic metastasis in an intraoperative assessment.
The Spreading of Information in Online Social Networks through Cellular Automata
Authors: Wang Yuda , Li Gang
Published: November 2018

Epidemic dynamics in complex networks have been extensively studied. Due to the similarity between information and disease spreading, most studies on information dynamics use epidemic models and merely consider the characteristics of online social networks and individual’s cognitive. In this paper, we propose an online social networks information spreading (OSIS) model combining epidemic models and individual’s cognitive psychology. Then we design a cellular automata (CA) method to provide a computational method for OSIS. Finally, we use OSIS and CA to simulate the spreading and evolution of information in online social networks. The experimental results indicate that OSIS is effective. Firstly, individual’s cognition affects online information spreading. When infection rate is low, it prevents the spreading, whereas when infection rate is sufficiently high, it promotes transmission. Secondly, the explosion of online social network scale and the convenience of we‐media greatly increase the ability of information dissemination. Lastly, the demise of information is affected by both time and heat decay rather than probability. We believe that these findings are in the right direction for perceiving information spreading in online social networks and useful for public management policymakers seeking to design efficient programs.
Assessment of an Invasive Weed “Maimaio” Commelina foecunda in the Sesame Fields of Western Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Zenawi G. , Goitom T. , Fiseha B.
Published: November 2018

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is probably the most ancient oilseed. It has multiple uses; it is used as a source of food and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The average yield of sesame in western Tigray is too low (about 400 kg/ha to 500 kg/ha) due to different factors, and weed infestation takes a lion’s share. More than 80 weed species were recorded and identified as weed pests for sesame in western Tigray. “Maimaio” Commelina foecunda is the most troublesome weed of sesame. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of C. foecunda and quantify its infestations. The survey was conducted in 24 sesame growing areas and 48 sesame farms from the three districts of western Tigray in the 2017 production season. The survey result showed that about 91.7% of the assessed sesame farms in western Tigray were found infested with C. foecunda. The weed frequently appeared in Kafta Humera. And, it occurred abundantly and closely in Kafta Humera, whereas it occurred poorly and irresolutely in Tsegede. Concentrated frequency, abundance, and density of the weed were recorded by large-scale sesame producers, lower growing altitudes, and early growth stage of sesame; whereas, it was limited in the small-scale farms, higher growing altitudes, and late growth stage of sesame.
Lack of Association between Variant rs7916697 in ATOH7 and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in a Saudi Cohort
Authors: Kondkar Altaf A. , Azad Taif A. , Almobarak Faisal A. , Bahabri Ibrahim M. , Kalantan Hatem , Abu-Amero Khaled K. , Al-Obeidan Saleh A.
Published: November 2018

A case-control genetic association study was performed to investigate whether variant rs7916697 in atonal bHLH transcription factor 7 (ATOH7), which has been previously reported to be associated with optic disc parameters and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in different ethnic groups, is a risk factor for POAG or any of its clinical phenotypes in a Saudi cohort. Genotyping of rs7916697 (G>A) variant was performed in 186 unrelated POAG cases and 171 unrelated nonglaucomatous controls of Saudi origin using real-time Taq-Man® assay. Genotypic and allelic association with POAG and its related clinical indices were evaluated. Demographic and systemic disease status did not differ significantly between POAG cases and controls. Association analysis between POAG cases and controls showed no significant genotype effect under additive (p=0.707), dominant (p=0.458), and recessive (p=0.554) models. Besides, the minor ‘A’ allele frequency was 0.39 in POAG cases and 0.36 in controls with no significant distribution (p=0.406). In addition, there was no significant difference between genotypes and clinical phenotypes such as intraocular pressure and cup/disc ratio within the POAG group, or any age and sex adjusted genotype effect on the disease outcome in regression analysis. Variant rs7916697 in ATOH7 is not associated with POAG or its clinical indices such as IOP and cup/disc ratio in a Saudi cohort.
Basic Properties and Qualitative Dynamics of a Vector-Borne Disease Model with Vector Stages and Vertical Transmission
Authors: Pedro Sansao A.
Published: November 2018

This work systematically discusses basic properties and qualitative dynamics of vector-borne disease models, particularly those with vertical transmission in the vector population. Examples of disease include Dengue and Rift Valley fever which are endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, and understanding of the dynamics underlying their transmission is central for providing critical informative indicators useful for guiding control strategies. Of particular interest is the applicability and derivation of relevant population and epidemic thresholds and their relationships with vertical infection. This study demonstrates how the failure of R0 derived using the next-generation method compounds itself when varying vertical transmission efficiency, and it shows that the host type reproductive number gives the correct R0. Further, novel relationships between the host type reproductive number, vertical infection, and ratio of female mosquitoes to host are established and discussed. Analytical results of the model with vector stages show that the quantities Q0, Q0v, and R0c, which represent the vector colonization threshold, the average number of female mosquitoes produced by a single infected mosquito, and effective reproductive number, respectively, provide threshold conditions that determine the establishment of the vector population and invasion of the disease. Numerical simulations are also conducted to confirm and extend the analytical results. The findings imply that while vertical infection increases the size of an epidemic, it reduces its duration, and control efforts aimed at reducing the critical thresholds Q0, Q0v, and R0c to below unity are viable control strategies.
A Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis‐Optimized Scale‐Space Representation for the Empirical Wavelet Transform
Authors: Liu Zechao , Ding Jianming , Lin Jianhui , Huang Yan
Published: November 2018

Rolling element bearings have been widely used in mechanical systems, such as electric motors, generators, pumps, gearboxes, railway axles, and turbines, etc. Therefore, the detection of rolling bearing faults has been a hot research topic in engineering practices. Envelope demodulation represents a fundamental method for extracting effective fault information from measured vibration signals. However, the performance of envelope demodulation depends heavily on the selection of the filter band and central frequencies. The empirical wavelet transform (EWT), a new signal decomposition method, provides a framework for arbitrarily segmenting the Fourier spectrum of an analysed signal. Scale‐space representation (SSR) can adaptively detect the boundaries of the EWT; however, it has two shortcomings: slow calculation speeds and invalid boundary detection results. Accordingly, an EWT method based on optimized scale‐space representation (OSSR), namely, the EWTOSSR, is proposed. The effectiveness of the EWTOSSR is verified by comparisons between the simulation and the experimental signals. The results show that the EWTOSSR can automatically and effectively segment the EWT spectrum to extract fault information. Compared with three well‐known methods (the traditional EWT, ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), and the fast kurtogram), the EWTOSSR exhibits a much better fault detection performance.
Histological Pattern of Endometrial Biopsies in Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in a Hospital in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Asuzu Ifeyinwa Mary , Olaofe Olaejirinde Olaniyi
Published: November 2018

The study is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Pathology of Premier Hospital, Abuja, on specimens received over a one-year period. Four hundred and eighty-six samples of endometrial biopsies and curettings from women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding sent to the histopathology laboratory were analyzed. The most common biopsies were those of product of conception which accounted for 304 cases (62.6%). Most of the cases of endometrial hyperplasia were typical. Endometritis and chorioamnionitis were the inflammatory conditions seen. Twenty-three women had molar pregnancies. The most common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding in this population is retained products of conception. There may be need to retrain some of the staff involved in the management of pregnancy related complications. There is need to further evaluate pregnancy related complications to ascertain the causes and circumstances responsible for them so as to appropriately direct interventional protocols.
Early Enhanced Leucine-Rich α-2-Glycoprotein-1 Expression in Glomerular Endothelial Cells of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Model Mice
Authors: haku Sona , Wakui Hiromichi , Azushima Kengo , Haruhara Kotaro , Kinguchi Sho , Ohki Kohji , Uneda Kazushi , Kobayashi Ryu , Matsuda Miyuki , Yamaji Takahiro , Yamada Takayuki , Minegishi Shintaro , Ishigami Tomoaki , Yamashita Akio , Ohashi Kenichi , Tamura Kouichi
Published: November 2018

Abnormal angiogenesis plays a major role in the development of early stage diabetic nephropathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a classical proangiogenic factor that regulates abnormal glomerular angiogenesis linked to glomerular hypertrophy in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy. Leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) was recently reported as a novel proangiogenic factor that is expressed in endothelial cells and promotes angiogenesis by modulating the transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway. However, the pathophysiology of LRG1 in diabetic nephropathy remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated intrarenal expression of the novel proangiogenic factor LRG1 in diabetic db/db mice by immunohistochemistry and a laser capture microdissection method during the development of diabetic nephropathy. We hypothesized that glomerular LRG1 expression is increased earlier than VEGF expression under conditions of pathological angiogenesis in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy. Thus, we compared glomerular expression of VEGF and LRG1 in diabetic db/db mice at 16 and 24 weeks of age. At 16 weeks, diabetic db/db mice exhibited glomerular hypertrophy with abnormal angiogenesis characterized by endothelial cell proliferation, which was concomitant with an increase in LRG1 expression of glomerular endothelial cells. However, glomerular VEGF expression was not increased at this early stage. At 24 weeks, the features of early diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice had developed further, along with further enhanced glomerular LRG1 expression. At this late stage, glomerular VEGF and fibrosis-related-gene expression was also significantly increased compared with nondiabetic db/m mice. These results suggest that LRG1 plays a pivotal role in the initial development of diabetic nephropathy by promoting abnormal angiogenesis, thereby suggesting that LRG1 is a potential preemptive therapeutic target of diabetic nephropathy.
On the Relationship between the Invariance and Conservation Laws of Differential Equations
Authors: Kara A. H.
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we highlight the complimentary nature of the results of Anco & Bluman and Ibragimov in the construction of conservation laws that whilst the former establishes the role of multipliers, the latter presents a formal procedure to determine the flows. Secondly, we show that there is an underlying relationship between the symmetries and conservation laws in a general setting, extending the results of Kara & Mahomed. The results take apparently differently forms for point symmetry generators and higher-order symmetries. Similarities exist, to some extent, with a previously established result relating symmetries and multipliers of a differential equation. A number of examples are presented.
Coconut Water: An Unexpected Source of Urinary Citrate
Authors: Patel Roshan M. , Jiang Pengbo , Asplin John , Granja Ignacio , Capretz Taylor , Osann Kathryn , Okhunov Zhamshid , Landman Jaime , Clayman Ralph V.
Published: November 2018

Purpose. Coconut water has long been touted for its medicinal qualities including natural hydration. We sought to determine whether its consumption would induce changes to urinary lithogenic factors beyond changes in urine volume. Materials and Methods. After Institutional Review Board approval, volunteers with no prior history of nephrolithiasis were recruited. Each participant was randomized initially to either the coconut water or the water phase of the study. Participants kept meticulous food and fluid intake logs during the first phase of the study and were asked to replicate that diet for the second phase. For each phase the participant consumed 2L of either Taste of Nirvana® pure coconut water or tap water daily for four days. Participants were not restricted to consume additional fluid of their choice during their assigned study phase. During days 3 and 4 of each phase the participant collected a 24-hour urine specimen. Coconut water citrate and malate content were measured and were used along with the beverage pH to calculate the total alkali content of the coconut water. Supersaturation levels were calculated using Equil2. Nonparametric paired analysis using the Wilcoxon test was performed for statistical analysis. Results. There were 4 adult male and 4 adult female participants. Each individual’s 24-hour urine collection had a creatinine excretion within 20% of the mean for each subject’s four samples corroborating that all samples were collected properly. The two samples from each phase for each individual were averaged. The coconut water itself was also analyzed and it was calculated to have a total alkali content of 13.8 mEq/L. Consumption of coconut water significantly increased urinary citrate (29%, p=0.02), urinary potassium (130%, p=0.01), and urinary chloride (37%, p=0.03), without affecting urine pH (p=0.16) or volume beyond that of tap water (p=1.00). Conclusions. Coconut water consumption increases urinary potassium, chloride, and citrate in nonstone forming individuals.
New Results on Fuzzy Synchronization for a Kind of Disturbed Memristive Chaotic System
Authors: Wang Bo , Chen L. L.
Published: November 2018

This paper concerns the problem on the fuzzy synchronization for a kind of disturbed memristive chaotic system. First, based on fuzzy theory, the fuzzy model for a memristive chaotic system is presented; next, based on H‐infinity technique, a multidimensional fuzzy controller and a single‐dimensional fuzzy controller are designed to realize the synchronization of master‐slave chaotic systems with disturbances. Finally, some typical examples are included to illuminate the correctness of the given control method.
Multiphysical Simulations for the IAEA/ISCP Benchmark Model on the Contact of Pressure Tube and Calandria Tube in the Moderator System of CANDU-6 PHWR
Authors: Kim Hyoung Tae , Chang Se-Myong , Son Young Woo , Min Taegee
Published: November 2018

The LOCA (loss of coolant accident) is a kind of severe accident in the operation of PHWR (pressurized heavy water reactor) as well as other nuclear facilities, and possible cause of LOCA can be counted on the ballooning of pressure tube (PT) contacted to the outer calandria tube (CT) in the moderator system of CANDU-6 reactors. In the paper, we simulated the 150-kW experimental facility proposed by IAEA/ISCP, modeling the transient creeping behavior of pressurized tube heated with thermal radiation between the gaps of two concentric pipes. The outer boundary is simplified with a switched model that depends on the local temperature. With a multiphysical model supported by a commercial code, COMSOL multiphysics, the unsteady phenomena are simulated with models concerning various kinds of mechanics such as thermodynamics, nonlinear structural dynamics, and two-phase boiling heat transfer models.
Immunosenescence of Natural Killer Cells, Inflammation, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Solana Corona , Tarazona Raquel , Solana Rafael
Published: November 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Although the aetiology of AD is not clear, both environmental factors and heritable predisposition may contribute to disease occurrence. In addition, inflammation and immune system alterations have been linked to AD. The prevailing hypothesis as cause of AD is the deposition in the brain of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). Although Aβhave a role in defending the brain against infections, their accumulation promotes an inflammatory response mediated by microglia and astrocytes. The production of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and complement factors favours the recruitment of peripheral immune cells further promoting neuroinflammation. Age-related inflammation and chronic infection with herpes virus such as cytomegalovirus may also contribute to inflammation in AD patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells involved in host defence against viral infections and tumours. Once activated NK cells secrete cytokines such as IFN-γand TNF-αand chemokines and exert cytotoxic activity against target cells. In the elderly, changes in NK cell compartment have been described which may contribute to the lower capacity of elderly individuals to respond to pathogens and tumours. Recently, the role of NK cells in the immunopathogenesis of AD is discussed. Although in AD patients the frequency of NK cells is not affected, a high NK cell response to cytokines has been described together with NK cell dysregulation of signalling pathways which is in part involved in this altered behaviour.
The Impact of Magnetic Materials in Renewable Energy‐Related Technologies in the 21st Century Industrial Revolution: The Case of South Africa
Authors: Matizamhuka Wallace
Published: November 2018

Magnetic materials specifically permanent magnets are critical for the efficient performance of many renewable energy technologies. The increased reliance on renewable energy sources has accelerated research in energy‐related technologies the world over. The use of rare‐earth (RE) metals in permanent magnets continues to be a source of greater concern owing to the limited RE supply coupled with dwindling reserves on the globe. This review focuses on how this has impacted on the state‐of‐the‐art magnetic materials that continue to play a pivotal role in driving renewable energy technologies. Magnetic materials are perceived as key in driving the 21st century industrial revolution, and the participation of South Africa in this energy paradigm is critical in driving a new industrial revolution within the African continent. A number of opportunities are highlighted, and clarity is given on the several ubiquitous misconceptions and the risks on the heavy reliance on a single source for RE magnetic materials.
Purification and Characterization of Glutathione Binding Protein GsiB from Escherichia coli
Authors: Wang Zhongshan , Xia Xiaokun , Zhang Meixian , Fang Jiawei , Li Yanqiang , Zhang Meng
Published: November 2018

Objectives. To purify and characterize the glutathione binding protein GsiB of glutathione importer (GSI) in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Results. The coding sequence of GsiB was cloned from E. coli MG1655 and expressed in BL21(DE3). GsiB protein was expressed and purified to homogeneity using Ni-affinity and gel filtration chromatography. SDS-PAGE of purified GsiB showed a single protein band of molecular mass 56 kDa, while native gel showed two bands around 56 kDa and 110 kDa. Gene knockout showed that GsiB was essential for GSI mediated glutathione import. Interactions of GsiA, B, C, and D were determined using bacterial two-hybrid method. Without glutathione, GsiB showed no direct interaction with the other three proteins. However, GsiB could interact with GsiC and GsiD when using glutathione as sole sulfur source. Conclusions. GsiB functions in E. coli was characterized which could help elucidate the glutathione import mechanism in gram-negative bacteria.
Bioremoval of Different Heavy Metals by the Resistant Fungal StrainAspergillus niger
Authors: Acosta-Rodríguez Ismael , Cárdenas-González Juan F. , Rodríguez Pérez Adriana S. , Oviedo Juana Tovar , Martínez-Juárez Víctor M.
Published: November 2018

The objective of this work was to study the resistance and removal capacity of heavy metals by the fungusAspergillus niger. We analyzed the resistance to some heavy metals by dry weight and plate: the fungus grew in 2000 ppm of zinc, lead, and mercury, 1200 and 1000 ppm of arsenic (III) and (VI), 800 ppm of fluor and cobalt, and least in cadmium (400 ppm). With respect to their potential of removal of heavy metals, this removal was achieved for zinc (100%), mercury (83.2%), fluor (83%), cobalt (71.4%), fairly silver (48%), and copper (37%). The ideal conditions for the removal of 100 mg/L of the heavy metals were 28°C, pH between 4.0 and 5.5, 100 ppm of heavy metal, and 1 g of fungal biomass.
Pythagorean Fuzzy Interaction Partitioned Bonferroni Mean Operators and Their Application in Multiple‐Attribute Decision‐Making
Authors: Yang Wei , Shi Jiarong , Liu Yong , Pang Yongfeng , Lin Ruiyue
Published: November 2018

The aim of this paper is to develop partitioned Pythagorean fuzzy interaction Bonferroni mean operators based on the Pythagorean fuzzy set, Bonferroni mean, and interaction between membership and nonmembership. Several new aggregation operators are developed including the Pythagorean fuzzy interaction partitioned Bonferroni mean (PFIPBM) operator, the Pythagorean fuzzy weighted interaction partitioned Bonferroni mean (PFWIPBM) operator, the Pythagorean fuzzy interaction partitioned geometric Bonferroni mean (PFIPGBM) operator, and the Pythagorean fuzzy weighted interaction partitioned geometric Bonferroni mean (PFWIPGBM) operator. Some main properties and some special particular cases of the new operators are studied. Many existing operators are the special cases of new aggregation operators. Moreover, a multiple‐attribute decision‐making method based on the proposed operator has been developed and the investment company selection problem is presented to illustrate feasibility and practical advantages of the new method.
Diagnostic Validation for Participants in the Washington State Parkinson Disease Registry
Authors: Kim Hojoong M. , Leverenz James B. , Burdick Daniel J. , Srivatsal Sindhu , Pate Jennifer , Hu Shu-Ching , Millard Steven P. , Davis Marie Y. , Samii Ali , Zabetian Cyrus P.
Published: November 2018

Background. The Washington State Parkinson Disease Registry (WPDR) was created to facilitate recruitment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) research studies conducted in the Pacific Northwest. The success of registries that rely on self-report is dependent on the accuracy of the information provided by participants, particularly diagnosis. Objective and Methods. Our goal was to assess diagnostic accuracy within the WPDR cohort. We randomly selected and attempted to contact 168 of the 1,278 actively enrolled WPDR participants. Those who responded were invited to undergo an interview and neurological examination performed by a PD specialist. If an in-person assessment was not possible, we sought information collected during participation in prior research studies or from review of medical records. A diagnosis was considered “validated” if the individual met UK Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank (UKBB) clinical diagnostic criteria for PD. Results. Data were ascertained for 106 participants; 77 underwent an in-person assessment, 21 had data available from a prior research study, and 8 provided access to medical records. Diagnostic accuracy within the overall sample was 93.4% (95% confidence interval (86.4%, 97.1%)). Seven patients did not fulfill UKBB criteria for the following reasons: early severe autonomic involvement (n=3), history of neuroleptic treatment (n=1), presence of the Babinski sign (n=1), or insufficient supportive criteria (n=2). Conclusions. Our results indicate that studies which use the WPDR for recruitment will rarely encounter patients who are misdiagnosed. This further supports the utility of the WPDR as an effective recruitment tool for PD research in the Pacific Northwest.
Image-Guided Neutron Capture Therapy Using the Gd-DO3A-BTA Complex as a New Combinatorial Treatment Approach
Authors: Jung Ki-Hye , Park Ji-Ae , Kim Jung Young , Kim Mi Hyun , Oh Seyoung , Kim Hee-Kyung , Choi Eun-Ji , Kim Han-Jun , Do Sun Hee , Lee Kyo Chul , Kim Kyeong Min , Lee Yong Jin , Chang Yongmin
Published: November 2018

Gadolinium-neutron capture therapy (Gd-NCT) is based on the nuclear capture reaction that occurs when 157Gd is irradiated with low energy thermal neutrons to primarily produce gamma photons. Herein, we investigated the effect of neutron capture therapy (NCT) using a small molecular gadolinium complex, Gd-DO3A-benzothiazole (Gd-DO3A-BTA), which could be a good candidate for use as an NCT drug due to its ability to enter the intracellular nuclei of tumor cells. Furthermore, MRI images of Gd-DO3A-BTA showed a clear signal enhancement in the tumor, and the images also played a key role in planning NCT by providing accurate information on the in vivo uptake time and duration of Gd-DO3A-BTA. We injected Gd-DO3A-BTA into MDA-MB-231 breast tumor-bearing mice and irradiated the tumors with cyclotron neutrons at the maximum accumulation time (postinjection 6 h); then, we observed the size of the growing tumor for 60 days. Gd-DO3A-BTA showed good therapeutic effects of chemo-Gd-NCT for the in vivo tumor models. Simultaneously, the Gd-DO3A-BTA groups ([Gd-DO3A-BTA(+), NCT(+)]) showed a significant reduction in tumor size (p<0.05), and the inhibitory effect on tumor growth was exhibited in the following order: [Gd-DO3A-BTA(+), NCT(+)] > [Gd-DO3A-BTA(+), NCT(−)] > [Gd-DO3A-BTA(−), NCT(+)] > [Gd-DO3A-BTA(−), NCT(−)]. On day 60, the [Gd-DO3A-BTA(+), NCT(+)] and [Gd-DO3A-BTA(−), NCT(−)] groups exhibited an approximately 4.5-fold difference in tumor size. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that new combinational therapy with chemo-Gd-NCT could treat breast cancer by both the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis-related proteins, with in vivo tumor monitoring by MRI.
Reoptimization Heuristic for the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Linfati Rodrigo , Escobar John Willmer
Published: November 2018

The solution to a dynamic context of the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) is challenging. Routing and replenishment decisions are necessary by considering the assignment of customers to vehicles when the information is gradually revealed over horizon time. The procedure to solve this type of problems is referred to as route reoptimization, which is the best option for minimizing expected transportation cost without incurring failures of unsatisfied demand on a route. This paper proposes a heuristic algorithm for the reoptimization of CVRP in which the number of customers increases. The algorithm uses proposed performance metrics to reduce route dispersion and minimize length. The initial solution is generated using the savings algorithm and then enhanced using the Record-to-Record travel metaheuristic. By including or reducing new customers in the system, a reoptimization is performed which considers the visited nodes and edges as fixed. The optimization of the algorithm is implemented hierarchically by first minimizing dispersion and then minimizing distance. Next, the local search procedure is executed to improve the solution. A classic optimization is performed on all instances using the original and new customers’ information for later comparison to minimize distance. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm was validated using real-world cases from the literature. The results are promising and show the effectiveness of the proposed method for solving the considered problem by using reoptimization procedures in order to achieve good approximation ratios within short computing times.
Life Cycle Costing of Alternative Value Chains of Biomass Energy for Cooking in Kenya and Tanzania
Authors: Okoko Abigael , von Dach Susanne Wymann , Reinhard Juergen , Kiteme Boniface , Owuor Samuel
Published: November 2018

In near future, wood-based biomass energy will remain the main cooking energy for households in East Africa, especially for poor households due to its availability and affordability. Alternative biomass fuels however exist. Economic viability of these alternatives is important due to its potential to influence their adoption and sustained use. This research evaluates the economic efficiency of firewood, charcoal, biogas, jatropha oil, and crop residue briquettes value chains in the rural-urban contexts of Kitui, Kenya, and Moshi, Tanzania, using Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodology. LCC helps to identify areas along the value chains where costs occur and where improvements are feasible. Jatropha oil manual value chain has the highest cost. Firewood use with improved cook stoves is cost efficient. In Moshi’s rural context, royalty fees increases cost of charcoal. Similarly, biogas in Kitui is less likely to be economically viable. Briquettes however have a competitive advantage over charcoal. The costs are dominated by fuel provision compared to cost of stoves. Therefore, payment schemes that improve adoption of improved stoves perceived as expensive will substantially reduce fuel cost. Enhancing availability and accessibility of technologies such as briquette presses will enhance biomass energy access and provide a source of income for households.
Oxidative Stress and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Wu Po-Jung , Chen Jin-Bor , Lee Wen-Chin , Ng Hwee-Yeong , Lien Shu-Ching , Tsai Pei-Ying , Wu Chien-Hsing , Lee Chien-Te , Chiou Terry Ting-Yu
Published: November 2018

Introduction. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming more common around the world and it may progress to cirrhosis and liver failure, increasing mortality risk. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, NAFLD may be a novel risk factor for their high cardiovascular mortality. Heightened oxidative stress is highly prevalent in HD patients. However, the relationship between oxidative stress and NAFLD in HD patients is not well defined.Methods. We studied seventy-one stable nondiabetic HD patients. Nineteen patients had the diagnosis of NAFLD by ultrasonography. Blood levels of oxidative stress markers were measured in each patient, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free thiols, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. The copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in peripheral leukocytes were also determined. Demographic, biochemistry, and hemogram data were recorded. The two groups of patients were compared in order to determine the factors associated with NAFLD in HD patients.Findings. Compared to those without NAFLD, nondiabetic HD patients with NAFLD had significantly higher mtDNA copy number and GPx levels. The two groups did not differ significantly in dialysis adequacy, hemoglobin, serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, liver function tests, or lipid profiles. Regression analysis confirmed mtDNA copy numbers and GPx levels as two independent factors associated with NAFLD. Compared to those with polysulfone, patients dialyzed with cellulose membrane have significantly higher levels of TBARS. However, patients with or without NAFLD did not differ in their use of either dialysis membrane.Discussion. Oxidative stress (represented by antioxidant defense, GPx) and mitochondrial DNA copy numbers are independently associated with fatty liver disease in nondiabetic HD patients. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of this key observation warrant further exploration.
Height Estimation of Target Objects Based on Structured Light
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Yongsheng
Published: November 2018

The height estimation of the target object is an important research direction in the field of computer vision. The three-dimensional reconstruction of structured light has the characteristics of high precision, noncontact, and simple structure and is widely used in military simulation and cultural heritage protection. In this paper, the height of the target object is estimated by using the word structure light. According to the height dictionary, the height under the offset is estimated by the movement of the structured light to the object. In addition, by effectively preprocessing the captured structured light images, such as expansion, seeking skeleton, and other operations, the flexibility of estimating the height of different objects by structured light is increased, and the height of the target object can be estimated more accurately.
Robot Motion Planning Method Based on Incremental High‐Dimensional Mixture Probabilistic Model
Authors: Zha Fusheng , Liu Yizhou , Wang Xin , Chen Fei , Li Jingxuan , Guo Wei
Published: November 2018

The sampling‐based motion planner is the mainstream method to solve the motion planning problem in high‐dimensional space. In the process of exploring robot configuration space, this type of algorithm needs to perform collision query on a large number of samples, which greatly limits their planning efficiency. Therefore, this paper uses machine learning methods to establish a probabilistic model of the obstacle region in configuration space by learning a large number of labeled samples. Based on this, the high‐dimensional samples’ rapid collision query is realized. The influence of number of Gaussian components on the fitting accuracy is analyzed in detail, and a self‐adaptive model training method based on Greedy expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed. At the same time, this method has the capability of online updating and can eliminate model fitting errors due to environmental changes. Finally, the model is combined with a variety of sampling‐based motion planners and is validated in multiple sets of simulations and real world experiments. The results show that, compared with traditional methods, the proposed method has significantly improved the planning efficiency.
Risk Factors for Fatal Pulmonary Hemorrhage following Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Stage 3B/C Squamous-Cell Lung Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Topkan Erkan , Selek Ugur , Ozdemir Yurday , Besen Ali A. , Guler Ozan C. , Yildirim Berna A. , Mertsoylu Huseyin , Findikcioglu Alper , Ozyilkan Ozgur , Pehlivan Berrin
Published: November 2018

We aimed to identify the fatal pulmonary hemorrhage- (FPH-) related risk factors in stage 3B/C squamous-cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Medical records of 505 stage 3B/C SqCLC patients who underwent 66 Gy radiotherapy plus 1-3 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy with available pretreatment thoracic computerized tomography scans were retrospectively analyzed. Primary end-point was the identification of FPH-related risk factors. Examined factors included the basal patient and tumor characteristics with specific emphasis on the tumor cavitation (TC) status, tumor size (TS) and cavitation size (CS), tumor volume and cavitation volume (TV and CV), relative cavitation size (RCS = CS/TS), and relative cavitation volume (RCV=CV/TV). FPH emerged in 13 (2.6%) patients, with 12 (92.3%) of them being diagnosed ≤12 months of C-CRT. All FPHs were diagnosed in patients with TC (N=60): group-specific FPH incidence: 21.6%. TC (P<0.001) was the unique independent factor associated with higher FPH risk in multivariate analysis. Further analysis limited to TC patients exhibited the RCV>0.14 (37.5% versus 11.1% for RCV≤0.14; P<0.001), major RCS group [31.0% versus 19.0% for minor versus 0% for minimum RCS; P=0.008), and baseline hemoptysis (26.3% versus 13.6% for no hemoptysis; P=0.009) as the independent risk factors for higher FPH incidence. FPH was an infrequent (2.6%) complication of C-CRT in stage 3B/C SqCLC patients, but its incidence increased to 37.5% in patients presenting with TC and RCV>0.14. Diagnosis of >90% FPHs ≤12 months of C-CRT stresses the importance of close and careful follow-up of high-risk patients after C-CRT for multidisciplinary discussion of possible invasive preventive measures.
HSP-70-Mediated Hyperbaric Oxygen Reduces Brain and Pulmonary Edema and Cognitive Deficits in Rats in a Simulated High-Altitude Exposure
Authors: Wu Hsing-Hsien , Niu Ko-Chi , Lin Cheng-Hsien , Lin Hung-Jung , Chang Ching-Ping , Wang Chia-Ti
Published: November 2018

High-mountain sickness is characterized by brain and pulmonary edema and cognitive deficits. The definition can be fulfilled by a rat model of high-altitude exposure (HAE) used in the present study. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2T) and to determine the underlying mechanisms. Rats were subjected to an HAE (9.7% O2at 0.47 absolute atmosphere of 6,000 m for 3 days). Immediately after termination of HAE, rats were treated with HBO2T (100% O2at 2.0 absolute atmosphere for 1 hour per day for 5 consecutive days) or non-HBO2T (21% O2at 1.0 absolute atmosphere for 1 hour per day for 5 consecutive days). As compared to non-HAE+non-HBO2T controls, the HAE+non-HBO2T rats exhibited brain edema and resulted in cognitive deficits, reduced food and water consumption, body weight loss, increased cerebral inflammation and oxidative stress, and pulmonary edema. HBO2T increased expression of both hippocampus and lung heat shock protein (HSP-70) and also reversed the HAE-induced brain and pulmonary edema, cognitive deficits, reduced food and water consumption, body weight loss, and brain inflammation and oxidative stress. Decreasing the overexpression of HSP-70 in both hippocampus and lung tissues with HSP-70 antibodies significantly attenuated the beneficial effects exerted by HBO2T in HAE rats. Our data provide in vivo evidence that HBO2T works on a remodeling of brain/lung to exert a protective effect against simulated high-mountain sickness via enhancing HSP-70 expression in HAE rats.
Developmentally Changing Attractor Dynamics of Manual Actions with Objects in Late Infancy
Authors: Borjon Jeremy I. , Abney Drew H. , Smith Linda B. , Yu Chen
Published: November 2018

Human infants interact with the environment through a growing and changing body and their manual actions provide new opportunities for exploration and learning. In the current study, a dynamical systems approach was used to quantify and characterize the early motor development of limb effectors during bouts of manual activity. Many contemporary theories of motor development emphasize sources of order in movement over developmental time. However, little is known about the dynamics of manual actions during the first two years of life, a period of development with dramatic anatomical changes resulting in new opportunities for action. Here, we introduce a novel analytical protocol for estimating properties of attractor regions using motion capture. We apply this new analysis to a longitudinal corpus of manual actions during sessions of toy play across the first two years of life. Our results suggest that the size of attractor regions for manual actions increases across development and that infants spend more time inside the attractor region of their movements during bouts of manual actions with objects. The sources of order in manual actions are discussed in terms of changing attractor dynamics across development.