bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serotonin as a drug receptor for Li+: a computational study
Authors: Meek Autumn R. , Morzycki Alexander , Carter Michael D. , Barden Christopher , Weaver Donald F.
Published: May 2018

Although Li+ is widely used to treat bipolar disorder, its antidepressant pharmacological mechanism of action remains unelucidated. Herein, based on molecular modelling studies, we present the novel hypothesis that one possible receptor for Li+ is serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), a small molecule neurotransmitter rather than a large macromolecular protein. The resulting Li+/5-HT drug–receptor complex subsequently interacts with “upstream” macromolecular receptors such as the 5-HT1A receptor differently than 5-HT alone, producing an enhanced antidepressant effect. The notion that a neurotransmitter could itself be a receptor for a therapeutic is an interesting receptor cascade concept. Using molecular mechanics and semi-empirical and ab initio levels of theory, the potential interactions between Li+ and 5-HT and between Li+ and 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, a 5-HT metabolite) were examined. Molecular dynamics simulations were then used to examine how Li+ affects the binding of 5-HT to its target 5-HT1A antidepressant receptor. The results of these calculations suggest that Li+ can interact with 5-HT and in such a way that it modifies the ligand–protein interactions.
A prelude to building mathematical models for polypeptide folding: analysis on the conformational potential energy hypersurface cross-sections of N-acetyl-glycyl-glycine-N′-methylamide
Authors: Villar John Justine S. , Negm Logine , Rágyanszki Anita , Setiadi David H. , Valdez Adrian Roy L. , Viskolcz Béla , Csizmadia Imre G.
Published: May 2018

Finding a relationship on how a three-dimensional protein folds from its linear amino acid chain gets more complex with increasing chain length, so working on a smaller peptide conformational problem can provide initial ideas on what are the main molecular forces and how these influence the folding process. Following the study of conformations of amino acid units entering the proteins to understand the secondary structure of small peptides, this paper proposes mathematical models for the several two-rotor cross-sections of the five-dimensional N-acetyl-glycyl-glycine-N′-methylamide potential energy hypersurface (PEHS). These cross-sections are extracted along the first glycine subunit, with its coordinates fixed at the five energy minima of the glycine diamide. The resulting mathematical models yield an average RMSE of 1.36 kJ mol−1 and an average R2 of 0.9923 with respect to energy values obtained from DFT calculations. The minima geometries obtained from these models are also in good agreement with DFT-optimized energy minima conformers. An important aspect of this study also tackles the relationship between the PEHS of the glycyl-glycine diamide and its glycine subunits. It has been observed that there are deviations up to 28.35 kJ mol−1 and 29.52 kJ mol−1 between the PEHS cross-sections along γL and γD conformations, respectively, in the first glycine subunit. This may suggest that there are significant backbone–backbone intermolecular forces acting on the dipeptide. The abovementioned findings can help in developing more complex mathematical models for polypeptide folding from amino acid subunits.
Electronic structure with dipole moment and rovibrational calculations of the MgLi and MgNa molecules
Authors: Houalla Dunia , Kassem Sahar , Chmaisani Wael , Korek Mahmoud
Published: May 2018

We investigate an orderly study of the adiabatic potential energy curves for 29 and 30 low-lying 2s+1Λ+/− electronic states of the molecules MgLi and MgNa, respectively. The calculation has been done by using the complete active space self-consistent field followed by multi-reference configuration interaction with Davidson correction. For the investigated electronic states, the static and transition dipole moment curves are calculated along with the Einstein coefficients, the emission oscillator strength, the spontaneous radiative lifetime, the line strength, the classical radiative decay rate of the single-electron oscillator, the spectroscopic constants (Te, ωe, ωexe, Be, Re), and the equilibrium dissociation energy De. By means of the canonical functions approach, the ro-vibrational constants Ev, Bv, Dv, and the abscissas of the turning points, Rmin and Rmax, have been calculated for the considered electronic states up to the vibrational level v = 79. The Franck–Condon factors have been calculated and plotted for the transition between the low-lying electronic states of the two considered molecules. A good agreement is revealed between our calculated values and those available in the literature. Fifty new electronic states are investigated in the present work for the first time.
Variability of the African equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests during the year 2013
Authors: Amaechi P.O. , Oyeyemi E.O. , Akala A.O.
Published: May 2018

This paper discusses the variability of the position and magnitude of the crests of African Equatorial Ionization Anomaly during noon and post sunset periods. Total electron content data covered the year 2013, and were obtained from a chain of global positioning system receivers in both hemispheres around 37°E longitude. Local magnetometer data were used to infer the direction and magnitude of the E × B drift, while the solar extreme ultraviolet proxy index was used as a measure of solar activity. It was found that the time of formation of both crests varied from 1400 to 1700 local time. Additionally, the position of the crests was found to be asymmetric with respect to the magnetic equator. During the noon period, the position of the northern and southern crests varied from 4.91° to 7.36° and −9.17° to −12.62°, respectively. During the post-sunset period, it varied from 8° to 11.7° and −9° to −16°, respectively. Seasonally, with reference to the magnetic equator, both crests moved poleward during equinoxes and collapsed towards the equator during winter and summer. Equinoxes recorded the greatest crest magnitude followed by winter then summer over both hemispheres during the noon period. However, this trend persisted over the northern crest only during the post-sunset period. Overall, during the noon period, we recorded correlation coefficients of 0.67 and 0.68 between crest magnitudes and ΔH, a proxy for equatorial electrojet current, and 0.88 and 0.81 between crest positions and ΔH, for the northern and southern crests, respectively. During the Halloween day storm of 30 October 2013, a westward electric field inhibited the development of the post-sunset crests.
Dynamical equations and Lagrange–Ricci flow evolution on prolongation Lie algebroids
Authors: Bubuianu Laurenţiu , Vacaru Sergiu I.
Published: May 2018

The approach to nonholonomic Ricci flows and geometric evolution of regular Lagrange systems (S. Vacaru. J. Math. Phys. 49, 043504 (2008); Ibid. Rep. Math. Phys. 63, 95 (2009)) is extended to include geometric mechanics and gravity models on Lie algebroids. We prove that such evolution scenarios of geometric mechanics and analogous gravity can be modeled as gradient flows characterized by generalized Perelman functionals if an equivalent geometrization of Lagrange mechanics (J. Kern. Arch. Math. (Basel), 25, 438 (1974)) is considered. The Hamilton equations on Lie algebroids describing Lagrange–Ricci flows are derived. Finally, we show that geometric evolution models on Lie algebroids are described by effective thermodynamical values derived from statistical functionals on prolongation Lie algebroids.
Chemically reactive species of time-dependent natural convection couple stress fluid flow past an isothermal vertical flat plate
Authors: Basha Hussain , Reddy G. Janardhana , Reddy M. Gnaneswara
Published: May 2018

The transient two-dimensional natural convective couple stress fluid flow past a semi-infinite vertical flat plate in the presence of first-order homogenous chemical reaction is investigated. The analysis has been carried out by considering the effects of skin-friction coefficient and Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. The unsteady coupled nonlinear governing flow equations have been solved by applying the Crank–Nicolson implicit finite difference scheme. For the different set physical parameters, graphs are shown and examined. A relevant study with existing results is made in a limiting sense. The transient and steady-state velocity profiles decrease as the chemical reaction parameter, Schmidt number, and couple stress parameter increase. The deviations of concentration, temperature, and velocity contours of the couple stress fluid flow are considerably varied in comparison with the Newtonian fluid flow.
Charged vector particles tunneling from black ring and 5D black hole
Authors: Javed Wajiha , Ali Riasat , Abbas G.
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we have investigated the Hawking radiation process as a semiclassical quantum tunneling phenomenon from black ring and 5D Myers–Perry black holes. Using Lagrangian of Glashow–Weinberg–Salam model with background electromagnetic field (for charged W-bosons) and the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation, we have evaluated the tunneling rate or probability of charged vector particles at through the horizons by taking into account the electromagnetic vector potential. Moreover, we have calculated the corresponding Hawking temperature via Boltzmann factor for both types of considered background and analyzed the whole spectrum generally.
Fine mapping of a major QTL controlling early flowering in tomato using QTL-seq
Authors: Ruangrak Eaknarin , Su Xiaomei , Huang Zejun , Wang Xiaoxuan , Guo Yanmei , Du Yongchen , Gao Jianchang
Published: May 2018

Early flowering is one of the major earliness traits in tomato and is also an important agronomical trait in crop plants; thus, this trait is important for plant breeding and crop improvement. With the innovation of rapid and cost-effective technologies, quantitative trait locus (QTL)-seq has become the preferred method of performing QTL identification. In the present study, we identified a candidate QTL of an early flowering trait in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using QTL-seq. Two DNA pools of the extreme phenotype of the F2progeny from crosses between the ‘Bone MM’ cultivar (early flowering, P1) and ‘071-440’ cultivar (late flowering, P2) were bulked for sequencing and an alignment analysis. We observed 220 single nucleotide polymorphism markers, seven candidate QTLs, and genes that may be associated with early flowering located between 1.6 and 71.8 Mb on chromosome 1. Using traditional QTL analysis, the location of one QTL was confirmed in the physical region between 23.5 and 25.3 Mb, which corresponded to the region identified using QTL-seq, and was referred to as EF1 (Solyc01g017060). A real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that EF1 was the most highly expressed among the candidate genes and significantly expressed in early flowering parents and furthermore, we found that EF1, which had a similar sequence to the Ycf2 gene, may relate to the early flowering phenotype.
Computational study of the nonlinear bistability in a relativistic wave equation with anomalous diffusion
Authors: Macías-Díaz Jorge E.
Published: May 2018

In this work, we investigate computationally the dynamics of a nonlinear partial differential equation with anomalous diffusion that extends the well-known double sine–Gordon equation from relativistic quantum mechanics. The problem under consideration includes the presence of constant damping along with anomalous spatial derivatives. The model is defined on a close and bounded interval of the real line, and it is at rest at the initial time. One end of the interval is subject to sinusoidal driving, and the other considers the presence of an absorbing boundary in order to simulate a semi-infinite medium. The simulation of this system is carried out using a numerical method that resembles the energy properties of the continuous medium. The computational results shown in this work establish the presence of the nonlinear phenomenon of bistability in the system considered. We obtain hysteresis cycles for some particular scenarios, and employ the bistability of the system to simulate the transmission of binary signals from the driving boundary to the opposite end.
Axion electrodynamics from Infeld–van der Waerden formalisms
Authors: Kuerten André Martorano , Fernandes-Silva A.
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we will explore the spacetime phase structure inside the Infeld–van der Waerden formalisms, showing that Maxwell’s theory in this scenario leads to an axion-like phase electrodynamics, which suggests that this phase may originate the axion field.
Prediction of mechanical properties of MWCNT-reinforced composites using the RVE model
Authors: Park Seung-Hyun , Jang Hong-Kyu , Park Yunjeong , Hong Sung-Yong , Choi Jae-Boong , Huh Nam-Su , Suhr Jonghwan , Kim Kyunghoon
Published: May 2018

Carbon nanotube (CNT) composites have mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties superior to those of conventional polymer resin materials. In particular, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites have higher mechanical strength than single-walled carbon nanotube composites. This work investigates the methods for analytically evaluating and predicting the mechanical properties of MWCNT-reinforced nanocomposites to enable their effective mechanical design. First, the correlation between the thickness of the interphase region (between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix) and the mechanical properties of the MWCNT-reinforced composite was studied. Next, the effect of the relative distribution of carbon nanotubes in the matrix on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites fabricated by injection molding was evaluated. Finally, the effect of agglomerate size on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites was investigated, and a critical size for carbon nanotube agglomerates was analytically proposed.
Higher-order models for glioma invasion: From a two-scale description to effective equations for mass density and momentum
Authors: Corbin G. , Hunt A. , Klar A. , Schneider F. , Surulescu C.
Published: May 2018

Starting from a two-scale description involving receptor binding dynamics and a kinetic transport equation for the evolution of the cell density function under velocity reorientations, we deduce macroscopic models for glioma invasion featuring partial differential equations for the mass density and momentum of a population of glioma cells migrating through the anisotropic brain tissue. The proposed first and higher-order moment closure methods enable numerical simulations of the kinetic equation. Their performance is then compared to that of the diffusion limit. The approach allows for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based, patient-specific predictions of the tumor extent and its dynamic behavior.
Robust approximation error estimates and multigrid solvers for isogeometric multi-patch discretizations
Authors: Takacs Stefan
Published: May 2018

In recent publications, the author and his coworkers have shown robust approximation error estimates for B-splines of maximum smoothness and have proposed multigrid methods based on them. These methods allow to solve the linear system arising from the discretization of a partial differential equation in Isogeometric Analysis in a single-patch setting with convergence rates that are provably robust both in the grid size and the spline degree. In real-world problems, the computational domain cannot be nicely represented by just one B-spline patch. In computer aided design, such domains are typically represented as a union of multiple patches. In this paper, we extend — for two-dimensional domains — the approximation error estimates and the multigrid solver to this multi-patch case.
Existence of large-data global-in-time finite-energy weak solutions to a compressible FENE-P model
Authors: Barrett John W. , Süli Endre
Published: May 2018

A compressible FENE-P-type model with stress diffusion is derived from an approximate macroscopic closure of a compressible Navier–Stokes–Fokker–Planck system arising in the kinetic theory of dilute polymeric fluids, where polymer chains immersed in a barotropic, compressible, isothermal, viscous Newtonian solvent are idealised as pairs of massless beads connected with finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) springs. We develop a priori bounds for the model, including logarithmic bounds, which guarantee the non-negativity of the conformation tensor and a bound on its trace, and we prove the existence of large-data global-in-time finite-energy weak solutions in two and three space dimensions.
Numerical analysis of a method for a partial integro-differential equation model in regulatory gene networks
Authors: Alonso Antonio A. , Bermejo Rodolfo , Pájaro Manuel , Vázquez Carlos
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we propose a semi-Lagrangian Runge–Kutta method to approximate the solution of a multidimensional partial integro-differential equation (PIDE) model for regulatory networks involving multiple genes with self- and cross-regulations. For the first time in the literature, we address the numerical analysis of a semi-Lagrangian method for a PIDE model without second-order derivative terms. From this analysis, we obtain second-order convergence in time and space. Moreover, some examples with analytical solution in one spatial dimension illustrate the theoretical results, while others in higher dimensions show the expected behavior of the solution. Finally, the scalability of the method and the comparison with a previously proposed first-order semi-Lagrangian method are discussed.
An ABAQUS Implementation of the Cell-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method (CS-FEM)
Authors: Cui X. , Han X. , Duan S. Y. , Liu G. R.
Published: May 2018

The smoothed finite element method (S-FEM) has been developed recent years and is increasingly used for stress analysis for engineering design of structures, due to its high computational accuracy and outstanding robustness in against mesh distortion. However, there is currently no commercial S-FEM software package available for convenient engineering applications. This paper aims to integrate S-FEM into the [Formula: see text] software, because it is most widely used in engineering analyses and well integrated in computer aided engineering (CAE). From a family of S-FEM models, the cell-based finite element method (CS-FEM) is chosen to be implemented in ABAQUS, because a smoothing cell in the CS-FEM involves only one element, and hence the implementation can be achieved via the use of the user-defined element library (UEL). Since only nodal displacement results can be extracted when UEL subroutine is used in ABAQUS, a post-processing program is also developed to compute nodal strains/stresses and strain energy results that are useful in structure analysis and CAE. Our CS-FEM UEL is validated using four numerical examples under plane stress conditions. Compared with standard ABAQUS, the CS-FEM in ABAQUS improves the solution accuracy remarkably, and we have also confirmed the robustness of CS-FEM against heavily distorted meshes.
Independent Roman domination and 2-independence in trees
Authors: Amjadi J. , Sheikholeslami S. M. , Valinavaz M. , Dehgardi N.
Published: May 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a simple graph with vertex set [Formula: see text] and edge set [Formula: see text]. A Roman dominating function on a graph [Formula: see text] is a function [Formula: see text] satisfying the condition that every vertex [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text] is adjacent to at least one vertex [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text]. A Roman dominating function [Formula: see text] is called an independent Roman dominating function if the set of all vertices with positive weights is an independent set. The weight of an independent Roman dominating function [Formula: see text] is the value [Formula: see text]. The independent Roman domination number of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the minimum weight of an independent Roman dominating function on [Formula: see text]. A subset [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is a 2-independent set of [Formula: see text] if every vertex of [Formula: see text] has at most one neighbor in [Formula: see text]. The maximum cardinality of a 2-independent set of [Formula: see text] is the 2-independence number [Formula: see text]. These two parameters are incomparable in general, however, we show that for any tree [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and we characterize all trees attaining the equality.
Applying Interconnected Game Theory to Analyze Transboundary Waters: A Case Study of the Kura–Araks Basin
Authors: Khachaturyan Marianna , Schoengold Karina
Published: May 2018

The Kura–Araks Basin is facing problems with insufficient water availability for all needs and poor water quality, which results in high rates of waterborne diseases. The riparians of the basin struggle with management of water resources within their national borders, as well as internationally, across the basin. With international rivers, interdependency among countries is created, where the upstream country can impact the quantity and quality of water downstream. This study focuses on the upstream–downstream relationship with the Kura River between Azerbaijan and Georgia. The analysis uses a game theoretical framework, which incorporates several issues in the negotiation space. Specifically, water quantity and water quality are analyzed separately and combined into an aggregated isolated game. The analysis compares the aggregated isolated game, where the outcome of each game is negotiated separately, with an interconnected game, where the two games are jointly negotiated. Using realistic parameters, results show that due to the repeated nature of some of the payoffs, cooperation is unlikely to be achievable in each game independently, since at least one country has an incentive to deviate. In contrast, the interconnected game can achieve full cooperation and increase the welfare of both countries.
A Revised Tikhonov Regularization Method for a Cauchy Problem of Two-Dimensional Heat Conduction Equation
Authors: Liu Songshu , Feng Lixin
Published: May 2018

In this paper we investigate a Cauchy problem of two-dimensional (2D) heat conduction equation, which determines the internal surface temperature distribution from measured data at the fixed location. In general, this problem is ill-posed in the sense of Hadamard. We propose a revised Tikhonov regularization method to deal with this ill-posed problem and obtain the convergence estimate between the approximate solution and the exact one by choosing a suitable regularization parameter. A numerical example shows that the proposed method works well.
An Atypical HNF4A Mutation Which Does Not Conform to the Classic Presentation of HNF4A-MODY
Authors: Spiro Andrew J. , Vu Katherine N. , Warnock Alicia Lynn
Published: May 2018

Objective. To present the case of an atypical Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha (HNF4A) mutation that is not consistent with the classically published presentation of HNF4A-Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY). Methods. Clinical presentation and literature review. Results. A 43-year-old nonobese man was referred to the endocrinology clinic for evaluation of elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG) measurements. Laboratory review revealed prediabetes and hypertriglyceridemia for the previous decade. Testing of autoantibodies for type 1 diabetes was negative. Genetic testing showed an autosomal dominant, heterozygous missense mutation (c.991C>T; p.Arg331Cys) in the HNF4A gene, which is correlated with HNF4A-MODY. Phenotypically, patients with an HNF4A-MODY tend to have early-onset diabetes, microvascular complications, low triglyceride levels, increased birth weight, fetal macrosomia, and less commonly neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. The patient did not demonstrate any of these features but instead presented with late-onset diabetes, an elevated triglyceride level, and a normal birth weight. Conclusion. Our patient likely represents an atypical variant of HNF4A-MODY with a milder clinical presentation. Patients with atypical, less-severe presentations of HNF4A-MODY may be largely undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, but identification is important due to implications for treatment, pregnancy, and screening of family members.
Impact of Coordinated-Bilateral Physical Activities on Attention and Concentration in School-Aged Children
Authors: Buchele Harris Heidi , Cortina Kai Schnabel , Templin Thomas , Colabianchi Natalie , Chen Weiyun
Published: May 2018

Purpose. This study examined the effects of 4-week, daily 6-minute coordinated-bilateral physical activity (CBPA) breaks in classroom on attention and concentration in school-aged children. Methods. Participants (n=116) in fifth grade from two elementary schools were assigned to three groups: two intervention groups (n= 60) and one control group (n = 56). All three groups were pre- and post-tested with the d2 Test of Attention (d2 test). One intervention group (n = 31) took part in six minutes of daily classroom-based coordinated-bilateral physical activity (CBPA) break for four weeks. Another intervention group (n = 29), the Fitbit Only (Fitbit-O), wore Fitbits per day during a school, five days per week for four weeks without CBPA breaks. A 2 × 3 ANOVA was conducted, followed by the post hoc comparisons. Results. The CBPA showed significant increases in processing speed (F1 = 6.876, p = .010), focused attention (F1 = 10.688, p = .002), concentration performance (F1 = 26.46, p = .000), and attention span (F1 = 14.090, p = .000) over the control, but not in accuracy (Error %). The CBPA showed significant improvement in concentration performance (F1 = 24.162, p = .000) and attention span (F1 = 6.891, p = .011), compared to the Fitbit-O. No significant changes in all five attention parameters were found between the Fitbit-O and the control. Conclusion. It was concluded that daily brief coordinated-bilateral activities can improve attention and concentration in fifth-grade students over the course of four weeks.
Aerodynamics Optimization of a Ducted Coaxial Rotor in Forward Flight Using Orthogonal Test Design
Authors: Jiang Yuening , Li Hai , Jia Hongguang
Published: May 2018

To investigate the aerodynamic complexities involved in the combination of freestream and propeller’s suction flow field of ducted coaxial rotors system in forward flight, an orthogonal L16(43) test design has been applied to optimize the design parameters including forward speed, pitch angle, and axial spacing between rotors. Multiblock grids and Multiple Frame of Reference (MFR) method are adopted for calculating aerodynamic performance of the system, hover characteristic was compared with experimental data obtained from the test stand, and the thrust performance is well predicted for various rotor spacing and a range of rpm. This solution approach is developed for the analytical prediction of forward flight and the simulation results indicated that the design parameters influenced lift, drag, and torque reduced in the order: wind speed > rotor spacing > pitch angle, wind speed > pitch angle, and rotor spacing > wind speed > pitch angle, respectively. The optimal rotor spacing and pitch angle were determined to maximize the aerodynamic performance considering high lift, low drag, and trimmed torque.
Fractional‐Order Memristor Emulator Circuits
Authors: Sánchez-López C. , Carbajal-Gómez V. H. , Carrasco-Aguilar M. A. , Carro-Pérez I.
Published: May 2018

This brief leads the synthesis of fractional‐order memristor (FOM) emulator circuits. To do so, a novel fractional‐order integrator (FOI) topology based on current‐feedback operational amplifier and integer‐order capacitors is proposed. Then, the FOI is substituting the integer‐order integrator inside flux‐ or charge‐controlled memristor emulator circuits previously reported in the literature and in both versions: floating and grounded. This demonstrates that FOM emulator circuits can also be configured at incremental or decremental mode and the main fingerprints of an integer‐order memristor are also holding up for FOMs. Theoretical results are validated through HSPICE simulations and the synthesized FOM emulator circuits can easily be reproducible. Moreover, the FOM emulator circuits can be used for improving future applications such as cellular neural networks, modulators, sensors, chaotic systems, relaxation oscillators, nonvolatile memory devices, and programmable analog circuits.
The Female Athlete’s Heart: Comparison of Cardiac Changes Induced by Different Types of Exercise Training Using 3D Echocardiography
Authors: Doronina Alexandra , Édes István Ferenc , Ujvári Adrienn , Kántor Zoltán , Lakatos Bálint Károly , Tokodi Márton , Sydó Nóra , Kiss Orsolya , Abramov Alexey , Kovács Attila , Merkely Béla
Published: May 2018

We aimed to characterize female athlete’s heart in elite competitors in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Bikini Fitness category and compare them to athletes of a more dynamic sport discipline and healthy, sedentary volunteers using 3D echocardiography. Fifteen elite female fitness athletes were recruited and compared to 15 elite, age-matched female water polo athletes and 15 age-matched healthy, nontrained controls. Using 3D echocardiography, left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVi) and LV mass index (LVMi) were measured. Fitness athletes presented similar LV and RV EDVi compared to healthy, sedentary volunteers. Water polo athletes, however, had higher LV and also RV EDVi (fitness versus water polo versus control; LVEDVi: 76±13 versus 84±8 versus 73±8 ml/m2, ANOVA p=0.045; RVEDVi: 61±12 versus 86±14 versus 55±9 ml/m2, p<0.0001). LVMi was significantly higher in the athlete groups; the hypertrophy, however, was even more prominent in water polo athletes (78±13 versus 91±10 versus 57±10 g/m2, p<0.0001). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize female athlete’s heart of IFBB Bikini Fitness competitors. The predominantly static exercise regime induced a mild, concentric-type LV hypertrophy, while in water polo athletes higher ventricular volumes and eccentric LV hypertrophy developed.
An Association Rule Based Method to Integrate Metro-Public Bicycle Smart Card Data for Trip Chain Analysis
Authors: Zhao De , Wang Wei , Ong Ghim Ping , Ji Yanjie
Published: May 2018

Smart card data provide valuable insights and massive samples for enhancing the understanding of transfer behavior between metro and public bicycle. However, smart cards for metro and public bicycle are often issued and managed by independent companies and this results in the same commuter having different identity tags in the metro and public bicycle smart card systems. The primary objective of this study is to develop a data fusion methodology for matching metro and public bicycle smart cards for the same commuter using historical smart card data. A novel method with association rules to match the data derived from the two systems is proposed and validation was performed. The results showed that our proposed method successfully matched 573 pairs of smart cards with an accuracy of 100%. We also validated the association rules method through visualization of individual metro and public bicycle trips. Based on the matched cards, interesting findings of metro-bicycle transfer have been derived, including the spatial pattern of the public bicycle as first/last mile solution as well as the duration of a metro trip chain.
Screening Circulating Tumor Cells as a Noninvasive Cancer Test in 3388 Individuals from High-Risk Groups (ICELLATE2)
Authors: Castro Juan , Sanchez Luis , Nuñez María Teresa , Lu Ming , Castro Tomas , Sharifi Hamid R. , Ericsson Christer
Published: May 2018

Cancer is known to spread up to 12 years before clinical symptoms occur, but few screening tests exist. Early detection would give the opportunity for early treatment, potentially improving prognosis. To this end, 3388 subjectively healthy individuals of age 45 to 80 who had been exposed to cancer risk factors were screened for the occurrence of circulating tumor cells in their blood. Presence of circulating tumor cells is a suspicious finding indicative of spreading cancer, since cancer metastasizes by way of the blood and offers the opportunities to (a) follow up the individual clinically based on established guidelines for early detection of cancer and (b) evaluate the cells further analytically. 107 individuals showed one or more circulating tumor cells in a 7.5 ml blood sample, which constitutes a positive circulating tumor cell test, based on the iCellate IsoPic™ laboratory test. That number compares favorably with the cancer incidence per 100,000 people/year that is 157.1 in Peru, given that a high-risk group of individuals was screened and that the screening results would be expected to correspond to an accumulated incidence of up to 12 years. The present findings therefore identify screening for circulating tumor cells as a promising new test.
Custom-Made Direct Metal Laser Sintering Titanium Subperiosteal Implants: A Retrospective Clinical Study on 70 Patients
Authors: Cerea Mauro , Dolcini Giorgio Andrea
Published: May 2018

Purpose. To present a digital technique for the fabrication of custom-made subperiosteal implants and to report on the survival and complication rates encountered when using these fixtures.Methods. The data used for this retrospective clinical study were derived from the medical records of five different private dental practices. Inclusion criteria were patients over the age of 60, treated with custom-made direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) titanium subperiosteal implants (Eagle-Grid®, BTK, Dueville, Vicenza) during a two-year period (2014-2015) and restored with fixed restorations; all enrolled patients needed to have complete pre- and postoperative clinical and radiographic documentation, with at least 2 years of follow-up. Exclusion criteria were smoking and bruxism. The main outcomes looked at were implant survival and complications.Results. Seventy patients (39 males and 31 females, aged 62-79 years) who had been treated with custom-made DMLS titanium subperiosteal implants were enrolled in this study. After 2 years of follow-up, three implants were lost due to recurrent, untreatable infections; the survival rate was therefore 95.8% (67/70 implants). Four patients reported pain/discomfort/swelling after implant placement; the incidence of immediate postoperative complications was therefore 5.7% (4/70 implants). During the follow-up period, one patient suffered from recurrent infections classified as a biologic complication; the incidence of biologic complications was therefore 1.4% (1/67 surviving implants). Finally, four patients experienced prosthetic problems with their implant-supported restorations during the provisional phase (fracture of the acrylic restoration) and two patients had ceramic chipping of the definitive restoration; the incidence of prosthetic complications was therefore 8.9% (6/67 surviving implants).Conclusions. Within the limits of the present study (limited follow-up time and low number of patients treated, retrospective design), the application of custom-made DMLS titanium subperiosteal implants showed satisfactory implant survival (95.8%) and low complication rates. Further studies are needed to confirm the positive outcomes found in this research.
Stiffness Estimation of Cracked Beams Based on Nonlinear Stress Distributions Near the Crack
Authors: Fu Chunyu , Wang Yuyang , Tong Dawei
Published: May 2018

The crack presence causes nonlinear stress distributions along the sections of a beam, which change the neutral axis of the sections and further affect the beam stiffness. Thus, this paper presents a method for the stiffness estimation of cracked beams based on the stress distributions. First, regions whose stresses are affected by the crack are analyzed, and according to the distance to the crack, different nonlinear stress distributions are modeled for the effect regions. The inertia moments of section are evaluated by substituting these stress distributions into the internal force equilibrium of section. Then the finite-element technique is adopted to estimate the stiffness of the cracked beam. The estimated stiffness is used to predict the displacements of simply supported beams with a crack, and the results show that both static and vibrational displacements are accurately predicted, which indicates that the estimated stiffness is precise enough. Besides, as the section shape of beam is not limited in the process of modeling the stress distributions, the method could be applicable not only to the stiffness estimation of cracked beams with a rectangular section, but also to that of the beams with a T-shaped section if the crack depth ratio is not larger than 0.7.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Monocytes Exhibit High Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Secretion, Augmenting Tumor Progression
Authors: Cubillos-Zapata Carolina , Hernández-Jiménez Enrique , Avendaño-Ortiz José , Toledano Victor , Varela-Serrano Anibal , Fernández-Navarro Isabel , Casitas Raquel , Carpio Carlos , Aguirre Luis A. , García-Río Francisco , López-Collazo Eduardo
Published: May 2018

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a syndrome characterized by repeated pauses in breathing induced by a partial or complete collapse of the upper airways during sleep. Intermittent hypoxia (IH), a hallmark characteristic of OSA, has been proposed to be a major determinant of cancer development, and patients with OSA are at a higher risk of tumors. Both OSA and healthy monocytes have been found to show enhanced HIF1α expression under IH. Moreover, these cells under IH polarize toward a tumor-promoting phenotype in a HIF1α-dependent manner and influence tumor growth via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Monocytes from patients with OSA increased the tumor-induced microenvironment and exhibited an impaired cytotoxicity in a 3D tumor in vitro model as a result of the increased HIF1α secretion. Adequate oxygen restoration both in vivo (under continuous positive airway pressure treatment, CPAP) and in vitro leads the monocytes to revert the tumor-promoting phenotype, demonstrating the plasticity of the innate immune system and the oxygen recovery relevance in this context.
Irisin Maternal Plasma and Cord Blood Levels in Mothers with Spontaneous Preterm and Term Delivery
Authors: Pavlova Tereza , Zlamal Filip , Tomandl Josef , Hodicka Zuzana , Gulati Sumeet , Bienertova-Vasku Julie
Published: May 2018

Irisin, an adipomyokine identified in 2012, has been investigated in association with common pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. The objective of this study is to examine the potential role of irisin in preterm birth (PTB) by comparing its level between mothers with term and preterm labor. Maternal peripheral blood and cord blood samples were collected from 30 mothers who delivered prematurely and from 35 mothers who delivered at term. Irisin concentrations were measured in all samples using ELISA, and four common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the irisin gene were determined (rs16835198, rs726344, rs3480, and rs1746661). Univariable and multivariable regression modeling was applied to evaluate maternal and cord blood irisin concentrations in relation to preterm/term labor. Irisin concentration in umbilical cord blood was found to be associated with PTB in the univariable model (p=0.046). On the other hand, no differences in maternal blood irisin levels between mothers with preterm and term deliveries were established. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study determining irisin levels in term and preterm deliveries in maternal peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. Our study shows a possible association between cord blood irisin concentration and PTB occurrence.
The Influence of Water and Solvent Uptake on Functional Properties of Shape-Memory Polymers
Authors: Ghobadi Ehsan , Marquardt Axel , Zirdehi Elias Mahmoudinezhad , Neuking Klaus , Varnik Fathollah , Eggeler Gunther , Steeb Holger
Published: May 2018

In this contribution, diffusion of water, acetone, and ethanol into a polymer matrix has been studied experimentally and numerically by finite element approaches. Moreover, the present study reports an assessment of different thermomechanical conditions of the shape-memory (SM) performance, for example, stress- or strain-holding times in stress- or strain-controlled thermomechanical cycles and the effect of maximum strain. According to the results presented here, the uptake of acetone in Estane is much higher than ethanol and follows classical Fickian diffusion. Further, a series of thermomechanical measurements conducted on dry and physically (hydrolytically) aged polyether urethanes revealed that incorporation of water seems to have an appreciable impact on the shape recovery ratios which can be attributed to the additional physical crosslinks. However, no obvious difference in shape fixation of dry and physically (hydrolytically) aged samples could be recognized. Furthermore, by decreasing the strain-holding time, shape recovery improves significantly. Moreover, the shape fixity is found to be independent of holding time. The shape recovery ratio decreased dramatically with an increase in the stress-holding time.
Standardized Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (Zingiberaceae) Extract Inhibits Fat Accumulation and Muscle Atrophy in ob/ob Mice
Authors: Lee Sunkyu , Kim Changhee , Kwon Dowan , Kim Mi-Bo , Hwang Jae-Kwan
Published: May 2018

Obesity, a metabolic disorder caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, is accompanied with fat accumulation and skeletal muscle atrophy. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker, also called black ginger, is known to increase physical fitness performance and improve energy metabolism. In this study, we investigated whether Kaempferia parviflora extract (KPE) alleviates both obesity and muscle atrophy using ob/ob mice. Wild‐type C57BL/6J and ob/ob mice were provided with a normal diet ad libitum, and ob/ob mice were orally given KPE at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day for eight weeks. KPE significantly decreased body weight, fat volume, and fat weight without affecting appetite. It inhibited the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic enzymes by upregulating AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) in epididymal fat. In contrast, it markedly increased the muscle fiber size, muscle volume, and muscle mass, resulting in the enhancement of muscle function, such as exercise endurance and grip strength. On the molecular level, it activated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, a key regulator in protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. KPE could be a promising material to alleviate obesity by inhibiting adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and muscle atrophy.
Evolution of Therapeutic Antibodies, Influenza Virus Biology, Influenza, and Influenza Immunotherapy
Authors: Chaisri Urai , Chaicumpa Wanpen
Published: May 2018

This narrative review article summarizes past and current technologies for generating antibodies for passive immunization/immunotherapy. Contemporary DNA and protein technologies have facilitated the development of engineered therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in a variety of formats according to the required effector functions. Chimeric, humanized, and human monoclonal antibodies to antigenic/epitopic myriads with less immunogenicity than animal-derived antibodies in human recipients can be producedin vitro. Immunotherapy with ready-to-use antibodies has gained wide acceptance as a powerful treatment against both infectious and noninfectious diseases. Influenza, a highly contagious disease, precipitates annual epidemics and occasional pandemics, resulting in high health and economic burden worldwide. Currently available drugs are becoming less and less effective against this rapidly mutating virus. Alternative treatment strategies are needed, particularly for individuals at high risk for severe morbidity. In a setting where vaccines are not yet protective or available, human antibodies that are broadly effective against various influenza subtypes could be highly efficacious in lowering morbidity and mortality and controlling unprecedented epidemic/pandemic. Prototypes of human single-chain antibodies to several conserved proteins of influenza virus with no Fc portion (hence, no ADE effect in recipients) are available. These antibodies have high potential as a novel, safe, and effective anti-influenza agent.
Homeopathic Medicine Reduces Pain and Hemarthrosis in Moderate and Severe Hemophilia: A Multicentric Study
Authors: Kundu Tapas , Ghosh Kanjaksha , Shaikh Afroz , Singh Priyanka , Shaikh Aafiya , Shah Hiral , Kumat Omkar , Kulkarni Sudhir , Kulkarni Ranjana , Nalavade Aparna
Published: May 2018

Background: Hemarthrosis is a common clinical presentation of patients with severe and moderately severe hemophilia. Severe pain, swelling, and loss of function involving knee, ankle, elbow, and shoulder joints are commonly seen. In India, except for paracetamol and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiate analgesics are not easily available even in the mainstay of treatment; i.e., factor concentrates are also not available regularly. Hence, there is an unmet need for exploring alternative management strategies in this condition in India. Objective: To assess the effect of homeopathic medicines on pain and acute hemarthrosis in hemophilia when factor concentrates are not available and paracetamol in adequate doses proves inadequate. Patients: 343 patients with hemophilia (PWH) from Nashik, Mumbai, and Surat presenting with hemarthrosis were prescribed homeopathic medicines in addition to paracetamol and RICE (rest, immobilization, cold application, and elevation). They were assessed using standard techniques. Results: 1,679 episodes of hemarthrosis in major joints were encountered between December 2007 and March 2014, in 343 patients. In 1,580 of the 1,679 hemarthrosis episodes (94.1%), bleeding/inflammation was arrested and pain relieved with homeopathic medication. Additional factor concentrate was required in 99 patients (4.48%). The mean pain score improved from 6.88 ± 2.118 to 1.5 ± 0.34 over 6-24 h following the homeopathic medicines (p < 0.0001). The swellings were also substantially reduced (p < 0.001). The number of joint bleeds per month was reduced significantly under the influence of therapy (p < 0.0001), showing the long-term disease-modifying effect of the treatment. Conclusion: Homeopathic medicines without factor concentrates appeared to reduce bleeding and pain in PWH presenting with hemarthrosis and could have influenced the long-term frequency of bleeding.
Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy (IOERT) in the Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Kaiser Julia , Reitsamer Roland , Kopp Peter , Gaisberger Christoph , Kopp Michael , Fischer Thorsten , Zehentmayr Franz , Sedlmayer Felix , Fastner Gerd
Published: May 2018

IOERT (intraoperative electron radiotherapy) in breast cancer is used either as a boost (10-12 Gy) followed by whole breast irradiation (WBI) or as full-dose partial breast irradiation (PBI, 20-24 Gy) during breast-conserving surgery. IOERT has the longest evidence of all IORT techniques. When administered as a boost, excellent low local recurrence rates were observed in long-term follow-up >5 years. Even in high-risk groups like triple-negative or locally advanced breast cancers, IOERT contributes to long-term local control rates of more than 90%. For selected low-risk groups, IOERT as PBI with 21 Gy seems to be a viable treatment alternative to standard WBI. IOERT has been shown to be advantageous for several reasons: Geographic misses are avoided due to direct visualization of the tumor bed; thus, a high single dose is delivered with utmost precision to small volumes, completely sparing the skin and ensuring good long-term cosmetic outcome. Furthermore, high single doses seem to induce biological mechanisms with verifiable antitumor capability in in-vitro cell-line studies. In addition, IOERT markedly shortens the overall treatment time both in combination with (now mostly hypofractionated) WBI or as a PBI in selected low-risk constellations.