bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Buckling Characteristics of Laminated Functionally-Graded CNT-Reinforced Composite Plate under Nonuniform Uniaxial and Biaxial In-Plane Edge Loads
Authors: Adhikari Balakrishna , Singh B. N.
Published: November 2019

In this paper, the buckling response of laminated functionally-graded CNT-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plate structure is predicted under various types of non-uniform edge compression loading. For the finite element (FE) discretization of the plate, a nine degree of freedom (DOFs)-type polynomial-based higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) is considered. The application of non-uniform edge load causes the in-plane stress distribution to be non-uniform. Hence, the in-plane stresses need to be evaluated prior to the buckling analysis. These in-plane stresses are calculated using the in-plane stress analysis method by FE approach or the in-plane elasticity approach. The differential equations are obtained by employing the Lagrange equation of motion and solved as a general eigenvalue problem, after the differential equations are converted into homogeneous equations by means of FE procedure. The accuracy and adaptability of the present model are validated by comparing the present result with the available literature. Further, the impact on the buckling response of the laminated FG-CNTRC plate is investigated by various parameters such as span thickness ratio, aspect ratio, various edge constraints, and different types of non-uniform edge load, CNT fiber gradation and temperature dependency material properties.
Trait-Based Module for Culturally-Competent Robots
Authors: Borgo Stefano , Blanzieri Enrico
Published: November 2019

Robots might not act according to human expectations if they cannot anticipate how people make sense of a situation and what behavior they consider appropriate in some given circumstances. In many cases, understanding, expectations and behavior are constrained, if not driven, by culture, and a robot that knows about human culture could improve the quality level of human–robot interaction. Can we share human culture with a robot? Can we provide robots with formal representations of different cultures? In this paper, we discuss the (elusive) notion of culture and propose an approach based on the notion of trait which, we argue, permits us to build formal modules suitable to represent culture (broadly understood) in a robot architecture. We distinguish the types of traits that such modules should contain, namely behavior, knowledge, rule and interpretation traits, and how they could be organized. We identify the interpretation process that maps situations to specific knowledge traits, called scenarios, as a key component of the trait-based culture module. Finally, we describe how culture modules can be integrated in an existing architecture, and discuss three use cases to exemplify the advantages of having a culture module in the robot architecture highlighting surprising potentialities.
A Discontinuous Dual Reciprocity Method in Conjunction with a Regularized Levenberg–Marquardt Method for Source Term Recovery in Inhomogeneous Anisotropic Materials
Authors: Ellabib Abdellatif , El Madkouri Abdessamad
Published: November 2019

This paper outlines a new approach to identify a source term of a [Formula: see text]D elliptic equation for anisotropic nonhomogenous media. The proposed methodology is based on the minimization of an objective function representing differences between the measured potential and those calculated by using the discontinuous dual reciprocity boundary element method, the measurements are required to render a unique solution and supposed to be pointwise in the problem domain. Since the additional data may be contaminated by measurement noises or the numerical computing errors, we adopt a regularizing Levenberg–Marquardt method to solve the nonlinear least-squares problem attained from the inverse source problem. The numerical performance of the proposed approach is studied at the end for both geometries: smooth and piecewise smooth one. The results show a very good agreement with the analytical solutions under exact and noisy data.
SEA, Urban Plans and Solid Waste Management in Kenya: Participation and Learning for Sustainable Cities
Authors: Ozoike-Dennis Patricia , Spaling Harry , Sinclair A. John , Walker Heidi M.
Published: November 2019

This paper examines the role of participation and learning in Kenyan strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) of urban plans that include a solid waste management (SWM) component. Two SEA cases were studied using 40 semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. Data are analysed qualitatively employing NVivo software. Participation is assessed using ideal conditions of learning derived from Transformative Learning Theory, and operationalised for this study. Strengths of SEA participation are freedom from coercion and equal opportunity to participate. Notable weaknesses include inaccessibility of SEA documents, inadequate participant funding, and lack of feedback and transparency about the SEA findings. Participants exhibited numerous learning outcomes and associated social actions on urban SWM including waste sorting, recycling and composting (instrumental learning), sharing values and community collaborations on cleanup and recycling (communicative learning), and altering conventional viewpoints from ‘waste for disposal’ to ‘waste as a resource’ (transformative learning), including for livelihood opportunities.
Three-dimensional imaging of spatio-temporal dynamics of small blood capillary network in the cortex based on optical coherence tomography: A review
Authors: Xing Fangjian , Lee Jang-Hoon , Polucha Collin , Lee Jonghwan
Published: November 2019

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has emerged as an advanced in vivo imaging modality, which is widely used for the clinic ophthalmology and neuroscience research in the rodent brain cortex among others. Based on the high numerical aperture (NA) probing lens and the motion-corrected algorithms, a high-resolution imaging technique called OCT micro-angiography is applied to resolve the small blood capillary vessels ranging from 5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m to 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m in diameter. As OCT-based techniques are recently evolving further from the structural imaging of capillaries toward spatio-temporal dynamic imaging of blood flow in capillaries, here we present a review on the latest techniques for the dynamic flow imaging. Studies on capillary blood flow using these techniques will help us better understand the roles of capillary blood flow for normal functioning of the brain as well as how it malfunctions in diseases.
Ternary AgCl/Ag/Bi2O2CO3 as novel indirect Z-scheme photocatalysts for highly efficient pharmaceuticals and dyes degradation
Authors: Yu Huan , Yin Haoyong , Zhao Shumin , Gong Jianying , Nie Qiulin , Wang Ling
Published: November 2019

Ternary AgCl/Ag/Bi2O2CO3 was designed as novel indirect Z-scheme photocatalysts via in situ precipitation and subsequent photo-reduction process. The morphology, structure, chemical composition, optical and photoelectrochemical properties were characterized via various methods. The photocatalyst showed highly improved photocatalytic performance for Tetracycline (TC), Rhodamine B (RhB) and Carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was mainly due to the formation of ternary AgCl/Ag/Bi2O2CO3 with indirect Z-scheme structures. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed based on the trapping experiment and band structures of the photocatalyst.
Magnetic Spin Susceptibility of Graphene in Ferromagnetic State: A Tight-Binding Model Study
Authors: Sahu Sivabrata , Rout G. C.
Published: November 2019

We report here a tight-binding model study of frequency-dependent ferromagnetic spin susceptibility of the graphene system. The tight-binding Hamiltonian consists of electron hoppings up to third-nearest-neighbors, substrate and impurity effects in the presence of Coulomb interaction of electrons separately at two in-equivalent A and B sub-lattices of graphene. To calculate magnetic susceptibility, we calculate the two-particle electron Green’s functions by using Zubarev’s double time Green’s function technique. The electron occupations at A and B sub-lattices for both up and down spins are computed numerically and self-consistently. The frequency-dependent real part of ferromagnetic susceptibility of the system is computed numerically by taking [Formula: see text] grid points of the electron momentum. The susceptibility displays a sharp peak at the neutron momentum transfer energy at low energies and another higher energy resonance peak appearing at substrate-induced gap. The [Formula: see text]-peak shifts to a higher energy with the increase of momentum [Formula: see text]. The susceptibility shows that the high energy peak shifts to higher energies due to the corresponding increase of substrate-induced gap observed experimentally. It is observed that the Coulomb interaction suppresses the substrate-induced gap, but the impurity doping at A site enhances the substrate-induced gap, while doping at B site suppresses it.
Chinese Overseas M&As in Pakistan
Authors: Gnomblerou Edna
Published: November 2019

Chinese policies toward foreign investments have been increasingly flexible, precisely those concerning the transfer of their capital toward international markets as willed by the “Going Global” policy initiated in the early 2000s. In this flow, several cases of corporate combinations have occurred around the world between Chinese firms and others. This paper analyzes the case of Paktel and China Mobile that took place in 2007, in the era prior to the new leading Chinese initiative called the One Belt and One Road (OBOR), with the purpose of better understanding the motives and the framework of this strategic corporate behavior. After analyzing the case from the theories of firm internationalization and institution-based view, the paper suggests that the loosening of Chinese policies toward foreign investments in the beginning of the 21st century has greatly influenced the growing level of Chinese overseas investments and mostly has boosted Chinese Merger and Acquisition (M&A) deals around the world. However, in Pakistan only few cases of M&As have been recorded during the observed period. Additionally, the paper found evidence to support good firm performance in post-M&A era for the Chinese firms. These imply that policies established by institutions have an impact on firms’ organizational strategic decision-making and that Chinese firms can perform well on international markets. Due to the qualitative methodology used in this research, the suggestions and implications are limited but still provide some highlights on the effects of institution-based investment policies on firm’s strategic behaviors. Further, the paper could be extended to an analysis of the Chinese M&As in Pakistan in the post-OBOR era for more cases can be expected with the effective enforcement of the initiative in Pakistan.
Berea sandstone: A heritage stone of international significance from Ohio, USA
Authors: Hannibal Joseph T.
Published: November 2019

Berea sandstone, a potential Global Heritage Stone Resource, has been one of the most widely used sandstones in North America. This Paleozoic sandstone, quarried for more than 200 years in Ohio, has been used across much of the continent. Thousands of commercial, residential, ecclesiastical, government and other structures have been built with Berea sandstone, including Thomas Worthington's mansion in Chillicothe, Ohio, the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, the Carnegie Library and Natural History Museum Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and parts of the Parliament buildings in Canada. Grindstones made from Berea sandstone were shipped throughout North America, as well as to the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Asia. The stone is celebrated in a number of locations, notably Berea and Amherst, where quarries have been important historical sources of this stone. It has been known by a number of different geological and commercial names, including Berea grit and Amherst stone, complicating its identification from historical sources. Stone from the most productive quarries, however, was known to be homogeneous and can be identified by its quartz–arenite to sublithic–arenite composition, its fine to medium sand (125–350 µm) grain size and iron-cement spots. Berea sandstone continues to be quarried today in Erie and Lorain counties.
Triggers of sand remobilization in deep marine deposits
Authors: Hermanrud C. , Christensen E. , Haugvaldstad M. , Røynestad L. M. , Tjensvold I. T. , Watsend L.
Published: November 2019

Sand injections are overrepresented in deep marine deposits and other settings with slope instabilities. We have examined seismic data from the North Sea to reveal their main trigger mechanisms. This was performed by inspection of local seismic observations in the Oligocene to Miocene sediments above the Utsira High and analyses of regional distribution of mounds at the top Hordaland Group surface in the northern North Sea. We make the observations that (1) the uplift of jack-up folds is in most cases larger than the sand thickness within the mounds, (2) onlap to mounds is present in periods with sand deposition, but no such onlap is seen in mudstones that were deposited in periods with little or no sand input, (3) onlapping to several Oligocene surfaces is seen above the Utsira High, (4) rim synclines are not present adjacent to Oligocene and Miocene mounds and (5) mounds that affect the top Hordaland Group surface are present in basin flanks and at basin-flank transitions but not in basin centres. We suggest that triggering by incipient slab sliding can explain these observations.
Archaeointensity of nineteenth-century Scottish firebricks from a foundry in Melbourne, Australia: comparisons with field models and magnetic observatory data
Authors: Lisé-Pronovost Agathe , Mallett Tom , Herries Andy I. R.
Published: November 2019

An archaeomagnetic intensity study was conducted on nineteenth-century firebricks manufactured in Scotland and used in an iron foundry in Melbourne, Australia, between 1842 and 1864 CE. Archaeointensity results obtained from bricks with a single component of magnetization gave values of 61.45 ± 0.89 and 61.92 ± 6.84 μT. These values are in agreement with historical absolute intensity measurements taken at the Melbourne geomagnetic observatory between 1858 and 1863 CE (61.17 ± 0.078 μT) and with the gufm1 model based on mariners’ data. A high-temperature vector component, presumably acquired at the time of manufacture in Scotland, was isolated in certain firebricks and an archaeointensity of 48.3 ± 8.39 μT was obtained, which is consistent with the gufm1 model for Scotland at this time (48.79 μT). The dual archaeointensity record of the firebricks supports their geographical provenance, highlighting the potential for archaeointensity data to be used in archaeological artefact-sourcing studies, whilst anomalously high intensities recorded in one of the bricks highlight potential contamination issues from non-Earth magnetic fields in archaeometallurgical contexts. The new Melbourne archaeointensity data are the most precisely dated archaeomagnetic data produced so far for Australia.
How the Geological Survey of Sweden contributes digital data for sustainable development
Authors: Söderberg Lena , Stölen Lars-Kristian , Levén Jakob , Snowball Lovisa Zillén , Reginiussen Helge
Published: November 2019

Changes in society coupled with more ambitious environmental goals increase the need to make the benefits of geological knowledge visible. The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) is therefore evolving from its historical role as a ‘knowledge bank’ to become part of the integrated flow of public information. Three examples of the ongoing digital transformation, and how this will enable the SGU to contribute digital geological data for sustainable development, are:

more automated data collection to monitor drinking water to be able to foresee water shortages;

several new non-traditional marine projects, producing new information and recommendations for innovative measures to support Blue Growth, management and planning;

an online virtual archive containing new data adding to our understanding of bedrock and mineral deposits, in turn leading to more efficient use of Sweden's mineral resources.
How to demonstrate the role of geology in a modern society: the case of Lithuania, where geology is not visible
Authors: Satkūnas Jonas
Published: November 2019

Lithuania is a comparatively small country (65 000 km
2
) with prevailing flat, glacial and post glacial relief composed of soft sediments without any rocky formations visible on the surface. There are no underground mines, but rather only pits for sand and gravel and few quarries of dolomite and limestone. Oil is produced from 15 oil fields in the west of the country. All potable water is taken from aquifers, with negligible if any concern. Most people, therefore, know very little about the geology of Lithuania and hardly realize what the Geological Survey is doing. Only in rare cases of hazardous events, like the Kaliningrad earthquake in 2004, or landslides devastating Gediminas Hill in 2016–17, or the largest karst sinkholes, is the name of the Geological Survey visible in the mass media. Nevertheless, the Geological Survey operates with several duties, private sector geological companies are generating business, and geosciences are on the agenda of scientific institutions. The aim of this study is to take a deeper look into the current factors that are determining the role of the Geological Survey of Lithuania at present, and to outline circumstances which could influence the role of the Survey in the future.
CT LIS
Authors: Liu Shenghua , Shen Huawei , Zheng Houdong , Cheng Xueqi , Liao Xiangwen
Published: November 2019

How to quantify influences between users, seeing that social network users influence each other in their temporal behaviors? Previous work has directly defined an independent model parameter to capture the interpersonal influence between each pair of users. To do so, these models need a parameter for each pair of users, which results in high-dimensional models becoming easily trapped into the overfitting problem. However, such models do not consider how influences depend on each other if influences are sent from the same user or if influences are received by the same user. Therefore, we propose a model that defines parameters for every user with a latent influence vector and a susceptibility vector, opposite to define influences on user pairs. Such low-dimensional representations naturally cause the interpersonal influences involving the same user to be coupled with each other, thus reducing the model’s complexity. Additionally, the model can easily consider the temporal information and sentimental polarities of users’ messages. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments on two real-world Microblog datasets, showing that our model with such representations achieves best performance on three prediction tasks, compared to the state-of-the-art and pair-wise baselines.
Mining Rank Data
Authors: Henzgen Sascha , Hüllermeier Eyke
Published: November 2019

The problem of frequent pattern mining has been studied quite extensively for various types of data, including sets, sequences, and graphs. Somewhat surprisingly, another important type of data, namely rank data, has received very little attention in data mining so far. In this article, we therefore address the problem of mining rank data, that is, data in the form of rankings (total orders) of an underlying set of items. More specifically, two types of patterns are considered, namely frequent rankings and dependencies between such rankings in the form of association rules. Algorithms for mining frequent rankings and frequent closed rankings are proposed and tested experimentally, using both synthetic and real data.
Multi-Label Punitive kNN with Self-Adjusting Memory for Drifting Data Streams
Authors: Roseberry Martha , Krawczyk Bartosz , Cano Alberto
Published: November 2019

In multi-label learning, data may simultaneously belong to more than one class. When multi-label data arrives as a stream, the challenges associated with multi-label learning are joined by those of data stream mining, including the need for algorithms that are fast and flexible, able to match both the speed and evolving nature of the stream. This article presents a punitive
k
nearest neighbors algorithm with a self-adjusting memory (MLSAMPkNN) for multi-label, drifting data streams. The memory adjusts in size to contain only the current concept and a novel punitive system identifies and penalizes errant data examples early, removing them from the window. By retaining and using only data that are both current and beneficial, MLSAMPkNN is able to adapt quickly and efficiently to changes within the data stream while still maintaining a low computational complexity. Additionally, the punitive removal mechanism offers increased robustness to various data-level difficulties present in data streams, such as class imbalance and noise. The experimental study compares the proposal to 24 algorithms using 30 real-world and 15 artificial multi-label data streams on six multi-label metrics, evaluation time, and memory consumption. The superior performance of the proposed method is validated through non-parametric statistical analysis, proving both high accuracy and low time complexity. MLSAMPkNN is a versatile classifier, capable of returning excellent performance in diverse stream scenarios.
A Pipeline Computing Method of SpTV for Three-Order Tensors on CPU and GPU
Authors: Yang Wangdong , Li Kenli , Li Keqin
Published: November 2019

Tensors have drawn a growing attention in many applications, such as physics, engineering science, social networks, recommended systems. Tensor decomposition is the key to explore the inherent intrinsic data relationship of tensor. There are many sparse tensor and vector multiplications (SpTV) in tensor decomposition. We analyze a variety of storage formats of sparse tensors and develop a piecewise compression strategy to improve the storage efficiency of large sparse tensors. This compression strategy can avoid storing a large number of empty slices and empty fibers in sparse tensors, and thus the storage space is significantly reduced. A parallel algorithm for the SpTV based on the high-order compressed format based on slices is designed to greatly improve its computing performance on graphics processing unit. Each tensor is cut into multiple slices to form a series of sparse matrix and vector multiplications, which form the pipelined parallelism. The transmission time of the slices can be hidden through pipelined parallel to further optimize the performance of the SpTV.
Towards an Efficient Management and Orchestration Framework for Virtual Network Security Functions
Authors: Pedone Ignazio , Lioy Antonio , Valenza Fulvio
Published: November 2019

The recent years have witnessed a growth in the number of users connected to computer networks, due mainly to megatrends such as Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and Smart Grids. Simultaneously, service providers started offering vertical services related to a specific business case (e.g., automotive, banking, and e-health) requiring more and more scalability and flexibility for the infrastructures and their management. NFV and SDN technologies are a clear way forward to address these challenges even though they are still in their early stages. Security plays a central role in this scenario, mainly because it must follow the rapid evolution of computer networks and the growing number of devices. The main issue is to protect the end-user from the increasing threats, and for this reason, we propose in this paper a security framework compliant to the Security-as-a-Service paradigm. In order to implement this framework, we leverage NFV and SDN technologies, using a user-centered approach. This allows to customize the security service starting from user preferences. Another goal of our work is to highlight the main relevant challenges encountered in the design and implementation of our solution. In particular, we demonstrate how significant is to choose an efficient way to configure the Virtual Network Security Functions in terms of performance. Furthermore, we also address the nontrivial problem of Service Function Chaining in an NFV MANO platform and we show what are the main challenges with respect to this problem.
Radiation-Induced Normal Tissue Damage: Oxidative Stress and Epigenetic Mechanisms
Authors: Wei Jinlong , Wang Bin , Wang Huanhuan , Meng Lingbin , Zhao Qin , Li Xinyu , Xin Ying , Jiang Xin
Published: November 2019

Radiotherapy (RT) is currently one of the leading treatments for various cancers; however, it may cause damage to healthy tissue, with both short-term and long-term side effects. Severe radiation-induced normal tissue damage (RINTD) frequently has a significant influence on the progress of RT and the survival and prognosis of patients. The redox system has been shown to play an important role in the early and late effects of RINTD. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are the main sources of RINTD. The free radicals produced by irradiation can upregulate several enzymes including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase), lipoxygenases (LOXs), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and cyclooxygenases (COXs). These enzymes are expressed in distinct ways in various cells, tissues, and organs and participate in the RINTD process through different regulatory mechanisms. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated that epigenetic modulators play an important role in the RINTD process. Epigenetic modifications primarily contain noncoding RNA regulation, histone modifications, and DNA methylation. In this article, we will review the role of oxidative stress and epigenetic mechanisms in radiation damage, and explore possible prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for RINTD.
Hypercalcemic Crisis in a Patient with Post-Surgical Hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Tingsarat Wannita , Lertanasit Chalermchai , Kongkit Jaruwan , Snabboon Thiti
Published: November 2019

Calcium alkali syndrome (CAS), a relatively unusual etiology of hypercalcemia, is characterized by a classical triad of hypercalcemia, azotemia, and metabolic alkalosis. This condition has been described in patients who have taken an excess dose of calcium with an alkali or with a volume-depletion status. To diagnose CAS it requires a high index of suspicion and a detailed history of medication/supplement intake specifically for calcium-containing drugs and a history of all possible ingested alkali. We reported a case of post-surgical hypoparathyroidism whom later on was presented with hypercalcemic crisis due to CAS. The proposed mechanism of CAS and management are also included.
The Importance of Natural Antioxidants in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Animal Models: An Overview
Authors: Coyoy-Salgado Angélica , Segura-Uribe Julia J. , Guerra-Araiza Christian , Orozco-Suárez Sandra , Salgado-Ceballos Hermelinda , Feria-Romero Iris A. , Gallardo Juan Manuel , Orozco-Barrios Carlos E.
Published: November 2019

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) face devastating health, social, and financial consequences, as well as their families and caregivers. Reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress are essential strategies for SCI treatment. Some compounds from traditional medicine could be useful to decrease ROS generated after SCI. This review is aimed at highlighting the importance of some natural compounds with antioxidant capacity used in traditional medicine to treat traumatic SCI. An electronic search of published articles describing animal models of SCI treated with natural compounds from traditional medicine was conducted using the following terms: Spinal Cord Injuries (MeSH terms) AND Models, Animal (MeSH terms) AND [Reactive Oxygen Species (MeSH terms) AND/OR Oxidative Stress (MeSH term)] AND Medicine, Traditional (MeSH terms). Articles reported from 2010 to 2018 were included. The results were further screened by title and abstract for studies performed in rats, mice, and nonhuman primates. The effects of these natural compounds are discussed, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Moreover, the antioxidant properties of natural compounds were emphasized since oxidative stress has a fundamental role in the generation and progression of several pathologies of the nervous system. The use of these compounds diminishes toxic effects due to their high antioxidant capacity. These compounds have been tested in animal models with promising results; however, no clinical studies have been conducted in humans. Further research of these natural compounds is crucial to a better understanding of their effects in patients with SCI.
Influence of a Two-Stage Sintering Process on Characteristics of Porous Ceramics Produced with Sewage Sludge and Coal Ash as Low-Cost Raw Materials
Authors: Al-Qadhi Esam , Li Gaiye , Ni Yaxing
Published: November 2019

In this paper, the two-stage sintering process as a promising strategy has been adopted to prepare high-performance porous ceramics with high porosity. Sewage sludge and waste coal ash were used as raw materials and added were starch and CaCO3 as a mixed foaming agent. The chemical composition of the raw materials and mixed foaming agents were analyzed by standard techniques. All mixtures were prepared from fixed solid materials mixed at a ratio of 48 : 32 : 10 : 10 (wt.%) for coal ash, sludge, starch, and CaCO3, respectively, followed by granular molding, aging, sintering and property survey tests. The influence of heating rate, holding time, and heating temperature of the two stages on the characteristics of the as-obtained porous ceramics was deeply investigated. The properties investigated are apparent porosity, bulk density, compressive strength, and linear shrinkage. On the one hand, the results show that the major content of the raw materials is silica (SiO2). On the other hand, the results show that the first-stage sintering process had minimal influence on the properties, whereas the second-stage sintering process had a significant influence on the properties of the porous ceramics. With the optimized sintering parameters (temperature, heating rate, and holding time) of the first stage and second stage, we obtained a high-performance porous ceramic product with an apparent porosity up to 51.3%, bulk density up to 1.22 g/cm3, linear shrinkage up to 14.3%, and compressive strength up to 25.1 MPa. Also, the results of the phase composition and microstructure revolution showed sufficient glassy phases and feldspar (Ca, Na) (Si, Al)4O8, which are known to enhance bending strength of ceramics. A comparison of these properties and characteristics with those of standard porous ceramics revealed that the product developed in this study would compete favorably for real applications.
Functional Bladder Paraganglioma Treated by Partial Cystectomy
Authors: Hermi Amine , Ichaoui Hamza , Kacem Aziz , Hedhli Houcem , Gargouri Faten , Khiari Ramzi , Ghozzi Samir
Published: November 2019

Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that arises from the autonomic nervous system. The urinary bladder paraganglioma accounts for less than 0.1% of bladder tumors. It remains a challenging entity to diagnose and treat due to its rareness and the lack of specific symptoms. Treatment modalities include transurethral resection and cystectomy (partial or total). The authors report a new case of an isolated paraganglioma of the urinary bladder in a 52-year-old female patient that underwent partial cystectomy. This case aims to remind the clinical, histological and therapeutic features of this rare tumor.
Evidence of Peste des petits Ruminants’ Virus in Dromedary Camels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2014 and 2016
Authors: Hemida Maged Gomaa , Al-Ghadeer Hussain Mohammed
Published: November 2019

Infection with the Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly devastating viral infection of small ruminants. Dromedary camels live in close proximity of small ruminants in Arabian Peninsula (AP) and many other regions in the world. Little is known about the reasons behind continuous PPRV emergence in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Our objective was to test some dromedary camel population across the kingdom for the presence of specific PPRV antibodies. Our results show detection of specific PPRV antibodies (2.92%) in sera of tested dromedary camels from the eastern and south regions of the KSA. Our results suggest the exposure of dromedary camels to PPRV infection. Thus, dromedary camels may play some important roles in the sustainability of PPRV in the small ruminants across the AP. This is the first study examined the nationwide prevalence of the PPRV in dromedary camels in the KSA.
Rosiglitazone Suppresses Calcium Oxalate Crystal Binding and Oxalate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Renal Epithelial Cells by Promoting PPAR-γ Activation and Subsequent Regulation of TGF-β1 and HGF Expression
Authors: Liu Ya-Dong , Yu Shi-Liang , Wang Rui , Liu Jian-Nan , Jin Yin-Shan , Li Yi-Fu , An Rui-Hua
Published: November 2019

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- (PPAR-) γ is a ligand-dependent transcription factor, and it has become evident that PPAR-γ agonists have renoprotective effects, but their influence and mechanism during the development of calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis remain unknown. Rosiglitazone (RSG) was used as a representative PPAR-γ agonist in our experiments. The expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), c-Met, p-Met, PPAR-γ, p-PPAR-γ (Ser112), Smad2, Smad3, pSmad2/3, and Smad7 was examined in oxalate-treated Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and a stone-forming rat model. A CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effects of RSG on cell viability. In addition, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were monitored, and lipid peroxidation in renal tissue was detected according to superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, the location and extent of CaOx crystal deposition were evaluated by Pizzolato staining. Our results showed that, both in vitro and in vivo, oxalate impaired PPAR-γ expression and phosphorylation, and then accumulative ROS production was observed, accompanied by enhanced TGF-β1 and reduced HGF. These phenomena could be reversed by the addition of RSG. RSG also promoted cell viability and proliferation and decreased oxidative stress damage and CaOx crystal deposition. However, these protective effects of RSG were abrogated by the PPAR-γ-specific inhibitor GW9662. Our results revealed that the reduction of PPAR-γ activity played a critical role in oxalate-induced ROS damage and CaOx stone formation. RSG can regulate TGF-β1 and HGF/c-Met through PPAR-γ to exert antioxidant effects against hyperoxaluria and alleviate crystal deposition. Therefore, PPAR-γ agonists may be expected to be a novel therapy for nephrolithiasis, and this effect is related to PPAR-γ-dependent suppression of oxidative stress.
Application of 14-MHz Ultrasonography with Tissue Harmonic Imaging to Determine Posterior Capsule Integrity in Traumatic Cataract
Authors: Wu Bin , Li Qingyu , Liu Yangchen , Wu Di , Gao Jianmin , Li Yan , Yuan Xiaoyong
Published: November 2019

Purpose. To report the application of 14-MHz ultrasonography with tissue harmonic imaging (14 MHz + THI) to determine the integrity of the posterior capsule (PC) in traumatic cataract (TC). Methods. Patients with TC who were scheduled to undergo cataract extraction and whose PC could not be observed by slit lamp examination were included in the study. The status of the PC was determined by 14 MHz + THI before cataract extraction and confirmed during surgery. The results regarding PC integrity obtained from 14 MHz + THI and intraoperative direct observation were compared. Result. The study enrolled 52 eyes of 52 patients (49 men and 3 women), with a mean age of 42.15 years ± 11.23 (SD). The nature of the trauma was blunt (3 eyes) or sharp (49 eyes). The 14 MHz + THI method showed 21 PCs to be intact and 31 to have ruptured before cataract surgery. During surgery, 23 PCs were observed to be intact, while 29 PCs were ruptured. 27 PCs were ruptured and 19 were intact, as determined by the two methods. The 14 MHz + THI observations were consistent with the intraoperative observations of the PC (kappa = 0.764), with no significant difference between the two methods (P=0.687). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 14 MHz + THI for observation of the PC were 93.10%, 82.60%, and 88.46%, respectively. Conclusion. The 14 MHz + THI method can accurately reveal the integrity of the PC in TC. It has important clinical value in the selection of cataract surgery methods and the prediction of complications during TC surgery.
Establishment of Mouse Models of Psoriasis with Blood Stasis Syndrome Complicated with Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders
Authors: Luo Ying , Ru Yi , Zhao Huaibo , Liu Liu , Hong Seokgyeong , Sun Xiaoying , Kuai Le , Lu Yi , Xing Meng , Chen Xi , Song Jiankun , Luo Yue , Fei Xiaoya , Zhou Yaqiong , Li Hongjin , Li Bin , Li Xin
Published: November 2019

Background. Psoriasis has been reported as a high-risk factor for quality of life and survival rate in patients with metabolic disorder. However, there is no animal model for studying this disease. This study aimed to establish and evaluate mouse models of psoriasis with blood stasis syndrome (which is a key to psoriasis pathogenesis, according to Chinese Medicine) complicated with metabolic disorders. Method. Forty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the blank control (Control), psoriasis (Imiquimod (IMQ)), psoriasis with metabolic disorders (IMQ + streptozotocin (STZ)), psoriasis with blood stasis syndrome (BSS) (IMQ + BSS), and psoriasis with blood stasis syndrome complicated with metabolic disorders (IMQ + STZ + BSS) groups (n = 9 mice/group). Psoriasis lesions were induced using IMQ cream (on both the ears and back, except in the Control group). Mice of the IMQ + BSS group were fed a half-fat, high-sugar diet and stimulated with ice-water swimming every day. Mice of the IMQ + STZ group were fed a half-fat, high-sugar diet and injected with STZ. Mice of the IMQ + STZ + BSS group were subjected to the same treatments as the IMQ + STZ and IMQ + BSS groups. After induction, the mice in each group were observed for vital signs, ear thickness, body weight, and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score. The mice were fasted for 12 h before determination of related laboratory serum indexes. Dorsal skin lesions, aortic arch pathology sections, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were examined by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. Results. Laboratory indexes in the four model groups were significantly different from those in the Control group (p<0.01); indicators of the IMQ + STZ, IMQ + BSS, and IMQ + STZ + BSS groups showed varying degrees of difference from those of the IMQ group. Conclusions. The established mouse models of psoriasis blood stasis syndrome complicated with glucose and lipid metabolism disorders met the clinical and Chinese Medicine characteristics, and thus they could be used as animal models in future studies of psoriasis complicated with glucose and lipid metabolism disorders.
Exploring Impaired SERCA Pump-Caused Alternation Occurrence in Ischemia
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Zhao Xiaoye , Gong Yinglan , Zhang Jucheng , Zang Yunliang , Xia Ling
Published: November 2019

Impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium transport ATPase (SERCA) gives rise to Ca2+ alternans and changes of the Ca2+release amount. These changes in Ca2+ release amount can reveal the mechanism underlying how the interaction between Ca2+ release and Ca2+ uptake induces Ca2+ alternans. This study of alternans by calculating the values of Ca2+ release properties with impaired SERCA has not been explored before. Here, we induced Ca2+ alternans by using an impaired SERCA pump under ischemic conditions. The results showed that the recruitment and refractoriness of the Ca2+ release increased as Ca2+ alternans occurred. This indicates triggering Ca waves. As the propagation of Ca waves is linked to the occurrence of Ca2+ alternans, the “threshold” for Ca waves reflects the key factor in Ca2+ alternans development, and it is still controversial nowadays. We proposed the ratio between the diastolic network SR (NSR) Ca content (Cansr) and the cytoplasmic Ca content (Cai) (Cansr/Cai) as the “threshold” of Ca waves and Ca2+ alternans. Diastolic Cansr, Cai, and their ratio were recorded at the onset of Ca2+ alternans. Compared with certain Cansr and Cai, the “threshold” of the ratio can better explain the comprehensive effects of the Ca2+ release and the Ca2+ uptake on Ca2+ alternans onset. In addition, these ratios are related with the function of SERCA pumps, which vary with different ischemic conditions. Thus, values of these ratios could be used to differentiate Ca2+ alternans from different ischemic cases. This agrees with some experimental results. Therefore, the certain value of diastolic Cansr/Cai can be the better “threshold” for Ca waves and Ca2+ alternans.
A Cohesin Subunit Variant Identified from a Peripheral Sclerocornea Pedigree
Authors: Zhang Bi Ning , Chan Tommy Chung Yan , Tam Pancy Oi Sin , Liu Yu , Pang Chi Pui , Jhanji Vishal , Chen Li Jia , Chu Wai Kit
Published: November 2019

Background. Sclerocornea is a rare congenital disorder characterized with the opacification of the cornea. Here, we report a nonconsanguineous Chinese family with multiple peripheral sclerocornea patients spanning across three generations inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Methods. This is a retrospective case series of a peripheral sclerocornea pedigree. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were conducted and assessed on 14 pedigree members. Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify the genetic alterations in the affected pedigree members. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) were established using blood samples from the family members. Functional tests were performed with these cell lines. Results. Six affected and eight unaffected members of a family with peripheral sclerocornea were examined. All affected individuals showed features of scleralization over the peripheral cornea of both eyes. Mean horizontal and vertical corneal diameter were found significantly decreased in the affected members. Significant differences were also observed on the mean apex pachymetry between affected and unaffected subjects. These ophthalmic parameters did not resemble that of cornea plana. A RAD21C1348T variant was identified by whole-exome sequencing. Although this variant causes RAD21 R450C substitution at the separase cleavage site, cells from peripheral sclerocornea family members had no mitosis and ploidy defects. Conclusion. We report a family of peripheral sclerocornea with no association with cornea plana. A RAD21 variant was found cosegregating with peripheral sclerocornea. Our results suggest that RAD21 functions, other than its cell cycle and chromosome segregation regulations, could underline the pathogenesis of peripheral sclerocornea.
Correlation Analysis Algorithm‐Based Multiple‐Input Single‐Output Wiener Model with Output Noise
Authors: Jia Li , Li Yangyang , Li Feng
Published: November 2019

A novel identification algorithm for the correlation analysis‐based multiple‐input single‐output (MISO) neurofuzzy Wiener model with noise is proposed. Firstly, several sets of Gaussian signals are utilized to realize the decoupling between the dynamic linear blocks and the static nonlinear blocks of a MISO Wiener system. Then, the correlation analysis is adopted to identify the parameters of the linear parts, and the problem that the output of static nonlinear block is immeasurable can be solved. As a result, it can circumvent the problem of initialization and convergence of the model parameters encountered by the existing iterative approach used for the identification of the Wiener model. Next, the least‐squares algorithm is employed to estimate the consequent parameters of the nonlinear blocks which can avoid the influence of noise. Finally, examples are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed method.
Hypoxic Preconditioning Enhances Survival and Proangiogenic Capacity of Human First Trimester Chorionic Villus-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Fetal Tissue Engineering
Authors: Hao Dake , He Chuanchao , Ma Bowen , Lankford Lee , Reynaga Lizette , Farmer Diana L. , Guo Fuzheng , Wang Aijun
Published: November 2019

Prenatal stem cell-based regenerative therapies have progressed substantially and have been demonstrated as effective treatment options for fetal diseases that were previously deemed untreatable. Due to immunoregulatory properties, self-renewal capacity, and multilineage potential, autologous human placental chorionic villus-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (CV-MSCs) are an attractive cell source for fetal regenerative therapies. However, as a general issue for MSC transplantation, the poor survival and engraftment is a major challenge of the application of MSCs. Particularly for the fetal transplantation of CV-MSCs in the naturally hypoxic fetal environment, improving the survival and engraftment of CV-MSCs is critically important. Hypoxic preconditioning (HP) is an effective priming approach to protect stem cells from ischemic damage. In this study, we developed an optimal HP protocol to enhance the survival and proangiogenic capacity of CV-MSCs for improving clinical outcomes in fetal applications. Total cell number, DNA quantification, nuclear area test, and cell viability test showed HP significantly protected CV-MSCs from ischemic damage. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed HP did not alter the immunophenotype of CV-MSCs. Caspase-3, MTS, and Western blot analysis showed HP significantly reduced the apoptosis of CV-MSCs under ischemic stimulus via the activation of the AKT signaling pathway that was related to cell survival. ELISA results showed HP significantly enhanced the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by CV-MSCs under an ischemic stimulus. We also found that the environmental nutrition level was critical for the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The angiogenesis assay results showed HP-primed CV-MSCs could significantly enhance endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Consequently, HP is a promising strategy to increase the tolerance of CV-MSCs to ischemia and improve their therapeutic efficacy in fetal clinical applications.
Vibration Characteristics of Rotating Mistuned Bladed Disks considering the Coriolis Force, Spin Softening, and Stress Stiffening Effects
Authors: Wang Shuai , Bi Chuanxing , Zi Bin , Zheng Changjun
Published: November 2019

Bladed disks of engine rotors usually operate at harsh conditions of high rotating speeds, which may lead to nonnegligible rotordynamic effects, including Coriolis force, spin softening, and stress stiffening effects. These effects on the vibration of mistuned bladed disks are seldom discussed in available investigations. In this paper, the vibration characteristics of rotating mistuned bladed disks are addressed by considering these rotordynamic effects. First, finite element (FE) models of bladed disks are used to obtain the governing equations of motion, and an efficient method for getting the stress stiffening matrix of sector model is developed. Then, the effective component‐mode mistuning method (CMM) is employed to create compact, yet accurate, reduced‐order models (ROMs). Finally, the models are validated and used to study the influences of Coriolis force, spin softening, and stress stiffening effects on the vibration of bladed disks with frequency mistuning factors. Numerical results show that these rotordynamic effects could significantly affect the vibrations of mistuning bladed disks, especially in the ranges of high speed, and should be carefully considered during analysis.