bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamical effects of calcium‐sensitive potassium currents on voltage and calcium alternans
Authors: Kennedy Matthew , Bers Donald M. , Chiamvimonvat Nipavan , Sato Daisuke
Published: November 2016

Key points

A mathematical model of a small conductance Ca2+‐activated potassium (SK) channel was developed and incorporated into a physiologically detailed ventricular myocyte model.

Ca2+‐sensitive K+ currents promote negative intracellular Ca2+ to membrane voltage (CAi2+→ Vm) coupling.

Increase of Ca2+‐sensitive K+ currents can be responsible for electromechanically discordant alternans and quasiperiodic oscillations at the cellular level.

At the tissue level, Turing‐type instability can occur when Ca2+‐sensitive K+ currents are increased.

Cardiac alternans is a precursor to life‐threatening arrhythmias. Alternans can be caused by instability of the membrane voltage (Vm), instability of the intracellular Ca2+ () cycling, or both. Vm dynamics and dynamics are coupled via Ca2+‐sensitive currents. In cardiac myocytes, there are several Ca2+‐sensitive potassium (K+) currents such as the slowly activating delayed rectifier current (IKs) and the small conductance Ca2+‐activated potassium (SK) current (ISK). However, the role of these currents in the development of arrhythmias is not well understood. In this study, we investigated how these currents affect voltage and Ca2+ alternans using a physiologically detailed computational model of the ventricular myocyte and mathematical analysis. We define the coupling between Vm and cycling dynamics (→Vm coupling) as positive (negative) when a larger Ca2+ transient at a given beat prolongs (shortens) the action potential duration (APD) of that beat. While positive coupling predominates at baseline, increasing IKs and ISK promote negative →Vm coupling at the cellular level. Specifically, when alternans is Ca2+‐driven, electromechanically (APD–Ca2+) concordant alternans becomes electromechanically discordant alternans as IKs or ISK increase. These cellular level dynamics lead to different types of spatially discordant alternans in tissue. These findings help to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of cardiac alternans especially when the relative strength of these currents becomes larger under pathological conditions or drug administrations.
Haptic Joystick for Improving Controllability of Remote-Operated Hydraulic Mobile Machinery
Authors: Luostarinen Lauri O. , Åman Rafael , Handroos Heikki
Published: November 2016

Remote operation of hydraulic non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) is becoming more and more common. The remote operation has plenty of advantages in many applications. However, a significant drawback of remote operation is that the level of sensory feedback for operator is weaker compared to onboard operation. The lack of the sense of touch is decreasing the working efficiency and can lead to premature wear out of machine components. This can also lower the safety of the operation. In this work a haptic joystick controller for controlling NRMM is introduced. The haptic joystick is able to feedback constant forces and wide range of vibrations for operators. The haptic feedback force is calculated based on the sensor signals from the working machine. This paper introduces a setup for remote operation of a wheel loader. The control of the lift and tilt cylinders of the bucket is taking advantage of haptic feedback. The experimental study is carried out in a virtual environment. A multibody dynamic model of the wheel loader is run in real-time to study the effects of haptic feedback for the remote operation. Results of the remote operation with and without haptic feedback are compared. The comparison shows that the haptic feedback clearly affects on the force levels and the loads of the boom structure of the remote operated wheel loader. Taking advantage of haptic feedback in controllers of remote operated NRMM increases the operator’s understanding about the dynamic behavior of the machinery significantly. The results encourages to carry out further studies on improving the human-machine-interfaces (HMI) of remote operated hydraulic NRMM using haptic feedback.
A Combined Hydrostatic Hydrodynamic Bearing Based on Elastic Deformation
Authors: Gradl Christoph , Scheidl Rudolf
Published: November 2016

Servo cylinders with hydrostatic bearings are employed when ultimate speed, low friction, or high precision are required. These advantages are opposed by a considerable leakage loss and high costs. The latter are caused by the high component precision required in order to avoid excessive leakage and to obtain high stiffness of the bearing.

In this paper an alternative concept to realize such bearings with a considerable cost reduction potential is investigated. The sleeve is made of Polyetheretherketon (PEEK). A hydrostatic difference pressure or / and a hydrodynamic pressure deforms the PEEK sleeve such that a conical stabilizing sealing gap is created. A possible mechanical design is shown and the characteristics are analysed.

To study the characteristics of the bearing system the finite element suite Abaqus is used. A Reynolds User Element is developed and included into Abaqus for the simulation of the fluid structure interaction. The Reynolds equation is discretised by finite elements and solved simultaneously with the mechanical model. With the developed user element in Abaqus, static and quasi-static analyses of mechanical models (linear, non-linear or inelastic material behaviour) containing lubrications gaps can be performed efficiently.

The preliminary results showed the feasibility of the concept and, generally, the potentials of plastics as a flexible material to employ elastic deformation for the creation of lubrication effects.
The Finite Difference Technique for Modelling of Pipe System Vibroacoustical Characteristics
Authors: Mironova Tatiana , Prokofiev Andrey , Sverbilov Victor
Published: November 2016

The finite difference technique of vibroacoustical pipeline characteristics are developed. The technique allows calculations vibroacoustical characteristics of pipe with the axial line lying in one plane under force excitation by oscillating fluid flow. The technique is based on the solving differential equation system of interaction between solid and oscillating fluid in the pipeline. Solution was done for transient non-stationary nonlinear differential equation system. The boundary conditions for fluid is a parameter combination of complex pressure oscillation amplitude of pipeline inlet section, complex pressure oscillation amplitude of pipeline outlet section, complex velocity oscillation amplitude of pipeline inlet section, complex velocity oscillation amplitude of pipeline outlet section, load impedance, input impedance. The boundary conditions for solid is bonding of the pipeline. Time response of the pipeline vibration are resulted of these techniques. The mathematical technique computational coast is 3 orders less than Ansys technique. The method is developed for pipeline diameter much smaller than acoustic wavelength in a fluid. It is actual for aircraft pipelines, pipes of power plants, mobile machines and pipes of stationary processing machines.
A Motion Observer With On-Line Parameter Estimation for Moving-Coil Based Digital Valves in Digital Displacement Machines
Authors: Noergaard Christian , Bech Michael M. , Roemer Daniel B.
Published: November 2016

In this paper, a method is developed to estimate the parameters and motion of a moving coil actuator in the digital valves of Digital Displacement machines. The parameter estimation is carried out using three simple distinctive schemes from which certain electrical and magnetic parameters may be estimated. The parameter estimation method uses simple adaptation laws to update the moving coil actuator parameters used to estimate the valve plunger motion in an observer. The observer estimates the velocity using the back electro-motive force (back-emf) induced when moving the coil based on current and voltage measurements, but without any mechanical sensors. The valve movement of digital valves is confined by mechanical end-stops enabling estimating the valve position through integration of the estimated velocity relatively accurate. The observer depends on precise knowledge of the electrical dynamics to accurately estimate the valve motion. When the parameters are converged through adaptation the observer proves to be capable of tracking the valve motion relatively accurate, however some deviation occur at the mechanical end-stops of the valve. The parameter estimation method and the observer is implemented and tested off-line when using experimental data obtained from a newly developed digi-valve prototype which uses a moving coil actuator as the force producing element.
Advanced Virtual Prototyping of Axial Piston Machines
Authors: Chacon Rene , Ivantysynova Monika
Published: November 2016

This paper explains how a combination of advanced multidomain numerical models can be employed to design an axial piston machine of swash plate type within a virtual prototyping environment. Examples for the design and optimization of the cylinder block/valve plate interface are presented.
A Filter-Based Control Approach to Reduce Payload Oscillations in Hydraulic Cranes
Authors: Bianchi Riccardo , Ritelli Guido Francesco , Vacca Andrea
Published: November 2016

Vibrations in load handling machines can manifest at different levels: at the structure of the machine directly connected to the hydraulic actuators; at the cabin of the machine; or — for machines carrying payload not rigidly connected to the structure — at the payload. These oscillations negatively affect productivity, safety and operator comfort. Several techniques have been proposed to smooth the operation of the mechanical arms of hydraulic machines, but limited attention was so far dedicated specifically to the oscillations of the payload.

This paper introduces a frequency-based approach to reduce payload oscillation applicable for load handling machines. The proposed controller generates proper signal to the flow control valves of the hydraulic system, on the basis on the frequency analysis of pressure sensors used as feedback. The controller is composed by a series of dynamic peak filters. A first stage of frequency transformation through the FFT identifies the payload frequency and adjusts the poles of the peak filter. Then, a modulation stage is used to select the proper harmonic suitable to quantify the payload oscillation. Another peak filter enables the generation of the control. This controller has a low computational cost and it is suitable for the implementation to industrial controllers.

After describing the controller, the paper presents experimental results suitable to quantify the effectiveness of the proposed procedure, considering a particular truck mounting crane available at the authors’ research center.
Modelling of the Swash Plate Control Actuator in an Axial Piston Pump for a Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation Test Rig
Authors: Larsson L. Viktor , Krus Petter
Published: November 2016

Hydraulic hybrid system solutions are promising in the quest for energy efficiency in heavy construction machines. Hardware-in-the-loop simulations, where hardware is included in software simulations in real time, may be used to facilitate the development process of these systems without the need to build expensive prototypes. In this paper, the displacement actuator of a prototype pump used in a hardware-in-the-loop simulation test rig is modelled and validated against hardware, in order to draw conclusions regarding its dynamic behaviour in a future control design. The results show that the dynamic response of the modelled displacement actuator is mainly determined by the system pressure as well as the response and geometry of the control valve.
Chemical measurements of polyethylene glycol shells on gold nanoparticles in the presence of aggregation
Authors: Minelli Caterina , Shard Alexander G.
Published: November 2016

Understanding and controlling the performance of engineered nanoparticle (NP) systems is greatly assisted by quantitative characterization of their coatings. Useful measurements methods have been described for NPs in liquid environment, but NP aggregation often represents a limiting factor which impairs the accuracy of techniques such as dynamic light scattering for quantification purposes. Here, the authors show how differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can provide quantitative information on the NP coating thickness, molecular conformation, and grafting density of aggregated NP samples. The authors find that thiol-terminated methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) coating thickness on gold NPs increases with increasing particle size and mPEG molecular weight. The hydration of the mPEG shell was estimated by comparing the shell thickness measured in liquid by DCS and vacuum by XPS and was found to increase with the mPEG molecular weight. Finally, the authors used XPS to measure the grafting density of the mPEG molecules. This was found to depend on the mPEG molecular volume and decreased for larger mPEG molecules, suggesting that the grafting density is determined by the conformation of the mPEG molecules in liquid. This analysis provides practical measurement methods for optimizing the design of engineered NP systems and ultimately enhance and control their performance.
Taking cancer drug screening very personally
Authors: Castro Cesar M.
Published: November 2016

Liposomal nanoformulations and DNA barcodes reveal therapeutic potencies of anticancer drugs directly in tumors.
Grave effects of a specific immune therapy
Authors: Moore Daniel J.
Published: November 2016

Antigen-specific immune therapy unexpectedly worsens Graves’ disease in a spontaneous animal model.
What are the pros and cons of electronically monitoring inhaler use in asthma? A multistakeholder perspective
Authors: Howard Sam , Lang Alexandra , Sharples Sarah , Shaw Dominick
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) are the optimal method for collecting objective data on inhaler use in asthma. Recent research has investigated the attitudes of patients with asthma towards these devices. However, no research to date has formally considered the opinions of stakeholders and decision-makers in asthma care. These individuals have important clinical requirements that need to be taken into account if EMDs are to be successfully provisioned, making collecting their opinions on the key barriers facing these devices a valuable process.

Methods

Three rounds of surveys in a Delphi format were used to assess the most important pros and cons of EMDs for asthma care in a sample of 31 stakeholders which included healthcare professionals and members of clinical commissioning groups.

Results

The respondents identified 29 pros and 32 cons. Pros that were rated as most important included new visual evidence to aid clinical discussions with a patient and an increase in patient involvement and motivation. The cons that were rated as most important included a need for more clinical evidence of the effectiveness of EMDs, as well as better clarity over who has responsibilities in managing, interpreting and discussing data with a patient.

Conclusions

The research provides a guide for EMD developers by highlighting where these devices may provide the most benefit as well as prioritising the key issues that need addressing if they are to be used effectively in everyday asthma care.
Sentinel case of Richter transformation from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma to CD3+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Ismail Ali , Mallick Jawed A , Qin Dahui , Hussaini Mohammad O
Published: November 2016

Aim

To report the first case of a Richter syndrome where small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) progressed to a CD3+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

Macrodissection of small and large cell lymphomatous components was performed. This was followed by flow cytometric analysis along with molecular B-cell immunoglobulin (heavy and light chains) and T-cell receptor (γ and β chains) gene rearrangement studies to investigate a clonal relationship between the components.

Results

The immunophenotypic profile was similar between small and large cell components of the lymphoma by flow cytometry. Furthermore, shared clonal peaks were observed between both components based on molecular B-cell and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies, confirming a clonal relationship.

Conclusions

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/SLL may rarely undergo Richter transformation to a DLBCL demonstrating lineage infidelity. This is a potentially important diagnostic pitfall and such cases should not be confused with a de novo T-cell lymphoma.
Endovascular management of cerebral septic embolism: three recent cases and review of the literature
Authors: Scharf Eugene L , Chakraborty Tia , Rabinstein Alejandro , Miranpuri Amrendra S
Published: November 2016

Endovascular management of acute ischemic stroke secondary to septic emboli from bacterial endocarditis is case-specific and outside established guidelines. We report three new cases of an acute ischemic stroke secondary to septic embolus from two different centers. All cases reported here were large vessel occlusions of the middle cerebral artery in anticoagulated patients. In one case the embolus was noted to be firm and aspiration thrombectomy was attempted in lieu of stent retrieval. Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia (TICI) 3 recanalization was achieved and the patient experienced a good outcome with resolution of deficits. In this case, pathologic analysis of the embolus was available. These additional three cases from two centers add to the small but growing literature for interventional management of acute ischemic stroke in bacterial endocarditis.
High-risk periodontal pathogens contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Authors: Bale Bradley Field , Doneen Amy Lynn , Vigerust David John
Published: November 2016

Periodontal disease (PD) is generated by microorganisms. These microbes can enter the general circulation causing a bacteraemia. The result can be adverse systemic effects, which could promote conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Level A evidence supports that PD is independently associated with arterial disease. PD is a common chronic condition affecting the majority of Americans 30 years of age and older. Atherosclerosis remains the largest cause of death and disability. Studies indicate that the adverse cardiovascular effects from PD are due to a few putative or high-risk bacteria: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola or Fusobacterium nucleatum. There are three accepted essential elements in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: lipoprotein serum concentration, endothelial permeability and binding of lipoproteins in the arterial intima. There is scientific evidence that PD caused by the high-risk pathogens can influence the pathogenesis triad in an adverse manner. With this appreciation, it is reasonable to state PD, due to high-risk pathogens, is a contributory cause of atherosclerosis. Distinguishing this type of PD as causal provides a significant opportunity to reduce arterial disease.
Brain iron overload following intracranial haemorrhage
Authors: Garton Thomas , Keep Richard F , Hua Ya , Xi Guohua
Published: November 2016

Intracranial haemorrhages, including intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition, haemorrhage contributes to tissue damage in traumatic brain injury (TBI). To date, efforts to treat the long-term consequences of cerebral haemorrhage have been unsatisfactory. Incident rates and mortality have not showed significant improvement in recent years. In terms of secondary damage following haemorrhage, it is becoming increasingly apparent that blood components are of integral importance, with haemoglobin-derived iron playing a major role. However, the damage caused by iron is complex and varied, and therefore, increased investigation into the mechanisms by which iron causes brain injury is required. As ICH, IVH, SAH and TBI are related, this review will discuss the role of iron in each, so that similarities in injury pathologies can be more easily identified. It summarises important components of normal brain iron homeostasis and analyses the existing evidence on iron-related brain injury mechanisms. It further discusses treatment options of particular promise.
Bovine lactoferrin and Crohn’s disease: a case study
Authors: Alexander David B. , Iigo Masaaki , Abdelgied Mohamed , Ozeki Keiji , Tanida Satoshi , Joh Takashi , Takahashi Satoru , Tsuda Hiroyuki
Published: November 2016

A 22-year-old male suffering from abdominal pain, repeated diarrhea, and weight loss visited the Digestive Disease Department of Nagoya City University Hospital on 19 December 2011. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with Crohn’s colitis. His Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was 415. Treatment by granulocyte apheresis, mesalazine, and adalimumab was started. His CDAI was 314 on 30 December and 215 on 5 January. A colonoscopic examination on 19 January showed almost complete remission in the transverse colon and marked remission in the rectum. Mesalazine therapy was stopped on 28 February, and the patient was instructed to self-inject 40 mg of adalimumab every other week. His CDAI was 50 on 10 April, indicating clinical remission. His last self-injection of adalimumab was on 24 April 2012, and he started taking 1 g of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) daily. His CDAI was 35 on 8 January 2013. He continued taking 1 g of bLF daily without any other treatment for Crohn’s disease. Laboratory blood tests on 7 September 2015 showed no sign of disease recurrence, and a colonoscopic examination on 23 October 2015 showed almost complete mucosal healing. This case indicates that ingestion of bLF to maintain Crohn’s disease in a remissive state should be further explored.
Biosynthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH receptor (GnRHR) in hypothalamic–pituitary unit of anoestrous and cyclic ewes
Authors: Ciechanowska M.O. , Łapot M. , Mateusiak K. , Paruszewska E. , Malewski T. , Przekop F.
Published: November 2016

This study was performed to explain how the molecular processes governing the biosynthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH receptor (GnRHR) in the hypothalamic–pituitary unit are reflected by luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in sheep during anoestrous period and during luteal and follicular phases of the oestrous cycle. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we analyzed the levels of GnRH and GnRHR in preoptic area (POA), anterior (AH) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VM), stalk–median eminence (SME), and GnRHR in the anterior pituitary gland (AP). Radioimmunoassay has also been used to define changes in plasma LH concentrations. The study provides evidence that the levels of GnRH in the whole hypothalamus of anoestrous ewes were lower than that in sheep during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle (POA: p < 0.001, AH: p < 0.001, VM: p < 0.01, SME: p < 0.001) and not always than in luteal phase animals (POA: p < 0.05, SME: p < 0.05). It has also been demonstrated that the GnRHR amount in the hypothalamus–anterior pituitary unit, as well as LH level, in the blood in anoestrous ewes were significantly lower than those detected in animals of both cyclic groups. Our data suggest that decrease in LH secretion during the long photoperiod in sheep may be due to low translational activity of genes encoding both GnRH and GnRHR.
Chloroquine attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses through upregulation of USP25
Authors: Ding Changyu , Li Fangfang , Long Yupeng , Zheng Jiang
Published: November 2016

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a key pathogenic factor in sepsis, and its recognition by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) can activate two district signaling pathways, leading to activation of transcription factors including NF-κB and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Chloroquine (CQ) has been shown to affect LPS–TLR4 colocalization and inhibit both MyD88-dependent and TRAM/TRIF-dependent pathways, though the mechanism involved is still poorly understood. Here, we found that the ubiquitin–proteasome system might be involved in this process. CQ increased USP25, a deubiquitinating enzyme, as well as mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, which might to some degree be involved in CQ attenuation of LPS-induced macrophage activation. Overexpression of USP25 decreased LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-β, while specific siRNA-mediated USP25 silencing increased TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-β production and secretion. In addition, USP25 deletion strengthened mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) phosphorylation and IκB degradation. Moreover, USP25 interference increased NF-κB and IRF3 nuclear translocation. Taken together, our data demonstrated a new possible regulator of LPS-induced macrophage activation mediated by CQ, through upregulation of USP25.
Contact-Free Cognitive Load Recognition Based on Eye Movement
Authors: Liu Xin , Chen Tong , Xie Guoqiang , Liu Guangyuan
Published: November 2016

The cognitive overload not only affects the physical and mental diseases, but also affects the work efficiency and safety. Hence, the research of measuring cognitive load has been an important part of cognitive load theory. In this paper, we proposed a method to identify the state of cognitive load by using eye movement data in a noncontact manner. We designed a visual experiment to elicit human’s cognitive load as high and low state in two light intense environments and recorded the eye movement data in this whole process. Twelve salient features of the eye movement were selected by using statistic test. Algorithms for processing some features are proposed for increasing the recognition rate. Finally we used the support vector machine (SVM) to classify high and low cognitive load. The experimental results show that the method can achieve 90.25% accuracy in light controlled condition.
Maresin 1 Mitigates Inflammatory Response and Protects Mice from Sepsis
Authors: Li Ruidong , Wang Yaxin , Ma Zhijun , Ma Muyuan , Wang Di , Xie Gengchen , Yin Yuping , Zhang Peng , Tao Kaixiong
Published: November 2016

Sepsis, frequently caused by infection of bacteria, is considered as an uncontrollable systematic inflammation response syndrome (SIRS). Maresin 1 (Mar1) is a new proresolving mediator with potent anti-inflammatory effect in several animal models. However, its effect in sepsis is still not investigated. To address this question, we developed sepsis model in BALB/c mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) with or without Mar1 treatment. Our data showed that Mar1 markedly improved survival rate and decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in CLP mice such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Furthermore, Mar1 reduced serum level of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and enhanced the bacteria clearance in mice sepsis model. Moreover, Mar1 attenuated lung injury and decreased level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine (Cre), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum in mice after CLP surgery. Treatment with Mar1 inhibited activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κb) pathway. In conclusion, Mar1 exhibited protective effect in sepsis by reducing LPS, bacteria burden in serum, inhibiting inflammation response, and improving vital organ function. The possible mechanism is partly involved in inhibition of NF-κb activation.
A Complete Subspace Analysis of Linear Discriminant Analysis and Its Robust Implementation
Authors: Lu Zhicheng , Liang Zhizheng
Published: November 2016

Linear discriminant analysis has been widely studied in data mining and pattern recognition. However, when performing the eigen-decomposition on the matrix pair (within-class scatter matrix and between-class scatter matrix) in some cases, one can find that there exist some degenerated eigenvalues, thereby resulting in indistinguishability of information from the eigen-subspace corresponding to some degenerated eigenvalue. In order to address this problem, we revisit linear discriminant analysis in this paper and propose a stable and effective algorithm for linear discriminant analysis in terms of an optimization criterion. By discussing the properties of the optimization criterion, we find that the eigenvectors in some eigen-subspaces may be indistinguishable if the degenerated eigenvalue occurs. Inspired from the idea of the maximum margin criterion (MMC), we embed MMC into the eigen-subspace corresponding to the degenerated eigenvalue to exploit discriminability of the eigenvectors in the eigen-subspace. Since the proposed algorithm can deal with the degenerated case of eigenvalues, it not only handles the small-sample-size problem but also enables us to select projection vectors from the null space of the between-class scatter matrix. Extensive experiments on several face images and microarray data sets are conducted to evaluate the proposed algorithm in terms of the classification performance, and experimental results show that our method has smaller standard deviations than other methods in most cases.
Audio Watermarking Scheme Based on Singular Spectrum Analysis and Psychoacoustic Model with Self-Synchronization
Authors: Karnjana Jessada , Unoki Masashi , Aimmanee Pakinee , Wutiwiwatchai Chai
Published: November 2016

This paper proposes a blind, inaudible, and robust audio watermarking scheme based on singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and the psychoacoustic model 1 (ISO/IEC 11172-3). In this work, SSA is used to analyze the host signals and to extract the singular spectra. A watermark is embedded into the host signals by modifying the singular spectra which are in the convex part of the singular spectrum curve so that this part becomes concave. This modification certainly affects the inaudibility and robustness properties of the watermarking scheme. To satisfy both properties, the modified part of the singular spectrum is determined by a novel parameter selection method based on the psychoacoustic model. The test results showed that the proposed scheme achieves not only inaudibility and robustness but also blindness. In addition, this work showed that the extraction process of a variant of the proposed scheme can extract the watermark without assuming to know the frame positions in advance and without embedding additional synchronization code into the audio content.
Presence of DQ2.2 Associated with DQ2.5 Increases the Risk for Celiac Disease
Authors: Almeida Lucas Malta , Gandolfi Lenora , Pratesi Riccardo , Uenishi Rosa Harumi , Almeida Fernanda Coutinho de , Selleski Nicole , Nóbrega Yanna Karla de Medeiros
Published: November 2016

Background. Celiac disease (CD) is a genetically determined immune-mediated disorder in which gluten immunogenic peptides are presented to CD4 T cells by HLA-DQ2.5, DQ8, DQ2.2, and their combinations. Our aim is to establish a risk gradient for celiac disease based on HLA-DQ profile in a brazilian representative population and the relevance of DQ2.2 in celiac disease development. Materials and Methods. 237 celiac patients and 237 controls (both groups with 164 females and 73 males) were included. All samples were tested for the presence of predisposing HLA-DQ alleles using the PCR-SSP method. Results were considered significant when p<0.05. Disease risk was expressed as 1 : N for each HLA-DQ category described at this study. Results. DQ2.5 and/or DQ8 were detected in 224 celiac patients (94.5%) and 84 controls (35.4%). Eight celiac patients (3.4%) and 38 controls (16%) disclosed only DQ2.2. Even though DQ2.2 (β2/β2 or β2/x) showed a low CD risk of 1 : 251 and 1 : 550, respectively, the genotype DQ2.5/DQ2.2 (β2/β2) showed high CD risk of 1 : 10 (p<0.0001). The disease risk gradient ranged from 1 : 3014 to 1 : 7. Conclusion. Our study allowed the determination of a risk gradient for celiac disease development in at-risk population, showing that DQ2.2 variant was relevant when associated with DQ2.5.
Outcome of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy with and without Haglund’s Deformity
Authors: Wu Ziying , Yao Wei , Chen Shiyi , Li Yunxia
Published: November 2016

Purpose.To compare the results of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) with or without Haglund’s deformity.Methods.Between September 2014 and May 2015, all patients who underwent ESWT were retrospectively enrolled in this study. A total of 67 patients were available for follow-up and assigned into nondeformtiy group (n=37) and deformtiy group (n=30). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by VISA-A Score and 6-point Likert scale.Results.The VISA-A score increased in both groups, from49.57±9.98at baseline to83.86±8.59at14.5±7.2months after treatment in nondeformity group (P<0.001) and from48.70±9.38at baseline to67.78±11.35at15.3±6.7months after treatment in deformity group (P<0.001). However, there was a greater improvement in VISA-A Score for the nondeformity group compared with deformity group (P=0.005). For the 6-point Likert scale, there were decreases from3.92±0.80at baseline to1.57±0.73at the follow-up time point in nondeformity group (P<0.001) and from4.0±0.76at baseline to2.37±1.03at the follow-up time point in deformity group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in improvement of the 6-point Likert scale between both groups (P=0.062).Conclusions.ESWT resulted in greater clinical outcomes in patients without Haglund’s deformity compared with patients with Haglund’s deformity.
Comparison on the Surface Structure Properties along with Fe(II) and Mn(II) Removal Characteristics of Rice Husk Ash, Inactive Saccharomyces cerevisiae Powder, and Rice Husk
Authors: Jiang Zhao , Cao Bo , Su Guangxia , Lu Yan , Zhao Jiaying , Shan Dexin , Zhang Xiuyuan , Wang Ziyi , Zhang Ying
Published: November 2016

This study selected solid wastes, such as rice husk ash (RHA), inactive Saccharomyces cerevisiae powder (ISP), and rice husk (RH), as the potential adsorbents for the removal of Fe(II) and Mn(II) in aqueous solution. The structural characteristics, functional groups, and elemental compositions were determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier translation infrared spectrum (FT-IR) analyses, respectively. Then the influence on the Fe(II) and Mn(II) removing efficiency by the factors, such as pH, adsorbent dosage, initial Fe(II) and Mn(II) concentration, and contact time, was investigated by the static batch test. The adsorption isotherm study results show that Langmuir equation can better fit the Fe(II) and Mn(II) adsorption process by the three adsorbents. The maximum adsorption amounts for Fe(II) were 6.211 mg/g, 4.464 mg/g, and 4.049 mg/g by RHA, ISP, and RH and for Mn(II) were 3.016 mg/g, 2.229 mg/g, and 1.889 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption kinetics results show that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model can better fit the Fe(II) and Mn(II) adsorption process. D-R model and thermodynamic parameters hint that the adsorption processes of Fe(II) and Mn(II) on the three adsorbents took place physically and the processes were feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic.
A Decision Method to Maximize Service Quality under Budget Constraints: The Kano Study of a Chinese Machinery Manufacturer
Authors: Meng Qingliang , Wei Xiaochao , Meng Wen
Published: November 2016

Manufacturers are increasingly facing keen competition and improving customers’ position in the value chain. Many of them have made efforts to promote service quality and enhance customer satisfaction. Research is lacking in considering the trade-off between service costs and customer satisfaction when tackling service quality issues in the machinery industry. A decision method is proposed for maximizing service quality in machinery industry under budget constraints, from the perspective of enterprise capacity and customer satisfaction. Due to the strength of the Kano model in acknowledging the nonlinear impacts of quality elements on customer satisfaction, we formalize the relationship between customer satisfaction and sufficiency of service quality elements quantitatively. And then we develop a novel nonlinear programming model to maximize service quality under budget constraints. In particular, we implement our model at Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd., one of the largest Chinese construction machinery companies, to validate the efficacy of the method.
A Combination of Leucine, Metformin, and Sildenafil Treats Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Steatohepatitis in Mice
Authors: Bruckbauer Antje , Banerjee Jheelam , Fu Lizhi , Li Fenfen , Cao Qiang , Cui Xin , Wu Rui , Shi Hang , Xue Bingzhong , Zemel Michael B.
Published: November 2016

Sirt1, AMPK, and eNOS modulate hepatic energy metabolism and inflammation and are key players in the development of NASH. L-leucine, an allosteric Sirt1 activator, synergizes with low doses of metformin or sildenafil on the AMPK-eNOS-Sirt1 pathway to reverse mild NAFLD in preclinical mouse models. Here we tested a possible multicomponent synergy to yield greater therapeutic efficacy in NAFLD/NASH. Liver cells and macrophages or an atherogenic diet induced NASH mouse model was treated with two-way and three-way combinations. The three-way combination Sild-Met-Leu increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation and reduced lipogenic gene expression and inflammatory marker in vitro. In mice, Sild-Met-Leu reduced the diet induced increases of ALT, TGFβ, PAI-1, IL1β, and TNFα, hepatic collagen expression, and nearly completely reversed hepatocyte ballooning and triglyceride accumulation, while all two-way combinations had only modest effects. Therefore, these data provide preclinical evidence for therapeutic efficacy of Sild-Met-Leu in the treatment of NAFLD and NASH.
On the Capacity of MIMO Weibull-Gamma Fading Channels in Low SNR Regime
Authors: Tiwari Keerti , Saini Davinder S. , Bhooshan Sunil V.
Published: November 2016

We present capacity analysis for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system under a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. We have selected a composite fading channel that considers Weibull fading for multipath and gamma fading for shadowing. We have presented the analysis in a detailed form for three different techniques, namely, spatial multiplexing (SM) with optimal detection, SM with minimum mean square error (MMSE) detection, and orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBC). Because capacity analysis at arbitrary signal-to-noise (SNR) is stringent, a low SNR regime is considered to achieve a positive rate and wideband slope. The improvement is the result of minimizing energy per information bit (Eb). For the first time, closed-form expressions are evaluated for the capacity of MIMO systems at low SNR under WG fading channels which facilitate the performance comparison for proposed techniques.
Vector Spaces of New Special Magic Squares: Reflective Magic Squares, Corner Magic Squares, and Skew-Regular Magic Squares
Authors: Rungratgasame Thitarie , Amornpornthum Pattharapham , Boonmee Phuwanat , Cheko Busrun , Fuangfung Nattaphon
Published: November 2016

The definition of a regular magic square motivates us to introduce the new special magic squares, which are reflective magic squares, corner magic squares, and skew-regular magic squares. Combining the concepts of magic squares and linear algebra, we consider a magic square as a matrix and find the dimensions of the vector spaces of these magic squares under the standard addition and scalar multiplication of matrices by using the rank-nullity theorem.
Evaluation of Club Cell 10-kDa Protein (CC10) Levels in Full-Term Infants
Authors: Gorji Nasim , Pilon Aprile L. , Winn Melissa E. , Newsome Morgan , Davis Jonathan M.
Published: November 2016

Background: The club cell 10-kDa protein (CC10) is a homeostatic protein that is produced in the lung, diffuses into the blood, and is then excreted into the urine and stool. CC10 is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and to have lower endogenous production in preterm infants. Objectives: As recombinant human CC10 (rhCC10) is being studied in preterm infants to reduce lung injury, understanding CC10 levels in term infants with normal lungs is needed to establish appropriate target dosing ranges. Methods: Serum, urine, and stool samples were collected from 24 healthy full-term infants, and CC10 levels were measured. Levels in term infants were then compared to those in preterm infants who were examined in our previous studies. Results: The mean gestational age and birth weight of the term infants were 38.8 ±1.1 weeks and 3,257 ± 513 g, respectively. The mean gestational age of the preterm infants was 26.8 ± 1.4 weeks. The median serum [CC10] levels with minimum and maximum values in term infants (214.2 ng/mL [34.1, 428.1]) were >7-fold higher than in preterm infants (27.5 ng/mL [8.0, 760.0]; p < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between [CC10] in urine and stool as well as between gestational age and stool [CC10] (p < 0.05). Conclusions: CC10 is detectable in serum, urine, and stool in healthy term infants, with levels significantly higher than in preterm infants. This provides important data for ongoing therapeutic intervention trials with rhCC10 in high-risk preterm infants.
Centrosome Clustering in the Development of Bovine Binucleate Trophoblast Giant Cells
Authors: Klisch Karl , Schraner Elisabeth M. , Boos Alois
Published: November 2016

Binucleate trophoblast giant cells (BNC) are the characteristic feature of the ruminant placenta. During their development, BNC pass through 2 acytokinetic mitoses and become binucleate with 2 tetraploid nuclei. In this study, we investigate the number and location of centrosomes in bovine BNC. Centrosomes typically consist of 2 centrioles surrounded by electron-dense pericentriolar material. Duplication of centrosomes is tightly linked to the cell cycle, which ensures that the number of centrosomes remains constant in proliferating diploid cells. Alterations of the cell cycle, which affect the number of chromosome sets, also affect the number of centrosomes. In this study, we use placentomal tissue from pregnant cows (gestational days 80-230) for immunohistochemical staining of γ-tubulin (n = 3) and transmission electron microscopy (n = 3). We show that mature BNC have 4 centrosomes with 8 centrioles, clustered in the angle between the 2 cell nuclei. During the second acytokinetic mitosis, the centrosomes must be clustered to form the poles of a bipolar spindle. In rare cases, centrosome clustering fails and tripolar mitosis leads to the formation of trinucleate “BNC”. Generally, centrosome clustering occurs in polyploid tumor cells, which have an increased number of centrioles, but it is absent in proliferating diploid cells. Thus, inhibition of centrosome clustering in tumor cells is a novel promising strategy for cancer treatment. BNC are a cell population in which centrosome clustering occurs as part of the normal life history. Thus, they might be a good model for the study of the molecular mechanisms of centrosome clustering.
Plasma Levels of Leptin and Adiponectin in Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Lisik Małgorzata Zofia , Gutmajster Ewa , Sieroń Aleksander L.
Published: November 2016

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of familial mental retardation and one of the leading known causes of autism. The mutation responsible for FXS is a large expansion of the CGG repeats in the promoter region of the FMR1 gene, resulting in the transcriptional silencing of the gene. Leptin may be considered a cytokine-like hormone with pleiotropic actions since it may be involved in the regulation of neuroendocrine functions and the immune system response, in addition to playing a role in development. Leptin and adiponectin may act in parallel as opposing metabolic counterparts. The involvement of leptin and adiponectin in the pathophysiology of FXS was hypothesized. Material and Methods: Twenty-three male patients affected by FXS (full mutation in the FMR1 gene) and 24 controls were included in the study. Plasma leptin and adiponectin levels were measured by the ELISA method using commercially available kits. Results: Adiponectin levels in FXS patients were significantly lower than those found in controls (p < 0.04). Leptin levels in FXS patients were significantly higher than those found in controls (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Adipokines may be involved in the psychiatric features observed in FXS patients. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the role of adiponectin and leptin in FXS.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using Drug-Eluting Stents Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis
Authors: Nerlekar Nitesh , Ha Francis J. , Verma Kunal P. , Bennett Martin R. , Cameron James D. , Meredith Ian T. , Brown Adam J.
Published: November 2016

Background—

Current guidelines suggest that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) should be the preferred revascularization method for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. In light of evidence from recent randomized trials, we assessed whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using drug-eluting stents is as safe and effective as CABG for the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Methods and Results—

Digital databases and manual searches were performed for randomized trials comparing PCI and CABG for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. Among 3887 potentially relevant studies, 5 met inclusion criteria. The primary safety end point was defined as the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary end points included a clinical effectiveness composite, which was defined as all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization. Summary estimates were obtained using random-effects modeling. In total, 4594 patients were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the primary safety end point between the revascularization strategies (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79–1.17;
P
=0.73). However, when compared with CABG, PCI was less effective (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18–1.58;
P
<0.001) because of significantly higher rates of repeat revascularization (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.53–2.23;
P
<0.001). The incidence of all-cause death (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.78–1.35;
P
=0.61), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.88–2.45;
P
=0.08), and stroke (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.39–1.97;
P
=0.53) did not differ between PCI and CABG.

Conclusions—

PCI using drug-eluting stents and CABG are equally safe methods of revascularization for patients at low surgical risk with significant unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. However, CABG is associated with significantly lower rates of repeat revascularization.